Sahlesh was a folk hero of the Dusadh caste in Nepal and India. He is believed to have been the ruler of the Mahisautha in what became Nepal. In some parts of North India. Sahlesh is respected by communities apart from the Dusadhs. In local culture, he is portrayed as a symbol of prowess, valour and benevolence.[1] Dauna Malin is believed to be a beloved of Sahlesh, while his four assistants namely Chauharmal, Moti Ram and Karikant are also worshipped. Chauharmal is worshipped by Dusadhs of Bihar and is considered to be the military commander of King Sahlesh. Moti Ram and Karikant are considered as his brother and nephew, respectively. Biratnagar, which is considered to be the land of Sahlesh, houses one of the finest temple of King Sahlesh.[2] Sahlesh is also known as Rajaji.[3] They worship mainly Salhesh Maharaj or Rajaji and his associates. Within the Danuwar community, Salhesh is regarded as the royal wrestler of Danuwar King Kuleshwar Singh kingdom of Pakariya gadh, located in present day Siraha district of Nepal.[4]

Folklore

Sahlesh saves Dalits from the feudal lords their women from the atrocities of the kings and their men. Dalit brides were frequently kidnapped and raped by the feudal lords and the kings, and Sahlesh is known for confronting and challenging these practices. The root word "Sahlesh" also stands for "King of the mountains", and it is believed that his empire extended to parts of Bihar.[1]

Sahlesh was born in Mehsautha village in the Mithilanchal region into the Dusadh caste.[5] This caste is known for valour and for theft and robbery. Sahlesh was a critic of these crimes as well as the feudal structure of society. Sahlesh had an egalitarian ideology who wanted to remove the ills of society like untouchability in favor of a society based on equality.

Salesh created a large army with the help of forest dwellers.[1] Mithilanchal during those times was a war-torn region facing invasions by Chinese and Mongols. His army of forest dwellers defeated them all. F. E. Pargiter says that the devastation of the Chinese Shan army was such that not a single man was left to take the message of their defeat back to China.[1]

Anang Kusuma, also known as Dauna Malin, is a nun of the Mahayana sect of Buddhism and the beloved of king Sahlesh.[1]

Rule of Sahlesh

It is believed that Sahlesh focused on local governance and created local bodies, where he listened to people's problems. He is said to have punished a Tantric named Chakranath for following inhumane practices such as Nagdasi. Every year two young girls were forced to breastfeed a venomous snake, which killed them. The people were fearful. Sahlesh ended this practice by defeating Chakranath with Anang Kusuma's help.[1]

Commemoration

The Dusadh community over Uttar Pradesh and Bihar commemorate their folk heroes, including Sahlesh and Reshama-Chauharmal via festivals and singing. They installed statues and formed socio-political organizations.[6]

In Darbhanga district of Bihar, potters make the figures of Sahlesh and his companions that are worshipped by the Dusadhs of the region.[7]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 हरिनारायण ठाकुर (2009). दलित साहित्य का समाजशास्त्र. Bhartiya Jnanpith. pp. 101–103. ISBN 978-8126317349. Retrieved 13 June 2022.
  2. ↑ Makhan Jha (1997). Scheduled Castes Today. M.D. Publications Pvt. Ltd. p. 56. ISBN 8175330600.
  3. ↑ Shyam Nandan Chaudhary (1988). Changing Status of Depressed Castes in Contemporary India Essays in Honour of Professor S.C. Dube. Daya Books. p. 130. ISBN 8170350425. Retrieved 13 June 2022.
  4. ↑ नथुनी सिंह दनुवार. लाेक नायक सलहेश एवं सिरहा जिल्लाका प्राकृतिक सम्पदाहरु. काठमाडौं : प्राकृतिक स्वास्थ्य संस्था.
  5. ↑ Nalini Ramachandran (2017). Lore of the Land Storytelling Traditions of India. Penguin Random House India Private Limited. ISBN 978-9387326217. Retrieved 13 June 2022.The Dusadhs, on the other hand, narrate the story of their king, Salhes.' A Humble King Centuries ago, there was a time when Shailesh (Salhes in the local dialect), a skilled man from the Dusadh community, ruled over Mithila.
  6. ↑ Badri Narayan (2006). Women Heroes and Dalit Assertion in North India Culture Identity and Politics. SAGE Publications India. p. 47. ISBN 8132102800. Retrieved 13 June 2022.
  7. ↑ Frederick M. Asher, ed. (2002). Art of India Prehistory to the Present. Encyclopaedia Britannica. p. 307. ISBN 0852298137. Retrieved 14 June 2022.The potters of Darbhanga in Bihar make equestrian figures of a legendary hero , Raja Salhesh , and his male and female companions , who are worshipped by the scheduled caste , the Dusadhs .

Further reading

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