Karaikal Ammaiyar

Karaikal Ammaiyar

(This is not yet a heritage trip- but a talk attended by me by Prof.Madhusudhanan Kalaichelvan.)

The history of the Saiva saints or “Nayanmars  have been recorded in verse form by Sekkizhar, who was the Chief minister of the Chola kingdom and also one of the great Tamil poets. Sekkizhar has recorded in greater detail the  12^th Thirumurai of the Saiva canonical scripture, held in great veneration. This records the lives and devotion of the three saints Thiru Gnanasambandhar, Thiru Navukkarasar and Sundaramurthy Nayanar. This is more than just poetry , it’s a documentation of the history, literature and music of those centuries.

Thirugnanasambandhar is said to have travelled widely and sung in many sthalams .When he came to Thirualankadu- he is said to have stood outside the main temple and sung, as Karaikal Ammaiyar had travelled on her head, using her hands to reach this temple and sit at the feet of dancing Shiva, to attain her moksham. He did not wish to walk on this holy land. Such was his respect for this lady of Karaikal.

Who was she? Why is only she sitting among all the 93 standing Nayanmars?

At the special talk with music (sung by Vidya Kalyanaraman) held on 18^th May 2018,for Madhuradhwani  Prof Madhusudhanan Kalaichelvan explained her life, her devotion, her works and shared some of her outstanding poems/songs, pointing out that she lived several centuries before the above mentioned three Nayanmars, her songs were composed in “ Natapadi pan”- one of the earliest form of  tamil grammar.

Her life story:

Karaikal- is a temple town today, once a prosperous sea port , it had many rich Vanniar (trading community) families living there. Into one specially pious and straightforward family was born  a female child, who was called Punithavathi by her fond parents. Steeped in Saivaite worship, Punithavathi was devoted to Shiva even as a child, lisping  his name even before she spoke words. (Recorded in her own song later.) As she matured into a lovely lady, her marriage was fixed with another Vanniyar youth Paramadattan  from Nagapattinam- but the fond father had laid a condition- the groom should move into Karaikal, so that his only daughter can continue to live in a new house built for them.

They lived happily for some time. One day while at the shop, Paramaduttan was presented two mangoes by some visitor. As these were reputedly of a  very special variety, he sent them home , intending to taste them at lunch. Punithavathi was in the habit of feeding all Siva bhaktas and mendicants who passed by and entered her house for alms or food. One such mendicant appeared that day. She happily laid out the food, prepared but the items were not yet ready- only freshly cooked rice and some curd was available.  (Please note- no curry or lentils – only white rice was served).To top this simple meal, she cut up one of the mangoes and served it to the visitor. The visitor had his fill and departed. (This incident was to  change her life forever)

Paramaduttan came home , sat down for his meal. Punithavathi brought the mango and served it at the end of the meal. It tasted delicious! Paramadattan asked for the second fruit also to be served.

Punithavathi dutifully went back into the kitchen, but beseeched Lord Shiva- to help her .Siva had been waiting for her to ask him anything. Even now she had not asked for herself. Immediately a fruit appeared and fell into her hands. Punithavathi went and served this to her husband. Paramadattan tasted this fruit and then grew suspicious. He asked her –“ this is not the fruit that you served me earlier- it tastes divine. I cannot imagine any variety of mango tasting like this one- where did you get it?” Confronted so directly, she answered truthfully- that she had served one of the fruits sent by him to a mendicant and now had asked Siva to help her, and he had given this fruit. Stunned with this answer, Paramadattan said-“ Oh so a miracle happened? Get me another fruit from Siva”.

Punithavathi went back into the kitchen and held out her hands, thinking “Siva- if you do not help me, my predicament will be grave”- Lo! Another mango dropped into it.

She returned and placed it in her husband’s hands. While he looked incredulously at it, it disappeared into thin air. The husband was totally shaken and frightened now. He felt his wife was no ordinary human.

 He very soon announced he would like to travel and build his business and therefore planned an ocean trip. Setting off with goods in  boat commissioned with their  resources, he left Karaikal on an auspicious day.

