I came upon this request from Tulika to contribute rhymes/songs of childhood to their 4th blogathon. Immediately faint sounds and hazy images of some songs came to my mind and for a few moments I felt like the child basking in the love and affection of grandparents in that image. Unfortunately, I was not able to remember the words of many of the songs but two which came to my mind immediately. I am sharing those with you.
My grand father(my dad's father) was a great story teller with a fine sense of humour. This is the first song he used to repeat to me when i took my first steps. He used to sing it with actions and small forward and backward movements. Perhaps, that was to strengthen the legs?
The song goes like this:
'Akkara kokku manga!
eandi azhagi manga?
ungathu brahmanar engae?
Kokkum kondu kodaiyum kondu koil
vaasalle koothada poyirukkar!
அக்கார கொக்கு மங்கா!
ஏண்டி அழகி மங்கா,
உங்காத்து பிராமணர் எங்கே?
கொக்கும் கொண்டு கொடையும் கொண்டு
கோயில் வாசல்லே கூத்தாடப் போயிருக்கார்!
It roughly translates as, calling a lady as manga and asking her about the whereabouts of her husband and the lady replying that he has gone to dance in front of the temple with a crane(bird) and an umbrella.
ஏண்டி அழகி மங்கா,
உங்காத்து பிராமணர் எங்கே?
கொக்கும் கொண்டு கொடையும் கொண்டு
கோயில் வாசல்லே கூத்தாடப் போயிருக்கார்!
It roughly translates as, calling a lady as manga and asking her about the whereabouts of her husband and the lady replying that he has gone to dance in front of the temple with a crane(bird) and an umbrella.
It may sound just a meaningless rhyme to entertain a child but may have some significant meaning. (may or may not have). However, the idea was to dramatise a situation with dialogue and add a few dance movements.
Second one was a favourite rhyme of my brother. I loved watching him say it with actions feeling a little shy.
"Koothadu koothadu jinakka,
Kuninthu koothadu jinakka.
panthalilae pavakka,
thonguthadi aelakkaa
paiyan varan parthukko.
panam koduppan vaangikko.
Thanjavur pogalam,
thalayi nalla cheevalaam
tak, tak, tak"
கூத்தாடு கூத்தாடு, ஜைனக்கா
குனிந்து கூத்தாடு ஜைனக்கா
பந்தலிலே பாவக்கா,
தொங்குதடி ஏலக்கா
பையன் வரான் பார்த்துக்கோ,
பணம் கொடுப்பான் வாங்கிக்கோ
தஞ்சாவூர் போகலாம்,
தலையை நல்லா சீவலாம்,
டக், டக் டக்.
It is again to bend and stretch the body.
Translation:
Dance, dance,
bend and dance
bitter-guard is there on the vines
cardamom is hanging.
see, here comes the boy.
Take the money that he gives.
Let us go to Thanjavur
and let us comb the hair nicely.
'jinakka' is like a name and 'tak' is just the sound of steps.
I hope, these two will be useful for you.
Thank you.
