CINTAMANI

CINTAMANI

ACT I

Scene 1

Cremation Grounds. Two gaunt ATTENDANTS tend the pits. Smoke and gloom pervades. A Saivite SADHU sits to one side.

ATTENDANT 1

So, Shankarji, whose body are we burning today?

ATTENDANT 2

I don't know. Oh yeah, I remember. It's Bilvamangala's father. You know Bilvamangala. He's that brahmin who is always running after that Chintamani. He spent a fortune on her--spent all his father's ?hardearn? money and mortgaged the house. He finally broke the old man's heart. Shame. Shame.

ATTENDANT 1

Chi, chi, chi. Why would anyone give everything to a woman?

ATTENDANT 2

When you're in love you'll do anything, no matter how crazy. Haven't you ever felt the pangs of love?

ATTENDANT 1

No, but I've felt the pangs of hunger. I'd do anything for money, but for love? Never.

ATTENDANT 2

Listen Scatterbrains, you better make sure you bust open the skull better than last time, or else we don't get paid. You gotta pierce it right ?????????, like this. See? Otherwise the brains will explode all over the family.

ATTENDANT 1

That's what happens when you fall in love, you lose your brains.

ATTENDANT 2

Look, you handle this right, and I'll split the remains with you 50-50. I heard the old man was loaded.

ATTENDANT 1

What do you mean?? split what?

ATTENDANT 2

The teeth, stupid! He's got a gold mine in his mouth.

ATTENDANT 1

Okay, it's a deal, we split the teeth 50-50 and keep my mouth ??????. Hey, what's that sadhu sitting there for?

ATTENDANT 2

Shh, don't disturb him.

ATTENDANT 1

But he must be hungry and thirsty. Sadhuji! Sadhuji! Ah, Sadhuji, drink? Some water? You are here all night in the midst of the smoke and heat of the fires of the dead.

SADHU

(opening eyes now burning wirh rage) OM Shivohum! Why you disturb Babaji?

ATTENDANT 1

I touch your feet. Please don't curse me.

SADHU

Hmm, soon I will reach siddhi.

ATTENDANT 1

You want siddhis? Is that what you have come here for Sadhuji? This is a bad place. Only dog eaters like me work here. All bad, filthy.

SADHU

(softening) I have done all tapasyas in all the holy tirtas, I sat in 5 fires in heat of summer--4 fires on 4 sides. and the 5th one, ??????? (pause)

ATTENDANT 1

The 5th fire?

SADHU

The scorching sun--2 months. Then in winter at Gangotri high in the Himalayas up to my neck in ice cold waters. I sat on a blanket of thorns always pricking my flesh, but I always had one disturbance.

ATTENDANT 1

What is that, Sadhuji?

SADHU

Kama! Lust himself. He is everywhere. Kama--he is so meanminded that he enters the holy places. Have you not seen the street dogs? Old hairless curs with open cuts, kicked and beaten with stones on the foot path, still he will go limping after a bitch, Kama entered his heart. Ahh, I will drive him out here. Here in the cremation grounds.

ATTENDANT 1

Ooooh, Baba, why in that place? Nothing holy here.

SADHU

Yess, yes, ha, ha, Who can have lusty thoughts here? Everywhere the stench of burning flesh, the sight of bodies burning, breasts peeling off like mango

skin, and brains sizzling. Yess, who can think of sex? This is the most sickening place. He won't come here. He wouldn't dare!

ATTENDANTS

Who Sadhu? Who?

SADHU

Kama, of course, you fools, you chandalas. Go back to your work and leave me alone.

ATTENDANT 2

Look, here come the funeral now. I bet that guy's got at least a dozen gold teeth.

ATTENDANT 1

But where's Vilvamangala? I don't see him in the procession.

ATTENDANT 2

Ah, he's probably out with that prostitute. I wouldn't put??????

ATTENDANT 1

There he is dawling in the back. Looks like he's trying to make a getaway. (FUNERAL PROCESSION draws closer. CORPSE is carried onto the funeral pyre.) Sound of Thunder (lightning)

PRIEST

I think it must?????? be raining. If you had been here any later we could not light the fire. We must be quick. Where is the son?

AUNT

Bilvamangala!

PRIEST

Where is Bilvamangala?

