Thirumal in Thiruvananthapuram

As Kalimayai captured the king of Thiruvitankur and began to rule over the people as their king, Thirumal came to Thiruvananthapuram according to Ayyavazhi mythology. This falls under Akilam five in Akilathirattu Ammanai.

Thirumal goes to Thiruvananthapuram

When Thirumal decided to go to Thiruvananthapuram the temple boy of Sri Rangam and a Brahmin fall on his feet and asked humbly, "Your greatness, your children The Santror are suffering due to the activities of the cruel Kalineesan, why you are going to the land of the neesan?" Thirumal replied, "Before I go to help the Santror, I must advise the neesan. Otherwise during the judgment he will claim, 'You took birth among the santror and so you destroyed me and my dynasty.' In order to overcome that I must advise him beforehand." Again the temple boy praised him and asked, "The kalineesan will perform pujas, he will light lamps for you, if you don’t accept it what is the situation of us who do the same?" From the very first moment the Kaliyan entered this world I stopped accepting all these things. And only after destroying the Kaliyan and appointing a rule of Dharma in the world, will I accept those things. By saying this Thirumal walked towards Thiruvananthapuram.

Thirumal arriving Ananthapuram

A pulacchi knew the arrival of Thirumal through a dream. Sensing this, Thirumal hid in a place. The pulacchi advertised this to all, and all of them believed. By knowing this the Kalineesan erected temples with golden pillars. He created a perfumed atmosphere, and musical instruments were played and the Pulacchi carried the Theevetti, the family of sin performed puja. The nampoodiri and the Brahmins praised him and were delighted. These ostentatious festivals were held every day. But in the midst of it all, Thirumal stayed hidden without intent. Although he stayed without intention, because of him the land became most prosperous. So the people of the land were happy. It received rainfall thrice in a month. And the land became an incomparable one.

Tavam of Neesan

When the Neesan was ruling like this, he had no offspring and was worried. He fell on the feet of Thirumal and requested him to give him a male child. By hearing this Thirumal told him that he would not have any children if he remained there. He also said that Neesan would get a child if he went to Kasi and performed Tavam on the bank of the river there. He accepted this and he went to Kasi and started performing tavam there. When he was on his tavam he saw a cleric embracing a woman, and Neesan became severely aroused, his semen falling in the water. A white crane swallowed this and became pregnant and delivered a boy-baby in the water. A sage in white, Punal rishi took the baby that was white in appearance, and nurtured him.

This child was brought up by the Punal rishi. Punal rishi taught all the techniques of worldly life to him. And when he attained the age of marriage he arranged two girls of the Chenkomatti to marry him and made him the ruler of the land. He led a prosperous life.

Failure of the Tavam

After Neesan's tavam met with failure he returned to Thiruvananthapuram. Thirumal, knowing this, went in front of the neesan and asked him why he came there. Neesan narrated the whole story and said that because of this, Sivan who had come to him told Neesan that he wouldn’t have children anymore. If I have no male child, my words will not be respected. Also who will rule this country if I have no male child? By hearing this Thirumal asked him to discuss this with a village astrologer. Kalineesan asked the astrologer about this. He said that, as per the agamas, he would have children, but that his son will not rule the country but rather his Son-in-law. Hearing this the neesan made his Son-in-law king of the nation.

Kalineesan defeating Venneesan

Meanwhile, the boy born to Kalineesan in Kasi, Venneesan, led a war against Kalineesan. Thirumal sensed this and informed Kalineesan. As soon as Kalineesan gathered a large army, he waged war against Venneesan. Due to the grace and mercy of Thirumal he won the battle. After due to this victory he became very arrogant. He also created new laws in his country.

Santror as Security

He didn't stop with creating new laws. He asked Thirumal to bring him security forces that were courageous, obedient and genuine to him. But Thirumal replied, "You can bring who ever you think suitable, courageous, and genuine." Hearing this, Kalineesan asked his minister who might be the most suitable for him. The minister said, "No one other than Santror who were genuine could be kept here"

The Santror was called of and they were ordered to be the security force for the king, Kalineesan. They were given powerful weapons. All facilities were offered to them.

Death of the King

When the Santror was working as the security of the king, one day as per the karma of the Santror, they fall asleep when they were in duty. By using this chance the people of Kalineesan entered the bedroom of Kalineesan and killed him. When he was about to die, he cursed the Santror by thinking that they supported the people who killed him. The curse is:

"Hey Santror, till my dynasty rules the land your race will have to do oozhiyam for us."

As the astrologer told, as soon as he died, the Son-in-law of Kalineesan came to the throne. The curse of kalineesan's illusion troubled the Santror as a whole.

Thirumal was informed of the Santror's trouble by the Devas. Thirumal replied:

"Hey, devas know that the curse given to Santror was an identity for the destruction of Kali. Though the Santror had done a lot for Kalineesan he cursed them."

By saying this Thirumal remained in Thiruvananthapuram with worries.

