Araiyar Sevai
Encyclopedia
Araiyar sevai is a Tamil performing art form, centered around the ritual singing and enactment of the religious hymns of the Divya Prabandham. Araiyar sevai is generally performed only inside Vaishnavite
temples in the presence of the temple urcavar - the temple's processional deity - by hereditary performers. Although temple inscriptions suggest its performance was once widespread, it is today only performed in three temples in Tamil Nadu
- the "koyil" shrine of Srirangam
, the shrine of Alvar Tirunagari and the temple of Andal
at Srivilliputhur
. It is also performed in a different form at the Melkote
temple in southern Karnataka
, where the Tivya Pirapantham is sung, but not enacted.
, a 10th century Vaishnavite teacher, who according to tradition compiled the Divya Prabandham. According to the legends, Nathamuni composed musical tunes (icaippa) for the hymns along with dance steps to bring out their meaning. He instituted three annual festivals, called tiruvattiyayanam for the performance of the hymns. These include the festivals of Pongal
, Panguni uttiram and Aadi puram.
and conducts certain prayers throughout the year, but only performs the araiyar sevai during the festivals instituted by Nathamuni. Araiyars are male, and must spend several years studying the hymns of the Divya Prabandham and the traditional commentaries on the hymns, particularly the commentary known as by , in addition to studying the art form itself.
In recent years, some Vaishnavites have attempted to broaden the range of temples in which araiyar sevai is performed, and to teach it to non-hereditary performers in order to arrest its decline. Srirama Bharati is a noted proponent of a new enacted, and sung form of araiyar sevai, which is a revivalist, modern form with no hereditary connection to traditional araiyar sevai performed at the traditional Srivashnava shrines.
called araiyar kullai, which bears the Vaishnavite symbols of the conch, discus and thirunamam. During the actual performance, a piece of cloth taken from a garment used by the temple deity is tied to the hat. The araiyar also wears a garland, and holds cymbals which he plays during the performance.
An araiyar sevai begins with a ritual summons, where the officiating priest using a ritual formula, calls upon the araiyar to come before the temple urcavar - the temple's processional deity. The araiyar replies with a formulaic response and puts on the araiyar kullai as he approaches. He then sounds a few strokes on the cymbals, and begins the performance.
Each verse is performed in three steps. In the first step, the araiyar sings the verse. In the second step, he dances a few steps which, through a system of ritualised gestures
, give expression to the literal meaning of the verse. In the third step, he explains the inner meaning of the verse, as explained in , a traditional commentary on the Divya Prabandham. On specific days, the performance of individual verses is followed by a dramatisation of specific scenes from Hindu mythology, such as the churning of the ocean, the birth of Andal
, or the slaying of Kamsa
. The final element of the performance is the mutukkuri vaipavam, which depicts a worried mother consulting a kattuvicci female soothsayer about her daughter, who is lovelorn.
Vaishnavism
Vaishnavism is a tradition of Hinduism, distinguished from other schools by its worship of Vishnu, or his associated Avatars such as Rama and Krishna, as the original and supreme God....
temples in the presence of the temple urcavar - the temple's processional deity - by hereditary performers. Although temple inscriptions suggest its performance was once widespread, it is today only performed in three temples in Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu is one of the 28 states of India. Its capital and largest city is Chennai. Tamil Nadu lies in the southernmost part of the Indian Peninsula and is bordered by the union territory of Pondicherry, and the states of Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh...
- the "koyil" shrine of Srirangam
Srirangam
Srirangam , Old name is Vellithirumutha gramam and Tamil name is Thiruvarangam , is an island and a part of the city of Tiruchirapalli , in South India....
, the shrine of Alvar Tirunagari and the temple of Andal
Andal
Andal is the the only female Alvar of the 12 Alvar saints of South India, who are known for their affiliation to Vaishnava tradition of Hinduism. She is credited with the great Tamil works of Thirupavai and Nachiar Tirumozhi that are still recited by devotees during the Winter festival season of...
at Srivilliputhur
Srivilliputhur
Srivilliputhur is a semi-urban town and a municipality in Virudhunagar district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu....
. It is also performed in a different form at the Melkote
Melkote
Melukote in Pandavapura taluk of Mandya district, Karnataka, in southern India, is one of the sacred places in Karnataka. The place is also known as Thirunarayanapuram. It is built on rocky hills, known as Yadavagiri or Yadugiri, overlooking the Cauvery valley. Melukote is about 51 km from...
temple in southern Karnataka
Karnataka
Karnataka , the land of the Kannadigas, is a state in South West India. It was created on 1 November 1956, with the passing of the States Reorganisation Act and this day is annually celebrated as Karnataka Rajyotsava...
