A Balinese Folktale: Jaratkaru
A holy Brahmin named Jaratkaru had been practiced yoga for hundreds of years, he remained un-married as a part of his yoga practice. As a result of this long ascetism he had a power to roam freely into heaven or hell.
One day he came on his wandering to hell (Tamariloka), and saw many souls of sinful undergoing penance; amongst others a rishi (hermit) hanging head downwards over a precipice by a creeper which mice are gnawing. Jaratkaru was moved by his lamentations and offered to share his spiritual power with him. It turned out that the hermit was his own father, and can only be saved if his son Jaratkaru will stop mortifying the flesh and take a wife. Jaratkaru promised to marry if he can find a wife of the same name as himself whom he need not support.
Meanwhile, the great dragon Basuki had eavesdropped the conversation between Siva and Vishnu that foresaw the annihilation of the dragon race and only a son which borne from a female dragon and a Brahmin named Jaratkaru could save the dragon race.
Jaratkaru searched high and low for a woman of the same name as himself but in vain, until the great dragon Basuki heard his lament and asked what on earth was disturb the Brahmin. Jaratkaru told his story and Basuki immediately offered his sister, whose name he changed to Jaratkaru. Jaratkaru warned her that he will leave her if ever she crosses him by word or deed.
They finally married and she became pregnant, but once he had fallen asleep in her arms towards sunset, she waked him so that he might not miss his evening prayers. She had broken the pact, and he left her. Later, a child was borne named Astika. And the hermit is thereby released from hell moreover the dragon race now had a savior from the terrible fate.
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