The Truthful King: Harishchandra

THE TRUTHFUL KING: HARISHCHANDRA

---

King Harishchandra was the son of Trishanku, who was sent to heaven with his physical body by the grace of the sage Vishwamitra but was jealously pushed down by the deities, as a result of which, he kept hanging in between heaven and earth.

Harishchandra was renowned for his charitable nature, devotion and virtue. His empire was free from famines, epidemics and other calamities because of his religious powers. His subjects were content, happy and religious like him.

His truthfulness was famous in all the 3 Lokas (worlds). When Indra came to know about it from sage Narad, he became jealous of the king and to test his truthfulness, he sought Vishwamitra's help.

Vishwamitra, by the powers of his penance came in the king's dreams and demanded his whole kingdom to which Harishchandra readily agreed to give. Though, it all happened only in the dreams and it was far from reality, yet when Vishwamitra came to his palace, the very next day and made the same demand, the king gave him his whole kingdom and wealth. The whole earth was his kingdom and after relinquishing it for the benefit of Vishwamitra, he decided to move away to 'Kashi' as it is believed to be based on the Trishula of Lord Shiva. The scriptures have prohibited the use of things, once donated hence, 'Kashi' was the only place on the whole earth which was outside Vishwamitra's authority.

But, Vishwamitra demanded something as Dakshina (honorarium) to make such a great donation successful. But, Harishchandra had nothing in his possession. He sold his wife 'Shaivya' to a Brahmin to meet his demand his son Rohitashva went along with his mother. But even the selling of his wife was not enough to meet Vishwamitra's demand. So, he had no choice but to sell him to a man whose profession was to guard the cremation place and to collect the taxes for cremating the dead bodies.

Vishwamitra was not satisfied. A king who possessed all the wealth, majesty and splendour only yesterday had become a poor and miserable man the very next day.

But, just as the gold becomes purified after it is heated, similarly the most testing and trying times do not dishearten a virtuous and religious man.

Harishchandra used to obey all the commands of his master and help him in cremating the dead bodies. His wife Shaivya used to do all the household works of the Brahmin acting as a housemaid. Rohitashva, who was used to a luxurious life was forced to face the hardships of life.

One day, Rohitashva had gone to the garden to pluck flowers for the Brahmin who needed them for his Sandhya Pujana. Since it was dark, the whole garden was covered in darkness. He was bitten by a snake as a result of which he died. Poor Shaivya had her only son lying on the ground lifeless, there was no one to cry, no one to console her, there was no one to carry her son's dead body to the cremation grounds.

So, she herself carried the dead body for cremation all alone crying loudly. The cremation of the body was not allowed, if the tax was not paid. But the former queen did not have a single penny. Form where could have she got the money to pay the taxes?

Now, Harishchandra who was guarding the cremation ground heard her wails and came near her to help her perform the last rites. Harishchandra recognized her immediately and after realizing that his only son was no more alive was filled with grief.

But, he had to perform his duties, so he asked for the tax to be paid, when 'Shaivya' told him about her inability to pay the tax, Harishchandra said: " The religiousness for which I relinquished my throne, yourself and my son and for the sake of which I became a slave of 'Doma' and you became a maid servant, I will certainly not abandon that religiousness at this juncture. So, I need your help to stand firmly on my religious path."

Shaivya was completely faithful to her husband. One, who had agreed to become a maidservant to safeguard and protect the righteousness, virtuosity and religiousness of her husband, How could she have refused his request?

But on the one hand, her only son was lying dead on the ground and on the other hand, there was her husband seeking her help in performing his duties. She wept at her helplessness, but said to Harishchanddra: " My master, I do not have even another piece of cloth. I only have this dirty 'Sari' which I am wearing and also by which I have covered my son's dead body. So, you can have half of my sari as your tax."

Harishchandra agreed to accept the half portion of Shaivya's sari as the tax.

As soon as she tried to tear off her sari, Lord Vishnu, the omnipresent power manifested. 'Truth' and 'religion' are the embodiments of God. God dwells where there is truthfulness and religiousness. The king of the deities, Indra came along with all the other deities. So did Vishwamitra. The Chandala who was in reality 'Yamaraja himself revealed his true identity.

Indra, by showering ambrosia brought Rohitashva back to life. He also requested both Harishchandra and Shaivya to come to heaven which Harishchandra refused by saying: " My subjects were living in sorrow, being forced to live in separation from me. I do not want to go to the heaven leaving them in the lurch."

Harishchandra wanted to take all the people of Ayodhya to heaven too. But Indra said that it was impossible because each of them had their own Karmas, whose consequences they would certainly face. How can a person whose karmas are bad, enter into heaven.

Hearing this, Harishchandra said that, he was donating all the virtues and religiousness to the people. They should be taken to heaven and he was willing to face the consequences of their sins by going to hell.

The deities became very happy to see the big heart of Harishchandra and his love and dedication for his subjects. So, ultimately, all the people of Ayodhya, along with Harishchandra went to heaven.

Vishwamitra helped in inhabiting Ayodhya with new people and made Rohitashva, the emperor of the whole earth.