AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF
ADHYATMA RATNA KUMBAKONAM C N GURUSWAMI SARMA (1900-1968)
CHAPTER 9
THE VILLAGE COURT, ANNUAL FESTIVAL AND SPORTS
It was a grandsight to see my grandfather with one or two ambalagaras (Ref 1) holding court in the chavadi. A lamp was lit and there was an iron trident and iron chains bedecked with flowers. In the open, there was a vertical stone pillar.Villagers used to place before this august assembly their petty complaints against their neighbours usually pilfering of agricultural instruments or grain or lifting of sheep, hen etc and immediate redressal was granted. The culprit was given some time to return the article before the assembly without disclosing his name. Should he fail to do so, he will be apprehended and thrashed bound to the pillar in the presence of Karuppannaswami (Ref 2). I saw only one thrashing but every time the stolen goods came back as if by magic. The ambalagaras also settled domestic differences, granted divorces settled matrimonial disputes and held court as if of unlimited jurisdiction of a 20 villages round about.
Once a year, a festival was celebrated. The women bedecked themselves and in a body bellowed forth what was called "Kulavai" குலவை (Ref 3). it sounded far and near and others joined men, chiefly Ambalams chosen from each village which their red check patterned turbans and sandal "pottu" on their foreheads, danced in circles, clapping their hands in unison.
Then usually there was a big feast. Rice was cooked all along the low sides of the hills in the ground in a number of big pots and there was feeding en galore!.I believe the men drank toddy and were merried in their never ending dances throughout the night.
then there was "silambu Attam" or club fights and it was interesting to see how without getting hurt two persons fought with long sticks jumping, running at each other, receding, parrying blows and setting on the other man with forceful warning of the sticks. I witnessed a man with a silambu stick warring ti and parrying the stones pelted on all sides by a multitude of people. It was a hair raising feat and after the end he was feted with toddy and other delicious food.
"Jallikkkattu" was a seasonal feature. A fierce bull with blackened eyes and spiralling tail was decorated with flowers. To its oiled sharp horns was tied a red cloth with a bag of money. the whole village was there admitting the bull with its prominent hump and fat sides of the drums were beaten and the bull was released by the people raising a howl and it dashed forth into the open.Young aspirants for the money and fame ran after it. Sometimes the bull will fiercely turn around. Undaunted, the young fellows pursued it until one either jumped over its back or caught it in front by its horns, - a very dangerous feat and if he would bring it down an sit on it, he had the money. The admiration of village maidens one of whom might have set her heart on him and got married to him later. Sometimes, grue some scenes were witnessed when the bull plunged at the bold man and gored him and brought out his entrails. anyway, it was a great game and very entertaining and inspiring others to such bold feats.
the annual festival ended with a drama. A thatched stage was raised. The actors came from nearby villages. usually the drama was Harischandra Natakam and it ran on for four nights beginning at 10 in the night and ending at 4 in the morning. There was music , scenes painted and the actors performed very well. There was a lit of funny interludes but on the whole, the drama was soul stirring and I, why, many wept at the pathetic scenes enacted. The privileged few like our grandfather had an open cart to sit on and witness. All the members of the family climbed into it and under the big starlit open sky and with a cool wind blowing, we witnessed the play. There was a native charm about it and for some days later the village boys simulated the songs and voices and enacted some scenes in the street for pastime. It was a laudable thing that the women folk had all their rights and privileges. they kept their places and were never bold, pronounced wilfully and acted nauseatingly obtrusive.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Editor's note:
Ref 1: Ambalagaras are the dominant community (they belong to thevar community of Ramnad district) who held large tracts of lands and had most of the rights in the villages in Madurai district. They presided over the village courts and resolved disputes. They were powerful even in British era and in Melavalavu even after independence. They managed to actively prevent the power transfer to the low caste people in the village by their dominance in the local body till 1996 when constitutionally Melavalavu became a reserved Panchayat making way for the scheduled caste people to become the elected representatives.Subsequent to a person belonging to scheduled caste becoming Chairman in Panchayat Union, there was a clash in which it is stated that some Ambalagaras killed seven persons belonging to the scheduled caste and some of them were elected representatives.
