Nizhal Kuthu - Pannissery Nanu Pillai(1886 to 1943)                                                                         BACK

This story is taken from a Tamil Mahabharatam called Vela Bharatam. The roles of Malaya and Malayathi are especially splendorous.

Having failed many times, Duryodhana wanted to finish off the Pandavas some way or the other. There lived in the forests a magician called Bharata Malaya who had the power to kill people using thier image in the mirror. Duryodhana sent a messenger to fetch him.

When Duryodhana was engaged with passifying Bhanumati the messenger comes back and tells Duryodhana about his journey and that the Magician will come in a day. Duryadhana wanting to test the capabalities of the Malaya deputes one of his cronies, Thrigartha at the entrance. When Malaya comes Thrigartha opposes him. But Malaya shows his power by turning Thrigartha into a stiff rod. Then he turns him back to normal and passes into the fort to meet Duryodhana.

 Duryodhana tells him to kill Pandavas by using their mirror image. Malaya first refuses. He demands all sorts of impossible articles for doing the job. He asks for elephant's eggs, even asks Dussala be sacrificed for doing this job. Duryodhana comes forward to cut off the Malaya's head at which Malaya agrees to kill the Pandavas. Using a mirror he kills them.

Malaya goes home with the gifts given by Duryodhana. However on hearing the killing of Pandavas, Malayathi, his wife and a former employee of the pandavas, kills her own son by tearing apart his legs. Malaya is aghast. The Malayathi runs off to meet Krishna and tells him of the gory incidents that have occurred. Krishna brings to life not only all the Pandavas but also the poor son of the Malayas.

In this story Duryodhana is Kathi and Thrigartha is Red Beard. The Pandavas are Pacha. The Magician takes on two veshas, one as Black Beard and the latter one Minuku. Malayathi and her son and Bhanumathi are Minuku.