King Pratapaditya of Kashmir was comparable to Indra

Sham S. Misri
King Pratapaditya of Kashmir also known as (Durlabhaka) 637-687 A.D. The virtuous Durlabhaka was comparable to Indra. He ruled for fifty years. 
An Anecdote
The king had a rich minister who built a village for the" habitation of the Brahmans. This powerful king built a beautiful town named Pratapapura where merchants from many places came and settled. Among them was Nona who built Nonamatha for the habitation of the Brahmans. The king was pleased with him, and invited him; and. the merchant passed with him a day and a night amidst entertainments befitting a king. In the morning the king asked how he was, the merchant complained of headache on account of the smoke of the lamp that was burning in his room. Afterwards, the king was invited by the merchant. The king saw that a rich stone, instead, of a lamp, lighted his room. Astonished at the luxury and riches of the merchant, and being well entertained by his host, the king stayed there for two or three days.
During this period the king saw the beautiful wife of the merchant. She being alone in the house, the king felt a desire for her. On the other hand the lady's female attendant pointed out the king to her, and she also became hooked of the king. This mutual love might have sprung up as a consequence of the love that existed between them in their previous birth. He hid for a short time behind a pillar, she gazed on the king, and as she went away she frequently looked behind on him. The king returned to his capital, but his constant and anxious thoughts of her made him lean. Though he often rebuked himself, and reasoned with himself, it was all of no avail. The king thought in the heart of hearts, “what a sinful affection has grown up in my heart! How powerful is love, that it overcomes reason, and reigns in the heart alone! As a king, I should be afraid of bad deeds, but what sinful temptations have come across me! If the king robs another man’s wife, who shall punish the guilty?" Thus reasoning he could neither leave the path of virtue, nor forget the lady. The king's health gave way, and he was on the point of death. When the merchant heard from the people the cause of the king's ill health, he privately advised his ruler. Now that he was reduced to that state, virtue should no longer oppose his will, for when life is in danger; there is nothing that should not be done. In such a state even learned men, whose opinion is authority, have yielded. Life should not be forsaken for reputation, for when a man dies, fame is at an end, “king," continued the merchant, " you need not respect me, for your benefit I can give up my life, why not then, an object of pleasure? If' even now you refuse, to accept the offer, I shall send her as a dancing girl, for she dances well, and then you can accept her." Thus urged by the merchant and by his own affection, the king, much abashed, accepted the lady.

A (Batah) Hindu holy man

A (Batah) Hindu holy man

There was once a very brave and courageous holy man. He prayed to man for justice. He had a very high opinion of himself to ask for grace also. “Only give me my deserts,” he said, “and I shall fare all right.”

This good man once dined with a friend, and according to custom placed the remainder of his dinner within his wrapping cloth (Tshadar). On the way home it happened that the rice and vegetables were changed into a human head and a knife, both of which were saturated with blood that dropped upon the road as he walked along.

A policeman observed this.  He came closer and enquired about the matter. The policeman told him what was in the wrapping cloth. The holy man without any hesitation opened his wrap, and lo! There was a human head and a knife.

The pious man was immediately caught and sent to police lock up. On the next day the court sent him a notice. The poor pious man was taken to the judge were many had assembled.  There was a lot of excitement.

The case was tried and the whole evidence was against the poor man. The judge considered the case patiently and for long hours. At last finding no way out by which he could possibly acquit the poor prisoner, he was about to pronounce the sentence of death upon him, when there came from the heaven the sound of a voice saying, “The man is not guilty, let him go free.”

Ever afterwards this man asked for grace also, when he prayed.

Batah miskeen, na duniya te nah din.

The poor Hindu has neither the world nor the religion. The Mohammadans quote this saying.

The Batahas of valley would not touch garlic or onion.

Kashmir the Abode of Rishis

Kashmir the Abode of Rishis

Sham S.Misri

Kashmir is known as the abode of Rishis because it has provided a calm and serene shelter to sages and savants for their penance. In the hoary past, it was inhabited by the Nagas as is proved by Nila in his Nilmat Purana and Kalhana in his Rajatarangini. Nila, himself a naga, was the son of the illustrious Rishi, Kashyapa. The penance and the efforts of Kashyapa transformed the vast span of water called the 'Sati Sar' into a fertile valley fit for inhabitation and worship by the austere Rishis. It was he who helped these Rishis to get rid of the demon 'Jalodbhava'. These Rishis, finding the place secure for their 'Tapas', made it their home and gave it the name 'Kashyapa-mar' after the Rishi who founded it. This name, in due course became Kashmir.

These pious and compassionate Rishis did not neglect the nagas and rakshasas who were the original tribesmen living in this land. They made arrangements to satisfy their needs acid requirements from time to time. This gave rise to certain peculiar customs and festivals, not prevalent in any other part of the country. These forest-dwelling tribes would usually demand food items during the winter months. It is because of this that most of these festivals are held in the month of 'Pausha' of the lunar calendar.

Chakrishwar Shrine of Srinagar, Kashmir

Chakrishwar the abode of Maha Shakti (Parvati) on the hill of Sharika Parvat has been a source of inspiration for many scholars, saints and philosophers of Kashmir from ancient times.

Situated in the centre of Srinagar city in Kashmir valley, it has come into existence millions of years ago as per the descriptions in the Neel mat Puran, the oldest script on Kashmir history and religion.

The Puranic description says that the Chakrishwar came into being after the Parvati in the form of a bird lifted a pebble in her beak and dropped it into the centre of Satisar, the present day Kashmir, which was a lake millions of years ago, to kill the demon Jalodbhava who had created terror among the people living on the bank of Satisar. The place, where the Maha shakhti had dropped the pebble developed into a hill which was later named as Hari Parvat, after the water from the Satisar was drained out by Saint Kashyap Rishi through his great meditation. The legend goes that the Shakhti had formed the shape of a bird called Har (Mina), in Kashmiri while dropping the pebble into the Satisar.

