Andare excelled in Sri Lankan Folklore

Continued from last week...

By Amal HEWAVISSENTI

With a few notable exceptions, Andare’s activities spelt out the hometruths which at times underplayed responsibility to steer society on the right track. His overriding concern was to use humour to disapprove the weaknesses and dishonest moves of people and look into their problems sympathetically. His verses and witty remarks at times were nothing more than to entertain people with a mild blow to offenders.

Andare often pleaded with the King to put some of his decisions under the microscope before they were implemented. Most of his poetic remarks of criticised the unacceptable behaviour of the King’s, royalty, higher officials and the common people.

Therefore, Andare’s was more than a mere ‘court jester.’ He was very adept in attacking other people’s weaknesses. For instance, Andare believed that, the King (Rajadhi Rajasinha), should not have adopted double-standards in treating his subjects. According to Andare, the King, at times let corruption by higher officials go unchallenged because he himself derived pleasure from their flattery.

Andare always showed that the King and the Nilames too often fell prey to common things.

One day Andare decided to test the ‘impeccable image’ of the King who bragged of his prowess as the ‘greatest King with the most imposing leadership.’ “My Lord, I have an idea to get a pair of bulls from people who are unnecessarily submissive to their wives. I shall test them by talking to them. I need your majesty’s permission for that,” said Andare.

Hush up Andare!

“OK Andare, do it! I too want to see the number of ‘bulls’ who are afraid of their wives. Men with physical strength and courage must not obey their wives. Good idea! Get this project going today itself,” the King said. Andare, however, selected a group of men who readily confided in him that they were always under the control and harassment of their wives. The ‘bulls’ were later brought to the royal court.

The King inquired about the bulls and Andare disclosed everything. “Well done! That’s the way to do it. Tomorrow, I’ll summon the owners of the bulls and call them cowards in the presence of my subjects,” said the King. Meanwhile, Andare said he had a top secret to be shared with the King in his bedroom privately.

In privacy, Andare told the King “My Lord, yesterday in the other village, I saw a charming lady who is very arrogant and very hard to be won over by any youth. If you see her, you will be infatuated and she too will seek your love. We’d better go there tomorrow morning.”

Moved by what Andare said, the King said, “Sh... sh... Andare! speak softly. The Queen will hear everything and that will be my end.” Andare seized the opportunity to repudiate the King’s bragging of his stance as the ‘sole dispenser of justice to everybody.” Said Andare, “You’re the last man to give me a pair of bulls, my Lord. I’m sorry.” The King’s mind went totally blank at the insult that was hurled at him.

A critical dissection of Andare’s character shows that he was brimming with humour though he was looked upon as a cunning person and bent on insulting others. It would be fair to say that challenges thrown by the King, his courtiers, and other higher officials faded into insignificance against Andare’s gumption. On one occasion, the King, his companions and advisors conspired to land ‘invincible’ Andare into trouble and put an end to his jokes. After discussing with Andare, they all went to the Mahaweli River to bathe. Under the King’s order, others had secretly brought some eggs, one for each without Andare’s knowledge.

In the middle of their watersport in the river, the King suddenly asked Andare to bring an egg from the bottom of the river. Andare took up the challenge and dived deep into the river but found nothing, and he sensed something fishy in the challenge.

When he emerged out of the water, he was somewhat surprised to see that everybody was holding an egg and jeering at him. Andare, quickly, flapped his hands on the water just like a bird fluttering his wings and crowed.” He called out “Did you, my hens, lay eggs? Here comes your bird.

Irresistible curd

He detested to behave dishonestly for the sake of reputation, praises or benefits from society. He had the self-confidence to restrain his mind and grapple with sinister forces that lay before him. We see in him an honest man who wanted to achieve his ends despite the odds against him. He always preferred a simple lifestyle characterised by happiness and humour.

One day the King ordered him to have lunch at the royal dining room because specially prepared curd and treacle were available that day. The King had secretly instructed the royal cook to feed Andare with as much food as possible without telling him of the curd available.

Andare was fond of eating. The cook, served him with various dishes until he was overfed to the extent that he found it difficult to even breathe. The King went up to Andare and invited him to help himself with more food. Andare said, “My Lord, I can eat no more. I’ve had enough!” After the King left, the cook gave him curd and treacle that was too much for him to resist.

While he was enjoying curd, the King returned to the dining room, watched him and went away. Andare after eating the curd went to the King who shouted, “You liar! I asked you to eat more but you rejected it saying that you had had more than enough. But later, I saw you eating three pots of curd. You insulted me by lying. I order the palace guard to whip you twenty times.”

Andare said “My Lord! I didn’t lie to you I told you the complete truth. I will show it.”

Andare pleaded with the King to pack a small room of the Palace with prisoners from jail. This being done Andare went to the door of the room and said, “Can’t you put another ten prisoners into this room?” The King who peeped into the room said, “Are you mad? You see we cannot poke a finger into the room let alone putting ten more people.”

After a short while Andare went back to the door of the room and shouted, “Hey men! Make way for our Lord to reach the other wall there.” At this, the prisoners squeezed against themselves and made some space for about five people.

Andare replied, “My Lord, see how much room is left in where you said you couldn’t poke a finger. Did you lie then? My Lord, when I learnt that there was curd, I made room in my belly for the curd that I love to eat so much. I did not lie Your Majesty at all. The King was speechless at Andare’s reply.

During King Rajadhi Rajasinghe’s reign, we see a marked decline in literary or scholarly pursuits and only minstrel-type folk poets earned their living by composing verses. Against the backdrop of this increasing decline, Andare however, rejected used the art of poetry to meet the needs of contemporary society at large. This great folk poet is believed to have breathed his last on his way to Devinuwara in the south on his last journey.