Ashtami MahotSava

8/13/2019 Ashtami MahotSava

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ISSN 0975-4067

KIRAVALJournal of Sanskrit Research Foundation

The New Trivandrum Sanskrit Series

Vol.V. Book.I & II

January-June

2013

SANSKRIT RESEARCH FOUNDATIONT.C 39/37

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM-36


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KIRAVALJournal of Sanskrit Research Foundation

Editor

Dr.M. ManimohananSree Sankaracharya University of Sanskrit,Kalady

[email protected]

Executive Editor

Dr.C.S.Sasikumar

Sree Sankaracharya University of Sanskrit,Kalady

[email protected]

Managing Editor

Dr.G.Narayanan

Sree Sankaracharya University of Sanskrit,Kalady

[email protected]

Editorial Board

Dr.V.Sisupalapanikkar,Professor of Sanskrit(Rtd.) Uty. of Kerala

Dr.R.Vijayakumar, Professor of Vyakarana, S.S.U.S.Kalady

Dr.K.Muthulakshmi, Associate professor in Vedanta, S.S.U.S.

Kalady

Dr.K.K.Sundaresan, Registrar, Kalamandalam

Editorial Advisory BoardDr.T.Devarajan, Professor of Sanskrit(Rtd), University of Kerala

Dr.P.Chithambaran, Rtd.Professor of Vedanta,S.S.U.S. Kalady

Dr.P.K.Dharmarajan, Professor of Sahitya, S.S.U.S. Kalady

Dr..S.Sobhana, Associate professor in Vedanta, S.S.U.S.Kalady

Dr.K.Sekharan, Professor of Sanskrit, University of Calicut

Associate Editor

Prof.R.Jinu

[email protected]

Views expressed in the articles are those of the authors and not

necessarily those of the publishers


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Contents

Ia Upaniad and Rmyaa Dr.V.Vasudevan- 7

Bhadrakalikalam- a Reminiscence of

Dhuli Chitra: A study Babu.K -15

Modern and Vedantic Views

on Mental Health Dr.H.Sylaja -38

Cultivation and related income

in the Arthastra Pushpadasan Kuniyil -44

Rmyaa Plays ofBhsa Dr. N. Vijayamohanan Pillai - 49

The Creative Genius

in Sree Narayana Guru Dr.Asaletha.V -56

Eco Feminism Shamshad Begum.R - 62

Ajitamahtantra:

Treatise on Vstuvidya Soumya. K -70

Historical and Cultural Aspects Reflected In

Ashtamimahotsava Prabandha Krishnaveni -79Influence of Buddhism in the Social Health

Environment of Kerala Soumya.c.s -84

nviSxiv b.x.E -90

{xix xhuV

Ml& ] b.B.VE -96

E&-Ehi M & .E.E -104

nnOlxREnxi |H& b. . Bx. VE -109

E\Vi |l{x n. B. -113


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Historical and Cultural Aspects Reflected In

Ashtamimahotsava Prabandha

KrishnaveniAshtamimahotsava prabandha is a narration of

Ashtamimahotsava celebrated in Vaikom Sri Mahadeva

Temple. This prabandha is one of the most beautiful Champu

Kavya among the Kerala Champu literature. The name of this

Prabandha is somewhere denoted as Ashtami prabandha and

somewhere as Ashtamimahotsava prabandha.As the definition

of Champu kavya, this one is also in Champu style ie; in the

order of a mixture of prose and verse.(Dandin 94)

The Ashtamimahotsava prabandha contains 41 verses and some

prose parts. The Vyakhyanas of this grandha is very rare. One

of these is written by Sri.Chunakkara Unnikrishna varrior in

Malayalam language. Another one is written by Sri Punnaseri

Nilakanta Sarma in Grantha lipi. And another one is written

by Harippad Chemprol Ambadevithampuratti.

The author of this Prabandha is Sri Melputtur Narayana Bhatta

[1560 A.D to 1666A.D]. He was a Nampootiri Brahmin

belonging to the family of Melputtur near the temple

Chandanakavu,about two miles to the north of the Thirunavaya

temple, on the northern banks of the river Bharathapuzha. His

father was Matrudutta and teacher Trikkandiyoor

Achuthapisharoti.Most of the plots of the Prabandhas of Narayana Bhatta is based

upon the Purana or Epics. But the Ashtamimahotsava


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prabandha and Kotiviraha are the exceptional cases of that. At

the temples, Chakyars used most of the Prabandhas to perform

Koothu. But Ashtamimahotsava prabandha is probably not

used for performing arts.

Vaikom Mahadeva temple

Vaikom Mahadeva temple is cituated at Vaikom in Kottayam

district. And the temple is near by the Kottayam - Ernakulam

rout. The temple is looking to east and is pervading at an eight

acre land. Here Lord Siva gives his blessings to the devotees

in three bhavas or forms. In the morning he assumes the form

of Dakshinamoorthi, the Guru of gurus. in the noontime heassumes the form of Kiratamoorthi, who gave Pasupathastra

to his noble devotee Arjuna. In the evening Lord Siva assumes

the bhava of Sambasiva with his wife Parvathy and sons

Ganapathy and Karthikeya.

The important festival that exists here is Vaikkathashtami,

celebrated at the Krishnapaksha Ashtami day of Vrischikom

month. And the main coustoms of this festival is

Kopputhookkal, Sandhyavela, Rushabhavahana procession,

Ashtami darsana, Valiyakanikka, Despatch of

Udayanapurathappan, Koodippuja etc.(Nampootiri 18)

Origin of the name Vaikom

In olden times this place was a thick forest inhabited by wild

animals. The ancient Sanskrit books Bhargavapurana and

Sanalkumarasamhitha mention this place as Vaiyaghrageham

and Vaiyaghrapuram. As per legands Vyaghrapadamaharshi got

Sivadarsana here, so it was fittingly called Vyaghrapadapuram.

