Chadsadagar

Dear friends,
I am presenting a story collected , edited and written by myself. It is a folk story prevailing in Bengal. Friends please read the story . I think you will feel good.

Still then the British had not come in Bengal as well as India. Bengal was the most enriched Subah or province of the then India which was under The Mughal rule. There was no dearth of happiness, prosperity and pomp in Bengal. Champakagar was a small city in the then Bengal. There lived a rich merchant named Chandradhar. People called him Chadsadagar (sadagar means merchant or trader). He traded with Ceylon, Java and many other countries (modern day’s Srilanka and Indonesia). Bengal’s maslin textile, some special spices had a great demand all over the world. Bengal was the economic powerhouse of The Mughal Empire.
Chadsadagar was a profound worshiper of Lord Shiva. By the grace of Lord Shiva his business thrived profusely and had achieved immense wealth, a highly dignified status in the society and profound prowess. He had a very beautiful and pious wife named Sanaka. They had six sons.
In the heaven on seeing Chadsadagar’s ardent devotion towards the Lord Shiva, in the world Manasa the Goddess of Snake also aimed to fully establish her authority as a Goddess and acquire steadfast human devotees. She was actually a non-Aryan deity and wanted to convert the ardent worshiper of Shiva, Chadsadagar to her own worshiper. Manasa is kind to her devotees but, harsh to people who refused to worship her. The sage Kashyapa was her father. Once when serpents and reptiles had created chaos on the earth, sage Kashyapa created Goddess Manasa from his mind (mana means mind in Sanskrit). The God of creation, Brahma made her the presiding deity of snakes and reptiles. Manasa gained control over the earth by the power of mantras she chanted. Manasa then propitiated the Lord Shiva who told her to please Lord Krishna to fulfill the longing of her mind. Upon being pleased Krishna granted her divine prowess, ritually worshipped her, making her an established Goddess. Manasa then descended to the earth to obtain human devotees but, she was mocked by the people and then she forced them to worship her by raining calamity on those who denied her power. Manasa now wants to become a Goddess like Lakshmi (the Hindu goddess of wealth, fortune and prosperity) or Saraswati (the Hindu goddess of knowledge, music, arts, wisdom and learning) who are worshipped by the Hindu people in the earth. In order to get there she has to achieve the worship of Chadsadagar. So she planned to give Chandsadagar her revelation in his dream. Meanwhile Chadsadagar planned to go for trading with Java taking his seven merchant ships fully loaded with several famous merchandises of Bengal. Just the day before leaving by ship his beloved wife Sanaka cooked herself several dishes for him as he is very fond of Sanaka’s cooking. They had a big pond and some farmland in the western side of their mansion. Some fishes were caught from the pond, milk taken from the cowshed and some vegetables were gathered from their farm. Sitting on the floor by the side of Chadsadagar, Sanaka taking a hand fan made up of palm leaf, fed Chadsadagar one by one his favorite dishes starting with a little ghee (clarified butter) over a small portion of rice. Then came shukto, lentils or daal with some fried vegetable and deep fried carp, lightly spiced vegetable dishes like chenchki , then small fish hotchpotch, katla fish curry, then unripe mango chutney and some desserts of mishit doi (Yogurt). The meal is finally concluded with the handing out of beetle leaf (paan), an aid to digestion and an astringent.
“Please eat well. You are going to far off country leaving me. I am anxious how and what will you eat and stay there. Don’t know when you will come back, perhaps after several months” Said Sanaka.
Smiling a bit Chadsadagar said “Don’t think much Sanaka. I shall come back soon from trading and shall bring some beautiful gifts for you and my six sons. You all stay well.” Awhile an attendant came and intimated that all the seven ships are ready on the bank of the river Brahmaputra. Chad says “Okay we shall start our journey on tomorrow morning. We shall go Dhaka by river and take some more muslin then steer our ships towards Java.”
