Power of Faith by Kottarthil Sangunni.....Malayalam Summary

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Power of Faith by Kottarthil Sankunni.
Kottarathil Sankunni (Vasudevan) a Malayalam writer, is much known for his compilation of the lores and legends of Kerala, published as Aithihyamaala, It is a collection of legends from Kerala. The stories cover every aspect of Kerala life. Stories about famous personalities, events, beliefs and common man was compiled and were serially first published in Bhashaposhini, a Malayalam Literary journal.
"The Power of Faith" is a very popular tale from Aithihyamala. Published orginally 'Viddhi Kushmandam' (Idiot Gourd), the story is about a poor buy who wants to make it big in his life and how his innocence and faith makes him successful. The story is taken from Lores and Legends of Kerala: Selections from Kottarathil Sankunni's Aithihyamaala translated by T. C. Narayan.
English Summary :
Kochuraman's rise from humble beginnings to a great anti-venom practitioner is couched in humour. He was an illiterate lad who lived near the house of a famous practitioner of anti-venom. His family was very poor and barely managed to survive. He wished to learn anti-venom treatment. He sought the advice of those around him as to how to start learning anti-venom treatment. He was told to approach a practitioner of this skill, offer him a fee that he could afford and then learn a mantra or magic verse which had to be repeated with devotion as many hundred thousand times as it had letters.
Kochuraman's visit to the gate of the leading practitioner of anti-venom, to seek his help in the study is humorous. He carried a few gourds as present. When Kochuraman humbly made his request, he was shooed away with the words "Viddhi! Kushmandam endina?" These words also evoke humour. The illiterate lad who heard only the first two words thought that this was the magic verse for treatment of venom. When he reached home he repeated the mantra as many hundred thousand times as the verse had letters. He began to practice anti-venom by visiting the homes of the patients. He became very popular and known for his consistent success. Thus he became a wealthy man.
The author creates humour out of situations. The greatest moment in Kochuraman's career was his treatment of the ruler of Kozhikode. When all other experts failed to save the ruler of Kozhikode who needed treatment for venom, Kochuramna was sent for. He arrived soon and examined the patient. He then called the chief cook and asked him to make some rice gruel immediately His explanation was that the ruler needed the rice gruel as soon as he woke up is also humorous. He then took some water and recited the sacred verse over it and sprinkled it on the ruler who promptly opened his eyes. Kochuraman was rewarded lavishly.
While returning majestically after treating the ruler of Kozhikode, he thanked his guru for his mantra. When guru asked him about the mantra he used to revive the ruler, he said that he had only one mantra that was the one taught by his guru.
As the story centres around faith and its power, the title is very apt. The story highlights the lesson of bhakti i.e. absolute faith. If one has absolute faith in something, one may succeed. The title echoes the Biblical verse, "Trust, thou shall be saved".
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