The Story of Raja Harishchandra

Satyavadi (he who always speaks the truth) Raja Harishchandra was an exemplary monarch of ancient times. The story of Harishchandra is extremely famous throughout India. The story is described in Ramayana and different Puranas with some variations, keeping the main essence intact. The thirteenth century Kannada poet Raghavanka wrote a famous drama on the life of Harishchandra. The character of Harishchandra deeply influenced the thoughts, actions, and philosophy of Mahatma Gandhi. The first silent motion picture in Indian cinema, Raja Harishchandra, directed by Dada Saheb Phalke, was released in 1913. In 1932, the first Marathi talkie, Ayodhyecha Raja, was released, which was also based on the same story-line. Although Harishchandra is considered a revered figure in Hindu mythology, some of his actions may seem unacceptable from our modern point of view. But one should remember that ethics and morality change with time, place, and culture. Hence, it is always advisable to consider the cultural influences with a clear mind while reading a mythological story.

Image by Shoho from Pixabay

Raja (king) Harishchandra was a descendent of King Ikhsvaku (the founder of the Solar dynasty). He was a paragon of virtue. He was kind, honest, pious, and truthful. Raja Harishchandra was respected by all for his qualities. 

His family priest was Sage Vashistha, one of the great seven sages (sapta rishis). Rishi Viswamitra, another great sage of the time, was the biggest competitor of Vashistha. Everyone used to fear Viswamitra for his hot temper and vindictive nature.

Once, Raja Harishchandra decided to conduct a huge yagna (sacrificial rite), which was presided over by his Guru Vashistha. Vashistha was assisted by many other great sages, including Rishi Viswamitra. Following the successful completion of the rite, Harishchandra started to deliver gifts to all the people who had gathered there. He donated ample amount of wealth to all the rishis who came for the yagna. But Rishi Viswamitra left without taking his dakshina (fees for his religious service).

After a few days, Raja Harishchandra went on a hunting excursion. While chasing a wild boar, he entered a dense forest. Suddenly, he heard the screaming of some women. To perform his raj-dharma (duty of a ruler) of saving the weak and deprived from injustice and torment, he followed the sound and saw three young women, tied together with a rope, screaming and crying in the middle of the jungle. Harischandra freed them hurriedly without realising that they were tri-gunas (personification of three virtues: sattvaguna, rajoguna, and tamoguna). Rishi Viswamitra captured them with his meditative power and kept them against their will for his spiritual upliftment. Unknowingly, Harischandra disrupted Viswamitra's sadhana. 

Harischandra soon realised his mistake, but there was no way to undo his action. Suddenly, Viswamitra appeared before him from nowhere. Viswamitra was quivering in anger and he was about to curse him. Harischandra stooped in front of him and started to beg for his forgiveness. Viswamitra was appeased to some extent by his reaction. Then Harischandra told him that he was ready to compensate for the loss of the Rishi by any means. Viswamitra got an opportunity to hurt Vashistha by giving punishment to his disciple. He demanded from Harishchandra, his entire kingdom and wealth. Without thinking of the consequences, Harishchandra agreed to fulfill Viswamitra's impractical and unjust demand. 

Harishchandra returned to his capital with Viswamitra and told his queen and ministers about everything. He had no other choice but to give his crown to Viswamitra and leave with his wife, Shaibya, and son, Rohitashwa.

As they were about to leave, Viswamitra told Harishchandra to leave their royal apparel and ornaments behind. Harischandra was a benevolent ruler. His subjects were shocked and perplexed to see their beloved king leaving them, clad in ordinary clothes and walking in bare feet. They started to follow their king and queen. Viswamitra noticed that and angrily chased Harishchandra and dispersed the mob. At that time, Viswamitra asked Harishchandra to pay him his due dakshina (which he did not take after the sacrificial rite) before leaving. Harischandra was no less than a begger as he had already gave his everything to the Rishi. Hence, he asked for one month's time from the Rishi and left for Kashi.

Varanasi, or Kashi, was the earthly abode of Lord Shiva. Harishchandra and Shaibya decided to go there to earn a fortune so that they could pay the dakshina to Viswamitra and start their lives anew. But going to Varanasi from Ayodhya by road was not an easy task at those days. After a lot of trouble, Harishchandra reached Kashi with his wife and son. 

Soon, he understood that getting a job  was a far more difficult task for him than he expected. He had administrative skills as a king. He could lead an army of soldiers on the battlefield. But he never did any manual work. Hence, no one was willing to recruit him. After lots of hardships, he was just barely able to earn two meals for him and his family. Within a month, he was completely exhausted physically and mentally. But he knew that the days were passing by and Viswamitra would never leave him alone; he would come for his dakshina. 

As expected, Viswamitra found out about Harishchandra and asked him to pay the dues immediately. Harischandra explained to him his condition and begged for more time. Viswamitra was extremely angry and informed him that he would return by the end of the day and would curse him if he failed to pay. 

