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THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
[SEPTEMBER, 1888.
erotic verse from the lips of the people them- and sing songs, generally descriptive of the selves, I give three ordinary love songs in the amours of some god. In these the goddess is following pages, which are good ones of their usually represented as scolding the god with kind.
having gone astray with some other female. In addition to what may be called the general They get their peculiar name because they are love songs of the people, there exists a very invariably followed by the request, "Open-thelarge number of songs and ditties which are door." sung at ceremonies connected with mar. As far as I have been able to ascertain, the riages, some of which are curious and well songs and customs above alluded to date no worth preserving. Of these the Nalangupattu further back than the time of the introduction are of great interest, and I give below six speci- of Vaishnavism into Southern India, especially mens. At an ordinary infant marriage when the those which celebrate in verse the amorous ritual is over it is customary to beat the bride and adventures of Krishna with his gôpis. bridegroom (both children) opposite each other
LOVE SONGS. on a fine carpet or mat, and to make the bride do mock obeisance to her husband. The boy is
Song No. I. then made to sing some formal song of accept
ALAQITE BHAGYAMAYA. ance thereof. This ceremony, which is entirely
Chorus.-- Alagité bhdgy'amáyd mariémi váda female one-no adult male being present-is
Alágité bhágyamáyá II called nalangu, and hence the name (nalangu
I. páttu) of the songs connected with it. Sometimes a ball made of flowers is rolled between the
Taliru-bóņiro váni dandiñcha galadá Il bride and bridegroom, sometimes the bride has
Alagité bhágyamáyá, &c. to adorn the ankles of the bridegroom and vice
II. versá, while sometimes scented flowers are Arasómpu mátaláue odniki né scattered about. These details, of course, vary taruninô mafichi dánanayyéná with each locality, the songs which accompany Sarasaku rádáya sakiyaró námom u them complying with each variation.
Tirigi taudad=&mo devud unnádu !! In addition to the above occasion every
Alagité bhágyamdyú, &c. formal visit that the bridegroom makes to the
ΙΙΙ. bride's house and vice versá before the real mart
Balilédikan=ela nátó bandu ringe comes off is made an excuse for a na.
tsalugábólu santoshamaya langn, but it is never practised after they have
nilágunéváni kitavugádé mô once lived together.
Nilavóniro náti nenarintsuk alékaná II When girls attain puberty it is, or rather has
Alagité bhagyamáyá, &c. been, customary for all the young girls of the
IV. village to collect and to sing songs of the most obscene nature ! Males are on such occasions Bála préyamunade bhramayiñchi nanna rigidly excluded. In the present day, how.
Vadélina suddulennenno galavu ever, this revolting custom has practically died
Chala nátô búaalu chésinádéyo out, being continued only in remote villages off
Bálar8 Muvvagópáludu appáludu vádu 11 the usual lines of communication, I have
Alagité bhágyamáyd, &c. naturally given no specimens of these.
IF HE IS DISPLEASED WITH ME. Epithalamia are exceedingly common in the
Chorus.-It he is displeased with me, then south of India, and are there known as "Openthe-door Songs." I give one specimen. After.
Bo my happiness has been only so much.' If
he is displeased. the final nuptial ceremonies are over the bride
I. and bridegroom are conducted to the nuptial chamber and are locked in. The ladies of their Ladies! How can I punish him? respective families then collect outside the door, If he is displeased, &c.
1 i.e. it is over.
