Kadru and Binta Episode: A Religious Folklore of Uttarakhand influenced by Mahabharata

Folklore, Folk Legends, Folk Myths of Kumaon-Garhwal, Uttarkahnd-2 

                                        Bhishma Kukreti 

                 Dr Mahendra Kumar Mishra (PhD) rightly states that Mahabharata and Ramayana influenced every culture in Indian subcontinent. Dr Mahendra Kumar Mishra (PhD) provides proves of influences of Mahabharata on the folklores of Parimalagiri, Gond, Konds (Bugsas), Koyaput, of Orissa. There is total influence of Mahabharata on Cambodian folklores.

          The research scholar Alexandra van der Geer, Michael Dermitzaki and John de Vos suggested the Mahabharata societies in Shiwalik shrine just below Himalayas (Fossils Folklore from India, The Shiwalik Hills and the Mahabharata, Folklore, April 2008). Therefore Mahabharata era  played  a great role in culture of Uttarakhand.

 Mahabharata influenced the most the culture of Garhwal and Kumaon (Uttarakhand). That is why there are folklores based on the stories of Mahabharata.  Kadru-Binita folklore is one the examples of Mahabharata influence on Garhwali and Kumaoni culture.  The story of Kadru-Binita is taken from ‘Sauprnyakhyan’ of Mahabharata. However, the folklore creators created story with local culture.

 कुमाऊं और गढ़वाल की लोक गाथाएँ -2
 कद्रू और बिनता की लोकगाथा का एक अंश 

मूल -डा गोविन्द चातक  
 कद्रू का नाग ह्वेन, बिनता का गरुड़
कद्रू बनिता द्वी ह्वेली सौत
सूती डाह छै  तौमा
कद्रू बोल्दि तब -
हे भूली बिनता तेरो बेटा भानपंखी
रंद सूर्या का लोक मा
सूर्य भगवान को रथ चलौंद
बोल दौं हे भुलि
सूर्य को रथ कै रंग को होलो?
तब बिनता बोलदे
सूर्य को स्वेत  रथ होलो
तब नागु की माता कना बैन बोदे -
आज भुलि तेरा मेरा बीच
कौल होई जाला
मै सणि तू भुलि धरम दियाल
सूर्य को सुफेद रथ होलो
तब मै तेरी दासी होई जौलो
अर  काळो   रथ होलो तब तू
मेरी दासी बणी जाली।
तब कॉल करार करिगे नागु की माता , रौंदड़ा लगौंदी तब छुयेड़ा चारदे
मन मारिक अपणा काल्गिरी नाग ....... 

                     Story of Kadru and Binta Folklore of Garhwal-Kumaon

        Kadru and Binta were co-wives or Sautiya sisters.  Kadru was mother of Nag (snakes) and Binta was mother of Garud (eagles). They had Sautiya Dah (strong jealousy) between them. Once, Kadru asked Binta the color of Surya’s  Rath  (Sun’s chariot) as Binta’s son Bhanupankhi was chariot driver of Sun. Binta informed that the color of Sun Chariot is white but Kadru denied and said that the color of Sun Chariot is black. Both ended in betting for the colour of Sun Chariot. The bet was that whoever would lose would become the slave of winner of bet.

  Kadru the mother of Nag (snakes) was worried as she was afraid of losing bet because the color of Sun Chariot was white. She called her son Kalgiri Nag and told her the incident of betting between her and Binta.  Kadru ordered Kalgiri to make Sun chariot as black. Kalgiri went to Sun galaxy along with his brothers and they all surrounded Sun. By the surrounding of snakes the Sun Chariot seemed as blackish chariot.  

  Happily Kadru called Binta and showed the black colored Sun Chariot. Binta lost the bet and told that from tomorrow she would be slave of Kadru.   

             Binta was sad as her step son Bhanupankhi (son of Kadru) informed in past that the color of Sun Chariot was white.    

