மயிற்பீலி; Arjuna Nritham & Kanu Parvettai Purappadu 2026

 

Sri Parthasarathi Kanu Parvettai purappadu 2026 : 'மயிற்பீலி’ - Arjuna Nritham

சிறு வயதில் நம் கையில் இருந்த ஆக்ஸ்போர்ட் நிகண்டில் புரியாத வார்த்தைகளை தேடினோம் !  இன்று இணையத்தில் பல விஷயங்கள் மிக எளிதாக கிடைக்கின்றன.  எனினும்  சில சமயம் சில தேடல்கள் முடிவற்ற ஓர் எல்லையை நோக்கி நீள்கின்றன(oxymoron).  மிக எளிதான விஷயம் : 'மயிற்பீலி’, - -பதிவு பொருள் பற்றியதல்ல, அதை அணியும் மாயோனை பற்றியது !!! 

 

மயில் இறகுகளை வாங்கி உங்கள் வீட்டை அழகுபடுத்தினால் வீடும் அழகாகும் வாஸ்துப்படி உங்களுக்கும் உங்கள் குடும்பத்தாருக்கும் பல நன்மைகள் கிட்டும் என படித்தேன் .. .. நம்புவீர்களா, இல்லையோ !! விவாதம் தேவையில்லை ! .    சிறு வயதில் மயில் இறகை புத்தகத்தினுள் வைத்து, அது குட்டி போடும் என்று நம்பி பலர் வைத்திருந்தது என்னவோ உண்மை !   

சிலம்பின் கதை என்பதிலிருந்து சில வரிகள் :  நீர்நிலைகள். அவற்றில் உள்ள வாளைமீனைக் கவ்வ நீர்நாய் செல்லும்; அவற்றினின்று தப்ப அவ்வாளைகள் நடக்கும் பாதையில் துள்ளி வந்து விழும்; அதனைக் கண்டு இந்த மெல்லியலாள் திடுக்கிடக் கூடும். தீமை நிகழாது; எனினும் அதைக் கண்டு கண்ணகி அஞ்சும் நிலை ஏற்பட வாய்ப்பு உள்ளது.  .. .. .. சோலையா வயலா அவர்கள் சிந்தனைக்கு விட்டு விட்டுக் கவுந்தியடிகள் பயணத்துக்குப் புறப்பட்டார். கட்டுச் சோறும் பெட்டிப் படுக்கையுமா எடுத்துச் செல்ல முடியும்? தோளில் தொங்கவிட்ட உறி; அதில் ஒரு சோறு உண்ணும் பிச்சைப் பாத்திரம்; மற்றும் கையில் ஒரு மயிற்பீலி; உயிர்களுக்கு ஊறு நிகழாதபடி தடுக்க அந்த மயிற்பீலி; துறவிக்கு இவையே சொத்துகள்; இவற்றை ஏந்திய நிலையில் அவர்களோடு கவுந்தியடிகள் புறப்பட்டார்.  

Kerala is a mystic land ! - Adorned with peacock feathers on the waist, ‘njuri’ on top, with a crown and ornaments — kollaram, kazhutaaram, vala, tholpoottu, and paratikkamani — and masked with green, yellow, and black paint, artists get down from the chariot (chaadu) and head out to the Bhagvathy temple. They bow to Goddess Kaali and proceed to dance. This is Arjuna Nritham.   This centuries-old ritual art form that was once prominent in south Kerala is now on the verge of extinction. Nadesan Palamoottil and his team from Kurichy are busy working hard to revive the art form and push it back to where it once belonged. 

 

Arjuna Nritham (the dance of Arjuna) is  believed to have evolved from the Arya– Dravidian culture.  Here is a hand-drawn artwork of Arjuna Nritham from the collection "Folk arts of Kerala" from the twitter post of : @AthiraSajeevT  

Efflorescence (confused what !!)  is a crystalline deposit of salts that can form when water is present in or on brick, concrete, stone, stucco or other building surfaces. It has a white or greyish tint and consists of salt deposits that remain on the surface after water evaporates.  In chemistry, efflorescence (which means "to flower out" in French) is the migration of a salt to the surface of a porous material, where it forms a coating. The essential process involves the dissolving of an internally held salt in water, or occasionally in another solvent. The water, with the salt now held in solution, migrates to the surface, then evaporates, leaving a coating of the salt.  

