Devotion, in its most unrestrained form, can be as audacious as it is heartfelt. Historian V. Sriram and Carnatic singer Ashwath Narayanan took us through the fearless expressions of Ninda Stuti, where saints and poets mock, provoke, and even accuse their gods to forge an intimate connection.
Sakkiya Nayanar’s peculiar ritual of throwing stones at the Shiva Linga, interpreting it as an eccentric but deeply impactful form of worship and how Manickavasagar, in his irreverent brilliance, declares that until Shiva bestows grace upon him, he would make the Lord the laughingstock of the world — mocking him as the lunatic who swallowed poison, ripped apart an elephant, and danced in crematoriums. In another poem, Manickavasagar, playfully taunts the Lord, saying, “I gave myself to you; you gave yourself to me. Who’s the cleverer? You got nothing, but I gained everlasting bliss!” Ashwath Narayanan brought these verses to life, singing ‘Thandhadu un thannai kondadhu en thannai’ in Shanmukhapriya, capturing the profound blend of surrender and defiance.
Drawing comparisons with the present times when we could be punished for hurting religious sentiments, Sriram highlighted how these composers had the liberty to write what they wanted to.
The boldness isn’t confined to Shaivite saints; Sriram highlighted Andal’s daring accusations in Nachiyar Thirumozhi. Frustrated by Krishna’s indifference, she blames his mother, Yashoda, for raising such a lawless child.
Similarly, Purandaradasa and Kanakadasa carried forward this tradition in Kannada poetry, questioning and mocking their deities with compositions like ‘Ninnantha kande’ and ‘Bande baiyya.’
Even Tamil composers such as Marimuthapillai, Arunachala Kavi, and Gopalakrishna Bharati embraced this boldness. Marimuthapillai teased Nataraja in ‘Enneramum oru kaalai thookikondirukiravagai,’ asking why the Lord kept one leg raised all the time, listing comical reasons. Gopalakrishna Bharati, in ‘Peyyandi thannai’ (Dhanyasi), accused Shiva of negligence, continuing a legacy where even Rama wasn’t spared — Bhadrachala Ramadasa lamented his plight in ‘Ayyayo neevanti anyaya deivamu.’ Tyagaraja also blames Rama in ‘Addiki sukhamu’ in Madhyamavathi that Ashwath demonstrated.
This daring tradition endures, inspiring modern expressions in cinema and popular music, showing that devotion, at its core, is a deeply personal relationship — one that allows for jest, frustration, and audacity, while rooted in unwavering love.
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Published - January 18, 2025 09:00 pm IST
