Gandikota

Penchalakona

He was in a deep well, which did not seem to have an exit out. As he craned his neck up, the mouth was too high up to even contemplate escaping. He looked around, and saw he was surrounded by corpses, some decaying with their skin falling off, and the bones jutting out. And skeletal remains, with all the flesh stripped off, lying down, some against the wall. Dark big fat rats scurried around, biting off large chunks of flesh, of the decaying corpses, feasting with relish. Knives jutted out from the floor of the well, on whose sharp edges the corpses were scrawled in various states of decay.

The deadly Kattula Bavi, where kings and princes often disposed of their rivals, after killing them. To those who did manage to survive, it was a fate even worse than death. He felt the rats, nibbling at his wounds, biting out large chunks of flesh. Skeletons fell on him from all sides, and then, he heard that deadly hiss. If the fall into the well did not kill you, if you still managed to survive the knives, you had no escape from the serpents which made their home here. And they began to slither from the holes in thousands, their fangs bared, their forked tongues darting in and out. They seemed to come out from everywhere,the holes, the crevices, beneath the ground, as he could feel them slither up his body. And from somewhere giant scorpions, stung at his heels, while the serpents began to dig their fangs, into his body. 

And he woke up with a scream, for a moment, there was just silence all around him. It was a nightmare, but then over the past couple of months, his life itself was a living hell. He looked around, it was a thatched hut, and a tall,elderly man, stood above him, with a thick, greying beard, a tiger skin draped over his chest, with a bright red dhoti, holding a staff in hand. He seemed to be the chief or something, and was flanked by another man,of shorter build, more stocky, who was grounding some herbs in a pestle.In a corner cowered two small lads,one with a mop of curly hair, another more lanky, with long locks. Beside the chief, stood a lissome girl,just entering her youth, her hair neatly fastened into a bun, fastened with a fish bone, and a white robe draped over her.

"Where am I?"

As he began to heave his weakened body from the bed of straw, one of the men nearby, held his arms, around the waist,  helping him to raise. He staggered a bit looking around the hut,where he had been resting, and the people around him. He lurched a bit forward, as they held him from falling down, still feeling a bit weak. He however managed to hold himself, and staggered towards the door of the hut, with Peddayya, motioning every one to step aside.

As he staggered out of the hut, he was transfixed at what he saw, from the top of a massive hill, a large waterfall cascaded in full glory, with a roar, sending a spray of mist over the rocks. Large hills rose all around shrouded in hues of green and blue, as clouds swirled around the peaks. The slopes were covered with thick green forests, trees clinging proudly to the slopes. Colorful birds of all hues, and size, flew around squawking, chirping with no fear.  Brightly colored butterflies darted around the flowers, sipping the nectar.

Nestled amidst the lush green hills, in the valley, was a settlement of thatched huts, neatly arranged in row. Humble abodes, with an aura of simplicity and dignity, their roofs made of thatched straw and hay, their mud baked walls, plastered with cow dung and simple drawings.  In the open spaces chickens, hen, goats and cattle darted around, while some dogs barked looking at the stranger.  There were fruit trees bearing papaya, jackfruit, while small vegetable patches of pumpkin, gourd adorned the front of each home. The cool air from the hills nearby soothed his nerves, as he felt refreshed. In the distance a cool clear stream gurgled across rocks, from the bottom of the waterfall.

"Where do you come from young man, from your appearance you seem to be an outsider, not one of us?"

It was Peddayya in a firm voice.

"Where am I ? How did I come here?"

"We found you unconscious by the stream, those two lads bought this to our notice"

As he noticed Mallanna and Timmadu, in a corner, staring at him with a mix of awe and fear.

"Where are you from young man, how did you end up in the stream?"

He noticed the young lissome girl, looking at him with curiosity, and a bit of wonder. And soon a crowd began to gather around him, the people here were different.  With more dark and swarthy skin, somewhat flatter noses, and pointed chins. The youngsters held bows and arrows, just a dhoti girdled around their loins, while a group of young women, huddled in a corner, with large nose rings, their saree, draped around and back, displaying their chipped pointed teeth. 

"They call me Narasimha, I am a humble  peasant whose land was forcibly grabbed by the Palekaru, and when I protested, they beat me up, and threw me into the streams. All I seek is a place to hide, I assure you that no harm shall befall you"

Peddayya, was not really convinced, he did not really seem like a peasant, this man seemed to be escaping from a larger danger. But he could not turn him away, just on suspicion.

"Father, don't you think he could be a spy in disguise, sent to know about our location"

"We have no means of ascertaining whether he is a spy or not, dear Chenchi. We have sheltered any one who has come seeking our refuge. And so shall we, the rest we leave it Narasimha Swamy, who has been guarding us all our life."

"Young man, consider this your home, and stay as long as you would. We are simple people of the forest, and we trust anyone who comes seeking our refuge. Yet should you betray the trust, we would not for a moment to fill that body of yours with our arrows".

"I shall forever be in gratitude for what you have done, you have saved me and given me a new life"

It was indeed a new life, the commander of the mighty Vijayanagara empire, Pemmasani Ramalinga Nayaka, was dead, at least that is what the world believed so. He was now reborn again as Narasimha, a poor peasant from Gandikota.

"This place is so beautiful, and enchanting, what do they call it?"

"Penchalakona"