Kindness to a dog

Sham S. Misri

Once there was a dog without an owner. And it had nowhere to go, and nothing to eat: but it scraped for itself a miserable subsistence from the refuse of chance, eating and drinking out of gutters: and it was very thin, and covered with sores and wounds : for every one that saw it cursed it and abused it and drove it about, beating it with sticks and pelting it with stones; so that living in terror of perpetual death, it carried its tail between its legs, and in its sad eyes hunger fought for the mastery with fear and shame. So it continued to live, until at last its end was near.

And one day when it was so weak that it could hardly walk, there came by it along the road a bullock cart, containing a number of women who were coming from a wedding feast. And seeing the dog, they all began to jeer at it. But one of those women got down from the cart, and going up to the dog with compassion in her heart offered it a piece of cake. And the dog looked at her with wistful eyes, not understanding; for in its whole life no one had ever done it a kindness of any sort. And after a while, it wagged, very gently, the very end of its thin tail, showing a sign of thankfulness to the woman.

Shivratri

Shivratri

Sham S. Misri

We have managed to avert calamity so far, but no one can avert destruction.

Shiva comes to visit us on Shivratri, a very important festival for us Hindus and Kashmiri Pandits in particular.

Shiva of the matted hair and live snake jewellery and ashes for the talcum powder  meditates atop  a snow clad mountain in a yogic pose, inanimate until the energizing  Female awakens him. His neck is blue from the poison it has imprisoned, and his only garment is loincloth of snow leopard skin . To Parvati he is the most desirable  man   she has ever seen. The Female is transfixed, this beloved daughter of a mountain king,

and she cannot move or be moved.

“Cosmic forces are at work,” says mother, “they are just doing the dance of creation”

There is nothing more important for a mother of a post pubescent girl than to collect her trousseau and then to keep watch over her and her dowery preparation.

“The king is enraged, how can his priceless daughter be given to a wandering ascetic with a begging bowl?. He weeps and cries  and rants and raves. He curses his wife for the way she has brought up their daughter”.

Mother narrates the story. I understand some of her phraseology, but I dare not question the authorship of the lyrical narrative.  I have no doubt that Shiva and Parvati speak fluent Kashmiri.  This she tells me every time.

“What happened?” I ask.

“What else?” This was going to happen, nothing could stop this union of two halves which make a whole. The mountain king held the wedding as if nothing had happened, as if Siva was the most eligible bachelor.

When the bridegroom arrived sitting on a bull the relatives shrieked with laughter. But Parvati was Goddess  and her father knew that now. Her father married her off as he should and Shiva and Parvati set up house in the Himalayas.”

Presumably this is where we found them and worshipped them. They belonged to us and we belonged to them.

But Shiva is unpredictable and he can turn everything to ashes just in the blink of his third eye. So we appease him by celebrating his marriage every year.  As seductive he was to the Female, his attraction to Parvati must have been equally overpowering. He became a regular fellow, gave up his asceticism, threw off his snakes , his smoking pipes and his ashes, and went  in for   traditional marriage, with in-laws and receptions and feasts and banquets. This is the part we like, and we being mortals, try to imitate the divine.

Kashmiri Pandits are Shiva believers. During summer in Kashmir, there is an influx from door to door ascetics from all over India heading for the phallic lingam in the Amarnath cave.  They rattle dried gourds  and cymbals  at our gates and loudly invoke Shiva, and we give them alms. Alms can be anything rice, lentils, fruits or money.

We hurry inside the house, because the ascetics are barely clothed, and secondly because they seem to be long to another cosmos. Sometimes we give them tea or food. When they sit , then they tell us some strange stories. When angered they can impale a person with their tridents . We have also heard that  when they reach Amarnath Cave of Shiva they meditate naked in the freezing temperature swearing garlands around their erect penises. 

The Lucky Crab

The Lucky Crab

 Sham S. Misri

Chris and his sister Curly went to market for a holiday with their mother. Their father had died when they were young and their mother had taken up a job . The children had always wanted to see the beach. The mother had saved some money over the years so that they could go to a sea side town and stay there for a few days. At last their long awaited dream was fulfilled.

