THE LEGEND OF BANASUR

The cauldron was again put on fire and more fuel was added. A few days after the lid was again taken off and the Rishi was still alive in the same meditation pose while the oil was boiling.

This time Banasur got frightened and brought out the Rishi and fell on his feet penitent. The Rishi gave out he would forgive him but the Asur must leave the area. Banasur agreed but begged that the peculiar dialect of the area known as Kanash be not uprooted. Jamadagni had no objection. He did not mind that Banasur should be remembered through ' the dialect as people would then realize the ultimate end of wickedness.

Banasur left but the people were still afraid if he ever returned. An effigy of Banasur was made and kept in a cage, which was locked up in a cellar. The idea was to destroy the effigy if Banasur would ever return and that would put an end to his life. The cellar known as "Raksa Ra Mord" is never opened. It would be opened only if Banasur visits. Once a year a goat is sacrificed outside the cellar.

The Kanash dialect only confined to the village Malana still Iingers. The dialect is not spoken anywhere else. There is no script particular to it. Even some people in the village particularly the Harijans are said to understand the dialect but cannot speak it. Kanash dialect is a linguistic riddle, it is gathered.

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