APRIL PROMPT 3 | MEMORABLE CHARACTER
AGNISAKSHI — MEMORABLE CHARACTER IN PROMPT 3
THE COUPLE IN AGNISAKSHI, THE NOVEL NEVER LEAVE ME
This is my rendition on April Prompt Day 3 -
Day 3 — Describe a character from a book that has left a lasting impression on you and has remained in your thoughts. Share the impact they’ve had and the reasons behind it.
Everything in this universe is in balance by the harmonious equilibrium between complimentary forces… Prakruti ( Female creative energy) and Purusha ( male consciousness) are the sources of all creation, which is the basic of the institution called marriage.
AGNISAKSHI means to be married with the fire / agni as the witness/ sakshi. Since the Fire is the purest form of elements, it solicits holiness and purity in marriage. This is a custom in India, to get married in front of Fire.
STORY OF THE NOVEL — “AGNISAKSHI”
Unni marries Devaki in a traditional arranged marriage, i.e., Agni Sakshi. Bound by a plethora of traditional beliefs, customs and rituals that constitute life within four walls of the joint family, and also consumed by his commitment to not hurt others by going against any tradition, Unni is unable to be the husband that he would have liked to be. Yet, Unni and Devaki understand and love each other immensely and silently. Guarded by the fortress of tradition, the family remains oblivious to the winds of change sweeping through society. Though Unni is aware, he shuts the door to everything that his family will never be able to comprehend or accept. But Devaki, who is essentially of a different mold, longs to step out into the world — and is finally forced to do so.
Set in the early 1930s, the story develops within the walls of a Priest / Brahmin family in the South Indian state of Kerala, against the backdrop of the struggle for freedom from British rule. The socio political changes around had an effect on Devaki, who was brought up in a more revolutionary household. She tried to adjust to his family being bound in extreme rituals, but the protagonist in her always rebelled for her right to be with husband and lead a normal life. Unni, on the other hand, was reluctant to be fragile, and continued with his traditional rituals.
At one point, When both his family being intolerant to her, and he being stubborn in his stand, Devaki left his home, leaving the mangal sutra, the golden testimony of marriage with him.
She went on with the freedom struggle, later accepted the sanyasa / hermitage and Unni, stuck in his world of rituals. After his death, when she came to know about it from his step sister, who brought the mangal sutra to her as per Unni’s instruction, she sat silently for a while. The sage in her awoke and she put it on fire…. That started in front of fire, ended in fire……
WHY UNNI AND DEVAKI DOESNT LEAVE ME ??
They loved each other in the purest form, burnt in the same pyre.
He was doing his sadhana of his karma / seeking truth in divinity, while she was seeking truth through karma for dharma, the moral rites. He was doing what he was meant to do, while she was doing what she was born to do.
The conflict never happened between both, never a debate — the conflict was always philosophical, silent, painful.
The immiscible was not their love, but the perspective to the purpose — purpose of life.
The reader yearns for the sacrifice of either one of them, but never gets lucky… Since both were karma yogi / Sticked to their destination.
The destination of both were actually the same, but they never met. Separation becomes more and more filled with agony to the reader…
Henry India Holden💖 Chrysa stergiou Annelise Lords Sandeep Pillai CJ Coop Nandkishor Shingne Lani Domaloy Leela Ramesh Fiza Ameen Priyanka Srivastava Delaney Patterson KAKA LAM 嘉嘉 @iamkakalamkk LC Lynch Janaka Stagnaro NADINE H Ravi M Dr.Jayalakshmi AnnaNathasha.V
