SRISAILAM

CHENCHU MALLAYYA EPISODE

The folk-lore literature too vied with mythology and produced its own version, and what is more testified it with the existing practices. It runs-Once Lord Siva, fascinated by the beauty of primeval forest in its blooming glory, manifesting. in colour and sound of the birds and beasts came down in hunting suit and enjoyed, wandering hither and thither for long. As fortune would have it, a local belle of ethereal glamour moving about with a lilting song, in tune with jingling notes of her anklet-bells gleamed into his sight. Forgetting the hunting of beasts, he chased and hunted her down in the end, though with quick jumps, swings, hops and runs, she taunted the divine hunter through the dales and peaks to her heart's content. Realising him to be an extraordinary hunter, the parents hooked him to their daughter and after wedding, he was fondly named Chenchu Mallayya. On revealing his real identity, they prayed him to remain with them for ever in the form of Linga. He assented. And hence her descendants-Chenchus are still retaining some privileges in the temple, like the dragging of car on festive occasions etc. Moreover, they believe themselves to be the rightful guardians of this temple.

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