S hy ml RB‘Amar Chitra Katha No. 326 January 15, 1985 Editar ANANT PAI Associate Editors KAMALA CHANDRAKANT SUBBA RAG Script GAYATRI MADAN DUTT Artwork GR. NAI Art Consultant RAM WAEERKAR Production GOVIND KOTWANI * Published by: 1H. G, MIRCHANDANI for IBH Publishers Pvt. Ltd Mahalaxrni Chambers, 22, Bhulabhai Desi Road, Bombay 400-026 and printed by him at IBH Printers, Maro! Naka, Mathuradas Vissanji Road, Andheri (fast, Bombay 400059. ©IBH Publishers Pvt. Lid, Bombay 400 026 Allrights reserved 1984 Distributors in U.S.A. Admans Enterprises Inc. 1123 Broadway Suite 1010 New York N.Y. 10010, Subscription: (in india only! Rs. 48/- for 12 issuesand Rs. 96/- for 24 issues. (Add Rs. 5/- for outstation cheques. Sole Authorised Agency for Subscriptions: Partha Books Division, Nav Prabhat Chambers, Ranade Road, Dadar, Bombay 400 028. When you buy a felts we Cur Pree ene Tales of Avvaiyaar Avvaiyaar, the renowned Tamil poetess, came to be revered as a saint. She had no one home and travelled where her fancy took her. This brought her into fontact with all sorts of people. Poor and rich, commoner and king, were alike to her. A story is told of the origins of Avvaiyaar. It is said that she was born of a low-caste mother and a high-caste father. The father forced the mother to abandon the child. but this story is not accepted by all. There is also.a popular belief that the cowherd boy who came to the aid of the hungry Avvaiyaar was Lord Muruga (or SUBRAHMANYA) himself come down to meet the great poetess. And, of course, it was only before this deity in disguise that Avvaiyaar acknowledged defeat. Avvaiyaar’s poems are vigorous and zestful and full of earthy common sense and wisdom. They also provide telling insights into human nature. Because of labour unrest, we have not been able to maintain the printing and despatch schedules of Amar Chitra Katha and Tinkle from the middle of October 1984. ‘The inconvenience caused to our subscribers and our readers is regretted. We hope to be back on schedule in the near future. ~ Publishers. OUR NEXT RELEASE ON February 1,1985 TAPATI awe oPAAR( OF PARAMBU NAAD, zZaY WGA SZ ae fee cs is saan jy Spe pas ( 2 a |E REVERED F POET AVVAIWARR B c Shere roses ager 2 OU, SIR. a i! DEAR H H a Hy Sj ee 3) AvvAl! \ AWA! You. HAVE come AT LAST TO THREAD YOUR SWEET VERSES K ANY KING WOULD GLADLY PROVIDE 1AM SO HAPPY al To SEE YOU AGAIN, RIAGE. BUT, NO, 40U WILL INSIST ON ff WEARING OUTamar chitra katha UNCOMFORTABLE AFTER AUVAl HAD A WASH, PARRI LED HER TO THE PINING-CHAMBER OF THE PALACE, COME, REFRESH YOURSELF WITH A WASH AND A — Y SERVE HER SOME MORE. '- DON'T. THIS STOMACH 4 WILL ACCEPT ONLY WHAT IT HEEDS FOR ARTER HER MEAL, AVUA] SPENT THE EST OF THE CAY WITH PAARI,DELIGHTING HIM WITH NER VERSES. [SI Sees IN THIS MANNER, MANY DAYS FLEW BY. 4TALES OF AVVAIYAAR pani, Am AIR Noses rs ———_——— TROUBLED LIFE AS ‘A KING. HOW CAN LET HER Go? Pao) BUT HE Dip NOT PROTEST. amen 5 my FRIEND. fey ALL RIGHT Go, aval. ¥ NOG: AT Eh.