Kannagi

Kannagi's story is one of the most glorified one in Central Tamil Nadu, depicted in Chilappathikaaram by Elango Adikal. Kovalan, the son of a wealthy merchant in Kavirippattinam, married Kannagi, the lovely daughter of another merchant. They lived together happily in the city of Kaveripoompattanam. Some days after their marriage, Kovalan lured by the curves of a palace dancer, Madhavi, left Kannagi and went with her. A desperate Kannagi lived alone. In his infatuation Kovalan forgot Kannagi and gradually spent all his wealth on the dancer. At last, penniless, Kovalan realised his mistake, and returned back to Kannagi. Their only asset was a precious pair of anklets (cilambu--- hence the name of the epic), filled with gems, which she gave to him willingly. Kannagi happily happily accepted him and they set out to Madhurai in search of a livelihood.

In Madhurai Kovalan faced the false accusation of stealing queen's jewel and was sentenced to death by the then Pandian king, Nedunchuzhiyan. He was trying to sell Kannagi's anklets and the kings men alleged that they were that of the queen. But Kovalan was killed by the guards. Kannagi, in a beserk mood came to the court and proved her husband's innocence. She broke open the anklets seized from Kovalan and showed it contained gems, but the queen's anklets contained pearls. The kinga nd queen was so moved and they died out of shame. Kannagi was unsatisfied, she tore open one of her breasts,threw it away to the city wall, uttering a curse that the entire city be burnt, where only animals and good people remain unhurt.

Here is the link of Indian mythology, history and philosophy to the purity, sanctity and to use the most Indian word for this context, chastity of women. The word and curse of a chaste woman was so powerful and glorified in all the epics. Kannagi left to western mountains afterwards people started worshipping her as a part of 'Shakthi; or 'Kali'.

Since then Kanagi was a symbol of woman dignity and empowerment in a society which categorically gave low level of self esteem and rights to the fairer sex, even though historically this approach was proved right for the establishment of a disciplined society. There are lot of interesting debates over the Kannagi story. Mudhuvans (Adivasis located in the mountain west of Pollachi) worship her and Kannagi is a part of their rituals, and she symbolised unstoppable female power. In the new age, in Chennai's famous Marina Beach, there was a four feet Kannagi statue, in bronze facing the sea, pointing her raised arm towards the horizon. The statue was removed in 2001 for some unknown reasons. Since then it was a political controversy. As the statue was originally set by one old DMK ministry, the then chief Minister Jayalalitha was not willing to re establish to the old position. This was a big issue in the house and Karunanidhi demanded its restration. An arrogant Jayalalitha was not willing for this, and for road widening in the name of traffic congestions put the statue inside a museum. Thus it becamea matter of pride for the Dravidian parties of TN and the issue found a place in the election manifesto of DMK in the last polls. After its election victory, one of the first moves of Karunanidhi was to keep the promise, the restoration of old heroine to her dais, Kannagi once again proved unstoppable.

Kannagi as an idol has to be discussed. She symbolise the indian womanhood which silently accepts her husband's extramarital affairs. Kannagi or Kannaki Amman is eulogized as the epitome of chastity and is still being worshiped as its goddess. She is praised for her extreme devotion to her husband, in spite of his adulterous behaviour. She is worshiped as goddess Pathinii in Sri Lankaa by the Sinhalesee Buddhistss as well as, as Kannaki Amman by the Sri lanka Tamils Hindus. She is blind towards the injustice done towards her by her husband, but at a later point of time fight fiercely when justice was denied for the same person. She thus epitomes the sacrifice and acceptance of the Indian woman. But she was revengeful, in a blasting mood she blazed one whole city thouh the ruler admitted his wrong. At a mythical level burning of the city was an act of purification. The act of the Pandian king also has to be absorbed, how many of the present day rulers be brave enough for this? The morals and values from the story has to be learnt in the right spirit.

(Courtsey for thought : Eric Miller, 'In Praise of Citizen Kannagi', 'The Hindu' Op-Ed dated 16 June, 2006)