The story of long Homa of a Brahmin as told by Sakalakalavalli doll

The story of long Homa of a Brahmin as told by Sakalakalavalli doll

Retold by
P.R.Ramachander

On the twenty sixth day Bhoja raja after his morning duties again started climbing on to the throne of Vikramadhithya. He was stopped on the twenty sixth step by Sakalakalavalli doll. It told him that he does not have great qualities of the king Vikramadhithya and is not fit to occupy the throne. Then king Bhoja asked that doll, “Doll please tell me about the greatness of Vikramadhithya. The doll started telling the following story.

Once when king Vikramadhithya was ruling a spy who was wont to roam in foreign countries reported, “King there is a mountain called Chithrakoota. There is a pretty temple for the goddess there. There is a waterfall there staring from the top of that mountain. This goes as a stream near the temple. It is believed that anyone who takes bath in the stream completely washes of all his sin in the stream and because of this the water of the stream turns black. On the shored of the stream a Brahmin is doing Homa (offering in the fire for a long time). The ask taken from the Homa has already assumed the proportion of a huge mountain. No one knows how long he has been doing the Homa. That Brahmin does not talk to anybody.”

Hearing this Vikramadhithya wanted to go to Chithrakoota. So during his next sojourn to the forest he went to that mountain. He took bath in the river and saluted the Goddess. Then he approached the Brahmin and asked him, “Sir, how long have you been doing this Homa? For what purpose are you doing this Homa?” The Brahmin replied, “King, I have been doing this Homa constantly for the past one hundred years. I am doing this so that the Goddess would shower her grace on me.”
Vikramadhithya was intrigued. He himself did a Homa. When nothing happened, he took his sword and wanted to cut his head and do Homa. The goddess immediately appeared and told him to seek any boon that he likes.
Vikramadhithya asked her, “Revered Goddess why is it that you have not been pleased with the efforts of this Brahmin for the past one hundred years?”
The Goddess replied, “That Brahmin is doing Homa without mental concentration. When he is doing Homa he does not think of me but thinks of so many other necessities of his. So even if he does Homa for the next 1000 years I would not be pleased with him. Anyway, ask for your boon.”
Vikramadhithya asked the Goddess”Kindly grant this Brahmin what he wants.”
The Goddess told, “You are very great man, Vikramadhithya. You never ask anything for yourself but ask for the needs of others. I would fulfill all the wishes of this Brahmin “. And then she disappeared.


The doll then told, “Oh king Bhoja, this is the greatness of Vikramadhithya who occupied this throne. If you think that you are equal to him, then you can definitely go up. Bhoja returned back that day without further climbing.