Rishyashringa
By: Elena BAgwell
Author and Title Unknown
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Link
I had
always been interested in traveling to India, a country I had always
thought of as very exotic. By the time my plane landed in Bombay
I knew exactly what I was going to do while I was in India. First
stop: the bazaar.
As I walked into the bazaar it was like walking into another world. A maze of makeshift tents divided the open area into a labyrinth. In no orderly fashion merchants had set up shop to sell everything under the sun, it was complete chaos. Jewelery made of every stone imaginable shown like colored drops of dew. I submerged myself in the chaos like a little girl at a carnival, except instead of ice cream and funnel cakes I was stuffing my mouth with dates, figs, and pistachios. I entered a tent filled with the most luxurious silks in every color and print. Hanging from hooks above me and stacked into piles below me I allowed my bare skin to brush against the material every chance I got. Completely mesmerized by it all I failed to look where I was going and bumped into a tiny table set up at the back corner of the tent. Its surface was covered with figurines of unicorns. I picked up one object that appeared to be the horn of a unicorn. At that moment I heard a soft, sweet voice coming from just over my shoulder.
"You know, a unicorn's horn is said to possess magical powers. Even the power to cure illnesses and subdue poisons," the voice said.
I turned around and saw before me a beautiful woman drapped in the colors of royalty: red, purple, and gold.
Aware of the awkward silence I had caused in my stupor, she continued:
"My name is Shanta," she said.
"My name is Juliet," I managed to say.
"Would you believe me if I told you that unicorns are a part of real life and that you could pass by one and not even realize it?" Shanta asked.
"With all that has happened to me lately I wouldn't refute anything you told me, no matter how silly," I responded.
"I know this to be true because I am married to one," Shanta revealed as she took me by the hand and back into the labyrinth of silks, spices, gold, and figs.
So the story began:
"Many years ago I was born into a royal family. My father was the Rajah who ruled over the land as king. From childhood I was afforded the luxury of an education and my parents bought me many books, which they used to read to me at bed time. They also told me stories filled with endless adventures that left me wide-eyed and my imagination running. One particular story I remembered being about a holy man who lived in the outskirts of my father's kingdom, in a land very far away. His name was Vibhandaka and he lived as a hermit, making his home a cave in the middle of the wild forests. Vibhandaka's closest friends and most loyal disciples were the birds and beasts that used to surround his cave while he sat in front of it, meditating for hours and hours without moving a muscle. One frequent visitor was a female gazelle who fell in love with Vibhandaka. By magical intervention the gazelle conceived and gave birth to a baby boy. The boy was normal except for a tiny horn that grew out of his forehead. They named him Rishyashringa, which means Gazelle's Horn.
Rishyashringa followed in the footsteps of his father who taught him the life of a spiritual hermit. The boy could speak to every animal in each one's tongue, making him a popular figure among the animals. It was said that even the flora and fauna bent close to listen to his words. Rishyashringa had such a close bond with nature that the sky and the rain promised on their friendship with him to keep the area he lived in green and fertile.
As I grew older the gods weren't as generous as they had always been and they covered my father's kingdom in a blanket of drought. People believed it was punishment for the evil ways my father had resorted to. Fearing his removal he asked council from his wise men. One of his most trusted men proposed the Rajah to seek out a wise man who was said to live on the outskirts of the kingdom in an area so green and lush that it could be compared to paradise. My father sent messengers, soldiers, and bodyguards to find this man, but each group came back empty handed. Whether by invitation or force they couldn't get the holy man to return with them. It was at this time that I became aware of the situation and without hesitating I offered my assistance, promising my father that I would persuade the holy man.
While on my way my imagination began to run wild with all the images I use to have of this holy man when I was a child. I thought to myself what child was lucky enough to have their childhood stories come true.
When the convoy arrived at the base of a series of green mountains I demanded I go alone and left my guards on the banks of a river. I crossed the river and entered into a dense forest. Following the directions I was provided with I finally came across the cave. I witnessed Rishyashringa meditating in a lotus position, a scene I had remembered from the stories I was told. He was much younger and more beautiful than I ever expected even down to the horn that was protruding from his forehead. I crawled very close to him, desiring to reach out and touch his horn, but keeping to myself instead.
The moment he finally opened his eyes I fell in love with him just like the animals had. I knew I wanted to spend the rest of my life with him. I smiled at him with the confidence a woman has when she knows she has met her soul mate.
When Rishyashringa saw me smile he was overwhelmed by the fact he had never seen a creature like me. Unsure of what I was he mistook me for an angel at first. Aware that I had his attention I asked him for his assistance. I got up and he followed me down to the river.
When he saw my footprints in the mud he knew I wasn't an angel, but a real life being living on earth. Rishyashringa hid in the forest watching me. Never had his heart longed for another human being. He had spent his entire life in pursuit of a higher power when all along the greatest mystery lay in the capability for a human to love.
I fell asleep on the raft while I was waiting for him. When I woke up he was kneeling beside me just as I had knelt by him in awe and admiration.
I took Rishyashringa home with me and as we left his home the rain clouds followed and dropped rain on the parched land.
Rishyashringa gave up his former spiritual life in exchange to be my husband. Eventually he would come to rule as king himself.
Shanta disappeared into the dark alleys of the bazaar and I was left alone with the unicorn's horn in my hand.
