In the pre-dawn hours, a newborn child is abandoned on the doorstep of a priest’s dwelling. The priest and his wife take in the child, who flourishes into a young man named Yagi Jois. The family’s profession revolves around performing “apara karma,” the rituals conducted for the deceased.

A thoughtful and bright young man, Yagi Jois is nonetheless burdened by the enigma of his origins. The novel chronicles his rise above his humble beginnings, weaving profound philosophical reflections throughout his odyssey.