The Legend of the Camel Hump

Sham S. Misri

This is a funny and enjoyable extract from ‘How the camel got his hump’ from the Stories by Rudyard Kipling (1865-1936).

In the beginning of years, when the world was new all the Animals were just beginning to work for Man. Last of all, one day a Camel also came. He lived in the middle of a Howling Desert and did not want to work. He was a Howler and would eat sticks and thorns. When anybody spoke to him he would ‘Humph!’ and no more.

One day a Horse came to him with a saddle on his back and a bit in his mouth. The horse said, ‘Camel, come out and run like the rest of us.’ ‘Humph!’ said the Camel. Hearing this Horse went away and told the Man.

Next the Dog came to him. He had a stick in his mouth. The dog said, ‘Camel, come and fetch and carry like the rest of us.’ ‘Humph!’ said the Camel. Hearing this Dog went away and told the Man.

Now an Ox came to him. He had yoke on his neck. The ox said, ‘Camel, come and plough like the rest of us.’ ‘Humph!’ said the Camel. Then the Ox went away and told the Man.

At the end of the day the Man called the Horse and the Dog and the Ox together, and said, ‘Three, O Three, I’m very sorry for you (with the world so new-and-all); but that Humph-thing in the Desert can’t work, or he would have been here by now, so I am going to leave him alone, and you must work double-time to make up for it.’

That made the Three very angry. This worried them and they raised a fuss. They decided to have a meeting on the edge of the Desert. Soon the Camel came chewing twigs and laughed at them. Then he said ‘Humph!’ and went away again.

They then saw jinn in charge of All Deserts, rolling in a cloud of dust (Jins always travel that way because it is Magic), and he stopped near them.

Jinn of All Deserts,’ said the Horse, ‘is it right for anyone to be idle, with the world so new-and-all?’

‘Certainly not,’ said the jinn.

‘Well,’ said the Horse, ‘there’s a thing in the middle of your Howling Desert with a long neck and long legs, and he hasn’t done any work since. He won’t run.’

‘Well’ said the jinn, whistling, ‘that’s my Camel, for all the gold in Arabia! What does he say about it?’

‘He says “Humph!”’ said the Dog; ‘and he won’t fetch and carry.’

‘Does he say anything else?’

‘Only “Humph!”; and he won’t plough,’ said the Ox.

‘Very good,’ said the jinn. ‘I’ll humph him if you will kindly wait a minute.’

The jinn rolled himself up in his dust-cloak, and crossing the desert he found the Camel. I find you most idle. Looking at his own reflection in a pool of water.

‘My long and bubbling friend,’ said the jinn, ‘what’s this I hear of your doing no work, with the world so new-and-all?’

‘Humph!’ said the Camel.

The jinn sat down, with his chin in his hand, and began to think a Great Magic, while the Camel looked at his own reflection in the pool of water.

‘You’ve given the Three extra work ever since, all on account of your idleness,’ said the jinn; and he went on thinking Magic’s, with his chin in his hand.

‘Humph!’ said the Camel.

‘I shouldn’t say that again if I were you,’ said the jinn; you might say it once too often. Bubbles, I want you to work.’

And the Camel said ‘Humph!’ again. Having said it, he saw his back with a great big humph.

‘Do you see that?’ said the jinn. ‘That’s your own humph that you’ve brought upon yourself by not working. To-day you’ve done no work now from tomorrow you are going to work.’

‘How can I,’ said the Camel, ‘with this humph on my back?’

‘That’s made a-purpose,’ said the jinn, ‘all because you missed those days. You will be able to work now for days without eating, because you can live on your humph; and don’t you ever say I never did anything for you. Come out of the Desert and behave. And the Camel humped himself, humph and all, and went away to join the work. And from that day to this the Camel always wears a humph.

A pony of Amnu. (A Shirker )

Sham S. Misri
A pony of Amnu. The story is about a horse which belonged to the village Amnu. It is said that whenever a person would ride it, it would run towards a steep slope. Afraid of the fall, the rider would jump off the horseback and let the horse free. One day a professional rider was called. He rode the horse and the horse took him to the same slope as usual. The rider did not jump off the horse; instead lashed it hard. The horse stopped and did not jump on the slope. From that day on wards, the horse did not play this trick.) One who makes false excuses? (A shirker)

A Joke

Sham S. Misri

Two childhood friends who were studying together and had grown up together went for different jobs after having completed their academic courses. One became a businessman and the other an economist. One day the economist was walking through the green fields and pastures when he discovered that the person whom he met happened to be his childhood friend. Coming close near the person he told him if he could recognize him. The other man in the field immediately hugged him and asked about his welfare. Seeing the flock of sheep and lambs so cute, the economist wanted to take one home for his son.

The economist then told him that he was looking for the shepherd. Your friend in front of you is the shepherd. The economist then said, “If I can guess how many sheep you have, will you let me take one of these home?”

The shepherd said, “Of course.”

The economist looked around, made some calculations and after a few minutes said, “You have 879 sheep.”

The shepherd was shocked because he had exactly 879 sheep. In the heart of his hearts the shepherd was sad and angry.

While the economist picked up one the white fur animals and started walking, the shepherd said, “Wait a minute. If I can figure out what your job is, will you give me the animal back?”

The economist thought the guy would never figure it out as they had never met for over decades, and said, “Yes, sure.”

The shepherd looked at him and said, “I bet you are an economist.”

The economist totally shocked said, “How do you figure that out?”

“Because you picked up my dog.” Said the shepherd.