Beloved

Ancient is a mediocre word to describe this temple, “such grandiose and such elegance”, was all anyone could utter on seeing it. The temple had a small Shiva temple within it, which was not so eloquent but was not a bother either, and in it perched was a familiar persona for three decades: Krishnamachari, the head priest.

Shiva was the main attraction to anybody who visited the temple, as it exuberated a strange energy, which many would catch and notice. Krishnamachari spent lot of time ushering the people away from the Shiva temple as they somehow always stood there glued looking at the Linga. Something that he was strangely proud of. He was not ashamed to admit to himself that it was his sanctum sanctorum more than the deity’s. His inner place, where he always sought refuge, no matter what the situation was, he would emerge peaceful from it. Place where he dreamt, wept, smiled and at times giggled. His place! His home.

As they say not all good things last, little did he know that today was the last day as the priest in this temple, and he would be separated from his beloved forever. Few days back there was a theft in the temple and all suspicions pointed towards Krishnamachari who was the only one who was present in the temple, during the unforeseen event. As fate had it, he was thrown out of temple, without any evidence of him being involved, a game which was played to please the ego of catching the thief for the sake of it. A sport!

What followed were desperate attempts to get back, to plead and finally begging to consider him not guilty, but everyone stood unfazed and he had to leave. Nobody knows what happened to him after that as no one saw him. It was like he ceased to exist without his beloved.  And back in the temple, new priest was appointed with pomp and glory, but something looks to have changed, initially which was faint now turned out to be huge difference. Shiva lost his energy! His charm, he grew repulsive and devotees turned their backs, temple lost its charm. Or one can say Shiva ceased to exist without his beloved.