SUNDAY PARABLE:

The virgin sacrifice

Prof. Sunanda MAHENDRA

The ominous signal of cruelty was cast on the mountain range of Hunnasgiriya in the ancient capital of the hill country. The royal proclamation to select a virgin damsel from a family around the area was heard by many of the family. A chill of anger as well as pain shuddered in the spine of the parents while the pretty maids tried best to hide themselves from the evil eyes of the royal representatives who were destined to visit in search of the victim at a given moment. At this juncture the pretty maid Walike Menike too heard the royal proclamation about the annual sacrifice called Bahirava Billa or the sacrifice to the guardian devil of the earth to invoke his powers for the year to follow. The royal proclamation was never debated or protested though the young poet in the royal court disliked the move of forcefully removing a virgin as a victim for this sacrifice.

His name was known to the public as Dunuvila Gajanayaka. He had mastered not only the poetic but also the martial arts of self defence. The poet Dunuvila heard that Walike Menike had been selected as the victim for the deadly sacrifice on the mountain and left for the animals to devour. What a nasty sacrifice this is? He thought as he passed a judgment.

"No I will never allow this sacrifice to take place in this cruel manner. Human life is much more important than a cannibalistic sacrifice to an invisible earth god or devil."

Dunuvila moved up and down contemplating on what he should do to avert this move! Then he came to know that the pretty virgin damsel Walike Menike has been selected by the royal executions and approved by the king for the sacrifice that would take place past midnight. The royal executioners gagged the mouth of Walike Menike and lifted her to the hilltop. The ritual was never allowed to be seen by any others. It was also called Nara Billa or human sacrifice. A human sacrifice for what purpose?" Questioned the royal poet Dunuvila. But he never got an answer. The royal courtiers had to abide by the royal proclamation. It was the ultimatum. The poet Dunuvila was vigilant about the cruel event. He also knew who Walike Menike is. She was one of the most kind-hearted damsels in the region known to him. He had written several poems about her.

But she had not seen or heard them. But she knew for certain, one thing that he was a gifted poet and a brave young man. It was the dead of night. The sky was gloomy. The tree did not make any sound. There was no roadway leading to the post where Menike was tied. In his hiding quite a distant afar Dunuvila watched quietly what was happening. The royal courtiers and the executioners who brought her to the post marched off aside for a moment allowing Walike Menike to undergo a solitary torture. As soon as possible the young poet cum warrior Dunuvila snatched the opportunity to reach her.

He removed the pieces of cloth that gagged her mouth as declared. "Menike, I have come here." "Who are you?", she asked. "I am Dunuvila Gajanayaka." "The poet and warrior you mean?" "Yes I am. We have no time to talk in whispers. I want to untie you." Then he untied her from the post. They heard some distant noises. "They will never come back." He whispered and having untied her carefully in the pitch darkness, he embraced her. "Do you like to live with me?" he asked.

"Yes," came the answer. "Then get on to my back. I will carry you across the river to a quieter and nice place, which is going to be our abode." Dunuvila carried her on his back like a father carrying his child. He walked down to mountain slowly and steadily clinging to trees and avoiding harmful notchy roots. It was quiet a distant he walked. Menike felt that her saviour at last had arrived. She has a sense of bliss within her. "Where are we going?", she asked. "To Gannoruwa, where you and I are going to live." They crossed the river and rested for a while on the bank. For Menike it was a dream. The poet Dunuvila spoke to her softly. "They will come to know of all these later." "Will they kill both of us?", she asked. "No they will never do that. They will come to know that you are missing and the fools will inform the king that the virgin sacrifice is over, because you are missing." Then they laughed to their hearts' content. Menike and Dunuvila lived together in a quiet abode belonging to Dunuvila.

A few months later the king came to know of the couple. But by this time most things have happened. The king realised through the event that it was a cruel and futile attempt to sacrifice a virgin to invoke blessings from the unseen forces. That was a closure to a cruel proclamation and a traditional superstition that lay buried in the minds of most people.