A Short History of Folktales in India

Folktales are Oral stories that are passed down by the elders to the younger generation. For centuries, folktales have been a crucial medium for preserving cultural traditions and teaching the youth to understand the world around them.

A Folktale from Uttar Pradesh

A poor Brahman grew sick of being poor and set out on a pilgrimage to Kashi, the holy city. After walking many miles in the sun, he stopped in a shady grove to rest and eat the stale rice he had packed himself for the journey. As he squatted under a tree to answer the call of nature, he was startled by a deep unearthly voice that said, ‘Don’t.’ He quickly got up and looked about him for the source of the voice. He could see no one around. He then walked to a nearby pond to rinse his mouth when again he heard the voice say, ‘Don’t!.’ This time he went ahead and rinsed his mouth, not heeding the warning but when he unpacked his little packet of rice and sat down to eat, he heard it again ‘Don’t!’ He ignored it and ate his meal, but when he got ready to leave the grove, the voice said, ‘Don’t go!’ The Brahman stopped and looked around. He saw no one. So he called out, ‘who are you? Why are you making all these noises and stopping me to do anything?’

‘Look above your head and you will see me, ‘the voice said from somewhere above. When he looked up, he saw perched on a tree a brahmarakshasa, a demon who was once a Brahman.

Then the demon told him his sad story: in my previous life I was born into a Brahman family and was a great expert in the art of music. I spent my whole life hoarding my knowledge and never shared it or taught it to anyone. That’s why I have become a demon. That’s god’s punishment. If you turn around you will see a little temple. In that temple, a piper plays all day in the most atrocious manner, always out of tune. It’s torture to me; it’s like pouring hot Molten lead in my ears. I cannot bear it. Every wrong note goes through me like an arrow. My whole body is sore; it feels like a sieve full of holes drilled by that dreadful noise. If this goes on any longer, I will go Stark mad and do terrible things. Being a Demon, I can’t even kill myself. I am bound to this tree. Oh good Brahman, I beg of you, please transport me somehow to the next Grove where I can enjoy some peace. You will also release some of my own powers. You will earn great merit if you help a poor Demon, who was once a Brahman like you.

The poor Brahman’s heart went out to the Demon. But poverty had made him cunning. He replied, alright, I am prepared to move you to the next grove, as you wish. But what’s in it for me? Will you do something for me in return?

The Demon said, of course, I will do you a good turn. Do this for me now. The Brahman carried the Demon on his back to another Grove, far away from the temple, and let him purge on a big tree there. The demon was relieved and happy; he had also recovered some of his old powers through this move. He blessed the Brahman and said, I know you are poor and feeling wretched. Do as I tell you and you will never be poor again. I will go now and possess the princess of Mysore. Her father, the king will summon all sorts of magicians to rid her of me, but I won’t budge. I will leave only when you arrive. The king will be pleased that you chased away the Demon that afflicted his daughter and he will give you enough wealth to last you a lifetime. But I will do this on one condition: if I go and possess anyone else, you must not interfere. If you come anywhere near me, then I will kill you.

The Brahman travelled on to Kashi, bathed in the Holy River, visited the temple, and as he was returning home, he remembered what the Demon had said. So, with great difficulty, he reached Mysore and went to stay with an old woman who took in paying guests. When he asked her casually what was new in town, she told him: a Demon has possessed our king’s daughter, and no magician has been able to drive it out. The king has announced that he will give lots of money to anyone who drives out the demon possesses his daughter.

When the Brahman heard this, he knew at once that his good times had begun. He went to the palace and Sent word to the king that he had the power to drive the Demon away and cure the princess of the affliction. No one believed that this little Brahman could do anything of the sort. Half heartedly, the king agreed to try the Brahman‘s method.

As soon as he was taken to the Princess’s Quarters, he asked everyone to leave him alone with the patient. Once they left the room, the Demon began to speak through the princess: I have been waiting for you all these days. I will leave now, as I promised. But don’t forget what I told you the last time we met. If you come anywhere near where I am going now, I will kill you.

Then, with a great big noise, the Demon, who was once a Brahman left the body of the princess and disappeared. Everyone in the palace was overjoyed to see that the princess was herself again. The king gave the Brahman lots of money and several villages as part of the reward. Then the Brahman found suitable bride in town, got married and lived happily with a growing family.

The Demon who left the Mysore Princess flew straight to Kerala and possessed the princess of Travancore. The king of Travancore tried every method, magical, and otherwise, to rid his daughter of the Demon that possessed her. It was all in vain. One day, someone told him about the clever Brahman who lived in Mysore and how he had been able to rid the Mysore Princess of a similar Demon who had possessed her. So he sent a letter to the king of Mysore and said that he would suitably reward the Brahman if he would help rid his daughter of the obstinate Demon.

The king of Mysore invited the Brahman to his Palace and ordered him to go visit his friend, the king of Travancore and see what he could do for the princess there. The Brahman was terrified at the prospect of meeting them again. Yet he could not disobey Royal orders. Neither could he face the prospect of the Demon’s murderous wrath by interfering with his present possession. After thinking, long and hard, he made the necessary arrangements to take care of his wife and children. In case something should happen to him, and journeyed to Travancore. Once he got there, out of sheer terror, he Malingered and pretended to be sick, and never left his quarters for two whole months. But he couldn’t Malinger forever. He had to face the task of driving out the Demon, who was afflicting the princess.

Once he decided to face his mission, he took his courage in both hands, prayed to God to protect him from danger, presented himself at the palace, and asked to be lead to the princess’s chamber. As soon as the Demon saw him, he screamed, I will kill you, I will tear you to pieces! You had no business coming here! And rushed towards the Brahman with an iron bar in his hand.

The Brahman had, after all, come there after giving up all hope of surviving this encounter. With a courage born of desperation, he used his wits and said quietly, look here, you ugly Demon, will you do as I say now and leave at once, or would you like me to bring that piper from the temple? He will gladly play his atrocious music night and day here in this Palace.

As soon as he heard the mention of the dreaded piper, the Demon, who was once a Brahman, that music-loving monster, cried aloud in pain, no, no! Don’t bring him anywhere near me! Here I go!

And, with a huge noise, he left the princess and disappeared. The princess of Travancore recovered quickly from the ill-effects of that horrible possession. The king was enormously pleased with the Brahman’s work and gave him so much money that he must still be counting it. 

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Featured Image : By no means my dear friend Sumanto in the mirror is any demon, just that i have been missing him lately. Just that this image was taken at a Homestay which is closer to Travancore, Trivandrum of today, earlier this year.