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 Guha was the king of Srngaverapura, what is presently known as Singraur, in the banks of Ganges. By profession he and his subjects were boatmen and hunters. From a description of the boats, we understand that these were not ordinary ferryboats. Kamban in fact details how the chariots in which Bharata came later, were dismantled piece by piece and were assembled again in the other bank of Ganges, ferried by the large boats of Guha, rowed by hundreds of oarsmen.
Valmiki introduces him as a friend of Rama. “The king of that territory, Guha by name, was a friend of Sri Rama, dear to him as his own life. He was a Nisada by birth, possessed of bodily as well as military strength (owning as he did a large army consisting of all the four limbs, viz., elephants, chariots, horsemen and foot soldiers) and well-known as a ruler of Nisadas.” (Valmiki Ramayana, Ayodhya Kanda, Canto L, Sloka 33).
But the epic of Valmiki is silent about details such as how and when they became friends. It just mentions they were close friends. Kamban makes a small detour here as well. He gives a detailed description of his appearance first, which is not to be found in Valmiki. Guha had a drum with him, being a hunter, and a hunter’s dog too. And we gain a glimpse on the dressing habits of those days with a verse of
Kamban.
‘kaazham itta kuRanginan’ The word
kuRangu stands for ‘thighs’ in Tamil. His thighs were covered with
‘kaazham.’ That is half-trousers, as they are worn today, from the waist till the thighs.
‘thayangura soozha vitta thodu puli vaalinan.’ He had cut a tiger’s tail and tied it around his waist as a belt. He had quite a strong physique and a real simple and honest mind. He heard about the arrival of Rama to his place and was too eager to see him.
Rama had at that time crossed the limits of Ayodhya and reached the forest, somehow managing to divert the attention of the people who followed him when they were fast asleep in the night. He was received by the sages in the forest and had his food with them - fruits, leaves and vegetables.
 Guha had immense admiration for Rama and wanted to see him. He, flanked by his friends and relatives, went to the hermitage of the sages where Rama was staying. Kamban paints a picture of pure devotion, love and rustic innocence when he narrates the first meeting between Guha and
Rama.
‘sutram appuram nirkka’, As soon as they reached the hermitage, his followers stood in a corner outside it.
‘sudu kaNai vil thurandhu,’ Guha unfastened the arrow-case and bow he was carrying and kept them down reverently, outside the ashram.
‘vaaL ozhiththu,’ Similarly he left his sword outside.
‘attram neetha manathinan,’ he who had no room for falsehood in his mind,
‘anbinan’ he who was full of love, ‘nal thavap paLLi vaayilai naNNinaan’ reached the doorsteps of the hermitage and stood there.
Guha was so careful about these things. He left his relatives and weapons outside the hermitage, before he even reached its doorsteps. But he was carrying something else. A token of his love, affection and devotion. A gift for his Lord. Just what could be the gift?
More follows...
Hari Krishnan
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