Nagamandala

 

Nagamandala by Girish Karnad – A Detailed Analysis

Girish Karnad’s Nagamandala (1988) is a remarkable play that blends Indian folklore, magic realism, and feminist themes. The play explores the oppression of women in a patriarchal society, the nature of truth and illusion, and the power of storytelling. Karnad’s unique narrative technique, inspired by oral traditions, creates a layered and complex tale that questions rigid societal norms.

Plot Summary

The play consists of a prologue and the main narrative, which is a retelling of a folk tale.

Prologue: The Playwright and the Flames

The play begins with an unnamed playwright who is cursed to die if he stays awake for too long. He finds refuge in an abandoned temple, where he encounters mystical Flames that exchange stories. The playwright listens to their tales, and one such story unfolds as Nagamandala.

Main Story: The Tale of Rani and Naga

Rani, a young and innocent girl, is married to Appanna, a cold and abusive husband. Appanna locks Rani inside the house every day and visits his concubine, leaving her isolated and lonely.

One day, an old woman gives Rani a magical root, saying that if she feeds it to her husband, he will fall in love with her. However, Rani accidentally spills the root into a nearby anthill, where the mystical Naga (a cobra) resides. The Naga, enchanted by the potion, takes the form of Appanna and visits Rani at night, showering her with love and affection.

Unaware that her night-time lover is actually the Naga, Rani believes that her husband has changed and reciprocates his love. Eventually, she becomes pregnant.

When Appanna hears about the pregnancy, he accuses Rani of adultery and demands justice. The village elders order Rani to undergo a trial by ordeal—she must prove her innocence by touching the anthill and swearing she has never been with any man other than her husband. Miraculously, when Rani places her hand on the anthill, the Naga does not harm her, proving her “purity.”

Seeing this, the villagers accept Rani as a divine woman, and Appanna, convinced of her innocence, takes her back as his wife. Meanwhile, the heartbroken Naga coils around Rani’s long braid and dies, transforming into her hair itself.

Characters in Nagamandala

1. Rani (The Protagonist)

• A young, naïve girl who is married to Appanna.
• Symbolizes the suffering of women in a patriarchal society.
• Initially passive and submissive but later becomes an empowered figure.
• Represents innocence, desire, and transformation.

2. Naga (The Cobra)

• A magical serpent that transforms into Appanna at night.
• Embodies love, fantasy, and forbidden desire.
• Treats Rani with care and affection, unlike her real husband.
• Ultimately sacrifices himself out of love, merging into Rani’s identity.

3. Appanna (The Husband)

• A cruel and indifferent man who locks Rani inside their house.
• Hypocritically keeps a mistress while suspecting Rani of infidelity.
• Represents patriarchy, control, and male hypocrisy.
• Only accepts Rani after society deems her "pure."

4. The Old Woman

• A wise but mischievous figure who gives Rani the magical root.
• Represents the traditional belief in folk remedies and magic.
• Her actions set the supernatural events of the play into motion.

5. Village Elders

• Represent social norms, justice, and tradition.
• They blindly enforce patriarchal customs but also recognize divine signs when Rani’s ordeal succeeds.

6. The Playwright

• The meta-narrator of the story, introduced in the Prologue.
• Represents the struggle of storytellers and the blending of reality and fiction.

7. The Flames

• Mystical entities that exchange stories.
• Serve as a symbol of oral tradition and the transmission of folktales.

Themes and Symbolism in Nagamandala

Girish Karnad’s Nagamandala explores several interconnected themes through rich symbolism, making it a powerful commentary on gender, societal norms, and the nature of storytelling. At its core, the play critiques patriarchy and gender oppression, portraying Rani’s transformation from a submissive wife to a figure of divine power. Her confinement by Appanna symbolizes the domestic restrictions placed on women, while the magical Naga represents a liberating force that fulfills her emotional and physical desires. Magic realism and folklore play a crucial role in blurring the lines between fantasy and reality, reinforcing the oral storytelling tradition that the play is based on. 

The theme of love, desire, and identity is embodied in the Naga’s shape-shifting ability, which questions the stability of identity and the nature of true companionship. Karnad also critiques social hypocrisy and justice, highlighting the double standards where a woman is judged for adultery while a man’s infidelity is ignored. The power of storytelling is emphasized in the frame narrative, where the playwright and the flames symbolize the oral tradition’s ability to shape and reshape reality. Symbolism is deeply embedded in the play—the Naga represents desire and transformation, hair signifies Rani’s changing fate, and the trial by ordeal reflects society’s flawed justice system. Through these themes and symbols, Nagamandala becomes a layered and profound exploration of societal norms, individual agency, and the mystical power of myths.