THE BIRTH OF THE TRADITION

Custom and blind faiths are two poles which run parallel to indefinite time. The main carriers of this two are lack of knowledge and blind belief to those by the followers. The bridge between the blind belief and tradition is only a question away. How this customs forms or I would say, how blind belief can be a custom or tradition, this story may answer this question.

 

Once upon a time, there was a village called Haripura. Nearly 18 miles away from the capital Patiliputra. Haripura was residing in the bank of the river Harini. People believe the name of this village is due the name of the river. It was a remote village with full of greeneries, mountains and nearly 100 families. Among all, there was only one Hindu brahmin family named Chandreswar and his wife Vadrabati with two kinds namely Jankenath and Jagannath lived happily in the village. People of Hairpura know each other by name. Though Chandreswar belongs to brahmin family, peoples used to admire him more than others. Chandreswar used to do worship to various God and Goddess and chant various mantras from Veda’s and other sacred books which made him quite popular and admirable among the villagers. He was called Panditji by villagers. Vadrabati, in other hand was a perfect wife and a perfect mother as well. Every year in the day of Basant Panchamai, panditji used to worship Goddess Swaraswati in their house with vaidic style. People of Haripur, were been invited or virtually saying, were waiting for this day throughout the year. This puja was become the identity of Chandreswar’s home. The life was quite normal as of Panditji was alive. By making shock to everyone Chandreswar suddenly close his eyes for ever, one fine morning during his regular worshiping to God. Vadrabati find herself very helpless but she did not lost the moral of life. She used to look her children with supreme care and great pettiness.

 

A good sum of water had been flown from Harini in the meanwhile. Jankinath and Jagannath were grown up. Jankinath is 5 years elder than Jagannath. The life was not as easy as they lost their father at the age of 10 and 5. Still Jankinath have their father’s memories unmannerly in his mind. Mother Vadrabati, become sick and looks very old as compared to her actual age. Those many years she earns their lively hood with heard work and dedication though Chandreswar had not left enough, except a good fame behind.

Janikinath started earning by following the father’s legacy where younger brother Jagannath was helping hand. Despite of all those hide and sick’s in their life, Vadrabati kept continue one tradition which was started by Chandreswar that was Basanta Panchami the worshiping of Goddess Saraswati. God Saraswati was the only witness of their struggle and misery of all those days.

 

Once mother Vadrabati fall sick critically and called her elder child. Son, my health condition is getting worsen day by day. I don’t know how long I can be alive!!!! I have a wish to see my daughter in low before I leave. Son, will you fulfil my wish, will you marry? Said to Jankinath. I want to see you become stable in your life, even if your father would be alive today, he also wished the same. Jankinath obeyed the mother’s request as her order.

 

In a fine day and fine moment Jankinath got knot with a shy girl Padma from neighbour village Lakhipura. She was on 20 at her marriage. Vadrabati become sick day by day but become happy to have Padma. Padma used to take care to everyone with passionately. One day Padma would glorify our family, once Vadrabati said to Jankinath. Jankinath smiled and not replied anything. Life going its own way may be little faster for Vadrabati!!

As like every year the Basant Panchami arrived once again. Vadrabati called her daughter in law Padama and explained about the significance of the day. Padma was listening her mother in law very carefully. Vadrabati said do follow for all the arrangements what I do for the worship and learnt how to do that. In my absence you have to continue your father in laws legacy with great respect and accuracy. Padma shakes her head.

 

The next day morning, Vadrabati leave bed early and start preparing all the food preparations with the help of Padma. She procured various flowers; hammer the garland, put sandal wood, haritaki etc. etc. on a big the cupper plate. A pot full of milk and cord with tulsi leaves in front of Goddess Saraswati. Padma observing all the activities vary carefully and also may be learning sub consciously. Suddenly one saint arrived at the door step and asked for beg to Vadrabati. Padma, look at the saint and provide some rice and vegetables to him Vadrabati, asked. Padma rush way to the door immediately. In the meantime a cat got entered into the place of worship and tries to eat something from the food which was offered to God. Vadrabati noticed that and tried to remove the cat from there but it disturbing repeatedly as like animal nature. Vadrabati finds difficulty to manage the cat, she caught the cat and put in a basket and kept near corner to the worship area. Meanwhile Jankinath, Jagannath and Padma and some few villagers came there. Jankinath started worshiping Goddess Saraswati with great respect and Vadrabati and Padma set near to him for worship. After some time worshiping got over everybody blessed with prasadam. And the learning of Padma got over for the day.

