Page 216 - DENG503_INDIAN_WRITINGS_IN_LITERATURE

Indian Writings in Literature

Notes across. The snake here through its games and acts has given the rigid hero a new way of life. It has
thrown light on the new relationship pattern and the importance of a wife and her love in a man's
life. It is through the snake which is worshiped for fertility that Rani conceived and it is this point
on her life that brought a complete change. Snake led to effected lives of many and redefined
many relations especially of Rani and Appana. To conclude, people especially the devotees, strongly
believes that the ultimate results of Nagmandla is nagamangala i.e. prosperity of the village,
prosperity of the town and bless for all living beings.

Self -Assessment
1. Fill in the blanks:
(i) Karnad has only five plays to his credit. The best of them are yayati, Tughlaq and
............... .
(ii) Nagmandala is an elaborate ritual of serpent worship at present found in ............... .
(iii) The term Nagmandla is a compound of two words: Naga and ............... .
(iv) Nagmandla-published in ............... .

26.3 Summary

• Rani is a young bride who is neglected by her indifferent and unfaithful husband, Appanna.
Appanna spends most of his time with his concubine and comes home only for lunch. Rani
is one of those typical wives who want to win her husband's affection at any cost. In an
attempt to do so, she decides to drug her husband with a love root, which she mixes in the
milk. That milk is spilled on the nearby anthill and Naga, the King Cobra drinks it.
• Naga, who can take the form of a human being, is enchanted with her and begins to visit her
every night in the form of her husband. This changes Rani's life completely as she starts to
experience the good things in life though she never knows that the person with her is not her
husband but the Naga.
• One of these days, she gets pregnant and breaks the news to Appanna. He immediately
accuses her for adultery and says that he has not fathered the child. The issue is referred to
the village Panchayat. She is then asked to prove her fidelity by putting her hand in the
snake burrow and taking a vow that she has not committed adultery. It is a popular belief
that if any person lies holding the snake in their hand, they will be instantly killed by the
snake God.
• She does place her hand in the snake burrow and vows that she has never touched any male
other than her husband and the Naga in the burrow. She is declared chaste by the village
Panchayat. However, her husband is not ready to accept that she is pregnant with his child
and decides to find out the truth by spying on the house at night. Appanna is shocked to see
the Naga visiting Rani in his form, spending time with her and then leaving the house.
• Appanna gets furious with the Naga and indulges in a fight with him. Both of them fight
vigorously. Eventually, the Naga dies in the fight. After this incident, Appanna realizes his
mistake and he accepts Rani along with the child she is carrying.
26.4 Key-Words

1. Mandala : The decorative pictorial drawing of the figure of serpent god.
2. Naga : Serpent.

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