Theruvil vaaraano was the line that came to mind. I was returning from my usual Sunday evening walk to Mylapore when turning into darkened Adam Street I saw this procession advancing in a blaze of light. Fireworks lit up the sky a short while later.
It was Singaravelar from the Kapaliswarar temple. He stopped at practically every house on Adam Street and accepted offerings. I then noticed that there was another procession forming just behind. Now who could that be?
It was Muthukumaraswami from Velleeswarar Temple! A little less grandiose but charming nonetheless. Now what were these two doing wandering about after dark? And with all those jewels and the two consorts too! I did not stop to ask and am still wondering as to what brought them in procession.
I was reminded of Subbarama Iyer’s padam – Ini yenna pecchu irukkidu
What is there to talk about? Go away!
Everyone is laughing over it
Having kept me here and not turning up to visit even once! Is that not enough of a blunder O Muthia who wields the spear?
It has all happened as wished
All limits have been crossed
O Lord of Valli of the fragrant tresses
O playboy who is moved by the Tamil of Subbarama (what is there to…)
Sriram,
Lovely translation of the song.
Pictures speak of the surprise encounter, not just once but twice.
It all resonates with me because a long time ago, when Nature still had its sway in most parts of India, I was at Devi PattaNam near DhanushkODi. Taking a narrow lane, I suddenly came upon the sea which in its expanse and its beauty bowled me over.
Years later, the same feeling filled me at the sight of lac Le man at the end of a village lane, the place where the English romantic poets found their inspiration.
That’s not all. Just recently read tiru vi ka’s treatise, Murugan alladu azhagu where he explains the same idea of how the ancient tamizhs worshipped Nature and gave it the name Murugu–and it all started in the Tirunelveli area :)–and he says that’s how Murugan worship started in TN.
To top it all, I received by mail the tamizh translation of JK’s Journals today which naturally speak of his communion with Nature…
And as BhArathi says: we seem to be doing: thEDi sORu nidam thinRu, pala chinnanchiRu kadaigaL pESi, manam vADith thunbamiga uzhanRu (intent just on what we eat, exchange little nothings, get absorbed in our own miseries)…
I would add, also spending time in ‘nI sowkyamA? nAn sowkyamA?’ (Hi, how are you? sort of queries).
Thank God for the serendipity which still is a possibility. Thanks to you for the piece…;)
Hi Arasi
Thanks for this lovely response to the piece
they were returning after vana bhojanam. while singaravelar had a abhishekam in a mandapam near mandaveli po and later on went upto adyar music college premises, muthukumaraswamy went directly to ra puram.
Tx! That explains it.