Kool's Commentary : 16 Oct PR - Page 9

Shymala,

I have read about the Devi tradition in Nepal. It is really a sad story for these girls. They get all the attention during their Devi years with money being showered at them, but once their reign is over, they are forgotten by the society and have to struggle with poverty and loneliness. Not only that, I can only imagine, the mental strength that will be need to cope with all loneliness when the limelight shifts at a very tender age. Besides, these girls are forbidden to play and display natural tendencies of childhood during the Devi year and have to follow strict rules. The pressures are absolutely too much on an age when they don't even have the mental ability to judge for themselves.

You piece reminds me of a very old bong movie by Sharmila Tagore, called Devi, directed by Satyajit Ray. The story revolves around a young girl who gets married into a conservative family. After marriage she brings good luck or maybe her FIL dreams her to be Goddess Kali and her FIL (played by a veteran actor Chabi Biswas) starts worshipping her. Soon the whole village starts considering her as Goddess reincarnated. The story is very tragic, with the girl's herself believing in her divine power. Don't know if this movie has subtitles, but if it has, it is worth a watch.

Dear Kalapi,

I have not seen Ray's Devi, but it is a very famous film, and I still remember Sharmila Tagore's face in a haunting close up, in one of the magazines. I will try and see if I can get hold f a DVD, that will definitely have subtitles.

I agree with all that you have said about the Kumari Devis of Nepal. It is a sad fate, and none of their choosing, poor things.

Shyamala

Originally posted by: Kalapi

Shymala,

I have read about the Devi tradition in Nepal. It is really a sad story for these girls. They get all the attention during their Devi years with money being showered at them, but once their reign is over, they are forgotten by the society and have to struggle with poverty and loneliness. Not only that, I can only imagine, the mental strength that will be need to cope with all loneliness when the limelight shifts at a very tender age. Besides, these girls are forbidden to play and display natural tendencies of childhood during the Devi year and have to follow strict rules. The pressures are absolutely too much on an age when they don't even have the mental ability to judge for themselves.

You piece reminds me of a very old bong movie by Sharmila Tagore, called Devi, directed by Satyajit Ray. The story revolves around a young girl who gets married into a conservative family. After marriage she brings good luck or maybe her FIL dreams her to be Goddess Kali and her FIL (played by a veteran actor Chabi Biswas) starts worshipping her. Soon the whole village starts considering her as Goddess reincarnated. The story is very tragic, with the girl's herself believing in her divine power. Don't know if this movie has subtitles, but if it has, it is worth a watch.

Originally posted by: koolsadhu1000

Kalapi i will watch it

and i did not know of this devi tradition in nepal i will read up on it , its interesting .

Kool, yes do watch it, I think you will like it since you are so close with bong culture and food😃

Originally posted by: sashashyam

Dear Varsha,

Oh yes, there are other problems too. She has to have and retain a perfect body, without any cuts and scars and other such blemishes. If she gets one, she is apparently disqualified and dethroned. But the one I met seemed to be doing just fine, she would have been about 8-9 years old.

There is a definite readjustment problem after she retires, as I said, but of course no one will talk about that, it is taboo. Least of all the families of the past and current Kumaris, who consider themselves greatly blessed.

Shyamala

Dear Varsha,

Thanks for all this detailed info, which sounds absolutely FRIGHTFUL. Thanks God we were not born there and thus ran no risk of being selected! Those poor girls, so small and so accepting of all this. But then today, parents the world over push small girls into beauty contests, which is no better, and perhaps even worse. The pressure on those kids, and the young girls for adult beauyt contests, is also appalling.

Shyamala

Originally posted by: Dabulls23

Shyamala dear I was so 😲 to read the requirements for Kumari selection...I surely would like to know what are those 32 Lachchans-Characteristics beyond what they have described here...LOL so much pressure on these girls for short part of life and at such a tender age...No wonder they are screwed up and can't deal with life after and people not making it easy in accepting...😳

These are some features a young girl should have to consider to be chosen as Kumari .

