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OCTOBER, 1986
cow-herdess looking at Kannaki's tired face after her long journey from Poompukar offered her hospitality to rest for the night at her hut during the absence of her husband. Kovalan left for Madhurai leaving Kannaki with the cow-herdess promising to return in the morning. Hearing that a beautiful young woman was staying with the old cow-herdess a few youths of the nearby huts came to see her. They were wonderstruck to see the frail looking damsel with a radiating face like the full moon. She welcomed the visitors with a smile. The youngsters who were illiterates accustomed to live like vagabonds began to talk in vociferous voices teasing Kannaki for her beauty and attractive physical features. They began to use vulgar words in a jocular way in the belief that Kannaki would be elated to hear their errotic language. But she got up from her seat and with a sign of her hand asked the youngsters to leave the hut. The young boys persisted in their vulgar language dancing and singing songs. Kannaki, who was grief stricken with anxious thoughts of her husband, lost her temper and shouted at the wild youngsters believing that they would not even hesitate to violate her modesty. She cursed them to become foxes and live in the jungle. The cowherdess was terrified to see the young men turning as foxes and fell at the feet of Kannaki praying for mercy on her. Kannaki told the old woman that she has not committed any crime but it was the young men who were the offenders. The unfortunate Kannaki could not sleep the rest of the night because a few evil omens warned her that some catastrophic tragedy would bring agonies and suffering to her husband. It was early dawn and Kovalan had not returned to the hut. She thanked the cowherdess for her generous hospitality and in hurried steps left for Madhurai. Reaching the Jewellers' market, Kannaki enquired whether they had seen a young man the previous night offering a gold anklet for sale. They replied that they met young man with an anklet in his hand offering it for sale. The court jeweller who was also one among them induced the police to arrest him because he believed that the anklet belonged to the queen. The police marched the young man to the palace and produced him before the king of the allegation that he was the thief who had stolen the anklet of the queen which was found missing from her apartments. King Nedumceliyan relying on the evidence of his court jeweller and without making proper enquiries sentenced Kovalan to be beheaded for the offence. The unfortunate youngman was taken to the execution ground on the previous midnight and was beheaded. Kannaki was stunned to hear the tragic death of her husband and shedding tears, her eyes swollen and in dishevelled hair ran to the execution ground to see the dead body of her husband. To her horror she saw Kovalan lying in a pool of blood with a severe cut on his throat. The policemen could not severe his head with their sharp swords and in despair appealed to Kovalan to save them from
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| SR No. | 520084 |
| Book Title | Jain Journal 1986 10 |
| Original Sutra Author | N/A |
| Author | Jain Bhawan Publication |
| Publisher | Jain Bhawan Publication |
| Publication Year | 1986 |
| Total Pages | 40 |
| Language | English |
| Classification | Magazine, India_Jain Journal, & India |
| File Size | 3 MB |