      Mishri Garud (eagle) became restless in heaven (with lord Vishnu). He tells his boss lord Vishnu that there is something wrong with her mother and she is in some dire situation. Mishri Garud reached to his mother Binti but his mother did not show love for him. After perusal Binta told that his step brother Bhanpankhi deceived her and covered sun Chariot for showing black color and now she is slave of Kadru.  Mishri Garud. Misri Garud took the vow to free his mother from slavery of his step mother Kadru.

 Mishri Garud reached to his step brother Kalgiri Nag and said,’” kalgiri! Why did you make my mother slave of your mother by deceit methods?’”

Kalgiri answered, If you bring Amrit kalash from heaven and give it us, we shall free your mother from slavery.”

 Mishri Garud brought Amrit Kalash (Nectar Pot) to Kalgiri Nag. Kalgiri Nag became happy and decided to take Amrit after bathing. Kalgiri Nag went for bathing. In the mean time lord Vishnu came and advised to Garud that he should also deceive Kalgiri. As per advice, Mishri Garud took Nectar Pot to heaven and came back to Naglok.

   When kalgiri came back after bathing he did not find the Nectar pot and he became angry on Mishri Garud. Kalgiri started attacking garud for battle. There was stif battle between Mishri Garud and snakes. Mishri Garud killed all snakes.

 Kalgiri snake hid near Mishridah pond. A fish came near Mishridah pond. Mishri Garud killed that fish and its blood and flesh fell on a sage. The sage cursed Mishri Garud that if his shadow fells on the pond the Garud would die.

 Lord Vishnu brough back Kalgiri Nag and told,” Nag and Garud! You all are brothers. You should live together with discipline. Garud should only kill a snake in a month. “

          

Curtsey and references:

Dr. Krishna Nand Joshi, Kumaon ka Lok Sahity

 Dr Trilochan Pandey, Kumaoni Bhasha aur Uska Sahity

Dr Siva Nand Nautiyal, Garhwal ke Lok Nrityageet 

Dr Govind Chatak, Garhwali Lokgathayen

Dr. Govind Chatak, Kumaoni Lokgathayen

Dr Urbi datt Upadhyaya, Kumaon ki Lokgathaon ka Sahityik Adhyan

Dr. Prayag Joshi, Kumaon Garhwal ki Lokgathaon ka Vivechnatmak Adhyayan

Dr Dinesh Chandra Baluni, Uttarakhand ki Lokgathayen

Dr Jagdish (Jaggu) Naudiyal, Uttarakhand ki Sanskritik Dharohar, (Ravain) 

Abodh Bandhu Bahuguna, Dhunyal

Copyright (Interpretation) @ Bhishma Kukreti, 8/4/2013

Folklore, Folk Legends, Folk Myths of Kumaun-Garhwal, Uttarakhand- to be continued…3

Notes on Religious Folklore of Uttarakhand influenced by Mahabharata; Religious Folklore of Pithauragarh Kumaon Uttarakhand influenced by Mahabharata; Religious Folklore of Bageshwar Kumaon, Uttarakhand influenced by Mahabharata; Religious Folklore of Kumaon, Uttarakhand influenced by Mahabharata; Religious Folklore of Champawat, Kumaon, Uttarakhand influenced by Mahabharata; Religious Folklore of Almora  Kumaon, Uttarakhand influenced by Mahabharata; Religious Folklore of  Nainital Kumaon, Uttarakhand influenced by Mahabharata; Religious Folklore of  Udham Singh Nagar Kumaon, Uttarakhand influenced by Mahabharata; Religious Folklore of  Haridwar/Hardwar Garhwal , Uttarakhand influenced by Mahabharata; Religious Folklore of  Dehradun Garhwal , Uttarakhand influenced by Mahabharata; Religious Folklore of Pauri Garhwal , Uttarakhand influenced by Mahabharata; Religious Folklore of Chamoli Garhwal , Uttarakhand influenced by Mahabharata; Religious Folklore of Tihri Garhwal , Uttarakhand influenced by Mahabharata; Religious Folklore of Uttarkashi Garhwal , Uttarakhand influenced by Mahabharata; Religious Folklore of Jaunsar Garhwal , Uttarakhand influenced by Mahabharata; Religious Folklore of  Rudraprayag Garhwal , Uttarakhand influenced by Mahabharata to be continued….