
‘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.
Dear Sriram Sir,
I totally loved how you have penned this piece. Right from the title to the last word to the picture of the crows on the Laburnum tree(?), I experienced sheer delight and wonder as I read it! Thank you!
Thanks!