Goddess
Saraswati Incarnated as the Sangam Period Poetess Avvaiyyar
Cast:
12
1.
Narrator
1 Hamsini
2.
Narrator
2 Devika
3. Saraswati Bhargavi
4. Brahma Swayam
5. Avvai
as Girl Sankari
6. Avvai
as Old Woman Sahana
7. Avvai's
Mother Srinidhi
8. Avvai's
Father Abhay
9. Grandmother Ananya
10. Grandfather Yuktansh
11. Karthik
as Boy Purnima
12. Karthik
as God Srihari
Script
Narrator
1:
In the midst of a large, full bloom white lotus sat Saraswati, the goddess of
learning, arts and literature, and the consort of Brahma, the creator. She
looked beautiful in white silk and jewelry. She was playing the veena, her
favourite musical instrument and accompanied it with melodious singing.
Narrator
2: Brahma
was very busy creating the Universe and did not pay much attention to her.
Saraswati was getting bored. How many books could she read? She wanted some
interaction with Brahma but he was too busy creating a very complex world.
Saraswti
(to herself): He takes me for granted.
Sarswati
(to Brahma, with a twinkle in her eyes): How does it feel
to be a mortal?
Brahma:
Only
a mortal can answer your question, my dear wife. (He smiled, and soon added) But
no mortal can feel like us, immortals
Saraswati:
I want to be a human being for some time. Please send me go down to earth as
one. I'm sure mankind is having a very exciting life. I want to experience
that. It's rather boring here. (Sarswati pleaded with her consort)
Brahma:
Now,
don't be childish and silly. What on earth would do you there?
Saraswati:
Please,
please, my Lord. Just for some time. Only for a very short time, let me go down
to earth and see what life there is like. Who knows, I may turn out to be the
only immortal mortal!
Narrator
2: Brahma
was taken in by her sweet laughter. In a moment of weakness, he gave in.
Brahma:
Okay,
if you so insist.
Saraswati:
Thank
you. Thank you so much, my lord. I'm already beginning to feel excited. Let me
get ready for this journey to earth.
Narrator
1: Brahma
was aghast at the foolish word he had given his wife. He regretted his rashness.
Brahma:
Oh
no, my dear. I did not mean to agree. How can I send you to earth and stay here
alone?
Saraswati:
But
that's being unfair, my lord. You have already given me your word. After all,
isn't it a very small wish that I ask of you? Believe me, I shall soon return
to you, here, to Brahmaloka. I am really excited about going to Bhuloka and
living among the human beings.
Narrator
2: Without
waiting for Brahma to respond, a happy Saraswati disappeared from his sight.
Bhuloka
or Earth is the setting
Narrator
1: In
Tamil Nadu in India, on an auspicious day, a beautiful little girl was born
into a family of silk weavers. As the
family gathered around the newborn, the little one let out a sweet cry.
Grandmother:
Oh,
what a melodious cry, so soothing to the ears. She is indeed goddess Saraswati
come down to earth, to us!
Grandfather:
How
beautiful she looks, such divine eyes!
Narrator
2: Others
around, join in saying "Yes, how pretty she is!"
Grandmother:
We
shall name her Avvaiyar
Grandfather:
Avvai,
for short. That is how we will call her
Narrator
1: Avvai
grew up to be a beautiful and clever girl. At a very early age, she mastered
Tamil literature. She was also a sprightly and cheerful girl whom her parents
adored. When she reached sixteen, her parents planned to get her married.
Mother:
Look,
how our little baby has grown to be a beautiful young girl! It's time we got
her a suitable groom.
Father:
What's
the earthshaking hurry? She's still a child, our little Avvai.
Mother:
Child!
Look how big she's grown. She's sixteen! We should invite all our family and
friends and arrange her marriage into a good family. The groom should be
handsome to match the beauty of our Avvai. He should be a gentle fellow who
will take care of our princess.
Father
(looks adoringly at Avvai): You are indeed right.
Our little Avvai has blossomed into a very charming young woman. How is it I
did not notice this all these years!
Mother:
that's
just the way you menfolk are! Do you ever see anything beyond your work? When
do you have time for the family?
Narrator
2: Avvai
smiled at her mother's little outburst. It reminded her of Brahmaloka.
Father:
Oh,
we men know how capable our women are. We therefore leave these things to you.
You are the queen of the household. What would I do without you?
Mother:
That's enough buttering for a day!
Grandfather:
Your
husband is a wealthy and well admired man in town. It will not be difficult for
him to get a suitable groom for our little Avvai.
Grandmother:
That's
true. We will perform her wedding in all pomp and grandeur.
Narrator
1: Avvai
was worried on hearing the serious talk about her marriage.
