Jhulelal- The Sindhi God - Part 3 - by Shewak Nandwani

Then Ahirio saw Udero springing from Sindhu on a horse back, with a flag in one hand and sword in the other, followed by endless troops of warriors. Ahirio bowed once again to Uderolal and pleaded, "This is a private meeting, why to bring with you so many warriors?" Uderolal made the troops vanish into thin air. When Uderolal came face to face with Mirkhshah, he said,"Whatever you see around yourself is the creation of one and only God, whom you call ’Allah’ and Hindus call ’Ishwar’. Hindus Muslims and other human beings are all His creation".

Maulvis urged upon Mirkhshah not to listen to infidel’s talk of Udero, but to arrest him and to put him in jail till he agreed to embrace Islam. They pleaded, "Sir, do not miss the golden opportunity. Arrest Udero while he is alone.". Mirkhshah wavering as usual, was ultimately carried away by the pressurization of Maulvies and ordered the arrest of Uderolal. As the officials of the court moved towards Udero, water started flowing in the court. all the courtiers including Mirkhshah found themselves inundated in water. Simultaneously, the fire also broke out;t and the Palace became towering inferno. There was no way to escape the wrath of the deity. Udero spoke again: "Mirkhshah, think it over again. Your God and mine are not two different ones. Had Almighty so desired, He could have ordained Hindus to be born Muslims. But no; God wanted unity in diversity. All world is His manifestation.

Mirkhshah beseeched tearfully, "My Lord! I realize the truth now. Save me and my courtiers from this ravage." Immediately the fire was blown out on its own and the water receded.

Having been pacified , Uderolal pronounced "Fire is the first principle of Universe and Water is the first principle of life. Worship of God is to be done in its blended form of Jyoti (light) and Jal (water); and let every human being worship the Almighty with whatever the name he desires. Let there be a bond of brotherhood among all Sindhis-Hindus as well as Muslims".

Mirkhshah bowed respectfully and agreed to treat Muslims and Hindus alike. Thereafter the persecution of Hindus was stopped forthwith and they were allowed to retain their identity.

Uderolal then told Hindus to go home and attend to their routine work. Before they dispersed Uderolal told them to think of him as an embodiment of light and water and establish a temple to perpetuate the memory of the unusual transformation of Mirkhshah. "Day and night", he said "Light one candle inn a temple and water should be available for ’Daat’ (holy sip).

Uderolal had two older brothers, Sonaram and Bhedoram. They were neither impressed by Uderolal’s victory over Mirkhshah nor were they enamoured of his miracles. They kept away from him. Uderolal tried his best to make them give up their worldly materialist ways and to adopt spiritual path; but they bluntly and impudently refused to be his followers. Then, Uderolal turned to his cousin Pagad and named him the first Thakur- priest of the religious sect which believed in Water-God. Pagad followed Uderolal wherever he went. They visited Rohiri by the river side and a ’ghaat’ was built there, which later on came to be known as ’Udero-ghaat’ . It was near Zindah-Pir, the place where Uderolal, as Khwaja-Khizr swam against the flow of the river. While he was with Pagad, Uderolal performed many a miracles, which convinced Pagad beyond any shadow of doubt that Uderolal was really the River or Water-God.

Uderolal accompanied by Pagad, went to Thatta again. Mirkhshah was delighted and elated. He welcomed him with awe and adoration. Uderolal’s temple, by then, had become quite famous since both the Hindus and Muslims prayed there regularly and reverently. From Thatta, Uderolal and Pagad went to Hinglaj, from where Uderolal visited Manoharo island, off the shore of Kalachi (later known as Karachi). ’ Lal Saain Mandir’ was built at Manoharo too. Ultimately Uderolal and Pagad returned to Nassarpur.

Uderolal gave seven symbolic things to Pagad. These seven form the essential elements of Daryahi sect- believers of Water-God. These seven are:
1) Verho: Ring, which acts like an Allauddin’s lamp; by touching it, one gets what he wishes.
2) Light: Always lighted earthen candle which reminds of the Almighty and His mercies.
3) Khantha: ’Pakhar’ A cloth cover which acts like a shield against attacks of enemy.
4) Deg: A huge metallic vessel in which rice is cooked during a marriage or any festival. It is blessed with the boon that irrespective of the number of people to be fed, can be fed and it never gets empty.
5) Tegh: A Sword, Vishnu Devta gave to Bhawani to kill demons or sinners. It is a symbol of Vishnu.
6) Dhokla: Damru, Lord Shiv’s symbol.
7) Jhari: A Kalsh, symbol of Brahma.

Thus Daryahi Panth created by Uderolal has blessings of the original Trimurti of Gods in Hindu Mythology. Brahama, Vishnu and Mahesh.