Fourth Story: The Water Of Life
Along with their new companion who had joined them after the fire, the group made its way out of the forest. Continuing on their way to Rameswaram, they left behind the danger and uncertainty that came with the forest. The weather was much hotter out in the plains beyond the shade of forest trees, and life was blossoming all around them. Birds where chirping, rabbits were scampering, and deer were frolicking in the grassy fields that surrounded the road. This abundance of life was a stark contrast to the dismal lands behind them. Their pains of hunger, and an intense longing for food, had been replaced by an unquenchable thirst.
The sun was beating down oppressively on the group, sucking their will to continue right out from under them. In the mountains and the foothills, the streams and lakes were readily available, but now there was not a drop of water in sight.
The guide was helpless to do anything but pray for good fortune, and decided to try and distract the group with a little history.
“Long ago there was a King of Anga named Lompada. Times were not well in his Kingdom, the gods had cursed his land with drought and famine. The King was told by one of his ministers that rain would only come when requested by a man pure of heart. Desperate to end the curse upon his Kingdom, the King sent out messengers across the land in search of such a man. Many tried to bring the rains, but to no avail. Then finally a boy was found named Rishyasringa, who had been born of a deer. See, long ago there was a man named Vibhandaka who deposited his seed into the river while watching a nymph named Urvasi bathe. Down the river an unsuspecting deer drank his seed, which led to the birth of their son. Due to his unusual upbringing, it is no wonder the boy was shy and hesitant. Aware of the situation, the King sent his daughter Santa to fetch the boy, and after some coaxing, she was successful in bringing him back. Little did she know that the boy Rishyasringa would not only bring rain and life to her father’s land, but also true love to her heart. Soon after the rains stopped the two were married,” preached the guide to the group.
“That’s nice and all, but I don’t need a story about miraculous rains. I need something to drink!” shouted a man from the group.
The guide, ashamed of his inability to change the situation, trailed quietly behind the group. Then, over the horizon appeared a man. Slung over his neck was the glorious sight of two buckets of water. Desperately thirsty, the group mustered all their remaining energy and swarmed the man pleading for even a drop of his precious water.
Quickly realizing he was outnumbered, acted to swiftly to diffuse the situation and said, "You know there is a lake just a few minutes down this path. In fact, that is where I am coming from now. If you could just hold back your thirst a bit longer you can have all the water you desire."
Delirious from dehydration a woman in the group mumbled, "Lies, Lies, all he speaks is lies, he just wants to keep the water to himself."
"You don't understand, the lake is no ordinary lake. Legend has it the lake has magical powers and brings life to whomever drinks from its waters. Surely you have all heard of the boy Rishyasringa, whose mother was a deer, but did you know that it was from the very same lake of which I speak that she drank from before becoming pregnant? The water's life force is known across the lands,” rebutted the man.
"We know all about Rishyasringa. In fact we were just talking about him, but what matters is that you have water, and half of us are severely dehydrated.” replied one of the men from the crowd.
"Wait, wait, wait, that is the story my ancestors and I have been telling for years so as to protect the wonderful gift of the lake," said the man as he scrambled to fend off the thirsty mob.
"Do you mean to tell us the story we know of Vibhandaka and the nymph Urvasi is all a lie?" questioned a boy from the group.
"Not exactly," replied the man. "Yes, Vibhandaka did leave his seed in the lake after watching Urvasi bath, and a deer did swallow it, but it was the life force from the river that made everything else possible. Think of all different seeds floating around in the ocean, yet no one seems to get pregnant from them. It was the lake that infused Vibhandaka's seed with life and chose the deer. If there is one thing I have learned in my life and growing up around this lake, it is that there are no coincidences when it comes to what the lake is capable of. In fact, I highly doubt that our timing and encounter was purely coincidental,” continued the man.
"Why do you say that?" the guide questioned.
The man responded politely, "Well, like I said the lake is just down this path. On your left a trail will split from the main path leading up and over a small hill to the lake. From the path no one would have even seen the lake, much less known it existed, so like I said it's lucky we met so I could send you all in the right direction."
Although captivated by the man's stories, the pain of thirst was spreading throughout the group. Mesmerized by the notion of unlimited water at the lake, the group hastily said thanks to the man, and rushed as quickly as they could for the lake, longing for what was sure to be the most satisfying drink of their lives.
Author's Note:
In the original story we were not given much history about the events surrounding Rishyasringa's birth, except that that he had come from Vibhandaka's seed. Now this is not the most absurd birth story we have heard so far, but it does require a little imagination and a great leap of faith. In my retelling I try to unveil some of the secrecy associated with the story. To do this I created a fictional man who has grown up by the same lake the deer had drank from before giving birth to Rishyasringa. Like us, knew the basic story of Vibhandaka's seed and the deer, but what they were unaware of was the role the lake played in the event. It was the lake that provided the life force to bring Vibhandaka's seed alive in the form of Rishyasringa, just as it is the lake that will provide the group with the life force they desperately need if they plan to complete their pilgrimage.
Deer drinking. Web Source: Key West Sunset Photos