Poompuhar- Kannagi story in stone

Kannagi

Kannagi is an embodient of Virtue in Tamilnadu. we can see Kannagi statue in Poompuhar where her right hand (Dakshina Hastam) is in Abhaya mudra . Abhay mudra means offering protection to people who submit to her feets. The left hand ( Vama Hastam) is in Kati mudra or Kati Vilambitha mudra. Kati means 'hip' and 'Vilambitha' means hanging. the hand is bend at wrist and placed beneath left of hip. the significance of this mudra is to offer protection to devotees i.e. in times of deluge the waters shall not go beyond the hip. We know that Poompuhar was once swollen by deluge. Hence the statue was placed with Kati hastam to protect the Poompuhar.

Magara Thoranavayil

The  Entrance to the Silapathigaram Art Gallery shaped like 'Silambu' means 'anklets' worn by women in ancient time in South India. The entrance is adorned with water creatures called Magaram. The height is 22 1/2 feet.  It is said that it designed on the pattern of Magara Thoranavayil found in Suruli Malai Mangala Devi Koil.

A seven storeyed structure is constructed to pay homage to the epic " silapathigaram'. The first Storey building is 12 ft high and all the storeys above it has a height of 5 ft each for each storey. It also comprises Kalasams on the top . The total height of gallery is 50 ft .

The statue of Kovalan and Kannagi the main leads of Silapathigaram.

Elango Adigal is the author of the Silapathigaram (Story of Anklets ) his Dakshina hastam shows the holding of the scribe or Elzhutu Ani and Vamsa Hastam holds the palm leaf manuscripts or olai chuvadi.

A story etched in stones 

A glimpse of Poompuhar city which was known for its sea fare and trade. It was located in Nagapatinnam district of Tamilnadu.  Poompuhar also called as Puhar or Kaveripoompatinam. In tamil 'puhar' means estuary or the place where river meets sea. The Cauvery river meets  the Sea here hence it was called as puhar or kaveripoompatinam. It was located on the mouth of Kaveri and was prosperous ancient port of early Chola kingdom.  The poompuhar was well planned city and two districts ie Maruvur Pakkam and Pattinapakkam. Maruvur Pakkam was nearer to the sea and Pattinapakkam was situated to the west.

Poompuhar pattinapakkam was occupied by Kings and Noble, traders, farmers, astrologers, dancers and army.

Poompuhar Maruvurpakkam was inhabited by fisher-folk, foreign traders, overseas travelers, weavers, silk merchants, potters and jewelers, ironsmiths. Maruvurpakkam was nearer to sea so shipyard and warehouse were stocked near to ports. 

In the beautiful city of Poompuhar there used to be Day market(Nal means day Angadi means market) and Night Market (All- night Angadi - market).  The Poompuhar Nal Angadi   and All Angadi was busy selling spices, pearls, garments, edibles, precious stones, gold etc.

Puhar Kandam

Kannagi was the daughter of a rich Nagarathar merchant,Manayakan. she was a dusky maiden of homely nature and demure in nature. she was filial and god fearing lady with noble qualities. she had reached the age of marriage. Her parents were in search of a Suitable groom for their daughter.She was the apple of eye of her parents as she was a single child for vast assets of her parents.

Kovalan was a handsome son of another Nagarathar merchant. He was single son  of another Nagarathar merchant, Machakattuvan. Kovalan had taken over trade from his father He was 16 at the time of his arranged marriage to Kannagi . Kovalan and Kannagi started to live in a a beautiful home gifted by his father in law.In the beginning of their martital life kovalan and kannagi are living very happily. Their Marriage was celebrated in a very grand manner with the groom arriving on an elephant followed by his entourage.

 Kovalan and kannagi followed each and every ritual in the marriage and were blessed with love and affection from all elders. The Elders blessed them to lead a blissful life like the inseperable couples Arundhati and Vasisthar.

Kovalan and Kannagi in love under the beautiful moonlight .They look like a pair of cute doves cooing into each other.