Finishing lunch Chadsadagar went to check all the merchandise loaded on the ships and discussed some important matters with his employees, staffs and retinues. In the evening Chadsadagar came back home and sat with Sanaka in their portico for some rest. After a light dinner Chadsadagar and Sanaka went to bed. They started a little gossiping. Chadsadagar said “By the great mercy of Lord Shiva I have established my huge business empire and a beautiful wife like you and also six cute sons who will take care of my empire after being eligible.”
Sanaka said “I don’t want much wealth dear. Please don’t expand your business more. You have become very busy. “
“Yes, I have expanded much, diversified much and no more to increase. I have created many assets to divide among my six sons” Chadsadagar said. In this manner after a little gossiping more about their future plan and also a bit about the country Java and popularity of Ramayana there they gradually became asleep clasping each other.
Being drowsy Chandsadagar dreamt of something opaque and turbid was appearing clearly. Slowly it was assuming a form of a diva wearing a red sari and covered with snakes, sitting on a lotus. Then Chadsadagar recognized that was nothing but the goddess Manasa, the goddess of Snake and reptile.
She gave her revelation in his dream and said him “Chadsadagar I am serpentine goddess Manasa. I want you to become my devotee and start my worship by yourself in the earth and the people will also follow this. Otherwise I will do evil for you.”
Saying this she disappeared. In the drowsiness Chadsadagar cried out saying “No, no, I can never do this.” This had spoiled Sanaka’s sleep. She said “What happened dear? What are you saying? Did you see any dream? “
“Yes, Yes, Sanaka. I have seen in my dream that Manasa telling me to worship her. Otherwise she will do evil for me. You know I am a very ardent devotee and worshiper of Lord Shiva and I even do not recognize her as deity. I shall never worship Manasa by my hand by which I worship Lord Shiva. “
“Okay, okay please be quiet. What will happen if you worship Manasa? “Said Sanaka.
“No, Never, I shall never do this.” Said Chadsadagar
“Okay, now please sleep. Tomorrow you are going out for business trip. You should sleep well.”
Next day morning Chadsadagar as usual and normal started his day by worshipping Shiva and then took breakfast. Then after being prepared and taking leave of his sweet and beloved wife and his cute sons he rode a horse carriage which carried him to the river port. There all his attendants and servants were waiting for him.
While going by the ship Chadsadagar was thinking about his family but, occasionally the matter of the strange dream of last night was peeping into his mind. By nature and character he is very obstinate and a man of extreme courage. The day spent thinking and working of various sorts. In the night while Chadsadagar got asleep in his special deluxe vessel he dreamt of Manasa again. That time she was warning that if he does not worship her then his seven merchant ships will be drowned into the sea, but, Chadsadagar’s disposition did not become mild rather he insisted on not worshipping her and protected himself by applying some supernatural power which he got from Shiva. So again Chadsadagar refused her and whatever the evil Manasa does, he will never worship her, Chadsadagar decided. He believed in “Fortune favors the brave.” All his seven trading ships and his special deluxe vessel are now on the mid sea.
After being assured of Chadsadagar’s intention Manasa decided to immerse all his seven ships and destroy his goods. Though Chadsadagar is worried and vexed at Manasa’s command, he did not share about this matter with anybody except Sanaka, who also implored him, at the time of sending off, to worship Manasa. Manasa tried all tricks to force Chadsadagar to change his mind but he was equally determined and protected himself with the mantras or the mystic words he had received from Shiva. However Manasa appeared again to him in his dream in the next night as a very beautiful woman and she bewitched him very much. She implored Chadsadagar to express his mystic power. He let her know his secret of mantra and thereafter he lost his supernatural powers that came with the mantra or the mystic words. Now Manasa made Chadsadagar really helpless. Then Manasa launched a storm and caused the seven ships laden with goods and treasure to swing and shake violently. All his men became very frightened but they could do nothing. Chadsadagar initially survived with the support from Shiva and Durga, consort of Shiva, they were later asked to withdraw on a request from Manasa. Once that happened Chadasdagar’s ships were wrecked, but Manasa swept him ashore at a place. Devastated and being helpless Chadsadagar first tried to recognize the place. He understood that an old friend of him named Chandraketu lives here. By dint of some local public he reached Chandraketu. On hearing everything Chandraketu tried his best to bring him round to the goddess Manasa but Chadsadagar steadfastly refused. In spite of losing all his merchant ships he still worshipped only Shiva and Durga, refusing to bow to Manasa and believing that in the gloomy time of adversity Lord Shiva one day definitely will rescue him. On the other hand Manasa did not only desist herself on immersing Chadsadagar’s ships but also killed all his six sons by poisonous snake bites. On returning home seeing his dead sons Chadsadagar collapsed but, even in the midst of such adversity his determination revived.
