whiff of fresh air

Long live Mothers and Mothers-in-law .

Early morning 7.30am.

Rrrrriiiiiiiiiing rrrrriiiiiiiing I pick up the phone.

"Molley" Its Amma on the other side calling me from God's own country J. "Have you caught a cold?" she asks as she hears my voice. I clear my throat " No Amma the weather is a bit cold today and I couldn't resist the mallu head bath even in the Baroda winter", I answer as she informs me that it is 'Makayiram' today. Huh, but my birthday is in May why was she talking about Makayiram star now I wonder, as she continues, Dhanumaasathile Makayiram and tomorrow is Thiruvathira. Ah! I get it. The day parents fast for their children and next day on Thiruvathira wives fast for their husbands. She blesses me, her second child, wishes me good.

She enquires about her one and only grand daughter (you see, all the rest belong to the vaanara sangham, monkey gang, errrr boys I mean) who was brought up under her care until she was 6 years old when I was the working woman. As she says bye before hanging up, reminds me to convey her blessings and wishes to son-in-law "if he calls you today". "Amma he talked to me just now, I will convey it when we chat over the net" I tell her.

I forget how uncannily things happen when she speaks. Like the time she asked me to buy a doll for my daughter and I answered "Oh Amma, she is only 3 months old, why should I buy one now? " and next day my sister walks in unexpectedly with a little doll for my daughter. Or the time she asked me to cut my hair short a la Rini Khanna (news reader of DD those days) style as she saw me struggling with my job, kids and long hair and I flatly refused to let go of my beloved tresses. Not very pleased at my stubbornness she commented that anyway its going to break and become shorter and shorter. Let me have it long till that time it happens, I had retorted angrily. Now I see what she has said has come true, it has become shoulder length and just the way she mentioned! *sob sob* Or the time when I reply "just 5 minutes" when she asks "you will be back soon na" as I leave to drop my daughter to school and my car has a break down. Many such incidents. So now it was happening again.

Even before she hangs up, I hear my mobile ringing and my face goes all "eeeeeeeeeee" into a wide grin as I see hubby dear's number displayed on the screen. I remember Amma saying just now "if he calls" and here he is calling me unexpectedly, a second time within 10 minutes. God bless you Amma, say good things for me always I pray.

I tell him about Amma's call and wishes to her son-in-law on Makayiram day. Tomorrow is Thiruvathira I remind him (Incidentally it's the North Keralites who celebrate Thiruvathira more than South Keralites ).

He is at a loss, being from the Southern most district of Kerala -Thiruvanvanthapuram.

I sing

"Bhagavanoru kuravanaayi

Sreepaarvathi kurathiyaayi

Dhanumaasathil Thiruvaathira naal

Theerthaadanathinirangi
Avar deshaadanathinirangi…….."

"Hey, I am calling from KL and you are wasting my money singing songs, keep that for gtalks " he chides me.

I stop my singing and explain to him that Makayiram day fasting is for health and long life of children and Thiruvathira day for husband. (Karva chauth of Kerala if I may say, but we don't go hungry, we take different type of food that day, gothambu kanji and puzhukku).

(As the legend goes Goddess Parvati performed severe penance to win Lord Shiva as her husband. Pleased with her penance, Lord Shiva appeared before her and promised to marry her on this day, Thiruvathira star of the month of Dhanu ( Malayalam month). Every year on this day, married and unmarried women fast. The married, for the well being of their husband and the unmarried, for acquiring a good husband. Early morning of Thiruvathira, the women take bath dress in their traditional attire and fast by having only non-rice food. In the evening they perform the Thiruvathirakkali .)

So, which day do husbands fast for health of the wife, he asks me innocently. Every day tee hee hee . I laugh at him. Unless you keep her in good humour and pleased, will your life be smooth? I ask him. On a serious note, I don't know of any day that husbands have to fast, I tell him. *** Takes a minute to search Dilip’s blog to see if he mentioned any such day***

I have my own theory. Olden days women were protected by men as the Manusmrithi goes

Pitho rakshathi kaumare

Bharthro rakshathi yovane

Putro rakshathi vaardhakye

So maybe the women folk took it on themselves to pray for the well being of their men folk, who in turn protected them?

Whatever traditions and rituals we follow, I love what my mother-in-law says. No waiting up for husbands staying hungry, eat in time and eat when you are hungry. After all her well stocked Kitchen had enough food to feed a small army any day!