Madhavi was born in the courtesan family(Nataka kanikai). She spent her years training under her gurus to be accomplished at ddance, singing and musical instruments. Her arangetram was planned to take place at Puhar in the presence of Chola king, Karikalan.  Madhavi was only twelve years old during her recital. Madhavi is compared to the danseuse Urvashi of Indra's court. Once Sage Agasthya had visited Indra's Sabha and was watching Urvashi dance. Urvashi was enarmored by Jayantha's (Indra's sons) beauty and missed her steps. Sage Agasthya was known for his volatile temper and cursed Urvashi to be born as Madhavi and Jayantha to be born as a reed ( talaikkol). 

 In olden days, in a war the victorious king cuts the umbrella of the enemy king symbolising his defeat. the shaft bearing the umbrella is brought back with the victorius king. The chola king had defeated his enemy and his enemy umbrella shaft was brought by him. The shaft brought by the chola emperor turns out to be the cursed Jayantha a reed that has grown into a bamboo. The Talaikkol has to be washed with holy waters from golden vessel by a danseuse and given to royal state elephant. The royal stateelephant was dressed for the occasion. The musician/ poet would get the Talaikkol from the King .King's advisors would circumambulate the King's chariot and the state elephant before handing over the holy Talaikkol.


The Talaikkol with accompaniment of music and drums announcing their king's victory over enemy be taken in a procession round the town. The Talaikkol would then be places in the stage. 

 After the musicians are seated in the hall, the danseuse takes her entry into the stage by placing her right foot forward and takes her position behind the pillar on the right as per ancient customs.

customs.At the end of her debut performance, Madhavi is presented with Talaikkol as she had given an amazing peformance. The Chola Emperor honors her with the title 'Talaikkoli'. She is accorded as a professional dancer(Nataka kanika). She was also presented one thousand and eight Kazhanjus of gold and a garland.

Kovalan saw the danseuse, Madhavi making debut  at the court of Chola King, Karikalan. He fell in love with her at first sight

Madhavi's mother, Chitrapthi gave the garland presented by the King to a hunch back woman and asked to announce that the garland is worth 1008 Kazhangas of Gold and whoever buys it will become the husband of Madhavi. Kovalan buys the Garland from the hunch back old lady. 

  After 3 years, Kovalan learned the truth about the mother's crime through the song kaveri kanal vary, during the festival of the god Indra. He grew angry with Madhavi and again returned to Kannagi. After Kovalan left her, Madhavi came to know of her mother's theft and showed her moral worth by returning all the wealth of Kovalan to his father and renouncing the world to become a Buddhist nun.

It was later when Madhavi revealed of this knowledge that made Kovalan realize his misdeeds towards Kannagi. He returned to Kannagi abandoning Madhavi and tried to restart a fresh beginning with Kannagi.

He starts living with Madhavi at her home and completely ignores Kannagi. 

 Kovalan desertion of Kannagi for the love of Madhavi. Kannagi is lovelorn and forgets to adorn herself and she is always in thought of Kovalan. Kovalan's love for Madhavi doesn't pain Kannagi but his abject lack of concern for her grieves her heat and she sheds pearl like tears.

Kovalan spends all his income on Madhavi and his ancestral wealth. Madhavi's mother extorts money from Kannagi without knowledge of Kovalan and Madhavi using his ring(Kannaiyali). Kovalan and Madhavi have a girl child by the name Manimeghalai.  Kovalan names his child 'Manimeghalai' after his family deity.

Kovalan gave gifts to beggars and homeless people and whoever came to the function. An old man with a feeble and bent body came walking with help of walking stick. He was pushed over by kovalan who saw an elephant which had run amuck. Kovalan stepped into Control the elephant and subdued it.

Kovalan  meets a brahmin lady whose husband had left her because she caused the death of their pet mongoose due to an misunderstanding.The Husband has given her a note to be given to people leading to virtuous life. She has roamed and showed the note to all people. she shows the note to Kovalan. Kovalan assures the lady that he will correct all the wrongs and will make her live happily with her husband. He gave countless gifts to her and made her husband who had left her and both lived happily.

