हातिमताई

Hatimtai
(Arabian mythological story)

The king Nihayat Saheb was ruling the country called Yemen. Long time after his marriage, the queen gave birth to a beautiful son. The child was named Hatimtai. The astrologers predicted that the boy would be an intelligent Emperor and that he would make a name for you in the entire world. Gradually, Hatimtai grew up into an adult amidst the love and affection of his beloved parents. The greatness of his bravery and charm spread across the whole world. He developed an attitude of selflessly helping others. He was even prepared to sacrifice his own life helping others.
In Khurashan country, there was a trader by name Barjakh. He had a daughter by the name Husnabano. She lost her father at the age of twelve. Before death, the trader Barjakh, left a will giving all his wealth, gold, diamonds etc. to her daughter and entrusted his daughter along with the property to the king. The king also was looking after Husnabano like his own daughter. Once, Husnabano called her wet nurse who had brought her up and said to her, “This world is like a water bubble. We may also die anytime. What is the need for all this wealth of gold, diamonds, pearls etc. I wish to utilize all this property for charitable purposes. I want to remain virgin, away from all the sins of the world”. The elderly wet nurse carefully thought over the matter and advised Husnabano, “My child, if your wish is like that, you display the following seven questions on your house gate and write that you will marry the person who will bring correct answers to all these questions”.
The questions were: 1. If seen once, feels like seeing again. 2. Do favour and cast it in the river. 3. Do not harm others. As they do so would they reap. 4. One who always speaks the truth, gets happiness. 5. Bring details of KOHINIDA. 6. Bring the pair of the pearl similar to an egg. 7. Bring details of HAMMAMABAD – GARD.
Impressed with the words of wet nurse, Husnabano displayed those seven questions on her door and involved herself in charitable activities. The news of these questions spread everywhere and also reached a country called Khavarijam, whose prince was Munirushami. He heard about the beauty and bravery of Husnabano and started loving her without even seeing her. The love blinded Munirushami left to see Husnabano without telling anybody. Munirushami said to Husnabano, “I love you and want to marry you. I am unable to bear this pain of separation from you.”. Husnabano replied, “Oh Prince, I will marry only the person who brings answers to all my seven questions”. Munirushami asked her to tell him all the questions and promised to bring the answers. Husnabano told the first question – If seen once, feels like seeing again. Munirushami left the place in search of answers. But he was unable to understand where to go and what to do. He was wandering like a mad person. At that time, the prince of Yemen, Hatimtai arrived there while hunting. He saw Munirushami crying in tears miserably. Hatimtai came to know the entire matter and promised that he will arrange his marriage with Husnabano and both of them went to Husnabano. Hatimtai assured to bring answers to all those questions, on behalf of Munirushami and put a condition that Husnabano will marry Munirushami. Husnbano agreed to the condition. Then Hatimtai started in pursuit of answers.
Hatimtai reached a forest. There he saw a wolf hunting a deer. Pitying the deer, Hatimtai threatened the wolf strongly. Then the wolf questioned, “Oh kind hearted Hatimtai, as per your words, If I leave the deer, what will happen to my hunger?”. Then Hatimtai cut flesh from both his thighs and offered it to the wolf. When the wolf came to know about Hatimtai’s objective, said, “I used to go there every now and then and through my ancestors I came to know that the name of the place was Dasthahveda”. Hatimtai enquired about the route and set off for that place. On the way, Hatimtai got cured his wounds with the help of the foxes. While Hatim was on his way, two bears caught him and took him to their king. The king of bears forced Hatimtai to marry his daughter who was extremely beautiful like any other human being. The very next day Hatimtai and the daughter of bear king were married. Hatimtai stayed there for few days accepting their hospitality. Again, Hatimtai started his journey to get the answers for the questions. On the way, a mighty serpent swallowed Hatimtai. But Hatimtai did not die because, the daughter of the Bear king had given him a golden coin and due to its power, no harm was done to Hatimtai. The serpent, unable to bear the pain of Hatimtai in its stomach, vomited him out from its mouth. Hatimtai was happy and reached a river from there. One angel came out from the river, hold the hand of Hatim and took him into a garden in the river and disappeared. The beautiful ladies in the garden took Hatim to a beautiful palace. The pictures of beautiful angels were hanging on the walls in the palace. One angel came out of one picture and stood before Hatimtai. Hatimtai was staring at her for three days and three nights but did not do anything to her. Unable to control himself on the fourth day, Hatim touched the hand of the angel. Immediately the angel kicked him on the heart. Hatim got fainted. When he regained his consciousness, Hatim found himself lying in a forest. There was neither the palace nor the garden. Hatim thought that perhaps this might be the place Dastahaveda, which creates a feeling in my mind to see it again and again. He was thrilled with the satisfaction of finding answer to the first question. Like this, Hatim found answers to all the seven questions. Every time Hatim was in trouble, he could save himself with the help of the golden coin given by the daughter of the Bear King. He saved others also with the help of that coin.
In the second part of the story, the wife of the demon’s king was suffering from severe eye pain since last several years. Hatim rubbed the coin in the water and offered it to the queen. After taking the water, the pain of the queen vanished gradually. After that when Hatim was climbing a mountain, several hundreds of birds took him away. They tied him and put him to fire to burn him into ashes. But due to the power of the presence of the Golden coin with him, no harm was done to him. In the third part, one dreadful giant serpent started hissing at Hatim, it tried to burn him with its poisonous fires. But due to the power of the golden coin it could not do any harm to him. In another instance, Hatim had to jump into a big pan containing boiling ghee. But due to the power of the golden coin, the boiling ghee also turned into cool water. To summarize, put the Mulehra (Golden Coin) in your mouth, the Maya runs away from you and if you take out the Mulehra, the Maya comes back.

Spiritual significance: – Due to the power of the Golden coin Hatim could save himself from several dangers and achieved success. The knowledge of Shiva baba and his remembrance is like a golden coin. In difficult situations and troubles, the knowledge of Baba and his remembrance alone can save us. We can save even others also with the help of Baba’s knowledge like the gold coin. The more we keep the Mulehra of Baba’s knowledge and remembrance with us, the more we will be safe from the Maya.