From the Folklore of Uttarakhand
A certain prince went to espouse a beautiful princess. The latter said, “Oh prince, I cannot give you my hand in marriage unless you procure me the beautiful tank, on the bank of which is a terrace paved with copper sheets, silver stairs leading to it, with a gold throne placed in its centre together with a tree with emerald leaves, topaz buds, diamond flowers, pearl fruits, which I saw last night in my dream.” The prince immediately repaired to the forest in search of such a scene.
After wandering about through various forests and secluded places he at last fortunately saw a dervish in a jungle at evening time. Fearing to approach him, the prince seated himself at a distance, in a secluded corner. But the saint, who had observed him, enquired from him, “What is the object that has brought you into the jungle?” The prince replied, “Sir, I have a great longing to marry a certain princess, but she will not accept my proposal until I secure her the objects of her dream, which is this: A beautiful tank of crystal water, on the bank of which is built a terrace paved with copper plates, silver stairs leading to it, a gold throne placed on the centre of the terrace, together with a shining tree of emerald leaves, diamond buds, and pearl fruits, which the princess saw in her dream, and she wished to receive this property from the one who desires her hand. So I have been roving here and there in the jungles for many months in search of such a scene.”
The sage said, “Dear prince, I can give a clue where it is, but it is very difficult for a human being to obtain it, unless he starves for several days and nights previous to going to the place and accomplishing his object. The prince said, “Sir, I am ready to do it at any expense of bodily trouble and mental determination, and will surely act in the way you instruct me.”
The saint said, “Go to the extreme east with this enchanted sword I give you. You will find the tank there, where you will have to fast for the period I have already prescribed for you. On the eighth day seven fairies will come to bathe in that tank one after another. As soon as the first copper fairy has bathed, behead her with this sword, she will then turn into a copper terrace; the second or the silver fairy will become silver stairs leading to the copper bank, the third emerald fairy will form an emerald tree, the fourth or the gold fairy will become a throne of gold, the fifth or the topaz fairy its buds, the sixth or the diamond fairy its flowers, the seventh or the pearl fairy its fruits. Be sufficiently firm and bold in the pursuit of your object. I bid you goodbye and wish you success.”
The prince immediately set out in the direction indicated, and did what was told him to do. When he arrived at the lake, he achieved his purpose by killing the seven fairies one by one. He then brought the princess there, who after seeing all the objects of her dream, became very happy and married the prince.
Source:
Himalayan Folklore: Kumaon and West Nepal, E.S. Oakley and Tara Dutt Gairola, 1935
Kotharian Lightning 