Once upon a time there was a very famous king of Mithila. He was very powerful and just. Everyone in his kingdom was happy and prosperous. But King was sad that he didn't have any child from any of his seven queens. As he was getting older his sadness kept on increasing. He always used to worry about what will happen to the kingdom after him. So he consulted a very famous Rishi (Sage). Rishi told him to conduct a Puja (religious ceremony). Puja will last for a month and this whole month king was not supposed to eat or drink anything. Being a desperate man, King agreed to Puja.
When the queens heard of his decision, they were very upset. It was a very tough Puja and there was a chance that king will lose his life during this ceremony. All the seven queens tried to convince king to abandon this Puja, but without any success. Eventually the eldest queen formulated a plan. She went to King and told him - "My lord. Goddess Durga has blessed us. Last night when i went to sleep, goddess came into my dream. She told me that she is very happy of your good and just ruling in this kingdom. And she is aware of your sadness. So she has decided to grant you a baby son from the youngest queen. She has ordered you to abandon that Puja as it is not necessary now." King couldn't believe this good news. He asked to explain everything in detail. Queen was very convincing and she managed to satisfy any doubt of King.
When other queens heard what the eldest queen has done, they were very terrified. They asked her - "What have you done? King will surely find out about this and he will kill us and feed us to alligators." The eldest queen said - "You all are unnecessarily getting terrified. At least we have avoided the imminent danger to our beloved king's life. I am sure that in due time we will find out a solution to our problem."
In few months King was given the good news that youngest queen is expecting a child. Eldest queen had bribed the royal astrologer and asked him to tell King - "My lord. You are going to have a very brave son. He will raise your good name and fame. But there is a bad news. As per his stars, if you see him before he is sixteen years old and is married, your son will die immediately." King was upset on hearing this, but he consoled himself by saying - "What is sixteen years, when i have waited so long? The most important thing is that i will have a son."
After nine months the news was spread that youngest queen has given birth to a very beautiful baby boy. Queens have bribed the midwifes very heavily and all of them promised to keep their silence on this issue. And thus the lie continued. After few years private tutors were arranged for the young prince. These tutors were again given enough bribes and they all promised to keep the charade and keep King in darkness over this.
Eventually sixteen years had passed. King was getting restless to meet his son. So he arranged a marriage with a very beautiful princess of the neighboring kingdom. Now all the queens were very terrified. When they couldn't find a solution to their predicament, eldest queen again devised a plan. She made a human shape mannequin and adorned it with all royal dresses and ornaments. This mannequin was placed in the royal palaki (a carriage which is carried by two people and the rider sits comfortably in the covered portion).
When the wedding procession reached almost halfway to the destination, they stopped near a large banyan tree to take rest. A pair of ichhhadhari nag-nagin (Cobras who can change shape based on their will) were living in a hole near that banyan tree.
When the nagin (female cobra) heard the noise of wedding procession, she asked her husband nag (male cobra) about what is happening outside. To this nag replied - "I can see a great war on horizon and many men will die.", and then he explained her the whole story of queens and their lie. He said - "When the bride's father gets to know of this treachery, he will be furious and insult this king, which will undoubtedly lead to a war." Nagin had a very kind heart. She requested Nag to do something about it so that the tragedy can be avoided. On her insistent request Nag had to give in. He said -"OK. I will change myself into a very beautiful prince and will marry the princess. By doing so war will be avoided. And once the marriage is over, i will return back."
And thus Nag changed into a very handsome prince. When king saw his son for the first time, he was so happy. His happiness knew no bounds. And thus the marriage ceremony was happily concluded. As the tradition is, after marriage princess and prince along with king and other family members started their journey back to their own kingdom. Again they passed through the old banyan tree. When they reached there, the prince got out on some pretext and changed himself to Nag again and returned to the hole to meet his wife Nagin.
Nag told Nagin about all that had happened and explained her that now he has returned back. On hearing this Nagin being a kind hearted one said - "Oh my dear husband. We should not be so greedy. We should also think about the poor newly wed princes. What will she do when she finds out that her prince is gone. Her life will be a living hell. Oh No. You must return back and go to her till she has a baby." Nag said - "How can i do that. You are my wife. Further i have poison in my breath. She will die if i spend time with her." Nagin said - "Now you are the husband of that princess too. And don't worry about the poison. I know how to take your poison. I will come to your bedroom during the night and take your poison away."
On much convincing Nag had to agree to the demand of Nagin. During midnight Nagin came to their bedroom. She was successful in taking the poison away from Nag. When she was going away, she accidentally touched feet of princess. Nag-Nagin are very cold on touch. To this the princess woke up and when she saw Nagin, she raised an alarm. At this Nag woke up. Being in human form and further little sleepy, he had forgotten that it is his wife Nagin who has come here. Alas ! He hit with a heavy stick on the head of Nagin. Nagin cried out - " Oh my dear husband!" and she died. Nag now realized the grave error committed by him. He was very said and wept uncontrollably. When the young princess asked him about it, he explained the whole story. Based on the advice of several sages, Nagin was cremated with full respect.
