Raja Rasalu: The Legend of the Giant Slayer King

Once upon a time, in Sialkot, Punjab, modern-day Pakistan, there lived a great warrior king named Raja Rasalu. He was renowned for his extraordinary powers and his brave adventures, where he fought demons and supernatural forces to protect his people, ;like the Fairy Prince Azur Jamshed of Gilgit, or Mongol Baz Khan of Chitral.

Raja Sal had two sons, Puran and Rasalu. Puran, the elder brother, faced misfortune when their father remarried.

The new queen, longing for a child, developed feelings for Puran. However, he respectfully rejected her advances, bruising her ego. This angered her greatly, and she convinced the king to exile Puran from the kingdom. So, Puran left his home, embarking on a life as a wandering Faqeer, gaining immense respect for his spiritual wisdom and purity.

Meanwhile, Raja Sal's hopes were now pinned on his only remaining son, the young and growing Rasalu. As he reached adulthood, Rasalu carved a reputation for himself as the strongest warrior in Punjab. His archery skills were unmatched, and his strength equalled that of two men. He possessed a special bow that could only be wielded by him, similar to the legendary Shah Mureed.

Yet, despite his extraordinary abilities, Rasalu had a rather mischievous pastime. He enjoyed shooting stones at the water pots carried by passing women. This caused embarrassment to Raja Sal, who was repeatedly urged to discipline his son or banish him from the kingdom. Reluctantly, the king attempted to reform Rasalu, but all efforts failed. In the end, Raja Sal had no choice but to take the unthinkable step—he banished his own son from his own kingdom.

And so, the illustrious career of Raja Rasalu, the monster slayer of Punjab, began. But let us return to the giants. Rumours reached Raja Rasalu about a powerful Faqeer residing in the village of Tillah, renowned for its ancient Hindu complex called Tillah Jogian. Curiosity piqued, and Rasalu decided to visit the village. Little did he know that the Faqeer, eager to test his mettle, transformed into a fearsome tiger.

Expecting to frighten Rasalu, the Faqeer in the guise of a tiger leaped toward him. However, to everyone's astonishment, Rasalu fearlessly accepted the challenge. Before the tiger could even land, two arrows were swiftly released from Rasalu's bow, piercing the mirage of the tiger, which vanished into thin air. Perplexed, Rasalu approached the Faqeer and questioned the meaning behind this display. The embarrassed Faqeer taunted him, suggesting that if Rasalu truly possessed immense power, he should travel north and vanquish the seven famous giants residing in the hills of Gangar in Hazara.

The name Gangar had two variations. According to one, it was the name of the mightiest of the seven giants, while according to another version, Gandghar with its Pashto etymology meant the 'Mound of Filth.'

Eager to prove his might, Rasalu journeyed to Gangar. Before his departure, he received two vital instructions: he was forbidden to use a sword, and he must not harm the female giant. Upon reaching Gangar, Rasalu encountered his first giant while collecting water from a river. With exceptional accuracy, his arrow struck the giant, and it fell lifeless upon the riverbank.

However, the thunderous cry of the dying giant alerted the rest of the giants, who swiftly rushed to the scene. Upon seeing Rasalu, they hesitated, unsure if a mere human was worthy of their fight. To test his prowess, they challenged him to shoot through seven iron plates.

Rasalu's arrow effortlessly pierced through all seven plates, causing the giants to scream in agony and flee. Yet, Rasalu's arrows were swift, and before they could escape far, five of the fleeing giants met their demise. Only the female giantess remained, and she sought refuge inside a cave. Rasalu ingeniously drew his own face on the cave's entrance wall, effectively blocking her escape. To this day, the giantess resides within the cave, perpetually trapped upon catching a glimpse of Rasalu's face on the wall.

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Source: Huzaifa Nizam