: by BG
The dry leaves were whirling listlessly on the ground on a hot but windy mid-summer noon. The rustling noise they created was all that was heard. The mooing of a cow from far was breaking the monotony.
The summer sun was mercilessly brushing the earth making it hotter. On the narrow path – the ridge in between the post-harvest dry paddy fields a hazy figure trudged on, not heeding the beating heat of the sun. clad in a white dhoti with a country drum (Chenda) slung on his shoulder, a sandal paste mark (Kuri) on his forehead. White cranes in flocks scurried around the parched fields searching for critters with insatiable hunger, oblivious of the sweltering heat.
Chakki will have kanji and chamandi with the kids, he thought. Ho! Would kunjiraman return the borrowed 12 annas? Or paavam chakki will not be able to buy ration this month.
It was a long way ahead. The fair (pooram) was at the Thedambatukavu on the other end, at the foothills of Nayatumala. The night of gaiety & pomp. The Traditional dancers, poyikalu kuthira, pulikali, padayani dancers, Kanniyarkalli, poorakali, kavadiyattam, theyya Kolam, the caparisoned elephants, the oracle, the Pooja, and so on…… ending with a three-hour-long spectacular display of fireworks.
Tonight, after the pooram and koodipiriyal (closing ceremony) I will go and have some toddy with Kunjikrishnan the mahout of the famous Ramabhandran. Ramabhandran will be bearing the holy thedambu (idol of the goddess). Ah... if Velaudhedetten is there, we all would have a difficult time. The old military stories and imaginary Pakistani soldiers he shot on the glacier & Galwan valley. I doubt if he has ever seen a soldier. Unbearable indeed. Hope Maadhu would be available after the bangle sales. She is fully worth the 2 rupees!!!
This was an annual event in the name of the goddess – to please her, to get her blessings: for rains, grains, gains, prosperity, fertility, good luck, etc., all for the year to come. Offerings in cash and kind, cheap and costly according to the devotee's capability – financial of course. Mostly a show of status and wealth. As if the Goddess even cares. Belief, faith, traditions, customs, heritage, ancestry……… that is the driving force – the basis of religion & its rituals.
Does the Goddess carved in Krishna shila (Black Stone) even know? With ten arms, fully armed with weapons of the yore, ferocious and frightening, bedecked in the thiruvabharanam (Holy ornaments), anointed with turmeric, Kumkum & flowers. Topless she stands with perfect rounded breasts. The dexterity of a master sculptor. She stands in a semi dance but protective pose with staring eyes, dangling tongue, and protruding fangs. (Definitely Protective but scary indeed.) Perfect figure and chiseled features. In the light of the oil lamps within the dark sreekovil (the sanctum sanatorium) she stands as the protector of the Desam (area), the Dream deliverer, the giver, all-in-all of the devotees.
As he approaches the village, on the narrow dirt road, from the left the gothic black figure of Kondatha Ramabhandran appeared. The distant clanking of the heavy iron chains in the air made him halt and stare. What a view!!!!! The giant pachyderm with the palm trees and the setting sun for a fascinating backdrop. As he waited with the expectation like a child waiting for the balloon man, he heard Kunjikrishnan call out "endhaaa Balakrishna". "Aa sugham" he replies still staring at the magnificent pachyderm.
The giant ambled on in slow and deliberate gait. He looked a bit funny as if he had grown a mustache in between his trunk and tusk. Years have etched sandal paste markings on his ears and forehead blotched with black creating a fascinating mosaic adding to his “aana chandam”. He carried the white tusk, perfect and cut to shape with pride and arrogance. He moved closer, the nail on his legs perfect and inverted half-moons, the honey-colored eyes and long lashes, the flapping of the ears with a small thud - all signs of perfections of an elephant as per Mathangaleela became clearly visible. “Thalayeduppu ila orru thikanja komban”. The sahiyande magan (approached closer and snorted. The smell of the elephant "aana chooru" was so strong.
