Page 15 - Oct-Dec 2018
P. 15
VOL. 15 No. 3
Wood Wisdom
Since wood has an important presence in cultures around India, there are
often stories centred on crafts pertaining to woodwork.
THe Lord’s sLIPPer
THe TIGer KInG
The Wooden Paduka is so
well known because of its This story by Kalki is about a
mention in the Ramayana, king who, it was prophesised,
where Lord Ram gave would be killed by a tiger. To avoid this brutal death,
his paduka to his brother he killed all tigers in his kingdoms. The astrologer then
Bharat in the jungle. It warned the king that even after killing 99 tigers, he
th
is believed that Bharat should be careful with the 100 . The king finally reached
th
refused to rule Ayodhya his 100 tiger. When he aimed with his gun to kill it, the
as he felt that it was his tiger moved, and only got injured. The king was unaware
brother Ram’s right to do of this and thought he killed 100 tigers.
so. To convince Bharat to go A few days later, on his son’s birthday, the king decided
back to the kingdom, Lord to buy him a wooden toy tiger. A tiny sliver of the wood
Ram gave him his wooden from the toy pierced the king. This was the 100th tiger
paduka to keep on the throne while Bharat overlooked that caused the king’s death!
the administration of the kingdom.
THe IdoL sTorY
In 1100 CE, Odisha was ruled by Indradyumna. He wished to build a temple for Lord Jagannath and wanted the perfect
idol for the purpose. One day, a carpenter came to make this idol for him and requested not to be disturbed while he was
working. After a few days, the queen got restless and the king along with her tiptoed into the room to see the idol. The
king was overjoyed as the idol was exactly as he wanted it. The carpenter found out and since the promise was broken,
he left immediately – leaving the idol unfinished. During Nabakalebara, which is the practice of re-embodiment of the
wooden main deities similar incomplete deities are made. It takes place at periodic intervals.
Activity: Make a painting based on this story and mention the moral that it teaches us.
Background illustration by: Shubham Samantaray,6, Gyan Bharti School, Saket
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