BILVAMANGALA

Here I am. Please hurry. It is getting late. I don't like this auntie. It looks like a terrible storm. Let me go!

PRIEST

It is the son's duty to perform the funeral rites for his father. I do not know what you are thinking of, and why you are so impatient, but unless you perform this cremation ceremony, you are not a worthy son.

AUNT

I know what you are thinking of Vilvamangala--and I'm disgusted with you. I know, you are off to see that prostitute--Chintamani!

BILVAMANGALA

No! No! Please let me go!

AUNT

No, it's your duty. Stay here and do your dead father one last service. Pray for his soul's safe journey to a higher birth or?? heaven, or back to Lord Vishnu in Vaikuntha.

Doesn't this place sober you? This place of death. No, you are mad, mad for a woman and even the sight of your own dead father doesn't teach you that this life is but a journey to death. A molten hot form of a woman awaits you in hell for your lust.

BILVAMANGALA

Stop it! Stop it!

AUNT

You stop. Just see your father's body. Look at it. Oh my brother, what did you do to deserve a son like this?

BILVAMANGALA

It's no use Auntie, I can't look at it.

AUNT

What makes you so squeamish? This body is only a lump of flesh and bones. The real person is the soul. You have never really seen you father--only his body. Now look at it and see it for what it is. When the soul was in it your father was a handsome man--buty now this. The real beautiful person is the soul, not the body. Love the soul and be free of this curse.

BILVAMANGALA

No, no, I can't. Let me go. (runs off in tears)

AUNT

Priest, I will finish his duties for my dead brother.

PRIEST

Here, light the fire.?????

All lights off

Thunder continues to next scene, rain. ?????

-CURTAIN-

Blue or green light.

Thunder in distance and rain.

Scene 2

Riverbank near the cremation ghat. Raging storm.

BILVAMANGALA

Oh, I'm horrible. But she was horrible????! My father's dead body... I couldn't stand the sight.

But now I'm away. I'm free of them. Free to see Chintamani. She's just there--across the river and over the wall. The storm won't stop me. Nothing can

stop me now!

If only there were some boat. Can't I even find a log? At any other time there would be dozens lying here by the river. Can't I find just one? Oh I'm in luck, a boatman. Hey you get up and take me to that house across the river. Wake up, you son of a pig! (pick him up and shakes him) Haven't you ever been in love? Huh? Speak! (slaps him). Ahh, he's ddead...

Now what shall I do?

I know. That's it, of course. Dead bodies float! This is perfect. Just as if I had it all planned out.

O mighty river, let me pass! Now, now, O Chintamani (jumps in river).

Thank you, you smelly maggot. I'll pay you in you next life. Wouldn't ?auntie? like that.

Clashing Thunder. A rope. A snake. Lights off. Sound ????? to next scene.

Stop thunder and rain???

ACT II

Scene 2

(CHINTAMANI'S house. The bedroom late at night. Storm is still raging)

After??? light candles. Turn on all lights, no sound.

BILVAMANGALA

(Falls through window) Help! Help! Open up! Let me in! Chintamani!

CHINTAMANI

What's the matter Thaka? What's the matter?

THAKA

Madam, I think it's a thief. Somebody fell and is crying out of pain.

?????????

CHINTAMANI

What? Who is it?

BILVAMANGALA

It's me, it's me. I'm hurt. Oh Chintamani.

CHINTAMANI

Who are you?

THAKA

Oh, it's your young gentleman friend.

BILVAMANGALA

It's me your favorite.

CHINTAMANI

Mohan? Shudhir?

BILVAMANGALA

Mohan? Sudhir? No, it's me Bilva???. I'm Vilva???.

CHINTAMANI

What's that? Vilvamangal? The fool's come to tease the life out of me! What makes him groan like that? You idiot, why do you groan like that?

THAKA

Madam, he fell from the top of the wall. He must have hurt himself badly.

CHINTAMANI

Don't worry, he'll live--if only to cause me trouble. Come, Thaka, take him by the hand and help him get up. Now--get up!

THAKA

Horrible! Whew! I can't stand it. What is that loathsome smell. You smell horrible (throws perfume). What is it?

BILVAMANGALA

I don't know. Chintamani... I had to see you.

