The tale of the Anklets

Seeing today's episode where Devki sees the "anklets" on rads and thinks it is Vishaka was a sort of 'reversal" of guilt. It reminded me of the following story:

In Tamil, we have a greatly celebrated epic called The Tale of the Anklet- Silappadikaram. The story is about a rich, handsome merchant, Kovalan who falls in love with a danseuse, Madhavi and his parents think that marrying him off to a virtuous girl will distract him away from his love interest. Thus Kannagi marries Kovalan. But he continues to be absorbed in Madhavi and does not take any interest in Kannagi. He loses all his money and is shown the door by Madhavi.

He returns home heartbroken and financially broke and finds support in Kannagi, his long suffering faithful wife. She tells him to make a new start in a new city and they go to Madurai (leaving Poompuhar). There, he has no capital to start a new business. She gives him one of her anklets which is filled with rubies. He takes it to the royal goldsmith. The goldsmith is astounded to see the anklet which was a replica of the Queen's which he had "swindled". So, he takes Kovalan to the court saying that he had stolen the queen's anklet. The king, in a rage sends Kovalan to his death.

Kannagi hears of this injustice and comes to the court demanding justice. The queen says that Kovalan was found with her anklet that she had given the goldsmith for repair. Kannagi demands to know what was in the queen's anklet. She say they were filled with pearls. Kannagi takes the anklet she is wearing and throws it on the floor shattering with rubies scattering everywhere. She tells the queen to throw "her" anklet and lo and behold rubies scatter all over. Seeing this the king and queen die of a heart attack! kannagi, it is said, then burns the entire city of Madurai with the "fire of her chastity".

Hopefully, if there is a "fire" track in CB, may it be where injustice is "burnt" and the righteous triumph. In other words, if anyone should burn, it ought to be Amma.

Je l'espre justice sera faite 😃
I hope justice will be done

A very nice story Blokes!!, thank you for sharing with us.

Me too want Amma's ego of her belonging to upper caste, her hatred for Radhika and Vaishali's Varnasankar conception should be burnt in the Fire not any one else (Radhika or Vishaka or Devki).

I like your story, very interesting. You are right, it should only be Amma who burns in the fire nobody else. She has reached the highest level of evilness, she needs to be punished ASAP.

ya blokes i too remember its a very nice story ...i have studied about Silapathigaram in my subjects ...... Amma should have to be punished for her act ....

Vaishali too for that matter. She is to blame equally. Amma would have perhaps given up a long time back if Vaishali had not indicated in no uncertain terms that she wanted Vishakha. She gave a promise to Amma that Vishakha would be accepted by the family (how, why I cannot understand but she is supremely confident about her ability to make Dev and Dadi fall in line). Amma is after all not sophisticated, answerable maybe only to Lalla and frankly apart from that one time during Mehendi, Lalla never really stood up for Radhika. But Vaishali has known a lot about Raj Purohits, their history, all the good that they have been responsible for over the years. What is her excuse that even at the time of Baraat, even at the time of Varmala she is upset that her son is marrying the love of his life! I find her despicable, scary and downright abusive. Behind that sophisticated veener (who told Shastriji I am ready to fall at your feet and seek forgiveness....., Amma has been true to her hatred, never pretended otherwise), is an rather evil mind. God help mere mortals when such people are supposed to take care of the Dharma of society. At least one can keep an eye on Amma, who will watch Vaishali?

Blokes, my grandma used to tell the story of Kannaki to me and my siblings and cousins when we were young. Thanks for reminding me of my childhood years. :)

It is also said that Kannaki after destroying Madurai walked to Kerala via Kanyakumari and reached a place called Attukal in Southern Kerala. A temple was erected for her and she came to be known as the Attukal Goddess and is considered to be very powerful. I have been told that in Kerala, Kannaki is considered to be a reincarnation of Goddess Parvati born to annihilate evil and protect the good.

Like you said if there is a fire track in CB, I hope it is to show Amma's false sense of righteousness being burnt and not Radhika or Vishaka or anyone else for that matter.

Jeena123, I completely agree with you about Vaishali. At this point of time I think she is one of the most deplorable characters in the show. There is absolutely not one iota of justification to all what Amma has done yet she has never ever pretended to like or care for Radhika. But Vaishali- my goodness. Just few days ago I was watching the episode where Dev threatens Vaishali to walk out on her and the rest of the family. Vaishali obviously desperate to keep him tells him "Radhika will only be our CB- this a mother's promise to her son"!!! And here is her son who is just a step away from marrying the woman of his dreams and hence according to him finding eternal happiness. And here is Vaishali falsely believing that she is doing what she is doing to ensure Dev's happiness when in reality she is ensuring Dev will lead a wretched life.

If the Gods come down to earth for annihilating evil then along with Amma I hope Vaishali's false sense of righteousness is also burnt.

thanks blokes n agake for narrating the story of kannaki, i remember reading a comic of amar chitra katha about this story,but i'd forgotten it completely, thanks for refreshing my memory.

yeah- Vaishali too! u r all so right! vaishalis are "vipers" who strike when least expected, unlike Ammas who are openly antagonistic. I hope the "fire of righteousness" burns bright and destroys ignorance lurking in the dark corners of human hearts.