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By Dushiyanthini Kanagasabapathipillai

“Kaaraikkaal Ammaiyaar”-the sixth century poetess is an embodiment of prayer and devotion; she is one of the early Saints of the Hindu Thirumurai, who was acclaimed by the Lord himself as “Ammaiye”-O Mother!

“Kaaraikaal Ammaiyaar” was born in Kaaraikaal, which is situated on the Eastern littoral of Tamil Nadu. Today it is one of the four regions of the Union Territory of Pondicherry.

“Kaaraikaal Ammaiyaar” means the mother of Kaaraikaal. Her childhood name is Punithavathy, meaning a pure one. She is called “Kaaraikaal Ammaiyaar” due to her exceptional devotion to Lord Siva.

The students of the Fine Arts Society of the Saiva Mangaiyar Vidyalayam known for their talents and commitment under the guidance of their Guru Smt.Triveni Shankar presented this unique story of “Kaaraikaal Ammaiyaar” as a ballet. Together with the students two well known Indian artistes Ashwatha Shrikanth and Nikhil Raveendran of Nrityaalaya Kerala joined in presenting the Shiva Thaandava dance. The ballet was performed at Kathiresan hall in Bambalapitty on July 26th 2008 at dusk.

And, as a finale of the programme Smt. Uma Muralikrishna presented Simhanandini dance where she dances drawing the Simha Peetam on the bed of Rangoli powder which was viewed by the audience on the video screen on the stage.

For Saiva Mangaiyar Vidyalayam, as a girls’ school, it is ideal to perform Kaaraikkaal Ammaiyaar’s story, and set her as a role model for the growing young generation.

The funds collected through the ballet will go towards in upgrading the education of information technology, multi media skills and English of more displaced children form North and East. Due to the conflict situation in the North and east, the children live with a sense of fear and need to have an education in a peaceful atmosphere.

The Saiva Mangaiyar Kazhagam today, is the only private assisted Hindu school in the Island and with great difficulty, it presents imparting skills to these children who are already with the school from the conflict areas together with the children from Colombo, plantation areas and greater Colombo areas. More children are seeking admission, and the requirements need to be met.

In this endeavour, Kazhagam has joined hands with the California based Visions Learning Centre, and has formed a Kazhagam Visions Learning Center in the school premises. The students danced dedicated in this ballet to collect funds to give an opportunity to learn by the future students of the school.

Multi coloured rice Kolam along with the clay lamps lit at the main entrance

“Narththana Pillaiyar” along with the “Nirai Kudam” and “Kuththu Vilakku” decorates the entrance

Young women serve sugar cane candy (Katkandu) and welcome the invitees

Little clay lamps lamps are lit on the edge of the stage

Idol of Sivalingam is decorated and kept on the stage

Bargavi Baskaran dances as little Punithavathy

Kaaraikaal Ammaiayar worships Lord Siva alongwith his wife Goddess Parvathi

Kaaraikaal Ammaiyaar was great devotee of Lord Siva

From childhood Punithavathy grew up in a religious atmosphere and worshiped Lord Siva diligently.

Lord Siva and his wife Goddess Parvathy bless Kaaraikaal Ammaiyar in Kailasa mountain

A part of the beautiful ballet by the students

Punithavathy was eager to entertain the devotees of Lord Siva

Kaaraikaal Ammaiyaar was the first Saint to compose hymns in the style of Pathikam

Punithavathiyara’s father Dharmadathan and mother Dhanalakshmi Ammal

Kaaraikaal Ammaiyar created two Thirumai namely Atputha Thiruvanthathi, and Thiru Irattai Mani Malai

She enchanted the five letter mantra Namasivaya.

Kaaraikkaal Ammaiyaar has immortalised her experience in 143 beautiful songs

About 90 students performed at the ballet

Spectacular performance by another set of students

She pioneered “Pathikam” and it became popular

She betrothed in divine musical composition

Little dancers of Saiva Mangaiyar Kazhagam

The divine play enacted her intense love for Lord Siva

Dancers of all age performed under one roof

Script and song for the beautiful two hours long ballet was by Professor Gana Kulendran; Vocal by Sri A. Aruran, Smt.Sashiyanthi Shankar and Smt.Nilani Gobishankar

Different sets were used in the ballet to vividly portray the life and times of Kaaraikkaal Ammaiyaar

Being an ardent devotee of Lord Siva, she sang hymns in praise of the deity

Geerthana Satchithananthan performs as young Punithavathiyaar

She was endowed with heavenly gifts

Pooja is performed to Lord Sivalingam

A Siva Yogi comes to Punithavathy’s house

Punithavathy is being blessed by the Siva Yogi

Siva Yogi is being served meals at Punithavathy’s house

Handsome and wealthy rice merchant Paramadhaththan comes to marry Punithavathiyaar

Punithavathy’s friends savouring the moment

Punithavathy is getting married

Punithavathiyaar with her husband Paramadhaththan

Dance composition, Nattuvangam and Choreography by Smt.Thiruveni Sangar

Mango vendor sells delicious mangoes

Tamil music revived largely due to the four Saiva Saints, twelve Alvaars and various other saint composed devotional hymns

Punithavathiyaar at her house

Punithavathiyaar serves meals to her husband

Paramadhaththan queries about the mangoes he sent for his beloved wife

Punithavathy ponders as what to do

Paramadhaththan wonders about the where about of the mangoes

“Is there a way to find similar mangoes with similar taste” asks Punithavathiyaar

The query about the mangoes continues

Punithavathiyaar is still perplexed

Punithavaithiyaar offers fervent prayers to Lord Siva

Lord Siva heard her prayers and a mango was found in here hands. She served that mango to her husband

