PONNIVALA LEGEND OVERVIEW
Episode 1: In the Beginning
The goddess Parvati creates nine farmer-brothers. A Chola King gives them land in Ponnivala. Lord Vishnu helps them establish a social contract with people already resident in the area. Then Lord Shiva curses the eldest farmer, due to the accidental death of some cows. The survival of this family hangs in the balance.
Episode 2: A Young Orphan
Lord Shiva has cursed a farming family to barrenness due to the death of some cows. But then he decides to lessen its impact by creating a little baby and hiding it under some stones. Once found, this baby is adopted and loved. But then the parenting couple die suddenly and the young boy is orphaned.
Episode 3: A Long Exile
A young orphan is treated badly by his clansmen and is forced to run from place to place. The mistreatment continues no matter where he goes, but the boy is a survivor. He summons his courage and has some successes. Finally he sees a new village with a fine temple on the horizon. Fresh hope rises in this orphan’s heart.
Episode 4: A Love Match
A wandering, orphaned boy is adopted by two prosperous and kind farmer-brothers. The boy begins to work for these men as a shepherd. He grows up and then discovers he has fallen in love with the little sister of his two rich masters. But he has no hope of marrying his sweetheart because she stands so far above him, socially.
Episode 5: A Magical Marriage
Lord Vishnu tells a hard working shepherd orphan that he is eligible to marry his bosses’ lovely young sister. This god tells the frightened boy his parents were also farmers and arranges a magical forest marriage. But the girl’s family are upset at this match and banish the newlyweds. The couple leave to seek the boy’s ancestral home, Ponnivala.
Episode 6: Roasted Seeds
A young wedded couple reclaim one ancestral field from the husband’s clan rivals. These men try to undercut their first harvest by giving them secretly roasted seeds to sow. However the two persevere and Lord Vishnu decides to help them out. The rocky field they have worked so hard to plough are set to spring to life, as if by magic…
Episode 7: A Thousand Beggars
A young couple have worked hard to plant their only field and happily watch their maize plants grow tall. But the seed buds on those green stalks do not hold grain. Then one day the wife discovers jewels hidden there instead. Beggars now magically appear as a test. The wife gives generously and so Lord Vishnu replenishes their wealth.
Episode 8: A Cruel Curse
A couple return to their ancestral lands after many years and decide to rebuild the husband’s ancestral palace. They invite a neighboring monarch to the completion celebrations. In turn he honors the pair and names them King and Queen of Ponnivala. But the new Queen suffers from a curse of barrenness and is worried about the future.
Episode 9: The Counter Curse
The Queen of Ponnivala still has no children. She is worried and wants to find comfort by visiting two wealthy brothers. Her husband is opposed because ill-will exists between the two families. The determined wife goes anyway. Alas, she is ordered beaten by a guard at her brothers’ palace gate. Angered, the Queen lays a curse on their entire family.
Episode 10: The Pillar of Destruction
A young Queen, insulted and beaten at her own brothers’ orders, visits the temple of the goddess Kali. Her brothers follow her there to beg forgiveness. She then lifts the curse she laid on their family. But, returning home, she finds her own husband now is angry with her.
Episode 11: A Pilgrim's Journey
Lord Vishnu tells the King and Queen of Ponnivala they must complete a long list of charitable deeds if they want to be granted children. Making life tough, a group of artisans develop a plot to kill both under the wheels of a temple cart Vishnu had them commission. Faith brings the gods to the couple’s rescue. But then Lord Vishnu spells out one final challenge.
Episode 12: The Gates of Heaven
Episode 13: The Book of Fate
The Queen of Ponnivala finds herself alone at the gates of heaven. There she undergoes a twenty one year rite of pennance. Lord Shiva tests her determination repeatedly. But finally she persuades him to call off his curse of barrenness. The great Lord then places three magical children in her womb. The Queen returns to Ponnivala, rejoining her husband on the way.
