Part 5.12 - Shri Uderolal Jo Avtaar Vathnu

This book has ninety-seven pages. The script is Devnagari and the language is Sindhi. In the first twenty-five pages, it gives the story of Lord Jhulelal, whereas the next seventy pages have poetry which describes the greatness of Lord Jhulelal. The later part of seventy pages gives the reader a glimpse of the rich heritage of poetic literature such as Amar Chalisa, Chopai, Doha , Ashtaka, Mantra , Akho , Sandhya Puja, Ratri Puja, Bhog, Dhun etc. There are many Bhajans listed in the book.

The meaning of the title of the book is taking of Avatar by Shri Uderolal. The book describes in about twenty-four pages the life story of Lord Jhulelal. Right from the time and the situation when the Sindhi community went to the banks of Sindhu to pray Varuṇa who is known as Lord of the seas and water bodies. The sequence that follows is the proclamation by Akashwani, the birth of Lord Jhulelal, his Leelas (various acts), the ruler learning a lesson from him and so on.

At the end different names of Lord Jhulelal are mentioned which are:

• Varundeva (Varunavatar)
• Uderolal
• Jhulelal
• Udayachandra
• Amarlal
• Zindapir
• Dariyashah
• Ratnani
• Jalapati
• Lal Sai
• Pallevaro
• Ghodevaro
• Zandevaro
• Chalihevaro
• Jyotiswaroop (Jyotiyan Varo)

Some of the names mentioned above such as Ratnani, Jalapati, Zandevaro, Ghodevaro etc. are noted for the first time in this book which are relevant to the description of the deity. The first part of the book is in Sindhi language and script is Devanagari.

The next part of the book is in Hindi and gives information about the greatness of the Lord and also about the importance of Chalisa^[1] ritual (Chalisa Vrat Mahotsav Ki Mahima). Initially, the story is narrated briefly and thereafter the Chalisa Vrat Mahima details are given. While observing this ritual, the devotee has to adhere to certain conditions. These are like eating simple vegetarian food, wearing simple clothes, avoiding dark colours, not to shave, eating only one time, observing constraint and not to indulge in material pleasure, not to wear leather footwear, not to consume intoxicating material like tobacco, alcohol etc. and not to eat non-vegetarian food. In short, one has to observe simplicity during the forty-day ritual. For all the forty days the devotee is expected to visit the temple twice a day and light a lamp and offer Pallav (Palo) prayer. In this chapter, it is also noted that Friday in the special day of Lord Jhulelal, whereas Sunday is the day on which Pugar Saheb was initiated by Lord Jhulelal.

Subsequent pages consist of the poetic version of praise of the deity, many Artis, Jhulelal Chalisa, Dohas, Akhas, Bhogu, the prayers to be recited at the morning and evening times, Pooja Samagri for Deg and Baharana and many more poetic literary sources for the deity. It is a rich collection and one finds that there are innumerable ways which a devotee can find to worship one’s Iṣṭhadev. The efforts in collecting such a large number of poems deserve appreciation.

The book concludes by printing some beautiful pictures of Lord Jhulelal sitting on a swing and Lord Hanuman lifting a mountain to take medicine for Lord Rama’s brother Lakshmana. The popular ‘Hanuman Chalisa’ and ‘Hanuman Ashtak’ is also found in the book.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

A prayer in poetic form comprising forty stanzas in praise of a deity