Pakkanar is a character in
Malayalam
Malayalam (; , ) is a Dravidian languages, Dravidian language spoken in the Indian state of Kerala and the union territories of Lakshadweep and Puducherry (union territory), Puducherry (Mahé district) by the Malayali people. It is one of ...
Folklore. Pakkanar was born as the son of
Vararuchi
Vararuci (also transliterated as Vararuchi) () is a name associated with several literary and scientific texts in Sanskrit and also with various legends in several parts of India. This Vararuci is often identified with Kātyāyana. Kātyāyana is ...
, the famous astrologer who adorned the court of King
Vikramaditya
Vikramaditya (Sanskrit: विक्रमादित्य IAST: ') was a legendary king as mentioned in ancient Indian literature, featuring in traditional stories including those in ''Baital Pachisi, Vetala Panchavimshati'' and ''Singhasan ...
. Pakkanar was second among the twelve offspring or the
Parayi petta panthirukulam (12 children born from the
Pariah woman). Just a shout away from
Mezhathol Agnihothri's home Vemancheri Mana in
Thrithala, is the Paakkanar colony otherwise known as Eerattinkal Paraya colony adjoining Arikkunnu mentioned earlier. In the traditional caste hierarchy in Kerala, the Paraya caste was considered a lower caste. Families of Paakkanaar lineage live in this colony in 18 houses. The story goes that it was Paakkanar who actually made a "Thampraakkal" out of "
Azhvanchery Thamprakkal", who is considered as the head of the
Namboothiris of the region.
Stories of Pakkanar
Aithihyamaala by
Kottarathil Sankunny says many stories of Pakkanar. According to one story Pakkanar made only 4 "Muram" (A traditional south Indian board used to separate the chaff from the rice). Pakkanar would sell 4 of them. He says "One for giving credits (for his kids to whom he provides everything for sustaining them), One for paying off debts (To help his grandparents who made him what he is), One for himself and his wife, and the last one he just throws away (That is for charity without expecting returns)." The stories of
Aithihyamala
Aithihyamala or Ithihyamala () (''Garland of Legends'') is a collection of century-old stories from Kerala that cover a vast spectrum of life, famous persons and events. It is a collection of legends numbering over a hundred, about magicians and ...
depicts such valuable messages of life through simple stories of miracles of the
Parayi petta panthirukulam (12 children born from the
Pariah woman). A festival of "Muram" is conducted still today in
Bhuvaneswari temple. In other story Agnihotri, Pakkanar's elder brother, and his wife visits Pakkanar's home. Agnihotri's wife is depicted as an orthodox upper caste woman. As the visitors arrived Pakkanar called his wife, who was taking water from well. The woman left the rope and ran to attend her husband, but the bucket stayed in the air where it was. Such is said to be the power of purity and respect that she showed to Pakkanar.
See also
Parayi petta panthirukulam
References
{{Reflist
People in Hindu mythology
Kerala folklore