At the beginning of 11th century, Hindus living in the Thatta district of Sindh (some 80 kms north of Karachi, Pakistan) were besieged by misery. Mirkh Shah, the Turk ruler of the region, had launched an aggressive drive to enforce religious homogeneity. Securing a period of grace for three days before submitting to mandatory conversion, the Hindu population of Thatta offered prayers to Lord Varuna - the River God at the bank of the Sindhu, begging for deliverance.

After forty days of continuous prayers, a reassuring voice "Akashwani" from the river promised that salvation would be granted. Eight months hence, God Himself was to take birth and save the people from the tyranny of Mirkh Shah. At any rate, the message was a source of great solace: Vishnu would visit the earth in a human form to protect the Hindus of Sindh.

That signal event for the Sindhis occurred on Friday evening, 'NEW MOON OF MONTH CHAITRA 1007 AD'. In the town of Nasarpur, a woman called Devki, gave birth to a child. As if to proclaim the auspicious event, unseasonal clouds enveloped the sky and brought down torrential rains, to welcome the new 'Avatar'. The newborn infant also hailed his birth with a miracle. He opened his mouth and his parents Devki and her husband Ratan Rai saw therein Sindhu flowing and also an old man on pala fish. 'Pala' fish is very tasty acquatic creature and its peculiarity is that it swims against the current. Devki went to the bank of Sindhu and performed 'Jado', a prayer to appease the water-god. All Hindus celebrated the birth of the child with song and dance. The child was named Uderolal or Amarlal. Today, the saint is also referred to as Jhule Lal (Jewel of the Cradle) or simply Lal SaeeN.

That divinity had descended on Jhulelal was demonstrated by his astonishingly swift journey from infancy to commanding maturity - lasting only a few moments. Later, in another luminous miracle, the saint transformed himself into energy when Mirkh Shah's guards confronted him. Mirkh Shah was defeated. The dazzle of uplifting spirituality had dispelled the ruler's dark intolerance.

Jhulelal travelled across Sind urging his followers to remain unswervingly righteous at all times. Jhulelal's belief - "Unity in Diversity" has remained the essence of the Sindhi culture. In popular iconography, the saint is portrayed sitting on a fish. That's because he frequently travelled on the 'Pala-fish'.

Although the great saint returned to the mighty Sindhu in 1020 AD, his sacred centrality to Sindhis is kept alive by the community with supreme piety. "Cheti-Chand", the celebration commemorating Jhulelal's birth anniversary, is just one manifestation of their devotion. The day falls on the New Moon of Month Chaitra -- April each year. A form of dance called Bahrano and devotional songs praising Lal SaaeN mark the festivities.

Jhulelal, who consecrated the land with glowing virtuousness, was venerated by Hindus and Muslims. Indeed, today, the residents at his mazaar (masoleum) are Sindhi fakirs of both denominations. The site benevolently accommodates a Mosque and a Mandir. A fitting tribute to the great saint.