Ulagudaya Perumal Kathai
இந்தப் பக்கத்தை தமிழில் வாசிக்க: உலகுடைய பெருமாள் கதை
Ulagudaya Perumal Kathai (The tale of Ulagudaya Perumal), a Tamil folk epic, is believed to be the longest oral epic in Tamil Nadu. Folklore epics are generally learnt and propagated orally. It does not have the strict grammar of a classic literature and instead employs the spoken dialect used by common folks.
Publication history
Till the 19th century, Ulagudaya Perumal Kathai existed only as in the oral form, being recited and performed as Villupattu[1], whose performers sometimes had handwritten copy of the story. It was curated by N. Ramaswamy Sastry in the year 1916 from a private collection at Parthibasekarapuram and brought to print.
Arumuga Perumal Nadar, an early publisher of Kanyakumari's folklores has published one version of this tale. Professor Natarajan has published the full version in 1981. Noted folklore researchers like A.K Perumal and Trivikraman Thampi have also written about it.
Author
Sirandha Palurudaiyan gurunathan Sirithu kalvi arivithavarudaiya
Senthamizithu araaindhu paadave
Narpadathai sirathil tharithallo
Navalar thangal paathathai thuchchiyaal
Eppuviyum pugazhum kuzanthaiyil
Iravikkaaralan ithai chepinnan
The story says thus about its author.
From the above note, we understand that the name of the author-poet is Iravi Kaaraalan. Trivikaraman Thampi in his book Thekkan Paatukal (Southern Songs) mentions that the author's name could be a modified version of Karaalan or Karaiyaalan, which was one of the titles given to landlords. Karai meaning a part of land and Karaalan signifies the owner of that land. This title was given to Yadavars, Vellalars and Nadar communities.
The poet mentions his birthplace as Palur. Dr. Natarajan in his book mentions the birthplace of the author as Mathur instead of Palur. The ancient kunju veedu (literally, small house) at Palur has housed many poets from the 14th century. Many Villupattu artists like Raman Pillai, Kumarakutti Pillai, Palur Thangappan Pillai are some of the famous names. Kumarakutti Pillai is considered a trailblazer in the field of Villupattu. Thangappan Pillai is considered to be a pioneer in Thallukavi, a folk art comprising songs performed during wrestling matches. Palur is located around the Karungal - Thengaipatinam road in Kanyakumari district. Trivikraman Thampi believes that Iravi Karalan could be their ancestor.
Time Period
From the manuscripts available today, Trivikaraman Thampi assesses that the folk epic might have been written during 1559 C.E (around Kollam year 735). Many manuscripts have the inscription 'thus ends the story in the manuscript' followed by the number 735.
Trivikraman Thampi looks for mention of further clues within the content of the story to determine the time period. There is a mention of the Portuguese naval force in the story. The Portuguese defeated and killed the famous pirate Kutti Ali Maraikkayar on the Arabian sea. The story has a mention of this battle.
According to K.M. Panicker, Kutti Ali Maraikkayar was killed in the year 1531. The historians and litterateurs of Kerala have taken note of this stand. Ullur Parameswara Iyer who traced the history of Kerala's literary history observed that the story is ancient. However, he expressed doubts about the archaic value of the manuscript, as it contained some contemporary words. Trivikraman Thampi emphasizes that Villupattu by virtue of being routinely performed could have easily given way to the mixture of contemporary words in its midst.
Kunjan Nambiar (1705-1770), a notable poet of Kerala in his Thullal poem writes as follows:
Ulagudaya Perumal vazhum kalam palakudaiyilla tharithriyilenggum.
Meaning, when Ulagudaya Perumal ruled, there were not many rulers with their royal umbrellas. This is proof that Ulagudaya Perumal was well known even in the 17th century. This tale is also known as Thamburan Pattu. (the song of Thamburan)
Plot
As the name suggests, Ulagudaya Perumal Kathai is the story of the heroic rise and fall of the protagonist Ulagudaya Perumal. It is an epic with elements of a tragedy in it. Of 9000 lines of the tale, only 8000 lines have survived.
Pon Perumal-Malaiyammai couple give birth to five sons - namely, Kulasekaran, Mukil Perumal, Mudivilangum Perumal, Varodayan and Maduraveera Perumal and one daughter, Ponnaruvi. Ponnaruvi's story is performed separately by Villupattu.
Pon Perumal ruled with Madurai as his capital. His enemies attacked and killed him. All the royal family members, except Ponnaruvi, scattered. She married a local chieftain named Ponnum Perumal at the age of 12. She stayed at a castle at Vaiyakkarai and was known as Vaiyakkarai Thayar (the lady of Vaiyakkarai). As she couldn't conceive, the couple conducted many rites and rituals to beget children. Their prayers were answered and they begot a son whom they named Ulagudaya Perumal.
The story begins from the birth of Ulagudaya Perumal. Celebratory rites like the Irupathu etuu kattuthal (Arainaan kattuthal - an amulet tied around the waist of toddlers), Aata pirandhanaal are performed. At the age of five, formal education is initiated. A teacher by the name Nilakanta Kanakkan is traditionally invited by giving Vetrilai Pakku (betel leaf and areca nut) through a messenger. The messenger goes from Kanyakumari to Travancore and all the areas he covers are mentioned. Ulagudaya Perumal learns to write on the sand and on manuscripts. He learns the art of wielding weaponry after the age of 10 years. A teacher from the Panicker community belonging to Tulunadu teaches him to wield weapons.
