Chand Sadagar
| Chand Sadagar | |
|---|---|
| Born | 200–300 AD Champak Nagar, Chaygaon |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Occupation | Ancient merchant |
| Known for | Folklore character |
Chand Sadagar, (Assamese: চান্দ সদাগৰ; Bengali: চাঁদ সদাগর), (the surname is also spelt Saudagar), was a rich and powerful merchant of Champak Nagar, Chaygaon in ancient Kamrup.Bipradas Pipilai gave an account in his Manasamangal about the merchant ship of the trader Chand Saudagar proceeding to the sea, passing through Saptagram and Tribeni, the tri junction of the Ganges, Saraswati and Yamuna.
According to Hindu mythology, Chand Sadagar was an ardent devotee of Shiva but Manasa had set her mind on making him a devotee. She tried all the tricks to force Chand Sadagar to change his mind but he was equally determined and protected himself with the mantras or mystic words he had received from Shiva. However, when Manasa appeared to him as a beautiful woman, he let her know his secret. Thereafter, he lost his supernatural powers that came with the mystic words. He then took the help of Sankara, whose capabilities were more than even his when he had full powers, but Manasa killed him and made Chand Sadagar helpless again.
When Chand Sadagar still refused to be intimidated into worshipping Manasa, she started sending serpents that killed all his six sons. His trading interests collapsed as he did not have the heart to look after them properly. Even in the midst of such adversity his determination revived and he set out on a sea voyage to rebuild his business. After a successful business tour he set sail for home, his ship laden with treasure. Manasa launched a storm, and although Chand Sadagar initially survived with support from Durga, she was later asked to withdraw by Shiva on a request from Manasa. Once that happened Chand Sadagar’s ship was wrecked, but Manasa swept him ashore at a place where an old friend Chadraketu lived.
Chandraketu tried his best to bring him round to the goddess Manasa but Chand Sadagar steadfastly refused. He became a beggar and lost everything but still worshipped only Shiva and Durga, refusing to bow to Manasa, who felt that she could never win over Chand Sadagar on her own and took the help of two friends in heaven – two Apsaras. They agreed to be born on earth, one as Chand Sadagar’s son and the other as daughter of Saha, a business associate of Chand Sadagar.
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Wikipedia