THE
EPISODE OF SRI
Proper
beginning should be with SRI, the first letter of the name - Sri
Kalahasti. It stands for a certain spider that attained
Sayujyaprapti here. The spider was the son of a pious brahmin called
Satyasaka in previous birth and lived on the bark of river
Tamraparni. He developed friendship with lowly weavers and spent a
dissolute life, despite the heart-rending appeals by the parents to
return to the Brahmin fold. Due to quirk of fate, he left his
parents and went to Konkanadesa along with a weaver called Patala- a
victim of incurable diseases, but was very rich. The weaver adopted
and called him Karambai. He died soon, leaving all his wealth to
Karambai. Instant richness made his head reel. And he dissipated all
the inherited in the company of unbridled characters. When thrown
into ditch of peruny, lie repented, but to what effect? Before his
death he had the good fortune of meeting a Saivate devotee, who
asked him to part with a cloth to adorn the Sivalinga of his place.
He obliged. That was the only merit stood to his account at the time
of death; for, under the intoxication of money, he led an immoral
life causing unending torments to his dependents and trusted
friends.
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