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Profile of Group & Production
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Climbing of the tapas tree
1 hour 30 mins
This is the ritual continuation of the play Arjuna's Penance. After his encounters with Mohini and Kantaperanti, Arjuna reaches Mount Kailasa. In the performance this happens towards day-break. The actor leaves the stage and walks, accompanied by the musicians and fellow-performers, to a huge pole or tapacu maram (tapas tree), which has been erected near the stage. The pole symbolizes Mount Kailasa. The climbing of this pole, either by means of a rope ladder or by ascending the perpendicularly steps fitted into it, constitutes the actual tapas or asceticism. The actor pauses at every step to sing devotional songs from the Kuttu and the Saivite Devaram repertoire in honour of Siva before ascending the next one. Once he reaches the top he stands on one leg on the small platform it carries, his folded hands above his head in prayer while he sways the pole from one side to the other. Thereafter, he sits cross-legged on the platform and carries out a puja (worship) by breaking a coconut, lighting camphor and throwing limes and leaves of the vilvam tree (found in Siva temples) at the crowd gathered at the base of the pole. These auspicious 'gifts from heaven' are eagerly collected by the spectators, who will take them home to give them to their wives and daughters. During the time that Arjuna climbs the tapas tree and stays at its top, women who are barren or experience marital problems circle the base of the tree. The performance of Arjuna's Penance, and in particular the climbing of the tree, has strong connection with the erotic and its opposite, the ascetic. It is believed to result in an increased fertility of the natural world.
While Arjuna is performing his penance on top of the pole, a considerable commotion ensues on the ground below. It is Siva and Parvati, in the disguise of two lowly hunters, and their children, who are chasing a wild boar sent by Duryodhana to destroy Arjuna's penance. The boar seeks to uproot the pole and Arjuna, in order to protect himself, shoots the boar in its head. At the same time, in order to protect his devotee, Siva-the-hunter shoots an arrow which enters the boar's behind.
An angry Arjuna, his penance disturbed, argues with the lowly hunter over the fact whose arrow killed the boar. Arjuna descends the tapas tree and engages into a fight with the hunter. The hunter lifts him and flings him far into the sky. He is protected from falling to his death because the huntress catches him in her arms. When Arjuna has recovered his breath, the hunters have disappeared. Instead he stands eye in eye with Siva and Parvati. Arjuna receives their blessings and Siva bestows upon him the Pasupata weapon.
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