(A Tamil Folklore)
In the dense deep jungle of Thirumangalam, there once lived a Tiger by the name Hemanga. The tiger was well-versed in the art of transformation. He could turn into a human being in a matter of a few hours. Hemanga loved to eat Brahmin cuisine and was a true vegetarian at heart. So, to enjoy the food prepared in that community, he would transform himself into an aged Brahmin and walk into the village to join in the celebration of foods.
In this village, there lived a Brahmin Varadhan. He had three sons and a daughter. They were named Indiran, Chandran, Ravindran and Dharini. Being the youngest, all of Dharini’s wishes were taken care of by her family. But as she started to grow up she wished to be married. Her parents started to search for a groom once she came of a marriageable age, while having a hard time to stop her from getting entangled with her passing fancy.
On one of the occasion of Hemanga’s visit to the Temple for a free Brahman lunch, he came across a beautiful girl. As she was passing, he overheard others comment about the girl. It was none other than Dharini who fancied every new handsome Brahmin boy. Hemanga thought instead of transforming each time to enjoy food in the village why not simply marry a Brahmin girl and order her to make the choicest dishes for him. The more he thought of this and the more he became convinced that he should gain the hand of Dharini.
The next day he used his art to transform himself into a handsome young Brahmin boy. He applied sacred ash all over his body and took along with him a Ramayana book. When he reached the village waterfront, he seated himself under the shade of the peepal tree and started to pretend to commence discourse on the sacred text. People started to gather around him and soon they started to comment on his diction, learnedness, and appearance. Hemanga was not moved by any of the comments that passed around him. His eyes were sly watching out for Dharini. As he had anticipated Dharini arrived to carry water from the village well.
Dharini walked over to the well to fetch some water when she saw a huge crowd gathered under the peepal tree. Curiosity getting the better of her, she went to see what was the gathering all about. That is when she sees a handsome young Brahmin boy discoursing on Ramayana. The minute Dharini’s eyes fell upon the young Hemanga, she was immediately infatuated. She immediately returned to her house and explained about the young man’s features who was preaching under the peepal tree.
Dharini’s parents got worried that she was attracted to an inappropriate person. So, they went in person to see the young Brahmin discoursing under the peepal tree. After listening to him, they were impressed with his attributes. As Hemanga had hoped Varadhan invited him over to his house for lunch. Hemanga humbly accepted the invitation to eat in their house.
While staying in Varadhan’s house, he was questioned about his family and ancestry. He had cleverly devised an answer for queries from Varadhan and his sons. Having made a good impression on the on the girl’s family, it was decided that Hemanga was the right choice for Dharini and quickly they set about fixing the marriage for them.
On the auspicious day the marriage took place and everybody rejoiced at the wise match made by Varadhan for his daughter. The festival continued for a month. During that time Hemanga relished every dish that was set before him and did full justice to it. At the end of the month Hemanga started to crave his natural food.
Hemanga devised a plan and stating that his aged parents would be missing him and he should be returning. When Varadhan was about to rise the issue of leaving the girl at her in-law place Hemanga explained that it would be easier for him to take the bride along with him and cut the expense on the travel. Varadhan convinced by his son-in-law’s logic; quickly agreed to send his daughter along with him stating that Dharini was his wife to do as he pleased.
The next day Dharini’s mother busied herself in preparing snacks and other food items for the travel. Everything was made ready for the travel and the bride and bridegroom were seen off with the advice that they should stop wherever they find water.
Dharini and Hemanga started their journey towards the forest. Hemanga assured them they would cross before nightfall to reach his village on the other side of the forest. Both would have walked for about an hour when they came across a lake surrounded with warbling birds.
Immediately Dharini asked her husband whether they could stop for a while and partake of the sweetmeats given by her mother. Hemanga tersely said, “Keep quiet, if not I will show you my original self.” Dharini was frightened and confused when she heard her husband speak so. But she kept quiet and continued their journey.
A few hours passed, they came upon another well and Dharini unable to stand her thirst asked her new husband once more whether they could stop for a while to rest and partake of the food. Hemanga gave the same warning to keep quiet or he would show his real self, as before. Keeping her silence Dharini continued to walk along with her husband.
On the third occasion, Dharini’s hunger and thirst got the better of her. When her request was met with repeated threats, she replied back saying in weak bravado that she would like to see that self. The next instant Hemanga transformed back into a tiger.
In the place of a human now a tiger stood swishing its tail wildly. Hemanga growled in an angry voice, “If you don’t listen to what I tell you to do then, you will face dire consequences. So, beware and follow all my orders.”
