NOORI- JAAM TAMACHI

In the fourteenth century, Feroze Tughlaq used to rule in Delhi, and Jaam Tamachi used to rule in Sindh at Thatta. He was from the Samma dynasty. In the vicinity of Thatta, there is a very big lake, Keenjhar, which was inhabited by fishermen. They were a sort of unsettled community that would move from one place to another as time demanded. They did not have proper houses to live in. They used to live frugally in their straw huts to eek out their living through hard labor by catching fish from the lake. Most of the time, they would live in their boats. They would spread nets to catch fish, which would be sold by their women on the roads. Normally, fisherwomen were not beautiful; they were lean, dark, and uncouth, but there was an exception for Noori. She was not only very beautiful but also full of good manners. She was called Noori because her beauty reminded everyone of the beautiful full moon in its bloom, i.e., light.

Jaam Tamachi was fond of hunting and traveling. Once, while on a luxury trip to Keenjhar from his boat, he happened to see Noori. He fell in love with her at first sight. He, keeping aside his royal prestige and pomp, asked the hand of Noori in marriage through his minister. The fishermen were only happy to agree. On the occasion of his marriage, he gifted the Keenjhar Lake to them as a ‘Jaagir’ and exempted them from paying all the taxes. He brought Noori from the fishermen’s shanty to his royal palace. He used to spend most of his time with Noori and would often come to Keenjhar and move around in a royal boat with Noori. Thus, Noori was bestowed with all the imaginable luxuries. In spite of all this, Noori remained the same humble self. She was humility personified. She would always tell Jaam Tamachi that she remembers her humble origins and is grateful to him for bringing her from fishermen's humble dwellings to the royal palace. God shall bless me with your love forever.

 I am full of faults, Beloved! I am your slave.

Dear! I am here to serve you. (Sachal)

Jaam Tamachi already had six queens from his Samma clan. They could not bear the king’s closeness to Noori. They were jealous of her. They hatched a plan to discredit Noori. They told the king that Noori’s brother used to visit the palace every night, and she was giving him royal jewels. One evening, while Noori’s brother was returning from the palace, King saw a box in his hands and inspected it. He found in those fish bones and scraps of bread. He silently went away. The next day, he asked Noori what it was all about. She told him that she is not used to royal food, and she was afraid that once she developed the taste of the royal food, she may not be able to enjoy her traditional food. Therefore, every day her mother would send her a piece of fish with bread made from coarse grain. My brother brings it with all the love.

Jaam Tamachi was very impressed by this. The other queens continued to harass Noori and would frequently complain about her misbehavior to the king.

Once, Jaam Tamachi decided to test all his queens. He told them that by evening, all should be ready, and he would take one of them with him for sightseeing. All the queens spent the entire day applying makeup and decorating themselves with costly clothes and ornaments. In the evening, when the King came into the palace, there was virtual competition among the queens to entice him. King could see through their artificial make-up and their behavior and went ahead. When he came into the apartments of Noori, he found her waiting for him anxiously. She had worn her original dress, given to her by her parents, without any ornaments. Her natural beauty in itself was sufficient and did not require any artificial makeup, ornaments, or costly clothes. She approached him with all her humble charm. The king took her hand and led her to the royal carriage. All the other queens continued to fume and rage with jealousy.

When he returned in the evening, he declared her the reigning queen. This way, her humility and simplicity won her this great honor. This elevation did not go to her head; instead, she became humbler and more courteous. Jaam Tamachi would also return her love and affection.

One who has inner beauty even a master seeks him out. The master will accept them who are true to themselves and are humble, who are free from false pretensions.

In the words of Shah Abdul Latif:

تُون سَمون، آئُون گَندِري، مُون ۾ عَيبَنِ جُوءِ    
پَسِي راڻِينِ رُوءِ، مَتان ماڱرِ مَٽِيين  

You royal Samma, I am lowly with many faults. Looking to the queen's pomp, may you not change your path!

She is always humble and continues to plead with Jaam Tamachi; thus, I am of low caste, and you have raised my status.

How otherwise does it behove me to be in the palace? (Shah Latif)

Those who carry the stinking baskets of fish, to mingle with whom one would feel ashamed,

O Jaam Samma! You have raised their stature. (Shah Latif)

Those who proudly come with raised heads,

You have spurned all of Soomra’s or Samma’s clan. (Shah Latif)

Here it is amply shown that if you want to win your master, it is through humility and complete surrender to his will. Without unquestioned obedience, it is not possible to meet your true beloved. If you love with all devotion, the seeker himself will find out, as Jaam Tamachi himself found out Noori. Those with egos cannot come near the master. Ego becomes a great dividing wall between seeker and seeker. With humility and devotion, you can reach your desired destination. The master does not discriminate between low or high castes, weak or mighty.

Gifts do not depend on caste.

Those who work are granted it. (Shah Latif).

Those with a divine spark in their hearts will only be able to meet the master. Noori was a fisherwoman, yet he could get her beloved, whereas those with ego and pride always failed to realize the truth.