The man who could turn into a Lion

There once lived a man in a village predominantly occupied by Adivasi communities in India. He was among the rare Adivasis who knew how to turn into a Lion, temporarily. However, there was a major flaw in this transformation. Once he transformed into a lion, he would lose all human consciousness. He would destroy everything in his way, often posing a danger to others. It was said that he had also injured others after transforming. One fine day, when he transformed, something happened that he couldn’t forgive himself for. Without any memory or consciousness, his family met an end by his own hands (claws). That was when he abandoned transforming into a lion forever. He was strong and superhuman but had lost his family. He thought to himself, “What good is a supernatural ability if I cannot protect my own?”

Calling spirits

Occasionally, when their wives were away – sitting together, chatting, and smoking a local-made hookah, the elder men of the village would gather in a circle and decide on calling spirits and talking to them. Calling spirits was not an easy task. What made it more difficult was that sometimes the spirits were unfriendly. There was also a chance of being possessed. So before calling the spirit, the elders would have a bit of alcohol so that they become impure. Spirits do not enter impure bodies, they say. Then they would light a fire and do the necessary rituals to call a spirit. They would talk to the spirit that they called and once the spirit left, the fire would go out. These events were not free from risks and mishaps and eventually people considered that it is a better to stop it altogether.

The great betrayal

Once there lived a pious and kind priest. He had a shikha (knot hair) and wore a sacred thread. It was afternoon and a few guests came over. They were priests too. They had a shikha as well, but no thread. Also, they were fairer in complexion compared to the host, although both were from the same land. Both the host and the guests sat down to eat. The host’s wife served them the best rice, lentils, vegetables, and fruits. She also offered them curd with some jaggery. After everyone had eaten to their full, the host’s wife collected the plates for cleaning. The host priest and the guests proceeded to wash their hands by the pond. Before washing his hands, the host said a prayer and removed his sacred thread. After they had all washed hands, the guests took the host’s thread. Before the host could do anything, they fled.