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SINDHI
FOLKLORE
LILA
CHANESAR
....
Chanesar was a king from Sumra dynasty. He ruled
near Devalkot near Tahtta. He had defeated some
rulers who used to pay him taxes and respected him
as a great warrior.
His queen Lila was a wise woman and though she was
not a beauty, her husbond loved her so much unlike
the other rulers of those times, he was very faithful
to her. She was the only queen who rigned his heart.
Princess
Kaunroo, the daughter of Rai Kahngar, heard about
the glory of King Chab\nesar and fell in love with
him without even meeting him. But her father, a
Solanki ruler of Lakhpat (Lakhpat is now in Kutch),
could not carry enough courage to approach the mighty
King Chanesar who also well known for his devotion
to his wife Lila. Princess Kaunroo, determined to
win over Chanesar's heart, disguised herself as
a maid-servant and worked as such in the palace
of queen Lila.
While working in
the palace, she came to the conclusion that she
had no chance of winning over the heart of her loved
one in the face of her loved one in the face of
the unbreakable barrier of unlimited love King Chanesar
for queen Lila. Her enchanting beauty appered to
her of no avail and she felt depressed.
Once feeling lost,
lonely and miserable, Kaunroo gave vent to her melancholy
by singing a sorrowful song in the silence of the
night. On hearing the song Lila became curious.
She went to Kaunroo's room and started probing into
Kaunroo's life. Kaunroo came out with truth. She
told Lila that she was in fact a Princess and her
deep love for Chanesar brought her to the palace
to work as a maid-servant.
While narrating her
story, a beautiful necklace of pearls was peeping
through her blouse. Lila was fond of ornaments and
she soon came to know that Kaunroo's necklace was
an extraordinary 'Nav-Lakha'( of nine lakhs value)
necklace. The pearls of the necklace were carved
with some intricate designs.Sensing that Queen Lila
had fallen for the necklace, Kaunroo acted smart.
She agreed to part with necklace on the condition
that she will be allowed to stay with Chanesar for
one night.
Lila, being wise,
thought of a plan. She will get Chanesar drunk and
send Kaunroo to his bed-chamber, when he will be
un conscious and will not be in position to either
notice or recognize Kaunroo. But Kaunroo was a princess
and not a dumb one at that. She was well-versed
with the games and palace politics. When she went
to Chanesar's bad chamber, she managed to wake up
Chanesar with her aoorous advances and on his coming
to full senses she told him that Lila had sold him
to her by accepting the 'Nav-Lakha' necklace in
return.
Chanesar was shocked
beyond words to learn the story of Lila's betrayal
for whom he had unlimited love. And how sad! Lila
had given him away for just an ornament. He became
disgusted with behavior and ordered her to leave
the palace forthwith. Lila realised her mistake.
She wailed and wept and asked for her husband's
pardon. But the king would not listen to her entreaties.
Lila went to her parents.
Lila's cousin was
engaged to one of the trusted ministers of King
Chanesar. Lila requested the groom to bring Chanesar
at the wedding reception. At the request of his
minister Chanesar came to participate in the feast.
At the wedding reception, Lila covered her face
with a veil and started dancing. The veil damsel
was very graceful and her movements were so rhythmic
that Chanesar wanted to know as to the lady was.
Lila lifted her veil
and fell at the feet of her beloved husband. Finding
her lord still affectionate, the flame of Lila's
life extinguished and Chanesar also accompanied
her on her journey to heaven.
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