The world of Kalki is one filled with elements of war, strategy, political alliances, unexpected cliffhangers and jaw–dropping revelations. Sticking to the theme of historical fiction, Sivagamiyin Sapatham is the lore of a powerful female protagonist who becomes the catalyst to the animosity and the ultimate battle between the Pallavas and the Chalukyas.
In the 7th century AD, Pulakesin II of the Chalukya dynasty and Narasimhavarman Pallavan of the Pallava dynasty went into a nasty feud which eventually led to the horrific destruction of the Chalukya capital, Vatapi (modern day Badami, Karnataka). The primary issue for this battle was the territorial control of the fertile land between rivers Krishna and Tungabhadra. In 642 AD, Narasimhavarman overthrew Pulakesin II and occupied Vatapi. Hence, he was awarded the title of Vatapikonda or the conqueror of Vatapi. The famous Vatapi Ganapathy was brought to the Pallava kingdom as war-booty by commander-in-chief Paranjyothi and was consecrated in Tiruchenkattankudi in Nagapattinum, Tamil Nadu. It can be found in the ancient temple complex of Uthrapathiswaraswamy Temple. Based on this history, Kalki formulated his much loved work of Sivagamiyin Sapatham.
The novel was first serialized in the Kalki magazine from 1944 to 1946. It was later published as a book in 1948. It is the prequel to the series Parthiban Kanavu and along with Ponniyinselvan, it is widely regarded as one of the greatest novels ever written in Tamil, in recent times.
Much like Ponniyinselvan, the story begins with a wandering youth Paranjyothi’s arrival in the Pallava capital of Kanchipuram. He immediately saves the damsel Sivagami from danger, gets into trouble himself and is rescued by the mysterious Buddhist monk, Naganandi Adigal. Spread across 4 volumes, the story moves through twists and turns, intense war sequences, time leaps, ruthless political declarations and destruction.
Themes:
The following themes are prominently found in the novel:
Love and Destruction:
Love is a theme that is very integral to the storyline. Whether it is the love Sivagami and Narasimhavarman have for each other or Naganandi Bhikshu’s love for art or Mahendravarman’s love for his Empire and people, love is present in every corner of the novel. But this love burns in the fumes of passion which leads to an unprecedented destruction.
War and Revenge:
The series begins with a commotion regarding an impending war. It ends with redemption in war. Multiple battles, fort siege, war alliances happen very often throughout the plot. It is as if, the lives of the main characters are interwoven with the war struggle.
Art:
Kalki has done a magnificent job in describing various sculptures, Bharanatyam poses and the architectural greatness of the temple in Mamallapuram (modern day Mahabalipuram). One can clearly see that Kalki had a keen eye for art and had the ability to describe it in such a way that one feels transported to another world. Sivagami’s Bharatnatyam poses lead one into a trance by just reading about them. The grandeur of the land and the vivid imagery is simply unforgettable!
Character Sketch:
This chronicle comprises a number of characters from the protagonists to the intricate spy network. Since the characters listed below have a significant impact to the plot, I have mentioned only their character sketch in detail.
Mahendravarman Pallavan:
The King of the Pallava Empire and the father of Narasimhavarman Pallavan was a man with a great foresight. He deliberated with an intricate network of spies, kept his enemies closer and had an eye in every nook and cranny of the Pallava Kingdom. He was also a patron of art.
Narasimhavarman Pallavan (a.k.a Mamallar):
Narasimhavarman Pallavan was the son of Mahendravarman Pallavan and the crown prince of the Pallava Empire. From the first book to the fourth, one can see the growth of Mamallar from a passionate young teenager filled with impatience, to a calmer King who was rooted in reality. Although his father was against his relationship with Sivagami, he aspired to marry her and rule the kingdom alongside her. An able swordsman, Mamallar lead the final battle of Vatapi, in order to fulfil Sivagami’s oath and to seek revenge from Pulakesin II. Although he attained victory, Mamallar could never live as a passionate hopeful youth again.
Paranjyothi:
Initially, Paranjyothi is a youngster sent by his mother to learn sculpting and make a living. Being Sivagami’s first cousin, Parajyothi decides to become Aayanar’s (Sivagami’s father) student. Through the course of events, Paranjyothi finds himself in the coveted position of Commander-in-Chief of the Pallavan armed forces. In many ways, Vallavaria Vandiathevan from Ponniyinselvan is an improvised version of Paranjyothi.
Naganandi Adigal:
Naganandi Adigal is introduced as a Buddhist monk who resides in the Buddhist Viharam of Kanchipuram. He was also a patron of the arts. Although he was a man devoted to serving the Lord, there is always an air of sinister coldness about him. I would not like to reveal much about this suspicious character but an unimaginable twist of the tale brings Naganandi to the epicentre of the chaos!
Sivagami:
Sivagami is a skilled Bharatnatyam dancer and the daughter of the celebrated sculptor Aayanar. She is a very strong character and perhaps the hero of the novel. She is described as a beautiful woman with an eerie look of sadness in her eyes. This was possibly a premonition to the impending destruction to her personal life and her surroundings. Her adamance and ego leads to discontentment. On similar lines to Nandini from Ponniyinselvan, Sivagami is the singular cause of destruction. But amidst the annihilation, she questions if the war she yearned for was worthy or not!
The merit of the author lies in the skill with which he has brought out the raw vulnerability, weakness and fear into his characters. When one reads history, one can only see the events that have been recorded as facts. But this novel, albeit historical fiction, brings out a perspective of emotions behind impactful decisions, repentance and retribution in a humanistic manner. The end in true Kalki fashion will surprise you. While Ponniyinselvan rides high on twists and turns, Sivagamiyin Sapatham is high on emotions, passion and a sense of dignity and self-respect.
You can find the original Tamil series or the English translation in both physical and digital version.
The universe of Kalki Krishnamurthy is surely enticing!
The depth of the characters, convoluted storyline, surreptitious antagonists and the thrill in the air keeps you on the edge of your seat!
If you are new to the world of Kalki, I would suggest reading the posts on Ponniyinselvan and Ponniyinselvan’s strong female characters.
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