Ratanichand Jagar Gatha: Kumaoni Folktale describing Folk Brave Men of Kumaon

Folklore, Folk Legends, Folk Myths, Jagar of Kumaon-Garhwal, Uttarkahnd-27

 Chivalry, Gallantry, Graciousness Folklores, Folk Legends, Folk Myths of Garhwal, Kumaon, Uttarakhand –12 

                                         Bhishma Kukreti

  Most of the folktales of Kumaon brave men are related to Katyuri and Chand kings. The most described kings in Kumaoni folktales are – Udaichand, Ratani Chand, Bharti Chand, and Guru Gyanchand.

  The present folktale of folk story poem/prose (Jagar) is about the brave men of King Ratani Chand  (1450-1488)

  A folk story’s few lines are as -   

कुमाऊं और गढ़वाल की लोक गाथाएँ/जागर  -27


रतन चंद जागर गाथा --जागर, वीर-वीरंगनाएं  गाथा : भडौ , कटकू, भड़वळि  या पांवड़ा, जागर  
(सन्दर्भ -रमेश मटियानी 'शैलेश' , कुमाउं की लोकगाथाएँ )

ए चम्पावती मैज होला रतनीचन।
राजवंशी च्यल होला भारती चन
दरी रे दिवान होला महल मुसौदी
बार बुढा दरबारी विचारी दिवान
गो ग्वेड़ा होला गद्दी सिंघासन
सुरज जस तप्य राजा रतनीचना
xxx     xxx


गंगा माई मैज धोया दरबारी खाणु
अघिल -अघिल होली सुरजवंशी घोड़ी
दिया जसी जोति होली  सरू कुमियाण
माल मारी घर आया खिमसारी हाट
दिया ज्योति सरू ल्याया खिमसारी हाट  

    

                  There was King Ratani Chand on the Champawat, Kumaon throne.  Ratani Chand was great son of great king Bharti Chand of Champawat. Champawat King Ratani Chand had many courtiers and ministers. They used to administrate very smoothly as smooth as spinning spindle.

             Once, insider enemies became very notorious in the rule of Champawat King Ratani Chand and started disturbing.  The brave men of enemies from all directions started compelling Champawat King Ratani Chand for compromising. The nails of rebellion brave men of east were huge. The mouths of enemy brave men from west were big as dishes. The eyes of uprising brave men from north were very deep. The hairs of southern rising brave men were nine yard long. They used to take breakfast of nine tons and their lunch was for twenty tons.

              They all brave men went to Champawat King Court and said,” Call competitors for us to fight with them. Then the brave men of east and west hung dhoti on window for insulting the King. They put condition to King that till the competition wrestlers come the King had to walk below Dhotis. The brave men stopped the entry to inside for King.

          At this period, Maidua Saun lived in Chaukhuta Agar. The Champawat King sent a letter to Maidua Saun that stated,” Champawat is in danger. O Brother Maidua Saun! These notorious brave men don’t allow me sleeping in night, taking food in day time. I will offer you the Jagir of Gweton after you won these nasty brave men.”

                Maidua Saun was an orphan from childhood. His grandmother used to look after him after his parents death. Maidua Saun had a hobby to fight with buffalos by putting bag on his head. The grandmother of Maidua Saun replied the letter and wrote that she had only one grandson and she was unable to send her grandson. The King became sad and confused.

  Those notorious brave men were killing the court goats and were burning the court wood. There was talk of the town about these notorious brave men in Khimsari Hat. There were seven princes of Katyuri King in Khimsari Hat. One of them Hanskunvar (nephew of Biramdev) was very bold and aring. King Ratani Chand sent messenger for Khimsari Hat. The messenger reached to Khimsari Hat via Almora, Chupad Bagwal, Dwarhat, Talli Ginvad. The messenger handed over letter to Hanshkunvar.

    By reading letter from Champawat King, gallant Hanshkunvar became angry. Hanshkunvar put food items and started to dress. The heroic Hanshkunvar reached Champawat killing evil people.

              Saru was the beautiful and young daughter of Champawat King. Due to fear of Hanshkunvar, Champawat King hid his daughter inside cow shed by breaking his bedroom wall.

  There came fearless Hanshkunvar riding on the horse. The sound of horse walking attracted Saru. She fell in love with Hanshkunvar. She threw a letter on the road. The letter stated,” You win the notorious brave men and marry with me. After marriage, I shall go to Rangili Bairath with you.”

       The Champawat King welcomed the daring Hanshkunvar lavishly by red carpet, blowing Nagada and throwing tons of Ritha.

                  The courageous Hanshkunvar fought with notorious brave men for twenty days. Valiant Hanshkunvar killed those all notorious brave men. The stout Hanshkunvar threw dead bodies of east to west and north brave dead bodies to south.

         At last, the very much obliged Champawat ruler said to champion Hanshkunvar,” How do I return your obligation?”

 Conqueror Hanshkunvar said,” I have cows, fishes of Ramganga, Rangila Bairath. I don’t need anything from you.”

