Thasai inai thee chudinum

Students learning thirumarai
Raja Rajan
One day in the court of Raja Raja Chozhan, who is the greatest tamil king, lived during tenth century AD, some “paanars” (court vocalists) were singing some saivite songs. Hearing the song the king’s heart melted and tears ran down his cheeks out of ecstasy. The song, he was listening to was from “Thevaram”, collection of songs by appar, sundarar, sambandar. Except for the few songs known then, nobody had any idea about other songs and also the state of original scriptures.

NambiYandar Nambi
There was a saint by name Nambiyandar nambi, blessed by lord vinayaka. Raja Rajan approached him to help him in finding the original texts of thevaram. By divine instruction, they came to know the original “chuvadis” (writings on palm leaf), were in one of the chambers of Chidambaram temple. However, the temple priests did not allow them inside the chamber as they said only the original poets could be allowed as per the orders of the poets themselves.

Thevaram Restored
Rajarajan, known for his presence of mind, arranged for the procession of “vigrahams” (idols) of the poets and went to the priests. Moved by his devotion they opened the chamber for them. Alas, most of the palm leaves were eaten by ant hills. However few hundreds of songs were left unaffected. King and the others were grieved by the loss. However they heard a “ashariri” (voice of god), saying whatever that was needed for kaliyuga had been recovered and rest would not be obtained anytime.

Odhuvars
Nambiyandar Nambi, as ordered by the king, compiled the works as into 11 thirumarais, which also included works of Manicka vasagar and also works of Nambi himself. Rajarajan, in his desire to preserve the “thirumarai”, trained some 3000 people in singing them and supported them. The clan that lives by singing thirumarai, is called Odhuvars. They were (are, in some cases) supported by temple administration. In that way “saivam” and “Tamil” prospered in the divine land of Tamilnadu. There are odhuvars of vaishnavites too and they sing “Nalayira divya prabandham”.

Current state
As temple administration fell in the hands of politicians, there is not much support for odhuvars. People have lost interest in tamil music and they are enslaved by filthy cinema music, tele serials etc. Recent study shows there are only few hundreds of odhuvars alive. My friend who belonged to lineage of sambandhar, who had the rights to sing in meenakshi amman temple, never learnt this art. He has his flower shop business in the temple. I will be glad if I still get to hear the three time declaration of “Sindhai magizha siva Puranam thannai, mundhai vinai muzhudhum ooya uraipan yaan” (I will sing siva Puranam, to destroy my sins and to obtain ecstasy) in the majestic voice of some odhuvar, when I visit the temple next time.

Proud
I am proud of those hundreds who fight poverty and try to sing in praise of god. All they want to do is sing “Nama sivaya vaazhga” or “pallandu” in the temples, despite we listen to them or not. However, if we make an effort to listen to them, their life will blossom again. As far as I know they committed no sin but not studying IT and remained contented in singing His Glory.

Note1: Raja Raja Chozhan, also called as “thirumari kanda chozhan’s” birthday is celebrated till date.
Note 2: In the temple rituals, Odhuvars earn more respect than the king himself, as per aagamam.
Note 3: The species called “Thookanam kuruvi” is almost extinct.
Note 4: Thasai inai thee chudinum siva sakthiyai paadidum varam ketten”
~Bharathiyar.
When my flesh is burnt in fire, (when my pyre is lit) let me sing in praise of “Siva – Sakthi”, is the boon I ask. ~ Bharathiyar.