Jallikattu - Glimpses of the Valiant sport.

                                 

                         Jallikattu  -  Glimpses of  the Valiant sport. 

‘Jallikattu’   is an ancient sport of  Tamilnadu. The history of the sport dates back 2000 years ago for which we have evidence in the Mohenjo-Daro excavation  in the Indus Valley Civilization. The stone seal is on display at the National Museum in New Delhi, portrays a ferocious bull in action and the men around it trying to tame the bull.

(Stone seal of Mohanjo- Daro in New Delhi Museum, India)

According to Mr.Iravatham Mahadevan, a specialist in Indus and Brahmi scripts, Bull baiting is prevalent in Indus Valley civilization. He also added that in Mahabharata one of the ancient epic poem of India, which dates back more than 2000 years, describes Lord Krishna controlling a ferocious bull in the forecourt of his uncle and enemy Kamsa’s palace. Many archaeologists and scholars authentified this seal portraying bull baiting during the Indus valley civilization.The bull is the victor as the men were thrown around it¹.

( Aaneru thazhuvuthal. Stone seal .Salem Museum, Tamilnadu, India.)

Another stone seal found in Pethanaykkan palayam, Aathur, Salem district  kept in the Salem Museum ,Tamilnadu  depicts the sport ².

( Karikkiyur rock paintings Kotagiri,Nilagiris district,Tamilnadu.)

Recent discovery of  rock paintings  at  Karikkiyur in the Nilgiris district of Tamil Nadu and dated to 2000 B.C.-1500 B.C. confirm that sports involving bulls are nearly 4,000 years old ³. Karikkiyur  is the biggest rock art site in south India, with  the rock surface teeming with about 500 paintings, situated about 40 km from  Kotagiri  town,  Nilgiris district, Tamilnadu. The place was discovered by K.T. Gandhirajan, Art Historian and Prof. G. Chandrasekaran, Principal of the Government  College  of  Fine Arts in Chennai  and others in 2004. The paintings on a massive rock surface at  Karikkiyur are done in white kaolin or red ochre, and show men chasing bulls, which seem to be a sturdy lot, with big humps and long and straight horns.  

 Another single painting discovered in a cave at Kalluthu Mettupatti, about 35 km west of Madurai, between Madurai and Dindugul, shows a lone man trying to control a bull was about 1,500 years old ⁴.

 Bull baiting can be referred in two aspects. In ancient times  civilization depended more on animals  and  birds for transport and communication ,that can be domesticated. Bulls and Elephants from the wilderness were tamed and trained. Horses entered the later stage. Bull baiting was not only a sport but it also became an occupation. Indian civilization unlike the European civilization depended more on agriculture, which demanded more domesticated bulls for ploughing and transporting. Bulls and Elephants were the major defense artillery in India.

The historical evidence found in the War between Alexander the Great and the Porous the king of Punjab, where Alexander the great was surprised to see the huge elephant tamed to obey the command of the King and its masters. Bulls and Bullock carts were used for various purposes in the war. Until the 18^th century, bullock carts were used in the War. Hyder Ali of Mysore was greatly appreciated and admired for his innovative rockets and cannons which are positioned in the Bullock carts and attacked his enemies⁵. Hyder Ali’s cannons were also driven by the Bullock carts.

Even today 90% of the  peasants and villagers and self employed small labours of South Asian countries prefer bullocks for transport and various farm works. In India particularly in Kerala and Tamilnadu for religious rituals , elephants,  bulls and cows are patronized. The Hindu religion worship the Bull as Nandi Thevar  and special poojas  given to him on Pradhosha day.(one  day before the new moon and full moon) Husbanding temple elephants,  bulls and cows are normal in Hindu religion.

Another aspect is the wild Bull tamed was later given to the village temple for reproduction.The well breed bull is essential for the village for the reproduction. Once the Bull is tamed and for a  particular  period, then the Bull is used for the domestic purpose. In  many states in India after the festival of  harvest, we find various form of sports that  execute valour, brave and shrewd tactics.  Invariably bull baiting, bull race, bull taming are given priority as the relationship between the man and the bull is considered more important.

