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One of the characters in Kerala’s folklore is Naranath Bhranthan or the Lunatic of Naranam. He was too wise for the world of ordinary mortals. His wisdom is what made him appear insane to the less wise ones. His most eccentric and conspicuous habit was rolling a huge boulder uphill and then letting it go down as he stands there atop laughing loud. Once a goddess appeared to him and offered him a boon. “Shift the elephantiasis from my left leg to the right,” he said.
