Chapter 15 Summary

This chapter is Tariq Mia's story about the Naga Baba. The chapter starts with the Naga Baba breaking camp and looking for cremation grounds to celebrate the night of Shiva. The Naga Baba had gotten used to the discomfort of living in the jungle and walking long distances after many years of doing this but he remembered that when he first began his religious journey, he was weak and tired all the time. However, he could not be a Naga unless he endured these trials.

As he walks to the cremation grounds, passersby avoid him because they believe he has supernatural powers. Once he arrives, he bathes in the stream then begins his chanting in front of the fire; he will continue this chanting for the nine days until the night of Shiva without stopping for food or drink. During the daytime, people...