Long live mothers and mothers-in-law, who care for their children and spouses! Yes I am a mother and gearing up to be a mother-in-law in a few years!

മലയാളി സുഹൃത്തുക്കള്‍ക്ക് തിരുവാതിര ആശംസകള്‍ - സ്നേഹപൂര്‍വ്വം, ശിവജ

Picture courtesy: Internet

Last year on November 1^st I wished my fellow ilanders with two lines of a famous poem by Mahakavi Vallathol. This year I am quoting yet another beautiful poem by the same poet. I am not sure if I have done justice to the English translation.

Happy Kerala Piravi day to all ilanders. (November 1^st)

Mathru Vandanam

Vandippin mathavine Vandippin mathavine

Vandippin varenyaye Vandippin varadaye

Ethrayum thapasakthi poondathamathajnanu

Sathrajithinu pandu sahashra karam pole

Paschimaratnakaram preethiya gaanam cheytha

Viswaykya maharatnamalle nammude raajyam

Vandippin mathavine Vandippin mathavine

Vandippin samudrathma bhuvaamee sreedeviye

Pachchayaam virippitta Sahyanil thala vechum

Swachabdi manalthitta padopadaanam poondum

Pallikondeedunna nin parswa yugmathe kaathu

Kollunnu Kumariyum Gokarnesanum amme

Vandippin mathavine Vandippin mathavine

Vandippin upasyarayullorkku upasyaye

Aazhi veechikalanu velam venn nurakalal

Thozhikal pole thava chaaru thripadangalil

Thoovelli chilambukal iduvikkunu thripthi

kaivaranjazhikkunnu pinneyum thudarunnu

Vandippin mathavine Vandippin mathavine

Vandippin ananyasadharana sowbhagyaye

Minnal karukalaaya ponnani dwivangalum

Anyonya sthanithamaam padahaswanavumay

Bhasamam nethrayudha thoranam varsholsavam

Bhargavah kshethrathil pole enganumundo vere?

Vandippin mathavine Vandippin mathavine

Vandippin subhikshadi devathayayullole

Chandhana vana kulir thennalin kalikalaal

Mandamayi thalayatti kondu mamalakalil

ullasicheedum jaya vaijayanthiletha

vallikal nin thoomanam engegu veesathullu?

Vandippin mathavine Vandippin mathavine

Vandippin gunagana varjitha janoukhaye.

Revere the mother, revere the one who gives boons.

Revere the mother, revere the mother, revere the land which is the soul of the sea, the Goddess of prosperity.

Resting with the head on the western Ghats (Sahyadri hills) covered with a green blanket and the feet on the sands of the calm sea, both your sides are guarded by Kumari (Kanyakumari) and Gokurnum O mother.

Revere the mother revere the mother revere the one who is venerated by the venerated ones.

The waves of the sea, with their pristine white foam, are adorning your sacred feet with a silvery anklet. Unsatisfied, they are removing it and repeating it all over again.

Revere the mother, revere the mother, revere the one who is showered with extraordinary prosperity.

Is there any place like Bhargava's land (Legend is that Kerala formed when Lord Parashurama(Bhargava) threw his axe into the sea ) where you can hear the clapping sound of thunder, the bright lightning and the beautiful rains?

Revere the mother, revere the mother, revere the Goddess of prosperity.

On the mountains, the flowers and creepers sway gently in the breeze of sandal wood forests happily, spreading your sweet fragrance everywhere.

Revere the mother, revere the mother, revere the land that is full of goodness.

Keralam …Keralam …

Keli kottuyuranna Keralam

Keli kadambam pookkum Keralam

Kera kelee sadanamaamen Keralam .

KERALA

The etymology of Kerala is widely disputed.  One theory states that it comes from  kera (’coconut palm tree’) and alam (’land’ or ‘location’ or ‘abode of’).  Another says that the name originated from the phrase Chera alam (Land of the Chera). Yet another view is that it derived  from Sanskrit Keralam, means ‘the land added on’, with reference to its mythical and geographical origins.

