It
was a full moon on a summer’s night and the moon shone brightly on the golden
roof of the temple situated in the heart of the town. The Temple was a shrine
dedicated to the Mother Goddess and was revered by the people of the country
who flocked from all corners of the country, nay, even the world to come and
pay their respects and offerings as well as place their supplications before
the feet of the statue of the Mother Goddess carved out of the finest stone.
The
Temple was indeed full of sanctity and every brick, stone and metal work
therein seemed to be filled with the power of the divine. In fact, it appeared
that all these bricks, stones and metal work were deep in prayer to the
almighty Mother. On this particular full moon night the golden plate that
served as a domed roof over the sanctum sanctorum of the shrine wherein the
Holy statue of the Divine Mother resided, appeared to be deep in prayer as the
moon beams sparkled and shimmered on the dome.
The
gold plate that covered the dome believed that a great injustice had been meted
out to it for though it was one of the costliest metals known to man it had not
been used by the Holy Mother to create her own statue but had to suffer on top
of the dome where it had to face all the vagaries of nature and the differing
seasons.
In
summer the gold plate would be attacked by the harsh hot rays of the sun while
during the monsoon the violent rain drops would smash upon it. During winter
the golden plate had to bear the brunt of the cold climate while the stone
statue of the Mother Goddess was kept warm inside the sanctum sanctorum.
The
golden plate believed that it was inappropriate for a mere stone to have been
chosen to create the image of the Goddess while the aristocratic persona that
Gold was had been misused to serve as a roof for this statue made of mere
stone. As it prayed fervently for justice the Mother Goddess appeared before
the gold plate. The gold plate was overjoyed and paid obeisance to the Mother.
The
Gold Plate looked up at the mother and said, “Oh Dear Mother Divine! Why did you not chose me to create the deity
in the sanctum sanctorum? Why have you chosen a lowly stone over me to
represent your image? Am I who shines so bright, unworthy to be your figurine?”
The
Mother Goddess looked at the golden plate with love and affection. “My dear
child you are as precious to me, if not more, than the stone from which my
image has been created and it is exactly because of this that I have made you
be laid on the roof above my image to protect and guard my presence inside”.
Though
the golden plate was happy to hear this, it could not still accept the fact
that a mere block of black stone had been given much more importance than it
deserved.
The
Mother smiled lovingly on understanding what was going through the mind of the
golden plate.
“My
dear child”, she gently continued,” each of the elements found in nature have
different properties and it is exactly because of these different properties
that the block of stone has been chosen to carve my image. While you being made
of gold cannot withstand extreme heat and will melt under very high
temperatures, the block of granite has been chosen since it could withstand any
treatment meted out to it by the five elements. Just as a Mother withstands the
pranks, sorrows and tribulations of her children so also the block of stone
withstands all extreme conditions and continues to remain the object of love
and affection of my devotees”.
The
gold plate upon hearing this felt very humble and happy to serve the Mother by
being her roof over the head of her image.
The
stone steps laid in front of the Temple heard this dialogue between the Divine
Mother and the golden plate.
After
hearing the Mother it could not resist crying out to the Mother and saying, ”Oh
Mother Divine! if what you say is indeed true then why am I who am also a piece
of stone made to serve as a lowly doorstep and bear the trampling of the feet
of thousands of devotees every day while the other block of granite who is also
my cousin receives the devotion and admiration of these same devotees who
trample upon me?”.
The
mother went down to the doorstep and caressed it with her gentle fingers. “Oh
lowly doorstep! You too are special to me and it is exactly because you are
special that I have made you the doorstep of my Temple so that all my devotees
must first pass over you before they can reach me. The only reason why you have
become a doorstep while your cousin has become a statue is due to the fact that
when the stone cutter struck you with his chisel and mallet you split into two
flat pieces while your cousin was strong enough to withstand the blows from the
mallet and was therefore chosen to be carved into my image; for being the
Mother Goddess, I have to be strong enough to bear the sins of my children and
guide them through their trials and tribulations”.
The
stepping stone fell silent and gladly welcomed the worshippers who trampled
over it.
(The
theme of this story has been adapted from ancient folklore passed on from
generation to generation by word of mouth in the rural districts of Southern
Tamil Nadu.)
