Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v2.c10.s3.t10.3

v2.c10.s3.t10.3

Siladitya was an excellent dramatist who became famous relatively later when the idiomatic usage of language had developed from simplicity into elaborate and magnificent rhetoric. Nāgānanda was probably written between 611-640 CE, based on the story of Prince Jimutavahana saving the son of a snake at the cost of his own life. Princess Malayavati dreamed one night that goddess Gouri predicted she would get married to King of Vidhyadharas. And then she fell into love with Jimutavahana, prince of Vidhyadharas, he, in order to express his love to the princess, drew her portrait on a stone seat. However unfortunately, Princess Malayavati misunderstood that the prince already had a sweetheart and was unwilling to marry to her, so she tried to hang herself but was saved by the prince. The doubts were dispelled. In Act III, the two lovers are shown to be happily making preparation for their marriage, but when it goes into Act IV, the comedy turns into a tragedy. Garuda who fed on snakes, wanted to eat Shankachuda, a snake, which overwhelmed his mother with sorrow. Jimutavahana decided to face Garuda in place of Shankachuda and was tragically killed by Garuda. But in the end, with the aid of the Goddess Gouri, Jimutavahana was brought back to life. He later married Princess Malayavati, and inherited the throne and ruled the world.