Gleanings:
Transcreating part of 'Kantha Puranam'
K S Sivakumaran
Going back to the genre of the ancient 'Purana' literature in Thamil,
one finds Kachchiappa Sivachariar's Kanthapuranam holding a prestigious
place particularly among the Thamilians of Yaalpaanam. In fact a scholar
from that region the late Pandithamani Kanapathillai eluded that "Kanthapurana
Kalasaram" (The Culture of Kantha Puranam) is the Culture of the people
in the North. "Kantha" is the Thamil word for the Sanskrit "Skanda" and
it refers to the deity in Kathirkamam (Kataragama) who the Thamilians
call Murugan or Kanthasamy and other names.
Thamil folklore
To introduce part of the original work in Thamil to readers in
English, particularly the children of Thamilian parents living in
foreign climes a book has been published. These children do not know
Thamil as they study the languages of the west where they live. But if
they could read in English, then they may be able to know something
about their language, religion and culture. To facilitate this task a
scholar V Sivarajasingam transcreated suitably some sections of the
original work in lucid and clear language. The title of the work is "The
Divine Exploits of Skandakumara" and it is published by the Department
of Hindu Culture and Religious Affairs in Colombo. The book was launched
last Friday (May 29, 2009) at the Ramakrishna Seminar Hall in Wellawatta.
Book launch
Chaired by the Director of the Department Shanthi Navukkarasan, two
prominent scholars - Vidwan Kalabooshanam Vasantha Vaithianathan and
Prof. K Shanmugavel from Thamilnadu - spoke at the launch.
Yours truly was asked to review the book apart from the respected
author, M. Shanmuganatahan also spoke. Departmental officials sang hymns
and presented the programme.
The author V. Sivarajasingam was an Assistant Commissioner of the
Official Languages Department, and visiting English Lecturer in the
University of Yaalpaanam.
What follows is an abridged version of the review presented for the
occasion.
The book in English is titled 'The Divine Exploits of Skandakumara'
and I would have liked either Skandakumar or Skandakumaran used instead
of Skandakumara to refer to the Thamil Deity Lord Murugan.
This book is primarily addressed to non-Hindus in all communities in
Lanka as well as the Hindus of all sects. As such, the identity of
Skanda as in Sanskrit or Kanthan in Thamil could have been better
related to Kachiyappar's Kanthapuranam in Thamil.
But this is only a minor observation of mine. However the writer must
have had the Lankan Sinhala community in mind, particularly the
Buddhists when he wrote this book. Of course the sylvan deity Lord
Murugan is enshrined in the southern locality Kathirkaamam also known as
Kataragama. Leaving aside the concern for the nomenclature, let us see
what the book is all about.
Saiva Siththantham
The thin volume is really an exposition and elucidation of the
quintessence of Kachiyappar's Kanthapuranam, which all knowledgeable
people know as one of the source books to know more about Saiva
Siththantham, followed by the majority of Lankan Thamilians as well as a
great number of Thamilians elsewhere in the globe, particularly in
Thamilnadu.
The Hindus in the North, East and elsewhere in the country consider
Lord Murugan or Kanthan as one of the primary divinities of the Saivaite
Thamilians. The famous Nallur Temple in the North, Mandoor Temple in the
East and Kathirgamam in the deep southwest of the island are standing
testimony of the reverence most of us have for Skanda or Kanthan as we
call in Thamil.
The Foreword
S. Vinaykamoorthy in his foreword to the book also refers to the
poetic quality of the Purana or Kanthap Puranam, besides informing us
that the writer V. Sivarajasingam has "written an interpretation of one
section of the work titled 'Soora Pathman Shashti Vathaipadalam' in 1992
for the benefit of devotees who recite it during the Kanthar fasting
period." As S V says in his foreword, the writer, V S, has followed the
sequential of the work concerned. I agree with the observation of High
Court Judge R T Vigna Raja's pronouncement that Hindu social reformers
turned to religious texts with different purposes in mind. Some sought
inspiration from them; some simply wanted to highlight the golden
moments in Hindu philosophy, but the author of this book wanted to bring
to light the nuances of Puranic thoughts". The author of this book V
Sivarajasingam intended: "The work by Kachiyappar is better termed a
transmogrification rather than translation, for he has made many changes
structurally and substantially. Kanthapuranam among many other things
speaks predominantly of the glory, grace and prowess of Skandaouranam."
At this point I suggest to the author that instead of using
'transmogrification', he could have used a now accepted term 'transcreation'
to works that are inspired by some text but creatively interpreted as
Kambar's Ramayanam from Vaalmiki's Ramayana.
Poetic excellence
I agree with the writer as many of us would endorse, when he says
that "Kanthapuranam has poetic excellence, depth of knowledge, beauty of
language and above all the depiction of divine grace of Lord Skantha and
of God's ways of effusing it to those who seek it."
Quoting Sivarajasingam's Prolegomenon as it underlines the essence of
the original work and the author's own interpretation: "Though it is
preeminently considered a religious 'epic' ('epic' because an epic
largely belongs to another genre) it deals with all kinds of thoughts,
philosophical and metaphysical concepts necessary for spiritual and
material lives. It deals with the four cardinal values of dharma, Artha,
Kaama and Moksha (Virtue, pleasure and salvation) and expounds ways and
means of attaining them."
Lord Siva's grace
Next is the author's other points: "It upholds the greatness of Saiva
Saints and devotees and the profuseness of Lord Siva's grace." The book
is interspersed with hymn - like verses that are suitable for reciting
during daily prayers." In Kasipa Muni's sermon to his sons are
encapsulated the tenets of Saiva Sithantha. "Maya's advice to her son-
Surapathman- has its base in Charavaka philosophy. In this manner the
book abounds with information pertaining to every aspect of life,
knowledge and values."
Having seen what the theme of the book is from an authentic voice, we
shall next see briefly what attracted me most. In arranging the content
structurally, the author has divided the book into the following Cantos
or 'chapters'. There are six cantos in the 118 page book. The book
begins with Siva and Uma on Mount Kailas and ends when Skanda weds
Valliamma.
The six cantos
Admittedly I need not comment on each of the items in the six cantos,
because the book is for your reading pleasure. But I shall comment on
the author's presentation and quote a relevant passage which pleased me.
Before I do that, I should substantiate my understanding that the
writer Sivarajasingam is not only a scholar in his field but also an
admirable translator from Thamil to English.
A sample:
Adoration to Vinayaga
Adoration to the holy feet
of the lord
With ten arms and
five faces
Adoration to him
in whose waist band
The sun-god rests
as diamond stand
Adoration to him
who bears the name
of Vikatachakra.
Obeisance to Subramania
Obeisance to the twice
three faces of Kumara
Obeisance to the
grace flowing
from the six faces
Obeisance to the showers
held in admiration by all
Obeisance to the shying
spear resting in his hand
Obeisance to the Lord
residing at Kanchmango
grove
Obeisance to the
cock banner and
peacock vehicle.
Let me conclude that Sivarajasingam has done a good job in giving us
in English the beautiful poetic prose of Kaachiapar Sivachariar in a
simple but highly polished and equally poetic language and he deserves
to be congratulated. I shall read out the first passage only to invite
your attention to his flowing and flowery language.
"Mount Kailas stands majestically- aloft licking the sky with its
snow capped peaks. It is the abode of Siva the omnipotent Lord. It
abounds with innumerable Rishis and Devas. Around it are the cities of
Indira and other regents of the spheres"
The style is suitably in tune with the serenity of the tone of the
passage. The book is recommended for all who want to know about Thamil
Literature and Saivaism. [email protected]
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