Kovalan spent three years from his wife Kannagi without knowing how time had gone by. It was the time of Indra festival. It was to show gratitude to Indra who sent rain clouds on time and helped people to get bountiful harvest.

Kannagi Madhavi  wants to  go to beach. During Indra festival people take bath in sea and offer their prayers to Indra. Madhavi wanted to have some amusement and asked Kovalan if both of them would go for the beach. Kovalan was dressed in silk dhoti and had adorned him with jewels that he looked like the Sun God  as he sat on his horse. Madhavi wore exquisite jewels and grand saree and accompanied Kovalan in her chariot.

 Kovalan and Madhavi reach the seashore. Kovalan  and Madhavi sit under the Punnai tree. Kovalan plays the harp and sings song on seashore(Kanalvira song) and odes to Cauvery. He sings about chaste woman hinting that they would not feel bad even if their lovers go to another woman. Madhavi who listened to the lyric felt that kovalan has a change of heart. 

Madhavi plays the harp  and she sings a song in praise of sea  and counters Kovalan song with her own lyrics. Madhavi was an enigmatic girl who was passionate about music and dance. Kovalan misunderstands her lyric and takes it as a personal insult. Madhavi was involved in a fake quarrel as she believed Kovalan liked her for her spiritedness and zeal. Madhavi beautiful voice enthralled everyone on the seashore expect her lover, Kovalan.

 Kovalan suspects Madhavi and leaves the sea shore alone. Kovalan has infereior complex coupled with hasty decisions mistake Madhavi and suspects her of having an affair. Madhavi is sad and returns home alone without her lover.

Madhavi was sad that she had to part from her lover. she tries to sing a sweet

song with a harp but even the song was listless. she found no joy in singing nor dancing. Her heart was aching over her seperation from her beloved. she used fragrant flowers to write a letter for her beloved to convince him to return to her. She gave the letter to her maid, Vasanthamalai to deliver it to Kovalan.

Vasanthamalai goes to the workplace of Kovalan. Kovalan is at the godown for storing grains. she tries to give the letter to Kovalan. Kovalan who is miffed at her mistress send her back  as he has lost all his romantic interest on Madhavi after finding out how much he had neglected his business that he was on the verge of bankruptcy.

Kannagi tells her friend Devanthi that she saw a bad dream and something bad is to happen to her beloved. Devanthi tells her about Elanchi Mandram which is situated in the confluence of Cauvery into Bay of Bengal. There is a beautiful garden where there are two tanks dedicated to Sun god and Moon God. the women who bathe in the tanks and worship Kama, the Love God who resides there. The women will forever enjoy the company of the husbands. people with leprosy who take bathe in the pond will be cured forever.

Kovalan reaches his wife Kannagi's house. He sees that Kannagi is so pale and lifeless  and he feels sorry that he is the cause for her to be like that. Kovalan is angry at himself for losing sense and losing his family wealth for the sake of a wanton woman and forsaking his wife.

 Kannagi welcomes him with a smile  and tells him that he can sell  her anklets and use it spend on Madhavi. Kovalan tells her that he will use the money as capital for his future business  and he is reformed for true and would never step into Madhavi's home. Kovalan comforts Kannagi that he will be a better husband from now on and lets move out to Madurai for a better future.

Madurai Kandam

Kovalan and Kannagi set out to Madurai with necessary things. Kovalan and Kannagi set out hoping for a bright future without knowing what lies for in future.

Kovalan and Kannagi  left from Poompuhar and met a jain nun, Kounti at the outskirts of the Poompuhar. The couples and the nun decided to go together to Madurai as they were headed in same direction. Kounti held her peacock feather's and her begging bowl and bad suspended from her shoulders reciting the Panchamantra on their way to Madurai. On reaching the outskirts of Madurai, Kounti and Kannagi are settled in a safe place and Kovalan goes in search of food and water.

