The Bowing of the Vindhya Mountain

Long ago, there were two great mountains, Vindhya and Meru. Every day, the Sun God would circle around Meru, bathing it in his golden rays. This filled Vindhya with envy, as he wanted to be just as tall and revered as Meru. Driven by jealousy, Vindhya made a request to the Sun, asking him to circle around him instead. When the Sun refused, Vindhya’s pride got the better of him, and he decided to grow taller and taller, determined to touch the sky.

As Vindhya’s height increased, he began to block the path of the Sun, casting a shadow over the Earth. With the sunlight blocked, darkness spread across the world, and all life began to suffer. Plants withered, animals grew weak, and people despaired. The gods, troubled by this imbalance, sought the help of the wise sage Agastya, knowing only he could humble Vindhya.

Agastya, with his great wisdom, devised a plan. He approached Vindhya, who, out of respect for the revered sage, bowed low to greet him. Agastya smiled and said, “I must journey south, but I need your help, Vindhya. Would you remain in this bowed position until I return?”

Vindhya, honored by the sage’s request, agreed, vowing to stay bowed. With humility in his heart, he promised not to rise until Agastya’s return. However, Agastya never came back, and Vindhya remained in his humbled state, low enough for the Sun to pass freely and bring light to the Earth once more.

Thus, the world was saved from eternal darkness, and Vindhya learned the value of humility and respect.

**Moral of the Story:** Pride can lead to one’s downfall, but humility brings harmony. Vindhya’s tale reminds us that true greatness lies not in height or power but in knowing when to bow and respect others.