Hindu week days 1b.

[Guest guest]

1b. Sunday.

 

This story of the Sun God is related on the occasion of Sunday fast. It

depicts the importance of cow and cow dung and suggests the victory of

innocence over jealousy.

 

Once there was an old lady. She would get up early in the morning and

took 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 neighbours

house. The neighbour'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, " Why did not

you 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 " . The god disappeared. The old lady opened her

eyes. A beautiful 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 cow 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 the old lady was being cheated by

her neighbor. He caused a storm at sun-set. 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 neighbour'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

is 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 to go

immediately and bring the cow.

 

The old lady was about to offer food to the Sun God idol when the

courtier reached her house. He untied the rope from 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 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.