“Guro,” called out
Maveli.
Maveli is the asura hypocorism for the deva name Mahabali. Kerala is advertised by the Tourism
Department as “God’s Own Country.” But
the people of Kerala love asura hypocorisms. You can’t blame the people, really. Like their favourite King, Maveli, quite many
of them have been expatriated. Those who
are not expatriated geographically (or literally, if you wish) adopt
expatriation by intoxication. And
expatriates love nostalgic hypocorisms.
Kerala is the land of
expatriates. Pravasi is the most favourite word in the state. Every pravasi
is supposed to be living in bliss. If
there is any Malayali pravasi who is
not living in such blissful condition, Benyamin or Mukundan will write Aadujeevitham or Pravasam in honour of the hapless pravasi’s nostalgia for God’s Own Country which is actually Maveli’s
Own Country. And Maveli was an asura, a
demon.
“Prabho, My Lord,” came Maveli’s Guru, Sukracharya hearing Maveli’s
call.
Sukracharya was Maveli’s
priest and guide, mentor and teacher, before the deva Vishnu came in the form of Dwarf and deceived Maveli.
Flashback
Time: Pre-historic
Scene: Maveli’s Palace in Asura’s Own Country
Enter Dwarf bearing a queer mix of boyhood innocence and godhood
malice and wearing the sacred thread of Brahminhood.
Dwarf: Your Majesty, I live far below the
poverty line. I cannot even apply for
the Aadhar card without which your government will not even let me have cooking
gas. Give me just three feet of land and
I’ll manage somehow. You are the most
generous king of kings, dayalu of dayalus, prema yogi and karma yogi...”
Dwarf unfolds a leather vesicle and takes out Amul butter.
Dwarf: The best butter available in Gods’
Own Heavens, Your Majesty.
Maveli: Thank you, aditi. Order me, what can I
do for you? Whatever your wish, it will
be granted.
Enter Sukracharya with a stunned expression and whispers
something in the ear of Maveli.
Maveli: No, Guro. I may be a demon by hierarchy, but I am honest
by cultivation. This is Asuras’ Own
Country. I cannot go back on my
word. [To Dwarf] Tell me, Boy, what is your wish?
Dwarf: Just three feet of land, Your
Majesty. But I will measure it out with
my own foot. [The word foot resounds in the PA systems of
Asuras’ Own Country.]
Maveli: Only three feet of land? Measure it out for yourself wherever you wish
in Asuras’ Own Proud Country.
Sukracharya begins to pack his American Tourister bags.
Dwarf suddenly begins to grow large. He grows so large that the sun is blacked
out. Maveli stands unfazed.
Maveli: You are a deva. I am an asura. I accept your verdict. I shall go to the patalam, underworld. I have
nothing to give you in return. So please
condescend to take this Amul butter back and grant me a wish.
Dwarf-turned-giant:
[imperiously – but accepting the Amul butter smacking his lips] What’s your
wish?
Maveli: Allow me to visit my praja once a year.
Dwarf-turned-god: Oh, only
that? Granted.
Exit god from Maveli’s Own Country with Amul butter clutched
close to his heart.
Back to Present Time
Maveli: Guro, I’m going on my annual visit to
Asuras’ Own Country.
Sukracharya: You’ve never
cared to listen to me, Your Majesty. Yet
it’s my duty to advise you not to go.
Maveli: Never mind, Guro. I don’t foresee any danger. There are no genuine devas anymore anywhere.
Sukracharya: There are no
genuine asuras either, Your Majesty.
Maveli: That’s precisely why I have to go,
Guro. Good bye. See you soon.
Sukracharya: Happy Onam to
you, Your Majesty.
A very happy Onam to you!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Indrani.
DeleteA Happy Onam to you sir..!!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Karan.
DeleteHappy Onam to you too :)
ReplyDeleteThank you.
DeleteHappy Onam to you.. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks.
DeleteWonderful write up. Enjoyed the way of making the old thing new to many through writing.
ReplyDeleteRead it Here
Whenever I think of Maveli and Onam, I get confused. Who were better: the devas or the asuras? And the problem is not an ancient one. That's why the ancient is tangled with the contemporary in this satire.
DeleteHappy Onam Sir :)
ReplyDeleteThank you, Anil.
DeleteAmul Butter is Utterly Butterly Delicious even for the Devas & Asuras!
ReplyDeleteBut, Coconut Oil is used to preapre the yummy Onam feast, right?!!! :)
A very Happy Onam!
Enjoy!
You're right, yesterday I bought half a litre of coconut oil just for Onam's sake.
DeleteThanks for the greetings.
This reimagining of Mahabali's story brought a smile to my face. Well-written!
ReplyDeleteHappy Onam :)
I wonder what Maveli would think seeing present day Kerala which is quite the opposite of what he had created.
Deletehappy Onam sir!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Raj.
DeleteHappy Onam.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Rajesh.
DeleteDidnt quite get the role of Amul butter, nevertheless, happy Onam to you. Btw, the story is simple, yet open to few philosophical interpretations - like everything else religious - one is that there is no such thing as ultimate good and bad, but the gods and their way. Second one could be a bit biblical - Mahabali as anybody else was born with 'original sin'(due to his Asura genes), but his karma made him a purer person. It can go on for a few more..but ultimately its all just myths and stories.
ReplyDeleteDon't take it very seriously, Santhosh. I meant it as light satire.
DeleteHappy Onam to you too.
Amul butter was brought in to connect thre ancient with the contemporary. After all, gods live in eternity and there should be no gap between the past and present in eternity: there cannot be past and present in eternity.
I agree with you that the Asura Maveli was far better than the Deva Vamana, because of his karma. I too believe in the importance of karma.
Ultimately Maveli and Vamana are mythical figures. How we interpret them is what matters. This particular blog of mine is not meant to be taken very seriously.
I have heard about Onam but I don't know it's history. May be it's high time to Google it. Anyway, happy Onam! :)
ReplyDeleteI've put the legend behind Onam in this post in a satirical way. It's an interesting legend in which the Asura king, Maveli, turns out to be superior to the gods!
Delete