Hayavadana

Hayavadana – The book provides a thorough analysis of Girish Karnad’s play, covering aspects such as plot construction, characterization, literary techniques, and themes. The story focuses on three main human characters—Devadatta (an intellectual Brahmin), Kapila (a physically strong Kshatriya warrior), and Padmini (the woman both desire). A mix-up involving the heads and bodies of the two men, which are accidentally transposed, leads to a conflict between the intellect and the physical form. A parallel plot involves a character named Hayavadana, a man with a horse’s head who seeks to become a complete human.