Page 150 - Communication Processes Volume 3 Communication Culture and Confrontation

The Donkey 125

The Donkey is Cursed by Vayu (Vdr-02)

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Hanuman, son of Vayu, the wind, at the moment of his birth, jumped to
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swallow Surya, the sun. All gods were frightened, and Indra somehow
managed to strike him down on to the earth with his club.
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All gods started blaming Vayu, who got angry. He lost his temper
and resolved to remain hidden, irrespective of whether all people died.
He decided to hide in a tree.
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Below the tree, a donkey was grazing. Vayu made up his mind to
inform only that donkey of his intention of hiding there, and said to
the donkey: ‘I am going to sit and hide in this tree. I shall keep you
alone alive. But, look, whosoever comes searching for me, do not tell
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him anything.’ The donkey agreed and Vayu stayed in the tree.
Meanwhile, on earth all life was perishing and animals were suffocat-
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ing. The gods were frightened, and Śankar set out in search of Vayu. In
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the course of his search, Śankar’s glance came to rest on the donkey,
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who comfortably grazing under a tree as he was getting a breeze. Śankar
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had a suspicion that that donkey was likely to know about Vayu’s
whereabouts. He came close to the donkey and requested him to dis-
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close where Vayu was. But the donkey paid no heed.
Śankar bowed at the feet of the donkey and said: ‘My pinda will re-
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main forever in your hoof. Tell me where Vayu is.’ Hearing these words,
seeing Śankar holding his feet and making a request, the donkey burst
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with pride. He was so elated that he broke the promise made to Vayu
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and revealed to Śankar that Vayu was hiding in the tree.
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On behalf of all the gods Śankar asked Vayu for pardon and
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requested him to save life on earth. Vayu was appeased, but his rage
against the donkey did not abate.
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As the donkey had not kept his word, Vayu cursed him: ‘There shall
always be a burden on your back. You will die toiling along forever.’
Structural Analysis
Thematic Analysis
Unequal Balance of Power
Initially, the general set-up is one of direct confrontation between two
protagonists, or rather two parties, which may be identified as the ter-
restrials and the ‘celestials’ on the basis of their spatial determinations.