Paththini

Kannagi is born in the city of Puhar in the Chola kingdom. The summary presents her as a virtuous figure who will face trials of love and honor.

Kannagi marries Kovalan and they live a beautiful, long married life in the Chola realm. Their happiness is later shadowed by the arrival of Madhavi and the strain of romantic entanglements.

The court ceremony appoints Madhavi as the princess of the Chola kingdom, and Kovalan is invited among the dignitaries. Madhavi's beauty and talent captivate the attendees, initiating a pivotal shift in the lives of Kannagi and Kovalan.

Madhavi chooses Kovalan as her husband, impressing all the dignitaries. This choice breaks the previously joyful marriage between Kannagi and Kovalan as Kovalan grows attached to Madhavi.

Kovalan spends all his wealth on Madhavi, straining the family finances and hurting Kannagi. Kannagi endures heartbreak and is subjected to abuse by youngsters, while her father urges her to marry again, which she resists in loyalty.

The affair ends; Kovalan reunites with Kannagi, and the couple tries to live together. They become poor, holding only Kannagi's golden anklets as their valuable possession.

With poverty pressing, Kovalan and Kannagi decide to flee to the Pandya kingdom to live freely by selling Kannagi’s anklets. Madhavi remains behind for a time, waiting along the road with her hostess.

On their journey, Madhavi is pregnant with Kovalan's child. Kannagi asks Kovalan to return to her, but he refuses, and they continue toward Pandya territory.

Madhavi gives birth to her daughter Manimekala after reaching the Pandya realm. As Manimekala grows, she becomes dissatisfied with ordinary life and questions her parents' choices.

Manimekala rejects the Chola prince's marriage proposal and, after hearing a Buddhist sermon, converts to Buddhism. The prince persists and is killed by Manimekala, leading to her banishment from the Chola kingdom.

Kovalan learns about Madhavi and Manimekala and feels remorse for his past actions. He resolves not to meet them again and heads to Madurapura in the Pandya capital to sell one anklet while keeping the other with Kannagi.

In Madurapura, the royal goldsmith frames Kovalan for stealing the queen's anklet and the king orders his execution. Kannagi later learns of Kovalan's fate and is filled with rage and grief.

Kannagi arrives at the palace, learns of Kovalan's execution, and confronts the king. She reveals that her anklet contains rubies whereas the queen's is pearls, exposing a grave miscarriage of justice. The queen faints upon the revelation.

Kannagi curses the king and the city of Madurapura, leading to a fiery destruction that consumes the king, queen, and inhabitants. Kannagi ascends to heaven, and people of Tamil Nadu and Sri Lanka revere her as Pattini or Kannagi Amman.