Nar Singh –Ghana: the folk tale of great Brave Woman Dhana from Askot Garhi, Pithoragarh

Folklore, Folk Legends, Folk Myths, Jagar of Kumaon-Garhwal, Uttarkahnd-24 

 Chivalry, Gallantry, Graciousness Folklores, Folk Legends, Folk Myths of Garhwal, Kumaon, Uttarakhand –9  

                                         Bhishma Kukreti 

               There had been brave women in every society in every age. In all societies, there are folk tales about their brave women. Readers may find the description of a brave woman in Mexican folk song (corridos) ‘La Adulita ‘. Brave Martha is brave heroin of England folk tale. Susan Weinger et all (2006) provide various brave women characters from Cameroonian folk tales (Unmasking Women’s Rivalry in Cameroonian folk tales,). There are folk stories about brave women in the book ‘Clever Gretchen and other forgotten folktales’ retold by Alison Lurie. There are folk tales about brave women in the books –‘Fearless Girls, Wise Women and Beloved Sisters: heroines in the Folktales around the world’ (Kathleen Ragan); Not One Damsel in Distress: World Folktales for Strong Girls (Jane Yolen); The Maid of the North: Feminist Folktales from around the world (E.J. Phelps).

  Nar Singh –Ghana: the folktale of great Brave Woman Dhana from Askot Garhi, Pithoragarh

               The story of brave woman Ghana and her husband Narsingh is famous folktale and sung as Jagar in Uttarakhand. The story seems to be from the time of Kumaoni King Kali Chand (1437-1450).

 The part of Narsingh –Ghana Jagar Gatha is as-

कुमाऊं और गढ़वाल की लोक गाथाएँ/जागर  -25   नार सिंह -घना –जागर, वीर-वीरंगनाएं  गाथा : भडौ , कटकू, भड़वळि  या पांवड़ा, जागर 
(सन्दर्भ : डा उर्वी  दत्त उपाध्याय, कुमाऊं की लोक गाथाओं का सांस्कृतिक और सांस्कृतिकअध्ययन )

ऐसी लड़े भैछ , रेट उडी गयी
सूरज का रथ ढ़ांकण लागी गौ
बिन बादले बिजुली , बिन द्यो का बजर
देखनेरा आँखा , फुटण भये गाया
मली डोटी आयो, भींचलो भयंकर
जंगलों का गोरू ठाड़ पुछ्ड़ी करी
बितकण भये गया
घोम का चाड़ा , भजण भये गया 

  The story of NarSingh Ghana starts as-

       The capital of Capitals was Askot of Narsingh. His huge cowsheds were on the hills of Dhandhura. The agricultural fields and Sal-Jamal trees jungles were at the bank of Gauri Ganga.

      Narsingh of Askot Garh was the bravest among braves (Bhad) and the greatest wrestler warrior. His wife Dhana was beautiful most women as Apsara of Indra. Dhana was a brave woman too.

            One day, Narsingh said his desire to Dhana,” O queen! It would be worth for us to win over Kali Kumaon. We would live there and would also win the Doti kingdom by crossing Kali Ganga.”

         Ghana cautioned,” You make plan for winning everywhere but don’t make plan for attacking Doti. The warriors of Doti put six tee six feet long cap, sixteen feet long gown and their Janeu (auspicious thread on body) are eighteen feet long. Those who cross Kali Ganga for attacking Doti are killed there and there and don’t come back.

    Narsingh answered,” Unnecessarily, you praise your paternal region Doti. I shall go there and win Doti kingdom, would behead Kali Chand the king of Doti then only I shall come back when I win the Doti.”

               Dhana made him understand not to take unworthy risk. Narsingh did not take the advices of his wife Dhana.  King Narsingh started becoming ready for the attack. He took his weapons, rode on horse and ran as stormy wind.

         The queen Dhana put on earthen lamps around the temple. She sat inside the temple. Sadly, she started praying for the long life of her husband and his fast return. She prayed from Doti deities for her husband protection.

            King Narsingh was running for Doti. Wherever the horse put its leg the stone was changed into dust. Wherever Narsingh went there were fissures into hills. By morning, he reached to the bank of Kali via Pipalkot, Kaudihat, Fulaghat. The water of Kali Ganga was on high. Narsingh uprooted trees and made the bridge by those trees. He crossed Kali Ganga. He crossed the hills of Betadi, Silgadhi. He reached to Doti. He started fighting with enemies as a hungry lion in Talla Doti. There, every work was stopped.

 The grass cutting women of Talli Doti  (lower Doti) said, O! King Kali Chand! There is dark in Doti. The father of death deity has arrived in Doti. The green forests are now deserts. The enemy killed every one.”

         Those women said, “Bamboo burns the bamboo forest. The husband of your father’s niece Dhana destroyed our Doti. There, Narsingh was tired and hungry. He decided to take meal and take rest in Talla Doti.  When Kalichand heard the news of destruction of Talla Doti he started going to Talla Doti with his double edged sword.  Kali Chand said,” You have come to friend’s house as enemy and death invited you here.”

                  Narsingh became angry.

 The king Kali Chand and king Narsingh started fierce fight. Kali Chand first cut the right hand of Narsingh and then left hand. Narsingh fell on the ground. Narsingh started crying taking the name of Dhana.

  There in Askot, Dhana was sleeping, She saw a dream that Kali Chand arrived in Askot as groom. She awoke. Dhana started weeping that her husband was dead.

 Dhana took a vow that either she would kill Kali Chand or she would never return to Askot.

  Dhana put on the male dressing of her husband and reached to Talla Doti Garh. She saw that her husband destroyed Talla Doti.  Deciding for destroying Malla Doti (upper Doti) she went towards Malla Doti.

  After reaching at Malla Doti, Dhana started killing to enemies. People were afraid.

 The message reached to Kali Chand.  Kali Chand became angry and said that one lost his hand and died. He said that other would lose his head.

  Kali Chand said,”I shall win over you and will make you as my queen,”

  Dhana became angry. She lambasted Kali Chand who was thinking making her sister as his queen.

 Both fought and there was scene of earthquake in Doti.  They fought for three days and three nights. The weapon of Kali Chand tore the dress of Dhana and Kali Chand saw her Mangal Sutra (the sign of marriage). He recognized Dhana.

 Happily Kali Chand said,” o Dhana! You are brave. I wanted to reach for you to Askot for making you my queen. Now I shall make you my queen.”

Strategically and wisely, Dhana said,” That is fine .Now I am your queen.  We shall live with joy.”

 Happily, Kali Chand took Dhana to palace where the dead body of Narsingh.  Dhana asked Kali Chand to offer dead body of her husband for cremation. Dhana took the dead body of Nar Singh with the help of ten Dotiyalins . Kali Chand was with her.

 There was flooding in Kali Ganga. Dhana advised to cross the river with the dead body of Nar Singh. Kali Chand accepted her advice and he along with Dhana started crossing Kali Ganga with the help of Tumdis.  The dead body of Nar Singh was tied on the back of Dhana

  In the middle of river, Dhana beheaded Kali Chand. Dhana sent the head of kali Chand to Doti.  

 Dhana became Sati with the burning body of her husband. While she was burning with the body of her husband, she prayed to deities that Nar Singh should be her husband in next life too.

Copyright (Interpretation) @ Bhishma Kukreti, 11/5/2013

Folklore, Folk Legends, Folk Myths of Kumaon-Garhwal, Uttarakhand to be continued…26  

Chivalry, Gallantry, gracious Folklores, Folk Legends, Folk Myths of Garhwal, Kumaon, Uttarakhand to be continued…11    

Curtsey and references:

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