THE CRY THAT CAN SAVE

There is a fine story about Shiva. One dark night when Shiva and Parvathi were journeying through the sky, they saw a man perched on the branch of a tree, about to fall on the ground through sheer exhaustion of limbs. Parvathi pleaded on his behalf and wanted Shiva to save him. Shiva preferred that she should save him instead.

Meanwhile, the fall became imminent and they decided that if, while falling, the man shouted “Amma,” Parvathi should hasten to arrest his fall, and if he shouted, “Appa,” Shiva should help and see that no bones are broken.

The man fell, but he shouted neither Amma nor Appa but Ayyo! And so, he had to be left severely alone!