23. Happiness to the Bridegroom

Rahel Kala, Venus Lane. Recorded at NSA studio, August 19, 2001. CD track 30; II-10.

Sandoṣaṃ pěrutāyirikka maņavāḷa
Nītiyāya gulattinḍě naḍuvil ākumě

1. Happiness, O bridegroom, in abundance be for you, 
Amidst your treasured People as you are standing here. 
May blessings in abundance now increase for you.
As you stand here before Nyayan, Creator of the world.
May Shadhayi, the Almighty, forever be your help.    
May He help you with His favor and answer all your prayers.     

2. May He always protect you. May He guard you from deceit.
May you not be separated nor cut off from your roots, 
So your greatness will increase and you never go astray.
Hold fast to your heritage. May you always be true
To the customs you received, that God gave to you.
Without any shortage, great blessings will be yours.

3. And may you stand forever in strength before your God,
In the presence of Nyayan, Who is the God of strength.
With shalom in abundance, may peace be with you.
May you enjoy good fortune, receiving all you need.
Be blessed with satisfaction throughout all your days.
May Sadhakan, the Great God, grant redemption for you.

4. By Tamburan's command, he heard the dear child sing.
As he listened to her voice, he could hear the sweet sound:
“Yoseph lives,” she was singing, “Yoseph lives, without a doubt!”
Hearing her, he  sat up and cried out with joy. 
Calling to the daughter, “Come here, please come here.”
By God’s command he blessed her, saying “You shall never die.”

This blessing for the bridegroom is found in notebooks from all communities from which notebooks were collected. The song features four of the different Malayalam Jewish names for God, while blessing the groom with attributes associated with each name. Like songs 17 and 24, it ends with a stanza about Seraḥ bat Asher’s blessing. 

Despite the presence of this song text in notebooks from six different communities, our only recordings of it are Paradesi, from Ruby Daniel and other members of her family, who sang it to the melody for the Hebrew piyyut ’El ‘Elyon, the same as for song 22, The Brit Milah Song. Some other women have suggested that it would be better to use a tune more appropriate for a wedding, but no one has offered an alternative.