The Districts

1. KASARAGOD

There are different views on the derivation of the name “KASARAGOD”. One view is that it is the combination of two Sanskrit words kaasaara (which means lake or pond) and kroda (which means a place where treasure is kept). Another view is that it is the place where Kaasaraka trees (Strychnos nux vomica or Kaanjiram or Kaaraskara) are in abundance. Both views are relevant as there are large number of rivers, lakes and ponds in the coastal belt of the district besides thick flora consisting of innumerable varieties of trees, shrubs etc. particularly plentitude of Kaasaraka trees.

2. KANNUR

Kannur district derived its name from the location of its headquarters at Kannur town. The old name ‘Cannanore’ is the anglicised form of the Malayalam word Kannur. According to one opinion, ‘Kannur’ is a derivation from Kanathur, an ancient village, the name of which survives even today in one of the wards of Kannur Municipality. Another version is that Kannur might have assumed its name from one of the , deities of the Hindu pantheon, a compound of two words, Kannan (Lord Krishna) and Ur (place) making it the place of Lord Krishna. In this context, it is worth mentioning that the deity of the Katalayi Sreekrishna temple was originally installed in a shrine at Katalayi Kotta in the south eastern part of the present Kannur town.

KOZHIKODE

Kozhikode is also known as Kalicut and Calicut. Some have even given it the peculiar name ? The Cock Fort. It is said that the name Calicut is derived from the Malayalam word Koyil Kotta, ‘a fortified place’. While others think Kalicut is an Arabic version of Kozhikode, which the colonisers morphed to Calicut, which in turn gave the name Calico to the hand-woven cloth that originated here.

WAYANAD

The etymology of the word Wayanad is Vayal (paddy) Naad (land); ‘Land of Paddy Fields‘. Some scholars say that the region was known as Mayakshetra (Maya’s land) in the earliest records. Mayakshetra evolved into Mayanad and finally to Wayanad.

PALAKKAD

In the earlier times Palakkad was also known as Palakkattussery. Some etymologists trace the word “Palakkad” (or “Palghat” the anglicised version) to be from the word Palanilam which means “dry lands”. The commonly held belief however is that, it is the fusion of the two Malayalam words, Pala a tree (Alstonia scholaris) which is found abundantly in Palakkad and Kadu which means forest. Yet others believe that it is connected with the ancient Jain temple in the town: ‘Pali’ being the sacred language of the Jains, giving the land its name as ‘Palighat’, which over the years changed to Palakkad. However, most believe that Palakkad is derived from ‘Pala‘, an indigenous  tree which once densely occupied the land, and hence Palakkad or   “the forest of Pala trees.”

THRISSUR

The name Thrissur is derived from ‘Tri-Shiva-Perur’ , which means the place with three famous Siva temples which are said to be the Vadakkunnathan, Kottapuram Siva Temple and Punkunnam Siva Temple. (Alternately, the name can be parsed as ‘Thiru-Shiva-Perur’, the place with the holy name of Lord Shiva.) Thrissur was also known as Vrishabhadripuram and Ten Kailasam in ancient days.

ERANAKULAM

The word Eranakulam was derived from a Tamil word ‘Erayanarkulam’ which means ‘Lord Shiva’s abode’.

IDUKKI

The name Idukki has been derived from the Malayalam word ‘idukku’ meaning narrow gorge. The largest arch dam is built here. (Idukki dam)

KOTTAYAM

The etymology of Kottayam is kotta ‘fort’ and akam ‘inside’.

ALAPUZHA

Etymologically Alappuzha is derived from two words - Ala and Puzha - Ala which means broad and Puzha which means river. It is a town with picturesque canals, backwaters and lagoons, once described as the “Venice of the East” by English viceroy Lord Curzon.

PATHANAMTHITTA

 Pathanamthitta is a combination of two words Pathanam and Thitta which means an array of houses on the river side.

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM

Thiruvananthapuram derives its name from the deity at the Sri Padmanabhaswamy Temple, which is the most recognisable icon of the city, nearly 2000 years old.  The city gets its name from the word, Thiru-anantha-puram, meaning the city of Anantha or the abode of the sacred Serpent Anantha on which Lord Vishnu, the preserver of the Hindu trinity, reclines.

Courtesy: Internet

Happy Kerala  Piravi day to  all ilanders. (November 1st)

Bharathamennu kettal abhimaanapoorithamaakanamantharankam!,

 Keralamennu kettaalo thilakkanam chora namukku njarambukalil!

-         Mahakavi Vallathol