[Raj_Copi_Jin]

HANUMAN HUMBLING BHIMA IS THEME OF KALYANA SAUGANDIKAM-KATHAKALI
BY-KOTTAYATHU THAMPURAN

Whilst Arjuna was away in the Himalayas, in search of a divine arrow, his brothers and Draupadi, spent a long time visiting holy places. Eventually, they came to Kulinda the kingdom of Subhahu. They stayed at Narayanasram. One day wind wafted a beautiful flower near Draupadi. She was so enchanted, by its fragrance that she asked Bhima to find some more flowers of the same sort.


Bhima knew only that the flower came from north as the wind was blowing from that direction. He sets off in search of the flower. He encounters many difficulties. Then he reaches a forest, where his step Hanuman was dwelling. Hanuman recognized Bhima and wanted to help him. But he felt that Bhima should be humbled. Therefore, he transformed into a decrepit old monkey and lay in Bhima’s path. He teases him and asked him to shoe off the tail-which Bhima could not. Thus Bhima was humbled. Now he reveals his true self and directs him where to find the flower. Bhima reaches the garden of Kubera where the flower grew and brought it back to Draupadi.