Design Case study
Folk Stories of Deity Pabuji
The Oral Tradition of Rajasthan
by
Deity Pabuji
Pabuji was born in Kolu, to a Rajput king Dhadal who had two sons Pabu and Buro and two daughters Pema and Sona. Pabuji's mother was not the queen but a nymph who left him when he was very young and promised to return to him as a mare. Pabuji had four good companions: Chando, Dhebo, Salji and Harmal. They were not from the upper caste like Pabuji. His first fight was with Jindrav Khichi in a hunting dispute. Jindrav’s father Saragde Khichi and his army is killed in the battle by Dhebo. To avoid more bloodshed and settle things quietly with Jindrav Khichi, Pabuji marries his step sister Pema to Jindrav Khichi. But Jindrav was being very hostile and had his heart set on the Charan lady Deval’s cattle, and a fine black mare named Kesar Kalami, who was Pabuji's mother. To protect Deval, Pabuji wins the mare Kesar from Deval and promises to protect her. After this, Pabuji went on various adventures where he killed Ravan and brought she-camels from Lanka to Rajasthan; on his way back to Kolu he meets Phulvanti in Umarkot, where he receives a wedding proposal from Phulvanti’s father. He agrees to marry Phulvanti but insists on dying the garments for his wedding processions with saffron. To obtain saffron, Pabuji fights Lakkhu Pathan, the owner of Saffron. Finally, he sets off to Umarkot to marry Phulvanti. While marrying her Pabuji is informed that Jindrav Khichi stole Deval’s cattle. As he had promised his protection to Deval, he rushes to rescue her and her cattle. In the fight against Jindrav Khichi, Pabuji’s companions kill all of Khichi’s army but spare Khichi on Pabuji’s order as he did not want Pema to become a widow. After sparing Khichi’s life, a palanquin comes from heaven and takes Kesar Kalami and Pabuji to heaven. Jindrav survives and Pabuji is forever known as the protector of cattle.
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