Ammachiplavu

Prompt given by eminent poet Satbir Chada  madam on day 8 of the National Poetry Writing Month 2025 conducted online by The Significant League on Facebook was “History in verses”

Poem by Sherin Mary Zacharia

 

The throne that awaited him

   did not seem to be cozy

His kin had sought the forces

    of the barons powerful

Them, the *’ettuveettil pillamar’

   to finish him off.

Their brutal plan to wield the scepter

    of glorious *Travancore.

Young *MarthandaVarma  fled

     from place to place

Disguised,  he traveled alone 

      seeking refuge.

Enemies followed close behind,

           throwing him

Into depths of despair, fearing 

          a cruel death.

He crossed the river at

    *Neyyattinkara

Hid himself amidst the tall grass

      plenty, on the banks

Sure to be spotted by his foes

      approaching quickly. 

A young lad, gentle,

      grazing his cows

Eyes mystical, his smile

      enchanting 

Lead the prince to a huge

     Jackfruit tree near;

Room enough in its enormous

  cavity, to hide.

MarthandaVarma escaped,

     unnoticed  by enemies

The boy was nowhere to be seen

    nor were his cows.

The king realized that

   Lord Krishna had

Appeared before him

   and had saved his life.

Grateful, he constructed a 

     temple there.

*’Unnikrishnan the deity there

       to honour the boy.

The jackfruit tree venerated, as 

        the *ammachiplavu.

The tree had protected the king

        in his adversity

Like a mother’s caring bosom,

          a safe womb for an  unborn.

Centuries past, the tree’s hollow trunk

       is preserved, sacred.

A story in history, to affirm

    trees  save man.

*Marthandavarma = ruler of Travancore 1702to1758

*Ettuveettil pillamar = 8 powerful chieftains

*Travancore = princely state comprising southern Kerala

*Neyyattinkara = a place in Thiruvananthapuram (capital of Kerala)

*Unnikrishnan = young Krishnan

*ammachiplavu = mother jackfruit tree