Reading Notes: Indian Fables and Folklore

Part A

Golden parasol to protect Yamadagni's wife from the sun

Web Source: Bella Umbrella

• Yamadagni was feared by both Gods and mortals
• Yamadagni told his wife that they would be shooting arrows all day and she happily consented to this
• His wife loved to please him by doing anything he asked
• While they were outside practicing their archery skills, the sun begin to rise. With the rising sun, the heat also increased. 
• Yamadagni's wife ran back and forth picking up all the arrows that he shot
• His wife finally claimed that she could no longer fetch his arrows because the sand was burning her feet and the sun was burning her head
• Yamadagni did not want to stop the game, so he walked over to the tree and grabbed his own arrow, then directed it upwards towards the sun
• Yamadagni demanded that the sun lower it's rays because his wife was being beaten down by it
• The sun feared Yamadagni and took his threats seriously, but the sun replied that he could not control his rays no matter how hard he tried
• The sun gifted Yamadagni's wife a parasol and a pair of slippers to protect her from his rays
• Yamadagni and his wife went on playing the game and put the sun's gifts to great use

Bibliography:

The Gifts of the Sun

Author: Shovona Devi

Web Source: Gifts of the Sun