Kallola

~Draped by the River “Promise never to leave me alone and I will marry you” “I promise” “But if I ever find that you are not by my side, I will leave you for ever” “It will never be so” And the beautiful Cauveri, daughter of Kaver Muni, the benevolent sage of the Brahmagiri forests, was married to the powerful Rishi Agastya, besotted by the enchanting vision of Cauvery the moment he laid eyes on her.   But this marriage,  made in heaven, had a destiny to fulfil on the blessed land of Kodagu.  The very first morning after their wedding, Rishi Agastya realised what he had got himself into. As usual, he was awake before the Sun and his prayer ritual needed him to take a dip in the mountain spring. He would fill his little kamandal (kettle-like container to carry holy water) and take it with him for his prayers. But Cauvery was still asleep and he didn’t want to wake her up. So, he used his powers gained from years of tapasya (penance), collected her in his li...