The history of Tamils and their culture praises the sport as an action of valour and an intimacy with the animal. The sport also kills the fear of the Bull and to tame the Bull, which serves in all domestic purpose. In earlier version of  tamil Sangam literature Bull baiting was referred not only as a sport but it also has main political and war strategy. When cattle is considered as a movable  and profitable wealth,  to grab the cattle as a warning or invitation to war was the first step to invade one’s enemy country. This action was praised as ‘Aaaneeraai Kavarthal’   ( Aaa –cattle, neerai- wealth, Kavarthal- grab). The tamil culture was so magnificent that the action was done transparently by wearing different flower of garlands.

Regarding ‘Aaaneeraai Kavarthal’, we find many norms in Sangam literature, including Tholkapiyam and other literary works of that age. In Tamil, ‘Aaaneeraai Kavarthal’ indicates the importance of this war warning.  ‘Purapporul’, a treatise on Tamil grammar says that, ‘to drive the cattle from the land of the enemy to one’s own land, they garland themselves with vetchi flowers. And to recapture the cattle from the enemy’s land to his own land they garland themselves with Karanthai flowers’. ‘Tholkapiyam’ an ancient Sangam literature that details Tamil Culture, specifically mentions the burning of  enemy villages as one of the fourteen stages involved in vetchi or cattle raiding. ‘Madurai Kanchi’ Tamil Sangam literature  also refers to such prevalent practice⁶. Before the attack, the warriors warn the enemies and remove the cattle from the sheds according to the code of vetchi. Aaaneeraai Kavarthal refers to a warning or a war invitation to the enemies. Therefore, no cattle would have perished during the burning down of villages or cattle-pens⁷ .

In Silappathigaram the  Sangam  literature  we have reference saying people gathered in large numbers and enjoyed the sport .In ‘Mullaikali’ a poem on the pastoral people (part of Kalithogai poems of the Sangam literature) even praises the sport to an extent that the Aayar girl will not touch, even in her next birth, a person who fails to humble the bull ⁸. The sport is not only to  test  the calibre of the youth but  also to asses him for  the wed-lock. The winner of the event gives an assurance that he is eligible to manage and save his wife and her property. When a girl is born in a decent family, a bull was breed along with the girl. It was the women in the households who reared the bull with rich food and rigorous training for the competition.

Even after the gradual decline of Tamil dynasties the sport was continued and celebrated  as a symbol tamil culture , history and valour. At the same time the sport also has many political affiliations from the beginning of thirteenth century. During the Vijayanagar  Nayakar reign ,constant war and territory expansion, compelled the feudal lords and Chieftains of the of Polygar or Palayams to encourage the sport to gain more valiant youths for their military troops.  Tirumala Nayakar  of  Madurai, patronized the sport, in his later years as he came to compromise  with the Madurai Pathunattu  Kallars and the Maravars of Ramnad of  South Tamilnadu  for political and economic reasons.  

The name ‘jallikattu’ derived  from  ‘sallikkasu’ the prize money that tied along with gifts to the bull horns. From  Nayakkar period  ‘eru thazhuvuthal’ turned into ‘jallikattu’, prize money concept  became popular, as the sponsors not willing to give their daughters for the winners as the caste differentiation started rooting its tentacles in the Tamil society. Before  twelfth  century there is no caste discrimination in tamil society, along with Vijayanagar invasion came brahminization which based on caste difference and caste discrimination. Naturally the Nayakars and the Tamils drifted apart to enter into any matrimonial relations.

After the decline of bigger Palayams , Zamindari system took its turn to sponsor the sport. It became the ‘gallery sport’, a narrow pathway with a gate is built which is known as ‘vadivasal’to let the bull one by one, announcing the nature, the valour of the bull and the honour of the owner. The youth will  wait 100 feet away from the vadivasl to control the bull. The sport  became ego based and the Zamindars breed sturdy  ferocious bull, to retain their honour and pride. This kind of pride and ego and the valour is picturized  in Tamil movies like ‘Murattu kaalai’ and ‘Virumandi’ the popular ones of the recent times and in many tamil movies as a heroic performance, applauded by the crowd and the fans.  

