“Hey old woman, you who wander the burning ground,
With your skirt torn and your teeth black with toddy,
We are your children of the dirt, give us your fury.”
Below are translated fragments from authentic Bharani Pattu collections. Caution: The verses are deliberately vulgar and graphic.
A portion of the lyrics narrates the origin of the temple and the deity. They recount the myth of the Goddess slaying the demon Darika. These verses are heroic and rhythmic, intended to invoke the Roudra Bhava (fierce form) of the deity.
Sample thematic translation:
"Oh Mother of Kodungallur, The wielder of the sword and chopper, You who drank the blood of the demon, Accept our offerings and protect this land."
A distinctive feature is the use of abusive and sexually explicit terms, especially in the section called "Moori Pattu" (Song of the Old Woman). Singers insult the goddess as an old woman, a prostitute, a beggar, etc., using the foulest local slang. This is a ritual inversion: abusing the deity to please her. The belief is that the goddess enjoys this because it reflects the chaotic, primal energy she embodies.
“Kannimala katti, chempaka poo chutti,
Vayil kuzhiyil chora ketti nilkkunna Amme.
Ninakku theendiyo? Ninakku theendiyo?
Ninte madi thuni aar kazhukki?”
Translation:
“Mother who ties a virgin’s hair, strings champaka flowers,
And stands with blood clotted in the pit of her mouth.
Are you polluted? Are you polluted?
Who washes your stained cloth?”
This directly references the Goddess’s supposed menstrual impurity—an extreme taboo in Brahminical worship. By uttering the unutterable, the singer forces the Goddess to confront human reality.
While there is no single "official" lyric sheet, the Bharani Pattu follows a rhythmic pattern that drives the devotees into a frenzy.
A typical segment involves a call-and-response structure or a lead singer (often from the Kurup or Marar communities) belting out verses while the crowd joins in the chorus.
The imagery in the lyrics is vivid and violent. They speak of:
A common rhythmic refrain involves the beat of the para (a percussion instrument). The songs often describe the act of singing itself—celebrating the noise, the chaos, and the shedding of blood (symbolic or literal) as an offering.
A rough thematic translation of a sentiment often found in the lyrics: "Oh Mother, who wears the garland of skulls, Who severed the head of the wicked demon, Dance for us, roar for us, Accept our offering of blood and song."
“Hey old woman, you who wander the burning ground,
With your skirt torn and your teeth black with toddy,
We are your children of the dirt, give us your fury.”
Below are translated fragments from authentic Bharani Pattu collections. Caution: The verses are deliberately vulgar and graphic.
A portion of the lyrics narrates the origin of the temple and the deity. They recount the myth of the Goddess slaying the demon Darika. These verses are heroic and rhythmic, intended to invoke the Roudra Bhava (fierce form) of the deity.
Sample thematic translation:
"Oh Mother of Kodungallur, The wielder of the sword and chopper, You who drank the blood of the demon, Accept our offerings and protect this land."
A distinctive feature is the use of abusive and sexually explicit terms, especially in the section called "Moori Pattu" (Song of the Old Woman). Singers insult the goddess as an old woman, a prostitute, a beggar, etc., using the foulest local slang. This is a ritual inversion: abusing the deity to please her. The belief is that the goddess enjoys this because it reflects the chaotic, primal energy she embodies.
“Kannimala katti, chempaka poo chutti,
Vayil kuzhiyil chora ketti nilkkunna Amme.
Ninakku theendiyo? Ninakku theendiyo?
Ninte madi thuni aar kazhukki?”
Translation:
“Mother who ties a virgin’s hair, strings champaka flowers,
And stands with blood clotted in the pit of her mouth.
Are you polluted? Are you polluted?
Who washes your stained cloth?”
This directly references the Goddess’s supposed menstrual impurity—an extreme taboo in Brahminical worship. By uttering the unutterable, the singer forces the Goddess to confront human reality.
While there is no single "official" lyric sheet, the Bharani Pattu follows a rhythmic pattern that drives the devotees into a frenzy.
A typical segment involves a call-and-response structure or a lead singer (often from the Kurup or Marar communities) belting out verses while the crowd joins in the chorus.
The imagery in the lyrics is vivid and violent. They speak of:
A common rhythmic refrain involves the beat of the para (a percussion instrument). The songs often describe the act of singing itself—celebrating the noise, the chaos, and the shedding of blood (symbolic or literal) as an offering.
A rough thematic translation of a sentiment often found in the lyrics: "Oh Mother, who wears the garland of skulls, Who severed the head of the wicked demon, Dance for us, roar for us, Accept our offering of blood and song."
