Siriyala

This is one story that I have heard at least a hundred times on my Grandpa's tape recorder. Yes, it was on tape and in the form of a Harikathe. Harikathe is a way of telling a story by mimicking the protagonists and including music, beats and a song or two. My Grandpa was very proud of his collection of tapes which had various stories told in the form of Harikathe. I hope I am able to do justice to the story.

Siriyala

A long time ago, there lived a great devotee of Lord Shiva. He was named Siriyala by his parents and was famous as Bhakta Siriyala (the great devotee Siriyala) among the people. Siriyala had a beautiful wife and she was called Changala Devi. She was a very pious woman and a devoted wife.

Siriyala and Changala had every luxury in the world. There was just one thing that bothered the couple. They had no children. The couple prayed to Lord Shiva and vowed that they would not eat anything in a day until a Jangama (a nomadic saint who has devoted his life for the Lord) was fed by them with whatever the Jangama demanded to eat.

Having vowed thus, Siriyala and Changala started feeding all devotees who came to their village and would have lunch only after all the devotees were fed. The devotees were not fed what was prepared but the preparation was made based on what the devotee demanded.

Within a year, Siriyala and Changala were blessed with a son. The couple were overwhelmed with joy. On the eleventh day of the child's birth, they decided to give him a name. While they were thinking what the boy should be named, an elderly gentleman suggested that he must be called Chilala, a combination of both his parents' name. The couple liked the idea and the boy came to be known as Chilala.

Siriyala continued to feed devotees as per his vow. Chilala grew up to be a little boy of five. He was a very humble, soft spoken child who also had immense faith in Lord Shiva.

Once, in Kailasa, the abode of Lord Shiva, Goddess Parvati, the wife of Lord Shiva, asked him thus "Oh my loved one! Tell me why you are so devoted to your devotees? Why are you willing to do anything to keep your devotees happy?" Shiva looked at Parvati and smiled. He replied "Dear Parvati, It is hard for me to not be devoted to my devotees. The love and affection they show towards me, just draws me closer and closer to them." Parvati said-"I don't understand. Can you tell me of one such devotee who would do anything for your sake?"

Shiva said-"I can show you many such devotees. But let me show you one of my most devoted devotees. He is called Bhakta Siriyala."

Parvati replied-"If you really think he is the best, let us go test him."