Sufferings of Santror

Because of the curse the Santror suffered a lot. They were deeply troubled by the rulers of Travancore (kalineesan). The Santror were diversified by the kalineesan and thereby made the situation comfortable for him. Heavy taxation was implemented on the Santror. Basic human rights were prohibited for them. They were subjected to heavy labour and not given proper wages. Many were captured as prisoners and not even food was given to them. A series of trouble were given to the Santror. Akilattirattu Ammanai speaks about in great detail. It describes it in five full pages.

Kalineesan imposed a system of "compulsory free service" called oozhiyam, to be rendered by the Santror to the king, to the royal family, to the high castes, and to the state. They had to dig tanks and carry the leaves of palm and plantain trees to various destinations, etc.

Thus, the Kalineesan and his race extorted the labour and the hard earned produce of the Santror, but yet they were ruthlessly kept off from public places, lest they polluted these spaces and the high caste people. On account of their occupation of drawing toddy, the Santror were not allowed to go to the public places. If they transgressed these restricted spaces, they were fastened to trees and beaten, as well as being fined.

The plight of Santror was a life of terror, intimidation, and hegemony, akin to the condition of a lamb in front of a ferocious tiger. If they refused to render oozhiyam (service), their men and women were beaten up, kept behind bars in starvation, and the modesty of the womenfolk was outraged. They served the king, his army, and his people, and they built palaces for him. They enriched the country with their hard labour, but their iniquities remained unabated. They were degraded and despised.

Advice of Thirumal

Having seen all these troubles created by Kalineesan for the Santror, Thirumal visited Neesan and said:

"The reason for your fall of you and your dynasty is only your activities and the troubles you created for the Santror. In the very first yuga you as Kroni were ready to swallow the world. At that time the Pooda Guru Munivan came there and advised you. You were not ready to accept the advice and so were defeated.

In the second Yuga, you took birth as Kuntomasali. Then a sage Govi Rhishi gave you greater advice. As you regretted the advice, you with your entire dynasty were destroyed.

In the third Yuga, you were born as two asuras, Thillaimallalan and Mallosivahanan. At that time sage Roma Rishi advised you. You by rejected this advice and perished.

Then in the fourth Kretha Yukam you were born as Suraparppan and Sinhamuka Asuran. The sage Veeravagu Devar advised you and you annihilated him and thereby were defeated. In the same yuga you again took birth as Iraniyan. You was advised by Sevvukathu Singam and were destroyed as you didn't take its advice.

Then in the fifth yuga you took birth as Ten-headed Ravana. You were advised by Vibhishana. You don't take his advice, which resulted in your defeat.

In the sixth yuga you were born as Duryodhana, and were advised by Bheeshma. You disobeyed and were defeated.

In all the previous yugas you obeyed no one. So in this Kali Yukam, I myself in my own form am in front of you to advice you. If you wish that you and your dynasty should rule this world you must discharge all taxes on the great Santror. Don't make them, the children brought up by Patrakali, perform uliyam. If you trouble any Santror you will be sentenced to hell. If a virtuous chanar women with pain in her mind cursed you, all your forts and palaces will be leveled. All the roots of your dynasty will be destroyed if you continue this. All your army will disintegrate. Your country will be engulfed and swallowed by the ocean. All the regressive taxation on the Santror should be taken back. The Santror should not be used as coolies. Their lands should be handed over to them and they should be provided with proper wages. If you don’t obey me you will be sentenced to terrible hell."

Neesan replied:

"Hey Mayon, now listen to me. You are going on telling about the Santror who were provided with maximum facilities. You are supporting the Santror, the caste which is the most backward. I will not reduce the tax even if I am to be killed. Till then my life exists, and I will use Santror as coolies. I am not going to care even if you go and settle with the Santror. Do not approach me with any thing related to Santror. You can go anywhere."

Thirumal deserting Ananthapuram

"In all the previous yukams you regretted me. This is the final chance given for you. No one will be there to help you. Today you told me to go anywhere. Even now I am telling you if you want to save yourself obey me."

Kalineesan replied, "I need 10,000 gold coins for labourers. Daily in the morning and in the evening I need a hundred gold coins for performing puja to you. And for running all your temples I need 1100 gold coins. If I stop collecting taxes from Santror, then from where I will get this gold?"

Thirumal replied, "Did I ask you all these things? Did I ask you to perform pujas every morning and evening? You did pujas for the Brahmins and Namboothiris and not for me. Don't you see that I lie down by placing my head in the south, by this don't you understand that I was not accepting the pujas performed by you?"

Hearing this neesan replied, "If you don't accept what was offered by me then why are you staying here? You can go anywhere"

To this, Thirumal replied, "Now I am going to Thiruchendur from your land and don't forget I will return, and then it will be your final day."

Saying this Thirumal deserted Thiruvananthapuram and walked towards Thiruchendur.

References

Arisundara Mani (2002), Akilathirattu Ammanai Parayana Urai, 2002 Vaikundar Thirukkudumbam Publications.
G. Patrick (2003), Religion and Subaltern agency, University of Madras.
N. Vivekanandan (2003), Akilathirattu Ammanai Moolamum Uraiyum(Part - 2), 2003, Vivekananda Publications.
Mani Bharathi (2003), Akilathirattu Ammanai Vilakka Urai(Part - 2).