We now enter a new era, so to speak, in The Legend of Ponnivala story. The immigrant farmers have already arrived and are ready to settle in. And, after the happy outcome of Vishnu’s impressive ceremony, they are able to claim a legitimate god-given right to bring the lands of this remote region under the

I have essentially already answered this question in the negative, in several previous blogs. However, the actual contract Vishnu imposes on these farmer–artisan rivals is worth reviewing in detail. It is that contract which I will discuss in more depth here. Vishnu starts the clip by publically declaring that the lands of Ponnivala will now

This next clip begins with a view of the neat layout of eighteen ritual offerings on a large cloth. Soon several artisan arms (that we know belong to the artisan’s side in this contest) are then seen picking up the four swords lying there. But now the scene is interrupted by a brief conversation. In

This clip actually precedes the previous one. I have chosen to discuss these two excerpts in reverse chronological in order to clarify the “set-up” these artisans are faced with, first. It is now appropriate to ask why do they agree to this contest? After all, they walked out of the Chola palace in protest. Why

The story now reaches a crisis point. Lord Vishnu himself is calling for a formal ritual confrontation between the two contestants in this major socio-economic dispute. Everyone has gathered at the ritual ground, right at the edge of the Kongu (Ponnivala artisan) territory. The location is next to the great Kaveri river. There is a

The Chola king is faced with a difficult political problem. He wants to send a group of his best plough-wielding farm workers to Ponnivala, an outlying area where he has little control. He wants them to settle there and bring the land under cultivation by cutting down trees and creating a wide open, fertile landscape.

This blog continues where my 1.13 post left off. Here we see that the artisans who have been called to the Chola king’s court have dutifully traveled all the way from Ponnivala to appear before him. The audience of onlookers fills the room. Representatives of those 56 powerful agricultural families mentioned in my last blog

This is a key clip because the Chola king’s associates clearly warn him, in advance, that his plan to give the lands of a place called Ponnivala to nine loyal farmer brothers may bring trouble. But, as we will later see, the king proceeds to execute his plan anyway. The king’s associates tell him that

Again, like the last few video clips (blog 3 1.11 and the several postings preceding it) thisLegend of Ponnivala excerpt is quite simple in its basic construction. This makes it a good “teaching clip” for younger students. This particular scene conveys just one key message: the king has had a very prosperous growing season. The

Here is another very simple Legend of Ponnivala video clip. Again I have inserted it into my blog for teachers to use. The scene does not need much comment. As the story unfolds, the Chola king’s attendant goes to find Kolatta. He then brings him into the king’s reception hall where his eight brothers are