himal and nagrai
Once upon a time, in a place called Anantnag in Kashmir famed for its snake-worship, lived a poor Brahmin. His wife was of a harsh temperament, always at odds with him. One day, in the absence of grain at home, she instructed him to leave and refrain from returning with an empty bag. Eager to find food, the Brahmin embarked on a journey, walking until fatigue overcame him and he rested on a comfortable patch of grass.
A Divine Gift
As he napped, a snake slithered out from a nearby pool and found its way into his sack. Upon waking, the Brahmin saw the snake, decided to teach his wife a lesson and brought it home. His wife, frightened by the sight of the snake, was surprised when it transformed into a beautiful boy who claimed to alleviate their sorrow as their son. They named him Nagrai, which translates to ‘King of the Snakes’.
Rising Affection
As the years passed, Nagrai grew into a handsome young man with unique abilities. He could transform himself from snake to human effortlessly and often did so to explore the king’s palace. One day, the princess, Himal, noticed Nagrai during one of his visits and immediately fell for his charm.
A Forbidden Marriage
Himal, determined to marry Nagrai, convinced her parents albeit reluctantly. The king sent for the Brahmin, inquired if he had any objections, and instructed him to prepare for the wedding. Terrified yet compelled to abide, the poor Brahmin agreed. A miraculous change ensued where their humble abode transformed into a majestic palace in preparation for the upcoming wedding, all thanks to Nagrai’s divine power.
Jealousy Strikes
Post the grand wedding and consequent celebrations, reality hit hard. Nagrai’s snake queens, living at the bottom of the holy pool, grew jealous and planned to harm Nagrai and Himal. They manipulated Himal’s perception of Nagrai, leading her to question him, which resulted in Nagrai’s captivity at the pool for many days.
A Test of Love
While Nagrai was held captive, Himal endured hardship and prayed for his safety. In time, Himal was informed of Nagrai reappearing from the pool and offering food to her. Elated, she rushed to the site only to be transformed into a diamond by Nagrai and taken to the bottom of the pool. In the snake queens’ reign, Himal suffered greatly, ending in her death due to a tragic misunderstanding.
Resurrection
Devastated, Nagrai retrieved Himal’s body and consistently mourned her. Eventually, a hermit brought her back to life using his herbs. However, mistakenly, the hermit’s son killed Nagrai assuming him to be a mere threatening snake. In sorrow, Himal jumped into the bonfire with Nagrai, resulting in them both turning to ashes.
Upon guidance from a divine voice, the hermit scattered the couple’s ashes into the holy pool. To everyone’s surprise, the couple returned to life and received the hermit’s blessings. They returned to their palace and lived happily for many years to come.