The Queen of Jasmine Country

Myths | dreams | desires | the timeless reality of the body and soul - in the midst of nature's bounty - that is the essence of The Queen of Jasmine Country. It is an astounding work of fiction. - Volga Tonight | under this arena of starlight | I take up my stylus and press it by the glow of a clay lantern into dry palmyra leaves. It is on this night that I dedicate myself - to my self | to who I truly am | to what is invincible and without bondage of time | that predates me | that will outlive me. Ninth century. In Puduvai | a small town in what we now know as Tamil Nadu | young Kodhai is taught to read and to write by her adoptive father | a garland-weaving poet. As she discovers the power of words | she also realizes that the undying longing for a great love that she has been nursing within her - one that does not suppress her desire for freedom - is likely to remain unfulfilled. Then | she hears of a vow that she can undertake that might summon it to her. In deepest winter | the sixteen-year-old begins praying for a divinely sensual love - not knowing that her words will themselves become prayers | and echo through the centuries to come. Rich with the echoes of classical poetry | in The Queen of Jasmine Country | Sharanya Manivannan imagines the life of the devotional poet Andal | whose sublime and erotic verses remain beloved and controversial to this day.