One morning as the two children were playing on the beach they came across a wounded crab struggling to reach the water. They had been told that crabs brought good luck . They carried the crab home and asked their mother if they could keep him as a pet . The mother said, “ we’ll be going to our village after two days and you’ll both go to school. So, who will play with the poor animal then? It’ll feel very lonely. Go, put it back in the sea.” The children did not like the idea of going back so soon. But there was no more money to pay hotel bills, so they had to leave. They decided to carry the crab on their tiny spade and put it back in water.

They found a safe looking  corner near the shore, where the current was low gently put carb in between the weeds. As they separated the weeds to make room for the crab they saw some shining object lying under the water. It was a beautiful diamond ring . They picked it and ran home to show it their mother. Then the three went to the police station to report the matter. The sergeant said, “ This ring belong to very rich cloth merchant’s wife . There’s a big reward for it . you’ll get it because you’ve found the ring. “ The children’s happiness  knew no bounds. They knew that with the prize money they could extend their holiday on the beach.

Story of Two Kings

Sham S. Misri

Once there were two kings of the desert, called ‘Haya and Gaja ' : and they were deadly enemies. Once, Gaja set upon Haya, and killed his son and captured his wives and his capital and drove him away. So being reduced to extremity, Haya entered the service of Gaja, who did not know him by sight, as a personal retainer. And while he waited for an opportunity to revenge himself, Gaja was attacked and his army destroyed by a third king, and he fled into the desert, badly wounded, with only Haya for his companion, hoping to cross over the desert and get back to his own capital and be safe. So the two went together over the desert. And having but one skin of water, they could give "Horse" and "elephant."

One of their horses died. So they went on foot. Then Gaja said to Haya : There is hardly water in this skin to carry one man across the desert; much less for two: and now our fate is sure. And they went on, and day by day the water shrank. And Haya carried the skin. And one night, as Gaja slept upon the sand, Haya remained awake.

And he looked at the skin of water, and said:

One man could cross the desert on this water, but not two. And now my enemy lies there before me. So he sat in silence, with his naked sword in his hand, alone in the desert with the twinkling stars, watching Gaja as he slept, all night long. And in the morning they went on. And as the sun grew hotter, Gaja grew fainter, for he was weakened by his wound. And he said to Haya: Let us drink, even if we die. So they drank. But Haya put shut lips to the water, and took none into his mouth. And so they went on day by day, and Gaja drank the water. But Haya only put it to his mouth, and looked at it with glittering eyes, and lips closed like the door of death.

And at last there came a day, when Gaja said:

My wound has robbed me of my strength, and now I can go no further. Moreover, the water is done. Then Haya said : Be strong: it is but one day more. But Gaja said : you go on and save yourself, and leave me here to die. And he fell upon the sand, and lay in a half-swoon.

And then Haya stooped, and took him in his arms, and staggered on. And as he went, he grew giddy, and his senses wandered, and the desert danced before his eyes. And he heard in his ears the splash of water, and the drums of the desert rang in his head, and behind him the spirits of the region of death called to one another across the sand, and laughed and mocked him as he went like one going in a dream. So he struggled on in the loneliness, while his life receded away, withering like a flower in the burning fire of that angry sun.

And suddenly he heard in his dream the voice of Gaja, crying above his head: Lo! yonder is the city away before us, and now we are saved. Then Haya set him down. And he said : O King, I am Haya, and now I have brought you over the dusty death. And he fell with his face upon the sand, and went to the other world. But Yama saw that action and remembered it: and Haya rose in the next birth out of humanity and mortality and became a spirit of the air.

Then the said: The brave prince deserved his reward.

The Story of Anne Frank

Sham S. Misri

During World War II, the Nazis ruled Germany. They were led by Adolph Hitler who wanted everyone who was different to be killed or imprisoned. One brave girl Anne Frank lived during that tragic event. This girl became famous for her diary which later became a book. Anne Frank was a young girl and many people around the world respected her. She advanced from a hateful girl to a cultivated young lady. She gave everyone vivid details about the difficult times she had faced during the Holocaust. Anne wrote much informative wisdom in her well-known diary. She was a brilliant writer who had the ability to get readers to picture what she wanted to say. She was a brave girl because she stayed strong and did not panic during the Holocaust. She was a girl who changed the world which gave her an important role because she taught a valuable lesson to all - which was - to never give up and stay strong.

