Krishna Neighbours Complain

யசோதா உன் மகனை கூவாய் 

The neighbours of Gokulam ask Yashodha to restrain her son from mischievous acts

Periyazhvar provides beautiful insights into the cooking process

While Periyazhvar has described on and off about his acts of stealing butter, he now describes in an entire decad the feelings of the neighbours and their complaints to Yashodha wanting the mother to keep control of her mischievous son. It is a fascinating description of these angry feelings among the entire colony and a despondent mother who after sharing with her the entire list of complaints tries her best to advise him about staying away from his unfriendly neighbours. One after another, day after day, Yashodha is the recipient of the choicest of outpourings from the residents of her colony.

Where did he master this act?

They say that he has gobbled up every ounce of butter on sight. He moves on from one house to another and there are going to be similar complaints from most other houses as well about these ‘wicked deeds’ of his (புரை புரையால் இவை செய்ய வல்ல) .

 

The neighbours instruct Yashodha that it is important for her to restrain him from such activities. They say that not only does he finish all the butter but he also has the audacity to throw all the empty pots on the rocks in such a way that it seemed he specifically wanted us to hear that thundering breaking noise (வெண்ணெய் விழுங்கி வெறுங் களத்தை வெற்பிடை இட்டு  கேட்கும்).  He is really adding salt to their injury (புண்ணில்  புளிப் பெய்தா லொக்கும் தீமை).

They say that they do not even know how he has mastered this naïve act of quietly moving into another’s house and consuming his favourite dishes (கண்ணபிரான் கற்ற கல்வி தன்னைத்). He constantly thrives on such acts and he finds a sense of happiness in making them angry. And he does not stop with just one house.

They say that she got a son whom she considers special but she should call him back away from his demeaning acts (அண்ணற் கண்ணன் ஓர் மகனைப் பெற்ற அசோதை காய் நங்காய் உன் மகனை கூவாய்)

.

Yashodha laments at not being to catch her son about whom she is receiving innumerable complaints. She believes her son to be a harmless innocent kid but nevertheless when neighbours complain, it is not a good feeling for any mother (அசலகத்தார் பரிபவம் பேச தரிக்ககில்லேன் பாவியேனுக்கு இங்கு போதராயே).

Give us our peace, exclaim the Neighbours

And neighbours go on relentlessly.  They find him unique. He drinks ghee and butter from the pot and then he breaks it on the spot and quietly slips away. They even go to the extent of saying that he does not let others live in peace and after his act makes it seem like a big achievement. And then ask her if she does not find such acts of her son as great injustice. Not trusting Yashodha to caution her son, they call out for him so they can give their own treatment (உருக வைத்த குடத்தோடு வெண்ணெய் உறுஞ்சி யடைதிட்டுப் போந்து நின்றான்).

A beautiful description of cooking in centuries gone by

Through this verse, Periyazhvar provides insights into the process of cooking in centuries gone by. Not every house in the locality had the stove lighting equipments. From his description, it is quite likely that only a select few houses were blessed with this facility. And the rest in the locality would collect the necessary raw material as and when they needed it. The child Krishna seemed to have spotted this loophole and cashed in on one of the neighbours much to her displeasure.

பாலைக் கறந்து அடுப்பேற வைத்துப்

பல் வலையாள் என் மகளிருப்ப

மேலை யகத்தே நெருப்பு வேண்டிச் சென்று

இறைப் பொழுது அங்கே பேசி நின்றேன்

This neighbour narrated her incriminating experience. While her daughter milked the cows and kept the milk on the stove, the mother went to bring firewood from her neighbour. She did spend a few extra minutes chatting up with her neighbour. And that was the only mistake she made.

On her return, she was stunned to find that the mischievous child had turned the bowl upside down and drunk everything (சாய்த்துப் பருகிட்ட போந்து நின்றான்).

The young child is happy to say that he has sucked everything and the neighbour is further agitated that with a mother’s love she takes him on her hip. And she suggests to Yashodha that all these are her own lessons.