CHINTAMANI

You are mad. How in the world did you cross the river in this raging storm?

VILVAMANGAL

I love you Chintamani. Just to see you I jumped in the river and floated on

a log. I love you.

CHINTAMANI

And what is that horrid odor on your body?

BILVAMANGALA

From the dead man.

CHINTAMANI

From the dead man? From what dead man? Did you kill someone?

BILVAMANGALA

I floated on a dead body. I didn't want to tell you, but that "log" was actually a corpse. O Chintamani, I love you.

CHINTAMANI

You are crazy. And you're bleeding!

BILVAMANGALA

O, I cut myself on the wall.

CHINTAMANI

But how did you climb over the wall?

BILVAMANGALA

Why Chintamani, you left a rope there fastened to the wall.

CHINTAMANI

Thaka! Thaka! Did you hear the joke! I left a rope on my wall so men could climb up! Just imagine!

BILVAMANGALA

It is true Chintamani, I found a rope there, and I climbed ?up? the wall.

CHINTAMANI

Thaka, I have never been troubled so much in all my life--never! For weeks he has been pestering. And when I have asked him for money, he has had nothing for me but excuses. He says he hasn't a thing left. But still he comes, and now he brings a ladder and scales my wall.

BILVAMANGALA

It's the truth, Chintamani, I had no ladder. Out, look,??? the rope.

CHINTAMANI

?Where? Let me see. Oh Thaka, Thaka, it's a snake! A cobra!

BILVAMANGALA

What? A cobra?

THAKA

Madan, I know what's happened. If a cobra has his mouth in a hole, no amount of pulling by the tail can drag him out of it. This snake's been pulled so hard he's given up the ghost.

CHINTAMANI

You got up with the help of deadly snake. Why do you stare at me that way?

BILVAMANGALA

Chintamani, perhaps you have never given your heart to anyone. If you had you would know there are times when nothing matters: rope or snake--what's the difference?

CHINTAMANI

You are crazy.

BILVAMANGALA

And did you never find out till now that I am crazy? You sleep, and all night ling I gaze upon your face. If I but hear you sigh, the world seems empty to me. All that I possessed has been sold for debt: I have not cared. I have clothed myself with gossip and ill-fame as with a garment. And still you have not known that I am crazy! O Chintamani, Chintamani!

CHINTAMANI

What makes you talk like that?

BILVAMANGALA

I love you Chintamani. I'm madly in love.

CHINTAMANI

This is not love, but lust. I doubt you no longer. You are mad inedeed! You have neither shame, not hatred, not fear. You grasp a corpse thinking it a log, you grasp a snake, thinking it a rope. What am I worth that you risked your life? Great endeavors are for winning great goals. Heroes struggle in battle to win treasures; kings wage war for power in the world. You risked everything for me--a prostitute. You mad fool! One life can be risked for the sake of the family. The family can be sacrificed for the sake of the village. The village may be sacrificed for the sake of the nation, but everything should be sacrificed for God--only God.

BILVAMANGALA

What do you mean?

CHINTAMANI

If you had taken half this much trouble on the battlefield you would have been a great hero. If you had gone through all this for God people would call you a great saint... Ah, what might you not have attained if you had turned your thoughts to the lotus feet of the Lord instead of to me--a prostitute. What am I? I'm not this body that you stare at so fondly, that will grow old and die. This body passes, but devotion to the Lord is with us forever.

BILVAMANGALA

How is that?

CHINTAMANI

A rich man may endeavor his whole life but at the time of death he must leave it all and be born again naked. But Krishna bhakti is never lost. Even a little trouble will never be forgotten. If a devotee chants while lying down, the Lord sits by such a devotee. If the devotee sits up and takes the name of the Lord, the Lord stands by the devotee. If the devotee stands and chants the Holy Name of Hari, the Lord dances and if the devotee dances and chant "Hari, Hari" the Lord embraces such high soul.

BILVAMANGALA

What are you saying?

CHINTAMANI

It is true.

BILVAMANGALA

You are not the same Chintamani. I feel that I know you in a different way. Who am I and who are you?

