Chapter XV — The Story of Athirai

Manimekalai listened eagerly to all the tale. Aravana said gently, “Now, fair one,- itis time for you to go. There is famine in your own country. For many months, we have had no rain. Is Indra displeased with us? Has the King been unjust? Still, what does it matter? Let us not waste time in seeking causes. The people go hungry. They sulfer and die. You have but to comfort them. In your hands the Holy Grail shall feed them. Set about your task at once. It is wrong to leave the Grail unused. You will be sinful as the devas. They made a nectar by churning the ocean. They drank of it themselves. Then they hid it away. But you, O Fair One, have no wish to be as they. Go now, to your blessed task.”

The three women thanked the old Brahman and left him. Manimekalai put on the robes of a Buddhist nun. With the Sacred Vessel in her hands, she stepped forth into the streets of Kaveripatnam. The gay gallants and the noisy rabble admired her great beauty. They laughed at her dress, “Poor, foolish child!” they cried. “With

her fair face, she has bewitched the heart of our Prince Udhaya-kumaran. Yet she dons the ugly, drab clothes of a beggar-woman. What waste of her charms! What a stupid blunder!” , Manimekalai wanted to receive her first alms froma woman of perfect purity. Where might she find such a woman? On her way, she met Kayachandika. Poor Kayachandika had a curse upon her. She never ceased to eat, yet was she torn with the cruel pangs of hunger. Manimekalai spoke to the suffering woman, ‘Tell me, O Kayachandika, where can I find a woman of perfect purity ?”

“Ah!” said Kayachandika, “I know of such aone. Her name is Athirai. She is a lotus-flower among women. Her purity is spotless. I can tell you her story.

“Tler husband was Sadhuvan. He was faithless and false. He wasted his wealth in the dice; he deserted his wife for pleasures. At last, his money was done. He sailed away in a ship. He wanted to see other lands. He was weary of his own city. ;

“ Well, the ship was caught in a terrible storm. It was wrecked on the shore of the Nakas. Sadhuvan clung to a broken mast, and was saved. But the Nakas were a tribe of wild, naked savages.

‘Some of the sailors and merchants were ‘picked up by another ship. They returned to their homes. Athirai heard that her hus- band was drowned. She ordered the pyre to ‘be set alight. She wished to become a sati, and join her husband.

“They dug a great pit in the burning- ground. Faggots were laid init. The pyre was lighted. Bravely Athirai entered the flames, and lay down to die. But the flames could not touch her. Not a hair of her head was singed. The garland of flowers on her head was fresh and fragrant. Athirai could not understand the miracle. In despair, she cried out, ‘What a vile wretch am I! Even the flames disdain to touch me !:’

“Then a divine voice was heard. ‘Weep mot, Athirai the pure! Your husband is not dead. He was cast ashore on the island of the Nakas. He will return to you in the merchant ship Chandra-dhatta. So dry your itears, and go home, ’

* Athirai was comforted. She turned joyfully towards her home. There she lived in virtue and in prayer. Daily she asked the Lord Buddha to send her husband safely back. The fame of her purity spread through’ » the land. All chaste and noble women-camé’ ito do her, honour.

48 MANIMEKALATI

“When her husband was cast ashore,. he was weak and exhausted. He fell asleep: under atree. There the savages found him. They said to each other, ‘Here is our supper. He looks a tasty morsel.’

“They awoke him, To their surprise, he addressed them in their own language. They treated him with great respect, and led him to the chief priest. He sat in the midst of bones bleaching in the hot sun. Drinking vessels lay scattered round. A savage woman crouched at his side. They were charmed with the speech of the stranger. He told them of his adventures. The priest cried, ‘our guest is weak with want of food and rest. Put meat and strong drink before him, Bring him our loveliest maiden to wife.’

* But Sadhuvan would have none of these things. He cried out on them, ‘ Your words are foolish and evil!’

“<‘Ts the man mad ?’ cried the high priest of the Nakas. We offer him our best. He refuses it.’

“ Sadhuvan was very angry. ‘Listen O- priest!’ he cried. ‘It is wrong to kill, and to excite the mind with strong drink. To be born and to die, are but waking and slee ping The righteous go to heaven. Those who- live jn evil go to hell. Your-lives are evil.’

* ‘What is this?’ asked the priest. ‘You ‘speak new strange words. Explain them to us. How can life leave one body and enter another P ’”

‘“** Listen!’ said Sadhuvan, ‘I shall explain, “A living body feels. A dead body does not. Prod it with your spears. It feels no pain. Something has left the body. What ? We call it the Soul. Where then does the soul go? It must find a home. Just think of this. You have dreams. In dreams your soul can travel anywhere. It leaves the body behind. It has its own life and power. It returns to ‘tthe body. You then awake. But if the soul does not return? Then the body dies. The soul has prepared another body. It -takes possession of its new home.’

‘“When the chief priest heard the words .of Sadhuvan, he fell at his feet. ‘Alas!’ he cried, ‘How are we to live without meat -and drink ? How can we live until our fate -comes to us ?’

‘“‘Sadhuvan smiled softly, ‘ Now you speak wisely. Listen to my advice. Do not seek ‘to kill shipwrecked men. Help them. Harm no living thing. Eat only those animals that die of old age.’

“*That is an easy rule,’ answered the priest. ‘ Gladly do we obey. We call bless-

ings on you. Here are spices, and rich clothes, and rare jewels, They have come out of the broken ships. They are yours. Accept our offering.’

“Then Sadhuvan took the gifts. Soon after, a ship sailed into the harbour. He went on board. He returned home to his faithful wife and shared his goods’ with the poor,

“Yes, surely, Athirai is fittest’ to give you the first alms. I shall lead you to her house.”

So Manimekalai and Kayachandika walked together to the house of the chaste Athirai. They were greeted with due respect. Athirai spoke kindly to the young nun. She filled the Grail with rice. ‘ May hunger cease on earth for evermore!’ prayed the wile of Sadhuvan.

Thus Manimekalai went out into the streets of Kaveripatnam to relieve the hunger of the poor.