vi edible associated with the Karnataka region, Liñga's brother Tryambaka (cocoanut), the latter's wife Kvathika (boiled fluid dish), their two sons, Garlic and Small Onion, show that the whole family is associated with the southern region. The Pandits who attend the garbhadhāna function are drawn from Tamil Nadu, Andhra, Karnataka, Bengal and Maharashtra (specially the Citpävans). The main thrust of the play is of course the funny situations set up by H.M. in depicting the consumption of prohibited vegetables, specially onions, mushroom, and garlic by the so-called orthodox priests, openly and stealthily. These vegetables are used to spice the various food preparations at the ritual function. H.M. criticizes this nature of the brahmins adequately in simple and appropriate similes and metaphors. H.M. says that without small onions "dishes will be tasteless like the grassy food of mammals", that "the bulbous root of garlic is like the moon while the onions are like fire-flies", that a "good collection of big onion shines like the multitude of stars". The gorgeous description of garlic in verses 8 and 11 and of small onions in verse 9 could be seen in this connection. It is noteworthy that not only human beings including the priestly class, enjoy eating food dishes seasoned by onions and garlic but also the divinities, gods and demons. In the Nandi verse itself Siva is described as "enjoying all kinds of food and drinks" and "delighting in varied tastes". In and through the play the peelings of garlic and onions are described as scattered all over in large quantities. The funeral pyre of Lasuna Panta is made up of only such peeled skins. The sacrificial VII platform at the garbhädhäna function too is covered with the peelings of garlic and onion, instead of the Kusa grass. Not only men, but all the womenfolk too, conceal a lot of these prohibited vegetables in the pleats of their saris and these roll down on the floor when they serve the food for the guests! The funniest part is at the end of the play when H.M, effectively describes a brawl arising from the mutual criticism of the orthodox Southern and Bengali priests and pandits. The Southerners are not. able to put up with the unorthodox nasty smell of rotten fish. In the same way the Bengalis strongly criticize the Southerners relishing assiduously the foodstuffs seasoned with the strong-scented onions garlic. Being learned pandits they cite the Smrti texts to document their respective views. This disputation ends in the imprisonment of the Bengali pandits by the policemen and royal official on the argument manipulated by the "crafty" southerners. Accordingly the latter point to the accumulated red and white peelings of onions and prove that the Bengalis were trying to perform some tantric rite to kill them all! This calamitous event proves to be not only a great disturbance but also time-consuming. The auspicious time fixed for the ritual was also over by then. Hence the announcement is made that a more suitable auspicious day is to be fixed for the garbhadhana ceremony of Lingoji and Cinca. It is evident from this development that the southerners headed by the respected' guest Palandu Mandana had the final say on all matters including foodstuffs and rituals so that the title of the play becomes most appropriate and significant. Besides criticising the eating habits of people in some parts of India