Kovalan meets the Brahmin Kausikan's  who has message from Madhavi.  Kovalan reads the letter in which Madhavi begs for forgiveness and asks him to come back. She begs for his forgiveness. she also asks for his parent's forgiveness. Kovalan after reading the letter takes a sniff at the letter to smell the fragrant smell of flowers which Madhavi uses. Then he reminsces the time spent with her and realises Madhavi was not at fault and he was the one to be blamed for his situation. Kovalan asks Kausikan's to give Madhavi letter to his parents. He went in search of water and food for his wife Kannagi whom he had left at the outskirts with the Jain nun Kounthi. Kovalan bids farewell to Kausikan's and go about his way.

Troubadours are a group of travelling musicians who go from one place to another place giving performance and conducting plays and skits for people. Kovalan comes across a group of Troubadours. He Plays yazh as he is a lover of music. Even in the time of grief he forgets his worry and happily plays the harp.

Kannagi and Kovalan crossed the river Vaigai on a raft. They passed through many groves full of beauteous flowers on the southern bank.

 Madalan reminds Kovalan of his past glory. 

Kovalan was narrating the prosperity of Madurai and prowess of Madurai kings to the Jain nun Kounthi. They meet a learnt brahmin scholar, Madalan who was a native of Puhar and who was returning from his pilgrimage.  Madalan learns about the tragedies in Kovalan's life and also reminds him of his past valour and sympathy.

Saint kounthi lodges Kovalan and Kannagi  in the cottage of Mathari. Mathari was an old woman of the cowherd caste and she was a devotee of Kounthi. Mathari took in Kovalan and  Kannagi to her house. Kunthi describes the illustrious lineage of both Kovalan and Kannagi and asks Mathari to take care of their welfare.

Kannagi with the help by Aiyai (daughter of Madhari) lit the fire with straw  and cooked the best food with whatever was available. She called her husband Kovalan and spread a banana leaf  and served food and asked her lord to have sumptuous meal.

Kovalan took the anklet from Kannagi with the intention to sell it and start a new business. Kovalan  is consoled by Kannagi not to worry anymore.

 Kovalan went to Madurai Market. He saw a man walking with a pincer in one hand and was followed by many goldsmith. Kovalan decided to sell  the anklet to Royal Goldsmith. The Royal Goldsmith had stolen the anklet of Queen of Pandyan King, Neduncheliyan. Kovalan without knowing about it goes to Royal goldsmith to sell Kannagi's anklet. The Royal gold smith put the blame on Kovalan that he had stolen one of the Queen's anklet.

The royal smith put the entire blame of stealing of anklet on Kovalan and brought him in the Pandyan darbar. The King, Neduchelian  without cross checking the facts asks Kovalan to be executed. 

 Hearing the unjust death of her husband, Kannagi immediately went to the royal palace for justice.  Kannagi who was demure had transformed like Goddess Kali. Kannagi hair was dishevelled and eyes were filled with rage. Kannagi  entered  Neduncheliyan court to hear her grievance. Kannagi asks Neduncheliyan what is inside the anklet of your Queen. The king replied that his Queen's anklet has pearl. Kannagi retorts that her anklet has rubies. King breaks one anklet of the Queen and  pearls are scattered on the floor. Kannagi asks the King to break another anklet and rubies are scattered from the anklet.

Kannagi breaks her own anklet to reveal that her anklets also hold rubies. The king is terrified at causing a great blunder to Kovalan. Neduncheliyan sceptre fell down and he had heart attack and died on the spot. The Queen also lost her consciousness and fell down seeing her lord die on the spot. Kannagi anger did not subside and she cursed that the Madurai should burn to ashes but Agni should not affect the old, virtuous and children, cows, brahmins and chaste women. Kannagi like a mad woman leaves the burning Madurai and heads towards Chera country.

