Behula and Lakhindar — The Serpent Goddess's Trial
Chand Saudagar, a wealthy merchant and devotee of Shiva, refused to worship the serpent goddess Manasa. In revenge, Manasa killed his six elder sons by snakebite. His last son, Lakhindar, was married to Behula in a specially constructed iron chamber meant to protect him from snakes. But on the wedding night, Manasa sent a snake that entered through a tiny crevice and killed Lakhindar. Refusing to accept her husband's death, Behula placed his body on a banana-leaf raft and floated down the river for nine months, enduring storms and dangers, until she reached the court of the gods. Her unwaverin