Katuvai Sothanai
Vaikundar's trial with a starved tiger ends without harm.
via Wikipedia: Katuvai Sothanai · see source
In Ayyavazhi mythology, the Katuvai Sothanai, or "Trial with Tiger," describes an event where Lord Vaikundar was cast into a cage with a tiger that had been starved for three days. The king of Thiruvithankur, Kalineesan, ordered a commander to have soldiers capture a tiger, threatening them with hanging if they failed. Terrified, the soldiers begged Vaikundar for help, and he enabled them to catch one. They praised his divine power and brought the tiger to prison, where it was caged without food.
When Vaikundar was thrown inside before ministers and soldiers, the tiger recognized its creator and remained still. Soldiers tried to provoke it; one prodded it with a spear. The tiger gripped the spear, and when the soldier pulled it free, the point accidentally killed a priest among the spectators. The king, fearing a curse worse than killing a thousand cows, withdrew his soldiers. Vaikundar’s devotees spread the news, and their faith grew.
Quick Facts
- Meaning
- Trial with Tiger
- Central figure
- Lord Vaikundar
- Antagonist
- King of Thiruvithankur (Kalineesan)
- Animal involved
- Tiger
- Duration of tiger's starvation
- Three days
- Outcome for priest
- Killed by spear
Facts from the source article.
Background
On a particular day, in the presence of ministers, administrators, and different sections of the army Vaikundar was thrown into the tiger's cage. What a miracle it was! The tiger, knowing its creator, did not jump on the prey, but lay there unmoved. The soldiers, being vexed at the strange behaviour of the ferocious animal, tried to provoke it.
One of the soldiers used the back of a long spear to prod the animal to action. It so happened that the tiger caught hold of the spear tightly, and, the soldier, trying to extricate the spear, pulled it out vehemently. Quite unexpectedly, the tiger left the spear and, alas, the sharp point of the spear pierced through a priest who was standing among the spectators and killed him. Hearing the alarming news, fear gripped the king.
He lamented saying: 'killing a priest will invite a curse more severe than that of killing a thousand cows.' He immediately withdrew his soldiers from torturing Vaikundar. On the other hand, devotees of Vaikuntar were enthralled, and their faith increased. They spread this news to one and all in every direction.
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