Teja Loka Git Ka Ek Naya Rupatanr

Here's a comprehensive summary of the provided Jain text, focusing on the "Teja Loka Geet" and its new adaptation:

Book Title: Teja Loka Git ka Ek Naya Rupatanr (A New Adaptation of the Teja Folk Song) Author: Narottamdas Swami Publisher: Z_Agarchand_Nahta_Abhinandan_Granth_Part_2_012043.pdf Catalog Link: https://jainqq.org/explore/211136/1

Summary:

The article, authored by Narottamdas Swami, the head of the Rajasthani Gyanpeeth in Bikaner, introduces and presents a newly discovered adaptation of the popular Rajasthani folk song "Teja" (Tejo), dedicated to the folk deity Teja ji.

Teja ji: A Brief Background

The author begins by providing a brief biographical sketch of Teja ji. He was a Jat from the village of Kharnal, near Parbatsar in the Nagaur district of Rajasthan. His marriage took place in Paner, near Kishangarh. While his wife's name is sometimes given as Bodal in songs, it's also mentioned as Pemal and Sundar in other versions. The pivotal event leading to his deification occurred when he went to Paner to bring his wife home. During his visit, the cows of Laachha Gujari were stolen by the Meena tribe. Responding to Laachha's plea, Teja ji set out to rescue the cows, sustaining fatal wounds in the process and ultimately sacrificing his life. This event, which occurred on the 10th day of Bhadrapad Shukla, led to his veneration as a deity. His shrines, known as "devaliyan," are found throughout Rajasthan. Teja ji is also associated with serpents, and it's believed that tying a piece of cloth inscribed with his name ("hathi") to a snakebite victim prevents the poison from spreading.

The Popularity and Variants of the "Teja" Song

The "Teja" song is highly popular, especially among the farming communities of Rajasthan. Its widespread appeal has resulted in numerous adaptations. The author highlights several published versions:

• Ganpati Swami's Adaptation: Collected and translated by Ganpati Swami of Pilani, it was published in the first part, second issue of "Marubharati."
• Pandit Banshidhar Sharma's Adaptation: Published by Pandit Banshidhar Sharma, a bookseller from Kishangarh, in his book "Veer Kunwar Tejaji" as the second volume.
• Bhaskar Ramchandra Bhalerao's Article: An excerpt from a song prevalent in Hadoti was published in "Marubharati" (Vol. 5, Issue 1).
• Narottamdas Swami's Own Collection: The author himself published three incomplete songs related to Teja ji in "Rajasthan Bharti" (Vol. 5, Issue 2).
• Tarachand Ojha's Collection: A non-narrative song related to Teja ji appeared in the "Marwadi Stri-Geet Sangrah" published by Tarachand Ojha of Ajmer.

The article also mentions the existence of popular folk ballads (lokgatha) concerning Teja ji, with some published by Dr. Kanhaiyalal Sharma (Hadoti ballad) and Dr. Mahendra Bhanawat (Lokkala, Issue 17).

Discovery of the New Adaptation

The present author reveals the discovery of a new adaptation within his vast collection of folk songs. This version was found written in pencil on a yellowed paper copy. He acquired this copy about thirty-five to thirty-six years prior to the writing of the article.

Key Differences and Characteristics of the New Adaptation

The newly found adaptation exhibits significant differences from Ganpati Swami's collection, both in language and narrative. It shares some similarities with Pandit Banshidhar Sharma's version. However, Sharma's version incorporates some elements from the folk ballads that are absent in this new adaptation. The ending of this specific adaptation is incomplete.

The Presented "Teja" Song Adaptation (Pages 2-7)

The remaining pages of the article present the text of this newly discovered "Teja" folk song adaptation. The song appears to be a detailed narrative, likely depicting various stages of Teja ji's life, his journey, and interactions. It includes dialogues with his mother, wife, and other significant figures, detailing events such as:

• Seasonal descriptions: Starting with the monsoon months of Jeth-Asadh and Sawan-Bhadvo.
• Family interactions: Conversations with his mother (Jarani Mata) regarding his brothers-in-law, sister-in-law (Bhavaj), and the provision of food.
• His journey to his in-laws' place: Depicting his departure for Sasural, the dialogue with his mother at the door, and the question about his well-being.
• His intent to leave for his in-laws' place: His mother's efforts to understand the reason and his eventual departure.
• Family curses and blessings: Interactions with his sister-in-law and mother, with curses on the former and blessings for the latter.
• Seeking astrological guidance: Consulting a purohit (priest) about his auspiciousness for the journey.
• Preparations for the journey: Details of preparing his horse and attire.
• Arrival at Paner: Reaching the village of Paner, interacting with a gardener, and the significant detail of the key to the city being with a Gujari.
• Confrontation and rescue of cows: The narrative seems to move towards the conflict where he confronts the Meenas who have stolen the cows, the involvement of Laachha Gujari, and the eventual battle where he sustains his fatal wounds.
• Dialogue with his wife (Pemal): The song also appears to capture emotional exchanges with his wife.

The song is rich in its lyrical quality and vivid descriptions, offering a new perspective on the well-known legend of Teja ji. The author's contribution lies in bringing this previously unrecorded version to light, enriching the existing body of "Teja" folk literature.