Manasa felt and understood that she could never win over obstinate Chadsadagar on her own and then took the help of two of her friends in the heaven, two beautiful apsara (Beautiful supernatural being or celestial nymph) – Usha and Aniruddha. They loved each other. They were cursed by Gods as per the plan of Goddess Manasa and sent to earth to take rebirth. In the meantime Chadsadagar’s wife Sanaka became pregnant and in due course gave birth of a beautiful son. Chadsadagar became very happy and at the time also very frightened because of Manasa’s rage. He named his son Lakshindara and vowed to save his life in any way possible. At around the same time the wife of the land lord Nitai Saha of the adjacent village gave birth to a daughter, whom they named Behula. They were actually Aniruddha and Usha and both were already devotees of Manasa. Both the children grew up together and gradually became a perfect match for each other. Chadsadagar found that the destiny of Behula spoke that she will never be a widow and Lakshindara would die of snake bite on the wedding night. Tallying each other’s horoscope Chadsadagar married Lakshindara to Behula and thought that now Manasa cannot take Lakshindara’s life. Although he also took precaution to build an iron palace without any hole so that not a single snake could enter the house. Bishwakarma (The principal God of architect of the universe) made it for the wedding night of Behula and Lakshindara but, due to the request of Manasa, Biswakarma kept a hole in the palace. The night came and Manasa sent her Kalnagini, the most poisonous snake, to the iron palace. Behula fell asleep due to a spell Manasa cast on her. After kalnagini bit Lakshindara, he shouted aloud. Behula woke up and saw Kalnagini going out of the room. In anger she threw the jaanti (betel nut cracker made up of steel) towards Kalnagini but, Kalnagini escaped and Lakshindara died. Chadsadagar and Sanaka again sank into extreme despondency. Behula said “Don’t be sad parents. If my love is true then I shall bring my husband’s life from the Gods in the heaven and I shall try my heart and soul. We both are devotees of Manasa and blessed by her.” It was the custom that anyone who died of snake-bite was not cremated in the usual way but was allowed to float on a raft down the river , with the hope that the person could miraculously come back to life. Behula insisted on accompanying her dead husband on the raft ignoring all the pleas of others not to do so. They sailed for several months passing village after village, the corpse began to decompose, the villagers thought of her as a mad person. She faced many dangers during her incredibly long and difficult journey in the river. She only kept on praying to Manasa.
After reaching heaven , she pleased all the gods especially Manasa with her beautiful and enchanting dancing and made the goddess Manasa bow to her love for her husband through her strength of character , limitless courage and deep devotion. Manasa said “You deserve to have your husband back but, this can only be done if you promise to convert your father-in-law to my worship.”
“I will”. Said Behula and immediately life started to stir the corpse of her dead husband. His decayed flesh healed, he opened his eyes. He smiled at Behula. Behula became very happy and cried in extreme delight. Then clasped her beloved husband in her arms. Later Behula also succeeded in bringing Chadsadagar’s other six sons back to life and rescuing their ships. Then only did Behula return home. Behula met her mother-in-law and narrated all that happened. She went and told Chadsadagar about it. He could not say no to worshipping Manasa. Chadsadagar worshipped Manasa on the eleventh day of the waning moon every month. He offered her flowers with the left hand turned his face away from her image. Manasa did not hold anything against him for that. She was only happy that her worshipping became prevalent in the earth. From then on Chadsadagar and his family lived in peace and prosperity. Chadsadagar’s status and prestige ensured that the worship of Manasa became generally accepted and respectable.

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