KOLLAM: The Arabian Sea is nearby and if we listen carefully, we can hear the sound of the sea. This may be the reason for the saline water in all the wells near the sea. However, the well situated in front of a house in Kondayath in Mundakkal, Kollam is a miracle. The water in the well is so clear and fresh and the well does not even gets dried up even in the summer. To unlock the mysteries behind this miracle well, we should go back 110 years.

Passenger boats and goods carrying boats had travelled through the Kollam canal back then. Sree Narayana Guru had taken rest at Mundakkal Bhagaavathy temple, while travelling through this canal way. Once he conducted ‘panthi bhojanam’ at the temple. He drank some water before eating. It was saline water and Guru asked the natives about the reason for salinity. Natives informed Gurudeva that they have to travel miles for getting fresh water. On hearing this, Gurudeva slowly walked ahead looking at the sun and stopped at a spot. He threw a stone to the east corner and instructed to dig a well where the stone fell. Natives dig the well and found water within two days and surprisingly it was fresh water.

The land was owned by Kunjukunju Aasan. The story about the well got spread and people from faraway places came to Mundakkal to fetch some water from the well. The sailors of good-carrying boats through Kollam canal often drank water from this well. Kunjukunju Aasan gave the rights to his son Naanu Aasan. At present the land is owned by Naanu Aasan’s son K N Swaraj (Retd. Deputy Director of Local Front Audit Dept.) and wife Rathnamani (Retd. Headmistress). People used to take water from the well till water was provided by water authority.