10. What are two legends about discovery of tea? or What are the
legends about Kudavus or Coorgis descent?
Answers
Explanation:
There are many legends or stories about the discovery and origin of tea. According to a story, the tea was discovered in China. The Chinese Emperor used to drink boiled water. Once while boiling it, few leaves of a twig burning under the pot fell into it. The Emperor found the flavour delicious. Those were later named as tea leaves. Another legend says that an ancient Buddhist ascetic, Bodhidharma, cut off his eyelids when he felt sleepy during meditation. Ten tea plants grew out of his eyelids. Thus, the tea was discovered.
Answer:
There are two legends on the discovery of tea - India and Chinese. According to the Indian legend, there was a Buddhist ascetic named Bodhidharma. He often fell asleep during meditation. To stop this, he cut off his eyelids. It is said that ten tea plants grew out of the eyelids. The leaves of this plant were put in hot water and drunk to banish sleep. The legend connects the energising quality of tea with the ascetic's problem of sleep. The Chinese legend tells us that there was a Chinese emperor who always had boiled water. Once a few leaves from a twig fell into his boiling water. They gave a delicious flavour to his water, and from then, tea became popular in China.