Anne and her family were Jews. It meant that they had to be killed or imprisoned according to Hitler. Anne and her family, afraid to get killed or captured went in to hiding for two years. During these two tough years, Anne, a raw and a little girl developed into a mature young lady. She was a bright-minded teenager who knew what was best for her life.

Hiding in a small attic from Nazis, she had many rules to follow ; It was, because, the Frank family did not want to get caught by Nazis. “During the day we mustn’t make any noise that might be heard downstairs.” However, Anne did not like all these rules but she was still capable of following them all. She was respected for her ability and would follow all the rules in the Secret attic. Anne knew that following the rules would save her from the Nazis which made her a smart girl. Anne kept going strong and stayed bold during the Holocaust which was why she was well known then. She had been the most successful women in her time.

She lived in a small attic with a group of people and would not get annoyed. She was a nosy and naïve girl who talked and asked many questions. Everyone in the attic tried to change her attitude by lecturing her, but Anne would only listen to herself. “I have a lot to put up with and have to pretend to be deaf in order to escape the old, much-repeated ticking-off and warnings.”

The people in the attic would say that Anne was the least favourite because she rebelled against people and was extremely talkative.

The attic is a small place to live in so people have a tiny bit of patience and get mad easily. Anne was usually the one who made the whole room angry with her behaviour.
One person who had big arguments with Anne was her mother, Mrs. Frank. Anne and her mother did not bond well; Anne liked her father more than her mother and would say that she only loved her father. Her mother would often get upset because Anne never went to her for any help. She had the right to only love her father because throughout the book, her mother did not seem to be greatly caring. Her mother kept trying to get Anne to love her but Anne just did not love her mother. Her mother understood Anne’s feelings but still got upset.

“I don’t want to be cross, love cannot be forced.” Anne kept trying to love her mother but just could not which shows she tried and never gave up.

Sage Durvaasa Curses Indra

Sage Durvaasa Curses Indra

Sham S. Misri

The famous short-tempered sage Durvaasa is a partial incarnation of Shankar. One day, he was wandering on the earth when all of a sudden, he happened to see an extremely divine beauty. She was wearing a garland of beautiful flowers. The sage requested the beauty to give him that garland. She presented the garland respectfully to the sage. The sage adorned the garland on his head and began to wander again. Right at that moment, he saw Indra riding on elephant and going somewhere in the procession of the gods. Unconsciously, sage Durvaasa put that garland around the neck of Indra but Indra removed it and put it on Elephant’s head. The elephant pulled the garland with his trunk and smashed it on the ground. This whole sequence of events angered Durvaasa who cursed Indra. "O Indra! You are so drunk with your extravagances that you dared to insult my humble gift. Hence, all your splendour shall be destroyed. You will lose all your wealth."

Indra at once descended from the elephant and began to request sage Durvaasa. Durvaasa said- "Indra! Forgiveness has no place in my personality. So, all your repenting is meaningless." Saying this, sage Durvaasa departed from the scene and Indra left for Amravati.

Very soon, the curse began to show its influence. With the loss of Indra’s luxuries, all the prosperity on the earth too began to decrease. Hermits too began to give up Yagya. All the human beings began to be guided by greed and gave up pious virtues.

And at a place where pious virtues have no room, Lakshmi too doesn’t stay there. She made her abode in the awful depth of the sea. Very soon, the demons launched an attack on the gods and drove them out of heaven. Indra along with other gods approached Brahma and told him the whole story. Brahma suggested them to take refuge at Lord Vishnu. He assured them that Lord Vishnu would definitely protect them. Brahma even accompanied the gods to Lord Vishnu. There, they together prayed Lord Vishnu and intimated Him about their suffering.

Pleased by their prayers, Lord Vishnu appeared before them and said- "I will definitely help you regain your splendour. Presently, do what I say. You reunite with the demons and convince them to carry out the churning of the sea. Then bring all kinds of herbs and put them in the sea. With the help of the demons, and using Mandaraachal as churner and Vaasuki, the Naag, as the rope to carry out the churning of the sea. Thus, you will recover ambrosia drinking which, all of you will become immortal and regain your strength."

