The Divine Origin of Kesar

Jafar

Research Data

The Divine Origin of Kesar

Description

My name is Jafer from Shigar Thugmo. From our region’s traditional stories, I will narrate a tale about Kesar. Kesar was considered a son of a Buddhist deity. His father, the deity, was known as Halla Barma, and he had twelve sons. In the Balti language, the deity is referred to as "Halla," and therefore, Kesar was called "Hallafru," meaning "Son of the deity." Just as Christians believe that Jesus is the son of God, ancient Balti Buddhists believed Kesar was the son of their deity. One day, Halla Barma suffered from a severe toothache. He sought a remedy from a religious text, which revealed that his pain would only be cured if one of his twelve sons sacrificed himself by descending to the earth. When Halla Barma asked his sons, all but the youngest, Kesar, refused. Kesar agreed to the sacrifice on one condition: that whatever he thought or wished for would come true. Halla Barma accepted his condition. As Halla Barma cast Kesar towards the earth, Kesar prayed that before hitting the ground, he would transform into milk and fall into a stone grinder. His prayer was answered, and he turned into milk, landing in the stone grinder. A woman named Mamani Ghunza, returning home from work, was extremely hungry and thirsty. She noticed the milk in the grinder and drank it without hesitation, quenching her thirst halfway. Due to drinking the milk, Mamani Ghunza became pregnant, and Kesar began to grow in her womb. The remaining milk was consumed by another woman named Rgunmo, who also became pregnant, and Kilyankar began to grow in her womb. A third woman named Zongriyulmo licked the milk remaining on the grinder, became pregnant, and Nan-yblong began to grow in her womb; Nanyblong was Kesar's aunt. Nine months passed, and the time for Kesar's birth arrived. Mamani Ghunza was in Yashachan when Kesar, from within the womb, spoke, saying he did not want to be born there but near a juniper tree. Despite her condition, his mother managed to reach the juniper tree. Upon arrival, Kesar again spoke, saying he did not want to be born there either but near the mountains. She man-aged to reach the mountains, and once more, Kesar spoke, saying he did not want to be born there either. Exhausted from all the walking, his mother fell asleep. At that moment, Kesar was born and started taking care of himself.

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