Narmada River
The river is emblematic of supernatural restoration and fortification. The narrator reports, “ I have often heard pilgrims who have never met a tribal reciting the invocation: Salutation in the morning and at night to thee, O Narmada! Defend me from the serpent’s poison. The Vano villagers also believe the goddess cures madness, liberating those who are possessed.” The narrator’s declarations highlight the spiritual materiality of the river to both the pilgrims and the villagers. The pilgrims’ singing suggests that they are assured of the shielding powers of the river. Furthermore, the villagers’ beliefs concerning the curative properties of the river underline superior dynamics that would not be in-built in orthodox rivers.
Nudity
The narrator reports, “Once I met two naked Jain mendicants, members of the Sky Clad sect whose rigorous penances include the denial of human shame.” The nudity is figurative of the sect’s obligation to relinquish the embarrassment that is typical among humankind. The repudiation of mortification is a distinctive factor which differentiates the adherents of the sect from the non-adherents.
