Evarra, a man of various circumstances, creates gods in different settings, reflecting his life experiences and the societal conditions around him. In a prosperous city, he crafts a magnificent idol from gold and pearls, gaining the admiration of the king and the populace. However, his pride leads him to inscribe a declaration that only he can create gods, which ultimately contributes to his downfall. In a contrasting scenario, faced with poverty and danger, Evarra carves a god from living rock, again receiving praise but succumbing to arrogance. He repeats his claim about the creation of gods, leading to his demise once more. In a simpler village, he fashions an idol from a fallen tree, earning the villagers' respect and offerings. Yet, the overwhelming adulation drives him to madness, prompting him to assert his belief in his unique ability to create gods, which again results in his death. Evarra's final creation emerges from a place of isolation and madness, where he constructs a grotesque god from refuse. Despite the horror of his creation, he continues to proclaim his authority over god-making, leading to his inevitable end. Upon reaching Paradise, Evarra encounters the gods he made and questions the nature of his labor and the law he established. God reveals that Evarra's creations are valuable, and his unique perspective has enriched the divine realm. Evarra realizes that his flawed understanding of god-making was essential, and he ultimately rejects his gods, acknowledging the complexity of creation and the interplay between human ambition and divine will.
By Rudyard Kipling · First published 1891 · Genre: Fantasy, Mythology, Philosophical Fiction