On a serene, golden morning along the banks of the sacred River Ganga, the air shimmered with quiet divinity. The mighty river flowed with her timeless grace, nourishing life on her vast shores. In the midst of this splendor walked *Agasthiya Munivar*, a revered sage known for his wisdom and spiritual mastery. Though blessed with immense knowledge and mystical powers, the sage was but four feet in height, his stature small but his presence profound.

As he made his way along the riverbank, his mind immersed in meditative thoughts, the ever-playful Goddess Ganga caught sight of him. Amused by his appearance, she could not resist teasing him about his height and looks. Her words, though lighthearted, struck deep in the sage’s heart. For a man devoted to truth and divine order, such mockery — even from a goddess — stirred his righteous anger.

Agasthiya Munivar’s eyes blazed with a sudden intensity. Without speaking further, he raised his *kamandalam* — a sacred water vessel — and with powerful mantras, invoked a spell that bound the Goddess within it. In an instant, the mighty Ganga was confined inside the small vessel. Without her flow, the riverbanks fell silent. The sage, unfazed, carried the kamandalam to *Pothigai Malai*, a tranquil mountain range, to resume his deep meditation.

Days turned into weeks, and the absence of the sacred river began to show its devastating impact. With Goddess Ganga trapped, the rains ceased and the land became parched. Crops withered, rivers dried, and famine spread across the earth. The cries of humankind and the suffering of creatures great and small reached the heavens.

The celestial beings, guardians of creation, knew they could not stand by. Led by their devotion and duty, they ascended to *Kailasam*, the abode of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. There, in the great hall of divine light, they knelt before Shiva and explained the dire situation. Lord Shiva, ever compassionate, understood instantly that balance had been broken. Turning to his son, he commanded: “Ganesha, go forth and restore the flow of Ganga. Free her from Agasthiya’s grasp.”

Lord Ganesha, wise and resourceful, nodded in obedience. To carry out his father’s order without confrontation, he assumed the humble form of a black crow. With swift wings, he soared across forests, mountains, and valleys until he reached the quiet Pothigai Malai where the sage sat in meditation, the kamandalam by his side. The crow circled, then swooped close to the vessel, striking it with a sudden flap. The kamandalam toppled and Ganga, freed from captivity, surged forth in all her glory.

Her waters rushed with unstoppable speed, threatening to flood and overwhelm the land. Alarmed at the destructive force, Agasthiya Munivar realized that the river’s release could bring chaos instead of salvation. Drawing upon his divine powers, he called upon ancient magic to guide the waters. With sacred hand gestures, he split her flowing expanse into seven mighty oceans, thus restoring harmony to the world.

And so began the legendary tale of *Mutharamman* — a saga of divine grace, unyielding power, and the eternal dance of destiny between gods, sages, and the forces of nature.

After the water was transformed into vast expanses, it took the form of seven mighty oceans, each bestowed with a unique name: the Ocean of Saline, the Black Ocean, the Mor Ocean, the Ocean of Curds, the Ocean of Milk, the Ocean of Fresh Water, and finally, the immense seventh ocean that dwarfed all the rest. These seas stretched endlessly, encircling a realm of mystery and wonder. Beyond them lay an anonymous land, unmarked by mortal maps, inhabited by strange mythological creatures, and crowned with towering distant mountains.

Beneath one such colossal mountain stood a sprawling banyan tree, its roots like the veins of the earth. Close by, a radiant and sacred spring shimmered with a divine glow — a spring known as Kamlam. Beside this holy water lay a yawning snake pit, and within it resided the formidable serpent named Vasegaran. This serpent was not ordinary; he guarded a magical vessel, the Amirtha Karpa Kalasam, where he stored his potent venom.

One day, the learned sage Agasthiya Munivar discovered this vessel. Realizing the destructive power of its contents, he knew such venom would bring harm to all living beings. Determined to neutralize its danger, the sage took the vessel and chanted a sacred five-syllable mantra: Om Nama Shivaya. As the vibrations of the mantra filled the air, the venom transformed into seven living beings — seven female demons, each distinct in nature and form: Neeli, Kali, Kalastri, Neelakandi, Vali, Selvi, and Madanthai.

The sage, having completed his task, vanished from their sight. Confusion and curiosity filled the air between the sisters. Four among them decided not to remain in this mortal realm, choosing instead to fly away into distant worlds unknown. The remaining three — Vali, Selvi, and Madanthai — chose to dwell in the land near Kamlam. Yet, with time, solitude weighed heavily upon them. Life without companionship seemed hollow, and they longed for children. But their hearts rejected the thought of bearing children through union with men.

Driven by this desire, they undertook an intense meditation, invoking the divine, seeking a way beyond the confines of mortal traditions. Seasons passed, their bodies becoming one with the earth. Sand covered their forms, plants entwined around them, and birds built nests in the hollows of their shoulders. Still, their devotion was unbroken, their prayers ascending ceaselessly towards Lord Shiva.

Years slipped into eternity, yet Shiva did not appear before them. However, their penance did not go unnoticed. Goddess Parvati, moved by their perseverance and plight, approached Lord Shiva to plead on their behalf. But Shiva, bound by the laws of nature, refused to grant their wish directly, explaining that such a gift was against the cosmic order.

Yet, compassion lingered in his heart. He suggested that Parvati guide them instead towards another path — the wisdom and guidance of Sakthi Munivar, a mystic whose knowledge could illuminate possibilities beyond what they imagined.

What course will Goddess Parvati take? Will she indeed lead them to Sakthi Munivar? The answers lie ahead, waiting to unfold in the next chapter.