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Girish Karnad's "Hayavadana"


           Girish Karnad's Hayavadana is a play about the story of two friends Devdutta and Kaplia and their love interest Padmini. The main plot is based on the story of transposed heads in the Sanskrit Vetala - Panchavimsati. The subplot Hayavadana, the horse-headed man is Karnad's own invention.

            The theme of incompleteness has been presented in the play at three levels.

1.     Divine level includes Lord Ganesha

2.     Human level includes Devadatta, Kapila & Padmini

3.     Animal level includes Hayavadana

The chorus Bhagavatha begins the play by worshipping the Elephant-headed Lord Ganesha. He is an embodiment of incompleteness. Bagavatha introduces Devadatta and Kapila as bosom friends. They are complementary to each other: “One Mind, One Heart”, but they are presented as binary opposites. They are socially, psychologically, culturally, economically and educationally poles apart. Devadatta represents the acme of intellect. Kapila represents the ultimate in physical prowess.

Devadatta, the man of intellect falls in love with Padmini. With the efforts of Kapila, both get married. In the course of time, Padmini gets attracted to Kapila’s robust physique, Devadatta becomes aware of it. On the way to Ujjain fair, they go to Kali of Mount Chitrakoot. Devadatta beheads himself as he cannot live without his wife as well as his friend.  Finding him lying dead, Kapila also beheads himself.

Padmini decides to end her life, but she is stopped by Goddess Kali. She gives Padmini an opportunity to bring both of them back to life. In haste, Padmini mixes up the heads of both. Goddess Kali knows the intentions of Padmini and says that humans can never give up selfishness. An old stage suggests that the man having Devadatta’s head is the rightful husband of Padmini.

After some months, Padmini loses interest in Devadatta and goes in search of Kapil since the Physique of Devadatta’s head starts assuming its original shape. At the end of the play, both male characters fight and die. Padmini too ends her life by committing Sati along with the pyre of the two.

The horse-headed man Hayavadana deepens the significance of the main theme search for identity. He is blessed with Goddess Kali. He becomes a complete horse but with a human voice. Hence the search for completeness can never be attained.

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