Avvai:
Mother,
what is this talk about marrying me off. I do not wish to get married. I will
not marry, not ever!
Mother:
not
get married! Never get married!
Avvai:
Yes.
I'll never get married.
Mother:
Never
marry! What a thing for a girl to say! Every girl born on this earth has to get
married.
Avvai:
Not
me. I don't have to.
Mother:
What
will you do all alone. You're just 16 and you have your whole life before you.
Don't tell me you're going to become an old woman overnight!
Narrator
1: Avvai's
mother stormed out of the room. But she had already planted a seed in Avvai's
mind.
Avvai
(to herself): How can I, the wife of Brahma, marry
another man? But, yes, mother has certainly given me an idea to get myself out
of this mess. I shall become an old woman, overnight. Then no one will marry
me, an old woman!
Narrator
2: Avvai
acted on her idea. When she woke up the following morning, she was an aged
woman with a stoop, wrinkled face and silvery gray hair. Her parents were
shocked when they saw her. Her mother fainted. Avvai sprinkled some cold water
on her face to revive her from the swoon.
Mother:
Oh,
my beautiful 16 year old, where has she gone? What has happened to you, why
have you done this to yourself Avvai?
Avvai:
Mother,
I did not come here, into this world, to get married and lead an ordinary life.
I have a lot of things to do. To accomplish them, this is the best disguise.
Mother:
What
are you going to do?
Avvai:
You'll
soon come to know.
Narrator
2: Avvai
who was none other than Saraswati, began writing numerous poems in Tamil. It
was during the Sangam Period, the 1st and 2nd century CE that Avvai lived in. She
achieved renown as an exceptionally gifted poet with extraordinarily beautiful
language and style of writing. She wrote literary works, meant for children, in
later years. She became famous in the Chola and Pandyan kingdoms. She basked in
all the adulation she received from across the length and breadth of these
kingdoms.
Narrator
1: Meanwhile,
Brahma was missing his consort.
Brahma
(to himself): I do miss my dear Saraswati very much.
It is high time she returned here, to Brahmaloka. I must find some way to bring
her back. She is ignoring my repeated calls to her. As Avvai, she is becoming
very popular and all this adoration is getting to her head. She is becoming
conceited. I must do something to vanquish her arrogance and conceit.
Narrator
1: After
much thinking, Brahma hit upon an idea. He sought out Shiva's son Karthik to carry
out his idea.
Brahma:
Will
you go down to earth on an important errand for me?
Karthik:
Sure.
Tell me what you wish me to do?
Narrator
1: Brahma
whispered something into Karthik's ear, and the young God soon mounted his
peacock and left to accomplish his task on earth.
Narrator
2: In
the scorching heat of Tamil Nadu, Avvai was travelling towards Madurai, the
capital of the Pandya kingdom. She walked and walked. Her mouth became dry and
parched. She felt dizzy. As she rested herself on a huge rock, she noticed a
sprawling jamun tree nearby. It was full of ripe, juicy jamuns. But they were
all high up and she couldn't reach them. She then noticed a little boy perched
on top of the tree. She approached him.
Avvai:
Little
son, I'm very, very thirsty and there is no water around. I could eat some of
these juicy fruits and quench my thirst. Will you please drop me some fruits.
God will bless you my child.
Boy:
Sure
grandmother. But do you want cool fruits or hot fruits?
Avvai:
Hot
fruits? Are you joking? Can fruits be hot? Now don't fool me because you think
I'm an old woman. I'm so thirsty.
Boy:
Okay
grandmother. Please don't get annoyed. I will now shake the branches of the
tree and the fruits will fall on the sand below. Pick as many as you want and
quench your thirst.
Narrator
1: As
the fruits fell from a height, many of them became squashed and sand stuck to
them. Avvai picked them up and blew the sand from them to clean them.
Boy
(laughs as he says): Grandmother, are the fruits hot that you
are blowing at them, to cool them?
Narrator
2: Avvai
was stunned and taken aback. She tasted defeat for the first time on earth. And
that too at the hands of a little boy! How could she claim to be master of a
language when she could not understand the hidden meaning in the child's
question?
Avvai:
Dear
child, you have opened my eyes. Forgive me my arrogance in belittling you. But you
are no mere boy! Tell me, who are you?
Narrator
1: Karthik
revealed himself to her and said:
Karthik:
Aunt
Saraswati, it is time for you to return to Brahmaloka.
Narrator
1: Saraswati
immediately left for Brahmaloka.
Brahma:
so
how was your taste of the mortal world?
Saraswati:
It
was fun while it lasted. But then again, after a while I started getting bored.
Narrator
2: Brahma
gave her a knowing smile. His plan had worked. It would be a secret just
between him and Karthik. He was happy to have his beloved wife back home!
*****