CHINTAMANI

I am your guru. I have followed you into this life to bring you to your

perfection. For this is your last birth and I may now return to my Lord Sri Krishna. Your soul is safe now. Do not be shaken again. In your last life you were my disciple, but I detected the demon lust deeply rooted in your heart. Now you are enlightened by this night. I had to take another birth in the material world to show you. Do not come back again.???Rest here and be at peace.???

BILVAMANGALA

Then, to what have I given my heart? For what have I embraced a corpse? For this body. When it is finished it floats upon the river, food for a jackqal, or turns to ashes, and the wind scatters it.

????????

O God, tell me where Thou art and let me surrender unto Thee--utterly--heart and soul! Where shall I go?

I am so degraded that I made my spiritual master come and save me. O Chintamani wherer shall I go now?

CHINTAMANI

Go and seek Somagiri. He will finish my work.

All light out

--CURTAIN--

After Somagiri seats himself turn on all lights.

ACT III

Scene 1

SOMAGIRI sits in front of his bhajan kutir surrounded by his DISCIPLES singing

Hari Kirtan:

"Govinda Hari Gopala Hari

Jaya Jaya Deva Hari"

BILVAMANGALA humbly sits by the DISCIPLES and joins in. The DISCIPLES move away from him more and more until SOMAGIRI sees the disturbance and stops the kirtan.

SOMAGIRI

What is that? Who is this man?

DISCIPLE

He is Bilvamangala, Guruji, a dep raved man. Very sinful. Driven away by Chintamani, and in despair, he has taken the life of renunciation. Who knows how long the mood will last?

SOMAGIRI

(angry) Vartamanacha yat papam yad bhitan

Yad bhavishyate, Tad sarvam surdihatpesa

Govinda mala kirtanat

Why do you say this? Have you not heard me giving this teaching? All sins past and present are burned up in the fire of Govinda Kirtan! What is more powerful? The curse of sin, or the purifying Name of Sri Hari?

DISCIPLE

The holy name!

DISCIPLES

Tum papi ho?

BILVAMANGALA

(Shakes head) I am low and depraved. I bow down at your feet. Please instruct me.

SOMAGIRI

Sab tuche hai. Dukha nahi lacta ho. Suno.

(BILVAMANGALA sits next to SOMAGIRI)

SOMAGIRI

(sings):"Bhaja hunre mana Sri Nandanandana...etc."

BILVAMANGALA

Oh, Master, Guruji, I am so fallen, but you are giving me you mercy. What should I do? I am your desciple. (Bows holding SOMAGIRI'S feet).

DISCIPLES

Aha ha. (click click click).

SOMAGIRI

"The head, though crpwned with a silk turban, is only a heavy burden if not bowed down before the Lord or His representative who can award mukti...

The eyes which do not look at the form of Vishnu are like those on the plumes of a peacock, and the legs which do not move to the holy places where the Lord is remembered are considered to be like tree trunks."

Use you legs then and go to Vrindaban where you can see the beautiful Deities of the Lord. But don't let your wicked eyes lead you astray. For even the wooden image of a woman can cause lusty desires. Nevermind about your past sinful activities, Bilvamangala, but do not sin again.

BILVAMANGALA

Yes, master, I promise.

SOMAGIRI

Then go to Vrindaban. (Resumes singing as BILVAMANGALA bows down and exits.) Lights out until Somagiri and followers exit. Bilva takes his seat.??????

(Exeunt.)

lights on

(Enter BILVAMANGALA)

In front of curtian.

BILVAMANGALA

Ah, my mind! In no way can I make quiet. Very well. Wander, then, where you will--but I shall be keeping watch over you. And you tongue: cease not to utter the Holy name. (Sits in meditation with eyes closed.)

(Enter two women. AHALYA and a FRIEND.)

3rd ???????

FRIEND

Look, sister, look at that tramp!

AHALYA

Oh! Don't say that. He must be some holy man. Don't you see he is meditating?

FRIEND

Heavens, no! He is mad. (To VILVAMANGAL) Hey there, you crazy man! Are you hungry?

FRIEND

Look, sister, the man is staring at you. Come--his eyes are red! He may be drunk.

BILVAMANGAL

(Aside.) Eyes, let me see how long you will keep me enslaved!

(Starts following the women.)

FRIEND

O sister, he is following us!

AHALYA

Come let's go ???

(Exeunt AHALYA and FRIEND.)

