A Look Back at

Sarasvatichandra and Kumud It was the third year of Maniraj’s reign. A small but beautiful Shiva temple called Malleshwar was built in the garden where Mallaraj had lived his last days. Ratnanagari’s rulers were devotees of Shiva. Large parts of the population followed the Vaishnava sect. The rulers respected their faith and as a sign of this respect, numerous plants of the sacred basil, the tulsi, were planted in the garden. Mena Rani lived in that garden. She slept on the floor of the hut in which Mallaraj’s soul had left his body. She refused to entertain any talk about the state or worldly affairs. She ate one sparse meal daily. With the exception of Maniraj and some gardeners, no male was permitted to enter the garden. Every day she woke up early, remembered her departed husband and wept, prayed to be united with him in the other world and sought solace in the recitation of God’s name. At sunrise she worshipped Malleshwar and watered the tulsi plants. Soon after, Maniraj and Kamala Rani would come to visit her. They would touch her feet, sit on the ground and seek religious advice and her blessings. Maniraj would return to the palace to attend to his royal duties, but Kamala would stay back, prepare Mena Rani’s meals, clean her hut, wash her clothes and try to alleviate her sorrow; only then would she go back to the palace to serve her husband and king. Every afternoon, Madhumakshika would go to Mena Rani, read to her from the Puranas and discuss scriptural matters. Kamala and other women from the palace would gather at the hut to hear stories of the virtuous royal women of Ratnanagari from the old queen. Mena Rani would invariably speak of the greatness of Mallaraj, which would fill Kamala with pride and she would often weep, moved by her mother-in-law’s pain. Kamala would stay with her till she was asked to leave. Mena often wondered if she deserved such doting care and affection of her virtuous children, and would invariably retire to bed in tears. She neither knew nor cared whether her bed was hard or soft. She would lie awake, talking to herself: How generous Maharaj was towards me! He left for his heavenly abode, while I cling on to life! I did not deserve his love and affection. I gave him nothing but sorrow. Eventually, sleep would take pity on this grieving royal widow. After receiving the news of Kumud Sundari’s drowning, Vidya Chatura and Gunasundari returned to Ratnanagari from Manoharpuri. Vidya Chatura’s attempts to console Gunasundari proved futile; she could not bear the weight of her sorrow. Maniraj and Vidya Chatura decided to send her to Mena Rani. They reasoned that the intense mourning of the widow would help Gunasundari forget her own pain. At seven in the morning Gunasundari arrived at the garden, accompanied by Sundargauri and Kusum Sundari. They saw Mena Rani deep in thought, leaning against a platform