Vararuchi's Kerala

There is a typical cultural convergence in Kerala, though the society is divided by castes and sub-castes from time immemorial. May be this is another reason why Keralites could welcome people from different religions, races and cultures without much trouble. We received Arabs, Chinese, Jews, Portuguese, Dutch, French and the British who came as traders, explorers and later invaders. When they were looking for material benefits from our land and people, we built a spiritual connection with all of them. May be, our attitudes are formed by strong mythological stories like the Vararuchi’s.

Many are familiar with the mythological story of Vararuchi and Parachi petta panthirukulam (the 12 tribes born from a lower caste woman) which is believed to have happened around 300 AD. The outline of the story goes like this:

Vararuchi, one of the nine wise men of King Vikramaditya’s court married a girl from Paraya caste which is one of the lowest castes among the society of Kerala. They started a pilgrimage and on the way one-after-another, they had 12 children. Each time upon delivery, Vararuchi asked her if the baby had mouth. If she said ‘yes’, he would say, “God will feed it if it has mouth” and would ask her to leave the child there and then proceed. Grieved by these, when the 12th child was born, she lied and said the baby did not have a mouth, upon which he permitted her to take the child along. But when she was about to breast-feed it, the mouth was actually not there!! Vararuchi then consecrated the child on a hill, which is called “Vaayillaakkunnilappan” (Hill Lord without mouth), near the place Kadampazhipuram (in the present Palakkad dist.).

The children left out in the forest were subsequently found, adopted and raised by families belonging to different communities, recognised one another as they grew up, and used to get-together at the illam (residence) of the eldest son, Mezhathol Agnihothri, on their father Vararuchi’s death anniversary (Sraadham) - so goes the story or myth. Each of these 12 tribes / families still exists in Kerala and they used to get-together also.

These twelve children are: Mezhathol Agnihothri (Brahmanan), Paakkanaar (Parayan, a very low caste), Rajakan (Dhobi), Naaraanathu Bhraanthan (Elayathu, a lower class Brahmanan), Kaarakkal Maatha (high caste Nair, only girl born to the couple), Akavoor Chaathan (Vysyan), Vaduthala Nair (Nair Soldier), Vallon (Thiruvalluvar of Tamil Nadu), Uppukottan (Muslim), Paananaar (Paanan, a very low caste of country musicians), Perumthachan (carpenter), Vaayillaakkunnilappan (deity). Among them Naaraanathu Bhraanthan is most famous among common people of Kerala. All stories associated to his life are ridiculing the social stigma related with traditions and rituals existed at that time.
There some more subtle meanings to the story that “the 12 children, subsequently, grew up in 12 different home, in 12 strata of the society, from the highest to the lowest”. Apart from the mythological incidents around each of these famous children, there are also deeper philosophical reasoning for the cultural divide, differences in traditions, customs and moreover the need for a unity in diversity.

Though the problems associated with so-called clash of civilisations, international terrorist movements and caste based reservation systems are making its way into Kerala also, they are being greatly controlled from overthrowing our peaceful social settings, because of our strong base in the mythological stories like this. Because of the convergence of different belief systems, cultural practices and traditions; Keralites are more tuned to be called a true cosmopolitan.

There is no another reason why more than 3 million people from this tiny state of Southern India are able to find jobs around the globe. Such beliefs and attitudes have made us to become more adaptive to any cultural settings. The same way, when we started venturing seriously into tourism industry, such a strong mind set also helped us to position ourselves among the major international tourist destinations and to distinguish Kerala as a unique place.

We created a mark in the world of economics by coining a term called “Kerala Model Development”. We have a two party coalition rule – left wing communists and the right wing – and learned to walk the middle path. We have successfully implemented land reforms Act, attained 100% literacy, gained highest health standards for our people and reduced the effects of poverty to the minimum. Achievements of Kerala are comparable with that of the developed nations. Such an environment also attracts people to Kerala, because at the end of their travel they will not have a guilty feeling of enjoying the pleasures of the place while people are suffering / not taken care of.

Kerala will have to move forward in the right direction of economic development through tourism IT industry and through other commercial activities. But, the base should always be creating our own mark in the world. This could be achieved by implementing sustainable developmental concepts in all the strategic developmental plans, integrating all the departments of the government to achieve such common plans and a strong commitment to eradicating poverty. When we reach there, we will be another role model for others to follow. More people will start travelling to Kerala, to experience existence of such a unique society with a strong logical belief system. We need to pursue our path to such a glorious tomorrow strongly footing ourselves on our rich cultural heritage.