The morning sun blazed across the village, its rays filtering through the clouds while the faint chirping of birds filled the pleasant atmosphere of the village.

"Kailaasarana Shiva Chandramouli
Phaneendra Maathaa Mukutee Zalaalee
Kaarunya Sindhu Bhava Dukha Haaree
Thujaveena Shambho Maja Kona Taaree"

Oh, Lord Shiva, who is seated on Mount Kailas, whose forhead is decorated with the moon and the king of serpents as a crown, who is the Ocean of Mercy and the remover of delusion, You alone can protect me. I surrender to thee.

Siriyala and his wide Changala Devi chanted, offering flowers to the Idol of Shiva and Parvati.

They are an ideal couple who devoted their entire life serving Lord Shiva.

They had every luxuries in their life but no children. They vowed to Lord Shiva that every day they would eat only after serving atleast a Jangama (a nomadic saint who has devoted his life for the Lord) with whatever he demanded to eat.

Thus, they have lunch only when all the devotees in the village was fed.
The devotees were not fed what was prepared but the preparation was made based on what the devotee demanded.

Within a year, Siriyala and Changala were blessed with a son. They named him Chilala a combination of both of their names.

After some years, Chilala grew up to be same like his parents- soft spoken, humble, entirely devoted to Lord Shiva.

In Kailash:

"Swami, tell me why you always love your devotees and wanted to do anything to keep them happy?", asked Devi Parvati, in a calm tone.

"Parvati, their love and affection towards me draw me much closer to them.", Lord Shiva replied with a smile.

"Swami, if it is so, can you tell me one such devotee who would do anything for your sake?" Parvati again questioned.

"I can show you many such devotees. But I'll show you one for now. His name is Siriyala." replied Lord Shiva, calmly.

"Can we test him?" asked Parvati, with a small glint in jer eyes.

Lord Shiva readily agreed.

They disguised themselves as Jangamas and entered the village of Siriyala.

They began to play their act.

Lord Shiva made sure that the Jangamas were increasing more than usual.

But Siriyala and Changala kept on serving their guests with whatever they demanded.

"See, he is keeping his vow to me by serving each and every one of them." Said Shiva, noticing the activities of his devotee.

"Swami, you are asking him for what he has. You should ask him what he doesn't have." Devi Parvati replied.

Lord Shiva agreed and looked up the sky.

Rain started hitting the ground heavily. As a result, the wooden logs which is used for cooking became completely wet.

The Jangamas kept on pouring in large numbers.

The cooks of Siriyala's house came running to Changala that they couldn't satisfy the devotees as there is not much dry wooden logs or fuels remaining. They suggested that they can prepare a common menu for dinner and serve them that.

"Going against the Vow taken against Lord Shiva's name is a dreadful sin. Give me some time, I'll come with the necessary fuel.", saying so Changala came with her silk sarees to use that as the fuel.

"Dip these sarees in oil and use it as fuel. Please make sure that the guests are served what they all demand." Changala voiced, much to the surprise of the cooks.

Lord Shiva smiled, "There awaits another test for them".

The next day Lord Shiva made sure that there is no Jangama in the whole of village.

When Siriyala went to search for them, he could find no one.

He returned home and told his wife about that. They remained hungry for that day keeping their vow.

Three days has passed. There is no Jangama in the village. They all starved.

On the third day when Chilala was ready to go to school, Changala asked him to eat something.

But he refused saying that if his parents have not eaten anything then he wouldn't eat too.

Changala was very happy that their son is growing as how they dreamed him to be. But the mother in her felt sad for his decision.

She noticed that their old servant also haven't ate anything. "You look tired and weak. Please have some food." She said.

"If my masters are starving then how come this servant eat. The little child has gone without having anything. I can do that too." He politely turned down the offer.

Thus the whole family remained hungry without having a single morsel of food.

The scenario in the house of Siriyala made Parvati sad. She is displeased with the happenings there.

"Swami, enough now. My doubts are cleared. Sriyala is the most devoted person and I agree with this. Let us return to our place." Parvati said, concern for her devotees filling her voice.

She is JagatMata, she couldn't endure the sufferings of her children.

"Wait Parvati. You asked me to test our devotees. I wouldn't return without testing them fully to my satisfaction.", Lord Shiva replied. "You just accompany me, I'll show you what true devotion they has for us"

They disguised themselves as Jangamas and entered the village of Siriyala.

Siriyala having heard this rushed to them to invite them to his home.

