A king would visit the temple every morning to receive flowers offered to the deity at dawn, when the temple doors opened. But one day, the priest was so busy enjoying the company of the temple dancer that he forgot to perform the morning rituals. When the king arrived, he hurriedly gave the king flowers that adorned the dancer’s hair. The king accepted them, but then noticed a single strand of hair on them.

On questioning, the frightened priest lied. He said that sometimes, the deity sprouts hair at night. The king did not believe the priest and realised that the rumours were true, that the priest was having an affair with the temple dancer. And instead of performing the rituals for which he had been employed, was spending more of his time with the dancer.