Goddess Saraswati Incarnated as the Sangam Period Poetess Avvaiyyar

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!

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