‘The animals went in two by two, hurrah hurrah,

The elephant and the kangaroo, hurrah hurrah’

How well I remember singing this as a child in Vidya Mandir. I was particularly good at it though even then I wondered as to how ‘But for the lion they all felt fine,’ was supposed to rhyme. I remember singing it as ‘But for the line they all felt fine’ and old Leela Sampathkumar worked herself up into a rage. Anyway that is a song I remember particularly well, though I don’t know the lines after nine. I still hum the tune to myself at times. It is as you know a song on Noah’s ark. The great man comes in when the animals go in eight by eight (Noah thought the weight was too great) and so his Mudra is there in the composition, though purists have cast doubts in whether it is an original Noah kriti.

Last week, having finished reading the Thiruuvachakam I picked up Appar’s Thevaram and even within the first few pages, I came across this beautiful set of ten verses on Thiruvaiyyaru. What was wonderful was the way each of the stanzas ended with Appar sighting an animal or bird pair. To him they all appear as manifestations of Uma Maheswara. I am attempting a translation here –

1.

Having silently joined those

Who early in the morning

Sing of the crescent-bearing Lord

And His wife the mountain daughter

And bear water for Their worship

I was safely within reach of Thiruvaiyyaru

When I saw a loving bull elephant

walking with his mate

In them I saw Their feet

I comprehended the incomprehensible

2.

Singing Hail to the Lord

I danced in circles

Praising He of the crescent moon

And His flower-bedecked consort

I was within sight of Thiruvaiyyaru

Praised by the disc-wielding Lord

When I saw a rooster walking together

With its hen

In them I saw Their feet

I comprehended the incomprehensible

3.

When with beaming smile

Dancing appropriate to the beat

And singing of the Lord of the bright moon

And His jewel-bedecked consort,

I came near Thiruvaiyyaru

With its river of white water

I saw the cuckoo sing and

Dance with its mate

In them I saw Their feet

I comprehended the incomprehensible

4.

When I was within sight of

Iyyaru where the cuckoos sing

I sang of the thin crescent-bearing Lord

And His bangle-wearing consort

I plucked flowers on the banks

And worshipped the Lord

To the satisfaction

Of my arms and shoulders

I then saw the rooster

Dancing with its female

In them I saw Their feet

I comprehended the incomprehensible

5.

I was within sight of

Iyyaru where the dancing Lord resides

After singing, clapping and dancing

Across forests, flatland and hills

Singing of the crescent-wielder

and His consort

I then sighted a peacock

Happy in the company of its peahen

In them I saw Their feet

I comprehended the incomprehensible

6.

Having realised the truth

Having understood and melted

I sing

Of the Lord bearing the cool moon

And His consort, the first among women

I approach Iyyaru

Where the Lord resides

When I see the colourful Anril (the glossy ibis)

Dancing with its mate

In them I saw Their feet

I comprehended the incomprehensible

7.

Singing and praising

The form and colour of

the Lord bearing the shining moon,

And His consort,

I was within sight of Iyyaru

Where He of uplifted foot resides

When I saw the wild boar

Of thunderous voice

And its consort

In them I saw Their feet

I comprehended the incomprehensible

8.

Waking up early

And gathering the best flowers

I sing of the Lord who wears the

Moon that is beloved of all,

And His gentle consort

I come to Iyyaru on whose banks

The rivers deposit gold and gems

And there I behold

The Stag and his doe

In them I saw Their feet

I comprehended the incomprehensible

9.

Not having risen above attachment

Despite singing of the

Crescent-wielding Lord

And His consort of dense tresses

I approach Iyyaru

Hoping for grace

When I see the crane (this could be the stork or the crane)

With its consort

In them I saw Their feet

I comprehended the incomprehensible

10.

Wondering where I will be blessed

I sing of the moon-bearing Lord

And His honey-tongued consort

And move from place to place

As I approach Iyyaru

Where damsels dance

I see a parrot and its mate

Flying towards me

I saw the Lord’s golden feet

I comprehended the incomprehensible

11.

Not wanting to waste time

I sing of the Lord who bears the waxing moon

And His consort of the long tresses

And stand by His door

Hoping to receive grace

As I near Iyyaru

Brimming with love

I see a young bull

Rejoice in the company of a cow

In them I saw Their feet

I comprehended the incomprehensible

Like the Noah’s ark song, Appar sings of various animals in pairs and through him, and other poets like him, we get a wealth of information on the flora and fauna of the time. It is a resource that is not often cited or referred to. There are plenty more like this and I recall vaguely a pasuram of Thirumangai Alwar (?) at Thirukurungudi. Will write on it when I find time.

A word on the picture – I had in mind the classic S Rajam depiction of Appar when yesterday I suddenly came across this pair of crows happily swinging on the cassia fistula tree outside my study. They were my inspiration to write this piece. Maybe I too comprehended something of the incomprehensible.