MOLA DADA STORY

Mola and Mota were two brothers engaged in the court of legendary Krishna. Krishna, disgusted with material life, distributed his belongings including the crown among his people. Mola and Mota were not present at the time and when they came back, Mola, who was very close to Krishna, asked Krishna as to what his share was. Krishna decided that since Mola is his most intimate friend, he should be given something invaluable and dearest to Krishna. Krishna gave Radha to Mola. Mola and Radha got married, but they could not have marital life because of Radha’s divinity.

Both of them, worried about their successors, devised a plan according to which they toured three empires, where, Radha danced and Mola sang. When the kings were impressed and asked what Mola and Radha wanted, they asked for a prince from each empire. Thus they collected three princes from three empires and brought them up as the children of Radha and Mola.

In those days, girls were supposed to be married before attaining puberty. A brahmin family had three girls who had attained puberty but were not married and hence the family was excommunicated by the society. As the family is sleeping under the tree, it came into contact with the foster children of Mola and Radha and the three girls were married to them. The children born out of these marriages are none other than Banjaras.

ANOTHER LEGEND

Banjaras claim to be descendants from Mota & Mola – two brothers who tended Shri Krishna’s cows. From Mota sprang the ancestors of modern Marwaris; Mathuria Banjaras and Labhanas. Mola having no issue visited the Prince’s Court with wife Radha, and there exhibited the gymnastic feats in which he was adept. The Prince was so pleased with Mola’s skill and so charmed with Radha's beauty & grace that he gave them as a reward three infant boys, of different castes, whom they adopted as their sons. In course of time these boys grew up and married. Their progeny has/have been collectively called as Chaaran Banjaras. 

Rich Marwaris and poor Banjaras

It is said that the sons of Mola and Mota were transporting gold, diamond and pearls in their caravans. En route the god is said to have appeared in the form of a sage and asked the sons of Mota about what are they transporting and they said the truth. But the sons of Mola told the sage that they are transporting stones and mud. The god cursed the sons of Mola to remain poor for ever for telling lies and blessed the sons of Mota for their honesty.