Annadatri-carita (study)
by Sarannya V. | 2020 | 34,082 words
This study analyzes the Annadatri-Carita: an epic poem connected with a regional history written by Prof. K Balarama Panicker. The plot of the drama is based on a Sangam period myth connected with the epic Mahabharata. The author introduces Utiyan Ceralatan as Vancishvara, an ancestor of the last Travancore ruler named Chithira Thirunal Balarama Va...
Go directly to: Footnotes.
2. Geographical Features in Annadatri-carita
From the early periods, Kerala region is unique in its plenteous natural resources and celestial beauty. Even now the modern Kerala is being addressed as 鈥淕od鈥檚 own Country鈥�[1]. In this drama the dramatist introduced the Vanci kingdom was located in the southern part of Bharata. It was portrayed as a beautiful and prosperous land, near the Sahyadri Mountain. He compared this land and mountain with the heaven and the Meru mountain.
[...][2]
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This land (Vanci kingdom) was surrounded by many blossomed and fruitful trees; there were many natural huts with sweetly singing birds; it was rich with pure water bodies in each side of the country. Moreover Vanci was portrayed as the home of the goddess of seasons and was similar to the heaven itself. The author portrayed the Vanci with a number of coconut and areca-nut trees, as the playground of celestial peoples like gods, Siddhas and Vidyadharas.
Besides the Vanci kingdom, the drama mentioned about the places in Uttarabharata (north India) such as Hastinapura, Viratadesha and Kurukshetra. But, the dramatist did not provide any other details about these regions.
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
The phrase 鈥淕od鈥檚 Own Country鈥� is use to describe an area, region or country supposedly favoured by Gods. Even though, Kerala was famous in this name for a long, this phrase was officially adopted by the Tourism Department of Kerala Government in 1980s to promote tourism in the state.
[2]:
Prof. K. BalaramaPanicker, Annadatricarita, (Thiruvananthapuram: published by the author, 1946), 6.
[3]:
Idem.