Wednesday, March 25, 2015

pidikita talambrala pellikoothuru

 This is one of the wedding ceremonial songs especially "talambralu" literally meaning showers off the heads.  To me it seems as if just during the ritual of showering rice in the wedding, every body except Annamayya freezes in time, and Annamayya takes that opportunity to dedicate a song to the bride and describes mostly the physical appearance and demeanor of the bride. Most of the song is generic and can be applied to any bride in general. This song has become so popular that most wedding videos have this song playing during the ceremony.
Annamayya in this song has a unique style, where in he ends each line with "pelli koothuru" referrring to the bride and at the same time repeats the sound of the first word in each line of a stanza. In the all stanzas except the third one it is "pa" (in "pidikita" and "pedamarali"). For the third one, he usues "ba" which falls under the same consonant line as that of "pa". He goes a step further with the acoustics in this poem and tries to use the variations of same first word. For example, he uses "peru" (meaning name) in different forms in the beginning of each line second stanza "perukala"(arranged), "peru"( necklace), "perantandla"(invited women for a ritual), and finally "peru kocchu"(whenever name comes). Similarly, for third stanza it is "birudu"(titled/famous) and for fourth stanza it is "petti"(put/keep).
Another interesting format for this song is that in each stanza/quartlet, first two lines are dedicated to the describing the jewellery or costume of the bride while the last  two lines are dedicated to describe the situational behavior of the bride, especially as a reaction related to her husband/groom.

The rendition of this song by Nitya Santhoshini can be found here.

పిడికిట తలంబ్రాల పెండ్లి కూతురు కొంత -
పడమరలి నవీనె పెండ్లి కూతురు
pidikita talambrala pendli kuturu konta |
padamarali navvīne pendli kūturu ||
Word-Word:
పిడికిటpidikita= fistful; తలంబ్రాలtalambralu(talambu+raalu)=(of head+shower)rice thrown over the heads of bride and bridegroom as a ceremony in marriage; పెండ్లికూతురుpendlikoothuru=(wedding+daughter) bride; కొంతkontha= a little;
పడpeda= side; మరలిmarali= turn; నవీనెnaveene=smiled;  పెండ్లి కూతురుpendlikoothuru=bride
Meaning:
 Fistful of rice(thrown on head) bride; a little
sidewards turned and smiled the bride;
Discussion:
This song in particular describes the informal ritual soon after the main ceremony of marriage where in the bride and groom shower fistful of rice on each other's head, alluding to the sense of flourishing with rice. Some games/ informal rituals are held to break the ice between the new couple who haven't met casually before that in usually an arranged marriage.
Annamayya describes the usual demeanor of brides in Indian weddings. Most brides in Indian culture are actually suggested to be pleasant, a little timid and shy. So out of the shyness, the bride does/can not make an eye contact with the person right in front of her, her groom/husband(!!), and so usually has her sight downwards, or sideways. This is a behavioral trait of women and brides, usually emphasized in dances in particular.

పేరుకల జవరాలె పెండ్లి కూతురు - పెద్ద
పేరుల ముత్యాల మేడ పెండ్లి కూతురు
పేరంటాండ్ల నడిమి పెండ్లి కూతురు - విభు
పేరుకుచ్చు సిగ్గువడీ పెండ్లి కూతురు
perukala javarale pendli kuturu pedda |
perula mutyala meda pendli kuturu |
peramtandla nadimi pendli kuturu vibhu |
perukuccu sigguvadi pendli kuturu ||
Word-Word:
పేరుకలperukala=of arranged necklace;  జవరాలెjavaraale=gems; పెండ్లి కూతురు pendlikoothuru=bride 
పెద్దpedda= big; పేరులperula= necklace; ముత్యాలmutyala= pearls; మేడmeda=neck;  పెండ్లి కూతురుpendlikoothuru=bride
పేరంటాండ్లperantandla=married women to attend domestic festival;  నడిమిnadimi=in between; పెండ్లి కూతురుpendlikoothuru=bride
విభుvibhu=Lord; పేరుకుచ్చుpeerukocchu(peruku+vacchu)=(name+came) సిగ్గువడీsigguvade= who feels shy; పెండ్లి కూతురుpendlikoothuru=bride
Meaning:
arranged jewels, Dear Bride;
Big necklaces of pearls on the neck of the Bride;
In between married women is the bride;
As the Lord's name comes(is said), feels shy the Bride;
Discussion:
In this stanza, Annamayya describes the jewellery that the bride wore. Married women are invited to help around in the wedding, especially with the bride.  So Annamayya says that the bride is among the invited married women. The shyness/blushing over hearing their husband's name is very common among Indian women and Annamayya brings out this behavioral trait in this poem.