In what has been described as "primary efflorescence", the water is the invader and the salt was already present internally, and a reverse process, where the salt is originally present externally and is then carried inside in solution, is referred to as "secondary efflorescence". Efflorescences can occur in natural and built environments. On porous construction materials it may present a cosmetic outer problem only (primary efflorescence causing staining), but can sometimes indicate internal structural weakness (migration/degradation of component materials).   

கருங்கண் தோகை மயிற்பீலி அணிந்து .. அருங்கலவுருவின் ஆயர் பெருமான்

 

A web search on மயிற்பீலி   - gave me English meaning as  ‘an efflorescence formed’ and in Tamil :  மயிலிறகு ; மயில்தோகை விசிறி

At Thiruvallikkeni and in all other divyadesams, in the month of Margazhi it is ‘Dhanur vizha’ – every day there is rendering of Sri Andal’s thiruppavai (there are discourses too on Thiruppavai and so many places by learned people).  In this month occurs the 9 day Neeratta uthsavam and on Bhogi there is Thirukalyana mahotsav of Andal with Namperumal.  On Sankranthi day, there is Urgola uthsavam. After Sankranthi, comes ‘Kanu Uthsavam’  ~ in the morning there would be  Kanu purappadu of Andal and in the evening Sri Parthasarathi Kanu parvettai purapapdu.  .

அழகான பறவை மயில் இந்தியாவின் தேசிய பறவை,  மட்டுமல்ல; பூட்டானின் தேசிய பறவையும் மயில்தான். ஆண் மயிலுக்கே பெரிய தோகை உண்டு. நன்கு வளர்ந்து முதிர்ந்த மயிலுக்கு தோகை சுமார் 200 செ.மீ. நீளம் வரை இருக்கும். அழகு மயிலின் ஓசை தன்னை  அகவல் என்று கூறுவர்!  மயிற்பீலி, என்பது : மயிலிறகு.

One of the most beautiful living things – Peacocks, are large, colorful pheasants (typically blue and green) known for their iridescent tails. These tail feathers, or coverts, spread out in a distinctive train that is more than 60 percent of the bird’s total body length and boast colorful "eye" markings of blue, gold, red, and other hues. The large train is used in mating rituals and courtship displays. It can be arched into a magnificent fan that reaches across the bird's back and touches the ground on either side.  Though the  term "peacock" is commonly used to refer to birds of both sexes, only males are peacocks. Females are peahens, and together, they are called peafowl. 

Peacock feathers, or mor pankh, மயிலிறகு, is regarded as an auspicious symbol in our culture.  In school days, remember, we were happy in having small feathers inside our notebooks, symbolizing good luck and prosperity.  The peacock remains the oldest ornamental bird in the world.  The peacock could  foretell rain, by dancing before it pours.   

Peacock feathers represent pride, and by extension, nobility and glory. Peacocks are also known to eat poisonous plants with no ill effects, making their feathers a symbol of incorruptibility and immortality.

 In ancient Greece, the peacock was the patron bird of the goddess Hera. According to myth, she placed "eyes" on its feathers, symbolizing all-seeing knowledge and the wisdom of the heavens.  Peacock Feathers have been used for healing for tens of thousands of years in every culture throughout time. They are said to carry Spiritual Healing Energy that can be used to assist people seeking balance and harmony in their lives.  In Celtic, the feather was worn by Druids in the form of ornate feathered robes. Celtic Druids donned these robes in ceremonies to invoke the sky Gods and gain knowledge of the celestial realm. It was believed that the feathered cloak along with the presence of the sky gods would allow the Druid to transcend the earthly plane and enter the ethereal realm. Egyptians believed that feathers were symbolic of sky gods too. Ma'at, the Egyptian goddess of justice, would weigh the hearts of the newly dead in the underworld against the weight of a feather to determine the worthiness of his or her soul.

