Though Punjikasthala looked like a monkey yet no one in the ashram mocked at her. In fact, she was given fruits to eat. She ate the fruits happily, as she was feeling hungry after a long day. One of the oldest hermits noticed her and asked who she was. Punjikasthala was about to disclose her identity, but she stopped suddenly. She did not want to embarrass herself in front of others, by telling them that she was once an apsara who was cursed to become a monkey. She thought people would mock at her for being cursed. She decided that she needed to start all over again with a new identity. Looking at the tranquility in the hermit’s eyes, Punjikasthala sighed. She said in a weak voice, “Umm, my name is Anjana.” ‘To begin afresh, I need a new name. The name will bring a new destiny,’ she thought.
Punjikasthala as Anjana