Later,when Tamil spread, the word Vaiyaghra got transformed

as Vaikom(18).

The content ofAstami Mahotsava Prabanda

The Astami Mahotsava Prabanda is described as in the form

of a travalouge. A Vidyadhara named as Sangeethadesika sharehis travel experience to Devendra. Through the first verse the


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poet salute Lord Siva and through another one he describes

the greatness of festival and his inexpertness to narrate it.

C HxY& C{x& { i%{* xxinj {VxPvEvx {ti& &(1)Here the humbleness of the poet becomes clear. After that the

story begins. Sangeethadesika is gone to Indrasabha with his

wife. Then Devendra wants to narrate the incident which creates

astonishment in him. Then he begins to tell about the Astami

Mahotsava celebrated in Vyaghrapadapuri. Sangeethadesika

narrate it in a very interesting manner. He says that the man

who did not see the Astami Mahotsava is not a man. {xE x i o]x] *

Then he told about the temple named as the

Mahavyaghrapuram. Here always reverberate the Vedic chants

of Brahmins. At the courtyard of the temple, the golden flagstaff

is shining as a ladder to enter the Heaven for devotees. The

residence of Kailasa is only like a skyflower for Lord Siva,

when he resides here. At the southern part of the temple,

Bhagavathy Bhadrakali is situated with showering her blessings

on devotees. And here an excellent picturization of Bhagavathy

is done by Melputtur.

Then he begins to describe the celebration. The Utsava begins

from the day of Sukladvadasi in Vrischika month. At the

afternoon of that day, the maid servants cleaned the base floor

of the flagstaff as a shining mirror. They decorate there with

flowers, hang the garlands and placed the auspicious objects

like Nirakudam, Nilavilakku, Nirapara etc. At that time, the

priest was came from the temple and offered some special

worships there. After that the flag was raised indicate the

beginning of Utsava.

In the evening of that day there reverberating the sound of

kettle drum. Hearing that, all people were coming to the temple.Large numbers of lights are shining around the temple as the

burning of wild fire around a mountain. Then there occur the


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procession of Lord Siva for the Deepotsava with the escort of

colorful umbrellas and venchamaras. After the three

pradakshinas they reenter to the temple. Ten days was finished

following the seeveli at morning, Brahmin feast at mid-day

and at the night Deepotsava. After these ten days there comes

the day Astami.

Here the author creates a vast and interesting narration of a

festival place. We can see a beautiful and vivid explanation of

the people assembled, transactions occur there etc. People use

this time to sale and buy the precious stones, the ornaments

such as necklace, bangles etc. fragrant substance like sandalwood, akil, devatharu etc. grocery items like rice, fruits, coconut

etc. The author narrates interestingly the deceptive manner of

businessmen and their tricks to attract people to them. And

also narrate other sights from there - the preceptors who abuse

other religions, the noble women who came to see the festival

with their husbands etc.

At the dawn a drum was beaten and people assembled for the

procession. There came various types of people who wear

variety dresses, ornaments, speaks various languages and had

various cultures. There came the prostitutes who contain the

essence of the theory of Kamadeva, the people who came from

Kalinga, Neppal, Turki, Chola, Bengal, Andhra etc and the

scholarly Brahmins etc. Wearing a turban made by red silk

cloth and a shining sword in hand, the Sastra nampoori

sangham enter to every houses.

Then two handsome men came from the temple with a rattan

cane. According to the customs of that time, may be these are

the people who escort the procession. Then the image of Lord

Siva being placed on an elephant named as Chandrasekhara,

escorted by a king who look like the Jupiter who came to earth

to see the Utsava and the devotees. After the pradakshina theprocession went to the northern side of the temple, where a

procession of Skanda joined it. And Lord Skanda is reached


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near to Lord Siva with the harmonious sounds of musical

instruments. Latter together with the Skanda, Lord Siva

occupied the bottom of the two Asvattha on the eastern side of

the temple. Dances and songs were provided to honour the

deities. People worshipped Siva under the tree in various ways.

A Dandaka was addressed to Him. Then Skanda left Siva. And

the procession of Lord Siva was ended at the door of the temple.

He vanished from elephants back and entered in to the

sanctuary. The next day He took bath at dawn in a lake on

northern side of the temple.

On hearing this account Indra was pleased with the VidyadharaSangeethedesika.

Conclusion

The Ashtamimahotsava prabandha of Melputtur Narayana

Bhatta is the narration of the Astami festival celebrated at

Vaikom Mahadeva temple. Splendid and fresh thought of

substance, most brilliant and majestic vocabulary, beautiful

narration, naturality, rhetorical embellishment etc. are perfectly

shining in the Ashtamimahotsava prabandha. It is not only a

narration of a festival but an outstanding description of the

society also. Customs, culture, lifestyle etc also reflected in

this Champu. Historically it is priceless. This prabandha is one

of the everlasting, ever shining jewel of the Prabandha

Samuccaya of Melputtur.

Works Cited

Kvydara of Mahkavi Da,. Ed. Rmacandra Mira. Varanasi:

Chowkhamba Vidyabhawan, 1972. Print.

Nampootiri, Narayanan T.D. Vaikom Mahadevatemple History

and Legend. Vaikom: Malayalarajyam Book Depot. Print.

Unni, Dr N.P, ed. Prabandhamanjari (Selected Prabandhas of

Melputhur Narayana Bhatta). New Delhi: Rashtriya Sanskrit

Sansthan, 1998. Print.

Ashtami MahotSava

Documents

Transcript of Ashtami MahotSava