Why are you doing this, Yashodha asks Krishna

Unable to bear this any longer and infuriated at being told thus, Yashodha calls out for her son and tells him that though they seem to start off with some praise about his unique abilities, they invariably end up complaining about his mischief of the day leaving her totally embarrassed (ஏதேனும் சொல்லி அசலகத்தார் ஏதேனும் பேச நான் கேட்க மாட்டேன்).  She tells him that she cannot put up with this shame anymore.

Neighbour tracks the little boy's every act

This neighbour has kept a count of Krishna's mischief. For 12 shravanams, her neighbour had made special offerings of rice made of paddy, ghee, cow’s milk, sugar and candy. And she now recollects what happened to each one of these. She bemoans that he finished everything and like an innocent child wanted another piece of it.

(செந்நெலரிசி சிறு பருப்புச் செய்த அக்காரம் நறு நெய் பாலால்  பன்னிரண்டு திருவோணம் அட்டேன்..................இன்னும் உகப்பன் நான் என்று சொல்லி எல்லாம் விழிங்கிட்டும் போந்து நின்றான்).

To add to Yashodha’s anger, the neighbour tells her that she is not even confiding the entire story almost indicating that this is only a sample (கூவிக் கொள்ளை இவையும் சிலவே).

Frustrated Yashodha asks him not to go to loveless neighbours who speak ill of him(நேசம் இலாதார் அகத்தில் இருந்து நீ விளையாடாதே போதராயே). Listening to mother’s words is Dharma, she says (தாய் சொல் கொள்வது தன்மம் கண்டாய்). She asks him to stop playing in such places where he is not wanted. And expecting an unfavourable reply, she tells in advance not to say no to her request.

Who consumed the Salty Seedai and Delicious Laddus

It is a new day but the story remains the same. Another neighbour arrives at Krishna's Portico and Yashodha knows what's in the offing.

She says that she had made all the special sweets like Laddus and Salty Seedai. He finished every single savoury. It was meant to be a lean day at home for that lady and she was not expecting any strangers at home. And hence she had gone away for a little while. But in this small gap, this naughty child came and finished off everything. With an intention to shame yashodha, she asks if this is the way for any child to be. (கன்னல் இலட்டுவத்தோடு சீடை காரெள்ளின் உண்டை கலத்திலிட்டு என்னகமென்று நான் வைத்துப் போந்தேன் இவன் புக்கு அவற்றைப் பொருத்திப் போந்தான்).

And then some time later he came back again almost innocently to check if there was anything in the shelves and finished off the white butter (பின்னும் அகம்புக்கு உரியை நோக்கிப் பிறங்கொளி வெண்ணெயும் சோதிக்கின்றான்).

A different approach by this neighbour

The last neighbour starts off on a very interesting note. Knowing Yashodha’s love for her son, she opens with a statement saying that even Yashodha will be furious with what she is going to hear (சொல்லில் அரசிப் படுதி நங்காய் ).And then reels off the latest act of the young child.

She says he entered the house, removed the bangles from her daughter’s hands, went out through the back door on to the street and exchanged these bangles for a purple fruit. And then as though he knew nothing, he acted with utmost innocence and gave a beautiful smiling face as if nothing at all had happened (இல்லம் புகுந்து என் மகளைக் கூவிக் கையில் வளையைக் கழுற்றிக் கொண்டு கொள்ளையில் நின்றும் கொணர்ந்து விற்ற அங்கொருதிக்கு அவ்வளை கொடுத்து நல்லன நாவற் பழங்கள் கொண்டு நானல்லேன் என்று சிரிகின்றானே).