The mango vanished, when she gave it to her husband

He is surprised

He is completely confounded

He decides to leave his wife

Mango was a divine gift

He went to Madurai without revealing his decision to anybody

Karakaattam is being performed in Madurai

Punithavathiyaar comes to Madurai

She comes to know that her husband married again in Madurai

Her husband prostrated before her and said that he cannot be her husband as she is supernatural with the great power and devotion to Lord Siva

She faints as she is unable to absorb the loss

Punithavathiyaar is unable to accept the fact that here husband is remarried

Sharaniya Nadarajan acts as old Kaaraikaal Ammaiyar

Lord Siva appears in Kailash mountain

Kaaraikkaal Ammaiyaar always wanted to witness the cosmic dance by Lord Siva in Kailash mountain

Kaaraikkaal Ammaiyar has decided to leave Madurai after hearing the news of her husband’s remarriage, and she comes to Kailash mountain

She decides to be at Kailash mountain

She renders her religious duties to Lord Siva

Her charming smiling face expresses her inner peace

Feeling that it would be a great sin to place her foot on those sacred grounds, she made the last part of the journey on her head to Kailash mountain. This scene was shown on screen to the audience

Nikhil Raveendran from Kerala dances as Lord Sivaperuman, and Aswathy Srikanth also from Kerala dances as Goddess Parvathi.

He started his lessons in Bharatha Natyam at the tender age of four under Guru Smt.Kalamandalam Saraswathy- Director Nrityalaya. He is now specilising in Bharatha Natyam under the guidance of Srikanth and Ashwathy, the dancing duo of Kerala and is a trainee in the faculty of the dance school. He also trained in Kuchchupudi, Kalari (martial art) and folk dance. He has won several awards at the Youth Festival in Kerala, and first place in Bharatha Natyam and Kuchchupudi at the Calicut University Arts Festival. He has given more than 200 performances withing the country.

Kaaraikkaal Ammaiyar finally reached Kailash mountain

Lord Siva addressed her with the words of love calling her “Ammaiye” (O Mother!)

‘Oh Lord of Mercy, give me sincere, pure, unalloyed, eternal and overflowing devotion unto You. I want no more birth. If, however, I have to take birth here, grant me that I should never forget You. Whenever You dance, I must be at Your feet singing Your praise. This is my only wish.’

Lord Siva granted the boon

She blissfully plays the cymbals and sings to the glory of Lord Siva

She got an irresistible desire to see dancing Lord Siva

Lord Siva agrees to perform his mystic dance for her to enjoy

Lord Siva’s dance in Kailash mountain

When she saw the dance of the Lord Siva transcending the Universe, she sang in bliss “Muththa Pathigam”

Lord Siva dances along with his wife Parvathy

The dance of Lord Siva with the matted hair that is wet with the honey of fresh flowers put her in eternal happiness under His holy feet, she sang another Thiruppathikam-”Etti IlavammIkai “

Kaaraikkaal Ammaiyaar was a loving and devotional wife

She learnt to do slavery to Lord Siva ever since she was s child

Kaaraikkaal Ammaiyaar asked for immortal blissful love for Lord Siva

Ashwathy Srikanth:

Ashwathy started her dance training under here mother at the Nrityalaya School for Classical Dance at the tender age of four. She gave her first performance at the age of seven. She is trained in Carnatic music, and has her Post-Graduate Degree in English language, and literature fro the University of Calicut. This has led to her desire to do research work combining South Indian Classical dance and Indian literature at a later date.

She is trained in three forms of dance namely Bharathanatyam, Mohiniyattam and Kuchchupudi. She dances together with her husband Shri Srikanth-the duo specialises in Bharathanatyam. Ashwathy performs regularly in Chennai and is a graded artiste of Dooradarshan in Bharathanatyam and Mohiniyattam. She has toured extensively in Indian and several countries

Mango festival is held annually in India

Kaaraikkaal Ammaiyaar’s unparalleled devotion to Lord Siva elevated her to the status of Goddess

Her devotional hymns form sixth part of Thirumurai

Kaaraikkaal Ammaiyaar is one of the 63 saints, who lived during the period of sixth and tenth century and composed devotional hymns

Her domestic life was full of pure joy and love

She spent her rest of her life at the feet of Lord Siva by singing in praise of him and serving him

Kaaraikkal Ammaiyar is the oldest in this great galaxy of musical exponents

Kaaraikkaal Ammaiyar is also known as “Our Lady of Angels”

Language (Iyal), music (Isai) and drama (nadagam) are interwoven

Performers gather on the stage to thank the audience

Uma Muralikrishna in “Simhanandini”

A magnificent performance by Uma Muralikrishna

Uma Murakrishna:

Smt.Uma Murakrishna is a graceful dancer with unprecedented talenst of Kuchchupudi and Bharatha Natyam schools of classical Indian dance. She is popularly acclaimed in dance circles as “Poetry in Movement”, and is wellknown for the purity and grace of her skill.

She has danced in different countries of the world includin India. Several titles have been bestowed on her by cultural associations namely “Natyakala Ratna”, “Singamani Yuvakala Bharathi”, “Nadanamamani”, and “Kalaimamani”. She is the founder director of “Subhasheede’, Academy of Fine Arts, a cultural organisation which promotes classical Indian dance and music.

In Sri Lanka, Uma Murakrishna performed “Simhanandini”, the rare and ancient Kuchchupudi dance form for which she is wellknown. This unique piece has for its song content, six thalams, lyrics and the climax of the item is the depiction on Rangoli powder of the figure of the Simha Peetam by the dancer with intricate and rhythmic foot movements. This is dedicated to Goddess Durga, the Goddess seated on a lion.

Simha Peetam drawn on Rangoli powder by Uma Murakrishna by her rhythmatic foot movements
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Email:dushi.pillai@gmail.com