On Kanu parvettai day  occurs  the annual trip of Kachi Varadar, famously known as ‘Seevaram Paarvettai’..  and at Thiruvallikkeni today is Kanu Parvettai purappadu.  Words could fail describing His beauty and grace. 

கருங்கண் தோகை மயிற்பீலி அணிந்து கட்டிநன்குடுத்த

பீதக வாடை; அருங்கலவுருவின் ஆயர் பெருமான்…. 

Periyazhwar describes Krishna  ~ that of subjects of Gokulam getting stranded on seeing the  beautiful cowherd Lord  adorned with peacock feathers having dark centre spots, and many jewels ….. when His mellifluous music pervaded, it was not only devotees even  the trees stood enchanted, and rained streams of nectar, poured flowers, and bent their upper branches in every which way the stood. 

Here are some photos of the Kanu parvettai purappadu at Thiruvallikkeni and darshan of Sri Parthasarathi Emperuman adorning ‘peacock feather’  during purappadu at Thiruvallikkeni on 16.1.2026

adiyen Srinivasa dhasan

Mamandur Veeravalli Srinivasan Sampathkumar

Thai Amavasai 2024 ~ கருங்கண் தோகை மயிற்பீலி

Today is Thai Amavasai and at Thiruvallikkeni Sri Parthasarathi Emperuman shone in resplendent splendor .. .. .. and  today too, He wore ‘peacock feathers”.  Peacock, any of three species of resplendent birds of the pheasant family, Phasianidae (order Galliformes). Strictly, the male is a peacock, and the female is a peahen; both are peafowl. 

 

கருங்கண் தோகை மயிற்பீலி அணிந்து .. அருங்கலவுருவின் ஆயர் பெருமான்

 

Periyazhwar describes Krishna  ~ that of subjects of Gokulam getting stranded on seeing the  beautiful cowherd Lord  adorned with peacock feathers having dark centre spots, and many jewels ….. when His mellifluous music pervaded, it was not only devotees even  the trees stood enchanted, and rained streams of nectar, poured flowers, and bent their upper branches in every which way the stood.   Recently, I had posted on மயிற்பீலி  along with some photos of the Kanu parvettai purappadu at Thiruvallikkeni  whence  Sri Parthasarathi Emperuman adorned attractive  ‘peacock feather’.

 

The peacock occupies a prominent place in history, mythology, edicts, paintings, sculpture and coins. The blue peacock has often been carried from its original home, India, by traders, travellers, nobles, kings and conquerors. The God Indra’s horses are said to have hair like peacock feathers (mayura-roman) and tails like peacocks (mayura-shepya).  In Hinduism, Lord Krishna adorns peacock feather while the vahana of Lord Karthikeya is peacock.  Some three thousand years ago, the Phoenicians took it to the Pharaohs of Egypt. King Solomon had a fascination for it! The Greek philosopher, Aristophanes, and other writers of ancient Greece, Rome and Egypt, have mentioned this magnificent bird. Details about the bird came to light when Alexander took back with him from India to Greece some 200 peacocks in about 326 B. C.   According to Greek mythology, Jupiter's mischievous and ill-natured wife, Juno, pulled out hundred eyes of the demon Argus and transplanted them on the tail of her favourite bird, the peacock. Another mythical story runs that when God created the peacock with ornamental feathers, the seven ' Deadly Sins ' protested against such special favours towards this bird. He, therefore, set the eyes of the ' Sins ' on to the feathers, the yellow eye of Envy, the red eye of Murder, the green eye of Jealousy and so on, and liberated the bird. 

Among the birds in India - there are over 2,000 of them - the most magnificent, the most fascinating and the most brilliantly coloured one is the peacock, our National Bird. This splendid bird with its gorgeous plumage and majestic dance, is a familiar sight all over the country. It brings to mind various cherished images and rhythms in life on account of its close association with our art and literature, folklore, religion, legend, rituals and ceremonials. Rigveda, the most ancient Sanskrit text, contains several references to the virtues of the peacock. Legend links it with Lord Krishna who adorns His head with its plumes. In the culture of other countries also it occupies a prominent position. This beautiful bird belongs to the family of pheasants (Phasianidae) and is broadly related to partridges.  

