The Story of Nalayini


Nalayini is the wife of the temperamental sage, Maudgalya. Maudgalya, deciding to test Nalayini’s chastity, turns himself into a leperous old man. However, good Nalayini remains devoted to Maudgalya, fulfilling his every desire without complaint, including his wish to sleep with a prostitute. She carries him to the prostitute’s home and back in a basket on her head. When they are returning home, the basket accidentally bumps the feet of a rishi hanging in mid-air, who becomes angered and curses Nalayini to become a widow at sunrise. In response, Nalayini, calling on her powers as a pativratā, a faithful and devoted wife, orders the sun never to rise until the rishi retracts his curse. The sun does not, indeed, rise, and the gods rush to appease the rishi so that he takes back the curse and allows the sun to reappear. Maudgalya is pleased that the power of Nalayini’s faithfulness has come to the attention of the gods and resumes his original form.

Household Superstitions by Joseph Addison

  Visions and magic spells, can you despise, And laugh at witches, ghosts, and prodigies? Going yesterday to dine with an old acquaintanc...