From the Folklore of Uttarakhand
Once upon a time a Prince, Sonpal by name, ruled over Tibet. He had seven daughters, the eldest of whom was named Jotramala. She was beautiful as the full moon. She prayed for several years to the goddess Ganges to grant her a husband as beautiful as herself. The goddess granted her prayer and said that the God Krishna himself would become her husband.
After a while Krishna saw her in a dream in Dwarka (the realm Krishna dwells in) and fell in love with her. He sent a letter through the black bees to his brother Surju, who lived at Bimikot, telling him about his love for Jotramala and asking him to go to Tibet and bring Jotramala to Dwarka. The bees hovered over Surju’s head, sat on his shoulders and dropped the letter on his lap. Surju read the letter and told his mother about its contents. Surju’s mother remonstrated, saying that whoever went to Tibet never returned – it being the land of magic. But Surju said that he could not disobey his elder brother Krishna, and so, prepared himself to start for Dwarka. Meanwhile several ill-omens occurred. The water soaked in ashes for washing Surju’s clothes turned black instead of red. Surju’s pet goat Tila sneezed. The hair of Surju’s head began to fall out. But Surju did not mind these omens, and, riding on his horse, started off for Dwarka. He reached the Kailash mountain, the abode of seven witches. The witches invited Surju to their house and feasted him. After eating Surju fell asleep. While asleep they measured his body with a magic thread of three strands and converted him into a spotted ram.
Surju’s wife, Bijora, saw him in that plight in a dream. She was a witch possessing great magical powers. She put on male dress and riding a fleet pony and equipping herself with all the magical appliances left for the Kailash mountain. On arriving there she transformed her horse into a bee, sat on a tree and began to play upon a flute. The seven witches, delighted by her divine music, assembled round the tree. They invited her to their house and feasted her. Queen Bijora then charmed them by her magical powers and compelled them to point out the place where Surju was tied. The Queen reconverted Surju into a man and requested him to return home. But Surju insisted on going to Dwarka and proceeded on his journey. On reaching Dwarka Krishna received him with great honour and requested him to go to Tibet and bring Jotramala. Surju consented; but begged Krishna to send Sidwa of Ramoligarh to accompany him to Tibet.
Krishna sent a letter to Sidwa again, through his black bees, asking him to come at once. The black bees sat on Sidwa’s shoulders and dropped the letter in his lap. Sidwa and Bidwa were two great heroes who lived at Ramoligarh. They wore blankets weighing nine maunds each and tiger skins give hundred cubits in length. They had lion shaped drums hanging round their shoulders and seven mouthed conches. Each of them owned twelve score sheep and six score of herds of cattle.
Sidwa read the letter and prepared himself to start for Dwarka. He put on his helmet. He was a great magician and equipped himself with many instruments of magic. He rushed down from his mountain home like a dreadful dragon. He blew his seven-mouthed conch; the sound of which attracted the fairies who dwelt on the Khaint mountain. They hovered round him and were at his beck and call. Sidwa rode his fleet horse and started for Dwarka. Overcoming many dangers on the way he reached Dwarka. He was received with much honour by Krishna.
When Surju and Sidwa were about to leave for Tibet, Surku’s mother wept and entreated him not to go. Surju would not listen, but told her to keep some milk in a dish, a naked sword with its blade upwards and a garland of flowers. He said that if the milk turned into blood, the sword fell and the flowers withered she would know that he was dead.
The expedition reached the mountain pass called Saudankhal, the last place from which their country could be seen. The next stage was Rikhnikhal. There, while they were fast asleep, the nymphs from the Khaint mountain carried away Surju to their mountain home leaving Sidwa alone.
Sidwa blew his conch which drew all the nymphs back. Sidwa forced them to restore Surju. They brought Surju back; but they had taken away half his beauty. The expedition met with various other accidents on the way. They passed through the accidents on the way. They passed through the country where men walked on one foot. The king of that country opposed the expedition; but was defeated. They then reached a ridge called Pipaldhar. There Sidwa began to play upon his flute. Immediately all the nymphs of Khaint re-appeared. Sidwa caught them in a new and forced them to restore Surju to his full beauty. They consented on condition that Surju would marry them on his return from Tibet. Surju agreed to the condition. At last they reached the banks of a river in Tibet where a large bathing fair used to be held at the Bikhwat Shankrant (April), which Jotramala was expected to attend. Sidwa began to crack jokes with Surju and pretended illness. He fell into a deep sleep from which he did not awake till the fair was over. In the meantime Jotramala arrived in a palanquin with a large retinue. On seeing Jortramala Surju went up to her and delivered Krishna’s message to her. On reading the letter Jotramala took Surju home. Surju lived with Jotramala in the palace. The other sisters of Jotramala became jealous of Surju and made a plot to poison him.
One day, while Jotramala had gone to the spring to wash Surju’s clothes, her sisters invited Surju to a dinner.
They poisoned his food and killed Surju and buried his corpse in a cellar full of salt.
On this the milk at Dwarka turned into blood, the blade of the sword fell down and the flowers of the garland withered. Seeing this Krishna knew that Surju had been killed.
He then sent for Bidwa brother of Sidwa and informed him about the death of Surju and requested to proceed to Tibet and restore Surju to life by means of his magical powers. Bidwa disguised himself as a sadhu and after encountering many difficulties reached the place where Sidwa was still asleep. He awoke him and scolded him for his lethargy. He informed Sidwa about the death of Surju. Sonpal’s daughters showed them the place where the corpse of Surju was buried. The two brothers brought Surju back to life. They killed Sonpal and his six daughters who had poisoned Surju and placed Sonpal’s son Ajaipal on the throne of Tibet. They then brought Jotramala to Dwarka, who was then married to Krishna. Sidwa also brought the seven nymphs of Khaint to Dwarka and married them according to his promise.
Source:
Himalayan Folklore: Kumaon and West Nepal, E.S. Oakley and Tara Dutt Gairola, 1935
Kotharian Lightning 