| CANNOT STOP vou. dl Peas a ee ail, wre : oF a QD i p— my aWHAT! ALL RIGHT, HERE )( A ROBBER IN You ARE! BUT YOUR ARIS KING WILL HEAR OF IMIS, BELIEVE mE. WHEN THE ROBBER. Z, SMM) [=-4vvar aoe HER wa HAD RIDDEN Away... é Wien |THE PALACE.TALES OF AVVAIYAAR —— i) ! AVVAL 1 you Sala” ves, BUT ONLY ARE BACK TO TELL YOU HOW ip aS & ) HAVE BEEN ROBBED, MY FRIEND .| AM NOT UPSET AT LOSING MY BELONGINGS... WHAT | AM | HEARING RIGHT @ WHO DARED Do SUCH A THING | ven BUT TO THINKS HE SHALL BE SEVERELY THAT THERE ARE s PUNISHED! ROBBERS IN THIS LAND... THE LAND OF GOOD KING PARI!a” ———_——— [ Now WHAT WOULD THE PROPER PUNISH-# MENT BES LET MEy Rit DON'T ESITATE. cut THEM OFF! iS PAAR, Jeu 1 BON’ T cou unperstano. }4 ER Wi SS . & uk vA 1 an THE ROBBER, AVVAl. | LD NOT THINK OFEST CE THEN , LEAVING PAARI'S KINGDOM, AVVAI CONTINUED ON HER WANDERINGS. ONE DAY, HER PATH LED HER THROUGH A VAST STRETCH OF BARREN COUNTRY, AS SHE WALKED ON, HUNGER AND THIRST BEGAN TO TORMENT HER. _ NOT A SINGLE FRUIT-BEARING TREE! NOT A STREAM OF WATER IN SIGHT! AVA! APPROACHED THE TREE AND SAT EXHAUSTED UNDER IT. : AB ue ® FOR THE STRENGTH Y / 30 stake THe FRUIT OWN ,1 woul FIRST HAVE TO BAT ‘A FEW OF THEM! A UAMUN® TREE! Is IT REAL? OR, AM 1 SEEING THINGS © 3 MA aoe ® A LUSCIOUS BARK VIOLET FRUIT —LOSE HER SENSE OF Humour. Now, WHEN THIS STOMACH CANNOT GET A THING To EAT, HOW KEENLY IT HUNGERS FOR, Your PAYASAM, PAARI! TALES OF AVVAIYAAR EVEN THERE , TRAPPED IN SUCH A SITUATION, BVVAL DID NOT ‘O MY BAG OF TROUBLES, IFLASK YOU TO MANAGE WITHOUT FOOD FOR ONE DAY, You CANNOT. YET, WHEN YOU COULD HAVE TAKEN IN ENOUGH FOR DAYS To COME, YOU PID NOT AGREE.NEVER WILL YOU UNDERSTAND my TROUBLES YOU ARE A DIFFICULT ONE TO LIVE wiTH WE BOW To THE UNDESERVING, WE CROSS THE SEAS, WE PUT ON MANY ACTS, WE ENSLAVE PEOPLE AND RULE OVER THEM, WE SING THE PRAISES OF ALL KINDS OF MEN— ALL FOR A MEASURE CF RICE FOR THIS TYRANT. [FoR A measure oF RICE AND FOR FOUR CUBITS OF CLOTH TO COVER HIS BODY, MAN MUST THINK ANO THINK OF HIS EIGHTY CRORI AUVAI LAUGHED AT THESE VERSES, COMPOSED ON AN EMPTY STOMACH!THEN SHE BEGAN TO MUSE. SUDDENLY A VOICE BROKE INTO HER THOUGHTS. A BOY? WHAT IS HE DOING IN THIS LONELY PLACE ? CERTAINLY, PARTI! DO You WANT HOT FRUIT OR Combe HOT FRUIT OR COLD Z HE'S TEASING ME. 1 wit Humour HIM. rh / mY CHILD, + | AM TIRED AND HUNGRY. WILL ~\ you THROW Me SOME FRUIT? @ GRANDMOTHER 10MAM —THROW ME SOME