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International Theatre Festival of Kerala 2012

// February 5th, 2012 // No Comments » // Cultural Politics

Street play "Humortal" in progress before Sangeetha Nataka Akademi, Thrissur. 4 Feb 2012

Mixed spectators at ITFoK

ITFoK 2012 is on at Sangeetha Nataka Akademi complex in Thrissur from 2012 February 1 to 8. This fourth edition of the festival focuses on classics rather than contemporary world theatre. It is marked for the overwhelming presence of cultural activists and theatre persons from all over Kerala and all across the world.

Gayatri singing the opening lines before Manganiar musicians 1 Feb 2012

The focus on classics may also imply a strategic avoidance and erasure of the vibrancy and dynamism of contemporary theatre. But some of the plays in the fest like Molagapodybased on Bama’s short fiction expressed the political and polemical dramatic articulations that could speak to its time.

Ramankutty Nair Asan, Thripekulam Achutha Marar, M V Devan and Parasala Ponnammal lighting the lamps together. 1 Feb 2012

Whatever be the thematic content and its political signification the audiences in Thrissur are making it a true and live festival of cultural interaction and carnival. The auditoriums are burgeoning with the enthusiasm of the spectators. But the artistic directors and conceptual designers must rethink about the political implications and contemporary relevance in the selection.

Malavikagnimitram by Kavalam. 1-2-12

Chinese Dragon from U K

Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea from Italy

Molagapody by Srijith Sundaram (Tamil)

Water Station by Sankar Venkiteswaran

Buddha as Krishna: Kilirur Temple and Kerala History

// December 29th, 2011 // No Comments » // Cultural Politics

Western gateway of Kilirur temple, Kottayam

Kilirur temple stands on a laterite hill surrounded by waterways and canals. It is so close to the backwaters of lake Vembanad that forms the heart of Kuttanad. It is locally called Kilirur Kunnummel Bhagavathy temple (hilltop temple of the goddess). It is just 8 km west of Kottayam town.

central temple enshrining the goddess. Oiginally Mahamaya, Karthyayani after 16th century.

The uniqueness of the temple is the relief of the Buddha inside a shrine now dedicated to Krishna. The idol of Krishna also looks like a Yogic Avalokitesvara in Padmasana. The shrine is in Gaja Prishta architectural style (resembling the butt of a standing elephant) that is associated with temples of Buddhist antiquity. It is facing east and the northern door is marked for Sri Buddha, but remains closed. There is also an ancient sacred grove and Naga deities towards the east of the temple compound on the hillock. Some of the former lords who were in charge of the temple are still known as Pallymenavans and all of them are non-Brahmans.

Ancient Naga deities in the Sarpa Kavu on the east of the Kilirur temple. A relic of nature worship and conservation related to Buddhism

According to historians and researchers this was one of the last surviving Buddhist temples in central Kerala along with Nilamperur Pally Bhagavathy temple (Ilankulam, Ravivarma, Valath, Ajunarayanan, Sugathan, Sadasivan). Both these Buddhist temples were patronized by Pallyvana Perumal, a Chera prince of the 15th century, whose image is still worshiped in Nilamperur.

Sapta Kanya or seven virgins. Originally nuns or Bhikshunis who pioneered Buddhist missionary work in Kilirur under the leadership of Pallyvana Perumal. Yellow robes and turmeric powder still used to worship them.

Sadasivan says that the Bhagavathy of the central shrine was originally the idol of queen Mahamaya the mother of the enlightened one. Pallyvana Perumal was a devotee of the mother of the affectionate one and thus he placed her at the centre of the temple. It is also remarkable that there is no Namputhiri Illams in Kilirur and even the Brahman priests who do their service in the temple never stayed in the place though they do daily worshiping rituals in the temple through out the year. The Brahmanical aversion to a Mlecha (Buddhist) holy place could be the reason for this, say researchers (Ravivarma) and local people.

southern temple dedicated to Krishna, enshrining the Buddha relief in meditative posture beneath Bodhi tree. Built in simple Gaja Prishta style. Facing east and its northern door is marked "Sri Buddha"

Local people still believe that the temple was originally a Buddhist shrine. Mr Rajappan Nair of Chandanaparambil narrated his memories and local lore about the temple. It is interesting that local people still cherish the legends of Pallyvana Perumal and the Buddhist connection between Kilirur and Nilamperur.

Idol of Krishna closely resmbling a Boddhisatva in Ardha Padmasana. Buddha relief is on the other side of the backwall.

This last surviving Buddha image in a Kerala temple must be preserved for posterity and the temple and its rich and composite history must be conserved for the whole humanity who value the life and teachings of the compassionate one. Further studies and excavations in the premises may recover precious details regarding the Sramana past of Kerala and its democratic and egalitarian culture.