The Meleager Story and Ponnivala

In a recent post, we discussed the similarities between The Legend of Ponnivala and the Calydonian Boar Hunt from Greek mythology. In both stories, the giant boar was sent to ravage the farmers’ land in revenge for a great insult. And in both stories, twin warriors figure very prominently in the battle (in Ponnivala they’re
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Episode 4: A Love Match

In this feature, we outline the chapters of The Legend of Ponnivala as we’ve laid them out in the animated and print series. The sub-story descriptions are those that occur in each episode, and are drawn from our Teacher’s Handbook.A wandering, orphaned boy is adopted by two prosperous and kind farmer-brothers. The boy begins to work for these
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Twin Warriors vs. The Giant Boar

In The Legend of Ponnivala, the twin kings Ponnar and Shankar face off against a giant boar named Komban. Komban is the offspring of a little sow who was once brought to Ponnivala as one of the royal animals. When Kunnutaiya and Tamarai set out on their journey to the Gates of Heaven to resolve
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Dr. Brenda Beck Attends Veerashaiva Samaja Meeting in Mississauga

Veerashaiva Samaja of North America Meeting in Mississauga, May 14, 2012 Organizer Vijay Aivalli addresses the audience. Dr. Beck gave a presentation to about 30 families at a local Catholic school in Mississauga on Mother’s Day at a meeting of the Veerashaiva Samaja of North America. She decided to show a video version of one
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Episode 3: A Long Exile

In this feature, we outline the chapters of The Legend of Ponnivala as we’ve laid them out in the animated and print series. The sub-story descriptions are those that occur in each episode, and are drawn from our Teacher’s Handbook. A young orphan is treated badly by his clansmen and is forced to run from place to place.
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Dr. Brenda Beck Attends Tamil Studies Conference, University of Toronto

Tamil Studies Conference, University of Toronto, May 11-13, 2012   Presenters (l-r) Gita Pai, Zoe Headley, and S. Ponnarasu respond to audience questions. Finding time in her busy schedule, Dr. Beck was able to make it to a couple of Friday afternoon sessions of the 2012 Tamil conference in Toronto. She heard several very interesting
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Odin’s Ravens and Tamarai’s Parrots

In The Legend of Ponnivala, Queen Tamarai must do penance by sitting in meditation for twenty one years before being permitted to take counsel with Lord Shiva. During this protracted meditation, two parrots take up residence in her nose. Before Tamarai awakens the parrots are shooed away by Lord Vishnu, and seek refuge in a
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Episode 2: A Young Orphan

In this feature, we outline the chapters of The Legend of Ponnivala as we’ve laid them out in the animated and print series. The sub-story descriptions are those that occur in each episode, and are drawn from our Teacher’s Handbook.Lord Shiva has cursed a farming family to barrenness due to the death of some cows. But then he
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1st Annual Multicultural Celebration Day at the Kawartha Heights School in Peterborough

Students receiving henna designs. The Kawartha Heights School has a lot of students whose cultural roots lie in other countries. So they decided to heighten student appreciation of other cultures and their riches by celebrating a Multicultural Day. The event featured Native Canadians and at least 30 countries from around the world. The kids carried
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Naming a Legend

Although there is no “real” place in India called “Ponnivala,” we have chosen to use this poetic name to refer to our retelling of this ancient Tamil epic. But how did we arrive at this title? Traditionally our story is known by the name “The Elder Brothers’ Story,” which refers to the brothers Ponnar and
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