Week 10 Story: Bad JuJu from a Jewel

Check out the updated version of this story on my portfolio! 

  Once there was a man named Satrajit.  He was a good and noble man that was a very faithful follower of the sun god, Surya.  In fact, he spent any extra time he had praying to and worshipping Surya.  One day, Satrajit was taking a walk along the beach when suddenly a great wave of light passed.  Satrajit was in awe when he quickly realized that it was Surya descending down upon him.  Satrajit was so excited that he could barely speak. 

He managed to say, “Oh great Surya! What an honor it is to be in your physical presence.  I have prayed for this moment for my entire life.  But, I cannot make out your features because your light shines so bright.  Please give me the chance to really see you!”

“Silly me,” said Surya, “I wear this necklace and it intensifies my light.  Let me take it off so that my light is dimmed.”  Surya took off the necklace and continued, “Noble Satrajit, I have come because I need your help.  I know that you are a faithful follower of mine so surely you can perform this task.”

Satrajit responded, “I am so humbled that you have selected me to perform your duty.  But what could the great sun god possibly want from someone like me?”

“I know that you are good.  Unfortunately, I have been informed that some of my ‘followers’ are wicked.  They go around doing horrendous things all while claiming they were of my command.  I need you to identify these evil-doers and get rid of them” Surya spoke back.

Satrajit responded weakly, “I am glad to do what you ask, but how exactly am I supposed to do away with these wicked men?”

“I am glad you asked,” replied Surya.  He handed Satrajit the necklace and went on, “See this necklace?  Not only does it intensify my light, but it also brings good things to a good man and bad things to a bad man.  An evil man will see you with this gem and find a way to steal it from you.  Once he gets it, the gem will do the rest of the work.  All I need you to do is wear this gem around Dwarka.”

Satrajit spoke back, “I think that I can do that! I hope I can make you proud.”

Satrajit put the jewel around his neck and went back to town.  Right off the bat, men in the town noticed the powerful jewel.  Each time Satrajit went to bed, he took off the necklace and placed it on his bedside table.  Every morning he would wake up and it would be gone.  He would then proceed to find the necklace and the unlucky man that received bad fortune.  One man was found torn to pieces by a lion.  A bear killed another.  Each day he would find another man dead because of the necklace.  These men were liars, cheaters, thieves, and murderers. 

After 10 days of this, Satrajit was growing weary with all the death he had been surrounded by.  Surya appeared once more, announcing that Satrajit’s duties were finished.  Surya offered the jewel to Satrajit as “thank you” for his obedience.  Satrajit was hesitant because he knew envious men would look to steal it.  So, Surya placed a spell on the jewel that no man with evil intentions could come within 100 feet of the jewel.  Satrajit was safe and the jewel brought him good luck for many years.

The Jewel (Pixabay)

Author's Note: Satrajit received that jewel from the sun god in the original story, but was not given a mission.  Instead, he grew worried that the jewel would be taken from him so he passed it on to his brother.  His brother was killed by a lion, who was then killed by the Bear King.  The Bear King gave the jewel to his son.  Satrajit's brother had never returned and rumors were formed.  Krishna and his men went to find what happened to him.  Krishna made it to the Bear King's cave and saw the jewel.  He and the Bear King fought until Krishna eventually won and returned home.  I decided to just focus on the jewel and change up the story by having the sun god give Satrajit a mission.

Bibiography: "The Syamantaka Jewel" by C.A. Kincaid. Link.