The mahout threw him a beedi and the matchbox. He bit the beedi and lit it with the matchbox cupped in his hand and puffed away in pleasure with a smile. They walked in silence except for the clanking of chains. The village was visible as a glow further down the paddy fields with a megaphone blaring some old movie song. Slowly a crowd of little boys and girls followed the elephant giggling loudly. All of a sudden Ramabhandran released one big load of dung much to the amusement of the little ones who burst out into laughter.
By now a big crowd had gathered around the elephant. Ramabhandran took the by-lane to the small Creek for a quick bath. He laid down in the water enjoying being brushed and scrubbed with the coconut husk. He enjoyed every minute of it, while the crowd looked on. All of a sudden like a mischievous kid he sucked in water into his trunk and sprayed the on Lookers.
After a quick dip in the water, Balakrishnan said "kaanatto "and rushed towards the temple. As he reached the temple, all the drummers and other musicians were already there. Then the committee president saw him come in and said, "you are late be quick and join the rest".
There was a tall man with grey hair, a walrus moustache with betel juice dribbling from the corners of his mouth with a tummy like a pregnant cow. On his chest dangled a gold Mani maala with a tiger claw locket. With one end of his dhoti held on. held on his forearm he walks as if he owned the place. The thick grey hair covered his chest and back. A single white stone studded earring and raised forehead marked with Kumkum. He then turned around and said, "now where is this elephant hope the mahout is not drunk as usual". Somebody in the crowd responded, "they are washing him in the creek". "Oh, that's great news".
The two policemen on duty with the pointed turban and the pleated trousers and the lathi dangling from the button of their applet. Wearing slippers with cut socks and khaki patties. Thick moustaches twirled at ends with the typical "Police nonchalant, “know all” and “don't care” expression leaning on the bamboo post, disinterestedly watched the activities all around.
The Mel Shanthi, a small man with a hermit-like beard and long hair walked in with all his parivaram. The president handed over the keys of the temple- a ceremonial ritual- to the Melshanti. The Melshanti went up the thripadi, bowed low, and opened the lock. Touching the padi, with obeisance and reverence entered the temple.
The vellichapdu a slim bony many with this long hair, palli vaalu & chelambu, clad in a red dhoti walked up to the tripadi and bowed and waited. He kept his palli Val and bowed to the deity and loudly said "Amme bhagavathy rekshikene". After the lighting of the oil lamps, decorating the Devi, chanting of mantras, tinkling of the bells – the hour-long pooja ended. The palli vaalu & chelambu were ceremoniously handed over by the mel shanthi to the Velichapadu.
The vellichapdu went into a trance and screamed and ran around the temple- the mesmerized crowd respectfully watching with hands held together in prayer.
And then there was an explosion: deafening and blinding. After a gap of few brief fleeting movements filled with Screams and howls: All went silent. When the pall of smoke started to clear, the smell of gunpowder mixed with that of burnt flesh filled the dimly lit temple grounds.
Yes, eerily she the protector stood in the moonlight bedecked in ornaments and flowers, staring over the corpses and destruction; the temple was blown away, but she stood unmoved unaffected:
Stoically, she stands as the protector of the Desam (area), the Dream deliverer, the giver, Protector, the curer, the carer the all-in-all of the devotees.
To quote Sree Adi Shankaracharya
Ajam nirvikalpam niraakaaramekam
Niraanandamaanandam advaita poornam
Param nirgunam nirvishesham nireeham
Parabrahmaroopam Ganesham bhajema
Meaning
We worship the unborn,
unchanging, formless,
the one, beyond bliss and full of bliss,
who is the fullness of non-duality, the supreme, devoid of qualities,
without differences, and beyond desire,
Shrī Ganesha, the Supreme Brahman personified.
Then, far away somewhere in the horizon tearing the wall of silence - there was a loud and long-drawn trumpet of an elephant in pain.
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