Untitled - Katha

10 ◆
“Eesh!”
A third chimed in. “That’s nothing. Stop by the river, on the
night after the full moon ...”
“After the full moon?”
The crowd turned eagerly to the speaker.
“Be sure to stand on the battle rock. Yes, that same rock on
which the people of Nilachal stood to watch the battle on the
Brahmaputra play out. The time the Mughals, at the height of
their power, took it on themselves to crush the Ahom king. Take
your position I say, even if you must do so seventeen times, as the
Mughuls did in 1667. You will witness an amazing sight. No,
not Lachit Barphukan the great Ahom general who has been
immortalized for the defeat of the Mughuls at Saraighat – but a
king cobra! Yes, you’ll see the deadly serpent with its hood flared,
glistening in the water.”
Someone whispered, “That’s no snake. It’s the jatadhari’s
dreadlocks. He meditates under water.”
“So I’ve heard. People say he has snakes entangled in his hair.”
Bom Bom Shiva! Bom Raudra!
Bom Bom Bom Shiva Shambhu!
Shiva Shambhu!
Startled, the disciples looked up. Even those who were resting,
their weary heads tucked between their knees. Two saffron clad
hermits made a dramatic entry. One was tall, the other abnormally
short. Matted hair bunched into top-knots, rudraksh beads
prominent on their necks, wooden water pots held high. Probably
newcomers to Nilachal.
Just then, Ratnadhar screamed, gesticulating at the buffalo
they were leading to the sacrificial altar. He threw himself down,
The Man from Chinnamasta