Jhulelal- The Sindhi God - Part 1 - by Shewak Nandwani

CHETI CHAND is the SINDHI NEW YEAR. We know about it but unfortunately our young generation (most of them) do not even have any idea about what Cheti Chand is, why they call it so and who is JHULE LAL. The answer is that Sindhi Hindus have been followed a calendar known has ’Vikram Sambat’ since the days of Vikramaditya, the Hindu King. The months of this calendar are based on lunar cycle and hence each month begins with New Moon. The first month of the year is CHAITRA and in Sindhi, it is called ’CHET’. Hence it is known as CHET-I-CHAND.

This New Year day is also the birthday of our (Sindhi) Ishtadeva Uderolal Jhulelal. This is the reason that the New year day (Cheti-chand) is the most significant day for us Sindhis.

Who was Jhulelal ? Why and how Sindhis started worshiping him? There is a gatha behind this all and I read it in one journal. Gobind Malhi, one of our elders and respected Sindhi has so nicely written this article for the benefit of us all (most of us may not know about it specially our younger generation born after partition and specially the ones born in foreign lands).

In Sindh, Mohamed Bin Qasim defeated Raja Dahar, the last of the Hindu Kings, treacherously. Sindh was annexed by Khalifa of Al Hilaj to his kingdom and was administered by his representatives. They spread Islam rather with the power of sword than the conviction of its being a better belief.

Later, in 10th century Sindh came under the rule of Sumras, who were converts from Hinduism to Islam. They were neither religious bigots nor fanatics. While they made Sindh free from the foreign rule, they were also tolerant to all other religions. But there was one exception in the Sumra’s reign. The province of THATTA being far away from capitol, maintained its separate identity and influence.

This province of Thatta, in the second half of the 10th. century, was usurped by one Makrabkhan, who was personification aggrandizement and greed. He killed the then ruling Shah Sahadat Khan and himself became the ruler of Thatta under the name of Mirkhshah.

Mirkhshah was not only a tyrant but also a fanatic. He was surrounded by the flattering courtiers, who in order to be in his good books and also to earn material gains always remained in his company. These courtiers one day advised Mirkhshah: " Spread Islam and you will be granted ’Jannat’ after death and you will enjoy eternal bliss." Mirkhshah was swayed away by the promise of blissful life after death. Ultimately, under the increasing pressure of the Maulvis, one day, he called Panch- the representatives of Hindus, and told them bluntly: "Either embrace Islam or be prepared to die." For Hindus it was bolt from the blue. Though they were panicky, the Panchs pleaded for grace time to think over the ’Shahi Farmaan’, the majestic order.

Now, it is well known that when all the doors are closed upon man, he then thinks of God. Something of that sort happened in this case also. The Mukhi (The Sarpanch) all of sudden thought of the promise of Lord Krishna in Bhagwad Geeta, "Whenever the sins increase beyond the limit and the religion seems to be endangered, I come in the form of an Avatar (I incarnate) and mitigate the distress of my worshippers." Who else could the Hindus think of at that time but their Varun God - Water God?

It is here that the doubt arises about the exact time the Hindus got as an extension from Mirkhshah to decide between the two alternatives. Some authors of religious books put it as three days, whereas the others say eight days. But I am inclined to put it as forty days, and it is not a figment of my imagination. As there is one occasion which the Hindus (specially worshipping Jhulelal) observe Chaliho Sahab. It is performed every year by these worshippers. They enact the times of tyranny and their entreaties for God’s help. It suggests that for forty long days and nights they underwent rituals and vigil on the bank of Sindhu. They did not shave, nor did they wear new clothes or shoes. They did not use soap or oil or any opulent thing. They just washed their clothes, dried them and wore them again. In the evening, they worshipped God Varun, sing songs in his praise and pray for their solace and salvation.

At the end of the 40th. day, they heard a voice from the heaven (revealance): "Don’t despair. Have patience. I am coming. I will save you from autocrat Mirkhshah. Eight months from now I shall take birth at Nassarpur in the house of Ratanchand Lohano from the womb of Mata Devki, like the Lord Krishna did." Hindus rejoiced and celebrated the occasion. After 40 days of Chaaliho, the followers of Jhulelal celebrate the occasion with festivity as ’Thanks Giving Day’ even till today.

Immediately after that revealance the Hindus went to Mirkhshah and prayed for an extension after narrating to the tyrant the promise they had received from God. The courtiers tried to dissuade Mirkhshah from falling into, what they thought to be a ’trap’ of Hindus. But curiosity seemed to get better hold of the tyrant ruler who somehow could not reconcile to the idea: God coming down to earth! How would that happen? He preferred to wait and watch (Wouldn’t you be curious if someone told you such story in the present days?). After all, lives of the helpless Hindus were at his mercy; he could put an end to them whenever he liked. So he decided to wait and granted them the extension with pseudo-gracefulness. The Hindus awaited the arrival of their savior with fervor and fondness.

After 3 months, the second tithi of Assu month, Hindus got the confirmation of the news of conceiving by Devki. They all rejoiced merrily to celebrate the event. Even till today, the Assu Chand Hindus celebrate the day with gaiety and gay. They organize cultural programs with mirth and merriment. Three months late on the Pohi Chand, Hindus again prayed to Daryah Shah (the Lord of Waters) reminding Him of His promise. And Lo!! Right on the dot on Cheti Chand, two tithis from new moon of CHET. Devki gave birth to a handsome bony boy. As if to proclaim the auspicious event , unseasonal clouds collected on the sky and brought down the torrential rains, to welcome the new Avatar. The new born infant also hailed is birth with a miracle. He opened his mouth and his parents saw therein Sindhu flowing and also an old man on PALLO fish. Pallo fish is very tasty species of fish and its peculiarity is that it swims against the current. Devki went to the banks of Sindhu and performed ’Jado’ which means praying to Water-God. All Hindus celebrated the birth of the child with songs and dances.