This video is an effort, of dramatising the story of Jesal Toral from Anjar, a town in Kutch district, which is located in the state of Gujarat, (India).
જેસલ-તોરલની કથા બહુ જાણીતી છે. કચ્છની ધરતીનો કાળો નાગ એટલે જેસલ જાડેજા અને સતી તોરલની લોક કથા આજે પણ એટલી જ લોકપ્રિય છે.
આ લોકકથા છે 14મી સદીના મધ્ય સમયની.
The story of Jesal and Toral is worth knowing, for it is full of romance, folk wisdom and inspiring. It is mid-14th century. Jesal was a very strong and powerful man who was a dacoit. He used to rob and kill people and harass them no end.
Once he was attracted by the mare of high pedigree, 'Tori' of one Bhagat named Sansatiyaji, a well-known person of the Kathi caste. Also he looked forward to snatch away Sansatiyaji's wife, Toral, who was extremely beautiful.
One night when Jesal entered the stable to steal the mare, sensing the presence of a stranger she broke away from the peg and fled to her master. The guards brought her back and pegged her rope to the ground near a hay stalk. It so happened, that Jesal was hiding in the hay stalk and his hand was at the place where the peg was hit. Hearing the moans of pain the king came to the stable and on seeing the dacoit asked him what he had wanted. Jesal said he had come to take away Toral.
Sansatiyaji being a Daani (donor) gave away his Toral- his horse and his wife. Toral being a devoted wife did not question about why she was being sent away.
So, now Jesal took the mare and the wife of Sansatiyaji with him.
As you travel from Kathiawad to Kutch, you have to cross the creek on the way. Jesal and Toral had now seated themselves in a boat for this purpose. On the way there was a great cyclone in the sea. The boat started rocking dangerously. It seemed that it would sink any moment. When Jesal saw Death staring at him in the face from all sides, his ego, his confidence went down crashing. He was truly frightened. His valor evaporated. His inner cowardice came to the fore, and fear began to eat at his heart.
Sati Toral could make this out, and in this delicate moment of Life and Death, she preached him the secrets of life. She pointed out the path of Truth and Goodness. He had a change of heart. The robber who was moved only by physical desires, and disregarded all but his own self, now turned into a follower of goodness and truth. His eyes were now open to the real meaning of life, The words of Sati Toral made him give up saber and instead pick up the 'Ektara' that accompanies the singing of devotional songs. The folk songs that lead this change of heart have remained very popular even today: "Paap taru parkash Jadeja, Dharam taro Sambhal re ... " and "Jesal kari le vichar ... ". These songs embody the folk wisdom and guide the lost soul to the true path of life in this world.
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