The story of Dhana Amaravathi as told by sixth doll Mohana valli.

The story of Dhana Amaravathi as told by sixth doll Mohana valli.

Retold by
P.R.Ramachander
On the sixth day Bhoja raja after his morning duties again started climbing on to the throne of Vikramadhithya. He was stopped on the sixth step by Mohanavalli doll. It told him that he does not have great qualities of the king Vikramadhithya and is not fit to occupy the throne. Then king Bhoja asked that doll, “Doll please tell me about the greatness of Vikramadhithya. The doll started telling the following story:-
Once during the six month period to be spent in forest, King Vikramadhithya started to the forest along with his minister and brother Bhatti and Vetala. He crossed several countries and islands and reached a place with a pretty pond and an equally pretty garden. They reached for the shade of a tree and Vikramadhithya was lying down with his head on the lap of Bhatti. At that time a very pretty girl came to take bath in the pond. She was charmed by the health and handsomeness of Vikramadhithya. After bath when she was returning along with her friends she smiled at him. Then she took a jasmine flower, pressed it against her chest, lifted it up to the sky and put it on her feet. Then she made a mound out of sand, kept a piece of broken pot on it and cut off one lock of her hair and kept it on it,. Then she smiled at Vikramadhithya and showed him a sign that she loved him and went away.
Vikramadhithya asked Bhatti about the purport of her actions. After a long thought Bhatti told him, “She indicated that she has attained maturity (Pushpavathi) and by her signs told you that her name is Dhana Amaravathi. Because she put the flower on her feet, she indicated that her place of residence is Kalingapuram (Kal indicates leg in Tamil). Since she kept a lock of hair on the mound of sand she indicated that her father’s name is Kesa Manikkam Chetti and just before her house there is a tiled house. By her eyes she told you to follow her.”
Vikramadhithya who had fallen in love wanted to somehow marry her. So Bhatti and Vikramadhithya dressed themselves as Brahmins and went to Kalingapuram. Seeing that they were Brahmins, Kesa Manikkam Chettiar asked them who they were and in what way he can help them. Then they said, “On our way to here, we were all taking bath in a tank. There was a huge crowd and our women who came with us went missing. Searching for them we reached your town. For the past three days we have not taken any food. Then when we enquired who would help us by providing food for us, the people indicated you. Please give us material s for cooking so that we can cook our own food and eat it.”
Kesa Manikkam chettiar immediately sent them to his wife and daughter so that they can provide them with all necessary items. Dhana Amaravathy recognized Vikramadhitya and along with the food, she gave them two pieces of sugarcane along with the sweet.
Bhatti told Vikramadhithya that she had asked them to go and meet a dancing girl called Karimbiniyal (Karambu-sugarcane, Iniyathu-sweet.)
Accordingly they went and met Karimbiliniyal and she told them, “The father of Amaravathi is a very strict person. When she was five, he had celebrated engagement for marriage with his sister’s son. According their caste customs, that boy has gone for business in different foreign countries by ship. At that time Amaravathi had not matured and so the marriage was not celebrated. It is now five years after that boy went for business. Her father feels that she has to wait till he comes back.”
Hearing this both of them stated from there. Bhatti dressed himself like a Chettiar (businessman) and Vikramadhithya dressed himself like a girl. Then both of them approached Kesa Manikkam chettiar and introduced themselves as people belonging to his caste. Bhatti told him, I had celebrated engagement of my daughter when she was wife. Her would be husband has gone on a trip. Meanwhile my wife died. I want to search for my son in law and celebrate the marriage. But going for a search involving long travel cannot be done along with my daughter. Can you please keep her in your house till I come back? “ Kesa manikkam chettiar agreed gladly and entrusted Vikradhithya dressed as a girl to his daughter. He told her, “The story of this girl is exactly like yours. Console her and look after her as a good friend.”
Dhana Amaravathi spent the day time in the normal fashion playing like girls and night time as husband and wife. Bhatti who was attracted by Karimibiliniyal spent his time with her.
During this time that king of that town riding on an elephant through the town happened to see both of them behaving intimately like husband and wife. He guessed that something was wrong. He sent word to Kesa Manikkam chettiar and told , “ I want to marry Amaravathy. “ Kesa Manikkam chettair told that in his family the girl is given to one in their own caste and also his daughter was betrothed. As soon as he heard this the king told Chettiar, “In your caste is it proper for girls to have a secret lover? I have seen her today with her secret lover dressed like a female.” Chettiar replied that his daughter was virtuous. The king said to him, “Oh , is it so? Within a week I will catch hold of your daughter and her secret lover and produce them before you.” Then the king ordered all his police people as well as spies to spy on Amaravathi and catch hold of her along with her secret lover.
This news fell in the ears of Karimbiliniyal and she told it to her lover Bhatti. During this time , it was summer. So one day , Amaravathi and Vikramadhithya came out during night and were making love in the garden. At that time the spies of the king caught hold of them. They bundled them took them to the Kali temple and were waiting to show them to the king in the morning. At that time the lizard made evil sound in the house of Karimbiliniyal. She understood that there was some problem with her friend. Karimbiliniyal went to the priest and gave him one hundred gold coins and dressed herself like a priest and Bhatti dressed himself like a sage. In the early morning when they went to the temple the spies could not stop them. Once inside, Amaravathi dressed herself like the priest and Vikramadhithya like a sage. They came out after some time and went to their home. In the Morning , the police took Karimbiliniyal and Bhatti bundled up in a cloth in front of the king. The king called all his ministers as well as the father of Amaravathi. When they opened the cloth bundle the king was aghast to see Karimbiniyal with another male. She told the king, “As a dancing girl and a prostitute , it is my job to be with lovers. Why have your people arrested me?” The king asked her pardon . He also asked the pardon of the Chettiar .
Amaravathi and Vikramadhithya were enjoying life as before. At this time the betrothed one of Amaravathi returned . To avoid suspicion, Amaravathi and Vikramadhithya slept in separate rooms. But during day time when the betrothed of Amaravathi was talking to her, Vikrama used to go often there and throw a mischievous glance at the betrothed one of Amaravathi.
One night Vikramadhithya cast the Mohini spell on the betrothed of Amaravathi. That boy fell in love with Vikramadhithya, Vikramadhithya also acted as if he was in love with the boy and asked him to meet her secretly at night. Vikramadhithya cut the nose of the betrothed with the knife used to cut betel nut. Feeling that once this is known his respectability would be gone , he ran away from that city without telling anybody. Vikrama told Amaravathi, that he will go away from the palace to the house where his friend lives. He further requested Amaravathy to tell her father that her betrothed had eloped with her friend. Amaravathi did like that. Chettiar became very worried and searched for the betrothed of Amaravathi as well as the girl. He could not find both of them. At this time Bhatti came back , with Vikrama dressed like a chettiar youth and demanded for his daughter. When Chettiar told about the happenings , Vikrama told, Hey Chettiar you have sold my wife. I am going to kill all of you.” Fearing for his life and as per the advice of elders of his community , Kesa Manikkam Chettiar gave his daughter Amaravathi in marriage to Vikramadhithya.
Vikramadhithya returned home with his new wife.
The doll then told, “Oh king Bhoja, this is the greatness of Vikramadhithya who occupied this throne. If you think that you are equal to him, then you can definitely go up. Bhoja returned back that day without further climbing.