HOT BUT BEFORE PUTTING THEM IN; TO HER MOUTH, SHE HAD TO Bow Ts See ae, AWAY THE WHY ARE YOu LAUGHING, cHiLe? Y FRUITS TOO HOT, PARTI 2BE CAREFUL.BLOW HARD AND COOL THEM you MEAN? OR YOU MIGHT SCALP YOUR TONGUE 1, AN OLD AXE WHO couLD WITHSTAND THE HARDEST EBONY, MUST ACKNOWLEDGE DEFEAT BEFORE THIS YOUNG PLANTAIN | CANNOT SLEEP FOR TWO NIGHTS NOW, HAVING ADMITTED DEFEAT ar THE HANDS OF THIS 4OUNG COWHERD, ‘ GRAZING HIS BLACK BUFFALOES. s= THE SOLE AVUAI OFTEN VISITED THE COURTS OF KINGS WHERE SHE CONSIDERATION WAS WELCOMED WITH WARMTH AND HEARD WITH RESPECT. AH, AVVAI.I’VE BEEN THINKING ‘OF YOU.) HAVE TO APPOINT A NEW MINISTER. | NEED your ABVICE. WHY , THERE GO THE "TWO MEN I HAVE IN MIND! Bort YOU THINK fT WOULD BE WISER TO APPOINT MY RELATIVE RATHER THAN ONE WHO 1S IN NO WAY CONNECTED THE OTHER is my cousin.ET CTE TEC | THE DISEASE WE ARE BORN WITH COULD HILL US. ON THE OTHER HAND THE HERB Ti GROWS. IN THE DISTANT JUNGLE CURES US. MERIT SHOULD BE THE SOLE CONSIDER = ATION IN APPOINTING A PERSON To A POSITION OF RESPONSIBILITY. FIND OUT WHICH OF THEM 15. MORE CAPABLE, JUST AND TRUSTWORTHY AND APPOINT HIM. LAM GRATEFUL TO You, AVVAL. WHEN 1SEEK ADVICE NO ONE SPEAKS GUT FREELY... THAT 1S ANOTHER QUALITY YOu MUST LOOK FOR IN THE MINISTER. YOU APPOINT. od IND MERIT WAS THE SOLE CONSIDERATION IN M4 CHOICE, 1am HAPPY | To HEAR AVAL, | HAVE APPOINTED THE NEW MINISTER.TALES OF AVVAIYAAR VARAPPUYARA ONCE AVVAL WAS INVITED TO A KINGDOM WHERE AN ASSEMBLY OF PORTS WAS TO BE HELD. AS USUAL, SHE WALKED ALL THE WAY THERE. oc Sey a Re = : yy : - : Wik THE PRIN: 13 oaitia ){ QROUGHT THIS TIME ae MEAN THE DEATH : OF US ALL? ar Pip Kd THE CROPS ARE RUINED. WHAT a THIS 29, — AVVAL REACHED Til PALACE AS THE POETS EGAN TO READ OUT THEI COMPOSITIONS. ONE AFTER ANOTHER THEY PRAISED THE KING AND BLESSED ym WwITh A LONG LIFE AND A PROSPEROUS REIGN.Quid a Compiled by : Swarn Khandpur Illustrated by : S.K. Parab 1800 years ago, is the oldest in On which river does it stand ? ah Px DID YOu KNOW... ..thatin the Hall of a Thousand Pillars of the Madurai Temple, there are carved pillars which when tapped produce musical notes ? iJ This 1220-metre-long temple corridor, the Ig in our country, belongs to a temple omg lar the Palk Straits. What is the name.of the tenpl QUIZ INDIA—15 (Answers) A.The Sun B. Pushpaka C. The PeacotkThis is the tem where Shiva is Nataraja. VWWhat this temple ? The Tirukku famous Tan was its aut! g temple corridor, the longest IgGs to a temple on, islarttin itis the name of the temple? ipaka C. The Peacock + DB. VasukiRules: 1. The rirst titty all-correct entries will each win a prize of Rs. 10. 2. The remaining all-correct entries will 5 each win # colourtul picture post card, 3. The dectsion of the judges is final and binding. 4. Mail your entries, (entry form gwen below? to: AMAR CHITRA KATHA QUIZ CONTEST Post Bag No. 16542 = Cumballa Hall P.O. Bombay-400 026. QufiZ-16 ENTRY FORM Name: Age: Address: Sai in Tamil Nadu represented as State : if Pin Code : ral is a world- il Classic. Who or 2YOUR ORDER, MY THE LATEST AMAR CHITRA al 7” awd | BORROW YOUR ne WHO DOES NOT LOVE TO READ AMAR COPY OF A AMAR. CHITRA HATHA P CHIT.. CHIT... CHITRA KATHA FOR A WHILE ? You don’t need a magic lamp to get your Amar Chitra Katha. fea} Amar Chitra Katha are available everywhere at Rs. 2.00 per copy. coy Distributed by: a India Book Hose = sys efTALES OF AVVATYAAR [FiNALLY, AVUAT ROSE TO HER FEET, EVERYONE WAITED EAGERLY TO HEAR HER COMPOSITION, BDO KING, A PARROT 1S FOND OF THE WORDS IT HAS LEARNT, AND |S NEVER ASHAMED OR TIRED OF REPEATING THEM. BUT IT ES SPEECHLESS AND GIVES 20,0 KING, THE POEM | PRESENT BEFORE ‘YoU IS VARAPPUYARA®. <— bits WHAT 2 oS eat AT KIND OF Stam VARAPPUYARA 2 POEM 1S THATS i i s| Flr HN au is) s ‘| ie Same ' @ LET BUNDS BE RAISED. (VARAPRU LiBUT THE KING KNEW THERE WB MORE TO IT THAN THAT. AVAL, | WOULD BEY GRATEFUL IF YOu EXPLAINED YOUR POEM To us. BY VARAPPUYARA ,1 MAKE mY REQUEGT THAT You RAISE BUNDS IN YOUR LAND. THESE BUNDS WILL INCREASE THE LEVEL OF THE WATER. 1 MORE WATER WILL BETTER AND YouR PEOPLE WILL PROSPER. O KING, 1 AM A POET: WORDS COME EASILY TO ME. SUT EVEN | AM STRUCK DUMB WHEN | SEE THE HORRORS OF DROUGHT AND FAMINE IN YOUR AVAIL, YoU HAVE SPOKEN. Like THE GREAT POET AND THEREAFTER, THE PORTS AND MINISTERS: ALL LEFT. THE KING WHO TILL THEN HAD BEEN 50_ ENTHUSIASTIC; SUODENLY HAD SECOND THOUGHTS Wa HMM... BUNDST = j BUNDS EVERYWHERE WILL PEPLETE OUR © KING, WHAT YOU SAY REMINDS *E OF ANOTHERGIVING AWAY. ALMS MAY DIMINISH AMAN'S MATERIAL WEALTH, BUT IT ADDS To HIS SPIRITUAL WEALTH - A SCULPTOR M/CARVES AWAY STONE ONLY TO CREATE AN EXQUISITE PIECE OF ART. THESE ACTIONS THAT SEEM TO TAKE AWAY ONLY ADD TO MANKIND'S REAL WEALTH. THE MONEY IN YOUR TREASURY IS NOW LIKE DEAD MATTER. IT WILL GAIN LIFE ONLY IF }/ JOU ARE RIGHT, AWAL. | wiL. DO AS GOu ADVISE. ANO THE VERY NEXT DA's, THE WORK OV THE \BUNOS WAS BEGLIN.AVVAI TO THE || 02 2% 25 eva was passive rRousH A wie bases KEEP OUT OF OUR STREET, You FILTHY URCHIN t tare THE CHILD ALONE! » HEARTLESS MEN! WHAT ARG YOU DOING HERE, OLO WOMAN 2 WE ARE KEEPING OUR STREET CLEAR OF POLLUTION. WHO ARE YOU TO STOP US?DON'T Move LET ME uusT LAY MAY HANDS... J 1 WILL.NOT LET you TOUCH A HAIR ON THIB CHILD. of] OTHER: THE LOW-BORN JHAT WILL NOTamar chitra katha INDEED! AND WHO SAYS THis? ALL RELIGIONS SAY THIS, DO GOOD AND REFRAIN FROM HA,HA! LOOK