Parable for a seeker

START FROM WHERE I AM

(Folk Lore)

From book Rope-snake;pot-Space

Hundreds of years ago in 1278, King Narasimha Deva wanted to build a fitting monument to the Sun God, on the shores of the Bengal Sea in Orissa. He called his Prime Minister and entrusted him with the task. The Prime Minister was pleased with the responsibility but anxious about the location. How could he build the temple and battle the fury of those lashing waves? He begged the King to reconsider the site but Narasimha Deva was adamant that the Temple should be built at the waters edge.

The Temple construction started. Every day the workmen would lay the stones for the foundation and everyday the sea washed them away. Months passed without any progress and however hard the Prime Minister toiled, his labour was in vain against the force of the mighty sea.

One day, in a state of deep depression, the Prime Minister started walking and wandered away from his people. He walked and walked and walked for miles. And at last, exhausted, he lay down and fell asleep. When he awoke it was dark and the stars were out. He realized he was thirsty and hungry and looked around for any habitation. In the distance, he saw a faint flickering light and getting up walked towards it.

It was a tiny makeshift shelter of bamboo and palm fronds and a plaited palm door. The Prime Minister called out: "anyone here”? The door was pushed aside and an old lady came out.

“Mother, I am thirsty and hungry. Can you give me some food please”? The old woman gestured to the man to enter and made him sit on the rush mat. She went to the back of the hut and returned with a pot of steaming rice. She placed a plate in front of the Prime Minister and served him a big helping of rice. “Have your food, my son”.

The Prime Minister was ravenous and dipped his hand right into the rice and let out a yelp of pain. “Oh ma, it’s so hot, my hand is burnt”. Seeing this the old lady burst out into peals of laughter. The Prime Minister was aggrieved at her mirth and asked with a pained expression “Mother, why do you laugh so”?

“Oh, my son you are just like our foolish Prime Minister trying to build the temple on the shore. If you put your hand in the middle of the hot rice it will burn, but if you start from eating the rice from the edges moving towards the centre, it would have cooled and you can satisfy your urgent pangs. Please excuse this old woman”.

The Prime Minister realized the simplicity of the construction solution. Instead of trying to build the Temple with the water all around, he built a wall on the outer perimeter, damming up the water. Once the site was secured, the majestic Temple came up.

The Sun Temple of Konark is one of India’s most well known attractions.