Dhanyasi Padavarnam (Swathi Tirunal)

Concept & Choreography: Yamini Kalluri
Musical Arrangement: Yamini Kalluri & Rohith Jayaraman

This piece portrays a passionate young woman deeply in love with Lord Vishnu, who, after captivating her with his divine allure, has abandoned her.

Yamini’s Interpretation:
"Oh Vishnu, it was you who awakened this overwhelming desire in me, and now you have left me. I have no one but you. Your celestial and enchanting form has ensnared my heart."

In this piece, I’ve taken the artistic liberty of weaving in the Dasavatara, the ten incarnations of Vishnu. The heroine is expressing, "No matter which incarnation you take—whether as a fish, a lion, a dwarf, a married man, a man with 16,000 partners, a monk, or a king too preoccupied for me—even if you appear to me in a female form, I am irresistibly drawn to you. Isn’t it remarkable that, in every lifetime when you reincarnated, I was also there on Earth, falling in love with you, again and again? I know it’s you, my Padmanabha, in every form you take."

"Consumed by desire and lost in longing, I surround myself with fragrant roses blooming in my garden. Each petal that brushes against my skin reminds me of the moments when we made love endlessly. Weren’t you the one who promised to marry me? As I apply kasthuri (musk) to my body, the scent takes me back to the times when you were eager to be with me. Your absence now fills me with doubt—have you moved on to another woman? My heart aches at the thought."

As the piece progresses, the heroine becomes more agitated, her longing turning to frustration, and she demands answers from Vishnu:

"My Lord, is this how you should treat me?"
"The looks you gave me, the whispers in my ear, the soft touches—they have cast a spell on me. Who else could commit such divine deceptions?"
"You answer the prayers of sages and saints, but why do you ignore my desires? No more sweet words—just look at me, cleanse me of my sins, and let me worship your feet like the great devotees."
"Is this truly how you should treat me?"
"I am in despair—please, protect me now. I have no one but you, my special one, the one with the lotus sprouting from your navel."
"Oh Vishnu, you are the one who ignited this intense longing in me, and then you left. Why?"