Krishna Kaapidal

காப்பிடல் - Washing off any Drishti that may have been cast on the handsome young child

It is the first time in Periyazhvar Thirumozhi that a decad  has been entirely dedicated to a particular temple - Thiru Vellarai

Yashodha refers to him as 'Pillai Arasey' for the first time in Periyazhvar Thirumozhi

This decad is yet another beautiful example of Periyazhvar’s penchant for Pillai Tamil. As part of this, one had seen the many different descriptions given by a loving mother to her child in different phases of his childhood. She called him Sundara, Azhage, En Maniye and her little calf in earlier verses. Here for the first time, she calls Pillai Arasey, an obvious reference to his valorous acts.

While his liking for a couple of other temples is well known as seen from his elaborate praise ( to be seen later in this series), Periyazhvar seems to have been impressed so much with Thiru Vellarai that he gives it the first EXCLUSIVE decad in the Periyazhvar Thirumozhi describing the beauty of a particular location. In every verse, he brings out the speciality of Thiru Vellarai, a town 15kms North of Srirangam.

(http://prtraveller.blogspot.in/2007/05/108-divya-desam-thiruvellarai.html)

As he moves along into the fourth Canto, one finds Periyazhvar describing the greatness of more temples – Thiru Maliruncholai, Kadi Nagar and Srirangam. Thiru Koshtiyur seems to be a particular favourite of his as he is very harsh in his adjudication of the people of that place.

Periyazhvar praises the city of Thiru Vellarai and describes its beauty along with the quality of people residing there and simultaneously sings praise of the young child and asks him to abide by the loving commands of his mother for a little more time as it is important for him to be kept away from evil eyes that are all the time looking to create trouble for this beautiful son of Yashodha.

Prosperous Vellarai - Big Houses touching the moon

இந்திரனோடு பிரம்மன் ஈசன் இமையவர் எல்லாம்

மந்திர மா மலர் கொண்டு மறைந்து உவரை வந்து நின்றார்

சந்திரன் மாளிகை சேரும் சதுரர்கள் வெள்ளறை நின்றாய்

அந்தியம் போது இது ஆகும் அழகனே காபிட வாராய்

Thiru Vellarai was a place with lofty mansions that were so high that they seemed to touch the moon.Through this description one can well imaging the prosperity of Thiru Vellarai in Centuries gone by. 

It is also described as a place where Indra, Brahmma, Shiva and other Celestial Lords brought flowers for the Lord from heaven. To this day, as a symbolic gesture of this episode, one can see the sculptures of the Indra, Brahmma and Shiva on the western side of the complex housing the Lord. She says that the young handsome child has been complimented by everyone that she wants to ward off evil eyes.

A mother shouting at the top of her voice!!!!!

கன்றுகள் இல்லம் புகுந்து கதறுகின்ற பசு எல்லாம்

நின்றொழிந்தேன் உன்னைக் கூவி நேச மேலொன்றும் இலாதாய்

மன்றில் நில்லேல் அந்திப் பொதி மதில் திருவெள்ளறை நின்றாய்

நன்று கண்டாய் எந்தன் சொல்லு நான் உன்னைக் காபிட வாராய்

Yashodha says that the cows are all shouting as you have hidden the calves inside. She tells her child that like these cows, she too is shouting out for him at the top of her voice asking him to come inside as the dusk is fast approaching and it may not be such a good idea for him to stay outside. There are many who do not like the compliments being thrown on him and are eyeing his downfall. Like a typical mother, she says she always means well for him and cares for his welfare and hence he should listen to her.

Apologies from the mother

                     The Northern Temple tower of Thiru Vellarai

Thiru Vellarai is praised as a place where seers and celestials worship you thrice a day. Yashodha says that the women were playing happily in the sand and he created mischief by breaking their sand castles and also snatching their food. And her anger, as a result was justified. She reminds him of his earlier reaction.

Through this verse, Periyazhvar also sends out a message to the mothers on the kind of love to be showered on their children.

