Volume 4 | Issue 3 | July-August
2010 |
Ramayana Of The Adiyas
Dr. Azis Tharuvana
All this while, the shy Seeta was looking down, not knowing what to say or do. Rama approached Seeta. He expressed his happiness and proposed to her. He also narrated all his wanderings in search of Seeta. She was amazed. She understood that Hanuman was searching her for Rama and that was the reason for his burning of Lanka. Seeta stood there in silent approval of Rama’s proposal. Rama took Seeta to himself and slept with her. Lakshmana accepted Seeta as the wife of his elder brother.
Days passed and as Rama and Seeta lived as husband and wife, slowly some disagreements started cropping up between them. Seeta was used to all kinds of luxuries in Ravana’s palace in Lamka. She had every imaginable comfort. Here at Irappu they were put up in a hut. No companions, no helpers, no servants. In addition, she had to put up with loneliness. The hardships and feeling of loneliness Seeta experienced naturally reflected in her behavior. Every day Rama and Lakshmana would go for hunting with their bows and arrows. They would return with deer and wild boar they had killed with arrows. Wandering through hills and dales would have made them tired. Seetha would be sitting alone at home. There were no houses near their hut.
As soon as Rama and Lakshmana returned home, Seeta would serve them hot coffee. Often enough Rama did not like the coffee prepared by Seeta. Some unwanted elements would be found in the coffee. The sweets she prepared would have contained hair and other unwanted things. Rama would ask her: “ Oh Seeta, what is happening? Do you not love me?” Not answering, Seeta would stand in a corner. She would be suffering pangs of sorrow. Days went by in this fashion, and months. Meanwhile Seeta became pregnant. Rama and Seeta were happy. Slowly Rama began to be plagued by nagging doubts. There was reason for this. Some people had seen Seeta going to Lanka with Ravana. Through them scandalous rumors spread in the bathing ghats and near drinking water wells.
They had no doubt, what would ensue if Seeta were to share bed and board with the wicked Ravama. They were not aware of Ravana’s assurance that he would not touch Seetha’s body or even dress for twelve years. Rama had earlier heard the rumors circulating at bathing ghats and near public wells. He had not attached much importance to the stories. But as soon as the news of Seeta’s pregnancy began to spread far and wide, the rumors too spread like wild fire. Visiting the bazar was a torture for Rama. Still, Rama did not share this with Seeta.
One day as Rama returned from hunting, Seeta served him rice and curry. Hunger made him gorge the meal. There were stones and sand in the rice. Rama became angry. He abused Seeta. Unable to contain her grief, Seeta spoke back. Leaving the half-finished meal, Rama walked out. Some of the gossip-mongering passers-by heard about the quarrel between Rama and Seeta. That became the talk of the town. Rumors spread fast that Rama and Seeta fell out on the issue of Seeta’s pregnancy. As days went by, the rumors got strengthened. The talk and look of the women who came to see Seeta (her pregnancy) reflected their suspicion. Rama who was bored to death by seeing and hearing these things, slowly began to entertain suspicion. Days passed and the suspicion grew like a banyan tree. One day Rama said to Lakshmana: “ Brother Lakshamana, Seeta is a fallen woman. I am fed up with her. Take her to the hill and slay her”.
Lakshmana bore great love for and devotion to Rama and Seeta. He was in a fix. How could he disobey the elder brother’s command? How could he kill his brother’s wife? She was also pregnant. Lakshmana was plunged into unbearable grief. Going against the wish of Rama in his present condition could lead to grievous consequences. Rama gave a brand new sword into Lakshmana’s hands and commanded: “Kill her today itself”. After uttering these terrible words, Rama went into the room, bolted the door and lay down.
Lakshmana walked in front, Seeta followed him. Lakshmana knew exactly where they were heading. They traveled in horse cart and bullock cart. They walked through the forest. Finally they reached Garshimala. On approaching the hill, Lakshmana unsheathed his sword. He looked at the shining blade. Like in a mirror, he saw the twins in Seetha’s womb moving around on the shining blade. Lakshamana cried aloud. The thought of committing a terrible sin deeply disturbed him. Seeta asked: ‘Lakshmana, why are you crying?” In a loud cry of anguish he said: “ Rama has asked me to kill you. I cannot kill you. I will not obey my brother’s orders. I see two children playing on this sword. No, I will not kill you. Instead, I will kill myself”. Wiping Lakshmana’s tears with the ends of her sari. Seeta said: “ You need not kill me, nor do you need to kill yourself. We can both live. There is a way, I will show you.” Pointing to a tree she said: “Lakshmana, make a cut on that tree with your sword.” Lakshmana hacked the tree with all his might. Seeta asked: “ What do you see flowing from the tree?” “Milk” said Lakshmana. “ That is nourishment for the babies in my womb”, said Seeta. Plants, such as the jack fruit tree, athi and koli have milk.” Pointing to another tree, she said: “ Make a cut on that tree”. It was a venga tree. Lakshamana made a cut on the trunk of the tree. “ What is coming out?” Seeta asked. Blood, “Lakshmana said. “ Take that blood, smear that on your sword and dress and you can go” Lakshmana followed Seeta’s instructions.