 

The long lasting struggle of Vadrabati got over in the late summer. She ultimately met with Chandreswar in the other world leaving behind her sons and daughter in law Padma. The entire responsibility of home came to Padma’s shoulder. The time passed in its own ways. Day by day Padma become expert in all house hold functioning.

 

As the cycle of year completed the time of Basant Panchami came nearer, the last celebration of puja with mother Vadrabati. Jankinath recalled and eyes become soft with tears as they lost their most loved mother recently. Jankinath called to Padma and express his desire to celebrate Basanta Panchami as like their mother did. Padma, would you manage the celebration like our mother did last year? he asked. Oh Yes! I do. I learnt everything from her, Padam replied. Jankinath said, well, this year also we do the worship of Goddess Swarwaswati with in the same manner as last year our mother did. She would be very happy for that, because by any circumstances he never give up this special day any time. This was very close to her heart. Again Jankinath start spearing tears and try to hide from Padma. Padma came near to him, and hold his hand and said, we would do it this year also as like our mother taught us. Thank you Padma, Jankinath replied, I feel better now he added.

 

Finally the most awaited day came over. Padma woke up early morning, started preparing all the offerings. She passionately prepared every item for puja as like Vadrbati did. The way Vadrabati decorated the puja area and kept all the puja items accordingly as same Padma followed. She kept one basket in the right corner of puja premise as well. As Jankinath arrived the puja promise, he appreciated the effort and intelligence of Padma to manage everything as their mother did in last puja. But still Padma was not happy. She was restless. Looking something so vigorously. She asked Jankinath to wait some more time as she had not completed the full arrangement. Jankinath agreed without any further question. Once the preparation got complete I will call you, Padma said. Jankinath went out from the premise and waiting outside for Padma’s cell. Time passes way, villagers also slowly arriving to Jankinath’s home for the puja. In the other side, Padma searching something so restlessly.

Vadrabati was a true bramhim leady. While she was alive this puja never be delayed. Her sons were not capable to pursued her legacy, villagers were whispering. Jankinath got irritated about the delaying behaviour of Padma. He was slowly losing his passion and ultimately he reshed to the puja premise with anger. He was about to shout on Padma, but he realize Padma was laying one corner of room and crying aside. Jankinath asked, what happened Padma? By seeing jankinath Padma broken down into tears. I am incapable to fulfil my promise. I am failed to arrange the puja as mother told Padma replied. She started crying so loudly…

 

Don’t cry Padma, said Jankinath. You tried your level best. Sometime it’s happed. Padma was crying continuously. In the meantime Jagannath entered into the promise and sew Padma was crying.

What happened to Padma.? Either you shouted on her, Jagannath asked to his elder brother. Jankinath explained everything to Jagannath and asked to find some solution of this problem. Jagannath was listening very carefully. Where did you missed in arrangements or what went wrong? Jagannath asked very slowly to Padma. Padme showed the empty basket, and said, I tried my highest level of effort to fill this basket with a cat, what I saw mother did last year. But unfortunately, I am not able to get the same. Please forgive me. I am really worthless, Padme screamed.

Brothers were looking each other, not able to understand what or how to react. They remembered their mother Vadrabati. Jankinath remembered his mother remark about Padma and laugh loudly and said mother you were right. No one can understand the meaning of that.

He said, you saw the cat in the basket but never understand the reason. Now Jagannath started laughing so loudly by looking on Padma. Padma realised the mistake and understand the context, ran away from there with great shyness. See Jagannath, how these rituals become custom this is the great live example here, said Jankinath. Both stared laughing.