Kanthapura

by

Raja Rao

Teachers and parents! Our Teacher Edition on Kanthapura makes teaching easy.

Kenchamma Character Analysis

Kanthapura’s patron goddess, Kenchamma supposedly battled a demon on the red Kenchamma Hill near town “ages, ages ago” and has protected Kanthapura’s people ever since. The villagers frequently pray to her for help, perform ceremonies to honor her, and thank her for their good fortune. Kenchamma exemplifies the traditional religion that Kanthapura’s people gradually come to leave behind.

Kenchamma Quotes in Kanthapura

The Kanthapura quotes below are all either spoken by Kenchamma or refer to Kenchamma. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Oral Tradition, Writing, and Political Power Theme Icon
).
Section 1 Quotes

Sometimes people say to themselves, the Goddess of the River plays through the night with the Goddess of the Hill. Kenchamma is the mother of Himavathy. May the goddess bless us!

Related Characters: Achakka (speaker), Kenchamma
Related Symbols: Kenchamma Hill, The River Himavathy
Page Number: 1
Explanation and Analysis:
Section 11 Quotes

Changing he changes not,

Ash-smeared, he’s Parvati’s sire,

Moon on his head,

And poison in his throat,

Chant, chant, chant the name of Eesh,

Chant the name of Siva Lord!

Related Characters: Moorthy, Kenchamma, Sankar
Page Number: 113
Explanation and Analysis:
Section 13 Quotes

“This is all Ramayana and Mahabharata; such things never happen in our times.”

Related Characters: Dorè (speaker), Moorthy, Rangamma, Mahatma Gandhi, Kenchamma
Page Number: 125
Explanation and Analysis:
Section 18 Quotes

“In the name of the goddess, I’ll burn this village”

Related Characters: Rachi (speaker), Rachanna, Kenchamma
Page Number: 184
Explanation and Analysis:
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Kenchamma Quotes in Kanthapura

The Kanthapura quotes below are all either spoken by Kenchamma or refer to Kenchamma. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Oral Tradition, Writing, and Political Power Theme Icon
).
Section 1 Quotes

Sometimes people say to themselves, the Goddess of the River plays through the night with the Goddess of the Hill. Kenchamma is the mother of Himavathy. May the goddess bless us!

Related Characters: Achakka (speaker), Kenchamma
Related Symbols: Kenchamma Hill, The River Himavathy
Page Number: 1
Explanation and Analysis:
Section 11 Quotes

Changing he changes not,

Ash-smeared, he’s Parvati’s sire,

Moon on his head,

And poison in his throat,

Chant, chant, chant the name of Eesh,

Chant the name of Siva Lord!

Related Characters: Moorthy, Kenchamma, Sankar
Page Number: 113
Explanation and Analysis:
Section 13 Quotes

“This is all Ramayana and Mahabharata; such things never happen in our times.”

Related Characters: Dorè (speaker), Moorthy, Rangamma, Mahatma Gandhi, Kenchamma
Page Number: 125
Explanation and Analysis:
Section 18 Quotes

“In the name of the goddess, I’ll burn this village”

Related Characters: Rachi (speaker), Rachanna, Kenchamma
Page Number: 184
Explanation and Analysis: