NaradarStories08 Published:22 Jul 2013 8 PMUpdated:22 Jul 2013 8 PM Sakthi Vikatan NaradarStories08 Vikatan Correspondent Wordsmith Balakumaran images: Padmavasan |
1. Sivamuni, seeing the playful doe, felt a longing for love. That thought induced pregnancy in the doe. The subtle form of Sundaravalli, seeing the doe, became in the doe's womb, the indwelling fetus. The doe could not bear the fetus's weight and after a while, delivered the baby in a sweet potato pit and left. The baby cried, and the passing hunters picked up the baby, and since they found the baby in the potato pit (Vaḷḷi Paḷḷam = potato pit), they named her Valli. The two girls thrived well. ( The other girl was born elsewhere.)
2. Murugan went to
Indraloka and asked Indra to marry Valli. After the water ceremony,
Indra offered Valli as Murugan's consort. The wedding took place. The
celestials showered flowers on the couple.
3. ('This wedding was made
in heaven' and now that wedding happens on earth.) Earth-born Valli
incessantly thought of Murugan only. Murugan impersonating, an old man
stood before her. Valli did not know the identity of the gaffer.
Modestly, she invited him and asked him, "You have been tottering in the
severe heat of the summer. What do you want?"
4. Murugan in the guise of
the old man: "Thirst, water, some fanning. Too hot," said the old man in
a parched voice. Valli took water in a tumbler and poured it into the
mouth of the old man. She fanned him with the end of the sari.
5." Come near and fan me.
Not enough draft," said Murugan. Valli moved close to him. Her fragrance
beguiled Murugan. Naradar standing far away was enjoying the act by
Murugan.
6. The old man's
inappropriate touching, holding the shoulder, and touching her is so
many body parts because of his alleged infirmities bothered Valli.
7. Valli: "Periyavare (Hey
old man), you are misbehaving with (groping) me. I helped quench your
thirst and alleviate your fatigue. In return for them, is this
misbehavior appropriate?," Valli said in anger.
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8. The old man: "Not at
all. Offering water to quench my thirst and alleviating my fatigue are
noble deeds. But, when I saw you this close, my old memories came
rushing in. (Remember, the impending earthly wedding happened in heaven
before.) I like to marry you. Please do not take it amiss. I feel like
touching you all the time." As the old man stepped beyond decorum, Valli
stepped back and expressed her anger.
9. Valli: "My wedding in
my mind is a foregone conclusion."
10. The old man: "Is that
so? Who is it?"
11. Valli: "Murugan is the
second son of Siva. I am waiting for him to embrace me so that I could
marry him. I will not think of anyone else in my mind to touch. I
thought of you as an honorable man. You talk dirty to a girl alone in
the forest. You went beyond decorum. Could you stay away from me? If
not, I will become a fierce person," said Valli, threatening and
flailing a staff as if to hit him.
12. The old man acted as
if he was afraid. As if he was in a faint, he held onto the tree trunk.
In his mind, he prayed to his older brother, Ganesa.
13. Murugan impersonating
the old man: "O all-powerful brother! I need your help immediately. You
must help me marry this girl Valli who has waited over several
generations to marry me. Employ a stratagem to draw her close to me. You
have to draw and join her with me.
14. Suddenly, Vinayakar
(Ganesa) appeared as a wild forest elephant. Hearing the rustle in the
floor, Valli turned and saw the moving of the tree trunks and the
branches of the trees.
15. Valli: 'What is this?
The tree trunks are moving. What could cause this shaking of the trees?"
In fear, she looked in all cardinal directions. A wild elephant,
clearing the bush and breaking the trees, entered her premises. The
elephant trumpeted. Fear overwhelmed her, and she ran and embraced the
old man.
16. The old man: "You told
a little while ago you will not touch anyone other than Murugaperuman." |
17. Valli: "Yes! Fear
drove me towards you. I am still harboring Murugan in my heart. I see
Murugan in your form. No one can separate me from Murugan." She
announced her position in a resolute and loud voice.
18. Murugan liked her
resoluteness and opposed his palms to his elder brother. The elephant
disappeared and, Vinayakar appeared in its place.
19. Vinayakar addressed
Valli, "Who you embraced was not an old man but Kumaran, my younger
brother. He is beauty, personified. Here is Murugan. Turn around and
look."
Valli turned around and
looked.
20. Murugan stood there:
Spear in hand, a smile on his face, white stripes on his forehead, broad
chest, red body, gold crown. Valli was ecstatic, bubbling with happiness
but restrained with modesty, paying homage to Vinayakar and asking for
his blessings. She rose and greeted her husband with opposed palms. She
stood proudly by his side with his and her hands around each other's
hip.
21. Vinayakar blessed
them, saying they were the perfect couple in appearance and in truth.
22. Conventional wedding
is proper and acceptable. Likewise, love marriage is of the highest
acceptance. Vinayakar supported the wedding of Murugan and Valli.
She took the hand of Murugan, hearing Vinayakar's words of
support and assurance. The couple roamed about in the forest and enjoyed
themselves.
23. Not seeing Valli, the
father and the hunters looked for her. His spies told him where they saw
Valli with a strong man. The father went with his warriors to where
Valli and the man were. Seeing the robust young man,
the father ran towards him. In the place of the man, he saw a
Konrai tree (Indian laburnum) and his daughter.
24. Father asked his
daughter, "Where is he?" His daughter told him he became the tree. When
the hunters tried to uproot the tree, Muruga Peruman called his cock,
which raised a loud voice. Unable to tolerate the loudness and the
quake, the hunters died. Valli was unhappy.
25. Muruga Peruman: "Do
not worry. We demonstrated our strength to the angry attackers. Let us
go to Tiruthtanikai." Murugar took her to Tiruthtanikai and married her.
Naradar came forward and blessed the couple.
26. Knowing Valli was in
grief at the hunters' death, Naradar pleaded with Murugar to resurrect
the dead hunters, who, receiving Murugar's grace, resurrected from
death. The hunters conducted the marriage in line with their customs and
manners.
27. Marriage with the
consent of the bride's father or finding one's husband, living a
conjugal life and then seeking the parents' permission: Which is right?
Both are acceptable alternatives.
28. Marriage is not just a
ceremony. It is the fruit of Tapas or austerity. Marriage is just not
mere rite of passage. It is a milestone in one's life. Marriage is like
the tree yielding flowers and fruits.
There is no difference between a tree in the forest or the tree
in the homestead. The
flowering and fruiting should happen at the right time. That is
important. A meeting of the minds is important: So also the mutual love
between husband and wife. Attaining a husband after an austerity is an
objective. Having a good husband is the woman's goal in life.
29. The duty of the man is
to marry a loving woman with traditional ceremonies. Manliness is to wed
a loving woman who does not care about opposition from any quarters. The
beauty and conviction are not to entertain any mental reservation
because of the parent's objections but to take the bridegroom's hands
first and seek reconciliation with the parents later.
31. Looking at it closely,
Naradar's good intention and calculation turned out to be a good story
and an example of justice in the world.
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