Ref 2: Karuppannaswami is also called pathinettampadi karuppanna swami. He is the deity of the rural folk in Madurai District. The story about karuppanna swami is very interesting. The story goes as follows. Chera King once came to worship Azhagar. He was so much enchanted the bewitching beauty of Perumal and left half heartedly to his kingdom.On his return to his kingdom, he prayed his local deity Karuppu and pleaded with him to go to Azhagar Koil and somehow bring Azhagar to kerala. So, Malayala Karuppu came from Kerala with eighteen assistants and as per the request of Chera King, he started planning to take Kallazhagar to Kerala. But, in the process he also was enchanted by the beauty of the Perumal and forgot his assignment which was to take Perumal forcibly to his kingdom. Days passed months passed and karuppu stood there having the dharshan fogetting himself and his job till perumal himself reminded him of his being there without any sensation for all this time. Karuppu fell at his feet. True to his nature. Perumal won over him now not by the beauty but by his generous heart. Perumal granted him the wish that he along with his eighteen assistants who came with him will become the 18 steps leading to his sannidhi and Karuppu will be the eighteenth step. He said "By this way, you can see me uninterrupted by anyone at anytime. You will never be away from me.Further, no one can come and see me with out first seeing you. You will be called pathinettampadi Karuppannaswami. You will be the person who will solve the disputes as no one can tell lie to you." It is to be noted that there is no idol for Karuppannaswami in the azhagar koil. .Only his swords are worshipped. However, there are statues to Karupannaswami in other villages. He appears in red colour in sitting posture with raised sword as if commanding every one.
Karuppannaswami reminds us of Kulashekara Azhwar who sang
" செடியாய வல்வினைகள் தீர்க்கும் திருமாலே
நெடியானே வேங்கடவா நின் கோயிலின் வாசல்
அடியாரும் வானவரும் அரம்பையரும் கிடந்தியங்கும்
படியாய்க் கிடந்துன் பவள வாய் காண்பேனே"
பாடல் 9 தருதுயரந் தடாயேல் பெருமாள் திரு மொழி
Ref 3: Kulavai is the shrill sound raised by ladies by keeping the fingers near the mouth and keeping fingers in the mouth and by moving the tongue transversely . The raising pitch steadily to a crescendo is unique. When enacted by all ladies together, it signifies something auspicious. So it is normally done during marriages.
Then usually there was a big feast. Rice was cooked all along the low sides of the hills in the ground in a number of big pots and there was feeding en galore!.I believe the men drank toddy and were merried in their never ending dances throughout the night.
then there was "silambu Attam" or club fights and it was interesting to see how without getting hurt two persons fought with long sticks jumping, running at each other, receding, parrying blows and setting on the other man with forceful warning of the sticks. I witnessed a man with a silambu stick warring ti and parrying the stones pelted on all sides by a multitude of people. It was a hair raising feat and after the end he was feted with toddy and other delicious food.
"Jallikkkattu" was a seasonal feature. A fierce bull with blackened eyes and spiralling tail was decorated with flowers. To its oiled sharp horns was tied a red cloth with a bag of money. the whole village was there admitting the bull with its prominent hump and fat sides of the drums were beaten and the bull was released by the people raising a howl and it dashed forth into the open.Young aspirants for the money and fame ran after it. Sometimes the bull will fiercely turn around. Undaunted, the young fellows pursued it until one either jumped over its back or caught it in front by its horns, - a very dangerous feat and if he would bring it down an sit on it, he had the money. The admiration of village maidens one of whom might have set her heart on him and got married to him later. Sometimes, grue some scenes were witnessed when the bull plunged at the bold man and gored him and brought out his entrails. anyway, it was a great game and very entertaining and inspiring others to such bold feats.