Mr. Gandhirajan Art Historian of Madurai Kamarajar university said that while ancient rock and cave paintings showing bull chasing had been discovered in Tamilnadu, there were no such murals or sculptures in temples⁹. This opens another view of the sport. The sport is certainly belong to the common man or rather to the warrior tribes, where as the so called religious and sophisticated group either avoided or neglected, but encouraged  and sponsored music and dance and the thevaradiyar or thevadasi system (girls given to temples trained for dance and music as service to God and temple, they mostly lead  their life as mistress to the rich and influential, known as thevadasi, hereditary caste) .

To train the youth to tame the bull , ‘eruthu thazhuvuthal’ or ‘eru thazhuvuthal’ (eruthu –Bull, thazhuvuthal –  hug) is conducted. In ancient times decorated bulls were let loose in the ‘peruvazhi’ , the main road, and the bulls were chased by the youth, they were given ropes (vadam)  to lassoing the sprinting bulls.   people on both sides including women and children watch the sport. Once the youth matured he was fit for the bigger event.

Three basic form is conducted for the sport. ‘Vadi vasal jallikattu’, in which the Bull is driven through a narrow gate to the open ground, and the matador will take the bull, the single person is restricted to tame the bull.

 In the same way ‘manju viratu’, (manju- cattle, viratu- chase) another form, in which the bulls were chased on a particular direction on the road, to capture and control them is another form of the sport.

Another form of Bull taming is ‘eruthu kattu’, in which, the Bull is tied with a long rope and the other end is with the master, the Bull is let loose in the crowd  the  horns of the Bull is greased and the prize money is tied in the horns. This type of sport is conducted in Salem, Coimbatore, Ramnad districts. In Thiruvannamalai district it is popularly known  as eruthattam. It is conducted on Kannu Pongal  third day of Pongal. Unlike the southern districts here the domestic ploughing Bull and cart Bull are for the sport.

Training the bull is itself is costly and laborious.  Jallikkattu bulls are chosen from the special Pulikulam breed, other suitable breed are Palingu madu, Umbalachery madu and the Malai madu  (madu- bull or cow). They are wild and only experienced cowherds can mingle with them safely. The calves were selected with competent characteristics and physical structure. The calves are fed with nutritious diet to grow as a strong and sturdy beast. They are given swimming exercise now and then to strengthen their muscles. Once they reach adolescence they are taken to small competitions to familiarize with the atmosphere, special training is given to the eruthukattu Bulls. After initial experience the Bull understand  concept of the game ‘flight  or fight’ .

The sport took a political turn from nineteenth  century. During the Colonial Raj after eliminating the Polygar Chieftains, the British Government banned independent troops and the Kaval communities. In the Colonial Raj, the main sponsors of the sports were Village heads. They patronized the sport for  political reasons. The introduction of the  Criminal Tribes Act  in 1921,slow down the jallikattu as many of the village heads were either arrested or deported as criminal tribes, which affected the jallikattu bull. The jallikattu bull was petted by the master that it will be fed only by its master and none other in the household. But the sport survived  in spite of various hindrances caused by the British Colonial Raj.

When the Independence movement aggravated from 1935, and the propaganda for abolishing Criminal Tribes Act in Madras presidency severed, the interim congress government of C. Rajagopalachari popularly known as Rajaji, then Chief minister who supported the British to continue the Criminal Tribes Act arranged a government sponsored jallikattu at Sindupatti near Madurai.The touring governor of Madras presidency was invited as the chief guest of the event. The idea to sponsor the sport is to convince the British officials that the sport was wild and barbaric and those who tame the Bull were equally barbaric and to justify the Criminal Tribes Act. Understanding the motive of conducting the sport, the event was totally ignored by the people under the command of Pasumpon Muthuramalinga Thevar the leader of Forward Bloc and the sole protestor of the inhuman Criminal Tribes Act in Madras presidency. In a pamphlet  (1x16 size) he requested the people not to participate in the sport. His request was immediately responded with great respect, people neglected the event. Another action against the Colonial Raj and the interim Congress Government ¹⁰.

