Ganesha Goes to Lunch by Kamla K. Kapur

Author:Kamla K. Kapur
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Insight Editions LLC
Published: 2011-02-22T05:00:00+00:00

THE SNAKE WHO LOST HIS HISS

The elders of a village visited a much-venerated saint where he was meditating in a cave in the mountains and complained about Nagarajah, an evil snake who was terrorizing the village. “His hiss can be heard for miles around,” they said. “He bites and swallows our cattle, our dogs, our children, our men, our women. Even the bravest among us have become afraid to venture out into the fields, which are parched, and uncultivated. Our granaries are depleted and empty. Our numbers are dwindling from death by the snake and by starvation. Help us, Guru. You alone can subdue and vanquish Nagarajah.”

The saint, realizing the gravity of the situation, descended to the village and went straight to a large, spreading bodhi tree. Under its leafy canopy children had always played, yogis had meditated, and lovers had lain in each other’s arms under the moonlight. But no more. Now at its coiling, twisted roots lived Nagarajah in his burrow, like a terrifying, tyrannical beast.

“Come forth, O Ancient One,” the saint called, and the snake crept out of his hole, slithering and undulating, his dark scales shimmering in the sunlight. He was awesome in his length, strength, and beauty. He glided to the Guru, coiling meekly at his feet.

“What is this I hear about you being the scourge of the village? Leave your destructive ways. Behave yourself. Don’t kill needlessly. Stop biting your neighbors and leave them alone,” the saint said.

And miraculously, because Nagarajah could be made conscious of the consequences of his acts, and because he had the sense and the power to obey the saint, he returned to his burrow, resolving henceforth to leave his evil ways, and be good.

Thereafter, the fields again yielded grain, the children came out to play, the lovers loved, the brave hunters came out with their bows and their arrows, and the villagers again found themselves living in peace.

One day, several months later, the saint passed by the tree in the village, and found Nagarajah coiled near the root of the tree. The creature was utterly transformed: his scales had fallen off; he looked mangy, emaciated, innocuous, and limp; sores covered the snake’s body, and he appeared on the verge of death.

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