AT THIS HAG TEACHING US RELIGION . US — THE BRAHMANAS, IN WHOM GOD VESTED ALL KNOWLEDGE! ag Bi vm \ 3 ROTHER , WAIT ! xTALES OF AVVAIVAAR numPn | SO sHe's A POET! BUT WHAT CAN SHE KNOW OF THE SHASTRAS, AND THE PURANAS...2 FRIEND, HCW VAIN YOU ARE OF YOUR KNOWLEDGE OF THE SHASTRAS AND THE PURANAS! LOOK... LOOK AT THE ANTS WONDERFUL | CORRIDORS INTHE > EARTH. --LOOK AT THE HONEY & AND THE HIVE THE LITTLE BEE MAKES OR THE SPIDER'S DELICATE WEB... SUCH THINGS ARE BEYOND MORTAL MEN.LET NO ONE THEREFORE BOAST OF KNOWING THiS OR THAT... EVERY CREATURE ON THIS EARTH EXCELS IN SOMETHING. Tf yOu ARE NOT THE CENTRE OF THE EARTH, © BRAHMANA. THE BRAHMANA LOOKED AS IF HE wouLD EXPLODE, THEN SLOWLY... = ws AND FOLLOWED BY THE OTHERS HE QUIETLY LEFT THE SCENE.TALES OF AVVATYAAR | We Fi T TIME ING DOM OF THE| RIVA AND | MEM | icin Pens Seems nicer ae nace 3 DAIY OF HER DEAREST FRIENOS he © ADAIYAMAN, YOU = LOOK DEPRESSED TODAY. 3 WHAT |S THE MATTER? Nsxta——— —~]] a f AVUAI IMMEDIATELY MADE FOR THONDAIMANS KINGDOM... AVVAL, THE NEIGHBOURING KING, Q\S— 7/7) THONDAIMAN , HAS CHALLENGED ME TO BATTLE.GH, WHAT A.WASTE ag mus" ETH b 7 : 3 T DO ING Hs. 1S WAR} 5, OF LIVES ...OF ENERGY ZOO). OF RESOURCES.” i $0 Apou r or AVVA, | AM Y GLAD To SEE YOU. TAM ON M4 WAY TO THE ARMOURY. COME WITH MEAND AT THE ARMOURY, THONDAIMAN PROUOLY SHOWED AVVAI HIS ARRAY OF WEAPONS. SHE WILL KNOW MY STRENGTH NOW AND WILL PROBABLY REPORT IT To ADAIYAMAN . O-THONDAIMAN, YOUR WEAPONS ARE CLEAN, WELL-OILED AND SHINY. BUT ADAIYAMAN'S WEAPONS ARE SOILED WITH BLOOD, AND: 5, CONSTANTLY UNDER 6h Gin WISE AVVAI, YOU HAVE COMPLIMENTED ME ON MH KEEPING ‘/ WEAPONS IN TRIM, BUT AT THE SAME TIME 40U HAVE FOREWARNED ME OF ADAIVAMAN'S VALOUR AND EXPERIENCE IN BATTLE.Torah feasted Me iA A ne Hegistration No: A.N. 317671707 AMAR CHITRA KATHA brings you THE MAHABHARATA\ IN GO VOLUMES: Amar Chitra Katha has our readers for a compre- already brought to life hensive account of the epic, episodes and personalities Amar Chitra Katha brings from the Mahabharata. you in sixty volumes the Now in response toa immortal epic of Vyase as persistent demand from narrated by Vaishampayana. BUILD YOUR MAHABHARATA SERIES LIBRARY — 60 volumes of 1920 illustrated — Cheques (add Rs. 5/- in case pages in colour. if outstation chi 5 — Each volume consists of 32 SOOT pages. Rs. 4/- per volume. Sole Subscription Agents: — One volume amonth beginning pARTHA BOOKS DIVISION from naan ty 38b Nav Prabhat Chambers, 3rd floor ee ouaoicecn ator Tort Rariade Road, Dadar BOMBAY 400 028. issues = Rs. 48/-. THE MAHABHARATA—I TON VEDAVYASA The first of the sixty volumes will be on the NKATHAS stands on March I, 1985. wy Distributed by \\ Z meee x ae