Chapter 22: The Pavazhamalli Blossomed
The Pavazhamalli[i] Blossomed
Sivakami was living comfortably at the Vatapi palace. That is, she was physically comfortable. But her peripatetic soul was devoid of an iota of peace. Years passed. With the onset of each year, the seasons also passed. Sivakami devised a method to keep track of the years and seasons. In the house where she stayed, there grew a pavazhamalli tree at the backyard close to the well. Sivakami herself planted the pavazhamalli creeper close to the well the year she arrived at Vatapi.
Naganandi Adigal, while describing the mountainous province of Ajantha, had said that during the months of Aavani and Purattasi the innumerable parijatham trees that grew in the region were in full bloom. The gentle breeze use to spread the fragrance of these flowers across great distances, pleasantly intoxicating the passersby. Hearing this, Sivakami had requested him to bring one of those creepers along. According utmost priority to her request, the bikshu fetched a pavazhamalli plant for her from Ajantha. Sivakami planted that creeper and tended it carefully with water and her tears.
When shoots grew on the pavazhamalli creeper, Sivakami’s heart skipped a beat. When a new branch grew, her grief-stricken heart became exultant. When buds sprouted for the first time and blossomed into flowers, Sivakami forgot her sorrows and floated in an ocean of bliss. She felt happy gazing at the petals of the flowers that resembled a parrot’s beak and the deep red stalks. As the day passed and the sun travelled to its zenith, the tender flowers dried up, charred and finally withered away. Her heart, which had also temporarily soothed down and had felt optimism, became hard and scorched. When the plant became firmly rooted and grew several widespread branches, Sivakami did not have to carefully tend it any longer. Sivakami started counting the passing years and seasons by observing that plant.
In winter, when the chill used to penetrate up to the humans’ bones, the leaves of that pavazhamalli tree used to dry up and wither away. During spring, fresh leaf buds used to sprout. During summer, the leaves matured and buds used to emerge. Rains used to accompany the fierce westerly winds. During the months of Aani and Aadi, the pavazhamalli plant used to oscillate precariously. Unable to bear this sight, a dazed Sivakami used to remain inside the house. During the months of Aavani and Purattasi, the lush green leaves of the plant were covered by the flowers in full bloom. During those seasons, Sivakami used to sit on the stairs leading to the muttram and used to gaze at the plant for long. She used to recollect that during Navarathri and Vijayadasami, the deities of the temples in Tamizhagam used to be adorned with pavazhamalli flowers. She would also think that one Vijayadasami had passed since her arrival at Vatapi. Counting thus, Sivakami realized that nine Vijayadasamis had passed since she came to Vatapi.
[i] Pavazhamalli & Parijatham – Night flowering jasmine
