Every household near the Idukki dam in northern Kerala knows this tale that links Rama the mythic hero with the construction of the arched bridge in Idukki. How does these two entities that belong to different eras get linked through the history of Idukki?
Oorali tribals narrate the following story about Rama. After Sita was abducted by Ravana and taken to Lanka, Rama was in despair for he could not trace her wherabouts. He searched each and every forest he could find, day and night, looking for his beloved wife. On the way Rama reached the forest land of Idduki occupied by Oorali tribals. In the forest lived a newly married young tribal couple with the name Kuravan and his wife Kurathi. The newly weds were madly in love with each other and oblivious of everything else. Rama was who was passing through the forest, stopped by their home expecting hospitality and rest for a short while before continuing his search for Sita. But Kuruvan and Kuruthi were so engrossed in their lovemaking that they neither noticed Rama enter their home nor did they welcome him with an offering of water to quench his thirst, as Rama had expected.
Grief stricken Rama, who was in great pain and anguish for losing his wife, cursed the couple for ignoring him. He damned them to become two hills completely set apart from each other, and walked away in rage. Kuruvan and Kuruthi roused from their activities, realised the horrible mistake they had commited. They ran after Rama and cried their heart out and asked for his divine forgiveness. Rama too realised his mistake of getting angry and cursing these harmless innocent young lovers. He told the couple that he cannot withdraw the curse but he can give a boon that would counter the curse. Thus he said, although they will stand apart from each other as two hills, acts of men will join them together again.
Thus Kuruvan and Kuruthi turned into the hills, seperated from each other with river Periyar flowing between them, and there they stood facing each other silently pining for each other. People called these hills Kuruvan hill and Kuruthi hill. As time passed, Britishers colonized India. British officers wanted to build a dam in the Periyar river, and came to Idukki scouting for the proper site for dam construction.
The Oorali tribal leader Kolumban, who was a guide for the British officers told them the story of Kuruvan and Kuruthi. Having heard the story, British officers decided to join the two hills with an arch bridge. Thus the Idukki arch bridge was built and the curse of Ram was revoked by uniting Kuruvan hill and Kuruthi hill fulfilling the boon and cementing the beliefs of Oorali tribe.
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Story sent by : Anna Jyothi James
Story source: She heard the story from her grandparents and neighbours
Location : Idukki, Kerala
Image copyright: U. N. Sathish
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