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NOVEMBER, 1894.)
FOLKLORE IN SOUTHERN INDIA; No. 38.
339
FOLKLORE IN SOUTHERN INDIA. BY PANDIT NATESA SASTRI, B. A., M. F. L. S.
No. 38. - The Talisman of Chastity. In the land of Akhandakavori there reigned a king, named Viraddva. He had an only daughter, named Ambika. She was his only hope, and so he brought her up very tenderly. Nor was her education neglected on that account, as is usually the case with spoilt children. She was put to school at a very tender age, and was very carefully educated. Every day she rose up early from her bed and devoted her whole time to her studies. It was a very hard routine that she had to undergo, attending upon various teachers and receiving instruction from them, for they were numerous. Indeed there was a professor employed for each of the sixty-four departments of knowledge - chatus shashthi kalás. So ardent was her desire to acquire knowledge, - so great was her thirst for it, that she drank deep at the fountain, and before she attained to mature age she became a great pandita. Of all the sixty-four teachers presiding over her tuition, there was one whom she specially venerated, for he deserved it. To him she gave the best of her love. He had instructed her the most, and rightly deserved the extreme veneration in which he was held by his royal student.
When Ambika had almost completed her education, it was time for her to retire from the company of her much venerated masters, and shut herself up in the closely guarded rooms of her palace, as became a royal maiden. She therefore proceeded to the house of each of her teachers to take leave of them in person. Everywhere she found a ready welcome. The usual presents were exchanged; advice was freely given ; and the parting was joyous and pleasant. Then, after taking leave of her minor teachers, she reached the house of the great master whom sbe held in such veneration. When the usual presents were placed before him, he said :
"My dear Ambika, it was not for these presents and flimsy nothings that I took so much care of you. My fee is an embrace from you, not now, - but, on the first day of your nuptials with your lawful husband, whoever he may be. On that busy day, when the festivities are over, and when you are ready to enter your lord's rooms, you must take leave of him for a short time and visit me in this house with all your nuptial decorations and allow me to embrace you first. This is the fee I demand for all my trouble on account of your edacation, and no other fee will I accept."
Thns spoke the master, and Ambika nodded essent to his demand, for she was so mad in her veneration for his learning, that she overlooked his moral character. She perceived his meanness and depravity, as in reality she had strong ideas on morality and chastity ;' but her childish veneration for the man made her consent, and she promised to visit him on her wedding day as ordered. Without any ill-will towards him she returned home, and thence remained shut up according to the custom of the country, expecting her wedding.
A princess, so learned and so beautiful, could not have long to wait for marriage. The prince of the Pandiyas soon sought her hand, and, as usual, the marriage was celebrated in the capital of Akhandakârêrî. Great were the preparations. Grand were the ceremonies. The busy day was drawing to a close. The night had set in. The preparations for ushering in the bride and bridegroom were gone through ; but, as Ambikå was just on the point of entering her lord's room, she made some signs to her mother, as if she wanted to retire for five or ten minutes for some urgent reason.
The princess thereupon disappeared in the twinkling of an eye, and vanished like lightning among the clouds. She had already planned a secret way for her escape, and for the faithful execution of her promise to her master. All this she had done for herself. No second soul knew anything about it. With the rapidity of lightning she flew to her master's house and knocked at his door, and he knowing well, that it was the day of the princess's marriage, was all agog to test Ambika's faithfulness. At the first knock he came out suddenly and opened the door,