The age old Aaaneeraai  Kavarthal of  Sangam age, took a new face as cattle shifting against the British .The owners of the cattle who switched their loyalty to the British  Police, were punished by  cattle shifting and later with their surrender to the traditional kavalkarars or village police, their cattle were returned by ‘tuppupu kooli’(clue money:  certain amount is received from the owner of the cattle for the clue given to him, if he goes to the British Police he can never regain his cattle back.)  This continued till Independence and abolishment of  Criminal Tribes Act in 1947¹¹.

After independence the sport was continued with enthusiasm and with freedom. In 2004, the sport  faced  a new threat, The Animal Welfare Board of  India took the case to the Supreme Court,  considering an outright ban on jallikattu because of the cruelty to animals and the threat to public safety involved.

A committee was formed called ‘Tamizhar Veera Vilayathu Peravai’ which was headed by P. Rajasekaran from Madurai. With the support of the Tamil Nadu government, he appealed against the claim of Animal Welfare Board in Supreme Court of India.On November 27, 2010 the Supreme Court in accordance with the law enacted on the regulation of events, permitted the Tamil Nadu government to allow jallikattu for five months in a year from January 15.

According to the bench headed by Justice R.V. Raveendran and Justice A.K. Patnaik directed in their order that

a)the animals participating in the event were to be categorized as per the provisions of the Act.

b) the District Collectors to make sure that the animals that participate in jallikattu are registered to the Animal Welfare Board and in return the Board would send its representative to monitor over the event.

c) The Act states that no jallikattu would be permitted or will be carried out without the permission of the collector and such permission should be obtained one month in prior to the event and the location should also be informed to the board before hand.

d) The State added that at present two lakhs be deposited by the organizers for the benefit of the victims which also includes the victim’s family, in case of an accident or injury during the event.

e) The event was restricted to five months between January and May.

f) The government said that a team of veterinarians would be present at the venue for testing and certifying the bulls for participation in the event to provide treatment for bulls that gets injured.

Unlike in Spanish Bull fighting, the bull is not killed. There are rarely any casualties,  the participant cannot use any weapons. In fact the casualties were meagre and marginal when compared to road accidents, civic ignorance, alcohol, drugs and other adventurous sports. The State government also responded to  the Supreme court stating that jallikattu is an ancient, religious and sentimental cultural game that had been conducted for more than 2000 years.

The sport is does not have any caste, creed or religion, anyone can participate in the game. Few church festivals from December to January conducts ‘jallikattu’.  It is the sport of the common man.  Further jallikattu  attracts lots of tourists nationally and internationally. Which gives a good revenue to the State government.

The accusation that the  Bulls often have chilli pepper rubbed in their eyes, are force-fed alcohol and have their testicles pinched, all in an effort to get them crazed and frantic and villagers throw themselves on top of the terrified animals in an effort to "tame" them and claim the prize. This propaganda is now and then promoted by the media and channels.

But  in reality the Bull is a prestigious animal, like elephants to the Keralites. It is groomed to be valorous, not to let anyone to touch him, except his master. An experienced Bull is intelligent and tactful in the game, as trained by his master. Many bulls are a proud member not only to the individual family but to the whole village. The most powerful bull who has brought great honour to the village were even worshiped.

Recently in the Sunday edition of the daily news paper Dinamani dated 8/12/2013, an article written about a temple in honour of a Bull. The Bull was owned by Muthusami Thevar, of Moovalur village, 28 kms away from  Ramnad. The Bull claimed many honour in 1920s and was never defeated in the eruthukattu competition. He was so famous, people gathered from the surrounding villages to watch the  Bull  participating  in the  eruthukattu. The bull died in 1932, Muthusamy Thevar in his  will  left  Rupees 10,000  for the bull. The family kept the Bull’s horn for worship in their house. Later a  temple  was built by Muthusami Thevar’s grandson  Kundumalai Thevar in 1962, a statue of the Bull was erected and the horn is placed on it and people worship the bull, on Mattu Pongal special pooja is given.

We can hear many such incidents in many villages of Tamilnadu where the bull is honoured and respected as a ‘nadukkal’ deity, another custom of the tamils to praise and worship the brave and valorous soldier. 