The peacock is known by many names. The common Sanskrit name for it is Mayura, which means a killer. It implies that the peacock is a killer of the killer - the snake. Some of its other names in Sanskrit are Neelakantha, Bhujangabhuk, Sikhi, Kekin, Meghananda, Sikhandin and Candrakin. In Hindi, Urdu, Punjabi, Gujarati and Marathi, the peacock is called Mor, a derivative from Mayura; in Kannada, Navilu; in Telugu, Nemati; in Tamil and Malayalam, Mayil; in Sinhali, Monara; and in Persian, Taus. In French, it is called Paon; it is Pavo in Latin and Greek. Its zoological name is Pavo Cristatus, which in Greek means peacock with a crest.  

The coloured, external body features of the peacock are suggestive and have invariably been given symbolical names. The Sanskrit term Sikhi or Sikhavala (possessor of the crest ) suggests dignity, novelty and pride. The white patch under the eyes is an artistic touch on the face of the bird, which distinguishes it from its cousin, the Burmese Peacock. For this characteristic, the Indian peacock is called Sitapanga (that which has white outer corners of the eyes ), signifying purity of mind and soul. The blue neck and the breast, adding greatly to the bird's beauty, give it the name Neelakantha (the blue-necked). Since the peacock is a serpent eater, it is believed that the reptile's venom has turned its neck and throat blue. The peacock's most famous ornament is the elongated tail covert. This cluster of feathers also gives it the name Kalapin, alluding to diversity in unity amongst the people of this land.  

These long feathers bearing the peacock's 'eyes' at their distant ends give it the name Candrakin. These ' eyes ' it is believed, were bestowed on the peacock by the war god, Indra. The bright colourful body-cover and wing feathers lend it the names like Chitrapicchaka, Barhina, Barhin ( possessor of brilliantly coloured variegated feathers ). The Sanskrit names Pracalakin and Sikhandin ( possessor of a quivering and dancing tail which is a slave of the body ) are apt as we find that the peacock glides swiftly through thickets and obstacles, carrying its long and heavy train without any impediment.  

Here are some photos of Sri Parthasarathi Emperuman from today’s purappadu at Thiruvallikkeni

 
adiyen Srinivasa dhasan
Mamandur Veeravalli Srinivasan Sampathkumar
9.2.2024  

PS :  the attributes of peacock excerpted from the book ‘Peacock, our National Bird’ by Ajit Kumar Mukherjee.   

Peacock feathers ~ கருங்கண் தோகை மயிற்பீலி

                                                     கருங்கண் தோகை மயிற்பீலி 

Insurers in India grappled with multiple issues while reviewing motor accident claims and among them stood out damage to cars by stray dogs, falling coconuts and even elephants, TOI reported. 

Among the peculiar incidents, claims involving animals stand out. Regions including Assam, West Bengal, Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu witness a significant number of accidents resulting from human-elephant conflicts. A new entrant to the market processed over 20 claims attributed to ‘depredation by elephants’. Then there were damages caused by stray dogs ! and a couple of instances of  angry peacocks pecking  at their own reflections on cars, causing damage. 

On Thaipusam day, at many religious places not only in India but Overseas too,  devotees  in yellow clothes and with bodies covered with the holy ash, carry well-decorated “kavadi”, bearing pots of milk while walking towards the temple by enduring the pain to fulfil their vows.  The Tamil term “kavadi” means a burden or load, which is carried on the shoulders as a form of sacrifice to the Hindu god Lord Murugan, as an opportunity to offer their thanks when those vows are fulfilled by their deity.  Peacock feathers add more vibrancy to kavadis and in recent times  decorations with light-emitting diode (LED) too are placed. 

