A Legend of Devotion and Sacrifice
Chempakavalliyude Katha is one of the five graphic books in the Yakshikkathakal series, based on the Thekkan Pattukal of Kerala and Tamil Nadu.
Chempakavally, the devoted wife of a Brahmin trader, sought refuge in the Kingdom of Travancore after her family fled their homeland. When her husband was later killed by thieves during a trading journey, she chose to sacrifice her life on his funeral pyre, believing that the kingdom had failed to protect the promise it had made to her family. Despite the king's sincere attempts to persuade her otherwise, she remained resolute.
According to folk tradition, Chempakavally was later blessed by Lord Shiva, reborn as a benevolent goddess and worshipped in village temples. Beautifully retold as a graphic book, this story introduces young readers to the rich folklore and cultural traditions of South India.