Why there was always such controversy for this sport?

Those who oppose the sport were the upper class, says farmer  Raja , age 52, native  of  Kamboor a village near  Melur Madurai District, who was the patronizer  of  the sport. He had a  jallikattu  bull, as he growing old and his sons were in Singapore, at present he is not able to grow the valiant bull. Sekar of  Melur an electrician age 47,  said jallikattu is the sport that shows the valour of our youth, there is no caste difference,  anyone brave enough to tame the bull can participate in the game. Kanaga of  Usilampattia a social worker age 43, said this sport  is highly criticized by actress cum MP. Ms.Hemamalini in the Parliament those who never ever visited any tamil village. They neither know nor care the tamil culture but now and then open their mouth only in such matters. Anusuya age 35, house wife, resident of prestigious Alanganallur village of Madurai, passionately support the game. Though her husband was  a spectator she feels the unwanted tension created by the Tamilnadu government  and the influential people  and the media must stop. Meena studying software age 21, of Madurai, argues that , if the casualty of the sport is high so was in car races and in any adventurous sport. Every year in Kerala  temple elephants  turn wild  and kills the passerby and damages public property, but there is no such controversy arises in Kerala, for that fact not in any states. Suresh age 36, a college lecturer in Chennai says ,the fuss about this sport is most unwanted, it is the sport of tamil culture and that of the rural people, there is no corruption or mall practised or bookies involved like our IPL cricket matches, but still IPL gets more patronage while the common man’s sport is often under controversy.. Rajiv a software employee age 29, says  that  if the jallikattu is sponsored by the corporate then it will take  much popularity and publicity  and accepted by the elite and the media without  any controversy.

For the Tamils  the Pongal festival which falls on mid of January, is celebrated for three days . First day Pongal is thanks  giving  for the Sun god and nature, second day Mattu Pongal is thanks giving for the domestic animals particularly bulls and cows  and the third day  Kannu or Kanum  Pongal is for young girls and women. From Pongal onwards Madurai, Sivagangai, Ramnadu, Salem, Trichy,  Pudukkottai, the major districts in Tamilnadu conducts Bull baiting in various different forms. For the past two years many villages approach their  collectorate  to get permission to conduct  the sport in  their area. The popularity of the game increases every year. Alanganallur in Madurai District   prestigiously leads the ‘jallikattu’, gaining international fame. Let not the  prejudice  and politics disturb this ancient sport of valour is the simple desire of the tamils.

Dr.Manju Ganesh . M.A. Ph.d  

Sociologist – Writer

Melakkal .Madurai.

Tamil Nadu . Madurai

References.

1. T.S. Subramanian. Bull baiting of Yore. Front page. The Hindu January 13. 2008.

2. Salem Museum Fairlands Salem, Tamilnadu. Aaneru thazhuvuthal.

3. T. S. Subramaian Bull Chasing, An ancient Tamil tradition .The Hindu January 15.2008.

4.Ibid

5. Narasimha, Roddam; Srinivasan, Jagannathan; Biswas, S. K (2003). The Dynamics of Technology: Creation and Diffusion of Skills and Knowledge. New Delhi: Sage Publications. pp118-121.

6. ‘ Verukku Neer Varthavarkal’ Tamil Ilakkiya Sirappu ; Vithvaan T. Sangu Pulavar.- Dhinamani Sunday Edition Thamizh Mani.- dt. 11.3.2012.

7. Ramakrishna Rao.K.V. ‘ Cattle Raiding in Sangam Age’ .- The paper was presented at the 12^th session of South Indian History Congress held at Dharwad from November 9-11, 1991.

8. S. Viswanathan Vol:25 Iss:03 URL: http://www.flonnet.com/fl2503/stories/20080215250303600.htm

9. T. S. Subramaian Bull Chasing, An ancient Tamil tradition .The Hindu January 15.2008.

10. A.R. Perumal. Mudisooda Thalaivar pasumpon Muthuramalinga Thevar.Kumaran Publication Chennai. Pp.51-53.

11. Dr. P. Jeganathan, The Kallar panchayat System in Colonial Tamilnadu. Kalam publication. 2006. Chap II.

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