Folktales from India: Miraculous Powers

In every corner of India, there is a wealth of folktales. Their subjects are diverse

-how the world was made, how the kings should rule, tales of wise and foolish, men, women and, animal fables.

Looking for folktales, I found those compiled by Eunice de Souza, whose brief biography shows at the end of this post.

Miraculous Powers

“Once upon the time, there lived a holy man. Or rather, he was a man who rather think of himself as as holy. He studied hard with many teachers, and tried to acquire miraculous powers. The problem was, he was far too proud of his skills to be truly holy. He didnt´know that genuinly holy people are humble, and don´t talk about themselves, or try to show off.

One day, this holy man was near a river when he saw another holy man sitting on the other bank. ‘I can show this fellow a thing or two,’ he thought o himself. He started to walk accross the water. He was sure the other holy man would fall at his feet and praise him for his miraculous powers.

But the other holy man just went on looking at the river, and the passing boats, and the children who waved at him.

The first holy man was a little upset. ‘My friend,’ he said, ‘dis you see me walking on the water?’

‘Oh yes,’ said the other holy man. ‘Wonderful. Where did you learn to walk on the water?’

The first holy man began to tell him of all the penances he had undergone, the yoga masters he had gone to, the gurus at ehose feet he had sat, the fasts he had undertaken, and the time he had spent either standing on one leg, or with his arms in the air. ‘No easy job, I can tell you,’ he ended proudly.

He waited for the other holy man to say how impressed he was, and ask him his advise. But the man merely said, ‘Oh really? Seems a waste of time and energy. If you had gone to the ferryman, he would have brought you accross for a rupee.’

Eunice de Souza was born and grew up in Pune, in a Goan Catholic family. She studied English literature with an MA from the Marquette Universityin Wisconsin, and a Ph.D. from the University of Mumbai. She taught English at St. Xavier’s College, Mumbai, and was Head of the Department until her retirement. She was involved in the well known literary festival Ithaka organized at the college.

She has also been involved in theater, both as actress and director. Her published works include four books of poems, four edited anthologies, two novels; and several books for children.

Originally published at https://www.efficient-management-apps.de on April 25, 2020.