Epic of Siri

The Siri Sandhi also Siri Paddana or Epic of Siri is an epic poem in the Tulu language. Consisting of 15,683 lines of poetry, it holds the distinction of being the longest poem in Tulu. The epic is essentially a biography of a legendary Bunt princess Siri Alvedi and expands to describe the fate of her progeny - son Kumara, daughter Sonne and grand daughters Abbage and Darage. The epic declares Siri's divinity and also that of her progeny and she is worshipped as a Daiva (demi goddess) across Tulu Nadu region of South West India in temples known as Adi Alade. Siri is the patron deity of the Bunt people. Her worship and mass possession cult surrounding her transgresses caste and ethnic lines. The Epic of Siri, though in Tulu, is well known in Kannada speaking populations in and around Tulu Nadu. It is recited in parts in a highly ritual style during the annual festival of Siri Jatre and mass possession festival called Dayyol. Complete recitation of the epic takes close to about 25 hours. The Epic of Siri has been translated into English by Lauri Honko, a Finnish linguo-folklorist.

According to the legend, there existed a principality of Sathyanapura whose ruler was an aging Bunt man of Arya Bannaya Bali lineage named Bermanna Alva (Alupas ?). He had retired himself to his manor of Majaluttu Beedu in depression after the death of his wife and only daughter. Annu Shetty, son of one Shankar Alva, a relative, was managing the affairs of the principality on his behalf. Bermanna’s constant worry was a lack of suitable heir to his throne. He wished for an heir and prayed to Brahma. Brahma, disguising himself as a Brahmin, visited Bermanna and said that his current state of sorrow was because he had neglected the worship of his ancestral deity whose temple lay in ruins in the village of Nidgal. On the advice of Brahma in disguise, Bermanna went to Nidgal, renovated the temple of his ancestral deity and conducted puja ceremonies. He returned home with the Prasadam - Areca nut flowers and sandalwood paste. Overnight the Prasadam turned magically into a little baby girl. Bermanna, realising that the baby was a gift from Brahma himself, brought her up as his own daughter naming her ‘’Siri’. Siri grew up to be a beautiful maiden. Kantha Poonja, a minor Bunt Feudal Lord of Basrur Beedu fiefdom longed to marry her. His mother Sankari Poonjedi arranged for her son’s marriage to Siri by promising Bermanna Alva that Kantha Poonja would look after the administration of both the principalities (Majaluttu Beedu and Basrur Beedu) without any difference of rank. After her marriage, Siri soon became pregnant. In the seventh month, the baby shower ceremony (Bayake) is held. Kantha Poonja goes to a neighbouring town to purchase a costly saree for her. On his way home, Kantha Poonja visits his mistress, a prostitute named Siddu. Siddu, on seeing the lovely saree, forcefully tries it on despite Kantha Poonja’s disapproval. Kantha Poonja orders her to remove the saree immediately and fold it again since it was a gift for his wife, not her. On the day of the baby shower (Bayake), Siri refuses to accept the saree brought by Kantha Poonja, saying that it had adorned a prostitute first. Kantha Poonja is enraged and develops a grudge against Siri for insulting him in front of his guests. Bermanna Alva tries to pacify the couple and then takes her back to Sathyanpura for the delivery as per prevailing custom. Siri soon delivers a baby boy named Kumara. Bermanna sends the message of the birth to Basrur but no one – neither Kantha Poonja nor his mother - replies. Soon Bermanna Alva dies. A succession battle ensues between Siri and Annu Shetty over the throne of Sathynapura. Kantha Poonja conspires against Siri by joining hands with Annu Shetty. The dispute of succession is taken to a council of elders who are bribed by Kantha Poonja to rule against Siri. Siri realising the conspiracy through her divine powers curses her husband Kantha Poonja that his lands should remain barren and his clan remain childless. Through her divine powers she also burns down the manor of Majaluttu Beedu which was now under the possession of Annu Shetty. Soon she leaves Satynapura accompanied by her infant son Kumara and a maid servant Daru and proceeds towards the forest of Bola. She performs various miracles on her journey to Bola Forest. In the meantime Siri loses her child and Daru, the maidservant who accompanied her from Satyanapur. Soon she meets the twin kings of Bola, Kariya Kaasinghe and Boliya Deesinghe who on hearing her tragedy sympathise and accept her as their foster sister. They also arrange her marriage with Kodsar Alva of Kotradi fiefdom (Kotrapady Guthu). This marriage turns out to be a happy one and she gives birth to daughter name Sonne after which she breathes her last before which she declares that anyone who worships her will have abundance in their life and will be cured of various diseases.

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