Frogs in the pond (About Sarpakavu in Kerala)
Frogs in
the pond
(About Sarpakavu in
Kerala)
When I was a boy of 5-6 years, we all
lived in our Tharavad(ancestral
home), an old Nalukettu hatched by coconut leaves. We had about 2.5 acres of land with five sarpakavu (Abode of Snakes) around our
house. The Sarpakavu was a traditional sacred place mostly found in the
traditional homes in Kerala, South India. These sarpakavu were inhabited by
snakes, and the kavu had several idols of naga rajas(king of snakes), Nagayakshi, Mani nagam etc. The sarpakavu was situated in a small jungle almost
circular in shape. Various kinds of trees, hedges, shrubs and medicinal plants
grew there, but no trees from the place were ever felled down, nor were any
plant cut with any metal. Ceremonial rituals were performed every year and every
day oil lamps were lighted to propitiate the snake gods. Adjoining every
sarpakavu there were Sarpakulams (ponds for the snakes). Thus there were five ponds adjoining five
sarpakavu. Other than Sarpakulams we had a pond for bathing, and had a utensil
cleaning pond called Pathrakulam. The entire 2.5 acres of land had five small
forests and seven ponds.
These sarpakavu helped soil and water
conservation and the ponds were good water conservation points. It clearly
indicates that our predecessors were committed in preserving the biological
wealth. Each kavu would have many big trees 200 -300 years old covered with
lots of climbing creepers.
The ponds were good habitat for
frogs. The snakes limited the frog population.
But men too came to catch frogs. They were known as frog catchers. When
night falls, the frog catchers would reach our compound with powerful kerosene
lamp known as petromax. Usually they came in two - one would carry the light
while the other would have a big sac on his shoulder. These men were experts in
catching frogs from the ponds. After
they had had enough catch, they would cut the fleshy thighs of these frogs and
export them. It was a very lucrative business, earning thousands in Dollars. In
the process the frogs soon disappeared from the ponds.
Later when the Tharavadu property
was partitioned amongst the members of the family, all the serpents were
relocated to a five cent grove protected with compound walls with a small pond
inside.This relocation ritual was performed by a pujari brought from Ameda Sarpam temple.
After this relocation, all trees in
other parts of the tharavad property
were cut, the ponds filled up, the ground levelled, and concreate buildings were
built in that place for family members. No one considered preserving a bathing
pond. As a result, now everyone take
bath in bathrooms, with chlorinated water supplied by Kerala Water
Authority.
I remember that in my childhood, we
had plenty of water in our well even in summer. I have not seen even a single
mosquito and had never been bitten by it. The frogs had eaten all the mosquitos and its larvae. But now the frogs
have gone; mosquitos could swam around freely and our children and
grandchildren fall prey to their sharp stings, often down with different kinds
of fevers. Water in our wells has
depleted and we face severe water scarcity during summer.
Our predecessors were indeed very
considerate and intelligent but we are mere frogs in the pond not knowing the
need for preserving the biological wealth they have transferred on to us.
NEW SARPAKAVU
NEW SARPAKAVU(AERIAL VIEW)
Missing home very badly...
ReplyDeleteAmmava, u took me to my childhood days .
Beautiful..!
ReplyDeleteAmmava, can you also document more about the Sarpadevangal please? I've also heard that when Sage Parashurama created Kerala the land was inhospitable. It was with the help of the Nagarajavu's poison that Kerala became fertile and hospitable.
Really Nice and descriptive blog. Hope there were some old Sarpakavu photos also just to see it in its full glory.
ReplyDeleteThis is a fascinating account of the place where I stay, where I have never seen a Sarpakkavu, because the place has become a modern residential area from where all snakes have gone into hiding. The poor snakes are not allowed to live anywhere in sight as now people are scared of them and kill them at the first sight. So it is a wonder how once upon a time families could preserve Sarpakkavu for snakes and other animals. Perhaps in the olden days all nature's creations lived together happily and Sarpakkavu was a symbol of that rare feeling unanimity.
ReplyDeleteVery true and spectacular description of the vagaries of mankind and their increasing desire to amass wealth at the cost of their very necessity to survive in the long run..
ReplyDeleteThis has been the case with all tharavads, but then, with the population growing, this is the natural outcome. But that you have documented your memories is very good, for few bother to do it. However you are lucky for the ambience at Chandrathil lane is still very naadan, with people still concerned about their neighbours and with no ugly multistoried flats to mar the beauty of the trees and banana plants.
ReplyDelete