• Virgin with an unblemished body 😡😲
• Body of the Banyan tree Wow I like to see one that is built like Banyan tree at that young age.😳
• Eyebrows like the cow WTH is that 😆
• Black straight hair
• White teeth without any gaps
• Dark eyes
• Mona Lisa like smile
• Sonorous crystal clear voice
• Long slender arms
• Delicate and soft hands and feet
• Thighs like those of a deer 😲
• Neck like a conch-shell
• Tongue ' small and moist How do they know if tongue is moist 😕😳
• Sexual organs small and well-recessed. 😲

Above all, she should possess 32 lachchins (characteristics). She must have a sense of courage and should not fear a masked man or an animal sacrifice and she must never have lost a drop of blood. Her horoscope must match that of the king (it was so in the past, may be the President's horoscope is considered now).

Dear Varsha,

This is to send you a BIG thank you for having recommended Devon ke Dev Mahadev to me. But for your mentioning it so warmly, I would never have tried it, for many mythological shows are corny and amateurish.

I saw part of the omnibus on Saturday last (they had NINE hours of it from morning to evening!), and we are now watching it regularly by recording one of the repeats. We plan to stay with it - my mother likes it even better than I do, and as she is a stern critic, that is really something.

It is really very well done for that sort of story, the dialogues are beautiful and Shiva and Parvati are both superbly cast. Shiva has a majestic sternness and remoteness to him that is so appropriate. and it melts into gentleness when he wants it to. His anger is also very impressive, without becoming a caricature with flaring nostrils et al. Parvati is very good looking, statuesque, strong and graceful - a very suitable consort for the Lord of the Universe. She is never coy or cloying, and absolutely never weepy, and that is what I like a lot.

But I liked the most about it - though I agree that the scenes between Lord Shiva and Parvati are exceptionally well written and acted - is that they are showing the whole story of Kartikeya, who is rarely discussed in North India, though he is greatly loved and worshipped in the south. We have so many temples to him,one of the most famous being a hilltop one in Palani, and I have walked up to it barefoot once. He is also called Arumugam (he of the 6 faces) in Tamil, and of course Subramanian and Balasubramanian (which is my middle name, that the B stands for), and also Murugan.

His story is being told in such lavish detail that it is rare and wonderful . The boy cast as Kartikeya very good too, and his troubles with his identity and his chagrin at being in the shadow of his parents is so modern that it is fascinating. The other thing is the Shivapuranas are rarely shown on TV, unlike the Ramayana and the Mahabharata, which also makes this special.

So, Varsha my dear, thanks a lot from Mother and myself! Meanwhile, the Ramayana is also continuing at the same level of excellence, which only goes to show that the epics are always safe - and they cannot go to the dogs like PR!

Today was Saraswati Puja for us; one piles up a stack of books in the puja room and one is forbidden from reading anything today. Most kids would love it, but I used to hate it when I was a child -so often, a book I was halfway thru would end up in the pile and I could not get at it till the end of the next day!

Have a wonderful Vijayadashami tomorrow, and may the year ahead be good in every way for you and the family.

Shyamala

Originally posted by: sashashyam

Dear Varsha,

I am on the same page as you for all that you have written here, except that I cannot bring myself to have any soft corner for Savita. Never mind, let us agree to disagree on that! This apart, I am now in the happy position of not having to comment at all, except for saying that you are spot on practically all thru, especially @red..

Did you notice one thing? Purvi lectures Arjun in that ludicrous fashion because she knows that he will take it and not retaliate in kind. She does not try to lecture Teju when she is making even stronger statements against Vishnu, because she knows that Teju will not take it, and will retaliate very harshly against her. So you see, prudence always prevails, even among candidates for sainthood!

Thanks a lot for the info about the cast of the Ramayana - I did not know any of the names. And I agree that Vishwamitra too is very well cast; he radiates benevolence effortlessly where his favourite shishyas are concerned. I will definitely take a look and Devon ke Dev Mahadev since you recommend it so strongly, and I will also look in at the Ramayana forum.

As you watch the Ramayana, you realise what it is that makes and epic an epic. One has just to listen to the dialogue between Lord Rama and Parashurama; Lord Rama's lines are so beautiful one can listen to it ten times and not tire of it. And even if one knows everything that is going to happen, the power of the tale is such that you sit up as if it was all new and unknown. It is any day vastly superior to these senseless and sub-standard soaps.

Shyamala

Shyamala dear