As Viswamitra left, Queen Shaibya told her husband to sell her to pay the debt of the cruel sage. Harischandra was shocked to hear Shaibya. But at last, he also agreed to that as there was no other option. Hence, they went to the marketplace to find a buyer. (At the time of this story, slavery was practised in India). There was even no buyer for the lady. After waiting for a long time, an old braman showed his interest as he needed a slave for his family. The Brahman paid some coins after lots of bargaining and purchased Shaibya. But when he asked Shaibya to follow him, young Rohitashwa started to cry loudly and clinged to her mother forcibly. Though disgusted, the brahman finally paid some extra coins to buy her son as well. 

As soon as they left, Viswamitra again reappeared in front of Harishchandra. Harischandra immediately handed over all the wealth he got from the Brahman. But Viswamitra became more enraged as he was not satisfied with the meagre amount. So, he again threatened Harishchandra to pay the rest by evening. As only a few hours were left before sunset, King Harishchandra decided to sell himself this time. 

There was no buyer left in the market. After calling for a long time, at last a chandal (a person with a very low social status in the Hindu caste system) came to him. Harischandra was not very delighted to see the chandal, as he was not willing to be a slave of a low caste. At that moment, Viswamitra returned back. He observed that though the chandal Praveer was ready to buy him, Harishchandra was reluctant. Seeing Viswamitra, Harishchandra told him that he would prefer to become the slave of Viswamitra than be a slave of a chandal. Viswamitra accepted his offer and freed him from his debt. As Harishchandra was his slave now, Viswamitra then and there sold him to that Chandal for some gold coins. Harischandra had nothing left to say or do. The chandal tied a rope around his wrists and dragged him to his own place. 

The chandal was the head of a cremation ground, and he recruited Harishchandra there to burn the dead bodies. He had to collect the clothing from the corpses apart from taking an amount for his service from the relatives of the deceased persons. One half of the exploit used to go to pay taxes; the chandal Praveer used to take one third, and the remaining one third was the remuneration of Harishchandra. This was the worst possible fate for a man who was once an all powerful king. Slowly, Harishchandra began to forget his own past identity. He forgot about his wife and his son. He was none other than a slave whose only duty was to serve his master by cremating dead bodies and collecting payments. A few years passed; everyone forgot who Harishchandra was. Even Harishchandra himself could not remember his past anymore.

By this time, Queen Shaibya was also serving as a slave to the old Brahman who used to treat her very badly. He used to beat her often, and there was no one to protect her. Her son, Rohitashwa, was also a slave. He was very weak as he hardly got any healthy food to eat. But with his little hands, he used to help his mother as much as possible. He was the only hope for Shaibya.

One day, the Brahman asked Rohitashwa to fetch some flowers from the garden. He was picking flowers when he accidentally stepped on a snake and the snake bit him in his leg. After a long time, when Rohitashwa did not return, Shaibya went to find her son, only to find him lying dead on the ground, blue in poison. The world came to an end for Shaibya. She wept for the entire day and finally took her dead son to the cremation ground.

She laid her son on the ground and continued to weep for her misfortune. Suddenly, a chandal came to her. He was thin in stature, covered by the ash and dust, and wearing a small cloth around his waist. His long hair and unshaved beard made him unrecognisable to anyone. In a very harsh voice, he told Shaibya to hand him over the clothes of the dead boy and to pay the fees for the cremation. Shaibya cried for help as she did not have even a single coin to pay. The chandal got angry and rudely told her to leave the cremation ground with her child. 

Shaibya was unable to take more and she began to weep more loudly by taking the name of her husband, King Harishchandra. The chandal was taken aback when he heard the wailing of Shaibya. Harischandra lost his identity and accepted his fate without resistance. After so many days, he had heard his name again for the first time in the familiar voice. He carefully looked at the face of the woman and finally recognised her. She was his wife, his queen, whom he had sold to a Brahman many days back only to keep his word. Now she was in front of him with his own dead son. Raja Harishchandra fainted. 

When he regained consciousness, he also started to weep uncontrollably. Shaibya was surprised to see the peculiar behaviour of the chandal. After some time, Harishchandra revealed his identity to Shaibya. Shaibya could not believe his own ears. She even forgot to wail when she understood that the once-king of Ayodhya was nothing but a slave of a chandal. Both of them had no words to express their sorrow. After crying for their misfortune, they decided to end their wretched lives along with their son. Harischandra arranged pyre for his son and was ready for self-immolation along with his wife. But a miracle happened as he was about to light the pyre.

Although, Harishchandra himself forgot his own name, the gods observed him throughout the years. They appeared before him at that hour, along with Sage Vashistha and Sage Viswamitra. They were impressed with the truthfulness of Harishchandra. Sage Viswamitra also admitted that Harishchandra and Shaibya  had suffered enough, but never deviated from the path of truth and honesty. The gods revived Rohitashwa, and Viswamitra returned the kingdom to Raja Harishchandra. 

Dharma, the god of justice, declared that the names of Harishchandra and Shaibya would become immortal and that they would go to heaven for their good deeds and sacrifice. Sage Vashistha was very proud of his disciple and showered his blessings on him. Even Sage Viswamitra blessed him and his wife, and gifted him half of his earned divine powers.