SABARIMALAI

The story is long and characters involved are many. It begins with Dhanu, a powerful asura, who had two sons by name Ramba and Karamba. Both the sons propitiated Lord Agni for grant of unlimited sway over the universes, and began dhirga tapas, Karamba standing in neck deep water, while Ramba in big blazing fire. Apprehending ouster from the result of penance, Devendra taking the form of crocodile killed karambha.

Depressed at the untimely death of brother, Ramba attempted suicide, but it, was thwarted by Lord Agni himself, who appearing asked him to name his desire. Ramba asked for a son who would not be killed by Surasuras, or even manavas in any way. It was readily granted. As he was returning home triumphant, he saw a bewitching she-buffalo. Its form enchanted him. 

He at once turned into a he-buffalo and quenched his Kamadaha, but this was resented by a wild, native buffalo, the son of the soil. So it entered into fray and killed Ramba. But it had a strange ending. Seeing the he-buffalo slain, the chaste she-buffalo died in the funeral pyre.

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