How a Popular Hindu Folktale Has Soiled the Moral Fabric of a Nation
Raja Harishchandra’s tale is a case in point
The story of Raja Harishchandra is so popular in our tradition that it finds a place in multiple Hindu scriptures and folktales. The first full-length Hindi film was an eponymous movie made in 1913.
The literal meaning of the name is the king of the solar dynasty. The story appears in the revered Aitareya Brahmana, Mahabharata, Markandeya Purana, and Devi Bhagavata Purana.
It was part of my school text book. It has been a mainstay of stage plays, and people used to swear by his character in my village. It is and has been an integral part of our perceived value system.
This story, in many insidious ways, has done the opposite of what it promises.
Summarizing the tale
Harishchandra was a popular and virtuous king. He took care of his people like his own family. One day, he was out hunting. Inadvertently, he entered the sacred space of a renowned saint.
Agitated, the saint was about to curse him. The king pleaded with him to tone down a bit. Upon hearing the king’s heartening offer that he could ask him anything in lieu of the curse, the saint ordered him to surrender to him his kingdom and…
