चेरिप्पु

{ cerippu }

Puranic Encyclopaedia

CERIPPU   (FOOTWEAR). There is a story in [Mahābhārata] of how Cerippu and Kuṭa [footwear and umbrella] were born. Once the heat of the Sun became unbearable to Jamadagni and enraged at this the sage started sending arrows against the Sun. His wife Reṇukā was supplying him with arrows. When a set of arrows was finished Reṇukā brought another set. This continued without break and the Sun began to feel the attack. Unable to do anything against the sage the Sun heated the head and foot of Reṇukā on her way to supply the arrows so fiercely that Reṇukā fell down under a banyan tree exhausted. When she became well enough to walk she took the arrows to her husband who was very angry for her being late. She then explained to him how because of the extreme heat of the sun she fell down on the way. Jamadagni then started with increased fury his shower of arrows and the Sun in the disguise of a Brahmin approached and advised him that it was not possible to strike down the Sun because he was a swift-mover in the sky and so it was better to withdraw from that attempt. But Jamadagni said the Sun would be stationary for some time at midday and then he would hit the Sun down. When the Sun found that Jamadagni would never drop his attempt he accepted defeat and presented Jamadagni with a pair of sandals and an umbrella to protect against the heat from below and above. From that day onwards footwear and umbrella came into vogue. The practice of presenting sandals and umbrella is being carried down from generation to generation and even today it is being followed; these two are given as gifts on the ‘Śrāddha’ day. [Chapters 95 and 96, Anuśāsana Parva, M.B.]