Critically evaluate Character of Padmini in Hayavadan’ by Girish Karnad.

        Padmini is the central character of the play, ‘Hayavadan’ by Girish Karnad. She is main person around whom the whole play revolves. Karnad has conveyed through this character a transparent sensibility- aspiring for the incarnation of perfection- a picture of ever thirsting modern woman.
In this play, Karnad has made Kapila says,

“I know Padmini, what you want-

            Strong muscular body of Kapila and head of Devadatta.”

1. The Beautiful, Sharp, Intelligent girl representing modern Woman:-

          PAdmini is depicted as a very beautiful woman. Just at the first sight Devadatta is very much attracted towards her. She immediately steals his heart and almost maddens him to ecstasy. For Padmini’s beauty he says,

“The shyma Nayika- born of Kalidasa’s magi description-

as vatsyayana had dreamt her. Kapila in one appearance,

She became my guru in the poetry.”

In one moment becomes his ‘guru’ and inspiration in the poetry of love. Devadatta says that after seeing this girl, he cannot think of any other girl now. He feels intense feeling of love for her. He feels that this girl is beyond his dreams but he still want her. He goes to extent,

“If I ever get her as my wife. I’ll sacrifice my tow arms to goddess Kali

I’ll sacrifice my head to Lord Rudra.”

She is quite, modern and has an enthralling appearance. Seeing her sharpness, he says,

“But this is fast as lighting and as sharp.

She is not for the likes of you.

What she needs is a man of steel.”

2. Her attraction for Kapila:-

          The marriage of Padmini and Devadatta is the combination of beauty and brain but the tie is not very much strong. It gets loose soon. The reason is Kapila. The she is married, she has liking for Kapila. She waits for his arrival. She enjoys his company, but Devadatta dislikes. Kapila is also attracted towards Padmini. He always liked her company. Seeing him sad Padmini declares that they are going for the trip. On the way to Ujjain Padmini sees and appreciates Fortunate Lady’s Flower and Kapila goes to take them. His cart driving skill is very much appreciated by Padmini.

3. Aware of her duties but unable to perform:-

          They plan to visit Ujjain but Devadatta is worried about Padmini’s Pregnancy and so he is unwilling. After some persuasion, Padmini agrees. But then when Kapila comes and becomes sad, she can’t bear it. She declares that they are going for the trip. Devadatta is surprised. At that time she says,

“Please don’t get angry. Poor boy, he looked so lost and disappointed.

I couldn’t bear to see it. He has been running around for us this whole week.”

          Thus Padmini is aware of her duties towards her husband. She tries to follow him, support him, take care of his emotions but as Kapila comes she forget everything and her heart goes to Kapila.

4. Padmini’s Quest for perfection:-

          Padmini has got a very wise, learned and good looking husband from a well-known family but she feels dissatisfied. She wants a masculine body of Kapila in addition. In the temple of Kali her desire is fulfilled. She gets Devadatta’s head and Kapila’s body. She become happy and utters a cry of joy,

“fabulous body- fabulous brain- fabulous Devadatta”

But this doesn’t last long as Devadatta loses his strength..

5. Dionysian Ego in Padmini:-

          The person with Dionysian ego is irrespective of the ethics and moral and tends to fulfill the desire. There is no split in mind and body. In Padmini this Dionysian Ego is dominant.

          When Devadatta loses the strength, she decides to go to see Kapila in the jungle. What she wants is completeness, perfection but is unable to get it. Consequently she looses everything as Devadatta and Kapila both die. This Dionysian ego which is dominant is Padmini is like the instinct by which the animal live. Their toe aims are food and propagation. They do not suffer from any complexity of life. Padmini wants the thing that is lacking in her husband. She never considers the moral aspects for her desire of completeness.

6. Victim of Indifference of Goddess ‘Kali’:-

          Padmini becomes the victim of indifference of goddess’ Kali’. When she sees the bodies of both the friends, she tells goddess Kali,

“Can there ever be anything. you already don’t know, Mother? …

If you’d saved either of then. I would have been spared all this terror this agony.

Why you wait so long?”

          We see mother Kali feeling sleepy. Padmini messes up heads, but Kali has not paid attention to this. Even in the end Padmini complains to goddess Kali that other women pray for the same husband in their next world. But she had not that consolation also. Thus in a wat she is helped by Kali while in another way she is not helped at ll.

7. Hypocrite:-

          Padmini emerges as a hypocrite person also. When she sees Devadatta changing, she feels that Kapila must be changing. Very soon she realizes that Devadatta is losing that manly and virile body. Giving him the excuse of broken dolls, she sends Devadatta to Ujjain to purchase new ones. She then goes to see Kapila in the jungle. All alone, facing all the dangers. She tells Kapila that she is there just for few minutes, but then stays for few days and invites bad luck.

8. Tragic End:-

          Devadatta follows Padmini and comes to jungle. He is angry at first but turns steel and calm. Devadatta asks him if he loves Padmini. Kapila says ‘yes’ to him and suggests,

“Devadatta, couldn’t we all three live together-

like the Pandvas and Draupadi.”

          But Devadatta told him that it is not possible. Finally Devadatta gives him the solution. Both of them decide to die. Both fight with each other and died. Padmini is also enable to find out any way. She wants to perform ‘Sati’. She gives instructions to Bhagavata about her son and then dies. Thus Padmini’s life ends tragically with Devadatta and Kapila

¬     Conclusion:-

          Thus Padmini, as her name suggests likes a lotus. She is torn between two polarities. The root of lotus is in mud while the flower is upward. Padmini is married to intelligent Devadatta but has feelings and attraction for masculine Kapila. She is the person in that the basic instinct- the Dionysian ego is dominant so. She is never worried about moral conduct. She is unable to do any compromise and consequent receives very ad for all of them.