tales of Suchita

Tired of all the animosities, atrocities and the rampant intolerances advocated by the crown, Prachulakta decided to renounce his queen. It was an unprecedented move and nobody knew how to deal with such lunacy. The queen’s advisors tried to charge him with treason but the man was such an eloquent orator, and his advocacy was generating such heat, the queen decided it was in her interest to let the man go. She was sure he wouldn’t find shelter or food and would come back running. After that she didn’t intend to have him beheaded for his crimes but turned into an ambassador for her, and her benevolence. The plan…was perfect.

Prachulakta however wasn’t an ordinary man. And he soon found sanctuary in a temple that was the abode of the Mata Thanot. He led a peaceful life there, taking care of the temple, doing what was needed, helping people where he could. He found the life he wanted to lead and was happy.

Then trouble began.

It first came in ones and twos, in the form of people who had been wrongly sentenced to death by the queen. One of the jailors was Mata Thanot’s bhakt and he knew of Prachulakta and his work. So he let them go, few at a time so as not to alarm anyone, and told them to find Prachulakta. He’d protect them.

The temple was a small establishment, not equipped to handle the sudden influx of people. But freedom can be a wonderful privilege and soon it was the people who started to formulate strategies to house and feed whoever sought refuge.

It was only a matter of time before the queen heard of this. Swift action was taken. The jailor was killed, a jealous husband was the explanation given. Things cooled down for a time but then began again with a vengeance as the tale of the saviour at the Mata Thanot temple spread like wildfire.

Desperate, realizing she couldn’t just kill everyone who was leaving to join Prachulakta, wanting a permanent solution to the problem, the queen, quietly, sanctioned Prachulakta’s death. And to ensure it happened as quickly as possible, she even declared a huge bounty.

To win favour with the queen, many tried their hand at killing Prachulakta but the grace of Mata Thanot had been bestowed upon him and he became untouchable. The killers then began to attack the people in anger. They succeeded for a time before the people picked up arms and learnt to defend themselves.

It took the ingenious of one woman to finally do the job. Rukmini joined Prachulakta’s tribe, won favour with everyone and was methodical in how she took over the reins. Soon she became the most powerful person in the tribe. Even the man himself, the one anointed by Mata Thanot, hadn’t been able to resist her earnestness. She was close to winning the queen’s ultimate purpose – that of disbanding the tribe – but the queen did not share her optimism (or patience) and ordered a military attack.

In the skirmish, while trying to save two children from the clutches of the soldiers, Prachulakta was slain.

The soldiers had been given orders to slay everyone: man, woman and child (even Rukmini) and they would have been successful too – had they not slain Prachulakta, whose spirit rose from the dead.

He was powerless, human, in life. He was omnipotent, lethal in death.

He massacred the entire army save for the youngest one whom he sent back with a message, Mata Thanot’s tribe is under my protection. Anyone trying to do them any harm, answers to me.

Mother nature and life found a way to thrive after the attack. Peace returned, the scattered tribe returned. More joined as it became a harbour for tired souls. Rukmini, this time, took on the reins to help the people, using the power she had gathered for good.

Every now and then, someone would disregard Prachulakta’s diktat and try to harm the tribe. Needless to say, the person did not return.

Whispers can now be heard that Prachulakta, and anyone he kills, return to the land of the living to protect Mata Thanot’s mandir, and Her tribe.

---

This is 14 of 26 Myths and Legends. To know more, click here.