The Story Of Tara Rani: Chapter Three

Taramati then reveals their connection from their past lives and that Rukko was her sister, who was transformed into a lizard as punishment for breaking the Ekadashi fast by eating fish. Now, once again born as a human, Taramati encourages Rukko to accumulate merit by worshipping Maa Bhagwati, assuring her that all her wishes will be fulfilled by this devotion. Hearing Taramati's words, Rukko prays to Maa Bhagwati for a son and promises that if her wish is fulfilled, she will perform a puja and jagran of Maa Bhagwati in his honour. Maa Bhagwati hears Rukko's prayers and blesses her with a son. However, as the responsibilities of motherhood overwhelm her, Rukko gradually forgets her promise to worship Maa Bhagwati with devotion and care. Five years pass and then one day, the child falls ill with smallpox. Troubled by the condition of the child, Rukko went to her sister Taramati of her previous life and told her the problem, on which Taramati asked Rukko if she had made any mistake in worshipping Maa Bhagwati. Then Rukko remembered the vow she had made to Maa Bhagwati. Overwhelmed with remorse, Rukko promised herself in her mind that as soon as her child gets well, she will organize a Jagran ceremony in her house. Miraculously, the very next day her son got completely cured. So Rukko went to the temple of Mata Rani and requested the priests to organize a Jagran at her house on Tuesday. Hearing Rukko's request, a priest suggested that she immediately contribute five rupees, so that we will arrange for Jagran in the temple itself. In response, Rukko said that you people know that "I am a Chamarin, so you people do not want to come to my house and worship, you are a priest, you should know very well that Maa Bhagwati never discriminates, so you should not do it either." The priests discussed the proposal and said that if Queen Taramati would attend Rukko's Jagran, they would gladly hold the ceremony at her house. Rukko then went to her sister Queen Taramati and told her the whole story. On hearing Rukko's words, Taramati agreed to attend the Jagran. Without telling Rukko, a barber named Sen overheard their conversation and later informed King Harishchandra about the matter. The king had an objection to the queen attending the Jagran at the house of people of the lower caste. The king forbids the queen from attending the Jagran at Rukko's house, but the queen does not listen to him. To prevent her from going, the king deliberately cuts one of his fingers, making it impossible for her to sleep. He hoped that by his staying awake, the queen would not be able to attend the Jagran. When the time for the Jagran came, the queen, seeing the king awake, silently started praying to Mother Bhagwati that Maharaj should sleep so that she could attend the Jagran. The queen's prayer was accepted by Maa Bhagwati and soon after, the king actually went to sleep. Finding an opportunity, Queen Taramati came down from the palace, tied a rope to the skylight and headed towards Rukko's house. In her haste, the queen inadvertently dropped her silk handkerchief and a toe bracelet on the way. After some time, King Harishchandra woke up and found the queen absent from his side. Concerned about her well-being, he set out in search of her. While searching for the queen, he came across her handkerchief and bracelet. The king took these things and reached the Jagran Sthal, where he sat quietly and started listening to the Jagran.