Epic of Siri

The tradition & historical record

The Siri Sandhi, also Siri Paddana (pronounced: Siri Paadhdhana) or Epic of Siri, is an epic poem in the Tulu language. Consisting of 15,683 lines of poetry, it is the longest poem in Tulu. The epic is essentially a biography of a legendary Bunt princess Siri Alvedi and expands to describe the fate of her progeny – son Kumara, daughter Sonne and grand daughters Abbage and Darage. The epic declares Siri's divinity and also that of her progeny and she is worshipped as a Daiva (demi goddess) across Tulu Nadu region of South West India in temples known as Adi Alade. Siri is the patron deity of the Tulu people. Her worship and mass possession cult surrounding her transgresses caste and ethnic lines. The Epic of Siri, though in Tulu, is well known in Kannada speaking populations in and around Tulu Nadu. It is recited in parts in a highly ritual style during the annual festival of Siri Jatre and mass possession festival called Dayyol. Complete recitation of the epic takes close to about 25 hours. The Epic of Siri has been translated into English by Lauri Honko, a Finnish linguo-folklorist. ¹

According to the legend, there existed a principality of Sathyanapura whose ruler was an aging Bunt man of Arya Bannaya Bali lineage named Bermanna Alva (Alupas ?). He had retired to his manor, Majaluttu Beedu, in depression after the death of his wife and only daughter. Annu Shetty, son of one Shankar Alva, a relative, was managing the affairs of the principality on his behalf. Bermanna's constant worry was due to a lack of suitable heir to his throne. He wished for an heir and prayed to Bermer. Bermer, disguising himself as a Brahmin, visited Bermanna and said that his current state of sorrow was because he had neglected the worship of his ancestral deity whose temple lay in ruins in the village of Nidgal. On the advice of Brahma in disguise, Bermanna went to Nidgal, renovated the said temple and conducted puja. He returned home with the Prasadam – Areca nut flowers and sandalwood paste. Overnight the Prasadam turned magically into a little baby girl. Bermanna, realising that the baby was a gift from Bermer himself, brought her up as his own daughter naming her 'Siri'. Siri grew up to be a beautiful maiden. Kantha Poonja, a minor Bunt Feudal Lord of Basrur Beedu fiefdom, longed to marry her. His mother Sankari Poonjedi arranged for her son's wedding to Siri by promising Bermanna that Kantha Poonja would look after the administration of both the principalities (Majaluttu Beedu and Basrur Beedu) without any difference of rank. After her marriage, Siri soon became pregnant. In the seventh month of her pregnancy, her Bayake (baby shower) is planned. Kantha Poonja goes to a neighbouring town to purchase an expensive saree for her. On his way home, Kantha Poonja visits his mistress, a prostitute named Siddu. ¹

Siri is worshipped in Tulu Nadu across caste and ethnic lines. There are numerous temples dedicated to her and her progeny called Adi Alade. Five among them are the most important. These Temples are the venue for the annual festival held in her honour called Siri Jatre and also the Daliyopaliyo – a mass possession cult of women associated with her. The Five Temples are ¹

Adi Alade Temple of Hiriadka in Udupi district, Karnataka, India Adi Alade Temple of Pangala in Udupi district, Karnataka, India Adi Alade Temple of Nandalike in Udupi district, Karnataka, India Adi Alade Temple of Kavathar in Dakshina Kannada, Karnataka, India Adi Alade Temple of Nidgal in Dakshina Kannada, Karnataka, India ¹

The text above is adapted from the Wikipedia article “Epic of Siri”, available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 licence. ¹

Epic of Siri is Tulu epic poem, according to the structured record cited below. This entry was generated automatically from that record and has not yet been reviewed by a person familiar with the tradition. ²

The source record links this tradition to 1 external register, which can be verified through the citation. ²