Nallathangal

Nallathanga

(15^th Century)

In Virudunagar, Arjunapuram village lived Ramalinga Raja along with his wife Indrani.They had no issues so they took the counsel of wise men and rishi’s. Rishi’s asked them to move to forest and do penance to Lord shiva to begot good children. The couple moved to the forest and did penance and after sometime Lord shiva was pleased with their devoution and rewarded them with a beautiful son. He was named Nallathambhi and after few years Indrani gave birth to a pretty girl child who was named Nallathangal.Ramalinga raja and Indrani was happy to have a boy and girl and gave lot of gifts to the poor.

“Ambalathukku oru aanu aadikilaiku oru pennum rombha santhosam ayutanga danam dharmam seithu santhosa patargal”

Nallathambhi was trained in warfare while Nallathangal got trained in dance and music. Nallathambhi reached the marriageable age and was married to Kunthala Raja’s daughter Alankari by his parents. Nallathambhi loved his sister very much. Alankari as her name suggests was a beauty and liked to dress herself well. She hated Nallathangal and was devoid of any good habits. Indrani died because of ill health. Ramalinga raja was sad at demise of his spouse and he wanted to handover the kingdom to his son. Ramalinga raja proclaimed his son as the king. He also passes away a few years later.

Nallathambi parents, Ramalinga raja and Indrani both were dead and Nallathambi brought up Nallathangal from a very young age. Nallathambi was married to Mulli Alangari.  When Nallathangal was of marriageable age ie 7 years Nallathambi decided to get her married. Nallathambhi ruled the country efficiently and his fame spread everywhere.

In Manamadurai, there lived a wealthy king Kasi Rajan, Nallathambi got his sister married to Kasirajan during the month of April. It was a grand occasion and all the streets were decorated with festoons. The streets were all covered in shamianas made of leaves of coconut and palm.

Decorationss description in Tamil:

“ Chitirai madam kalayanam nadathathu.

 Selva selipu ana Kalyanam

 Panai maram pilanthu /Pakku maram pilathu panthakal natargal

Thenai maram pilanthu theruvelam panthal itargal “

Nallathambi gave lot of shreedhan to Nallathangal while bidding her to her husband’s house.  In Sreedhan, Nallathangal was given a pen full of white goats and shed full of milking cows. Vessels made of gold and tri-legged stool used for churning buttermilk is made of gold. Even the Rice seer vessel to measure grains was made of gold.

Nallathangal was a small girl of seven years and she had only her brother and she was sad at leaving his house and protection.

Shreedhan description in Tamil:

“Veliniraya velaiaddu , Pattiniraya Paalmaadu

More kidaya mukkali ponnal

Aalakura naali ponnal

Marakal ponnal”

Kasi Rajan and Nallathangal got ready to leave for Manamadurai after the feast were over. Nallathangal was sad to part from her brother. She wept so much that her ornaments and pearl necklaces were broken and pearls rolled on the floors. Nallathambi consoled her and Nallathangal left for her husband place.

Nallathangal heart wrenching cries about parting from her brother:

“ Azhuthu purandal  azhuthal

abaranam atruvizha mutti azhuthal

Muthumani atruvizha”

Nallathambi wife Mulli alankari was a cruel lady and she was happy that Nallathangal left for good. She didn’t allow Nallathambi to go visit her. Seven years passed like fleeting moments. Nallathangal was happy in her household and had seven children, 4 sons and 3 daughters.  Nallathambi never saw his neice or nephews. Nallanthangal happiness was short-lived as their place was affected by famine for 12 years. There was no rain and fields had no harvest. There was death due to hunger and starvation. Womenfolk lost their husband due to famine and sold their children to survive this famine. It was the worst famine ever and Nallathangal and her husband, Kasi Rajan was also worst hit and lost all their wealth and she had sold of all her sreedhan to feed her family.

Famine Description in Tamil:

“ Panjam O Panjam

Marakaal urunda Panjam

Maanavarai thotra Panjam

Naali urunda Panjam

Nayakarai thorkaditha Panjam

Thali pari Kodutha

Kannavarai pari kodutha

Kai kuzhandai vitra Panjam”

This famine also affected Nallathangal family. She lost all the shreedhan she got from her brother. She had sold all her jewellery expect her Thaali saraadu. The gold, silver, bronze and copper vessels were all sold.

