The true Kathakali experience that I’ve referred to previously is only understood fully within the context of the grand Indian epic stories that they express. The rightful heirs to the throne of Hastinapur were 5 Brothers called Pandavas. The brothers were beaten in a game of dice by their 100 cousins called the Kauravas and were sent to the forest. The arrangement was such that the Pandavas were required to spend 12 years in the forest (Vanavaasa) and one year incognito (Ajnaathavaasam). If they were to be recognized by the Kauravas during the year of living incognito, they had to repeat the 12 years of forest life.

Many incidents good and bad occurred while they were undergoing Vanavaasa and the story of Kalyana Saungandhika is about one such incident, which also happens to be the favorite of ‘Kathakali’ performers.

Arjun, one of the 5 Pandavas, won his future wife Draupadi through an archery test and due to a misunderstood statement by Kunti the mother of the Pandavas, Draupadi had to accept all 5 of the Pandavas as her husband.

One day while Bhima (one of the Pandavas) and Draupadi were strolling in the forest, a strange scent reached them. It was so intoxicating that Draupadi wanted to know where the scent was coming from. They discovered that it was from a flower called Kalyana Saungandhikam, which grew only in the most remote part of the forest. Draupadi was so entranced by the scent that she demanded Bhima to get the flower for her. Bhima explained the difficulties to fulfill her request, but Draupadi was adamant. Finally Bhima gave in and he started his quest.

The journey was long and dangerous and Bhima had to cross many hurdles. When he reached a certain place, suddenly he noticed something  lying across the narrow path. Bhima approached and realized that it was an old monkey. He asked the monkey to move a little as it was not appropriate to cross over him. But the monkey said that he was too old and tired and that he could not possibly move on his own. He said that Bhima could lift his tail a little and make space to pass.

Bhima wasn’t a happy man; nevertheless he kept his temper in check and decided to oblige the old monkey.  He used his left hand to lift the tail thinking that his left hand would be enough to do so, but to his astonishment, the tail wouldn’t budge. He then used both his hands, the tail wouldn’t budge again! Then he decided to use his mace to lift the tail and to his astonishment he still wasn’t able to move the tail! All this time the monkey was lying peacefully looking at Bhima trying to achieve his task. Bhima believed himself to be the strongest man in the universe and he was not able to move a tail of a monkey! He was ashamed of himself.

It was then that he realized that this was no ordinary monkey. With folded arms he asked the monkey who he really was. With a slight smile the monkey rose to his full length. He was none other than Lord Hanuman! In the story it is said that both Hanuman and Bhima are the sons of Lord Vayu and hence brothers. Lord Hanuman wanted to humble his brother because Bhima believed that he was the strongest and that nobody could beat him. Hence Lord Hanuman put Bhima to the test to teach him a lesson and make him realize that he wasn’t the strongest after all. With Hanuman’s blessings Bhima was able to retrieve the flower and bring it back to Draupadi.

There is a moral to this story. We should neither be over confident or proud and that humbleness is a virtue one should have; even the strongest can be brought down.