Durga | ✓

36. Valli and Karthikeya

When Valli reached the age of twelve, she was sent to the millet field - in agreement with the custom of the hillmen - to guard the crop against parrots and other birds, sitting in an elevated platform called itanam (paran), and chasing the birds and other beasts away. Sage Narada visited Valli-malai and went to informed god Murugan about Valli's exceptional beauty and her devotion to the god of the hunters.

Murugan assumed the form of a hunter. As soon as he arrived at Valli's field, he had addressed the lovely girl enquiring after her home and family. However, at that moment Nampi and his hunters brought some food for Valli like honey, millet flour, valli roots, mangoes, milk of the wild cow; and Murugan assumed the form of a tree, Venkai.

When Nampi and his company disappeared, the god reappeared in human form, approached Valli and told her that he would like to love her. Valli was shocked, lowered her head, and answered that it was improper for him to love a woman from the low tribe of the hunters. At that moment they heard the sound of approaching drumming and music. Valli warned Murugan that the hunters are wild and angry men, and the god transformed into an old Shiva devotee. Nampi and his hunter's took his blessings and returned home.

The old man asked Valli for food, and she gave him some millet flour mixed with honey. Then she took him to a small forest pond, where she quenched his thirst from the palms of her hands. Then he told her, "Now that you have satisfied my hunger and my thirst, do satisfy my love for you." Valli reproached him, and wanted to return to her field.

At that moment, Murugan invoked the help of his brother Vināyaka who appeared behind Valli in the shape of a frightening elephant. The terror-stricken Valli rushed into the arms of the Saiva ascetic for protection; he dragged her into a thicket and while embracing her revealed his real form, with six heads, twelve arms, and seated on his peacock.

Carried away by this vision of her favourite god, Valli worshipped him and he told her that she was, in fact, the daughter of Tirumal. Valli complied with his wish, and they loved each other.

A female companion of Valli questioned the girl about her absence and the striking change in her appearance, but Valli answered evasively. Soon after that, Murugan, again in the shape of a hunter, appeared in front of the two girls, and the companion observed that Valli and the hunter exchanged amorous looks. Therefore, she demanded that the hunter remove himself. He then admitted his love for Valli and he warned the companion that, if she would not help them to meet and enjoy their love, he would resort to the old custom of matal or riding the toy-horse in the village itself. The companion agreed to Murugan's request.

As the harvesting time approached, the tribesmen called Valli back to the hamlet and the lovemaking was over. With a heavy heart she returned to the house of Nampi. Her clandestine love affair (kalavu) with the god ended. Her mother noticed Valli's unhappiness and invited soothsaying women who stated that Valli was possessed by the cūr of the slopes and that a ceremony in honour of god Murugan should be organized.

Murugan went to the millet field and, not finding Valli there, he came, at midnight, to the hamlet, and with the aid of her companion, Valli and her divine lover eloped.

Next morning Nambi's wife discovered Valli's disappearance. The furious hunter-chief organized a party of hillmen in pursuit of the fugitives. When they reached them, they discharged their arrows at Murugan, but the divine cock of the god crowed and the hunters fell dead. Valli lamented their death, but Murugan took her along. On their way they met Narada who explained to Murugan that he should have obtained the consent of the parents. The god therefore returned and ordered Valli to resuscitate the hunters which she gladly did. Murugan then assumed his true divine shape. Amazed and awed, the hunters worshipped him and begged him to return to the hamlet to be married in accordance with the custom of the tribe.

The whole village rejoiced. The young pair was seated on a tiger-skin. Nampi placed the hand of Valli into the hand of Murugan and declared them married while Nārada assisted. At that moment, the gods appeared in the air and blessed everyone. Nampi then offered a feast - plenty of honey, millet flour and jungle fruits. After a short stay at Ceruttani (Tiruttani), Murugan and Valli returned to Skandagiri where they were welcomed by Devasena.

"I remember Akshad Sir telling us about this. Wait a minute. It is supposed to be part of this article that we are about to publish. What is it doing here?"

Next instant, Rudra remembered where he had found this article. But before giving a lecture to Ramaiah about how unprofessional he is, he had understood the reason why Durga left so early.

Durga sighed as she heard the tale. She looked sheepishly at him, "I am sorry Rudra. I shouldn't have been angry on you."

She rested her head and her hands on his chest. Rudra gently stroked her head with his right hand and his left hand on her waist. He replied, "It's okay, kanna."

Durga was glad that Rudra couldn't see her face which was now as red as a ripe tomato. She was blushing hard.

Kanna... he called me kanna. It feels so good. I just can't wait for these six months to get over.

***

Glossary

Venkai: Pterocarpus bilobus

Kanna: My dear in Telugu, Tamil and Kannada.

***

Hey peeps, sorry for delayed update. My studies are getting more and more and as you know I usually write long chapters in this story, it took some time to update.

The actual article in the story has some pictures for readers understanding. Durga hadn't used these pictures for her article. Don't get confused when you don't see Rudra not mentioning about those pictures.

Did you like the story? I thought of editing it and putting it another way but these are directly translated from Tamil Purana, Vallyammai tirumanappasalam. It originally has some 267 stanzas and this was just a summary.

Thank you for reading.