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"SAMVATHSARA PURUSHAN" 

(സംവത്സര പുരുഷൻ)

Eons ago, a mighty bull ambled down from the North and came upon a wooded  hillock lush with vegetation. After feasting to its heart's content on the green and tender grass and drinking cool water from a small pond at the top of the hillock, it lay down under a banyan tree . That is where the villagers saw the huge bull for the first time. In the following days the bull roamed on the hillock, never leaving it. In course of time the hillock came to be known as 'idavakunnu' or 'hillock of the bull".

A wandering holy mendicant resting under the banyan tree one day was struck by the variety of vegetation and beauty of the hillock. He realised that the place conforms to the description of a terrain known as 'poorna', ideal for a temple. He installed a linga shaped rock at a suitable place, not far away from the banyan tree. That was how the coronation of ' Idavakkunnunathan' or ' Vadakkunnathan'. took place..

Centuries later, a returning prodigal staked claim to a place on the parapet, albeit only for the evenings,  quite close to the place where the bull rested when it came upon the hillock. As was the local custom he used his black shoulder bag to assert his right to the place and keep trespassers away, much like the colonising Christians planted their crosses.
“Winter solitude-
in a world of one colour
the sound of the wind.” -Basho

Over the months, the prodigal established some kind of fellowship with the crows which started  awaiting his visits in the evening for the bread and iddly crumbs. Hard to say whether they recognised his face or his bag, but they started flying in the moment he occupied his chosen place. Perhaps they are the wandering souls of the chetturs, kozhippurams , cherangottils, chelanaatans who have all lifted the curtain and gone behind.
 temple bell rings-
a hundred crows rises in
fright.

Floatsams and jetsams slowly started accumulating- a retired AIR station director, a former zonal manager of a pharma co, a painter, a former investment banker, guys who were in the middle east.......,.all past sixty,. the eldest having seen a thousand full moons a couple of years ago,  with diverse interests. The" വടക്കുനാഥ കൂട്ടം took shape thus.
“in the city fields 
contemplating cherry-trees...
strangers are like friends” Issa

It is early January. Another New Year and beginning of the  end of another winter. The huge Red Silk Cotton tree standing tall opposite to my position of vantage is bereft of leaves.. It towers majestically over forty-fifty metres. It must have been a mute witness to all the poorams since Shakthan Thampuran started the Trissur pooram. It must have seen Ranganathan, the tallest elephant on record in Kerala carrying the Devi's idol.
the new year arrived
in utter simplicity-
and a deep blue sky. Issa


By middle of February, the colour of the canopy has started to change with buds sprouting all over. It is the beginning of another spring.

sitting quietly, doing nothing, 
spring comes, and the grass 
grows,by itself.” Basho

The transformation is so sudden and spectacular. It is as if all the twigs and branches of the tree are on fire. Blood red flowers erupted all over and hundred of birds of all kind started flocking .
“come, see the true
flowers
of this pained world.”  Basho

away on the hill
dry grass bursts into flame-
vigil for jungle's soul

spring equinox
tree cooling itself in a 
Golden Shower

                                                                                                           



In the evening summer heat of April- early May the tree was aflame. Birds flew in to perch on its branches as if plunging into a burning funeral pyre. Blood red flowers were strewn all over the ground below.
listening ear
petals falling into
the silence. Basho

moss and ferns
now brown and dry in the
Flame of the Forest

By end of May the monsoon arrived and doused the fire. The tree sheltered under a thick green canopy. Last of the flowers were swept away down the hillock  by the drainage waters The heart shaped leaves dripped waters long after the rains stopped.

spring rain
the willow strings
raindrops. Basho













By end of June, the leaves were a lush, dark green giving the tree a dark and foreboding appearance. The leaves were also thicker as if swollen by rain waters.

summer showers
clutching the leaves of grass
a flock of sparrows. Buson










Washed by the monsoon , the leaves spotlessly clean. the tree stands majesticaly under an early autumn sky. The sunlight unimpeded by dust particles and suspended matter is brilliantly bright.
“standing still at dusk 
listen . . . in far distances 
the song of froglings!”  Buson

It is October and the beginning of late autumn . In a month's time the Devil tree farther beyond the Silk Cotton tree, near the Round South will start flowering filling the evenings with its heady smell. It doesn't last long though. Not more than a week
ഏഴിലംപാല തൻ പൂമണം തൂകുന്നുണ്ടൂ -
ഴി തൻ നിശ്വാസത്തി ലെന്തു  മോഹനരാത്രി. -ജി .
“This autumn-
why am I growing old?
bird disappearing among clouds.” -Basho

it is late evening
i watch the sunset
eyes wide shut

the old man watches 
the sun dying in psychadelic splendour-
he shivers.

this ancient body
shivers in the winter cold-
time to leave