A Fearful Gift
The Skilled Hunter
In a village situated near a forest lived a hunter. He was quite skilled at his job, often capturing animals and birds without physically harming them. He sold them to the king’s zoo for a handsome price, and he usually kept a few animals and birds caged in his home.
The Boy’s Revelation
One morning, a boy approached the hunter and said, “I belong to the village on the other side of the forest. In my village lives a woman named Gangabai, whose husband claims she is possessed by the goddess Kali every Saturday. She has started attracting crowds, and her husband is growing richer from the gifts people offer. However, I know this is a hoax, and if you wish, we can easily expose it.”
A Plan is Hatched
“What can I do about it?” asked the hunter.
The boy shared his plan with the hunter, who was intrigued and agreed to follow it.
The Encounter with Gangabai
It was a Saturday when the hunter visited Gangabai’s house. She sat there, pretending to be in a trance, occasionally uttering incomprehensible words. Her devotees had laid several gifts before her.
The hunter bowed to Gangabai and said, “O Goddess Kali! Pardon my audacity. I used to refuse to believe that you were Kali, but now I have no doubt that you become Kali every Saturday. You will love the gift I bring you next Saturday. No other devotee could ever have thought of such a gift!”
Gangabai blessed the hunter, and he left.
The Growing Anticipation
The people gathered began speculating about the nature of the gift the hunter promised. More and more villagers heard about it, and by Saturday, the crowd at Gangabai’s house had significantly increased.
Gangabai remained in her trance for a long time, wondering, “Where is the hunter and his promised gift?” Just as she was about to rise, the hunter came running and prostrated himself before her. But he held nothing in his hands.
Unveiling the Hoax
”What about the promised gift?” Gangabai demanded hoarsely.
”It is outside your house, O Kali!” replied the hunter.
Unable to suppress her curiosity, Gangabai followed the hunter, as did the crowd.
Outside was a large cage with a fearsome tiger inside!
“O Kali! Here is your vehicle. Please accept this humble gift from me and kindly ride it,” pleaded the hunter as he approached the cage.
A Frightened Goddess
The crowd instinctively moved away to a safe distance, but Gangabai cried out, “Do not let it come out, I say!”
”But why should you be afraid? As the Goddess Kali, you have nothing to fear from your tiger! Let me bring the beast out. It will be a heavenly sight for us to see you ride it!” urged the hunter, placing his hand on the cage.
Gangabai turned and attempted to flee back into her house. The hunter stopped her, raising his voice, “Now you realize that it’s impossible to deceive everyone forever! Confess that Kali never possessed you. If she had, you would not fear riding the tiger!”
The Confession
Panicking, Gangabai recognized that they had been discovered as frauds. The crowd now demanded that she sit upon the tiger.
Gangabai’s husband stepped forward, trying to pacify the crowd, but his efforts were in vain. Both were forced to admit that they were merely acting. Gangabai’s husband was obliged to return whatever gifts he could from the ones the couple had collected from the villagers.
The Aftermath
The hunter directed the crowd to disperse and then returned home with his tiger.
On the road, he encountered the boy again.
”Now, tell me, lad, why were you so displeased with Gangabai that you were eager to expose the fraud?” asked the hunter.
”I wasn’t displeased with her at all. I knew she was a good-hearted woman. However, her husband has always been a cheat. He deceived my father out of his property, leaving us in poverty. When the villagers realized what kind of man he was, he concocted this new trick. He influenced his wife to pretend she was possessed by Kali and began to swindle the people through her. I thought exposing the hoax would serve the community,” explained the boy.
“You are a wise lad,” commented the hunter.