Alright campers, grab your sticks and marshmallows and
gather around the fire. I am going to tell you a classic Indian campfire story.
This tale comes from a very ancient legend that has been passed down from
generation to generation. In a region just south of the great Himalayan
Mountains there lies the vast Vindya foothills. It was on the top of the
grandest hill that two brothers built a cabin and raised goats. Though these
weren’t your typical brothers; they were the demon brothers Ilwala and Vatapi. The
two had settled in the region after the great Vindhya Mountains bowed for
Agastya in order to allow him to pass and continue his journey. Since that time
many a traveler has traversed the region but to never return. It is the poor unsuspecting travelers that
end up offering Ilwala and Vatapi a plentiful source of food. It was on a night
much like this one that a weary tradesman traveling across the Vindya was
stopping for the evening to make camp. He was absolutely famished with nothing
else to eat but the blackberries he had stumbled upon later that afternoon. As
he began making camp he saw a light glow coming from the top of the next hill
and sweeping down the grassy slope came a most delicious smell of cooked meat.
He was not one to normally seek out charity but his stomach got the better of
him and he began the hike up the hill to the cabin. He was already on edge for
he had heard rumors of a creature that lurked in these hills and would lure
travelers into a trap, a trap from which no one returned. As he drew closer to
the cabin he became more relaxed as he noticed the pleasant sound of goats and
the sight of a softly lit cabin interior. He walked up to the door and rapped
three times where he was then greeted by the sprightliest old man he had ever
seen. The traveler pleaded his case and the old man beckoned him into his cozy
cabin. “What a nice little cabin you have here” said he traveler, “do you live
by yourself?” The old man replied “ yes, yes I do. My wife died a few years
back and now it’s just the goats and me. We’re a pretty close little family.” The
old man then motioned for the starving traveler to take a seat at his table and
enjoy a fresh bowl of goat stew. The traveler didn’t think twice, he dove right
into the warm chunky stew and even going in for seconds. After the traveler slurped
down the last couple drops he leaned back completely stuffed. He was just about
to thank the old man when the old man interrupted him and yelled “come out,
come out shouting!” The traveler looked confused but his face soon turned to
agony as his stomach began to churn and gurgle as though it was about to
explode. A searing pain grew and the poor traveler yelled out in pain as his
stomach bulged out until all of a sudden he burst open like a balloon and out
popped Vatapi. He gave Ilwala a high-five and they started feasting on the once
weary traveler.
Authors notes: I chose this story because I have always
enjoyed campfire stories and I wanted to add one to my current repertoire.
Ramanarayanadatta astri Volume: 2 Publisher: [Gorakhpur Geeta
Press]- Agastya drinks the ocean
