Kalakeya Vadham - Kottayam Thampuran(1645 to 1716)                                                                         BACK

This is the most systematised (Chitta Pradhana) play in Kathakali. The story is taken from Aranya Parva of Mahabharatha. In Mahabharatha heaven is a place not very far, it is driving distance if you possess a divine chariot. (Nakrathundi would do one better. She walked through the Himalayan forests and entered heaven.)

When Indra comes to know that his son Arjuna made Tapas to Shiva and obtained the Pasupata Asthra(divine weapon) he becomes very happy and sends Mathali, the charoteer, to invite Arjuna to Heaven. Another reason for the invitation being to kill certain demons who were troubling his Paradise.

Arjuna sits. Sits like what? Sits like himself, the one who has acquired the most powerful weapon on earth, the Pashupatha Astra (a treat to watch). At this time Mathali the charioteer comes to Arjuna and asks him to come to heaven. Arjuna travels to heaven and meets Indra and then Indrani, Indra's wife (In happiness, Ashtakalasha). He goes around Heaven for some time. At this time two demons called Vajra Bahu and Vajra Kethu come to abduct heavenly ladies. Arjuna fights them and kills them. Urvashi, a heavenly lady becomes attracted to Arjuna and asks him to be her husband. Arjuna refuses. Urvashi says that the rules of the world are not applicable here and he can accept her without any hesitation. Still Arjuna refuses. Then she becomes vile and curses Arjuna that he become an impotent bisexual. But Indra interferes and makes the curse only applicable for one year and that too only at the time of his choice. Indra also presents Arjuna with divine weapons.

As per the advice of Indra, Arjuna goes to war with a demon called Nivatha Kavacha and kills him. On hearing the death of his friend Kalakeya, a terrible demon comes to war with Arjuna. But Arjuna alone is not sukfficient to beat him. Hence Shiva sends Nandikeshwara to assist him. Both of them together fight and kill Kalakeya.

In this story Indra and Arjuna are Pacha, Vajra Kethu and Kalakeya are Red Beard, Vajra Bahu and Nivatha kavacha are Kathi, Nandikeshwara is White Beard, Indrani, Urvashi and Mathali are Minuku.