Mythological well depicted
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Krishnakumari Narendran's Abhinaya Natyalaya presented a ballet, `Sri Akhilanda Nayaki' at the Narada Gana Sabha recently.
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Five important centres for Lord Siva are connected with the five elements — Earth, Water, Fire, Air and Space. Among these, the one related to water is situated in Tiruvanaikka; the idol there is Appu (water) linga, also called Jambukeswara. There is a story that weaves around this name. A sage called Jambu, once found a special Jambu fruit in the river. He fetched and offered it to Siva, who ate the fruit and spat the seed. Considering this seed that came out from the mouth of the Lord as prasadam, the sage swallowed it, only to become a Jambu tree himself, in the course of time. And Siva is said to have sat under this tree.
According to yet another story, a spider and an elephant competed with each other in propitiating Siva and to bless them, the Lord came down to this earth and took abode in this kshetra. Hence the place came to be known as Tiru-aanaikkaa. His consort here is Akhilandeswari. Abhinaya Natyalaya of Krishnakumari Narendran presented a ballet based on these mythological stories titled, `Sri Akhilanda Nayaki' at the Narada Gana Sabha on December 25.
After an invocation in the form of dance to Ganapati, the story was delineated in different segments. All the girls danced well, especially the young one donning the role of the elephant, as also the male dancer, who did the part of the sage. The sage becoming a tree and Siva taking his seat under the tree were beautifully depicted. In the segments that ensued, Archana Visvanath as Akhilandanayaki, impressed the audience with her precise nritta and nritya.
Lyrics by Krishnakumari Narendran, melodiously tuned by Kunnakkudi Vaidyanathan, were soulfully rendered by Girija Ramaswami, Indumati, Geeta Raja and Bhama. As it was a dance-drama, it contained dramatic elements; more dramatic was the compering by choreographer Krishnakumari Narendran. The spectators had many a moment of joy but one doubt lingers. The sage, Jambu, finds the fruit floating on the water. Then why should he swim a long way to fetch it? Barring one or two such minor details, the presentation was highly appreciable.
B. M. Sundaram
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