People believe that if you see Nag-Nagin in the wedding room or on any auspicious occasion, it is considered very lucky.
(c)2012 Anup Mayank
When the queens heard of his decision, they were very upset. It was a very tough Puja and there was a chance that king will lose his life during this ceremony. All the seven queens tried to convince king to abandon this Puja, but without any success. Eventually the eldest queen formulated a plan. She went to King and told him - "My lord. Goddess Durga has blessed us. Last night when i went to sleep, goddess came into my dream. She told me that she is very happy of your good and just ruling in this kingdom. And she is aware of your sadness. So she has decided to grant you a baby son from the youngest queen. She has ordered you to abandon that Puja as it is not necessary now." King couldn't believe this good news. He asked to explain everything in detail. Queen was very convincing and she managed to satisfy any doubt of King.
When other queens heard what the eldest queen has done, they were very terrified. They asked her - "What have you done? King will surely find out about this and he will kill us and feed us to alligators." The eldest queen said - "You all are unnecessarily getting terrified. At least we have avoided the imminent danger to our beloved king's life. I am sure that in due time we will find out a solution to our problem."
In few months King was given the good news that youngest queen is expecting a child. Eldest queen had bribed the royal astrologer and asked him to tell King - "My lord. You are going to have a very brave son. He will raise your good name and fame. But there is a bad news. As per his stars, if you see him before he is sixteen years old and is married, your son will die immediately." King was upset on hearing this, but he consoled himself by saying - "What is sixteen years, when i have waited so long? The most important thing is that i will have a son."
After nine months the news was spread that youngest queen has given birth to a very beautiful baby boy. Queens have bribed the midwifes very heavily and all of them promised to keep their silence on this issue. And thus the lie continued. After few years private tutors were arranged for the young prince. These tutors were again given enough bribes and they all promised to keep the charade and keep King in darkness over this.
Eventually sixteen years had passed. King was getting restless to meet his son. So he arranged a marriage with a very beautiful princess of the neighboring kingdom. Now all the queens were very terrified. When they couldn't find a solution to their predicament, eldest queen again devised a plan. She made a human shape mannequin and adorned it with all royal dresses and ornaments. This mannequin was placed in the royal palaki (a carriage which is carried by two people and the rider sits comfortably in the covered portion).
When the wedding procession reached almost halfway to the destination, they stopped near a large banyan tree to take rest. A pair of ichhhadhari nag-nagin (Cobras who can change shape based on their will) were living in a hole near that banyan tree.
When the nagin (female cobra) heard the noise of wedding procession, she asked her husband nag (male cobra) about what is happening outside. To this nag replied - "I can see a great war on horizon and many men will die.", and then he explained her the whole story of queens and their lie. He said - "When the bride's father gets to know of this treachery, he will be furious and insult this king, which will undoubtedly lead to a war." Nagin had a very kind heart. She requested Nag to do something about it so that the tragedy can be avoided. On her insistent request Nag had to give in. He said -"OK. I will change myself into a very beautiful prince and will marry the princess. By doing so war will be avoided. And once the marriage is over, i will return back."
And thus Nag changed into a very handsome prince. When king saw his son for the first time, he was so happy. His happiness knew no bounds. And thus the marriage ceremony was happily concluded. As the tradition is, after marriage princess and prince along with king and other family members started their journey back to their own kingdom. Again they passed through the old banyan tree. When they reached there, the prince got out on some pretext and changed himself to Nag again and returned to the hole to meet his wife Nagin.
Nag told Nagin about all that had happened and explained her that now he has returned back. On hearing this Nagin being a kind hearted one said - "Oh my dear husband. We should not be so greedy. We should also think about the poor newly wed princes. What will she do when she finds out that her prince is gone. Her life will be a living hell. Oh No. You must return back and go to her till she has a baby." Nag said - "How can i do that. You are my wife. Further i have poison in my breath. She will die if i spend time with her." Nagin said - "Now you are the husband of that princess too. And don't worry about the poison. I know how to take your poison. I will come to your bedroom during the night and take your poison away."
On much convincing Nag had to agree to the demand of Nagin. During midnight Nagin came to their bedroom. She was successful in taking the poison away from Nag. When she was going away, she accidentally touched feet of princess. Nag-Nagin are very cold on touch. To this the princess woke up and when she saw Nagin, she raised an alarm. At this Nag woke up. Being in human form and further little sleepy, he had forgotten that it is his wife Nagin who has come here. Alas ! He hit with a heavy stick on the head of Nagin. Nagin cried out - " Oh my dear husband!" and she died. Nag now realized the grave error committed by him. He was very said and wept uncontrollably. When the young princess asked him about it, he explained the whole story. Based on the advice of several sages, Nagin was cremated with full respect.
People believe that if you see Nag-Nagin in the wedding room or on any auspicious occasion, it is considered very lucky.
(c)2012 Anup Mayank
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