Jivanandana of Anandaraya Makhin (Study)
by G. D. Jayalakshmi | 2019 | 58,344 words
This page relates ‘Analysis of Kanthakanduti and Chardi’ of the study on the Jivanandana (in English) which is a dramatic play written by Anadaraya Makhin in the 18th century. The Jivanandana praises the excellence of Advaita Vedanta, Ayurveda (medical science) and Dramatic literature as the triple agency for obtaining everlasting bliss.
Analysis of Kaṇṭhakaṇdūti and Chardi
With out presenting Kaṇṭhakaṇḍūti on the stage (first wife of Kāsa), the dramatist portrays her in the interlude portion of the second Act of this play. Itching in the throat is the early sign of the disease called Kāsa; when itching turns to cough and cough is on persistant, then Chardi immediately follows.
Hence Ānandarāya Makhin introduces Chardi as the second wife of Kāsa (com.p.77):
kāsasya pūrvarūpāvasthayāṃ kaṇṭhe śūkapūrṇatvaṃ kaṇḍūśca prakṛtya prādurbhavati | “pūrvarūpaṃ bhavetteṣāṃ śūkapūrṇagalāsyatā | kaṇṭhe kaṇḍūśca bhojyānāmavarodhaśca jāyate ||” iti tatra nidānam | kāsasya samyak pariṇatasyānantarameva doṣaḥ chardirūpeṇa kaṇṭhādbahirāyāti | ātaḥ kaṇṭhakaṇḍūtyaḥ pūrvapatnītvam charderdvitīyapatnītvaṃ saṃghaṭitamiti jṣātavyam |
When he says (II.5/6; p.73): chardikā khalu tvaṃ prakṛtya |, the real nature of Chardi who cannot keep anything in but vomit, is pointed out by Kāsa.
The commentary explains this as (p.73):
rchardistāvat prakṛtya sarvamapi āntasthitaṃ bahirvāmayati |
Also, through Chardi, with her very brief appearance, the dramatist introduces the character of Kāmalā and Viṣūcī.