Kotharian Lightning

From the Folklore of Uttarakhand

There was a Raja of a certain country, who used to feed a certain dervish constantly for some years, in his own palace. After the death of this king his son also made it a rule to place a dish of food before the ascetic with his own hand. One day no sooner was the plate of good laid before him by the prince than the Fakir began to weep and mourn over it. On the prince’s enquiring the cause of his sadness the devotee said, “Oh my son, I am sorry to say that the courtiers of your father have conspired to have you assassinated and your kingdom take, so it behoves you now to leave this country at once, and go to a strange country. Take your money in gold, silver, and precious stones with you, and act on my exhortations and never forget them for a minute.

They are these:

(1) – Rest or stay out of the way (not on any road).

(2) – Do not sit in the bed of another without thoroughly striking it before you do so.

(3) – One’s sister is a sister during his prosperity.

(4) – One’s friend is a friend during his adversity.

The prince started taking his money. After travelling some distance he felt exhausted, and remembering the advice of the Fakir, wanted to rest in a place out of the way. After getting some refreshment there, he travelled on (leaving the bag of his money at the spot unwittingly). When he was at some distance from the place, he noticed the loss of his valuable bag, to his utter despair. He returned to the out-of-the-way place where he had left it. On finding his bag there he was very happy and thankful to the devotee for the invaluable advice by which he was so immensely benefited.

He again resumed his journey, and arrived in a secluded forest where a witch had placed a bed with a white sheet spread over it, apparently for the rest and refreshment of fatigued travellers, but with the secret intent of having them killed so that she might appropriate their property. This bed was placed over a deep ditch, so that the sojourner should go down to destruction as soon as he sat on it. The witch said, “Dear son, you are welcome, get yourself refreshed by reposing on this bed, and then take your meal, which I shall gladly get ready for you after a while.” The prince again remembered the advice of the Fakir. As soon as he gave 2 or 3 strokes on it, the covering sheet sank down, and the dark hole became visible. The prince after having fully understood the treacherous purpose of the woman, slaughtered her there and then.

Then he proceeded to a town where his own sister was married. He sent a message to her that he was waiting for her in a certain suburb of the town. His sister, considering him to be in a beggarly state, had not only paid no heed to him, but denied him to be her brother; a fact which the prince found to agree with the prophecy of the hermit.

He then left the town and proceeded to another place where he heard a friend of his was living. In order to try the advice of his admonisher he sent word to him also. He immediately came to the prince, and took him to his house with great courtesy and regard, and, placing all his property at his disposal, eagerly requested him to stay and live there. The prince after staying there for some days, repaired to another town where he was wedded to the daughter of the king of the country, who made the reins of his kingdom over to the young prince, his son-in-law. Having thus attained the princely office the prince after some years returned to his own country with a large army, and in all the splendour of a king with a view to take possession of his kingdom. While thus proceeding his sister came to welcome and receive him. But the king dealt with her as became a potentate. The prince thereafter continued to think of and remember his patron saint as long as he lived.

Source:

Himalayan Folklore: Kumaon and West Nepal, E.S. Oakley and Tara Dutt Gairola, 1935