బిరుదు పెండము వెట్టె బెండ్లి కూతురు నెర - 
బిరుదు మగని కంటె బెండ్లి కూతురు
పిరిదూరి నప్పుడే పెండ్లి కూతురూ పతి -
బెరరేచీ నిదివో పెండ్లి కూతురు
birudu pendamu vette pendli kuturu nera |
birudu magani kante pendli kuturu |
piriduri nappude pendli kuturu pati |
berareci nidivo pendli kuturu ||
Word-Word:
బిరుదుbirudu=title; పెండముpendamu=an anklet/ an ornament of honor worn on ankle by warriors as a distinction award; వెట్టెvette=put; బెండ్లికూతురుpendlikoothuru=bride; నెరnera= excellent;
బిరుదుbirudu= titled; మగనిmagani=man's; కంటెkante= in comparision; బెండ్లికూతురుpendlikoothuru= bride;
పిరిదూరినpiridoori=a strand in the cord; అప్పుడేappude=then only; పెండ్లి కూతురూ pendli koothuru= bride; పతి pathi= Lord;
బెరరేచీనberarechena=to reach out; ఇదివోidivo=this; పెండ్లి కూతురుpendlikoothuru=bride;
Meaning:
popular anklet wore the Bride; Excellent
titled Husband more than, (this) Bride
even if a strand (between her and husband) immediately this bride, for her Husband
reached out this Bride
Discussion:
Annmayya says that the bride wore a huge anklet that was bigger than that her popular husband wore. The tone is tricky where the praise actually intends a slight tease all in good favor, :). The next two lines describes the initial attraction of a bride, who would not let even a strand of distance from her husband.
As I already mentioned, in this stanza Annamayya uses the word forms of "birudu" meaning title as the first word in each line/ The words are "birudu" (huge/popular) in the first two lines, "piriduri" (strand of distance), and finally "berareche"(reaching out).

పెట్టెనే పెద్ద తురుము పెండ్లి కూతురు నేడె - 
పెట్టెడు చీరలు గట్టి పెండ్లి కూతురు
గట్టిగ వేంకటపతి కౌగిటను - 
పెట్టిన నిధానమయిన పెండ్లి కూతురు
pettene pedda turumu pendli kuturu nede |
pettedu ciralu gatti pendli kuturu|
gattiga venkatapati kaugitanu |
pettina nidhanamayina pendli kuturu ||
Word-Word:
పెట్టెనేpettene=she put; పెద్దpedda= big; తురుముthurumu=braid into bun; పెండ్లికూతురుpendlikoothuru (pendli+ koothuru)=(wedding+daughter)bride; నేడెneede= today; - 
పెట్టెడుpettadu=given as token/gift; చీరలు cheeralu= saris; గట్టిgatti= to tie; పెండ్లికూతురుpendlikoothuru = bride;
గట్టిగgattiga= strongly; వేంకటపతిvenkatapathi Venkata's Lord; కౌగిటను kaugitanu= embrace;- 
పెట్టినpettina= placed/give; నిధానమయినnidhanamayina(Nidhanamu+ayina)=treasure+become పెండ్లికూతురుpendlikoothuru=bride
Meaning:
Wore a big hair bun, (this) bride
gifted saris wore (this) bride
strongly Venkata's Lord embrace
put one who is the treasure, this bride
Discussion:
It is a ritual that the bride wear sarees gifted to her by her in-laws or parents for her wedding. Annamayya could actually be refering to another ritual in temples where the devotees gift sarees for their wedding. Annamayya says that this bride is a treasure that was put in Venkateswara's embrace.
In this stanza, Annamayya uses the word forms of "pettu" at the beginning of each line. The words are "pettene" (she put), "pettudu"(given as gift),"gattiga"(strongly) is an offlier(!!); and finally "pettina" (placed)

As usual, any suggestions and comments to help in better understanding of this song are highly appreciated.

References:

[1]http://annamacharya-lyrics.blogspot.com/2006/11/94pidikita-talambrala-pemdli-kuturu.html
[2]http://sahityam.net/wiki/PiDikiTa_talaMbrAla
[3]http://www.andhrabharati.com/dictionary/
[4]





14 comments:

  1. perukala jawarali pellikuturu ante avidaki goppa peru(fame) undani, pedda perula mutyala meada ante guttaluga posina mutyala meada valla illani anthagoppa status unna avida swamy peru vinetappatiki siggu padipotundi ani naaku kaligina bhavana tappu aithe manninchandi

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello,
      Thank you for taking time to comment. I believe you took the work as (peru+kala) while I took it to be peruka poyina(guttaluga unna) But what you said makes sense.
      The second verse " pedda perula mutyala meda" Telugu women refer to their long necklaces as "peru". Its a differnt perception but makes sense.

      Best,

      Delete
  2. Great explanation. Thankyou. The time you spent explaining this song is a treasure you accumulated.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Krishna Prasad, for taking time to comment. You are right about the treasure I accumulated,:).

      Best regards,

      Delete
  3. Hi Sir, I really like your work. I would like to talk to you about more translations like this. Please drop me a mail at : manikanta.kandukuri@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi, Manikanta/Ram
      Thank you for your comment. If you have a request or a reference for your request for more translations, please do post it here. I will try my best to translate.

      Best regards,

      Delete
  4. Hi sir, after knowing the meaning of the song I am enjoying songs truly. Thank you very much for this work.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Ilaage chaalaa Annamayya keerthanalaku arthaalu kaavaalandi
    Naaku yedainaa pusthakam vunnaa chepppandi dayachesi
    Ledaa guide me please
    Mee Explanation is Awesome
    Thnk u

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello Prakashgaru,
      In this blog, I have nearly 50 Annamayya keerthanas translated. Please visit the blog's main page. Hopefully that should be a start,:).I'll try to get back to you one I hve more details about other books.
      Bet regards,

      Delete
  6. what raga is used in this song?

    ReplyDelete
  7. Namaste Sir... Is the word meda ( roof) or meda ( neck) ? reading the Telugu it feels like roof.. please clarify.
    Thanks
    Rao

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You need to go by context. It means neck

      Delete
  8. Thanks for your efforts. Really appreciate the details with which you explained the song. May God Bless you :)

    ReplyDelete
  9. Very nice explanation. Thank you.

    ReplyDelete