Seventeen - II

As the second half of the 'birthday package', let me record some recent impressions from our other epic - the Ramayana.

1. In most versions of Ramayana, Shatrughna is a mere shadow to Bharata. Only towards the end of the 'Uttarakandam' does Rama ask him to lead - almost as a consolation prize - a campaign against the asura Lavana. And in some versions of the epic he fights Rama's sons in a futile bid to free a sacrificial horse. But neither of these is a situation where Shatrughna makes a signature contribution to the dramatic flux of the story.

Now, let me quote a bit from Philip Lutgendorf's translation of Tulsidas's version. Bharata and Shatrughna have just returned to Ayodhya and learned of the horrible things Kaikeyi had done at Manthara's instigation:

When Shatrughna learned of (Kaikeyi's ) treachery,
his body burned with uncontrollable anger.
Just then, the hunchback (Manthara) came there,
all done up in rich clothes and jewels.

Seeing her, Laxmana's brother was enraged,
like a blazing fire into which ghee is poured,
With a leap, he kicked her on her hump
and she fell flat on her face, shrieking.
The hump was smashed, her skull fractured,
teeth broken and blood poured from her mouth.
She wailed "Oh God, What harm did I do,
for my good deeds to bring me such bad fruit?"
Hearing this and knowing her to be utterly corrupt,
the slayer of foes began draggindg her by her braid.
But Bharata, abode of mercy, made him release her,
and the two brothers went to ....
Note: Shatrughna's 'leaping kick' can be taken as evidence for the high development of martial arts in the India of Treta Yuga; Bodhidharma teaching our combat techniques to the Chinese was millennia into the future!
-----------
2. After nearly a decade, I revisited the Koothattukulam Mahadeva temple.

"Above the main 'balikkallu'( a sort of sacrificial altar at the entrance to the interior) is a square wooden canopy of side about 15 foot. Its central part is divided into 9 equal square panels but if these panels ever held something (I am told they might have had carvings of the Navagrahas) they are gone..."

Note: The missing panels must have held not the nine planets but the 8 dikpalas and Brahma at the center.

"Around this central portion is a border about 10 inches wide and here, in a running frieze are carved episodes from the Ramayana ..."

A group portrait of Dasharatha with his sons and queens:

"In Kerala, there is a pretty widespread tradition of representing Rama's 'nativity' in graphic detail. To my knowledge, among the many possible divine births, only those of Rama and his brothers get this treatment. The most (in)famous among several such cringe-worthy labor scenes are among the Mattancheri Palace murals ... The Koothattukulam friezes are more demure with the newborns shown safe in the hands of ladies attending on their mothers...."

I realize I hadn't been very accurate. Only Rama's birth is relatively 'demure'. Here it is. The others, let me leave to your visits to the place. I recall seeing somewhere that at least some sources say that among the 4 brothers, Laxmana is senior to Bharata; and if you go by these carvings, that is indeed the case, albeit marginally. I won't elaborate further!

Rama kills Tataka:

Although there was talk of renovation, all that has happened over the years at this temple is some minor construction in a corner of the compound; the temple looks as much on the brink of collapse as ever. I wish someone properly documents the few surviving pieces of art before the inevitable.
-----------
And last but not the least, let me mention an absolute Greek tragdey of a Marathi film - 'Jait re Jait' by Jabbar Patel and featuring Smita Patil and Mohan Agashe. Over the last week, I saw it thrice, parts threof more often..

The Lingoba rock is what Maslow's Pyramid of Needs really ought to look like - gentle at low elevations and steep, indeed, vicious towards the pinnacle. Nagya is an Everyman who, inspired by a doting Father, pursues Self-actualization and Transcendence at the expense of Belonging, Love and Esteem - his story, a parable on the sad folly of neglecting Deficiency needs to satisfy Growth needs.