The Little Girl offers Milk to SHIVA

By Sudha Murty

In Karnataka’s Koluru village there lived a rich man who was a great devotee of Shiva. He would visit the Shiva temple every morning with a tumbler of milk as offering. His wife passed away early and he only had a daughter….a sweet, good-natured girl named Kodagusu.

Every Morning at the temple, he would chant the Shiva PANCHAKSHARI mantra and Offer Milk to Shiva Linga to Drink, he had brought with him. One day, he had to travel to another village for work. He said to Kodagusu. ‘My dear, for many years I have made an offering to the Lord every day.  He has always protected us, and I don’t want o upset him. So make sure you go to the temple tomorrow on my behalf and offer Milk.

Next Morning, Kodagusu carried milk to the Temple. She Garlanded the Shiva Linga and placed the milk in front of the deity. ‘O Shiva’, She said. “My father has asked me to bring the milk to you. Please accept this offering and drink it.” She waited for Shiva to turn up for the milk, but nobody appeared and the tumbler remained full ‘Perhaps he’s feeling shy. I’ll give him some privacy,’ she thought, and went out. She waited outside for some time and then went to check if the offering had been accepted. The milk was still untouched. Now she started to worry. ‘If Shiva doesn’t drink the milk, my father will scold me. Why isn’t the Lord listening to me? She wondered.

She sat in front of the Shiva Linga and cajoled the Lord. Drink the milk. She heard nothing but Silence. Helpless Kodagisu began crying. She was scared of her father and tired of the obstinate god.

Overcome by frustration, she started hitting her head against the Shivalinga. ‘Lord am I doing something wrong? What I’m supposed to tell my Father if you do not accept our offering ?” Her plea reached Shiva’s Ear on Mount Kailash. Moved by her innocence, he emerged from the ShivaLinga. Kodagusu was ecstatic to see Him. ‘Please drink the milk.’ She said. Shiva promptly drank the Milk. Kodagusu thanked Him and ran home. Shiva watched her with affection.

In the evening her Father came back from his Journey tired but happy. The trip had been fruitful and he had made a good business deal. He reached home and asked his daughter if she took milk for that day. ‘Yes I did, but I had to cajole and plead and scold Him until He finally drank the milk. Father, you do not take so much time when you go to the temple. May be Shiva Listens to you easily because you are older than I am and He knows you.

Kodagusu’s father was taken aback. ‘Please tell me again what you just said.’ Kodagusu narrated the incident in detail. He thought someone has be fooled the young girl.  ‘I will ask her to take the milk tomorrow and follow her to see what Happens.’

The next morning he asked his daughter to take milk for the Lord. The girl nodded obediently and left with the milk. Her father followed her to the temple, stood behind the door and peeped in. Just like the day before, Kodugusu greeted the Lord and asked Him to drink the milk. She pleaded for some time but to no avail. By now her father was convinced that some passerby had posed as Shiva and drank the Milk. Upset, he came from behind the door and scolded his daughter. ‘Shiva didn’t come yesterday. You may little girl, fell for someone’s antics like a big fool.

‘No it was Siva. His neck was blue and he was holding a trident. He was real.’ But her father refused to believe her. Kodagusu was heartbroken by his lack of faith in her.

She hugged the Linga and desperately called out to Shiva. Suddenly, there was a thunderous noise. Shiva emerged from the Shivalinga and embraced Kodagusu. He looked at her father and said ‘Children are innocent. I don’t want anyone to test her again or compel me to come here when she calls out to me. ‘She will stay with me forever.’ Shiva held on to Kodagusu as the Linga began to close. He obviously intended to take her with him. Kodagusu shocked father ran to the Linga but only managed to grab a few strands of her hair before it shut completely.  Abridged, The Man From The Egg, Puffin Books.