Angered at being shouted at by his mother, he refused to eat the pudding lovingly made exclusively for him.  But since she has now experienced his saddened feelings, she promises that she would never again do anything negative and asked him to come inside so she can ward off the evil forces that may be working against him (…………….சிறு சோறும் இல்லும் சிதைதிட்டு  அப்போது நான் உரப்பப்……………………..இப்போதும் நான் ஒன்றும் செய்யேன் எம்பிரான் காப்பிட வாராய்)

At least don't pick up a fight with the strangers!!!!!!!!!!!

She says that she keeps on receiving complaints from other children in Gokulam. And she has now got used to this daily routine. But what has surprised her now is his ability to not let go even strangers. 

Yashodha marvels at his ability (sarcastically) to pick up a fight with even completely unknown children . She probably wonders if the new visitors to the city will take away a sour message when they leave the place as a result of the mysterious acts of her child.

She reminds him of his throwing sand in their eyes, kicking them and other such activities that seem to come so easily to him. (கண்ணில் மணல் கொடு தூவி காலினால் பாய்ந்தனை என்று என்று ....... கண்டோரோடே தீமை செய்வாய் ).  These she says have put off the other children and their families and they are upset with him. Given this background, she asks him to come inside so she can ward off negative energy being cast on him.

She goes on. There are thousands at Thiru Vellarai who commit mistakes and those are all being blamed on him. She asks him not to worry about those as she will continue to shower all the praises on him and will ward any evil threats that are likely to be directed at him. Once again Thiruvellarai is praised as a place that is home to great seers and noble people (பல்லாயிரவர் இவ்வூரில் பிள்ளைகள் தீமை செய்வார் எல்லாம் உன்மேல் அன்றிப் போகாது……………….).

The huge walls of Thiru Vellarai is still intact

Periyazhvar refers to the huge walls and mansions of Thiru Vellarai that gave this city a grand look. With word going around that Kamsa has assigned a poisonous asura to kill the young child, she says that it is not safe for him to be alone and unguarded (மஞ்சு தவழ் மணிமாட மதிள்  திருவெள்ளறை நின்றாய்)).

பிள்ளை அரசே

And then Yashodha praises him that even as a child he is already a ruler.  There are those jealous of his unique qualities and are eyeing his body. But she is confident that he will counter them with effortless ease. But for the moment she wants him to take rest and go to sleep.

For a few more days Please!!!!!!!!!!!!

 Yashodha pleads with him to listen to her for some more time till he comes of age!!! She says that the Seers are arriving chanting the Rig Vedas and that he should not come in their way. She wants to light the evening lamp and its shine on the little boy is enough to send the evil forces away from him (தருக்கேல் நம்பி சந்தி நின்று தாய் சொல்லுக் கொள்ளாய் சில நாள்…………திரு காப்பு நான் உன்னைச் சாத்த ...............உருக்காட்டும் அந்தி விளக்கு ஒழி கொள்ள ஏற்றுகேன் வாராய்).

Krishna Poochoodal

பூ சூட்ட வாராய் -Yashodha calls him the Only Medicine to solve our problems

Periyazhvar enjoys the experience of a mother decorating her child with different flowers

In the 7^th and 8^th decads, Periyazhvar is back to his best of Pillai Tamil describing next aspects of the growing child.

(2nd Canto, 7th Decad)

Periyazhvar experiences through Yashodha the different kinds of flowers that she likes the young child to wear. This is the only decad in the Nalayira Divya Prabhandham that describes an entire set of flowers worn by the Lord. As Yashodha takes one through the process of getting her child to wear the flowers on different days, she lures every mother to show true love on their children and to praise every positive act of the child to get the best out of the child. Through these set of verses, Periyazhvar also provides insights into the wide range of flowers that were offered to the Lord during his period. Many of these flowers are not heard off these days but in centuries gone by these were part of the daily attire of the Lord.

