Kandyan Vannam : promotes ethnic harmony

by Subashini Pathmanathan

Vannams belong to Kandyan dance forms. There are altogether 18 Vannams in the Kandyan dance. Each Vannama is based on separate theme. The last inclusion of Vannam in Kandyan dance has provided a lot of scope for Nirthya movements in the Kandyan dance.

Generally the Vannam is based on numerous themes. It is based on various themes such as folk legends, nature and religion. All the themes directly or indirectly convey some worldly truth. Most of the Vannam describes the behaviour of animals such as elephants, monkeys, rabbits, cobra and birds. Each Vannam is based on a separate and imaginative theme.

The among the Vannam is Gajaga Vannama. In Tamil Gaja means elephant. Lord Ganesha, the elephant faced God, is always called Lord Ganapathy, Gajan, Gajamugan, Gajavathan, Gajendran, Gaja Nathan and Gaja Mohan.

Gajaga Vannama is based on a particular legend. It deals with Iravana, an elephant, sporting in the cool water of a lotus tank. The movements of the elephant’s majestic movements, twists and steps are naturally and beautifully reflected in the Vannama. This is a very attractive Vannama.

There is another Vannama on God Ganesha. In this Vannama, the dancers invoke the blessings of Lord Ganesha. It is called Ganapathy Vannama.

Another Vannama is Naiyandi Vannama. In Tamil there was a Melam (orchestra) called Naiyandi Melam which was quite popular and was in use long ago, but still in some places Naiyandi Melam is practised.

The Naiyandi Vannama deals with a story connected to a princely Naga (cobra). The snake charmer’s movements are reflected less in this dance, but the movements of the snake are reflected more in it. For the Vannama, Sarpa Sirasa hand gesture is used.

It is used in Bharatha Natyam and Kathakali as well. In Bharatha Natyam the Naga Narthanam is specially a dance depicting the dance of the cobra.

Another Vannama called Naga Vannama depicts the life of a cobra which crawls on the floor of the court halls. It shows how the cobra emerges out of its hole and raises its hood in different directions. The dance shows natural movements of the cobra. In Bharatha Natyam the single hand Muthra Sarpasirasa and the joint hand Mutha Naga Bandha, Muthras (gestures) depict the Naga (cobra) Muthras.

Another Vannama is called Hanuma Vannama. In Hinduism, Lord Hanuman worship is worldwide, for bravery, moral strength and protection.

In the Vannama the dancer reveals the actions and different attitudes of a monkey through the movements such as jumping from tree to tree. The dancers dress themselves as monkeys, with wrinkled faces, and jutting eyes.

Some of the Vannams are directly linked to Hindu mythology. For instance, Savula Vannama is based on Skanda Purana.

According to this Vannama, there was turmoil between the Asuras and the Devas. At the end Lord Skanda entered the battle field with sword, and spear and fought with the Asuras.At last one of the Asuras was split into two by Lord Skanda.

In Hinduism Lord Skanda killed the Sooran (Asura) who was split into two. Thereafter, he became a cock and then a peacock.

Mayura Vannama is another Vannama.The theme of the Vannama is about the peacock Vahana, of Lord Kataragama.

Lord Skanda or Lord Murugan is often called Mayuran. The Mayura hand Muthra is used in Bharatha Natyam and Kathakali to depict the peacock.

Another Vannama deals with the victorious dance of Lord Iswara (Lord Siva), after finding the Goddess Uma.

It is based on a Hindu theme. Lord Iswara disguised himself and went in search of his consort goddess Uma.

As he was overjoyed, after finding her, he danced vigorously with firm and majestic Thandava movements.

Musaladi Vannama has the influence of the Tamil word Musal meaning rabbit. In this Vannama the dancer imitates the movements of a rabbit.

Imaginative movements of rabbits are depicted in the dance, hiding with fear, jumping, running, in a zig zag manner and hopping. At the end the rabbit takes rest under the cool moon light.

Another Vannama deals with Lord Brahma, Lord Visvakarma, and Lord Iswara, (Lord Siva). Lord Siva blew the conch before the King of the universe. It is connected to Hinduism.

The Vairodi Vannama deals with the precious (diamond) stone. Even in Tamil precious (diamond) stone is called Vairam.Hence most of the Vannams are based on Hindu religious and themes. The descriptions reveal that for centuries the major communities in the country lived together peacefully.