Episode 14: The Temple Secret
A scheming midwife tries to kill the twin sons born to the Queen of Ponnivala. But the family goddess, Celatta, rescues them in secret and then protects them beneath her temple. The boys dine on magical tiger’s milk and receive marshal arts lessons. A baby girl born in the palace minutes later is accepted as the Queen’s only child. She is raised with love by her parents.
Episode 15: The Truth Unveiled
Family clansmen attack the Ponnivala palace, sending the King, Queen and their baby daughter into exile. The couple flee to the forest and end up living in a humble hut. The Queen has to work to feed her suffering family. But a surprise is in store when two sons they don’t know they have, start asking the local goddess about their true parents.
Episode 16: The Home-Coming
The King and Queen of Ponnivala are reunited with their “lost” sons Ponnar and Shankar. The brothers join their little sister and the reunited family return from exile to their Ponnivala palace. There they clean and rebuild their long-abandoned family home.
Episode 17: Chastity Forever
The two sons of Ponnivala’s King and Queen reluctantly agree to take wives. But wanting to focus on the defence of their family’s honor, they leave their wives locked away. Meanwhile their unmarried sister continues to live in the family palace with them. When their aging parents die the two boys become the area’s new rulers.
Episode 18: An Overlord Angered
Two brother-heroes who rule Ponnivala together set off on a campaign to shame their clansmen for past wrongs committed against their now-deceased parents. Those clansmen and their families are forced into exile, but they cleverly complain to the neighboring Chola king. Informed that Ponnivala has not paid tribute for years, that king soon demands his due.
Episode 19: Independence Won
A neighbouring monarch demands tribute from Ponnivala’s two rulers, but only one brother is willing to pay up. When he arrives with the required gifts he is jailed in a move designed to force the other brother to appear. When this brother does arrive, the cunning King tries many more tricks. Eventually the two brothers overthrow him in battle and Ponnivala’s independence is won.
Episode 20: Two Swords Blessed
A lonely sister lives in her family palace with two brothers who spend all their time away on adventures. Lonely, she requests that they bring her a parrot for company. The brothers agree and have a net especially made for this purpose. But then the sister has a vision and changes her mind. She fears capturing a parrot from the enemies’ forest will lead to war.
Episode 21: A Kidnapping Spre
Two brothers who rule Ponnivala set off on a parrot hunt with their talented First Minister. In a neighboring forest the group are met with an onslaught of tigers and cobras. Conquering these, the men capture a female parrot. But bird’s husband escapes and complains to the forest Princess whose brothers capture a Ponnivala palace maid in revenge.
Episode 22: A New Challenger
An artisan holding an old a grudge against the Ponnivala family sets out to trick the ruling brothers. Spending the night in their palace, he bungles his attempt to steal the family’s prize swords. Accusing the more trusting brother of deceit, he challenges him to prove his honesty by swimming through a dangerous irrigation channel. Lord Vishnu helps the honest hero succeed.
Episode 23: The Enemy Confronted
A wild boar goes on a rampage and tears up the beautiful rice fields of Ponnivala. It then challenges the ruling brothers to war. They take the bait and prepare for battle. A huge war drum is readied and offerings are given to keep the local demons at bay. The rulers’ sister expresses doubts but the two men are determined to proceed with their hunt.
Episode 24: A Curse Revealed
The twin rulers of Ponnivala set off on a great boar hunt. Their sister asks them to leave signs that they will be O.K. Her dog, angry at being left behind, curses the heroes. They fall sick. Meanwhile, the First Minister leads an unsuccessful attack. The boar slaughters all their warriors. Lord Vishnu reveals the heroes’ true problem. The dog wants an apology.
Episode 25: The Great Sacrifice
Episode 26: An Epoch Ends
The two rulers of Ponnivala lie dead after a great battle. Their sister reads the signs they left and knowing they have given up their lives. She burns the palace. She then sets off on a to find her brothers’ bodies. When she does she revives them briefly for a last conversation. Memorial pavillions are built. Then all three rise up to find a place beside Lord Shiva in his world above.