Shenbagam

Yashodha calls him sweeter than honey and a medicine for all troubles in life. She reasons out to him that only because he drank milk from the pots of others, he was pulled up by other boys and was laughed at by them (ஆனிரை மேய்க்க நீ போதி அரு மருந்து ஆவதறியாய்………………… பானையில் பாலைப் பருகி பற்றாதார் எல்லாம் சிரிப்ப)

Unmindful of the hot sun, he happily goes after the cows grazing them in the forest. As a result of this, his body has even got roasted (by the hot sun) and he has tanned a bit (கானகம் எல்லாம் திரிந்து உன் கரிய திருமேனி வாட).

As he comes back, he looks tired after a long day’s graze. But he does it all for his mother. Pleased with his day’s work, she says he asks him to wear the Shenbagam flowers as she says he will look handsome in these 

Malligai

He is very well connected to Goddess as she always resides on his chest. On first looks, he is as beautiful as the dark clouds one sees during monsoon times. And then she wonders as to how much more beautiful will he look in the Jasmine flowers? (கருவுடை மேகங்கள் கண்டால் உன்னைக் கண்டலொக்கும் கண்கள்)

Padiri and Dhavana – Climbs ladies’ room

In the past, he has climbed the upper most layers of tall mansions and entered the ladies’ room. Once inside, he tore their silk robes and their edges as a play act. The beautiful young girls were angry at his mischievous acts. Unmindful, he continues with his playful acts. Yashodha thinks that the Padiri Flowers combined with Dhavana shoots will sit perfectly on his curly hair (மச்சோடு மாளிகை ஏறி மாதர்கள் தம் இடம் புக்கு கச்சோடு பட்டைக் கிழித்துக் காம்பு துகில் அவை கீறி).

Maruvu and Damanagam – Stop going behind Milk Maids

Yashodha gets back to the usual topic, one that she has been on ever since his birth. Instead of standing in the middle of the street and teasing the milkmaids, she wants him to come and wear the Maruvu and Davanam shoots (தெருவின் கண் நின்று இள ஆய்ச்சிமார்களை தீமை செய்யாதே).

Kalla Arakki Soorpanaka

She praises his acts of killing Bakasura and Tusker Kuvalaya. Wasn’t he the one who chopped off the nose of the immoral Soorpanaka and later slew her protector Ravana as well.  Periyazhvar calls Soorpanaka her as ‘Kalla Arakki’ since Rama doubted her beauty and had got a scent of true character and believed that what she was presenting before him was not her true form and that it was different from her original complexion (புள்ளினை வாய் பிளந்திட்டாய் பொருகரியின் கொம்பு ஒசித்தாய் கள்ள அரக்கியை மூகோடு காவலனை தலை கொண்டாய்).

Shenkazhuneer - Will not repeat my beatings

Yashodha remembers the previous episodes of punishing him for gobbling up butter but says that is a thing of the past and that she is ashamed of her past acts and that she will not repeat it again. She asks him to adorn the Lotus flower (அள்ளி நீ வெண்ணெய் விழங்க அஞ்சாது அடியேன் அடித்தேன்).

Punnai Flowers

Yashodha says that despite repeated requests from her and the many complaints from the Gokulam Colony, he continues with his mischief on the street on the way to Mathura killing wrestlers every now and then. She wonders if the Punnai flowers will get him into good habits away from these wrestlers.  

Kurukatti Flowers

As she hopes that he would mend his ways and not go behind others, she cannot resist recounting his juggling with pots in mid air and his love for young girls that continues as she says that they fall for his bewitching glowing eyes. She wants to see him draped with Kurukatti flowers (குடங்கள் எடுத்து ஏற விட்டு கூத்தாட வல்ல என்கோவே).

Iruvatchi Flowers – Deceives an Asura

She cites the example of yet another of his dubious acts. When Malikan Asura persisted with the idea of seeking to learn the way to hurl the discus, he made friends with him and like a true friend taught him the art of using the discus. And then much to the shock of everyone made the asura operate the discus only to have his own head severed.  Mysterious is the way the child acts. She says that Iruvatchi flowers will look lovely on his hair (சீமாளிகன் அவனோடு தோழமை கொள்ளவும் வல்லாய்  சாமாறு அவனை நீ எண்ணிச் சக்கரத்தால் தலை கொண்டாய்).

