RYALI

Scenting the hungry looks of a stranger, the exotic beauty leapt out and started running to her place. And lo! the intruder too followed, nay chased her from place to place till they reached this place then called Ratnapuri. Due to endless run, she halted here for a split second, when there fell from her lovely black, glistening stresses a colourful flower of unusual fragrance. Lord Maheswar, deeming it heaven-sent lifted it to inhale its fragrance to lees. Incidentally he stretched his gaze at her. Ah what a marvel! There stood there to his utter stupefaction, Sri Mahavishnu smiling, rather casting an amorous glance. Maheswar's retinue joining him gasping just then said that it was the self-same Jaganmohini, who distributed amrit to them. Cursing his folly, he decided to stay there in the form of linga permanently, lest he would be treated as laughing stock, and be heckled at by his consort Uma always. There descended then Brahma and bathed the linga with water from his Kamandala and named it Uma Kamandaleswar, for the reason that the linga was bathed with the water of his Kamandal when Siva determined to dwell here to be screened from the jesting of Uma. Since then the linga is worshipped with great fervour with a beautiful shrine built over it by a theist king. The previous name Ratnapuri was changed to 'Rali', since it is at this place, a flower fell from the stresses of Jaganmohini. That 'Rali' gradually changed into a musical word 'Ryali' the present name with which it is endearingly called by one and all.

[ Back ] [ Up ] [ Next ]