Chapter XIII — Aputhra and the Holy Grail

The old sage told them also the story of Aputhra. Aputhra had first owned the Holy Grail, so Manimekalai was very interested.

** Once there lived a Brahman in Benares. His name was Apanchika. He taught the Vedas. His wife, Sali, went once to Cape Comorin. On her pilgrimage, a child was born to her. Sali did not want the child. She hid it in a garden, and went on her way.

* Near by, a cow was grazing. She heard the babe’s cries. She came to the place. She found the baby, and licked it with her gentle tongue. She lay down beside it. The warmth of her body flowed over the child; it fell asleep. When it woke again, the cow fed it with her milk. For seven days, she cared for the baby, as for her own calf.

“On the seventh day, a Brahman and his wife passed that way. The Brahman’s

name was Bhuthi. He heard the tiny cries. His heart was filled with pity. He took up the child, and gave it to his wife. ‘From this day, this is our child.’ He is the gift of the gods. Let us praise them!’

“ These good people took the child home with them. He was brought up as. their child. He learned to be a Brahman. He grew strong and wise.

* One day, the lad went to the house -of a Brahman friend. A sacred rite was to -be performed. A cow was to be sacrificed. The beast was tied to a stake. Garlands of red flowers were twined about her horns. The poor animal trembled with fear. Her soft eyes were full of tears. She moaned and lowed most piteously. The heart of the lad was touched at the sight. He made up his mind to set the cow free in the dark- ness of the night.

“He hid near by. Night fell. He stole softly to the poor beast. He ‘untied the rope. He led the beast out of the village by a steep, unused path. But he was seen. A crowd ran after him. They caught him. Brahmans and common people alike were furious. They beat the lad Aputhra with sticks. ‘Shame on you!’ they cried, ‘You have stolen a cow. You must be the son of .a thief. Or perhaps you are an out-caste .and a flesh eater? Tell us the truth. Then we shall drive you from us.’

“The chief priest took the lead in the attack, In the uproar, the cow drove her horns into the stomach of the priest. He died at once. She then charged through, the crowd, and escaped into the jungle.

“Please stop beating me.’ pleaded the: boy. ‘Let me speak. Is not the cow the good friend of man? Does she not graze quietly in untilled pastures ? She needs no attention. Yet we live on her rich, sweet milk, How can you hate so useful and noble a beast ? How can you, learned Brah- mans, wish to kill her?’

** But the Brahmans replied with scorn, ‘Holy writ commands us to Sacrifice the cow. You know nothing about the Word of Brahma. In fact, you are an ignorant little brat. Out of your ignorance, you condemn us. Perhaps you are the foster- child of a cow? Perhaps of this very cow? That explains your madness. You are not a Brahmin boy at all.’ ;

“ *It is you who are ignorant,’ retorted Aputhra. ‘Do you not know of Asala, the: son of a cow, and of Srungi, son of a deer ?° Have you forgotten Vringi, son of a tiger,. and Kesa-Kambala, son of a fox? Yet these men were admired by the great ones of the:

land. They became elders and rishis, You. praise these men to the skies, Yet you call me foster-son of a cow, to insult me!’

*¢ Aputhra laughed the learned Brahmans. to scorn. He faced them proudly, his head erect. But even the good Bhuthi reproved. the lad, saying, ‘ Your words are wicked and shameful. You are not fit to live among us. Do not enter my door again, From this day, I have no son,’

“Thus did the Brahmans drive Aputhra from them, They would not even give him. alms. They treated him as a thief. They drove him out of the village with stones.

“ Aputhra set his face towards Madura in the south. He took shelter in the door- way of the temple. Day by day, he walked the streets, and begged from door to door. When his alms-bowl was full, he called- aloud to. the poor, and the blind, and the lame. He fed them from his bowl. Often there was none left for himself. So his days passed: in begging, his nights in the doorway of the Temple of Learning. His bowl fed him by day. It was his pillow by night.

“One night, the rain fell in torrents. No -light could be seen. Aputhra was very very tired. He slept heavily. In the middle of

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the night, some travellers came to the temple. They «tried to wake him. They cried to Aputhra, ‘We have heard of your kindness to man and beast. We are hungry. We are weary. We have come a great way, Can you give us some rice?’

* The heart of Aputhra was sore indeed. His bowl was empty. There was no one to beg from in the darkness and rain.

* Then a radiant form appeared at his side. It was the Goddess of the temple. “Grieve not, Aputhra,’ she said. ‘ Take this Holy Grail from my hands. Even in the midst of famine, it will not lack food. All the poor and needy may fill their hands and their bellies, yet will it not fail.’

“Aputhra took the Holy Grail. He blessed the Goddess of Learning. ‘ Goddess of the Mind! Lamp of Learning! Ever bright and fair! Goddess of Speech! You who relieve the sorrows of men! I salute your holy feet!’

“Then he fed the weary strangers from the holy vessel. He went through the city, he went throughout the land. Everywhere he saved life by means of the Holy Grail.- Everywhere;- men blessed him. No living

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creature was forgotten. He was like a tree laden with ripe fruit. Bird and insect hovered round him. Man and beast plucked at him..