After meeting Queen Sembiyanmadevi, Azhwarkadiyan headed
towards Princess Kundavai’s palace. On the way, the sights that met him at
Pazhaiarai’s streets, filled his heart with enthusiasm. He happily noted how
people celebrated Krishna’s birthday with such excitement. He felt no doubt
about the fact that Vaishnavam was
here to stay. For over hundred years, under the patronage of Chola kings, many
Shiva temples were rebuilt, many grants have been given to them, countless
jewels, land and wealth have been showered, yet it did not diminish the
people’s enthusiasm to celebrate a festival for Maha Vishnu’s avatar, Krishna. There
is no doubt that Krishna’s many miraculous deeds and endearing stories have
captured the people’s imagination. So many troupes of street dancers and drama
groups, have come here to celebrate this festival. He noted how people were
clapping energetically at the performance of one of the dance troupes.
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| Azhwarkadiyan Nambi |
The actors who were playing Vasudeva, Devaki, Krishna, Balarama
and Kamsa were showing their acting prowess to the public. With the public were
cheering loudly, the actors sang loudly and performed many interesting japes
that attracted claps and frequent shouts. Azhwarkadiyan, stopped to see their
performance. The scene was where Krishna was challenging Kamsa for a duel.
Krishna was played by a small boy, who listed out the many crimes that Kamsa
had committed and challenged him for a duel. In his reply, Kamsa who was played
by a broad chested warrior wearing a mask, thundered, “Hey Krishna! Your magic
prowess will not work with me. I am going to kill you now. I will kill your
brother Balaraman and your father Vasudevan. I am also going to kill that Veera Vaishnavan, who is standing there
with thiruman all over his body!”
Everybody now looked at Azhwarkadiyan and started laughing. The
vaishnavan looked around with anger
and his hands itched to bring his staff down on the actor who was playing
Kamsa. But it was pointless, as he had hidden his face with a large wooden
mask. He silently slid away and left. But something was niggling his mind. That
Kamsa’s voice seemed a bit familiar to him and he felt as if the actor was
shouting his dialogues, just to camouflage his voice.
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