A RUMOUR MONGERING SOCIETY

A RUMOUR MONGERING SOCIETY

Bit by bit, He began to undo all the things that society had taught Him. One day, He took off His gold earrings as well. It was symbolic of having renounced the palace life almost completely. But Rudra was only renouncing the palace lifestyle, not life itself.
As easily as the Prajapatis were giving rise to a whole new urban culture in their cities, Rudra felt comfortable with the naturally established order of Nature, in the forest.

Perhaps that is why He allowed stories about Himself to be floated and rumoured among the city people. It did not trouble Him at all that tales about ‘The Terrible Rudra’ abounded. This was quite in character with society: If you were not present in its midst, you became the subject of talk. If you were not present to affirm or deny what was being said, anything could be said about you! Society relished rumours, and Rudra was a favourite in fuelling their imagination.One rumour in particular, had been blown quite thunderously out of proportion: ‘Rudra left Brahma’s palace and joined the forest creatures, because He discovered one day that He was some kind of secret creature.He felt more comfortable with His own kind who lived beyond city limits. He has unspeakable magic powers, which he uses from atop a mountain. He, is the wielder of thunderbolts in an angry sky.’
Rudra actually laughed at the thought of people imagining Him like that.