Siriyala politely asked what they want to have.

Shiva (in disguise) replied, "We are meditating for years and we do not feed on what has lost its innocence. We do not eat the plants that have roots and grow from the mud."

Siriyala was shocked hearing this.

"You mean, great mendicants as that you are would have non-vegetarian for dinner?" asked Siriyala, confused.

Shiva laughed, "We do not pollute our pure bodies by feeding on dead animals. We do not feed on dead animals."

"If you do not feed on plants or animals, what should I provide you? What you are willing to eat?", Siriyala asked.

"We are cannibals and we feed on human flesh.", replied Shiva.

Siriyala was shocked to hear this. Gaining his composure, he thought to himself, "It is better to sacrifice my life to feed the two mendicants. There is no better way to attain salvation than this."

"No, we won't feed on pollited humans like you." Voiced Shiva in the disguise of Jangama.

"Then whom you would feed?" asked Siriyala.

"We feed on children between five and six years of age who have a pure heart and clear mind." Lord Shiva replied.

"As you wish. Please be in our house at the time of lunch. We will be waiting for your presence." Said Siriyala.

The two Jangamas nodded.

Siriyala went to his house and disclosed the news to his wife. She couldn't believe what she heard.

"Now what can we do Swami?" She asked Siriyala, not knowing what to do.

"I'll go and search if someone is willing to sell a child between this age.", Siriyala muttered.

"How someone who sells children for money knows about the pain of their parents, the pain their mothers undergo to bring the life to the earth? And who are we to decide the fate of child which is not ours?" asked Changala, with tears in her eyes.

Siriyala fell silent. He couldn't argue anymore.

They both knew the solution for this problem. But both of them are not willing to say it.

As there is no other way than this, Siriyala asked his servant to go to school and fetch his son Chilala to his house.

While leading Chilala way back to home with due permission from his Principal, the old servant couldn't control his emotions.

"Why I am called, Grandpa?", little Chilala asked the servant.

"Child, listen to me. Please run away from this village. Some Cannibals are coming home for lunch and they feed only on human flesh. So your parent decided to sacrifice you for their sake. You can live a happy life away from this village.", the servant cautioned him.

"The one who always advice me to oblige parent's words is now telling me to disobey them. If my parents decided so, then it would be for my greated good only. So don't worry about that." Chilala replied calmly.

When he finally reached home he went to his father and said," I know why I am called now father. Please don't hesitate. Someday I have to die. If that day is today, I am fine with that.", Chilala said.

Devi Parvati begged Lord Shiva to stop testing him. But Lord Shiva asked her to hold on.

His mother couldn't control her tears. His father with a heavy heart signaled his son to come out.

Siriyala carried an axe and blew his son's head down. His flesh was used for cooking the food for the Jangamas.

At the said time, Lord Shiva and Devi Parvati disguised as Jangamas came to the house of Siriyala.

They were seated in a mat while Lord Shiva asked Siriyala to seat beside him to have lunch with him.

He restricted but he was forced to sit with them.

Suddenly, Lord Shiva asked Siriyala to ask his wife to call his son.

He hesitated. He doesn't know what to do.

"I will not eat anythings in a childless house. Call your son now or I will leave." Lord Shiva announced.

Changala was in a desperate state. She thought of her husband and servants who haven't ate anything for three days, she thought of her loving son who sacrificed his life.

Not knowing what to do, she stood at the door and called for her son, "Chilala... Chilala..."

When she did that, all the flesh that is used for cooking came into a perfect body shape with life.

She saw her son who came running to her in the finest of cloths.

Tears filled her eyes as she hugged her son, she lovingly kissed his forehead, unable to control her emotions. When she turned to her husband, she was shocked to see her husband sitting on his knees.

She slightly moved her sight and saw Lord Shiva and Devi Parvati.

She was amazed. Both she and her son ran to them, sat in their knees, bowing their head down.

"I told you that our devotees will go to any extent to keep their vow on me. My words became true. Now are you satisfied with the test?" Lord Shiva asked His wife.

Parvati smiled, "Of course My Lord. Our devotees are our children. This is just to show the greatness of Siriyala and his family and not to test his devotion towards us."

They both blessed Siriyala and his family and returned to Kailash.

PS: This chapter is dedicated to Kamalanayani23. Happy birthday di. You are an amazing sister and friend I could ever have. I hope you liked this chapter. I pray to Pitashree and Maa to bless you always with happiness, joy and success. Love you always ❤️