the annual festival ended with a drama. A thatched stage was raised. The actors came from nearby villages. usually the drama was Harischandra Natakam and it ran on for four nights beginning at 10 in the night and ending at 4 in the morning. There was music , scenes painted and the actors performed very well. There was a lit of funny interludes but on the whole, the drama was soul stirring and I, why, many wept at the pathetic scenes enacted. The privileged few like our grandfather had an open cart to sit on and witness. All the members of the family climbed into it and under the big starlit open sky and with a cool wind blowing, we witnessed the play. There was a native charm about it and for some days later the village boys simulated the songs and voices and enacted some scenes in the street for pastime. It was a laudable thing that the women folk had all their rights and privileges. they kept their places and were never bold, pronounced wilfully and acted nauseatingly obtrusive.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Editor's note:
Ref 1: Ambalagaras are the dominant community (they belong to thevar community of Ramnad district) who held large tracts of lands and had most of the rights in the villages in Madurai district. They presided over the village courts and resolved disputes. They were powerful even in British era and in Melavalavu even after independence. They managed to actively prevent the power transfer to the low caste people in the village by their dominance in the local body till 1996 when constitutionally Melavalavu became a reserved Panchayat making way for the scheduled caste people to become the elected representatives.Subsequent to a person belonging to scheduled caste becoming Chairman in Panchayat Union, there was a clash in which it is stated that some Ambalagaras killed seven persons belonging to the scheduled caste and some of them were elected representatives.
Ref 2: Karuppannaswami is also called pathinettampadi karuppanna swami. He is the deity of the rural folk in Madurai District. The story about karuppanna swami is very interesting. The story goes as follows. Chera King once came to worship Azhagar. He was so much enchanted the bewitching beauty of Perumal and left half heartedly to his kingdom.On his return to his kingdom, he prayed his local deity Karuppu and pleaded with him to go to Azhagar Koil and somehow bring Azhagar to kerala. So, Malayala Karuppu came from Kerala with eighteen assistants and as per the request of Chera King, he started planning to take Kallazhagar to Kerala. But, in the process he also was enchanted by the beauty of the Perumal and forgot his assignment which was to take Perumal forcibly to his kingdom. Days passed months passed and karuppu stood there having the dharshan fogetting himself and his job till perumal himself reminded him of his being there without any sensation for all this time. Karuppu fell at his feet. True to his nature. Perumal won over him now not by the beauty but by his generous heart. Perumal granted him the wish that he along with his eighteen assistants who came with him will become the 18 steps leading to his sannidhi and Karuppu will be the eighteenth step. He said "By this way, you can see me uninterrupted by anyone at anytime. You will never be away from me.Further, no one can come and see me with out first seeing you. You will be called pathinettampadi Karuppannaswami. You will be the person who will solve the disputes as no one can tell lie to you." It is to be noted that there is no idol for Karuppannaswami in the azhagar koil. .Only his swords are worshipped. However, there are statues to Karupannaswami in other villages. He appears in red colour in sitting posture with raised sword as if commanding every one.
Karuppannaswami reminds us of Kulashekara Azhwar who sang
" செடியாய வல்வினைகள் தீர்க்கும் திருமாலே
நெடியானே வேங்கடவா நின் கோயிலின் வாசல்
அடியாரும் வானவரும் அரம்பையரும் கிடந்தியங்கும்
படியாய்க் கிடந்துன் பவள வாய் காண்பேனே"
பாடல் 9 தருதுயரந் தடாயேல் பெருமாள் திரு மொழி
Ref 3: Kulavai is the shrill sound raised by ladies by keeping the fingers near the mouth and keeping fingers in the mouth and by moving the tongue transversely . The raising pitch steadily to a crescendo is unique. When enacted by all ladies together, it signifies something auspicious. So it is normally done during marriages.
No comments:
Post a Comment