Nallathangal state in Tamil:

“Thali thavira matrathu ellam vitral

Kuthum Ulakai; kudai Moram kuda vitral

Ellam vitrum Panjam thiravilai”

Nallathangal was scared that the children will die because of the famine she decided to take her children to her brother’s house and live there for some time. She informed Kasi Rajan of her decision to go to her brother’s house but Kasi Rajan was not in favour of her decision. Nallathangal was steadfast in her decisions in spite of her husband warning her of disrespects, she may face due to her current stature. She was keen on saving her children from famine. Kasi Rajan succumbed to her decisions and agreed to let her go to her brother’s house. He asked her to take good care of the kids.

Kasirajan reply to Nallathangal in Tamil:

“Adi penne Vazhunthu ketu ponnal oruvagaiyulum serkamattargal

Kettu nothu ponnal oru kilayulum serka mattargal

Kai kotti siripargal nee poga vendam

Kastam varuvathu sagajam

Thakku pidikka vendum

Sani eduthavathu thapi pilaipom ade

Veli virago udaithu vithu pizhai pom ade”

Nallathangal reply to Kasirajan in Tamil:

“Santhanam thota kai aal sani thoda kudumo

Kunkumam edukum kai aal ennal kuli velai seiya agumo”

Nallathangal was happy that her husband had agreed to her. She called her children and informed them that they are going to their maternal uncle’s home and they would get plenty to eat.

Nallathangal to her children:

“Varungal pillayigal ungal maman veetuiruku povom

Ange Thinpatharukku thengai kidaikkum

managai kidaikkum

Odi vilayada maan kidaikum

Solli alaithal

Pilaigal asai asai ya kurapatargal”

They left from Manamadurai to Arjunapuram by walk. They crossed many mountains and forests and finally reached the outskirts of Arjunapuram. The children could walk no more as they were tired and hungry and they cried out to their mother.

Nallathangal Journey to Arjunapuram in Tamil:

“Kadu malai ellam thandi vanthargal

Vanathurangalai kadanthu vanthargal

Arjunapuram pakkam vanthu vittarugal

Anal Pillaygalukku nadaka mudiya villai

Pasi pasi endru kathinargal Azhutargal..”

Nallathangal meets her brother on the outskirts of Arjunapuram. He comes there in grandeur with lot of aides, attendants and enroute on a hunting expedition. He is stunned to see his sister in disheveled state along with her children. His eyes started tearing up seeing that his sister has walked miles to come and see him. He is shocked to see her covered in dust and travelling on barefoot instead of horses or palanquins.

Nallathangal and Nallathambi chance encounter:

“Antha neram pathu Nallathambhi antha pakkam vandan

Padai parivaram odu vanthan vettai ada vanthan

Vantha edathil nallathangalyum  kuzhanthaigal parthan

Antha kolathil avargalai parthathum kaneerai mutti kondu vanthathu”

Nallathambhi addresses Nallathangal and asks her reason for her disheveled state and what happened to all the sreedhan he had given her and why she had come barefoot and wat happened to all palanquins and horses at her manor.

Nallathambi to Nallathangal :

“Kudirai arithacho kudi iruntha seemayile

Paalaku than panjamo  pathiniye unaku

Kalnadaya vara karanam enno Thangachi

Azhuthu pulambinan”

Nallathangal told her brother about the famine and how she lost her wealth. He consoled her and asked her to go to their house and have food and rest. Nallathangal was scared to go alone to her brother’s house because of her sister in law but Nallathambhi consoled her saying that her sister in law is there and she will take care of her and children. Nallathambi told her that he will join them shortly after his hunt. He asked Nallathangal to go first and feed her children and wait for his return.

Nallathambi consoling Nallathangal:

“Therku mulayil thengai kuvichu iruku

Vadaku mulaiyil mangai kuvichu iruku

Kaatu yaanai vaasalil katti irukkum

Kaaram pasuvum undu

po thangachi po

Pilaiygaludan poi pasi ari

iru thangachi”

Nallathangal left to her brother house on his insistence.  He consoled her that he will bring a fawn for her children to play. MuliAlankari was taking rest in the terrace she saw Nallathangal and children approaching her house. She came down from first floor and shut the doors.  She hid the food vessels and wore an old saree. She feigned illness and wore a patch on her forehead and laid down in a corner.