Seeta gave birth to twins in the Ashram of Valmiki (The Valmiki ashram at Ashramkolly near Pulpalli). The children grew up. They learnt reading and writing and acquired general knowledge. They started farming near the ashram. They grew rice, elephant yam and taro and planted coffee and pepper crops. They also had bitter gourd and beans in their farm. The crops flourished. The plants flowered and bore fruits.
One day a huge horse came and destroyed the crops. It was Rama’s horse. No one dared to complain or question if this horse entered the farms and ruined the standing crops. No one would stop the horse or drive it away. The reason was fear. Rama was the most skilled archer in the world. No one wanted to earn his displeasure.
The children could not bear the sight of their crops being destroyed. They caught hold of the horse and tied it to a tree. Since the horse did not return to the fold by evening, Rama, Lakshmana and Hanuman set out in search of the horse. The three went in different directions. Hanuman heard the distress neighing of the horse from far. He was shocked to see the horse tied up. Hanuman tried to untie the horse. But the children chased Hanuman away. Hanuman informed Rama and Lakshmana about the matter. They rushed to the spot. Rama and Lakshmana were furious. “ Who has tied the horse?”, they shouted. Unperturbed, the children came forward and replied: “ We did it”. There followed a verbal duel. Rama did not realize that he was arguing with his own children. Angry exchange of words developed into fight. The children defeated Rama, Lakshmana and Hanuman and tied them to trees. Seeta was watching all this through the window. She did not go to the place of the encounter. ‘How to arrive at a compromise’, she pondered.
Seeta sent letters to Valliyoorkavu Bhagavathy, Pulpally Bhagavathy, Pakkam Theyyam, Kottiyoor Perumal, Sidha Nanchappa, and Mathappa Deivam. As soon as they received the letter, they rushed to the spot. They discussed the various aspects of the problem. Then they examined Rama and Lakshmana. During the examination Rama and Lakshmana realized one thing. The children who tied them up were the children of Rama and Seeta. Only they could do this. The elders said: “ These are your own children. You did not even realize that”. Others said; “ Children growing up away from their father will behave worse than this”. Rama and Lakshmana listened to all this. They were willing for any compromise. The elders released them. Despite the humiliation, Rama and Lakshamana were happy that they had found their children.
These were the terms of the agreement: Do not fight, do not encroach, accept Seetha and the children. They also decided the authorities and Theyyam of each locality. No one should violate these norms. The Chemmam and Theyyam were decided in the following fashion: Pakkatheyyam for Tirunelli Chemmam and Cheruvali; Pookkarimage Theyyam for Vadaku Manram; Karichathan for Evila; Jogiyachan for Kuppathodu; Ulankanttu for Ulankathu Muthukattu; Malakkan for Katchalevelappa; Pookkarimage Theyyam for Puthurila; Kallarache Theyyam for Kallilamarigod; Madasserimala for Kandappeeli; Kalappan for Kalamkottu Muthiramattila; Thirumuna Theyyam for Seythe Thirumunda; Pandinadu Thamprakkanmar for Pandinadu. They should not encroach on our territory. If they do, all will unitedly resist them. They were informed about this.
This arrangement is maintained even today. After examining all the aspects of the case, Seeta was called. She came over to the spot. Seeta saw Rama. Rama saw Seeta. They spoke to each other. Rama admitted that he made a mistake. Seeta narrated the entire set of events to the children. They were delighted. They were glad that father and mother got re-united. Finally Seeta agreed to go to Irippu along with Rama. All the elders and Hanuman accompanied them to Irippu. Seeta lives at Irippu even today. There is a temple in her name, where regular pooja is performed.
The above story, told by Kali Mathai, has several versions in the Adiya community itself.
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Dr. Azis Tharuvana -