Surpanakai-And-Rama

Surpanakai The Persistent Lover of Rama over Yugas!

Sūrpaṇakai Waiting for Rama!

The hunch-backed crone with three-curve bend to her body goes to the palace in Madura with basket of flowers and sandal wood paste early in the morning. That is her assigned duty.

Soon after delivering the flowers and the Sandalwood paste to Kamsa Maharaja in the palace, she returns home and locks her front door. The doors remain shut and don’t open again. The local imps and Kamsa’s guards very many times banged on the doors. The doors never opened.

Jilted Trivakrai in previous Yuga morphed into a young person and smears Sandalwood paste on Rama, a morphed form of Krishna.

What is in her house so special? The secret no one knew was where she gets the flowers and the paste. Multitudes of priers tried to get the information from the women. She regarded no one worthy of her attention to answer the question. Why such reticence.  Maharaja Kamsan though posing questions never received a reply and faced silence. Since she supplied ambrosial flowers and sandalwood paste to him, not available anywhere else, he stopped bothering her thereafter.

The crone’s age was a matter of speculation among the people. The elders in Madura over generations had seen her making deliveries to the king for a long time and said she must be over a thousand years old.  People paid no attention to the three-curve crone. She continued her service to the king not worrying about anyone.  

Young Krishna broke the immovable Siva bow… He bounced the elephant like a ball, when it came rushing to kill him. When King Kamsa sent his soldiers to kill Krishna, his brother Balarama dispatched them to the eternal abode. The news of these daring episodes spread like wild fire and caught the attention of people who came looking for them. The doors of all homes were wide open except those of the old woman.

Balarāma said to Krishna, “Krishna, let us accept Kamsan’s invitation to the palace and bring his story to a conclusion.”

Kannan responded to his older brother, “We have a more important duty to perform. Since it has atonement for your sins, you must accompany me.”

“Sin? Kaṇṇaṉ, I do not remember having committed any sin. I had never been to Mathura in my life. How could I have committed a sin.”

“Aṇṇā (elder brother), this is a play of fate. Please don’t ask me any questions. Going there with me, you will understand.” Kaṇṇaṇ moved and Balarāma followed him. Kaṇṇaṇ walked the path offering his blessing to the enthusiastic vocal crowd along the path. 

One house only had its doors closed. That is the house of the three-curve women. A feeling of love dawned on his mind. Kaṇṇaṇ tried to knock on the door. The people following the brothers laughed. 

“Kaṇṇā… This is a waste of time and effort. This door does not open for any one. You broke the Siva Bow. But you cannot break this door.” So, said a mischievous girl.”  

Balarama came in front of Kannan from behind and knocked on the door, thinking Kaṇṇaṇ came to the house with an intent to ask for atonement for the sin. The door did not open. Falling victim to anger, he knocked on the door with all his might. It was of no avail. In a fit of passion, He charged forward and kicked the door. The door remained shut.  Balarāma was about to break the door down; Kaṇṇaṇ stopped him from going further.  

“Aṇṇā, this is Love-Door. A knock will not open it. A touch helps open it.” So saying, Kaṇṇaṇ put his hand on the door with a feeling of love. 

The door opened a little. With brimming tears in her eyes, the three-curve woman invited them all. The townspeople with open mouths looked at her in surprise. As Kaṇṇaṇ and Balarāma entered the house, the door closed again.  

Kaṇṇaṇ with a mischievous smile said, “Did I keep you waiting for years.” Balarāma not knowing who it was, blinked in a moment of confusion.

It struck Balarāma as a flash at the saying of the three-curve woman: “Rama, for your love, I will wait many Yugas… I will observe Tapas.” 

Balarāma fell at the feet of the woman bent three ways and said, “Kaṇṇā… Isn’t she Ravana’s sister Sūrpaṇakai? Her love for you made her wait so long.” Balarāma broke out in tears, saying, “Please forgive me. I did not comprehend your love for Kaṇṇaṇ. I put you through so much of misery.” 

When Balarāma’s tear drops fell on the old woman, Trivakrai -the three-curve woman - developed the appearance of a young woman.  

Trivakrai said, “Get up Lakshmana, because I was born in the family of ogres, I was unable to express it and made a faux pas. The mistake is mine.” 

Kannan expectantly said, “The flowers Sandal wood paste are only for Kamsa and not for me.” 

She said, “That is what I am waiting for.” She spread her arms and uttered, “Ram, Ram…” In that instant, the sky opened and flowers were raining from above.  

“In the Yuga way in the past, I took an incarnation as Rama and could not think of anyone other than Sita. Now I am a part man and part Avatara. Therefore, you may call me Kaṇṇā.”

Trivakrai smeared Sandalwood paste on the cheeks of Kaṇṇaṉ’s face and said, “You may be Kaṇṇaṉ or Parantāmaṉ in the milk ocean. As far as far I am concerned, I am still waiting to meet Rama, whom I met long ago in the forest. I will wait still longer. I will not address you by a different name.”  

In that moment Kaṇṇaṉ morphed into Rama and stood before her. Balarāma thinking it is not right to stay any longer there said to Kaṇṇaṉ, “Kaṇṇā! I will be visiting places, come when you are done.”  

Kaṇṇaṉ said to Balarāma, “Stop Lakshmana, please don’t go anywhere.  You were standing guard at the entrance to the hut Sita and I used. Likewise, you do it here and now. The sin you incurred by the hurt you caused to a woman’s love will be expiated.” Hearing it, Balarāma morphed into Lakshmana and stood guard at the entrance to the house.  

Kaṇṇaṉ followed him right behind Balarāma. Balarāma excitedly said, “What Kaṇṇā, you morphed into Rama but exited so soon.” We made a peek at the inside of the house intently and what he saw was a surprise.  

Trivakrai was adorning with love SriRama. Balarāma walked as he said, “You did a good job, Kaṇṇā…  You cannot escape from the purity of love. Hereon, let her love you Yuga after Yuga.” 

Kaṇṇaṉ satisfied at completing his duty left to meet Kamsan. (This is one of the little known Līlās of Krishna.)