         The Champawat King answered,” If you don’t demand a return gift, I shall feel insulted.”

         The champion Hanshkunvar asked the hand of Saru princess for marrying with him.

  Later on noble Hanshkunvar married with beautiful Saru Kumain. They returned to Khimsari hat and there was festival as the festival of earthen lamp (Deepavali) in their welcome.            

Copyright (Interpretation) @ Bhishma Kukreti, 14/5/2013

Folklore, Folk Legends, Folk Myths of Kumaon-Garhwal, Uttarakhand to be continued…28  

Chivalry, Gallantry, gracious Folklores, Folk Legends, Folk Myths of Garhwal, Kumaon, Uttarakhand to be continued…13    

Curtsey and references:

Dr. Krishna Nand Joshi, Kumaon ka Lok Sahitya (Folklore texts of Kumaon)

 Dr Trilochan Pandey, Kumaoni Bhasha aur Uska Sahity(Folklore literature of Kumaon )

Dr Siva Nand Nautiyal, Garhwal ke Lok Nrityageet  (Folk Songs and dances of Garhwal )

Dr Govind Chatak, Garhwali Lokgathayen (Folklore of Garhwali)

Dr. Govind Chatak, Kumaoni Lokgathayen (Folklore of Kumaoni)

Dr Urvi Datt Upadhyaya, Kumaon ki Lokgathaon ka Sahityik Adhyayan (Literary review of Folklore of Kumaon)

Dr. Dip Chand Chaudhri, 1995, Askot ka Palvansh , Gumani Shodhkendra, Uprada, Gangalighat

Dr. Prayag Joshi, Kumaon Garhwal ki Lokgathaon ka Vivechnatmak Adhyayan (Critical Review of Folklore of Kumaon and Garhwal)

Dr Dinesh Chandra Baluni, Uttarakhand ki Lokgathayen (Folklore of Uttarakhand)

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

Ramesh Matiyani ‘Shailesh’ 1959, Kumaun ki Lok Gathayen

Abodh Bandhu Bahuguna, Dhunyal (Folklore and Folk Songs of Garhwal)

Shambhu Prasad Bahuguna, Virat Hriday

Kusum Budhwar, 2010, Where Gods Dwell: Central Himalayan Folktales and Legends 

C.M. Agarwal , Golu Devta, 1992, The God of Justice of Kumaon Himalayas

N.D .Paliwal, 1987, Kumaoni Lok Geet

E.S. Oakley and Tara Datt Gairola 1935, Himalayan Folklore

M.R.Anand, 2009, Understanding the Socio Cultural experiences of Pahadi folks: Jagar Gathas of Kumaon and Garhwal

Dr. Pradeep Saklani, 2008, Ethnoarcheology of Yamuna Valley

Shiv Narayan Singh Bisht, 1928, Gadhu Sumyal, Banghat , Pauri Garhwal

Kumaon: Kala, Shilp,aur Sanskriti         www.himvan.com/webpages/dana.htm

Anjali Kapila (2004), Traditional health Practices of Kumaoni women

Bhishma Kukreti, Garhwali Lok Natkon ke Mukhy Tatva va Vivechana

Helle Primdahi, 1994, Central Himalayan Folklore: folk Songs in Rituals of the Life Cycle

[उत्तराखंड की वीर गाथाएँ; कुमाऊं  की वीर गाथाएँ ; नैनीताल कुमाऊं  की वीर गाथाएँ ; चौखुटा , कुमाऊं की वीर गाथाएँ;  गंगुवाचौड़  कुमाऊं  की वीर गाथाएँ; धारी कुमाऊं  की वीर गाथाएँ; उधम सिंह नगर, कुमाऊंकी वीर गाथाएँ ; चम्पावत ,कुमाऊं  की वीर गाथाएँ ; अल्मोड़ा कुमाऊं की वीर गाथाएँ ; बागेश्वर कुमाऊं की वीर गाथाएँ ;पिथौरागढ़,कुमाऊं की वीर गाथाएँ ; गढ़वाल की वीर गाथायेँ  ; हरिद्वार , गढ़वाल की वीर गाथायेँ  ; देहरादून, गढ़वाल की वीर गाथायेँ  ; उत्तरकाशी , गढ़वाल की वीर गाथायेँ  ; टिहरी, गढ़वाल की वीर गाथायेँ  ;चमोली , गढ़वाल की वीर गाथायेँ  ; रुद्रप्रयाग , गढ़वाल की वीर गाथायेँ  ; पौड़ी, गढ़वाल की वीर गाथायेँ  ;लैंसडाउन , गढ़वाल की वीर गाथायेँ  ; सलाण , गढ़वाल की वीर गाथायेँ  ; यमकेश्वर, गढ़वाल की वीर गाथायेँ  ; द्वारीखाल , गढ़वाल की वीर गाथायेँ  ; राठ , गढ़वाल की वीर गाथायेँ  श्रृंखला ]