| Temples & Legends of
Tamilnadu |
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| Temples & Legends Of
India |
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SUCHINDRAM |
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| Upon this the old
men said that it was their oath not to taste the food served by a woman unless she served
it standing completely nude. No woman would agree to this. It was a great sin to do so.
But it was a greater sin to send away hungry guests without feeding them. This must be
understood in the context of a test to which the Gods wished to subject Anasuya. The Gods
certainly knew that she would stand it without violating her chastity and feminine
decency. Obviously, like Narada they too wished to teach a lesson to their own wives.
Anasuya was for a while in a great fix.
Then she remembered the Padatirtha of her lord. She went in, brought the holy water and
sprinkled it on the guests. Instantly the three deities were transformed into three
babies. Anasuya at once threw off her garments and suckled the babies. Thus, chastity
triumphed even against the Gods.
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