From Dynasty to Democracy
On the first day of Sri Narasimha Jayanthi the fig mask of lord Narasimha is being painted and this painting work is being carried out generation by generation. The power of the lord is being transformed into the holy water placed inside a “ghatam” or a pot by chanting mantras. On the day of “Sri Narasimha Jayanthi”, around 6.00p.m, in the vasantha mandapam (a big hall) where the mask of the Lord is being kept, all the people gather inside the hall and the face of the Lord is shown for "Deepa Aradhana" only few seconds and the screen is closed. Around 8.00p.m the idol of Lord Srinivasa accompanied by his consorts Sridevi and Bhudevi is brought through the streets of the village for " Swami Veedhi ula " Then by 10.00p.m the drama “BHAKTHA PRAHALADHA” is being staged.
PathraPravesham ( Role Play )
The Mela is an all male show. Even the female characters are staged by males.The Major Role plays in the drama are very important. Hiranyakashipu , a giant and hale person for devilish king and cruel Father. Leelavathy , saintly wife and affectionate mother . Prahladha , real essence and passion of bhakthi.. The part of Lord Narasimha is coired by persons of a particular “Gothra”.
Gist
The king Hiranyakashipu returns home after a long time and was curious to see his child Prahaladha. He desires his son to learn all the Vedas and he wanted his son to dominate the kingdom as he did. When Prahaladha was made to learn, he came to know that his son was against him and chanted the names of Lord Narayana who had killed his brother Hiranyaksha. The king felt bad as he was clamped with a thought that he was the only person to be worshipped by everybody in the world. Raged father tries to groom the child to think that he is the supreme ones and the poor mother got struck in between them. Hiranyakashipu tries different attempts to kill the child but all his efforts were in vain. Prahaladha was subjected to severe punishments. But the child brushed aside all these and was only chanting and thinking of Lord Narayana. Nothing could stand in front of true devotion.
Spell of Bhakthi
Heeding to the kid, lord Narayana had taken up the form of “Narasimha”- Vishnu incarnate. The frightening king though affectionate towards his son challenges against Vishnu that no one can protect his son than he could, when amidst fireworks the pillar opens up for the lord to come out. Hiranyakashipu fights against the Lord and finally yields his life to death. That time was neither night nor day, was killed neither by a man nor a beast as in Narasimha, and was killed neither inside nor outside the house as these were all the boons granted to him. The boy wonders about the God’s affection towards him for having pleased by hearing his words. Later the lord comes along with Prahaladha and Goddess Lakshmi allover the streets of the village and blesses everybody. Thus the scene comes to an end after a whole night show supported by various artists . The participants of this program are the veterans of the village. This downpour of blessings is ported among everybody.
Accolade to the presiding deity
Comparing the rituals of other villages, some traditions are followed only in Saliyamangalam. In order to praise the presiding deity- Lord Srinivasa, this practice is known as “THATUCHUTHU” is carried out. The senior most would access this method by dancing around the Lord. This was initialized by the king Sri Ragunatha Nayak- who was the son of king Sri Achuthappa Nayaka. In those days there was a dilemma among the public as to who wrote all these lyrics of “THATUCHUTHU”- whether it was Sri Panchanatha Bhagavathar or King Sri Ragunatha Nayak. According to Sri Mohan Kokkar- the past president of the Sangeet Natak Academy, it was written by Sri Ragunatha Nayak and edited by Nadanam Kasinatha. This name is mentioned in a line from “THATUCHUTHU”.
Another steer to this mela is the “SABDHAM”- which draws out the synopsis of the entire drama. This is an anonymous script and it just gives the gist of the play.
The booster part of the play is the “STHAMBASTHOTHRAM”, which was written and composed by “Sri Venkatesa Kaiv”- the maternal uncle of Sri Thyagaraja Swamigal of Thiruvaiyaru. This “STHAMBASTHOTHRAM”, is the prayer befitted towards Lord Narayana by Prahaladha to come and save him and make his words come true as he had confidently figured out the presence of the Lord inside the pillar when he was interrogated by his father.
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