Karaikkal Ammeiyar

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', Karaikkalammaiyar' (which means the mother from Karaikkal), one of the few females amongst the sixty three Nayanmars, is one of the greatest figures of early Tamil literature. Her birth name was Punitavati, and she was born at Karaikkal, South India, and lived during the 6th century, and was a great devotee of Shiva.

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[edit] Divine Life

Punithvathy born in Karaikal, a maritime trading city in Chola nadu to Danathathan - a famous merchant. From childhood Punithavathy grew up in a religious atmosphere worshipped Lord Siva diligently. chanted the five letter mantra Namasivaya and also attended to the needs of Saiva devotees.

When she grew up as a charming young girl she was wedded tp Paramathathan, son of a rich merchant in Nagapattanam. Even after marriage she continued her chosen religious life. Saiva devotees who visited her home were lavishly fed and were given clothes and jewels according to their needs.

[edit] Divine Miracle

A Hungry Saiva devotee came to her residence one day. As the full meal was not ready at that time, she gave the devotee one of the two mangoes that her husband had sent home to be kept for him. Later, when the husband came home she served him the other mangothat she had. The mango was very delicious and her husband requested for the other mango also to be served. Punithavathy was in a dilemma. She prayed to Lord Siva and astonishingly by God's grace a mango appeared in her palm and she served this mango to her husband. As the fruit was extremely sweet and delicious compared to the previous one, the husband inquired as to where she obtained this mango. When punithavathy spoke the truth her husband asked her to produce another mango with divine help. She entreated to Lord Siva, obtained another mango and gave it to her husband. On receiving the mango the husband was shoked to find it disappear, realising the divine nature of the wife, Paramathathan shivered in fear knowing that she is worthy of worship and he desserted her unannounced.

[edit] Mother of South Indian Music

Irrefutable evidences adduced clearly establish that Karaikkal Ammaiyar has a distinctive place of eminence by any criteria, be it antiquity of time, elegance of composition, depth of meaning, spread of philosophy or inspirer of new excellence. Compared to great musical exponents who had been given appropriate titles as "Sangeetha Mummiirthyal", "Aadhi Mummoorthykal", "Sirpy of Padams", "Sangeethaa Pithamagar", "Chanthap paavala peruman" and "Thevara Moovar" and are being remembered today, Karaikal Ammaiyar is the sole exception who has not been given adequate and meaningful recoginition. Judged by the criterion of time, Karaikal Ammaiyar is by far the oldest in this great galaxy of musical exponents and can therefore rightly lay claim as the "Mother of South Indian Music"

[edit] References

[edit] Bibliography

  • Karavelane (French language) Kareikkalammeiyar, oeuvres editees et traduites, institut francais d'indologie, Pondicherry (1956)
  • Jagadeesan, N The Life and Mission of Karaikkal Ammaiyar Bhattacharya, N.N. [ed] Medieval Bhakti Movements in India Munishiram Manoharlal, New Delhi, (1989), pages 149-161
  • Schouten, Jan Peter (Dutch language) Goddelijke vergezichten - mystiek uit India voor westerse lezers, Ten Have b.v., Baarn, the Netherlands, (1996), ISBN 90-259-4644-5
  • Karaikkalammaiyar: Part 1: An iconographical and textual study; Part 2: Poems for Siva (ISBN 978-90-811564-1-7) by Peter de Bruijn, 2007. 147 pp. colour, B/W plates. For more information also click here [2]

[edit] External links

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