Discuss title of Hayavadana in depth.

Answer

 Introduction:-

          The title of a book should be very much appropriate to its theme. It should be very much suggestive and prefect. It gives idea of the story.

          “Hayavadana” is such a title. Though the story of Hayavadan for forms the subplot of the play, it has relation with the main plot. Both the plots deal with the theme of ‘search or completeness or ‘quest for perfection’.

1. Resemblance Between the two stories:-

          The title of the play is apt because both the stories are similar. Hayavadan comes in the beginning and suggests what the main theme is. Hayavadan is incomplete. He is half horse-half man. He moves everywhere for completeness. He wants to get rid of his horse head.

          Pad mini’s story is also based on the search of completeness. Her son is also neglected like Hayavadana. Both Hayavadana and Padmini search for completeness. In the end both the stories are connected as Hayavadana brings the smile back on Padmini son’s Face.

2. Hayavadana’s Search for completeness:-

          The main theme of the play is presented in the very beginning of the play. Just as the drama starts, a frightened actor appears. Bhagavata is surprised listening that he had man’s body and horses head. When Hayavadana comes to the stage, he asks why he is having such a head. Hayavadana answered that He had done nothing of that sort of thing. He is the result of violation of moral codes by his mother. He talked his mother’s stories.

          His mother was a princess of Karnataka. She liked a white stallion and fallen in love with him at the first sight and the got married to him. But one day, that horse was converted into his original being- The Gandharva. He asked the princess to accompany him to Heaven. But she denied. So the Gandharva cursed her to become a horse herself. She ran away happily leaving her child alone. Thus from that date, Hayavadana always tried to become compete man.

3. Indifference of God and Goddesses:-

          The indifference of God and Goddesses is a common element in both the main plot and subplot. Hayavadana suggests it in the very beginning. He wants to get rid of his horses head so he has visited many religious and holy places. He visited Banaras, Rameshwar, Gokarn, Haridwar, Gaya, Kedarnath Dargah of Khwaja, Yusuf Baba, the Grotto of Virgin Mary.

          But no one has paid attention towards him. Here none has paid a satire on God also. They observe the human beings sufferings only. In Padmini’s case it happens the same.

4. Quest for perfection:-

          Hayavadana shows some of the main themes of the play. One is quest for perfection. Hayavadana constantly tries to get it. Same way Padmini also wants to get perfection. She marries Devadatta. But she wants the head of Devadatta and body of Kapila in one man. She gets it too. But her happiness does not long last. Same way Hayavadana also searches for completeness- perfection. Finally he gets perfection but in the different form. Through his life he desired to become a man but turns into a complete horse. In such matter the title is appropriate.

5. Mythical Base:-

          The story of ‘Hayavadana’ provides mythical base too. Such characters are found in myths and legends only. The character of Hayavadana is mythical. He had a body like human being but is having head of a horse.

          There is also mythical about a horse-Gandharva. His mother was a princess who fell in love with him at the first sight and the got married to him. But one day that horse was converted into his original being- The Gandharva. He cursed her to become a horse herself.

          The story of Padimi also runs on somewhat similar track. Goddess Kali appears. She makes the dead mean live again. Such incidents are found in myths only.

6. Hayavadana proves supremacy of ‘head’:-

          The whole play deals with one question- what is supreme? Head or body. It is the pivotal issue of the play. This issue is fully supported by Hayavadana’s story. In the end he turns into a complete horse.

          This issue is highlighted in the main theme. The Heads of Devadatta and Kapila are transferred. Both of them face identity crisis finally the solution comes that the head is supreme. In this Base the title is apt.

7. Hayavadana –the spokesperson of the Dramatist:-

          Hayavadana becomes the spokesperson of the Dramatist. All the ideas are expressed by him in the beginning of the play. All the major issues are discussed through his sub-plot.eg.

          He wants perfection, he suffers the indifference of God and Goddesses, he faces the problems existence, his search for completeness is answered but differently as he turns into a complete horse instead o human being, Finally his story gets mixed with the main story because he is able to give smile on Padmini’s son’s face.

¬   Conclusion

          Thus in the very beginning, Hayavadana gives the glimps of the main issues of the play. So we can say that the title of the play is appropriate.