MuliAlankari reaction on seeing Nallathangal :

“Vega vegama irungi Vanthal

Kadhavugalai  adaika chonal

irukki kathavai adaithal

Iramannal potru adaithal

Sothu pannaiya olithuvaithal

Pazham thuni ondru udithikondal

Mugathil paatru pottu

Mulaiyil paduthu kondal”

Nallathangal reached her brother’s doorstep and saw it was shut. She knocked on the door again and again and pleaded with her sister in law to let her in as her kids were thirsty and hungry.

Nallathangal requesting Muli Alankari to open her doors.

“Anni anni endru asai asai aga kupital kathai thatinal

Kalkadukuthu anni kathavai thira

Thaneer thaneer endru thavikirar balakar

Annam annam endru solli azhugirar balakar

Puthirar pasi aara kathavai thiravayo

Endru azhutu azhutu kupital

Athargu kathavu thiraka villai“

Nallathangal got angry that her sister in law didn’t open the door even after hearing her pleas. She ordered the doors to be opened if she was a chaste lady. Nallathangal saw her sister in law lying in a corner near the heaps of coconut and mango. The children were happy to see mango and coconut. One of the kids picked up a mango while another child picked up a coconut.

MuliAlankari got up and plucked the mango and coconut from the kids hand and gave the kids rotten mango and coconut. Nallathangal was sad that her sister in law was so evil to give her kids rotten things to eat.

Nallathangal Pleas:

“Nan pathini anal Kathavu paliru enna thirakattum

Endru kattalai itral

Kathavugal thiranthanal

Pilaigal odinargal

Suthi suthi odinargal oru pandamum illai

Mulai Alankari padithiruntha idathil

Thengayum, Mangayum Kuvinthu kidanthathu

Odi sendru oru pillai thengayai eduthu thavi sendrathu oru pilai  mangai kadithathu

Muli Alankari viruttu enna ezhunthu mangaiya parithu pottal

Ayuram azhugai mangal vil ondru eduthu koduthal

Thengavai parithu pottal Ayuram Azhugai thengaiyil irunthu ondru eduthu koduthal

Pathal Nallathangal manam patharinaal”

Nallathangal asked her sister in law to feed her children. Her sister in law gave her seven years old rotten ragi grains(finger millet) and asked her to make porridge out of it. Nallathangal asked for rolling stone grinder (thirugai) which was used in olden days to grind millets like ragi, corn, rice and wheat. Mulialankari gave her a rolling grindstone which was broken. She also gave a broken pot for cooking the porridge. She gave her wet wood for burning the stove. Nallathangal grinded the ragi and somehow used to burn the wet wood and started making a porridge in the broken pot. She prayed to god that the porridge should boil and the children hunger should be eliminated. The porridge was ready to be served. Mulialankari came there and kicked the pot. The porridge spilled on the floor. The children started to scrap and lick the spilled porridge. Nallathangal was horrified to see her children act in that manner. She decided to die with her children.

Nallathangal pleas to her sister in law:

“ Anni en makkal in pasi atrungal endru kenjinal Nallathangal

Mulai Alankari 7 varusham mangi ponna keppaiya koduthal

Thiripatharukku udaintha thirugai koduthal

 Ulai vaikka ottaipannayai kodutha

Nallathangal porumayaga keppaiya thirugaiya pottu araithal

Eppadiyo kasta pattu kulai kachinal ira mattaigal pottu erithal”

Kulum kothikanum kulanthaigal pasi aranum deivangalay vendikondal

 Oru valiyaga Kanju kothithathu

Anal Pilaigal Kanji kudika pogum pothum nerathil MuliAlankari  vanthal  panai thati uthaithal

Panai udainthathu Kool valinthu keela vazhintu odiyathu

Pillaingalum Athai valithu kuditharkal

Nallathangal intha katchiyay pakka sagikavillai

Iniyum avamanam poadavendam endru

Sethuvidalame endru mudivu eduthal”

Nallathangal called her children and stepped out of the house and started walking down the streets. The people in the street pitied her and offered food and milk for her and her kids.

“ Pillaigalai kupitu theruvil iranginal

Veethiyil nadanthal

Avalay pathavaragaal  parithaba pattargal

Sapiduvatharukku thangal veetuku kupitargal.

Neighbour’s request to Nallathangal:

Pachai arusi kuthitharoom

Paalum kalanthutharom

Balarum neeyum paasi ari ponga kupitargal

Nallathangal refused to abide her neighbors’ request stating that they belong to royal family and cannot partake even water from neighbours.

