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Review of Karaikkaal Ammaiyar Mangalam:
Rare treat of Bharata Natyam and carnatic music
As I stepped into the Kathiresan Hall, the venue of this fund- raiser
of Hindu Ladies College, I was greeted by a bevy of girls - past pupils
of the school with chandanam and kumkum and sprinkled with paneer. The
kolam design that they had drawn was beautiful and the warm reds and
oranges welcomed me amidst their midst.
I was presented with a brochure at the entrance to the hall from
which I am quoting in this article.
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Punithavathy with her parents deeply grieved that her
husband had not returned |
The Fine Arts Society of Hindu Ladies College presented Karaikkal
Ammayar as a ballet bringing to audiences in Colombo recently in July,
the story of the third century poetess who was an embodiment of prayer
and devotion. She was one of the early saints of the Hindu Tirumurai who
was acclaimed by the Lord Himself as ‘Ammaiye’ when she went to Kailash
on her head and hands.
The students of the Vidyalayam, known for their talents and
commitment, under the guidance of their Guru Smt. Thiriveni Shangar
presented this unique story as a ballet.
I learnt while watching the ballet that together with the students,
the Kalagam had also invited two well known Indian artistes Ashwathi and
Nikhil of Nrityaalaya in Kerala to join in presenting the Siva Tandava
dance - the dance that Ammaiyaar had requested to see from the Lord
while she sat His feet.
The fund-raiser was a rare treat of Bharata Natyam and carnatic
music. The curtain opened to a full house consisting of diplomats,
ministers and guests, with the words ‘Om’ followed by ‘Om Namashivaya’,
in ascending and descending tone ebbing into silence. As these immortal
mantram wafted through the hall, it produced not merely a melodious
sound but a spiritual harmony. And sitting in the audience watching the
students dancing, I felt an unusual spiritual emotion pervading through
me. The students danced accompanied by a full orchestra and song, the
lyrics being rendered soulfully interspersed with quick jatis (beats)
intoned by the choreographer, Smt. Thiriveni Sangar.
The story is told by the Kattiyak kaarars.
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She throws away all her splendour |
The story begins with young Punithavathy who grew up in a traditional
yet wealthy Hindu background. From a very young age itself, she grew up
by serving the Lord’s devotees who came to her parents’ house and also
serving one and all.
In due course Punithavathy - marries Paramadaththan, a rich merchant
and leads a happy married life until perhaps the Lord decided that the
world should know that Punithavathy was no ordinary being.
The story as her husband Paramadaththan realises that she is no
ordinary person. He buys two mangoes from a vendor selling mangoes and
sends these fruits home. Punithavathy keeps them for her husband’s
dinner. Just that morning a Sannyasin appears at the door asking for
bhiksha. Since the household was not ready and food not prepared, she
serves one of the fruits that were sent. The Sannyasin eats it with
great delight and leaves.
That evening she serves the remaining fruit. Saying that the fruit
was delicious, Paramadaththan asks her for the other fruit. She prays
fervently and receives a fruit which she serves. “This certainly cannot
be the fruit that I sent because it is very sweet,” he says and asks for
an explanation. Punithavathy reiterates the story. Her husband then asks
that she gets another fruit as she had done earlier so that he may see
her receiving the fruit!
She prays once again fervently and through her deep faith in prayer
she receives another fruit which she places in her husband’s hand. No
sooner had he received the fruit, the fruit disappears.
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And becomes (Karaikkal) Ammaiyar - as the Lord addresses her |
He then realises that she is no ordinary maiden and leaves her and
Karaikkaal much to her consternation. After a long while she realises
that her husband had left her.
She goes in search of him and meets him in Madurai where he tells her
that he cannot live with her. He together with his new family fall at
her feet and leave. She now renounces the world and takes the form of a
ghost.
She goes on pilgrimage to different shrines and she finally walks up
to Kailash on her head and hands not wanting to tread such sacred
ground. The Lord addressed her as ‘Ammaiye!’ and asked her what she
wanted. O Lord, as You dance, I want to sit at Your feet and see You
dancing.”
She sees His Tandava Dance and achieves the Lord’s blessings...
The Saiva Mangaiyar Kalagam is non-governmental organisation working
in the educational, religious, cultural and social fields for almost 80
years. Its premier organisation is the Saiva Mangaiyar Vidyalayam which
was founded over 75 years ago and has 2,400 children on roll with
classes from the kindergarten to the University entrance - GCE Advanced
Level.
As part of the ongoing Platinum celebrations, the students of the
Fine Arts Society in collaboration with their colleagues presented this
wonderful spectacle narrating the unusual story.
Each of the dancers danced her part with dedication and Smt.
Thiruveni Sangar took the part of Karaikkaal Ammaiyaar bringing the
story to the beautiful climax that it was to a full house.
One could see very clearly that the Kalagam President Sivanandini
Duraiswamy and her team have worked very delicately to present this
extraordinary ballet and she had the following to say with which I am
concluding -
“It was a pleasure to join hands with our sponsors, well-wishers and
the audience in presenting this wonderful spectacle bringing to life the
grand story of Ammaiyar. As a women’s organisation we chose this story
specially because Punithavathy, should be a role model for the growing
generation of Hindu girls.
“The funds that we are striving to collect will go towards the
education in computer, IT, multi media skills and English of more
displaced children from the north and east.
“The Vidyalayam is today the only private assisted Hindu school in
the island.
“May the Lord guide us in our endeavour.”
- Mangalam |
