WHY KALKI COINED THE TITLE 'PONNIYIN SELVAN' WHILE RAJA RAJA HAS SEVERAL OTHER TITLES? CORRECT ME IF I AM WRONG, I COULDN'T FIND THIS TITLE AMONG OTHER TITLES FOR RAJA RAJA.
SINCE CHOLA NADU IS MADE FERTILE BY KAUVERY, DOES KALKI THOUGHT IT WOULD BE APT FOR THE GREAT CHOLA KING TO GIVE THIS TITLE? AND THEN HE CAME UP WITH THE STORY OF HOW RAJA RAJA GOT THIS TITLE (THAT IS, AS A BABY HE WAS SAVED BY KAUVERY (ACTUALLY MANDAGINI ACCORDING TO PS)) TO JUSTIFY THE TITLE OR IS THERE ANY HISTORICAL EVIDENCE FOR THE RAJA RAJA TITLE PONNIYIN SELVAN? PLEASE CLARIFY. I AM QUITE EAGER TO KNOW.
WHATEVER THE REASON BEHIND, THE TITLE 'PONNIYIN SELVAN' STANDS UNIQUE.
I guess it has something to do with Kalki himself. I remember reading somewhere, that he indirectly means himself with the title Ponniyin selvan, the pinnacle of the novel he wrote.
I guess Kalki would have read or heard (even might have invented) this title and thought this coulod be best suited title for the story.
Just a thought. Kalki at more than one point, emphasizes through Kundavai that Arulmozhi was called as 'Ponniyin Selvan' as he was saved by Ponni/Kaveri herself in his young age. Also, Sundara Chozhar also remembers that event as a proof for Ezhathu Nachchiyar's revenge-seeking acts towards Sundarar's children. The same incidence, from Ezhatharasi' s point of view and Arulmozhi's point of view, shows the love she had in Sundarar which turned towards his children. Thus the same incidence gets discussed again and again by various characters in the storyline and also happens to be one that gave Arulmozhi a title. Kalki would have thought of this title to be more suitable for his story, which connects Ezhathu nachchiyar to the story through the incidence, As her relationship with Sundara Cholar was the triggering point for the complete story if we analyse.
I guess it has something to do with Kalki himself. I remember reading > somewhere, that he indirectly means himself with the title Ponniyin > selvan, the pinnacle of the novel he wrote. >
HI sivaram you hit the dot. the theory that any novel is autobiographical seems to come true here.
kalki's father a gara munsif was nicknamed "ponnu iyer"
his life though short seems to have had an incredible infuence on young kalki.
he picked up his talent of katha kaalaatchebam/ hari katha at a young age, ponnu's son became poniyin mainthan perhaps. of course in his shortstories you can find traces of his mother, and neighbour ayyasmy iyer who was his mentor for long. most charecters struggle in a water body just like he did in actuality.
its really woth a phd topic . "comparisons from kalkis life in scenes of PS"
mother was all sacrificing charecter after father died. they did have some land. brother venkaraman was the unifying factor. once jumped into the waters to save his drowning brother.' ayyasamy iyer and wife, the childless neighbours literally brought the family back on its feet.. he was a post man. he introduced the love of reading in kalki . was a.lso a energy healer. espeasially for snake bited,. but much later kalki in a short story based a charecter on ayyasamy. but in a slightly negative shade- that of a faith healer who beleives his healing does not work in the presence of a dalit. ayyasamy was very upset. dont know how he was pacified. kalkis life itself is very interesting. how his marriage was called off when his prospective father inlaw realises he is a jail bird. and how he postpones marriege for long. and how he ends up marrying a girl who cant READ, let alone enjoy his writings. kalki based a lot of writings from neighbourhood stories. there was a real robber on the cauvery/ kollidam bank. the kalvanin kathali was built around him.
I think this way. Arulmozhi varman, as a child, was about to be drowned in Kaveri.Even in these modern days, a guy who is caught in water currents is considered dead or the chances of his survival are bare minimal.But for the Chola Prince, river Kaveri saved his life or gave a rebirth.Mother is one who gives life to a child.
Though he is son of the great Malayaman magal Vaanavan maadevi,kalki didn't name his novel as "Maadevi Magan" or similar, hinting to his biological mother.Since River Kaveri saved his life and it is an rebirth for Arulmozhi varman, she is regarded more than a mother.
It is unusal for people who get drowned in river to come back to life.Rivers are also known for its mystical traits of not allowing people reach its banks once drowned.It is an unsual instance for a river to save a child and also for a child to come back to life after getting drowned.I can also correlate this instance to Bheema's drowning in Sea, saw Baathala logam, naaga logam and acquireed immense strengths and blessings.
It is after this instance, people and Sundara Chola realised that Arulmozhi has divine powers and blessings.So Kalki could have thought it is apt to frame "Mother Ponni's" title to his novel.Thus Vanavan Maadeviyin Selvan became "Ponniyin Selvan".