A task is set to test his talents. He is asked to buy horses from a place called Ariyakarai. Ulagudaya Perumal pays the Portuguese army at the Manakudi port to assist his army. They set sail to Ariyakarai in boats. They buy horses and explosives and return. On their way back Kutti Ali Maraikkayar blocks their passage. In the ensuing battle the captain shoots Kutti Ali Maraikkayar and returns with horses. As Kutti Ali Maraikkayar is close to the king of Madurai, the king sends his Kattalar army (highly skilled warriors) to capture Ulagudaya Perumal and the captain. In the meantime, Ulagudaya Perumal gathers a cavalry unit and chases the Kattalar army.
Ulagudaya Perumal marries seven beautiful women. He then seeks permission from his mother Ponnaruvi to take revenge against the king of Madurai. His mother notices some bad omens and rejects his request. Ulagudaya Perumal coerces an affirmation out of her. He also seeks permission from each of seven wives. He seeks the help of many chieftains along the way. Ulagudaya Perumal's army rest at Edalaram. Madurai king learns this information through his spies and stays at Singarathoppu.
Battle begins the next morning. The king of Madurai loses and is hotly pursued by Ulagudaya Perumal into Madurai, as he tries to escape. Ulagudaya Perumal captures Madurai. The Madurai king flees to Manamadurai. With the help of his community members, he marshals an army, which Ulagudaya Perumal defeats again. Ulagudaya Perumal reaffirms his throne at Madurai much to the delight of Ponnaruvi.
The fleeing king of Madurai gathers another army of tribesmen from hill to attack Ulagudaya Perumal. He emerges victorious. Ulagudaya Perumal's sword breaks during the battle, forcing him to retreat. His army retreats with him. Ulagudaya Perumal decides that committing suicide is better than dying at the hands of the enemy. He requests his brothers to kill him. They refuse and request him to kill them. Ulagudaya Perumal kills his brothers and cuts his own throat. All their souls reach Lord Siva at Kailasam (the heavenly abode of Lord Siva, according to the Hindu mythology) On hearing his news, the King of Madurai is deeply saddened. He performs the last rites for Ulagudaya Perumal and erects Nadukal (hero stones) in their memory to worship.
History
Trivikraman Thampi attempts to draw certain inferences based on the facts mentioned in Ulagudaya Perumal Kathai. He believes that 'Aariyakarai' refers to the coastal areas of Kollam during the reign of Portuguese. There is no documented proof of there being any one by the name of Ulagudaya Perumal in the history of rebels, conquerors or rulers of Madurai.
The period in which the epic is set is reasonably well documented, courtesy, the Jesuit priests/Christian missionaries who travelled widely around the Madurai-Travancore regions making diligent notes. They have not made a note of any conquest. Ulagudaya Perumal Kathai is mostly fictional, relying entirely upon hearsay details.
Trivikraman beleives that the story could have been birthed during the uncertain times following Malik Kafur's invasion of Madurai in 1335. Many Pandian kings moved to the South of India to places like Kayatharu, Kalakkadu and Tenkasi. Kayatharu was probably ruled by Vettum Perumal, a Pandyan ruler. Tenkasi boasts of the scholarly Pandiyan ruler, Adiveerarama Pandiyan. Ulagudaya Perumal Kathai could be the tale of either of these two.
Ulagudaya Perumal Kathai is set mostly in Kanyakumari. Ulaguda Perumal's mother Ponnaruvi made penance before the Lord Sastha, the presiding deity of Ariyanga, seeking to birth her son. Temples deifying Ulagudaya Perumal, also known as Tamburan temples, are found only in regions upto Nellai Nalumavadi and Kurumbur. Trivikraman Thampi theorizes that Valliyur Pandiyans are the descendants of Ulagudaya Perumal.
Sariyakula Sami Kathai (the tale of Sariyakula Sami) is a popular folklore in Nellai regions, set on lines of Ulagudaya Perumal Kathai. Here, Sariyakula Perumal is Ulgaudaya Perumal's younger brother. He loses his life in the battle of Madurai. This folklore has been performed for ages in the form of Villupattu. It is a simple folk song without any traits of an epic.
Veeran Sariyakula Nayinar meyvilangum kaviyathai
Padum menthandru nanpiyanthan Perumal sonna solpadiye
Panbinudan Ponnanainjavanu
The above song notes that it is written by Ponnanainjavan. Sariyakula Nayinar is referred to as Padhakaraisami in Kurumbur. Sariyakula Nayinar Villupattu which was written in the 17th century extols the greatness of the Nadar community and the lands they ruled.
References
- Ulagudaya Perumal Kathai, Professor Dr. T Natarajan
- Thekkan Pattukal (meaning, Southern songs) - Dr. Trivikaraman Thampi (in Malayalam)
Footnotes
- ↑ A folk art involving recitation/singing of poetry and story using bow and sticks as instruments
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