Author's Note:
I came across this story and fell in love with it because it was so different than the other stories I have included. I loved the fact that it was a love story about a unicorn-like man and a beautiful princess who fall in love and get married. The original story is called the Unicorn Hermit of India and it is written in third-person narrative style. I changed the story by telling it from the princesses point-of-view and by summarizing it
Bibliography:
"Unicorn Hermit of India"
Website: Bilbo's World
Weblink: http://www.delanohighschool.org/BillBaugher/stories/storyReader$1057
Continue the
journey with The Story of the Fair Maiden
As I walked into the bazaar it was like walking into another world. A maze of makeshift tents divided the open area into a labyrinth. In no orderly fashion merchants had set up shop to sell everything under the sun, it was complete chaos. Jewelery made of every stone imaginable shown like colored drops of dew. I submerged myself in the chaos like a little girl at a carnival, except instead of ice cream and funnel cakes I was stuffing my mouth with dates, figs, and pistachios. I entered a tent filled with the most luxurious silks in every color and print. Hanging from hooks above me and stacked into piles below me I allowed my bare skin to brush against the material every chance I got. Completely mesmerized by it all I failed to look where I was going and bumped into a tiny table set up at the back corner of the tent. Its surface was covered with figurines of unicorns. I picked up one object that appeared to be the horn of a unicorn. At that moment I heard a soft, sweet voice coming from just over my shoulder.
"You know, a unicorn's horn is said to possess magical powers. Even the power to cure illnesses and subdue poisons," the voice said.
I turned around and saw before me a beautiful woman drapped in the colors of royalty: red, purple, and gold.
Aware of the awkward silence I had caused in my stupor, she continued:
"My name is Shanta," she said.
"My name is Juliet," I managed to say.
"Would you believe me if I told you that unicorns are a part of real life and that you could pass by one and not even realize it?" Shanta asked.
"With all that has happened to me lately I wouldn't refute anything you told me, no matter how silly," I responded.
"I know this to be true because I am married to one," Shanta revealed as she took me by the hand and back into the labyrinth of silks, spices, gold, and figs.
So the story began:
"Many years ago I was born into a royal family. My father was the Rajah who ruled over the land as king. From childhood I was afforded the luxury of an education and my parents bought me many books, which they used to read to me at bed time. They also told me stories filled with endless adventures that left me wide-eyed and my imagination running. One particular story I remembered being about a holy man who lived in the outskirts of my father's kingdom, in a land very far away. His name was Vibhandaka and he lived as a hermit, making his home a cave in the middle of the wild forests. Vibhandaka's closest friends and most loyal disciples were the birds and beasts that used to surround his cave while he sat in front of it, meditating for hours and hours without moving a muscle. One frequent visitor was a female gazelle who fell in love with Vibhandaka. By magical intervention the gazelle conceived and gave birth to a baby boy. The boy was normal except for a tiny horn that grew out of his forehead. They named him Rishyashringa, which means Gazelle's Horn.
Rishyashringa followed in the footsteps of his father who taught him the life of a spiritual hermit. The boy could speak to every animal in each one's tongue, making him a popular figure among the animals. It was said that even the flora and fauna bent close to listen to his words. Rishyashringa had such a close bond with nature that the sky and the rain promised on their friendship with him to keep the area he lived in green and fertile.
As I grew older the gods weren't as generous as they had always been and they covered my father's kingdom in a blanket of drought. People believed it was punishment for the evil ways my father had resorted to. Fearing his removal he asked council from his wise men. One of his most trusted men proposed the Rajah to seek out a wise man who was said to live on the outskirts of the kingdom in an area so green and lush that it could be compared to paradise. My father sent messengers, soldiers, and bodyguards to find this man, but each group came back empty handed. Whether by invitation or force they couldn't get the holy man to return with them. It was at this time that I became aware of the situation and without hesitating I offered my assistance, promising my father that I would persuade the holy man.
While on my way my imagination began to run wild with all the images I use to have of this holy man when I was a child. I thought to myself what child was lucky enough to have their childhood stories come true.
When the convoy arrived at the base of a series of green mountains I demanded I go alone and left my guards on the banks of a river. I crossed the river and entered into a dense forest. Following the directions I was provided with I finally came across the cave. I witnessed Rishyashringa meditating in a lotus position, a scene I had remembered from the stories I was told. He was much younger and more beautiful than I ever expected even down to the horn that was protruding from his forehead. I crawled very close to him, desiring to reach out and touch his horn, but keeping to myself instead.
The moment he finally opened his eyes I fell in love with him just like the animals had. I knew I wanted to spend the rest of my life with him. I smiled at him with the confidence a woman has when she knows she has met her soul mate.
When Rishyashringa saw me smile he was overwhelmed by the fact he had never seen a creature like me. Unsure of what I was he mistook me for an angel at first. Aware that I had his attention I asked him for his assistance. I got up and he followed me down to the river.
When he saw my footprints in the mud he knew I wasn't an angel, but a real life being living on earth. Rishyashringa hid in the forest watching me. Never had his heart longed for another human being. He had spent his entire life in pursuit of a higher power when all along the greatest mystery lay in the capability for a human to love.
I fell asleep on the raft while I was waiting for him. When I woke up he was kneeling beside me just as I had knelt by him in awe and admiration.
I took Rishyashringa home with me and as we left his home the rain clouds followed and dropped rain on the parched land.
Rishyashringa gave up his former spiritual life in exchange to be my husband. Eventually he would come to rule as king himself.
Shanta disappeared into the dark alleys of the bazaar and I was left alone with the unicorn's horn in my hand.
Author's Note:
I came across this story and fell in love with it because it was so different than the other stories I have included. I loved the fact that it was a love story about a unicorn-like man and a beautiful princess who fall in love and get married. The original story is called the Unicorn Hermit of India and it is written in third-person narrative style. I changed the story by telling it from the princesses point-of-view and by summarizing it
Bibliography:
"Unicorn Hermit of India"
Website: Bilbo's World
Weblink: http://www.delanohighschool.org/BillBaugher/stories/storyReader$1057