It is MasiAmavasya (new moon in the Tamil month of Masi) and the “warriors of Chennai” have been visiting their neighbouring burial grounds along with Sri Angalamman or Angalaparameswariamman and the Paavaadarayan, her assistant carrying a sword, to perform Mayaana Kollai.
In the past two days, the city’s streets have come alive with sounds of drums and small processions of people carrying items, including eatables, to be offered to the goddess, who had been known as Kaadukaall (the Kali of the Kaadu ), meaning the Kali of the sudukaadu (burial grounds) .
The Mayaana Kollai is a throwback to the days of yore when warriors who left for war would pray to Kali and offer to bring back the war loot (sooraiaaduthal) . They would also offer their own heads, hands and other parts of the torso for having won the war,” explained Poosai Sa. Atchilingam, formerly associated with the Temple Encyclopedia Project of the Tanjore Tamil University.
But nowadays when wars are not necessarily fought on the battlefield, people manage with play acting. Usually, there is a man dressed as Angalamman, who is taken in procession along with the Paavaadaraayan, or one dressed as Lord Shiva, or even Hanuman, to the burial ground, where an image of a mayaana sooran ( grave yard warrior ) is crafted using mud, ash and bones.
Different offerings
People offer whatever they like and place it around the sooran . The offering to Angalammancould be a goat or chicken or pig and they shout soorai thrice.
The Amman symbolically pierces the sooran with her trident signifying the end of the war, and victory of the good over evil. Then all those gathered pick up whatever they can from the offerings and leave, explained a Shiva scholar.
Mr. Atchilingam said Kali and Angalamman were the same.
“She was also called as Amm Kali and Azhagiya Kali and when Kaliamman was brought out of the burial grounds to be installed in the Vadavaayil (northern entrance) of the villages, she got the name of Angaalamman where Angaalam means bones,” he added.
The story behind the Mayaana Kollai has several versions. Whatever the tale, the festival adds colour to the city.
