King Jalaka - A Legend

Sham S. Misri

Asoka conquered Kashmir in about 250 B.C. With him also came Buddhism in Kashmir. Asoka had four sons, though Kalhana mentions only Jaluka. The empire was divided among the four sons and Jaluka got Kashmir. According to Kalhana, Asoka eliminated Malechas, completely. The learned Brahmins did not adopt Buddhism; however, it was the low caste Hindus who presumably adopted the new faith. It is recorded that Asoka sent Majjhantika (threat as missionary) to Kashmir who converted nearly 80,000 people. There is a mention of about 500 Buddhist Monasteries in Kashmir in his time. He gave up all in Kashmir for the benefit of “Buddhist Church.” Saffron cultivation was introduced in his time. The Siva temple at the shrine of Vijayesvara (Bijbhihara) is also attributed to him.

Asoka was succeeded by his son Jaluka in about 220 B.C. Jaluka was a great worshipper of Lord Siva. There is a legend according to which he possessed a magic substance which could transform base metals into gold. He also routed the remaining Malechas badly. His kingdom extended up to Kannauj and Kandahar. About him it is said that he used to go to a far of spring at Wangat and bathe there in the spring every morning. One day he was too late. The deity felt compassionate for him and so willed that another spring arose in the city called Sahodara (born of the same parents). Thus was he saved of the great trouble of making a long journey every day to the holy spring? To test the identity of Sahodara he threw a golden cup in the original spring and this after two and a half days appeared in the spring at Srinagar. Such was the devotion of the king.

Another fable about Jaluka says: that once a man named Kritya begged food and then human flesh which the king Jaluka agreed to give him from his own body.

The legend throws light on the fact that Asoka should have been a Buddhist, while his son Jaluka a staunch Hindu.