Coup On Arts – 12 [Vikramarka – Pagati Chukka]

In this story, the art of theft was described, as well as the thief was given as hero image, who dropped his profession of thief ting. Recent movie Dhoom1&2 was like this, giving at least not bad signals in to the society. The story of Rae Chukka – Pagati Chukka is our folk story. I heard its reference from my elders. I read it somewhere without the reference of author.

In Indian society, every art had taken up to Sasthra i.e. science level, including music, dance and sex. Vasthyana Kama Suthra was the matured status of sex, in a scientific approach. It had guided the connoisseurs i.e. persons of taste to enjoy the sex in extreme and healthy manner i.e. without perversions. The saints and Sanskrit literate had taken sex to matured level and high peaks for adults, but not dragged to high school level like sex education for children.

In this context, I will narrate you another wonderful story of Bhatti Vikramarka. There was a talk about the Sanskrit original book of ‘Conversation of Bhatti and Vikramarka’, but it was ruined. It is not in availability. These stories were in the memory of some people, collected and complied in Telugu by Sri Subbarayalu Naayani.

I narrate this story in the context of sex treated as art of talent. As I already explained you about Bhatti and Raja Vikramaditya, they used to rule the kingdom for six months and used to tour on country for another six months in every year.

అనగా అనగా..........

Once Raja Vikramaditya finished his ruling time of six months, he was about to start the time of six months for touring on country. This time Bhatti, his brother and Minister was accompanied with him.

On an auspicious day, they kept the responsibility of kingdom on the other Ministers and started their tour, after performing devotion, pooja to Ujjain Kali Mother.

On the way, they reached the basin of river Tungabhadra. On the bank of that river, there was a town called Amba Puram. In that town, a housewife had done sin of prostitution; she cheated her husband and made extra marital affairs with other men. She was caught by public. In that town, there was a custom to punish such people by killing them. So she was killed and her corpse was left on the bank of the river to remind people and to prevent the people from such bad thoughts.

In disguise, Batti and Raja Vikramaditya were bathing in the river a side. Men and women were coming there to fetch water and were talking about the current issue. Then two young girls came there. They were sisters. By watching the corpse, the elder girl had tears in her eyes. Her name was Mukti Valli that means Garland of pearls. Her sister, the younger girl, named Pravala Valli. That means Garland of corals, asked her why she was crying. Mukki Valli, the married girl said “Look that corpse. She also a woman like us, now her corpse was without cremation.”

Pravala valli, the unmarried girl asked “why her corpse left here, without cremation?”

Mukti valli told the reason. Pravala valli said, “That woman had no talent. If she wanted to enjoy sex with a man other than husband, she must be talented.” By conversing like this, both the girls filled water in their pots and left to the town.

Both Bhatti and Vikramaditya surprised by that. Bhatti said “Being young, how dare that girl to talk like that?”

Vikramaditya said, “Let’s check her talent.” They followed them in to the town and enquired about the girls. They came to notice that those two girls were daughters of Muddau Manikya Setti, a rich diamond business man. Both Bhatti and Vikramaditya had changed their appearance like diamond business men, taken some diamonds with the help of Bhethal’s magic power and opened a shop, opposite to Muddu Manikya setti. Few days passed.

They got touch with other merchants in the town including Muddu Manikya Setti. He appreciated these two young business men. When he enquired their personal particulars, Bhatti said “Sir! We are brothers, our native is Kanchi Puram. Our father is a great diamond business man, called Dhana pala Setti. This is my brother. In search of a good girl to marry my brother, we are touring, as well as we are doing business of diamonds.”

Muddu Manikya setti felt happy and said “Boys! I have two daughters. Elder got married. I’ll give my younger daughter to you to marry.”

They agreed. Muddu Manikya Setti performed the marriage of Pravala Valli with Raja Vikramaditya who was in the disguise of young business man.

After some days, they had given valuable gifts to Setti and said “Uncle! We left our place long back, we want to return home. Let us go! Send your daughter with us.”

Muddu Manikya Setti pleased with them, given sendoff to them.

Bhatti, Vikramaditya, left that town Ambapuram along with Pravala Valli and started walking. After some distance they reached a small town and traced a fort. The fort was locked. Nobody was residing in it. There was a palace, gardens and other buildings inside. They were observing the palace and fort. There came a resident of the town. They asked him “Oh! Man like our father! What is the name of this town? Whose fort is this?”

He said “Men like our father! This has a big history. I’ll tell you in brief. This town is known as Kala Kanta Puram. The king of this fort was Kala Dharma. He was very righteous, faithful and sincere towards people. His ruling was like Sri Rama’s ruling. People behaved according to the rules and Dharma. Though the king was very good, he had a sorrow. He had no children. He performed so many poojas, devotional programmes, yagnas and donations. But he didn’t get children. When he was on deathbed, he asked all the people in the fort to vacate it, to lock it. He desired that except Raja Vikramaditya, nobody should open these fort doors. Since that day, the fort was like this.”

They felt surprise. The man left there. Raja Vikramaditya touched the lock of the fort door. It was opened. They entered into the fort. The fort, the palace and the gardens were lively, neat and pleasant as if somebody were using them every day.