23. Muyimpāya Tampirānṯĕ (When Moses Received knowledge)

This Kerala "play song" for Shavuot is about Mutaliyār Moses receiving the Torah on Mount Sinai and dropping the tablets because they became too heavy. It alludes to a midrash about how the letters flew off the tablets of the Law when Moses came down the mountain and beheld the worship of the golden calf. Mutaliyār is a title given to the leaders of various communities in Kerala.

Text

The Lord Who is the First                   gave all knowledge to Moshe,
And with that knowledge                   he gave praises to God.
On Sinai Mountain                                God appeared in royal splendor.
On Seir Mountain,                                 there the fire was burning.
All the incense of this world             was thrown into the fire,
So that the smoke would rise          with a pleasant fragrance.
"Oh let that smoke go up -                up into heaven."
Then that smoke went up -               up into heaven.
And Mutaliyaṟ Moshe                           went up the mountain,
Mutaliyaṟ Moshe                                    went and spoke about it.
He spoke to his brother,                     Aaron Hacohen.
"Oh Moshe, receive it                          into your hands.
Mutaliyaṟ Moshe took it                      without looking at it.  
It fell down from his hands               because it became heavy.
 "Oh Moshe, make the effort;           try to write it down."
So he made the effort                         and he wrote it down.
And that was for the good of            the children of Israel,
It was for their good                             and for their freedom.
Blessed, blessed be                              Mutaliyaṟ Moshe.
Blessed, blessed be                              Aaron Hacoben.
Blessed, blessed be                              the children of Israel.
The Lord God lives                                forever and forever.
May His holy name be blessed         forever and forever.