Episode 8: A Cruel Curse

In this feature, we outline the chapters of The Legend of Ponnivala as we've laid them out in the animated and print series. The sub-story descriptions are those that occur in each episode, and are drawn from our Teacher's Handbook.

A couple return to their ancestral lands after many years and decide to rebuild the husband’s ancestral palace. They invite a neighboring monarch to the completion celebrations. In turn he honors the pair and names them King and Queen of Ponnivala. But the new Queen suffers from a curse of barrenness and is worried about the future.

A Wondrous Palace Is Built

The newly rich farmer now sends for a thousand stone masons and carpenters to build his palace. It will be a fine building with many rooms. Lord Vishnu is watching from his couch on the milk sea. He decides to descend to earth and help. Invisibly, for every stone the masons lay, Vishnu lays another thousand. In this way their fine palace is quickly constructed.

A Grand Coronation Occurs

The farmer’s wife calls on Lord Vishnu and announces that she wants to perform a major “inauguration” ceremony. Lord Vishnu suggests that all three monarchs of the South (the well-known Chola, Chera and Pandiya kings) be invited. He also announces that he wants to confer a title on the family. A grand ceremony ensues with many honors accorded the new “king” of Ponnivala. Rather tardily, rival clansmen arrive and pay their respects to the three monarchs. The Chola king then tells them that they must give back all the lands that once belonged to the farmer-king’s father. The clansmen agree to do so and quickly leave.

A Tragic Curse: The Queen is Barren

The Chola now turns to the new raja and issues a set of instructions on how to be a wise ruler. Then he leaves for his own territory, hoping that the Ponnivala area will now be ruled with justice and kindness. But the couple lack one vital thing: children. They purchase a pair of fine cows, two handsome horses, and even a male and female pig. But none of these animals bear offspring. Finally the queen grows weary of her barrenness and yearns to visit her natal household. There she can at least see her brother’s children. Her husband is vehemently opposed to this plan. He remembers the way that family “cast them out” at the moment of their marriage. But the queen is determined to go and starts her preparations.

Episode 2: A Young Orphan

In this feature, we outline the chapters of The Legend of Ponnivala as we've laid them out in the animated and print series. The sub-story descriptions are those that occur in each episode, and are drawn from our Teacher's Handbook.


Lord Shiva has cursed a farming family to barrenness due to the death of some cows. But then he decides to lessen its impact by creating a little baby and hiding it under some stones. Once found, this baby is adopted and loved. But then the parenting couple die suddenly and the young boy is orphaned.

A Babe is Found!

The child is found when the landowner discovers that one of his cows is not feeding its calf. There seems to be little milk it its udder. Following the cow and questioning the shepherd the landowner finally finds a beautiful baby under a large pile of rocks in his field. The cow with the empty udder had been secretly feeding it. This child shines “like the sun itself.” When the farmer takes it home his wife the wife takes a few minutes to adjust to the idea, asks some questions, and then becomes overjoyed at the prospect of keeping and raising the little infant as her own.

An Orphan Created by His Parents' Death

After only five years of joy, the parents who adopted the little boy both die. The Lord of Death shows them no mercy and they must take the ladder the heaven only hours after they learn of their fate. Their adoring son is left behind. The neighbouring Chola monarch who attends their funeral tries to console him and rebuild his confidence. This ruler gives the clansmen the right to use the lands for a few years, but they have to agree to return these fine fields to the boy when he grows up. As soon as this gentle ruler leaves, however, the clansmen of the boy’s parents begin their abuse. They attack the little hero verbally and beat him physically. Their motive is obvious. They want intimidate him and make sure that the family’s land will become theirs forever. These men quickly destroy the farmer king’s palace and drag the frightened little boy off.