Shiva readily agreed. Shiva and Parvati came down to Siriyala's village, disguised as Jangamas.
In order to test Siriyala, Shiva made sure there were thousands of Jangamas who demanded various things. Siriyala and Changala happily served all the guests. The Jangamas kept pouring in and Siriyala's cooks kept cooking the feast that they demanded.
Shiva looked at Parvati and smiled and said "Didn't I tell you that Siriyala would do anything to keep up the vow?" Parvati was not impressed.She said- "You are asking him for something he has. Ask him for something he doesn't have or something he cannot give. Let us see how he does it!"
Shiva looked up at the sky and it started raining heavily. All the dry firewood became damp and wet. There was no fuel to keep the oven running and the demands of the Jangamas kept increasing.
The cooks came to Changala and said - "Madam, there is no dry firewood and it is impossible to cook all the varieties that the guests are demanding. Can we just tell them that we will cook from a general menu today and the Guests should oblige?" Changala was shocked to hear this and said- "Going against the vow we have taken in the name of Lord Shiva is worse than dying a dreadful death. Give me two minutes and I will fetch the fuel for the ovens."
She went into the bedroom and returned with two bags of her silk sarees and gave it to the cooks. She said "Dip these in oil and use it as fuel. Please feed the guests what they demand."
Shiva looked at Parvati and smiled. Parvati did not smile back. He said- "Wait and watch what Siriyala would do to keep up his vow."
Shiva and Parvati made sure that all Jangamas in the town disappeared and were sent to different pilgrimages. When Siriyala and Changala woke up the next morning, there were no Guests in the lodges. Siriyala went around the town and could not find any Jangamas. He returned home and told Changala that there were no Jangamas anywhere in the town. They both looked up at the sky and chanted "Om Namah Shivay" and remained hungry. This went on for 3 days. On the third day, Chilala was ready to go to school when his mother asked him to eat something. The little child said "Amma, until guests eat, Dad will not eat. Until Dad eats, you will not eat. When my creators remain hungry, it is unfair for me to eat anything. Om Namah Shivay" and he leaves for school.
Changala was happy that her son is growing up to be just the way they had dreamed. But the mother in her felt miserable that her son remained hungry with all of them.
Changala looked at an old servant and said "Sir, please have your food. You look so frail and tired." The servant replied- "Madam, do you think I am worse than the little child who is fasting with you? Until you and master eat, none of us will have a morsel of food. Om Namah Shivay."
Looking at this, Shiva was pleased and smiled all along. Parvati looked displeased, and said- "This is enough. I agree that Siriyala is a very devoted person and nothing can shake his devotion for you. Please end this ordeal and let us return." Shiva smiled and said-"You have asked me to test my devotee and I will only return after I have tested him completely. Like the gold gets its glitter after being heated in the kiln, my devotees will also be renowned after being tested rigorously. You just play along with me and I will show you the devotion that Siriyala and his family has for us."
Shiva and Parvati appeared as Jangamas in some part of Siriyala's town. Hearing about the two Jangamas, Siriyala rushed to bring them home to feed and entertain them. When he reached there, he was overwhelmed with joy and took the blessings of the Jangamas and invited them for lunch. Shiva (disguised as Jangama) spoke thus - "We have been meditating for hundreds of years and we do not eat anything that has lost its innocence. We do not eat the plants that have roots and grow from the mud." Siriyala was shocked and asked "Are you indicating that great mendicants that you are would like to have non vegetarian for food?" Shiva laughed and replied- "Do you think we would pollute our bodies by feeding on dead animals? We do not feed on animals." Siriyala looked confused. He asked -"You don't feed on plants, you don't feed on animals, then how can I feed  you? What is it that you wish to eat?" Shiva replied "We are cannibals and feed on human flesh." Siriyala was shocked and felt weak in his knees. He was about to fall. He composed himself and thought -"What better way to leave this world than to be fed as a feast to two mendicants?" He bowed low and said - "Surely dear ones. Please do come by lunch time and I will make sure your feast is ready."
Shiva looked angry and he said - "What nonsense! You are thinking of offering yourself? What makes you think we will feed on your polluted body?"
Siriyala felt his knees give away. He questioned - "What else can I feed you sir? If my body is polluted, then please tell me what is it that you are looking for?"
Shiva smiled and said- "We only feed on young kids between the age of five and six. The innocent kids who have clear minds and pure hearts."
Siriyala's eyes became clouded with tears. He replied - "Surely sir. Your feast will be ready. Please come home for lunch."
Siriyala returned home sadly and told Changala about what had happened. Then he said - "I am planning to check if someone would be willing to sell a child of five to six years of age." Changala was shocked to hear this and said -"Oh my dear one! What do the butchers who sell kids understand the pain of bearing a child in the womb for months and the pain of bringing a life to earth. And who are we to decide the fate if a child that is not even ours?"
Siriyala and Changala knew the solution to this but were not ready to accept it. Finally, Siriyala called a servant and asked him to fetch his son, Chilala from the school. The servant who had overheard the conversation bore a grave look and left to get Chilala back home.
As the old servant reached the school, he walked slowly with a heavy heart. He came close to where Chilala sat and asked his teacher's permission to take Chilala home. Chilala bowed to his teacher, took his permission and came with the servant.
Looking at the sad expression on the servant's face, the little boy asked - "What is wrong grandpa? Why are you sad?" The servant replied "Dear child, listen to me and listen to me carefully. It seems there are some mendicants who are in town and those cannibals feed on little kids. They are coming home for lunch today and your parents are helpless and have decided to feed them with you. So my dear one, please runaway from this town. Go far away where you will be safe."
Chilala looked at the old man and smiled. He said - "Oh grandpa! What is wrong with you? Elders like you should advice me to listen to what my parents say and here you are, asking me to runaway. Come, let's go home."
"Aren't you afraid my child?" asked the old servant.
"Certainly not Grandpa. If my parents have decided something for me, it should be right. It can't be wrong. Om Namah Shivay."
Parvati who was watching this, begged Shiva to stop his test right away. Shiva just smiled and asked her to watch on.
The child reached home with the servant. He walked towards his parents who sat in silence and looked helpless. He spoke to his father thus - "Dear dad, don't think twice about what you have to do. I already know the purpose of my being at home at a time when I must have been in school. What is this life? I will grow up, be an adult, grow old and finally die. I will be a part of the nature. Instead of waiting so long for salvation, isn't it a great thing to feed two hungry men who have dedicated their lives for the lord? Do not hesitate dear dad. It is getting late for lunch."
Listening to these words, Siriyala hugged his only child. Changala's sorrow knew no bounds. Siriyala carried an axe and went out with Chilala.
The Child's head was cut in a blow and different varieties of dishes were prepared with the flesh.
Finally the destined hour for lunch approached. The two Jangamas (Shiva and Parvati in disguise) came to Siriyala's house. The lunch was arranged for the two of them. The Jangamas sat on the mats that were spread for them.
Shiva called out for Changala and said -"Get another mat and keep a plate for the host Siriyala too." Siriyala and Changala looked at each other. Siriyala tried to resist. Shiva insisted that the host has to eat with the guest.
Changala did as she was told. Siriyala was forced to sit in front of the plate. Food was served.
Before having food, Shiva said - "Siriyala, please ask your wife to call your son."
Siriyala and Changala looked at each other again and Siriyala tried to say - "But sir... my son..."
Shiva looked at Siriyala with anger filled eyes and asked - "Are you saying you are childless? Don't you know we do not eat in the home of the childless. Call your son now or we shall leave."
Changala started to cry. She thought about all the servants who had not eaten for days. She thought about the son she had just lost. She didn't want to put her husband into another fix. So she stood at the door and looked outside and called out loud - "Chilala, my son! Come home soon! Chilala! Chilala!"
As she called out thus, all the flesh that was used in cooking came together and Chilala came back to life. He came running from outside the house wearing the best of clothes.
Looking at her dead son come back to life, Changala was astonished. Tears of joy flew down her cheeks. She kissed her son's forehead and hugged him tight and turned to tell her husband about it. She was shocked to see that her husband was down on his knees. The two Jangamas had transformed into Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. Changala and Chilala also got down on their knees and prayed.
Shiva turned to Parvati and said -"Hadn't I told you that my devotees would do anything to keep up the vow they take in my name? Are you satisfied with my test? Don't you think Siriyala has come out clean and shining just like the gold from the kiln?"
Parvati smiled and replied "Of course my lord. Your devotees are my children. This test was just to show the world the greatness of Siriyala and his family and not to test his devotion towards you."
Shiva and Parvati blessed Siriyala's family and returned to Kailasa.