The Beetle God

ARJUN heard about the Beetle God from a friend of his, a botanist who had gone to the jungles of central India to study a rare plant.

- Niranjan Mudholkar

Unemployed, and yearning for adventure, Arjun set out in search of the god. His friend had shown him the location on a map, and had told him how to reach the place, but once he entered the jungle, he soon got lost.

Towards nightfall, as he was looking for a place to sleep, he saw some people approaching. He quickly hid himself.

They were tribals, all men. Arjun followed them and they led him straight to the Beetle God.

The ‘God’ appeared to be a giant statue of an insect, complete with six massive legs. Two bright eyes glowed in its head, and it had two antennae-like structures. Arjun felt sure the ‘eyes’ were giant rubies, and was thrilled. If he could get away with even one of them, he would be financially secure for life!