Hi Guys,

I was wondering about what I would write in my next post. I started my blog with some cricket during the Champions Trophy. I would not mind to take a detour here. I have watched the just concluded test series between Eng and SA & Aus and Pak. I was thrilled by the pace and swing bowling armory of each of these teams. It was just a treat to watch the new ball nip, bounce and swing at notorious pace. Anybody who said that test cricket was in peril should have a look at these series and I am sure will take their statements back.
Coming back to the point I broke off from, I started with cricket, touched upon some politics here and there, but mostly kept my posts on some of my most favorite personalities. I was thinking about dedicating my post to some of my favorite plays. So here I am today with the summary and my take on Hayavadana.

Hyavadana is a play written by Girish Karnad. The play's plot comes from Kathasaritasagara, an ancient collection of plays in Sanskrit. Drawing on the play " Transposed Heads" by Thomas Mann, Karnad adapted the play to approach the problem of identity in world of tangled relationships.

Devadutta and Kapila are very good friends. Devadutta is an erudite scholar and is an embodiment of knowledge while his friend Kapila is a very talented sportsman with a very attractive physique. One day, Devadutta sees Padmini and is swooned by her beauty. He decides to marry her and asks his friend Kapila for help . Kapila goes to Padmini to persuade her to marry Devadutta and succeeds in his mission, but in his hearts of hearts even he was floored by her beauty. Padmini is very much attracted to Kapila's body and the intellect of Devadutta. She nevertheless marries Devadutta.
As time passes Devadutta observes that Padmini is more fond of Kapila and this causes a lot of discomfort in him. On the other hand, Kapila is honest and has no pervert intentions. On a journey to Ujjain, Devadutta is overcome by extreme jealousy about the behavior of Padmini and Kapila. He excuses himself from the two and visits a Kali temple. In a fit of emotion, he cuts off his head. Kapila comes searching for Devadutta and is shocked by the sight. He understands the situation and blames himself for it. In a emotional bust and a feeling of guilt, he too beheads himself. Searching for both comes a pregnant Padmini who is aghast at the gory scene. She prays very sincerely to the Mother Kali to resurrect the lost lives. Mother is pleased with her devotion and grants the boon. Here comes the twist.....

Padmini, in a state of anxiety, fear, joy and confusion unknowingly places the wrong heads on each of the bodies and they come alive. Devadutta's head is on Kapila's body and vice versa. There is a huge debate on who should be the rightful husband and finally on the recommendation by a scholar, head is given the importance over body. Kapila's body with Devadutta's head is ruled in favor as the rightful husband of Padmini. Devadutta's body with Kapila's head is dejected with the decision and leaves to the forest. Time passes again but the past always haunts the protagonists. Padmini always remembers Kapila and even visits him in the forest once with her kid. Kapila and Devadutta confront each other again and in a combat, kill each other. Unable to bear the tragedy, Padmini immolates herself along with the dead bodies of Kapila and Devadutta.

When I read the play a couple of years ago, I was dumbfounded. For me, this is a super story. I am not qualified to talk about the plot and other technicalities. But I have my own moral for the story. Everybody is unique and special in this creation. Each of us have some special talent in us to live and lead our life. We should lead our life in a rightful manner. In the story, none of the characters can be blamed. This happens to us in our life always. Take what comes to us as gifts from God and be satisfied and contented. Again, the moral of the story is to lead a life in a rightful way ( path of Dharma).

Signing off for now,
Krishna