Dharini followed Hemanga to his cottage where there were three tubs. Hemanga pointed to the tubs and said that Dharini had to fill up these tubs with the choicest food for him with the provision that he brings for her to cook.
He also warned her that, if she failed to do so, then she would face the consequence of her misdemeanors. Saying so, Hemanga left to get the provisions, while Dharini was petrified with terror.
Hemanga returned after a few hours with the provisions. He ordered Dharini to cook the food and fill up the tubs for him while he went for his regular natural food. Dharini quickly lighted the stove and cooked the food according to her husband’s wish.
She filled up the three tubs. Hemanga returned from his hunt and growled that he could smell a human. Dharini was frightened and quickly hid inside the cottage. Hemanga saw that the three tubs were filled with the choicest dish. He quickly finished them and went off to take his rest.
In this manner, many months passed with Dharini silently hoping for someone to come rescue her from the grips of the tyrant. One day, she was weeping near the stove a crow flew down towards her and started to peck on the grains scattered near the stove.
Dharini felt that the crow could help send her message seeking help from her family members. So, she got hold of a Palmyra leaf and wrote her woes with the nail that she found. Then she quickly tied the Palmyra leaf around the crow’s neck and begged it to deliver the message to her family.
The crow understanding her plight carried the message to her brother. On reading the message from their sister the three brothers decided to rescue her from the tiger. They set out the very next day to the jungle of Thirumangala.
Their mother packed some food to eat on the way. Taking that along with them they started their journey into the forest. A few hours would have passed, when they came across a donkey and the youngest brother Ravindran wanted to take the donkey along with them.
Much squabbling ensured after which it was agreed that Ravindran could bring along the donkey. They would have walked a few steps when the second brother Chandran found an ant and wanted to take it along with him.
The rescue party increased to five members and the first brother Indiran found a fallen Palmyra tree and wanted to carry it along with him. Soon they came upon a lake where they ate what was packed for lunch and drank the water from the lake. Near the lake there was a washerman’s tub which they also carried along with them.
After many hours of walking into the thick jungle they reached their sister’s cottage and found her weeping near the stove. When Dharini saw her three brothers she rejoiced with happiness. She recounted all that happened during her journey from their home to the jungle. As they were conversing, they heard Hemanga arriving. Dharini quickly hid her brothers in the loft and warned them not to make any noise.
When Dharini and Hemanga were conversing, and the brothers could see that Hemanga was really a tiger they became frightened. Meanwhile Hemanga growled that he could smell humans. But Dharini explained that it was just her and no one else and tried to divert his attention to the food filled up in the tub. Just when Hemanga was about to eat, the nervous brothers dropped a pot from the loft and immediately Hemanga wanted to know who was in the cottage.
Dharini unable to hide the fact any further said that his brother-in-laws have come to visit him. Hemanga asked why they were not coming out and why they were silent. On hearing Hemanga’s words the second brother placed the ant in the ear of the donkey which started to bray uncontrollably.
Hemanga said, “My brother-in-law’s voice sure sounds hoarse and what an unusual voice.” Dharini said, “That is how my brothers sound.” Hemanga then asked to see their legs and the first brother showed the Palmyra tree.
This made Hemanga exclaim, ‘What would be the size of the creature’s belly?!’ Dharini’s brothers understood the tiger’s foolishness. They lowered the washerman’s tub. On seeing the huge tub the tiger got really frightened and ran away into the deep jungle. The brothers got down from the loft and consumed the food prepared for the tiger. Then they made a quick plan to leave the cottage with their sister.
When Hemanga returned to the cottage and checked inside, he found human footprints and realized that he had been fooled by his brothers-in-law. Hemanga’s anger knew no bounds and he wished to take revenge on his brothers-in-law and bring back his wife. So, he transformed himself into a Brahmin with a few years added from the day of his marriage and headed towards the village of Thirumangalam.
When the brothers got to know that Hemanga had entered their village they immediately set to devise a plan to kill the disguised tiger. So, they placed a few thin sticks across an old well in their house and placed a coarse mat across it.
They then invited Hemanga to sit in the mat to take an oil bath before being served the full meal course. Hemanga happy to be treated to a variety of delicious dishes agreed to sit on the mat. The minute Hemanga sat on the mat the thin sticks broke and he was pushed into the deep well. The brothers immediately filled the well with rocks, stones, and sand.
They sealed the well so that the tiger could not come out alive and is buried there forever. Dharini planted a thulsi tree in the well and applied sandal paste and vermillion to the well and worshipped it for the rest of her life in remembrance of her husband.
Itinerant Storyteller 