UDAYAR WORSHIP
In tha
Tiruchendur taluk,Udayar worship is a common phenomenon which is generally
celebrated biennialy.This event is associated with the performance of bow songs
and street plays.
The hero of
the episode is Udayar,who according to a tradition afloat in the district,was a
bodyguard of Srivallabha Mara Pandya,aTenkasi Pandiya line of ruler who was
ruling the area by 16 th century.Some members of the royal family and palace
officials conspired to do him away and hence he was falsely implicated in a
theft case.Unable to bear the dishonor he decided to end his life himself and
hence he made a stake rod for himself,carried it to Kazhuvan thirattu south of
Tenkasi,enacted it and implanted himself.
In the
honour of this Udayar,in Kudiyiruppu village four stone pillars were erected to
form a square.The pillars were connected horizontally by wooden frames form a
square from top to bottom.Besides it,there is a small attar in memory of Cinna
Udayar who,is said to have stabbed himself unable to bear the impalement of
Udayar.Nearby the stone structure is a stake rod of Kazhumaram. There is also
an altar for the Pandya King.
The heroic
story of Udayar available in the form of ballads is both rendered in bow song
and enacted as a play by a possession dancer [samiyadi],The climax of the dance
is impaling of a cock in the stake rod.They sacrifice goats to this deity.Sweet
rice is also cooked and offered.The festival
lasts for seven days even after his impalement.This worship is widely
seen in KudiEruppuVilai,MadhavanKurichi, Elluvillai and VeppalodaiPandiyapuram.
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