chapter-2

Chapter-2

Dittu and his younger brother Ajju had just come back from school. They were having their evening snack and milk when grandpa also joined them with his tea. Ajju excitedly told his grandpa that his teacher told a new story in the class- "The hare and the Tortoise" . Grandpa listened to him and then asked the children " do you know ,a similar story happened in Kailasa between Ganesha and Subramanya?". The children wanted to hear the story. Grandpa promised to tell them the story during bed-time.

In the night both the children reminded grandpa his promise. Grandpa started to tell the story.

Once in Kailash Ganesha and subramanya were happily playing with their parents Shiva and Parvati. Shiva's attendants were also enjoying the happy moment, when Narada came visiting Shiva. Narada paid his obeiscence to Shiva and placed a mango in front of shiva saying" Pranam Parameshwara, please accept this mango. It's a special one and that's why I brought it to you as a gift". "Long live Narada, I am pleased with this gift of yours" said Shiva and gave the mango to Parvati and told her to give equal portion of the fruit to both the children. Narada intervened saying" Eswara, this fruit should be consumed wholly and not to be cut".

Both Ganesha and Subramanya wanted the fruit. Parvati was bewildered and told Narada to suggest a way out since he was the one who had come with one fruit when two children were there. Narada suggested to hold a contest and then gift the fruit to whoever won the contest. Shiva smilingly told Narada to hold the contest. Narada suggested that the fruit could be given to whoever came back first after going around the world. Both the children agreed to take part in the competition. Subramanya who has a peacock as his vehicle immediately left on the mission. Ganesha, who is pot bellied and plump has a small mouse as his vehicle and he was sure he could'nt beat his brother in the race. Instead using his wisdom he went around his parents three times and asked for the fruit.

Shiva asked him as to how he could claim his prize as he had'nt fulfilled the condition for the race. Ganesha replied" Father, the vedas say Shiva and Parvati, who are universal father and mother are equal to all the worlds. Hence by circumbulating you both I've fulfilled the condition and so the fruit is mine. Please give it to me". Shiva had to agree to his claim and gave him the fruit. Subramanya came back from his mission with a gleeful thought that his fat pot bellied brother would be far behind. When he saw Ganesha eating the fruit he was furious and no explanation from his parents could pacify him.

"So you see just like hare and tortoise, here also there were two unequal contestants, but with wisdom the inequity was won over" said Grandpa.

Grandma's stories

I have planned a series of short stories for the young generation which has grown on a diet of Harry potter and eragon and other such stories but not that much on our own traditional stories. I have nothing against our children reading or getting exposed to stories from other countries but I feel they should also be introduced to stories from their native land so that they can connect better with the land and its people. Again here since I am familiar with only stories from South India and that too from Tamilnadu the series will contain only stories belonging to this region.

Chapter-1

It was raining heavily through out the evening and towards early night rain-god decided to take a break and Grandpa wanted to go into the garden to check on the plants. Armed with a torch Grandpa stepped into the garden with his elder grandson Dittu, aged nine, in tow. They had a small but beautiful well maintained patch of garden. The trees and the shrubs all looked fresh and clean after the heavy showers. Grandpa noticed that the jasmine creeper was'nt that lucky this time and the rope with which he had guided it to the balcony above had snapped and that the creeper was lying down. He tried to tie the two ends of rope where it had given away but failed in his attempt as the rope had frayed.

He asked Dittu," Dittu, you have a skipping rope don't You? will you bring it? I want to use it to guide this creeper on to the balcony". "Oh, no Grandpa, that's my favourite one. I can't part with it. We can buy a rope tomorrow for the creeper" said dittu. "Hmmm, you can't part with that rope is it? Do you know that there was once a king who parted with his chariot for a creeper?"asked grandpa. "Really, tell me that story Grandpa" pleaded Dittu.

Grandpa started to tell the story-" In tamil Nadu there once lived a king called Pari. He was a very good administrator and a benevelont one too. People in his kingdom respected and loved him. They lived without fear as the King took good care of the citizens in his kingdom. Pari used to visit different area in his kingdom everyday enquiring people about their welfare, their problems and passed orders immediately if any action was expected from him.

Once Pari was riding on the chariot and he noticed a jasmine creeper lying on the ground. He told the charioteer to stop and got down to inspect the creeper. There was not any tree or pole nearby so that the creeper could be guided on to. His heart went out to the creeper and he told his charioteer to bring the chariot near the creeper. He then tenderly lifted the creeper and guided it onto the chariot.

The charioteer was amazed by the king's act and told" Sir, How would you return to the palace now? Please get on to the chariot and after we reach the palace I'll come back with a few bamboo poles and build a supporting structure for the creeper".

"Let's walk back to the palace. We can not take any chance for by the time you come back what if someone had trampled on the creeper and the plant is destroyed? I can not allow such a thing to happen to anybody or anything in my kingdom. It is my duty to protect one and all in this land" said Pari and started walking back towards the palace. His charioteer follwed the king with admiration and awe in his heart. The king earned a title"Mullaiku ther kodutha Pari" which literally means "Pari who donated a chariot for a jasmine creeper".

So you see Dittu, help should come forth spontaneously for anybody in distress. This plant is in need of help and timely help will save it from distress. Don't you think so?"

Dittu ran inside and fetched his skipping rope and grandpa and grandson together helped the creeper to be back on the support of the rope.