Book Title: Indian Antiquary Vol 61
Author(s): Richard Carnac Temple, Charles E A W Oldham, S Krishnaswami Aiyangar, Devadatta Ramkrishna Bhandarka
Publisher: Swati Publications
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THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY
[ JUNE, 1932
A BALLAD OF KERALA. BY M. D. RAGHAVAN, B.A., D.A. (Oxon.), F.R.A.I., PERSONAL ASSISTANT TO THE SUPERINTENDENT,
GOVERNMENT MUSEUM, MADRAS.
(Continued from page 77.) Årômar then calls his mother and tells her of his resolution to fight the duel, when she becomes greatly grieved and bemoans her fate in touching words. He then calls his brother Unnikkannan, and tells him of his engagement to single combat: "I have had the angam fees paid to me. Come here and take them over." Unnikkannan replies: "I am not rich in brothers. Only a single brother have I. I don't want to lose him for any wealth.” Arômar answers: "If you don't take over the money, I shall fall a yictim to my own sword." Uņņikkannan then obeys, and takes the money with tears in his eyes. Arômar tells him that in the central strong room of the house there are seven copper vessels, six of which are full, and asks him to fill up the seventh, which he accordingly does. Sobbing he returns. Seeing his distress, Årômar calls him and addresses him again : “ Unnikkanna, the youngest of the Puttaram house, come here." Taking the kerchief from his shoulders he wipes his brother's tears, makes him sit by his side and consoles him as follows -
“Just listen to me, my brother, "Not because of my fame have they come ; " It is father's fame that has brought them here. * Father is old and weak, "Whereas I am young and strong. " While we two are alive "We cannot see father fall a victim to another's sword. "Grain or wealth we can buy or borrow, "But honour we cannot beg or borrow, "When father went for combats “How much younger was I than you now are, "Father asked my consent, " Which I readily gave; "Even so do I ask of you. “Our forefathers came here
"Adorned as professional combatants." He continues :Nammudes pandêtte kârananmår “Our forefathers Angachamayam chamaññu pÔnnu "Came over here adorned as professional com
batants. Chikavanmarayi janichchal pinne, " When one is born a chékavan, Vaļkkânayil chorallo chékonmarku "The chekon has to earn his brord at the point
of his sword. Angattinu Aranum vannatengil "If anybody comes for angam Pokäte kandittirunnu kůta
"He cannot refuse to go." "Hear me again, what weighed with me in agreeing to the angain and accepting the fees. Should father fall and die we stand to lose all honour. I am now 22 years old. Ashtama vyâsam sanippirayum
"Jupiters is in the eighth house (Scorpio) and
is under Saturn's inauspicious influence, 25 This unmistakably shows the martial organisation of the community of chekavars. They were actuated by the spirit of martial service, animated by a high sense of duty.
38 Belief in astrology is deep rooted in the mind of every Malayali, and nothing of any significance is done without first calling in the astrologer, or kanisan, and examining the horoscope.
The reference to the eighth house is to one of the twelve signs of the zodiac, which is referred to as a house in astrology. (Cf. the term 'mansion.')