, where the Tivya Pirapantham is sung, but not enacted.
Origin legends
Tamil legends trace the origin of the araiyar sevai to NathamuniNathamuni
Nathamuni was a Tamil Vaishnava scholar who founded the Sri Vaishnava tradition.According to Sri Vaishnava history, Acharya Shriman Nathamunigal was born at Veera Narayana Puram near Kattumannarkoil...
, a 10th century Vaishnavite teacher, who according to tradition compiled the Divya Prabandham. According to the legends, Nathamuni composed musical tunes (icaippa) for the hymns along with dance steps to bring out their meaning. He instituted three annual festivals, called tiruvattiyayanam for the performance of the hymns. These include the festivals of Pongal
Pongal
Thai Ponggal is a harvest festival celebrated by Tamils in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, Indian Union Territory of Pondicherry and in Sri Lanka. Pongal coincides with the festival Makara Sankranthi celebrated throughout India. Pongal in Tamil means "boiling over" or "spill over". The boiling...
, Panguni uttiram and Aadi puram.
The performers: Araiyars
The art form is practiced principally by a few families of hereditary performers, called araiyar. An araiyar is attached to a temple as a priestPriest
A priest is a person authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particular, rites of sacrifice to, and propitiation of, a deity or deities...
and conducts certain prayers throughout the year, but only performs the araiyar sevai during the festivals instituted by Nathamuni. Araiyars are male, and must spend several years studying the hymns of the Divya Prabandham and the traditional commentaries on the hymns, particularly the commentary known as by , in addition to studying the art form itself.
In recent years, some Vaishnavites have attempted to broaden the range of temples in which araiyar sevai is performed, and to teach it to non-hereditary performers in order to arrest its decline. Srirama Bharati is a noted proponent of a new enacted, and sung form of araiyar sevai, which is a revivalist, modern form with no hereditary connection to traditional araiyar sevai performed at the traditional Srivashnava shrines.
Performance
The traditional clothes worn during araiyar sevai performances are the pañcakacam (a style of wearing the veshti) and a conical hatPointed hat
Pointed hats have been a distinctive item of headgear of a wide range of cultures throughout history. Though often suggesting an ancient Indo-European tradition, they were also traditionally worn by women of Lapland, the Japanese, the Mi'kmaq people of Atlantic Canada, and the Huastecs of Veracruz...
called araiyar kullai, which bears the Vaishnavite symbols of the conch, discus and thirunamam. During the actual performance, a piece of cloth taken from a garment used by the temple deity is tied to the hat. The araiyar also wears a garland, and holds cymbals which he plays during the performance.
An araiyar sevai begins with a ritual summons, where the officiating priest using a ritual formula, calls upon the araiyar to come before the temple urcavar - the temple's processional deity. The araiyar replies with a formulaic response and puts on the araiyar kullai as he approaches. He then sounds a few strokes on the cymbals, and begins the performance.
Each verse is performed in three steps. In the first step, the araiyar sings the verse. In the second step, he dances a few steps which, through a system of ritualised gestures
Abhinaya
Abhinaya is a concept in Indian dance and drama derived from Bharata's Natya Shastra. Although now, the word has come to mean 'the art of expression', etymologically it derives from Sanskrit abhi- 'towards' + nii- 'leading/guide', so literally it means a 'leading towards' Aside from its clear...
, give expression to the literal meaning of the verse. In the third step, he explains the inner meaning of the verse, as explained in , a traditional commentary on the Divya Prabandham. On specific days, the performance of individual verses is followed by a dramatisation of specific scenes from Hindu mythology, such as the churning of the ocean, the birth of Andal
Andal
Andal is the the only female Alvar of the 12 Alvar saints of South India, who are known for their affiliation to Vaishnava tradition of Hinduism. She is credited with the great Tamil works of Thirupavai and Nachiar Tirumozhi that are still recited by devotees during the Winter festival season of...
, or the slaying of Kamsa
Kamsa
In Hinduism, Kamsa or Kansa , often known as Kans in Hindi, is the brother of Devaki, and ruler of the Vrishni kingdom with its capital at Mathura. His father was King Ugrasena and mother was Queen Padmavati...
. The final element of the performance is the mutukkuri vaipavam, which depicts a worried mother consulting a kattuvicci female soothsayer about her daughter, who is lovelorn.