Ravivar ki Kahani
Rituals - I

Ravivar ki Kahani - I
(Sun and the Divine Cow)

(This story of the Sun God is related on the occasion of Sunday fast. It depicts the importance of cow and cow dungs and suggests the victory of innocence over jealousy.)

Once there was an old lady. She would get up early in the morning and take her bath. She kept her house clean by plastering it with cow dung, and took her meals only after offering food to the Sun God. She lived a happy life. This lady used to collect cow dung from her neighbor’s house. The neighbor’s wife was jealous of her. She tethered her cow inside the room so that the old lady could not collect the dung. And as she could not plaster her house with cow-dung, she did not cook her food. She did not even offer food to the idols. She remained on fast throughout the day and slept with empty stomach.

The Sun God appeared before her in her dream. He told her, why did you not take your meals? Why did you not offer food to the Idols? The old lady said politely, my neighbor’s lady did not allow me to collect cow-dung from her house. I could not clean my house. I have no cow of my own. The Sun God said I am happy with you because you kept fast on Sunday. I am pleased with your worship. I shall give you a beautiful cow and the god disappeared. The old lady opened her eyes. A beautiful much cow with a calf was there in her courtyard. She was surprised to see them. She arranged hay and water for them.

When the neighbor’s lady saw the cow in the old lady’s house, she became jealous of her. She also noticed that the cows dung was of gold and not ordinary dung. She took the gold dung and replaced it with the ordinary dung of her cow. She continued the replacing practice for a number of days. The Sun God noted that her neighbor was cheating the old lady. He caused a storm at sunset. The old lady tethered her cow inside her room for its safety. She was, however, surprised to see that her cow gave her gold dung instead of an ordinary one. She could see through her neighbor’s trick.

The neighbor’s lady was constantly jealous. She thought of a plan to deprive her of the wonder cow. She went to the king and said My Lord; a poor old lady in our neighborhood has a divine cow. The cow gives gold dung. It would be befitting for your graciousness if this cow were with you. She keeps it inside her room. No one can have even its glimpse. The king was a greedy person. He told his courtier, Go immediately and bring the cow.

The old lady was about to offer food to the Sun Gods idol when the courtier reached her house. He untied the rope from the peg and took away the cow. The lady prayed and wept, but all in vain. The old lady missed her meals that day. She prayed to her God for the safe return of the cow. She could not sleep at night. The king on the other hand, was highly pleased to have that divine cow. That night, he had a dream. The Sun God was there who said, I offered this cow to the old lady as a token of my affection for her worship of me. You do not deserve this cow.

The king woke up. He was badly shaken. He saw that the entire palace was full of cow dung. There was bad smell all around. In the morning, the king sent for the old lady with due honor. He returned the cow to the old lady and also gave her some wealth. The neighbor’s lady was suitably punished which was a cause of relief to all. The king proclaimed order that all his subjects should observe fast on Sundays if they wanted their desires to be fulfilled. Now, all his people were prosperous. Illness never visited them. They never faced any natural calamity. Everyone enjoyed happiness.