Southern Indian Folktale

Long ago, in the town of Govindapathi, there lived a merchant named Pasupati Setti. Pasupati had a son, Vinita, and a daughter, Garvi. When they were young, Vinita and Garvi made a heartfelt promise to each other: if they each had children who could be married, they would make sure their children married one another. As they grew up, this promise stayed close to their hearts.

Garvi married a wealthy merchant, and they had three daughters. The youngest was named Suguni. Vinita also grew up, married, and had three sons. Sadly, before Vinita and Garvi could fulfill their childhood vow, a sudden tragedy struck. Pasupati Setti passed away, leaving behind large debts. Vinita lost his family’s wealth and had to sell everything to pay off the debts. He soon found himself penniless, but he faced his hardships with patience and determination, choosing to live a simple, honest life.

Meanwhile, Garvi, living in comfort, began to question her promise. She worried about marrying her daughters to Vinita’s sons, who now lived in poverty. Eventually, she decided to break her promise. She married her two older daughters to other wealthy young men and was left with only her youngest daughter, Suguni, still unmarried.

Vinita, though saddened, remained silent, respecting his sister’s choice. However, many in the town sympathized with Vinita, speaking about how unfairly he had been treated. Suguni, who was a thoughtful and kind young woman, heard these conversations. She admired her uncle Vinita for his kindness and honesty, and she knew that his sons were also good-hearted and respectful. Determined to keep her mother’s promise, Suguni went to Garvi and said, “Mother, I can’t bear to see you break the vow you made with Uncle Vinita. I wish to marry one of my cousins.”

Garvi was surprised by Suguni’s words. She replied, “You want to marry someone who has nothing? If you insist, we will let you, but we won’t see you again.” Yet Suguni held firm, so her mother agreed to let her marry Vinita’s youngest son.

Suguni joined Vinita’s household and brought joy and kindness with her. She lived simply, working with her sisters-in-law to make plates from leaves, which Vinita and his sons sold in the market each day. They didn’t make much, but Suguni managed their earnings wisely, ensuring everyone in the family was well-fed and cared for.

One day, the king of Govindapathi removed a ruby ring from his finger while bathing and left it on a ledge in the open courtyard. A large bird, seeing the ring glitter, mistook it for food, swooped down, grabbed it, and soon dropped it in Suguni’s courtyard. Suguni found the ring, and later that day, a proclamation was made throughout the town, offering a reward for anyone who found it.

Suguni called her husband and his brothers and said, “I found the king’s ring. We should return it to him. When the king asks what reward I’d like, please let me answer.”

The brothers agreed, and together, they went to the palace. When they presented the ring, the king was pleased with Suguni’s honesty and asked what reward she would like.

Suguni bowed and said, “Your Majesty, I ask only for one favor: on Friday night, please order that every light in the town be extinguished, except in our home.”

The king granted her request, and on Friday, the town was covered in darkness. But Suguni’s house glowed brightly with a thousand lamps she had arranged. As night fell, Suguni instructed her brothers-in-law, “Stand guard at the front and back doors. If any lady of beauty and grace asks to enter, let her in, but ask her to promise never to leave. If any lady wishes to go out, ask her to promise never to return.”

The brothers followed her instructions. As the night deepened, the Eight Prosperities—goddesses of wealth, health, success, and joy—came through the town, seeking a bright and welcoming home. Every other house was dark, but Suguni’s glowed with light. The goddesses approached the door, and the brother guarding it welcomed them, asking them to promise to stay forever. They agreed and entered the house.

Shortly afterward, a shadowy, unpleasant figure approached the back door and requested to leave. The brother at the back asked her to swear never to return. She agreed and hurried away, for this shadowy figure was Adversity, the elder sister of Prosperity. With the Eight Prosperities now dwelling in Suguni’s home, Adversity had no place there.

From that day on, Vinita’s household flourished. Their pots filled with milk, their bags overflowed with rice, and their chests filled with coins. News of Suguni’s wisdom spread, and even her parents, who had disowned her, came seeking her forgiveness. She welcomed them warmly, and they, too, saw the light of her kindness.

The family prospered, living happily together for many years. And so the town remembered: true light within a home brings prosperity, for, as the Tamil proverb says, dipam lakshmîkaram—“light makes prosperity.”

Original Source: Kingscote, Howard. “Tales of the Sun: Or, Folklore of Southern India.” Gutenberg.org, Project Gutenberg, 2021, www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/37002/pg37002-images.html#ch17. Accessed 28 Oct. 2024.