Only the family Goddess of the Pandyas, Bharatan was saved. The Goddess tells how Kannagi and Kovalan were linked in earlier birth where Kovalan killed her husband. Kannagi gave her life by jumping off the cliff. This describes the cycle of Karma and justice was even then embedded in the Tamil Hindu society.

Vanji Kandam 

The King of Chera country, Senguttuvan and his brother, Illango Adigal  along with his Queen, Venmal  and celebrated poet Seethalai Sattanar went to Banks of river Periyar to enjoy the splendour of Blue mountains. The tribal people came to meet their KIng with rare gifts and told him about a noble lady  who arrived at the hills with dishevelled hair and looked like a apsara  who had lost her senses and stood under Vengai tree. Then poet Sattanar narrated Kannagi's story to Senguttuvan. Kannagi ascended heavens in Vanji. Senguttuvan was shaken by her story and wanted to built  a temple for the lady who was an embodient of loyalty, chastity and devotion towards her husband. He introduced the Pattini cult where Kanagi is worshipped as Goddess. 

 He ordered a stone from Himalayan region and curved out a life like statue of Kannagi. She was given the stature of ‘Goddess of Steadfastness’. 

 Cheran wanted to build a statue of Kannagi using a stone from HImalayas. He proclaimed that whoever blocks his path to take a stone then they are challenging Senguttuvan to a war. The King's prolamation was spread to all corners of the city and spread to North too.

Senguttuvan set out with his army to the north. Senguttuvan reached Odisha via sea . He was welcomed by Sanjacharya, a general of Magadha who offered his service as instructed by Nuruvar Kannar.  Senguttuvan ordered him to get ships to travel in Ganga. Sanjacharya  takes Senguttuvan to meet his Ruler of Maghada in his vessel. Senguttuvan carries forward his trip to HImalayas and he is met with challenge at Uttarai. He was challeneged by few northern heads like Kanaka and Vijaya.  Senguttuvan army charged and destroyed the enemy forces. Kanaka and Vijaya were taken as capitves  and the himalayan stone slab was kept on their heads to be carried to Vanji.

The Senguttuvan troops reached the southern ganges and a camp was setups for the king to take rest. The Himalayan rock was washed with Ganges water and many religious rites were conducted with pomp and splendour. The King in his tent then awarded his soldiers with Vahai flowers made o gold for their dedication in the war.

Cheran Senguttuvan was seated on his throne in the tent when he was visited by the Brahmin scholar, Madalan. Cheran made a snide remark about Madhavi. Matalan narrated the episodes that happened at Puhar. The king had heard about Madurai incident from Sattanar and tribals recounted what happened in Vanji hills. Madalan tells King that Madhavi has entered Buddha- Vihara and has become an ascetic. She had shaved off her head, and given up her silk saree and ornaments and her passion for dance and music to atone for the mistake she done unknowingly.

Senguttuvan returned to Vanji Kingdom and was seated on a the State elephant under white parasol  and welcomes jubilantly by the people of Vanji Kingdom. Flowers were strewn to welcome their King and people watched their King enter his capital in glory.

Senguttuvan constructed the temple according to the rules. On the day of consecration, the Aryan kings who were held hostage were released. The King of Malava and Kayavagu, the ruler of Ceylon and kongu ruler stood with folded hands worshipping the Goddess Kannagi.

At the end of the story panel in the Art Gallery, we can see statues for both Kannagi and Madhavi. Kannagi statues is about 9 1/2 feet and Madhavi statue is about 8 1/2 ft tall. The statues are found in an Anklet shaped tank. 

kannagi holds a lotus and her timidness is represented by the fawn at her legs. The saree draping is also traditional.

Madhavi hairstyling is quite modern. the way saree is draped is attractive . The pecock symbolises beauty, exhibhitionist attitude as she is a dancer. she is flamboyant like peacock unlike modest Kannagi who is like a doe.

Elango Adigal the brother of Senguttuvan who gave up his princely claim to became a sage. He was the author of Silapathigaram. He is holding a scribe in his right hand and palm leaf in his left hands.