 

சிறு வயதில் நம் கையில் இருந்த ஆக்ஸ்போர்ட் நிகண்டில் புரியாத வார்த்தைகளை தேடினோம் !  இன்று இணையத்தில் பல விஷயங்கள் மிக எளிதாக கிடைக்கின்றன.  எனினும்  சில சமயம் சில தேடல்கள் முடிவற்ற ஓர் எல்லையை (oxymoron!) நோக்கி நீள்கின்றன.  மிக எளிதான விஷயம் : 'மயிற்பீலி’, - -பதிவு பொருள் பற்றியதல்ல, அதை அணியும் மாயோனை பற்றியது !!! 

Peacock, any of three species of resplendent birds of the pheasant family, Phasianidae (order Galliformes). Strictly, the male is a peacock, and the female is a peahen; both are peafowl.  

மயில் இறகுகளை வாங்கி உங்கள் வீட்டை அழகுபடுத்தினால் வீடும் அழகாகும் வாஸ்துப்படி உங்களுக்கும் உங்கள் குடும்பத்தாருக்கும் பல நன்மைகள் கிட்டும் என படித்தேன் .. .. நம்புவீர்களா, இல்லையோ !! விவாதம் தேவையில்லை ! .    சிறு வயதில் மயில் இறகை புத்தகத்தினுள் வைத்து, அது குட்டி போடும் என்று நம்பி நம் பாட  புத்தகங்களின் உள்ளே  பலர் வைத்திருந்தது என்னவோ உண்மை !   

Peacock feathers, or mor pankh, மயிலிறகு, is regarded an auspicious symbol in our culture.  In school days, remember, we were happy in having small feathers inside our notebooks, symbolizing good luck and prosperity.  The peacock remains the oldest ornamental bird in the world.  The peacock could  foretell rain, by dancing before it pours.

 

Peacock feathers represent pride, and by extension, nobility and glory. Peacocks are also known to eat poisonous plants with no ill effects, making their feathers a symbol of incorruptibility and immortality. In ancient Greece, the peacock was the patron bird of the goddess Hera. According to myth, she placed "eyes" on its feathers, symbolizing all-seeing knowledge and the wisdom of the heavens.  

Pushpak Viman of Ravana was shaped like a peacock. The origin of this idea comes from an old Sri Lankan folk tale.  Nowadays, in hotels and bars around Colombo, Sri Lanka, one finds images of this flying wooden peacock, but it is not described as a creation of a carpenter. It is described as Ravana’s Pushpaka Vimana. In a recent conference, it was argued that Ravana invented the aeroplane long before the Wright brothers.  Travel guides creatively identify various natural formations of the island as the Ramayana trail. For example, the city of Wariyapola is now believed to be Ravana’s airport as Wari means “wind” and pola means “place”.     

The island was identified as Ravana’s Lanka.  Around 10^th  century,  Chola kings invaded Sri Lanka, plundered its capital, Anuradhapura, and conquered parts of it, mainly to control its copper mines and sea trading routes.  In India, Mihir Bhoja writes about such devices in his book, Samarangana Sutradhara.   

On Kanu parvettai day  occurs  the annual trip of Kachi Varadar, famously known as ‘Seevaram Paarvettai’.. (not happening this year due to Corona !!)  and at Thiruvallikkeni today is Kanu Parvettai purappadu.  Words could fail describing His beauty and grace.

 

கருங்கண் தோகை மயிற்பீலி அணிந்து .. அருங்கலவுருவின் ஆயர் பெருமான்

Periyazhwar describes Krishna  ~ that of subjects of Gokulam getting stranded on seeing the  beautiful cowherd Lord  adorned with peacock feathers having dark centre spots, and many jewels ….. when His mellifluous music pervaded, it was not only devotees even  the trees stood enchanted, and rained streams of nectar, poured flowers, and bent their upper branches in every which way the stood. 

Here are some photos of the Kanu parvettai purappadu at Thiruvallikkeni and darshan of Sri Parthasarathi Emperuman adorning ‘peacock feather’.

 
adiyen Srinivasa dhasan
Mamandur Veeravalli Srinivasan Sampathkumar
16.1.2024