CNN Central News & Network–ITDC India Epress/ITDC News Bhopal: At the Bhopal campus of Central Sanskrit University, on the 20th day of the 21-day national workshop, renowned artists of the Koodiyattam dance-theatre tradition from Kerala, Madhumargi and Indumargi, enthralled participants and the audience with a demonstrative lecture and mesmerizing performances of “Saugandhikaharanam” and “Putnamoksham.”

The event was attended by Ramakant Pandey, Director of the Bhopal campus, along with a large number of faculty members. The program was conducted by Ms. Mamta and Udit, and the vote of thanks was delivered by Sangeeta Gundechha.

Koodiyattam is an ancient Sanskrit theatre form, where a single act of a play can take anywhere from 5 to 41 days to perform, as each sentence and verse is enacted in elaborate detail, maximizing expressive possibilities.

From the play “Kalyana Saugandhikam” by poet Neelkantha, artist Indumargi enacted a powerful scene. In this scene, Bhima, while searching for the rare Saugandhika flower in the forests of Gandhamadana Mountain, comes across a dramatic sight:

An elephant, after eating, is resting peacefully when a giant python slithers out from a cave and begins swallowing the elephant’s leg. The elephant wakes up in pain and trumpets loudly. Hearing this, a lion arrives, attacks the elephant’s head, and starts drinking its blood. Caught between the lion and the python, the elephant takes its last tragic breaths — a vivid portrayal of nature’s brutality and helplessness.

In the second presentation from “Sri Krishna Charitam” in Nangiarkoothu style, Indumargi performed a compelling scene. Putana, chanting illusory mantras, disguises herself as a beautiful woman and enters the house of Nandagopa, where she is captivated by baby Krishna’s enchanting smile and divine charm.

As she attempts to pick him up, she realizes she cannot bear the child’s weight and secretly prays that the baby will rise into her arms on his own. When she tries to breastfeed him, she hesitates, sensing that the child cannot be killed. Moved by his innocence and beauty, she lays him back in the cradle. But fear grips her — if Kansa finds out she didn’t kill the child, he will slay her. In a rush of motherly affection for Krishna, anger towards Kansa, personal confusion, sorrow, and deep fear, she again tries to pick him up.

Eventually, she offers her poisoned breast to Krishna. But instead of dying, Krishna sucks the life out of her, causing her veins to burst and bringing her to a horrific death in her true demon form.

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