SRI KRISHNA RAMANUJA KOODAM, THIRUINDALUR,MAYILADUTHURAI.: Her Eternal Lover... (The Ancient Love Story From Carnatic Region) : kalpita raj blogs on sulekha, Short Story blogs, kalpita raj blog from india

Her Eternal Lover... (The Ancient Love Story From Carnatic Region) : kalpita raj blogs on sulekha, Short Story blogs, kalpita raj blog from india

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Her Eternal Lover... (The Ancient Love Story From Carnatic Region)

Her Eternal Lover (True Love-Story of Kanhopatra)

Once upon a time in the fourteen century, at Mangalwedhe near Pandharpur, there lived a dancer named Shyama, who was a feudal lord’s concubine. She had a very beautiful daughter “Kanhopatra”, who was adoringly nicknamed as a “Kanha” (a belle) because of her well-featured, dimple-cheeked pleasing face. This Kanhopatra excelled in playing the musical instrument “Veena” and her sweet voice soon got her entitled as “Kokil-Kanthi” (the cuckoo) by the Bijapur king.
When Kanhopatra was a small girl, then on one day when she was playing with dolls, along with her friends, her friends teased her very mercilessly. They ragged her as she wasn’t engaged with anyone. She was a daughter of a courtesan; nobody would’ve agreed or dared to marry her.
Kanhopatra came home sobbing and questioned her mother. Shyama calmed her daughter. She then pointed at the statue of Lord Pandurangam and explained, “This Vithal, the owner of both the worlds is your groom. He’s your “Soul-mate” in a true sense. He’ll not only support you but also protect you from the evil and will love you till eternity. When you’ll come to marriageable age, grow up into a graceful lady; he’s sure to meet you. He’ll then certainly take you to Vaikuntha his celestial kingdom.”
Kanhopatra had always trusted her mother, so she believed her mother totally. She’d taken Lord Pandurangam as her gallant lover; owner of her body, mind and soul and got fixated with this idea.
Kanhopatra by then started giving live performance of classical music. Her fame reached everywhere. All the rich people started offering her mother Shyama, a handsome amount as they wanted to keep Kanhopatra. But Shyama used to turn down those offers.
One day the Sultan of Bidar had seen Kanhopatra performing. He was charmed by her beauty and her skills. Although he’d hundreds of mistresses-concubines, odalisques in his harem this greedy, tyrant couldn’t overcome his temptation. He sent a messenger to Shyama along with thousands of gold-coins and “Hukm-nama”or the “King’s-order” to send her daughter Kanhopatra, to Bidar. But as she had been intimated before-hand, Kanhoptra had already left for Pandharpur, along with the group of devotees of Lord Vithal-Pandurangam, secretly at dawn. The messenger was sent back. The agitated Sultan of Bidar had no way left but to take out his anger and frustration on his poor subjects.
Here at the temple of Lord Vithal Pandurangam, Kanhopatra was very happy and content. She was close to her lord. She believed strongly that she’ll be meeting him soon. She used to gladly perform, all the temple-duties. Her little world was spinning around her lord Vithal. As she was a blessed poetess, she used to write lovely lyrics, dedicated to her Lord Vithal. Everyday she used to please the devotees by her lyrics which were not only written but also composed and sung by her.
It’s the scorching summer of 1338. Kanhopatra was singing a lyric, in a voice filled with the truest emotions…

Oh my dear lord of Vaikuntha, my mighty owner Vithala,

Oh my gallant paramour, my divine supporter Panduranga,

You the great savior Madhusudana, the eternal charmer Manmohana,

You the perfect man Narayana, the unconditional lover Ramaramana,

You the reincarnation of Vishnu, who uplifted the devotees Pundarikaksha,

Please bestow your mercy and love this; down-trodden, humble Kanhopatra.

This song had made a passer-by stop. When he heard that song, he at once understood that the saintly-woman residing in the temple is nobody but Kanhopatra herself. Then he immediately rushed to the Sultan of Bidar and informed him. The Sultan was very pleased with him and rewarded him. Then Sultan’s armed soldiers besieged Pandharpur and hold all the priests at ransom. He’d proclaimed that if Kanhopatra refuses to stay with him, he’ll slaughter all the people of Pandharpur and raze down the temple. All the people were very afraid. They then started persuading, pressurizing and emotionally blackmailing Kanhopatra. They told her to surrender to the blatant and passionate Sultan. Kanhopatra was totally shattered as nobody dared to protect her.Anyhow she managed to send a message to Sultan, requesting him to allow her to sing the last prayer of that day. The Sultan very reluctantly agreed
Broken-hearted Kanhopatra went inside the temple. She started playing her Veena and singing her last prayer. She trusted her lord totally. She kept singing with full concentration; with the total involvement of her body, mind and soul… (Her sweet voice and the rhythmic sound of Veena were creating the very pleasing resonance)…

No my lord, don’t test my patience more; It breaks my heart involved till core

Hunted by a jaguar, the way fawn’s pained; very similar agony I cannot sustain

There’s no refuge, a shelter for me; so hurry the divine supporter, do bless me

Totally in despair, my hopes're lost; hold your Kanhopatra close to the heart…

Suddenly the chords of her Veena were broken off and the song was disrupted. Kanhopatra fainted. Everyone got stuck to the ground; silenced with unknown fear. Then suddenly the statue of Lord Vithal was split or opened up and through the innermost void emerged a dark but handsome man. He lifted unconscious Kanhopatra and moved away. He vanished inside the void of Lord’s statue carrying her, within a moment. Then at the very next moment the Lord’s statue was joined back and became unique as before. But meanwhile the corner of her ‘Davani’ or ‘Odhani’ (scarf) got trapped in a tiny gap. All the shocked viewers could clearly see, the tiny piece of cloth sticking out.
Kanhopatra got merged with her Lord. She was relieved from all the earthly pains and got united with her eternal lover.
A temple was built later, in her name. The lucky visitors, who strongly believe in Lord Vithal and his miracles, can see/assume the tiny piece of cloth, stuck(at the place near the heart)on the Lord’s statue.