|
Page1
Sri Nag lived with
his wife, Uma, and their three children near a village in Bengal.
The family were prosperous, for Sri Nag was an excellent provider,
an expert at catching mice and other small creatures, and second to
none in his ability to ward off intruders from his domain. The
territory he commanded was a large field, in the centre of which
stood a small stone temple, once inhabited by Lord Shiva, but now
solely by Sri Nag and his family. Long, long ago Sri Nag's ancestors
and Lord Shiva had dwelt in the temple in perfect harmony, until the
villagers, becoming fearful of the cobras, no longer worshipped
there. A new temple had been erected beyond the limits of Nag
territory, and there the Shiva Linga had been installed. Its removal
from the Nag ancestral home was a source of deep sorrow to the
family - a heartache handed down through the generations.
Sri Nag's ancestry
extended far back into the remote past. He was the perfected product
of centuries, if not millennia, of breeding. His length was over six
feet, sinewy and sleek; his wide hood had a round black mark on
either side, giving him the appearance of an all-seeing menace. When
he lifted the front part of his body and spread that hood to its
full and glorious width, he was indeed a formidable sight, striking
terror into the heart of whoever dared venture nearby. Few did. Sri
Nag, whose speed was as great as his threatening beauty, could
easily overtake a fleeing trespasser, sink his long fangs into a
bare leg, and inject his venom into the wound. He was proud to say
that more than one villager had perished as a result of straying
into his field.
Author : Sister Gargi
|
