PALANDUMANDANA-SYNOPSIS son-in-law is revived and Raktamülika's marriage as well as property have been secured. Peram Bhaṭṭa, the Purohita for the religious cer- emony of Lingoji and Cinca already arranged for, arrives now with the necessary things. He is afraid that the fine smell of onion and garlic and the wafting of the breeze of their peelings would collect too much of a crowd. He arranges things for the ceremony. Cica and Lingoji sit down for the same and in the same fire where the religious rite is to be done, Lingoji inhales the smoke of his own favourite things like tobacco, Bhang etc. Pürnapolika is shocked at the profanation of the ceremony and snatches from Cinca's hand her favourite thing Lakṣmaṇa which she was eating all the time. 26 Grijanädri who has learnt that his marriage has been dropped and his old elder brother had been chosen, announces his resolve to commit suicide. One of the guests Kavakankura prevents him from spoiling the occasion with the rash act. Kvathika is also upset that Grijanädri would remain unmarried and finds fault with Purnapolikā for going back upon her word. Mithyakuta now observes that some Northerners were arriving; they do not like any of the dishes mentioned above and are generally highly critical of the local practices of the Deccanis. Enter Bengali Bhattacaryas Jhallari-Jhankara, Bheri-bhänkāra etc.with a pupil. The pupil is carrying for the Guru's diet fish which is three days old. They are anxious to find a kitchen to cook the fish. Unfortunately he has to face the Deccani Pandits who enter into the argument with him on the unorthodox character of fish-eating. The Bengali cites some texts in support of their habits. The Deccani de- cides to punish the Bengali. 27 PALANDUMANDANA-SYNOPSIS He brings an Official and some soldiers alleging that the Bengali was trying to perform some tantric rite to kill them all and asks the official to beat him up. The soldiers take the Bengali away. The con- fusion is thus over; but as all this had proved a great disturbance, the Deccani Pandit announces that a more suitable auspicious day should be fixed for the garbhadhana ceremony of Cinca and Lingoji: They all agree that a more auspicious day should be fixed.