Following the advice of Lord Vishnu, the gods reconciled with the demons and convinced them to carry out the churning of the sea. They together procured all kinds of herbs and put them in the sea. Then they began the churning using Mandaraachal Mountain. As soon as the churning began, Mandaraachal began to sink. Lord Vishnu took life of Kachchhap (the great tortoise) and bore the weight of the mighty mountain on His back. During the churning, Kamadhenu, the wishful cow was the first to emerge. It was presented to the sages as an aid for their Yagya. It was followed by the damsel, Vaaruni, Kalpavriksha (the wishful tree) after which, beautiful elves appeared. The Moon followed the elves and was taken up by Shiva on His forehead. During the churning, huge quantity of poison had also emerged. It was drunk by Lord Shiva and some parts of it were taken up by the serpents. In the end, Dhanvantari himself emerged from the sea carrying the urn of ambrosia.

It was during the churning itself that Lakshmi appeared once again from the sea holding lotuses in her hands. All the sages prayed her. Then taking bath with divine water, goddess Lakshmi took her seat in the heart of Lord Vishnu.

When the demons saw that Lakshmi had chosen Lord Vishnu’s heart as her abode, they got perplexed. They at once snatched the urn from Dhanvantari and ran away. Then a row broke out among them over the drinking of ambrosia. Each of the demons wanted to drink ambrosia in maximum quantity. Meanwhile, Lord Vishnu also arrived there in the guise of an extremely pretty woman Mohini and took possession of the urn. Mohini had pleased the demons with her sweet smile while distributing ambrosia among the gods.

Thus, the gods came to drink ambrosia. When at last, the demons realised that they had been cheated they immediately attacked the gods. But since the gods had regained their strength, they soon defeated the demons without much ado. Afterwards, the gods prayed Lord Vishnu and returned to heaven to rule it. The world regained its majesty. After regaining his splendour, comforts and luxuries of the heaven, Indra prayed goddess Lakshmi with devotion and respect.

Pleased by the prayers of Indra, Lakshmi asked him to seek a boon. Indra said- "O goddess! If you are pleased with me, kindly bless me with a boon that first you will never desert this world and also that you will never desert those who worship you with this prayer." Lakshmi granted these boons.

Thus, Lakshmi had appeared as the daughter of Bhrigu and his wife Khyaati. Then second time, she emerged from beneath the sea during its churning. Thus, whenever Lord Vishnu takes an incarnation, Lakshmi accompanies Him. When God appears in divine form, she too takes a divine appearance. When God appears in human form, Lakshmi appears in human form also.

The King’s Parrots

Sham S. Misri

Once upon a time there was a king. He was fond of parrots. He told his courters to get him two parrots to be kept in the palace. The next day the king’s men set out in a jungle to find the parrots. They found two parrots living on a tree in the jungle. By their tricks they caught the two parrots and took them to the king. From the talks of the parrots, while the men were on their way to the palace, they could judge that one parrot was wise and the other was foolish. Somehow, they presented the parrots to the king. The king put them in a golden cage. At king’s palace the parrots got fine foods to eat. The parrots were given different types of nuts and grains to eat. The king played with the parrots and they became favorites of the court. After some time a hunter trapped a monkey and gave it to the king. Soon the funny monkey also became the king’s favorite.

One day the foolish parrot complained to the king: “ The monkey gets more attention that belongs to us.”

The wise parrot said, “ By what right does all attention belong to us.”

The foolish parrot replied, “Because we were so good, so loyal, so true, and never bit anybody.”

The wise parrot said, “Pleasure and fame, dishonor and pain, all come and go like a breeze, why should a little parrot grieve? “

As time passed the monkey did not seem so funny anymore. Soon he began to scare the children. The king became angry and ordered monkey back to the jungle. The parrots once again became favorites of the king.  

The foolish parrot sang with joy, but the wise parrot warned,

“Gain and loss, praise and blame

Pleasure, pain, dishonor, fame

Come and go like Spring,

Why should a little parrot sing?”