After travelling to many lands and making some money he reached a Pandian  town and settled there. He built himself  mansion and also enjoyed success and prosperity. He married again and had a daughter, whom he named Punithavathi.

Back in Karaikal, Punithavathi continued to live as usual, entertaining Siva mendicants who approached her home for food. Soon some one from her town happened to visit the Pandian town where Paramadattan lived, recognised him as the husband of Punithavathi. He reported back to this family. The elders felt they should take Punithvathi to her husband and make them re join, as she was still young and deserved a happy married life. Punithavathi dutifully went there with her parents, but Paramadattan , hearing of their approach, came to meet them outside the town and with his current wife and daughter, prostrated before Punithavathi, seeking her blessings. This sudden behaviour shocked everyone.

He explained that he could no longer think of Punithavathi as his wife as she was like  divine mother. Which is why he had named his daughter after her grandma!

Punithavathi realised this was another turning point for her. She prayed to Lord Siva to release her from worldly coils, transform her youth into old age- make her a crone- remove the attractions of flesh (curry) from her self and leave only the bones (The white rice). Her second wish to Lord Siva also was not for her comfort, but to release her from wordly responsibilities and help her attain him! Instantly her wish was granted.

She then started to travel on her own, writing many verses in Siva’s praise. She is said to have composed many songs describing Siva’s attributes, his hair, his dress, mainly his dance. She finally travelled to Kailasam, and went round the peak on her head rather than put her foot on the sacred soil. This crazy image is there in many sculptures and temples, but one should also treat this description  not literally but  philosophically,  it means she did not go in the way her feet led (Kaal pora pokule) but instead her intellect and wisdom. Anyhow- when she approached Siva, Parvathi asked  him, “ Who is this strange woman who seems to be all bones, and is approaching you, using  her head and hands?”

 Siva introduced her as his “ Ammai” –“ or “  mother.” He who has no parents, no beginning, no family, no attachments, craved for a mother and here she was- He asks “ Ammai ”- what she wants from him. She asks for her third and final boon- “Grant me release- no rebirth, if born ,I must never forget you,  always be with you, even when you dance the ugr thandavam. I should always sit at your feet and sing . Whenever I sing, you must dance for me!”

Siva grants her that- and says, “ Mother-  you need not suffer this harsh climate- go to the south and see me in Tirualankadu- (ala maram filled grove) and I will dance for you there.”

So Karaikal Ammaiyar returned to Tamil land, went to Alankadu temple and entered it on her head.

She is interned there in the main sanctum, which has Siva – with a walled up portion next to him, where she is supposed to have attained Samadhi. The Nataraja in Tirualankaadu is one of the oldest, it was here that Siva and Kali held their dance competition- as this was originally a Kali shrine.

Karaikal Ammaiyar’s stunning bronze figures are all lost from India- many are there in British museums and one on the Metropolitan Museum NY. There are also very stunning stone  ones in Srilanka, Cambodia and other lands wherever Hindu temple builders went to construct through the centuries.

Wherever there is a Siva dancing with his feet raised, there will be a Karaikal Ammaiyar figure on one side- seated with cymbals in her hand, keeping beat and singing. Siva dances whenever Ammaiyar sings.

(Google and see these figures – key in  Karaikal Ammaiyar Bronze- )

She is shown like  an ugly hag, drooping pointy breasts, bones and poky legs, grinning toothy mouth, wild hair. Outwordly ugly- shunning all wordly norms.

Probably the first truly liberated female .

Her temple in Karaikal enacts the mango story every year- with people throwing the fruit to all devotees on the streets. The folk play has the mango incident too as part of the family drama.

(documented and shared as blog  by Nithya Balaji)

Image below  of Siva dancing and Karaikal Ammaiyar seated nearby by S.Rajam in his book " Periapuranm in Pictures" published by The International Society for the investigation of Ancient Civiliztions. Edited by Dr.N.Mahalingam nd Narration in English by Dr.Prema Nndakumar.