The women of the house where the ritual takes place performs the serpent dance (Sarpam Thullal). Austerities start seven days or nine days prior to the day of the dance. They avoid eating certain food items that are considered to be impure. The canopy (pandal) where the serpent dance takes place is adorned with palm leaves, granium flowers, jasmine flowers, chrysanthemum indicum, champaka, lotus, banyan leaf, betel leaf, ripe arecanut and branches of coconut flowers. The form of the serpent is drawn with rice powder (white) and colour powder (black, red, green, yellow). The Pulluvar conduct the ritual around the decorated kalam (the field where the form of the serpent is drawn) in a specific order. The deities Nagas have different names as Naagaraajaavu, Naagayakshi, Sarppayakshi, Maninaagam, Erinaagam, Karinaagam, Kuzhinaagam, Paranaagam and Kanyaavu. The two women who represent the nagas in a possession trance come to the kalam and sit on the floor with an areca flower in hands. They circumambulate the Kalam three times before sitting. The serpents are worshipped in front of the Kalam and are offered Noorum Paalum (Lime and Milk). After the pooja, the head of the family which conducts the Sarppam thullal gives bunches of areca flowers to the performers who start dancing rhythmically. They are supposed to represent the serpent gods, who accept offerings and grant boons to the devotees. The intensity of the dance heightens gradually. It is believed that prophesies which the dancer gives at the point of heightened intensity of the dance usually comes true. They fall on the floor in a trance and rub off the Kalam at the end. Pulluvar songs are also sung on Aayilyam Pooja, day which is considered to be very auspicious. The presiding deity of the Aayilyam is the serpent.
Posted on: Wed, 04 Sep 2013 05:39:50 +0000
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