The Pole Star

“Wow Granny the stars are shining so bright today. I love to see them twinkling” said Meera.

“My child the stars shine this bright everyday.”

“No Granny. I don’t see them so bright at my place.”

“That is because you live in the city full of pollution. In a village you will see the clear and black night sky shining with studs of diamonds, hundreds of them.”

“Granny look! That star is shining the brightest of all. Why is that so?”

The Granny smiled and then giggled a bit.

“What happened?”

“Child. When I was your age my granny would tell me stories to put me to bed everyday. One day she was doing so when I had also asked her about that star. And she told me a story about it.”

“What story Granny?”

“Would you like to hear it?”

“You know how much I love listening to stories Granny!”

“Ok my dear. See, that star up there is called the Pole Star. It points at the north direction and is used for navigation by many travelers and sailors. In Hindi, it is called the Dhruva Taara. The story is about this name.

Once there was a powerful and brave king called King Uttanpada. He had two wives, Suruchi and Suniti. But he loved Suniti more than Suruchi. Suruchi loved and cared for him but he never acknowledged it. He had a son, Dhruva, the son of Suruchi. One day when Suniti saw the king take Dhruva on his lap she forcefully put him down and asked the king to not take him in his lap. The king loved Suniti and agreed to her blindly. Dhruva was saddened. His father never came near him. Suniti told him that only god can him that privilege to sit in his father’s lap. So Dhruva ran away from the palace and devoted his life to Lord Vishnu. Lord Vishnu was so happy with the tapasya of the 8 year old that he appeared in front of him.

Dhruva joined his hands and requested, “Please give me the privilege to sit in my father’s lap.”

Lord Vishnu replied, “My child, I, the father of everyone, will give you the privilege to sit in my lap.”

Taking Dhruva in his lap, Lord Vishnu gave him a necklace whose pendant shined very bright. This was named the Dhruva Taara.”

“So how did you like it?”

There was no reply.

“Oh Meera, my child is asleep. Goodnight my dear!”