CHENGANNUR - BHAGAWATI TEMPLE

The scene is laid in the holy shrine of Bhagawathi of Chengannur, Kerala. The protagonist of the play is the universal Mother Parvathi and the secondary character is Col.Munro, a pompous Englishman in the service of the Maharaj of Travancore. The time of action is 1811 A.D. As this petrifying miracle is imbued with mystery; players being gods and humans as well, and the occurrence took place in the early part of last century, the reader or listener naturally discerns a fine blend of fact and fiction, giving occasion for atheism to raise its ugly head only to deride in the act of deliberate denigration of Divinities. So a brief introduction is indispensable.

Now listen. Associated with the sports of Uma and Maheswar and sage Agasthya's tapas, this kshetra occupies a pre-eminent place in several legends, and hence many versions are available with variations aiming at the glorification of the presiding deities through episodes of unearthly splendour and celestial magnificence.

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