BILVAMANGALA

Ah, eyes, love's topmost warriors, you bring home a deadly serpent as if it were

a friend. Fretting to find happiness, the deluded mind suspect not your guile and makes room for his enemy in the very shrine of my heart--where God alone should dwell. There the serpent distills its venom. Again this evil thing takes place: again the eyes, by beaty tempted, lead home the serpent; and again, though sorely suffering, the foolish heart bids it welcome. To such sad round of misery there is no end; no respite is there from passion; still the eyes deceitfully declare: "Lo, here is that treasure which, once possessed, brings peace." Powerful beyond words is habit!... Mind, you are a beast!

Scene 5

Before MERCHANT'S haouse. VILVAMANGAL sits at the door. Enter MERCHANT.

MERCHANT

Where is your home?

BILVAMANGALA

Whenever I stay, that is my home.

MERCHANT

Have you renounced the world?

BILVAMANGALA

Yes.

MERCHANT

Please accept my hospitality.

BILVAMANGALA

I have come for that.

MERCHANT

It is my good fortune. Pray enter.

BILVAMANGALA

But I have a strange request.

MERCHANT

Kindly tell me what it is.

BILVAMANGALA

First, allow me to introduce myself. I am a degenerate soul. A prostitute would not love me, and inm desperation I left the world.

MERCHANT

Whoever you may be, you are my guest--God himself in the form of a guest. Kindly come in.

BILVAMANGALA

I have not yet told you why I have come here.

MERCHANT

Please tell me.

BILVAMANGALA

It is your wife. I have beheld her beauty. From the moment I cast eyes on her, I have been restless. Hoping always to see her again, I wait and wait. If, then, it be your desire to serve your guest, promise that you will leave your wife alone with me. Let this woman, adorned with jewels, grant my wishes tonight. Thus I lay open to you my depraved self: do, Sir, as you will.

MERCHANT

(Aside.) What new test, O Lord, is this! Speak Thou to my heart. Shall my guest go away unsatisfied? Who knows in form Thou mayest come to try us? My guest shall not be disappointed. Virtue is reality: by its percept I must abide. (Aloud.) Sir, please enter. Honored guest, I yield to your desire. Tonight you shall be husband to my wife.

BILVAMANGALA

(Aside.) See now how your eyes have made of you a beast. I have yet to learn how far they can drag you down ? (Exeunt.)

Scene 6

???

MERCHANT

My dear Ahalya, prepare yourself. Our guest would like to enjoy you.

AHALYA

O my lord, what are you saying? You want me to give myself to him-- a stranger? How can I do this? Chastity is the treasured virtue of dharmapatni.

MERCHANT

Yes, dharma. It is our dharma to receive this holy man, our guest. Athita devo bhavan.

Yajna ??? tapasya. The dharma of the brahmachary is to perform sacrifice. The dharma of the sannyasi is to perform austerities, and the dharma of we grihasthas is to give in charity. This man is a sadhu, so I do not know, perhaps the Lord is testing us. Perhaps the Lord is disguised at this sadhu.

The dharma of a wife is to obey her husband. The dharma of the householder is to satisfy their guests, so there is no sin in the performance of our dharma.

AHALYA

Very well, I shall obey. You are my husband, my lord, that I know. I shall do you will. Whether is be good or evil is for God to judge.

(approaches BILVAMANGALA)

I am here. You may do with me as you like. You are our honored guest.

BILVAMANGALA

O these eyes! These eyes! I cannot control them. Better to destroy them.

MERCHANT

What is the matter? What is the matter? (to WIFE) What did you do? What did

you say?

AHALYA

Nothing. Nothing!

MERCHANT

Is she not pleasing to you?

BILVAMANGALA

Yes, and her hair ornaments are very lovely. May I see them? And the other one? (holds both hairpins) Yes, these are very beautiful. (pierces his eyes with the pins)

Now, I'm free! Free! Now I have eyes only for Krishna!

Om ajnana-timirandhasya jnananjana-salakaya

caksur unmilitan yena tasmai sri-gurave namah

I was born in the darkest ignorance, and my spiritual master pierced my eyes with the torch of knowledge. I offer my respectful obeisances unto him.

I must go to Vridaban. How will I find Vrindaban?

MERCHANT

Mukam koroti vacalam