Tale of King Harishchandra

King Harishchandra, the king of Ayodhyaa was the son of Satyavrat. He was the 28th king in solar dynasty.He had a devotee wife and a son, Rohit.He was famous for his tuthfulness.One night Sage Vishwaamitra came in his dreams and asked his whole kingdom.Although it was all in dream, still Sage Vishwamitra appeared in his court next day and asked for it. As per promise he was firm to gave the kingdom to Sage Vishwamitra.King decided to go to Kaashi with wife and a son. At the last moment Sage demanded “Dakshina” also.But since King didn't had anything after donating the whole Prithvi to Vishwaamitra, he sold his wife and son,Rohit to a Braahman, still he couldn't met the demand of Vishwaamitra, so he sold himself to a Chaandaal (who normally does the lowest jobs in Hindu society such as cremation of dead bodies). So he made Harishchandra the guard of cremation place. He gave all that money to Vishwaamitra.Once, the son had been to the garden to pluck flowers for his master's prayer, when he was bitten by a snake and he died instantly. His mother, having nobody to console her, carried his body to the cremation grounds. In acute poverty, she could not even pay the taxes needed to cremate him. Harishchandra did not recognise his wife and son.He asked the lady to sell her golden Mangalasutra and pay the tax.It is at this instance that his wife recognises the man as her husband.She has a boon that her husband only could see her mangalasutra. Harishchandra then came to her and recognised her as his wife . Seeing his only son dead he filled with grief.But, Harishchandra, was dutybound . He demanded taxes before last ceremonies.But she was helpless.So, he asked his wife, if she was willing to undergo further hardships and stand by him in this hour of calamity. The faithful wife readily gave assent. She had in her possession only a saree, a part of which was used to cover the dead body of her son. She offers half of her lone dress as the tax, which Harishchandra could accept and perform the last rites of his son.As she was taking off her half remaining Saree off to pay taxes, Bhagvaan Vishnu appeared there along with Indra and Vishwaamitra. Chandaal was non else but Yama, came to his original appearance.Lord Vishnu made Rohit alive and asked them to come to Heaven, but Harishchandra refused to go there on the basis of that his public would have been sad without him.Harishchandra asked Indra to take all his public to Swarg, but Indra said that it is not possible because every one has it’s own good and bad karmas. Then Harishchandra said - "Then I donate my all Punya Karmas to them and I am ready to go to Hell." Indra got very happy to hear this, so all people of Ayodhyaa went to Swarg with Harishchandra. Vishwaamitra inhabited Ayodhyaa with new people and appointed Rohit the king of that kindom.