The World of Courtesans c13.3

c13.3

The story runs thus. There lived two merchants. One had a son named Kovalan, and the other a daughter named Kannaki. They were married when they were sixteen and provided with a separate establishment. They led a happy life for some time. One day when Kovalan was passing through the busy street of Puhar, he happened to see Madavi, a charming courtesan of the city. She had just won acclaim from the king. Madavi is described as a beautiful girl with broad shoulders and beautiful tresses which scattered the pollen of flowers decorating her hair She had been trained in dance and music for seven years and demonstrated her proficiency in these arts before the king The stage on which the performance took place had two doors and on each door were placed pictures of the *bhutams*. A graceful lamp illuminated the stage. It was so placed that the pillars did not cast shadows. The screen and curtains were manipulated with ropes. From the painted canopy hung garlands of pearls.