Episode 1 - Siva Gives Boon to Va...
This episode traces the journey of Vallarakkan, a heroic yet comical demon. He ascends to the throne as the ruler of Patalam, the demon underworld, and governs the 56 kingdoms. However, his reign takes a stern turn as he enforces heavy taxes upon his subjects, inciting their opposition. As tensions escalate, he seeks solace through a rigorous penance to Siva. Through his unwavering determination, he earns a remarkable boon from Siva - the power to annihilate anyone by merely pointing a thumb at them. The interaction between Vallarakkan and Siva, infused with humor and nonchalant banter, takes center stage here. The singers' dialogue, devoid of a song here, captures this amusing exchange.
Track Information : Siva Gives Boon to VallarakkanPerformer(s) : Punkani & Group, Kuntal, Kanyakumari dist.Collection : Stuart BlackburnEpisode 2 - Vallarakkan Threatens...
This poetic passage encapsulates Vallarakkan lamenting, where he expresses his perplexity as he questions the nature of the bestowed boon, emoting a sense of abandonment as Siva seemingly leaves Kailasa. The pursuit and yearning are reflected in his determination to reach Siva. The vivid imagery of the Vallarakkan’s pursuit of Siva paints a dynamic picture, compared to rabbits darting through a field and bullocks encircling a grinding stone. These scenes encapsulate the essence of devotion, questioning, and the dynamics between the divine and the mortal.
Track Information : Vallarakkan Threatens SivaPerformer(s) : Punkani & Group, Kuntal, Kanyakumari dist.Collection : Stuart BlackburnEpisode 3 - Mohini Kills Vallarak...
This episode presents an account of Vallarakkan's demise at the hands of Mohini, a narrative frequently rendered in a more brisk tempo when sung. A fearful Siva approaches Kannan for protection against the demon Arakkan, resulting in Kannan's transformation into the form of Mohini. This episode follows a detailed depiction of Mohini's appearance, accentuating her beauty and captivating attributes, a major trope in birth songs. Vallarakkan finds himself captivated and pledges to forsake his wife to be with her. Mohini engages in a ruse, coaxing Vallarakkan to show his commitment through a symbolic gesture—the pointing of his thumb to his own head, an action that ultimately leads to his own destruction.
Track Information : Mohini Kills VallarakkanPerformer(s) : Punkani & Group, Kuntal, Kanyakumari dist.Collection : Stuart BlackburnEpisode 4 - Birth of Sasta
This episode narrates the “Birth of Sasta”, referring to the title of the song, and weaves together two distinct Indian tales found in classical and folk traditions. The first story involves the birth of the god Sasta (also known as Aiyanar or Ayyappan) from the union of Visnu and Siva. Sasta descends to earth, leads a royal army, and eventually retires to a mountain shrine (Sabarimala). The second story focuses on a demon threatening Kailasa, defeated by Visnu's Mohini form. While written texts allocate more space to Sasta's birth and exploits, performances emphasize the demon's tale. The bow-song tradition strategically elongates the demon's story for performance, while Sasta's birth, typically an opening event in texts, becomes the conclusion. The narrative focus centers on the demon with room for humour and lighthearted banters, while the ritual emphasis lies on Sasta's birth with mild possession induced by the tiparatanai. The singing halts at Sasta's birth, while worship and dance persist.
Track Information : Birth of SastaPerformer(s) : Punkani & Group, Kuntal, Kanyakumari dist.Collection : Stuart Blackburn