Karumukai flowers

She reminds us of him sleeping as a child on a floating fig leaf but he is always there for the devotees and comes instantly to protect those who offer their sincere prayers to him. Even in the celestial world, everyone is waiting for him and they also give him a full hearing. Delighted to have a child like him, she wants to see and enjoy him with Karumukai flowers (அண்டத்து அமரர்கள் சூழ் அத்தானியுள் அங்கு இருந்தாய் தொண்டர்கள் நெஞ்சில் உறைவாய்). 

Krishna combs his Hair

அக்காக்காய் - A call to comb his hair

Interspersed between two pairs of beautiful decads in the 2nd Canto ( Ear Boring Ceremony/ Bathing Consecration and Describing his flowers / Warding off the Evil Eyes) are probably two of the least interesting decads in the Periyazhvar Thirumozhi.

In these 20 verses, he repeated goes back to describing the killing of the asuras that have already been described many times earlier. Also, one does not see any special highlight in his call for bringing the grazing staff or combing his hair.

Through these verses, Periyazhvar sings praise of the various achievements of the lord and experiences a mother’s feelings of combing a child’s hair. She wants to comb his hair so she can make him look presentable to the onlookers lest they laugh at his uncombed hair.

He is referred to as the bridegroom of Nappinnai and as the Lord of Tiruper Nagar. As mentioned many times earlier in the 1^st canto, Periyazhvar once again refers to his killing of Putana and breaking through the Marutha trees to kill Sakata.

He opened the jar hanging from the ceiling finished the butter and acted as if he was asleep (தின்னக் கலத்தில் திரை உரிமேல் வைத்த வெண்ணை விழுங்கி விரய உறங்கிடும்)

The child ripped apart the beaks of Bakasura who acted as a stork in water. It was his discus that killed Narakasura who is described as having troubled repeatedly the Gods of Eastern Kingdom buoyed by the earlier boon that he had received (கிழக்கில் குடிமன்னர் கேடு இலா தாரை அழிப்பான் நினைதிட்டு அவ்வாழி…………………..)

Don’t go around for food!!!!

She asks him not to roam around looking for well cooked food. She asks him to come without wandering everywhere (பிண்டத் திரளையும் பேய்க்கு இட்ட நீர் சோறும் உண்டற்கு வேண்டி நீ ஓடித் திரியாதே).

Description of ingredients for his bath

The fragrant oil is ready and there is an ivory comb that looks sleek. If he gets combed with it, he will look even more beautiful.  His hair locks are described as being beautiful and she says that if she combs him, his dark rich hair will become look and feel even softer (உந்தி எழுந்த உருவ மலர் தன்னில் சந்தச் சதுமுகன் தன்னைப் படைத்தவன் கொந்தக் குழலைக் குருந்து புளி அட்டித் தந்தத்தின் சீப்பால் குழல் வாராய் அக்கக்காய்).

 ஓர் கோல் கொண்டு வா - Krishna given his grazing staff

Yashodha referes to his physical attributes wearing a talisman pendent made of tender palm leaf around his neck. He also adorns himself with a peacock feather fan. He made a toy bow with a stick cut from hedge. He goes after the cows. The child’s hair which were combed as seen in the previous decad is seen tossing and fluttering in the breeze as he runs behind the calves.  And most of the time, he runs faster than the grazing cows (வேலிக் கோல் வெட்டி விளையாடு வில் ஏற்றி  தாலிக் கொழந்தைத் தடங் கழுத்தில் பூண்டு…………………………………நெறித்த குழல்களை நீங்க முன்னோடி).

She says he is the one who resides in Thiru Kudanthai, Thiru Kottiyur, Thiruper and Konga region.

Once again, many of his acts are glorified including his sending arrows to defeat Lankan king Ravana.

She asks for the grazing staff to be given to him…