(Ananthalwan Part II)
However, Ananthalwan could not sleep on that night and thoughts were like turbulent ripples and naturally, that perturbed his mind. He was thinking about the promise that he had given to his guru and did not want to leave the assigned task at half-way stage, as that would amount to a shame on his part. It amounts to disobeying his guru’s order.
Finally Ananthalwan decided to fulfill his divine task. The next morning, Ananthalwan’s wife happily awoke thinking that they were leaving for their native village. But her beloved husband told her how he was disturbed by several thoughts the previous night. The moment she realised that he had changed his decision, she was ready to obey him. Lord Srinivasa felt happy on seeing the wonderful co-ordination between the amiable couple. Goddess Alarmel Manga, the Lord’ Consort, requested Him to bless the couple. Lord Venkateswara nodded His head and assured Her that all His pranks would never create adversities. Later, Ananthalwan restarted his efforts to develop floor gardens. After completing their routine in the morning, Ananthalwan would go with his crowbar and his wife would follow him carrying two head pans.
Lord Venkateswara decided to help the couple in their work. He came out of Ananda Nilayam and approached Ananthalwan in the guise of a small Yadava boy. The boy was looking handsome with divine charm, dressed in white woollen clothes, with hanging earrings, wearing golden rings, with Namam (the sacred tilak on the forehead), wearing Yagnopaveetham (sacred thread).
With a cheerful smile the Almighty told Ananthalwan that since you and your wife are working hard, it is painful to see her carrying away the mud with considerable difficulty. The Lord was also ready to lift the filled head pans to facilitate the process. Ananthalwan, the incarnation of Adisesha, became furious on hearing the boy’s version from his wife and shouted at queer pitch with a terse reply that the task is enstrusted to him by his divine guru and hence he would accomplish it all by himself.
Ananthalwan also snubbed the boy with a cryptic reply that he does not need his help, as he was neither his friend, nor a relative or the reverred disciple of Ramanujacharya.
The boy was surprised at Ananthalwan’s intense anger for a moment and stayed away for some time before realising that it was difficult to convince him. Instead, the boy succeeded in impressing his wife, while she was walking with the head pan. Naturally, she was overjoyed over his humble requests and gave away the loaded head pan to him without the knowledge of her husband. Ananthalwan felt that there was something fishy somewhere, when his wife approached him with an empty pan.
With a lurking suspicion lingering in his mind, Ananthalwan asked his wife whether she was throwing the mud at the selected spot or at any other place. She had no other option, but to admit that she was being helped by the young lad. On hearing this, Ananthalwan burst into anger, as his face grew red and looked more or less similar to Adishesha with seven hoods. Out of frustration, he ran after the boy with the crowbar like in the running race. Realising the exigency of the situation, the Lord started
running towards Ananda Nilayam as Ananthalwan was chasing him ferociously and with renewed vigour.
The boy climbed up a big tamarind tree and tried to hide himself among the branches. Ananthalwan reached the spot and stood under the tree, waiting for the boy to climb down. The boy virtually pleaded with Ananthalwan not to beat him by offering all his
valuables. He assured the boy that he will not harm him, if he chooses to climb down from the tree.
Relying on his promise, the boy jumped down from the tree and started running and wanted to find out whether Ananthalwan was chasing him or not.
However, Ananthalwan, who became furious with the boy, threw the crowbar at him, which hit him on his chin. Blood was oozing out from the chin.
Despite the injury, the boy ran quickly. Ananthalwan picked up the crowbar and ran after him.
The boy disappeared into the temple (Ananda Nilayam) and locked the doors from inside. Ananthalwan tried hard to open the doors by pushing with all his strength, but he could not succeed. Still Ananthalwan’s anger had not died down and instead, he sat there, waiting for the boy to come out. When the priests came to the temple to perform pooja (worship) they were surprised to see
Ananthalwan and wanted to know the reason behind his presence.
(Will continue in Part 3)
–P. VENKATA RAMI REDDY
K.V. VENUGOPAL