Nallathangal reply to neighbor:

“Nallathangal maruthuvittal

Arasa vamsam nanga

Andai veetil thaneer kudikamattom endru sollivital”

Nallathangal went to the forest she was in search of a deep well. She broke the stems of Avaram poo (Taneer cassia) shrub on her way so her brother can find her if he comes in search of her. Nallathangal had come a long way but she hadn’t found a well on her way.

“Kaatu valiye  pilaigalaye kutti chendral

Palum kinarai thedi ponnal

Annan vanthal adaiyalam theriyattum nu

 avaram sedikkal odaithu pottu kondre ponnal

Nallathangalum pillaigalum nedu thuram vanthu vittargal

Oru kinarum kanom”

Nallathangal spotted a group of sheepherder boys. Nallathangal asked the boys where she could find a well to quench her thirst. One shepherd boy led her to a deep and broad well.

“Appothu sirivarukkal adu meithu kondru irunthargal

Avargalai parthu Nallathangal kettal

Thanner thagam appa thanner kudikanum

Paalum kinaru inrundalum parthu sollum appa

Oru siruvan odichendru alam ulla paalum kinarai katinan”

Nallathangal went near the well. She removed her Mangalsutra and kept it on the steps of the well so he husband can see. She kept the milk feeding sanghu on the edge of the well so her brother can see it. She kept the rotten coconut which her sister in law gave in one corner.

“ Nallathangal pillaiygaloda angu ponnal

Kannavan kannil padum maari

Thaliyai kilati kinartru padikatril vaithal

Annam kannil padum maari

Paluttum sangai kinathinmetril veithal

Anni kodutha oru azhugal thengaiya oru orathil vaithal”

She threw one child after another into the deep well. The children were scared and hugged her legs in pleas not to throw them in the well. She drew them away from her legs and threw six of them in the well. Her eldest son was running around and pleading her to let him live.

“ Ovaru pillaigaa kinnaril thukki pottal.

Ovaru pillayium bayanthu bayanthu ammavin kallai katti kondana

Kallai kattiya pillaiygalay pidithu illuthu kinatril pottal

Ippadi Aru pilaigal potruvittal

Mutha pillai Nallathangalukku pidipadamal odinnan “

Nallathangal’s first born requests his mother not to kill him like his siblings. He says if you leave me I may grow up to become a man and tell the whole world who my parents are.

Nallathangal first son pleas to his mother:

“Ennai mattum koladhe ennai petha maadave

Thapi piilaithu amma Nan thangappan perasolven

Odi pillaithu amma Nan unathu per solven.

Endru solli thapithu odinan”

Nallathangal requested the goat herding boys to capture him and hand him over to her. The goad herders were unaware of their suicide and thought the boy as a naughty one and caught him and handed over to her. She threw him into the well and jumped in after him. Nallathangal and her seven children were dead and floating in the water.

“Odiya pilaiya  Nallathanagal  Attu Edaiyargalai vaithu pidikka sonnal

Edaiyarkalukku vishayam theriyathu

Thaiku adangatha tharthalai pillai endru ninaithu

Avanai pidithu kondru vanthu  Nallathangal idathil vittru vittu poi vittargal

Nallathangal Kathari alutha mutha maganaiyum piddithu kinatril kul pottal

Piragu thanum kuthithal

Nallathangalum elu pillaigalum erandu mithanthargal”

Nallathangal had 16 feet hair and the well was covered with her tresses and  her children were not visible. Nallathangal and her family had died out of hunger

“Nallathangalukku pathinaaru adi kunthal

Aval Kunthal kinnaru puravum Pirinthum, Padarnthu kidanthathu

Kulanthaigalum theriyavillai kinatru thaneerum theriyavillai

Nallathangal kunthal maatume kinnaru puragavum therinthathu

Nallathanaglum kudumbam ippadi pattiniyal sethu mudinthathu”

After Nallathangal departure from Manamadurai, there was a heavy rainfall there and the crops grew abundant and everything returned to its normal condition. Once again Manamadurai was affluent and Kasirajan started to his brother in law house to call back his wife and seven children.

“Nallathangal kurapatuvantha silla naalkalilaye manamaduraiyil nalla malai paidanthathu

Payirgal thigadu mugada vizhanthathu

Nadu Sezhipadainathu

Kasirajan than manaivi Nallathangalum than pillagalayum azhaikapathrukku kurapatuvandhan”

Nallathambhi also came back from his hunt. He was distraught when he could not find his sister or her children. He asked Mulaialankari about his sister whereabouts. She blatantly lied that she cooked them seeraka sambha rice and ten varieties of vegetables. They had left after partaking the meals.

“Nallathambhi vettai mudinthu veetuku vanthan

Thangachi kanavillai thangachi pillaygal kannavillai pathariponnan

 Mulialangari pathu en thangachium thangachi pillaygalum enge endru ketran

Muli alangari kusamal poi sonnal

Seerakaga samba soru aakipotten paathu vaagai kairai vaithen saapitu ponnaga

Endru poi sonnal”

Nallathambhi did not believe her and went to enquire his neighbors’ about his sister and her children. The neighbor’s told him how Mulialankari had ill-treated his sister and kept his sister’s children hungry. He got very angry and his moustache started twitching and his eyes were red due to anger and his muscles shook in rage.

“Nallathambhi  ithai Namba villai

Pakkathu veetugalil poi kettan avargal nadathathai nadathathu padi  sonnargal

Pillaiygalaya paatini pottadhayum sonnargal

Avalothan Nallathambhikku meesai thudithathu

Kann sivanthana

pakka sathai ellam pamparam pol adiyathu”

Nallathambhi went in search of his sister into the forest. He saw the broken stems of the shrub Tanner cassia (Avaram poo). He was scared but he continued to move forward in hope to catch up with his sister.

“Thangaiya thedi kaatuvazhi ponnan

pathari pathari ponnan

Nallathangal odithupotta avaram chedigal vazhikatinar”

Nallathambhi reached the deep side of the deep well. He looked into the well and saw his sister and children all dead and floating on the water. He could not contain his sadness and cried out in rage

“Nallathambhi Pazhum Kinnatrin pakkam vanthan

Ulle etti parthan

Ayyo Thangayum pillaiygalum serthu mithanthargal

Nallathambhi ongaram ittu azhutan

Thangachi thangachi endru tharaiyil  purandu azhutan

Amma amma endru adithu purandu azhutan”

Nallathambhi was shaken and rolled on the earth trembling with heart wrenching pain. In the meantime Kasirajan also reached the same spot. He saw his dead children and wife. He hugged his wife’s body and cried his heart out. Later the body of Nallathangal and her children were taken out of the well and cremated.

“Ippadi avan azhuthu purandu kondu irundtha pothu Kasirajarum ange vanthu vitan

Pillaigalayum , manaiviyum pinamaga parthan

Manaiviya kattikondru azhuthan

Nallathangalayum pillaiygalayum velliye eduthu thaganam seithargal”

Nallathambhi was angry at Mulialangari and wanted to avenge his sister’s death and he wanted to punish the entire clan of Mulialangari. So he arranged for his son marriage. At the venue of his son’s marriage arena, the shamiana area were Mulialangari’s relatives were told to sit had been made poorly. It was knocked down by Nallathambhi and thereby killing all his wife’s relatives. He also hacked her to death. The story did not end here at all. He also killed himself with his spear. Kasirajan who was silent spectator also killed himself with spear. The two families perished.

“Nallathambhi than manaivi Mulialangariyai pazhi vanga ninaithan

avalai mattum alla aval oda  kulathaiyum pali vanga erpadu seithan

Than magan ku udanatiyaga thirumana erpadu seithan

Mulialankari uraveenargal ukkarum idathil Idipanthanal pottan

Iddipanthalay thati vittu ellaroyum kondran

mulialangariyaiyum aruvalil vetti kondran

ithudan kathai  mudiyavillai

Nallathambhi itiyil payunthu than uyirai vittan

Athai pol Kasirajan itiyil payunthu than uyirai vittan

Ivarum irandu kudumbamngalum kundodu azhinthathu”

What was the fundamental reason for this?

Povery is a bane but Mulialangari cruelty was another reason. Poverty, hunger are worse but human‘s heartlessness is the most worst behavior. This country won’t forget the problem faced by Nallathangal and her children.

“Itharukku adipadaianna karanam enna

Varumai oru pakkam Mulialangariin kodumai maru pakkam

Varumai kodiyathu pasi kodiyathu patuni kodiyathu athaivida kodiyathu  manitha thanmai atra seiyal

Nallathangal patta thunbathai intha nadu marakathu.”