Dwandv:: The Battle for the Gate

by Dinkar Goswami

  CHAPTER 26

  EDICT

  Bubba began executing his plan methodically. Bubba wanted to be sure that all sinister beings, whether organic or inorganic, mortal or paranormal, would owe total allegiance to his edict. Bubba wanted to set his sinister bar so high that even those with the darkest hearts would be terrified of the consequences of betrayal.

  Bubba began a fire ritual that would take one hundred and eight days to complete. After days of invocation and incantations, he asked his aghori followers to bring him the curved horns of a bull. He cast the horns into the pyre. Then he cut off some of his hair and tossed it into the fire. The hair merged with the horn as he chanted incantations. He took the horns out of the fire, causing them to change shape so that they curve forward and point upward in an S shape. Then he burned the broad ends into his forehead. Next, Bubba asked for monstrous flat horns like those of fallow buck of New Zealand with the animal’s blood. When he got them, he crushed the flat portion of the horn into fine dust, shaved his head completely, and mixed the hair and horn into a paste. He then took his kapal and put some of his blood and some deer blood into it, along with a revoltingly pungent concoction. Mixing everything, he added fire into the kapal. He took the burning paste and rubbed it over his shaved head. Within a short time, flat antlers appeared just above his forehead, shielding the top of his skull entirely and growing below his shoulders till his waist down. He made other sacrifices to the fire. He summoned a malicious Yaksha, a demon werewolf from Buddhist legends, and sacrificed it to the pyre. He then took burned charcoal from the pyre and swallowed it. The entire time, he continued to chant incantations and only swallowed when there was a pause in the incantation.

  By the time the ritual was complete, Bubba had changed into a terrifying colossal windigo, his skull covered with antlers that extended to his waist. The horns on his forehead gave him an even fiercer look. He had long talons on his feet and hands that he could grow at will. He invoked another incantation, and the bony, flat antlers on his back became large flexible wings with a span of eighteen feet. His wings disappeared as antlers on his back when not being used. His eyes were deathly dark, as was his huge mouth. For effect, his nostril glowed when he breathed, a rasping whoosh was heard when he breathed in, and a deathly howl when he exhaled. By the time the ritual was over, he could change his form at will from human to his fierce, huge nine feet tall windigo-like form and back again. He appeared in his windigo form for the first time in front of his aghori lieutenants, disciples, and paranormal beings he controlled and watched them cower in terror, horrified. For additional effect, he suddenly unfurled his wings with a crackling sound that resounded through the cave system, causing chaos and panic. Bubba laughed demonically as he changed back to his human form, though there was nothing human about him. His human form was just a disguise.

  Bubba had successfully mutated himself. At will, he could transform into his fierce demonic form, inducing terror even among the terrifying paranormal entities he controlled. To demonstrate his new avatar, he caused those assembled to lose mobility in their limbs so they couldn’t escape. Suddenly, he conjured a gravity demon. He let loose the gravity demon, precisely commanding it to consume a number of deviants, including some churels, pishachas, other demons, and some aghori. The others watched as the gravity demon slowly crushed each deviant one by one and consumed the tiny ball of bones and flesh that was left. Those spared could do nothing but watch, hoping they wouldn’t be next. After the gravity demon had finished Bubba’s bidding, Bubba opened his huge windigo dark mouth and put the gravity demon in it, deliberately chewing the screeching demon and swallowing him slowly. Word spread quickly. Bubba intended to ensure that no creature, whether organic or inorganic, mortal or paranormal, could now question his will.

  Rahu and Ketu detected the EARE waves generated by Bubba’s rampant use of siddhi with complete disregard to consequence. Siddhi, that left a trail of collateral damage and destruction.

  The Asura began investigating. They learned about Bubba and his powers. The Asura Cosmic Council wanted to know how Bubba had attained such siddhi. Bubba was quick to understand that finding the knowledge to attain siddhi was of paramount importance to the Asura. If he divulged the secret of the ashram where he had trained, he knew he would lose his edge becoming useless to the Asura. His only goal was to attain the power of the Asura without giving them anything. Cunningly, he chose to hide his intent and pretended to do the Asura’s bidding. He convinced the Asura that his limited siddhi was karmic, or by birth. He convinced them that through rituals, penance, and sacrifices, he had enhanced his power.

  The Asura Cosmic Council also saw how Earth had recovered, and the Asura once again issued a clear and imminent mandate to look for Vital Knowledge on Earth. The Council gave the colossal Asura Karce command all of Earth affairs.

  Bubba convinced Karce that if there was any Vital Knowledge on Earth, he would find it for the Asura. An alliance was made, and Bubba was granted access to Asura technology, and in turn, he agreed to be the Asura watchdog on Earth. Karce didn’t seem to care that the alliance had given Bubba the opportunity to bring his perverted vision of order dictated by his edict to fruition.

  With total control over his edict, Bubba executed the next stage of his scheme. He would demonstrate control over what the Asura desired most other than Vital Knowledge—material opulence. He had to control those who controlled the majority of wealth on Earth. He wanted the most opulent and the powerful mortals to owe allegiance to his edict. He planned to give these mortals something dear to their hearts for their devotion to the edict. He planned to offer them immortality, or at least the illusion of it.

  His methodical madness was ingenious. He identified the most opulent mortals and sought to bend them to his will. Bubba then selected a number of churels and aghori disciples who lived in the cities. He used his siddhi to make the churels maintain an attractive human form continuously. He had them disguise themselves as the spouses of the select mortals whom he targeted. Meanwhile, Bubba’s aghori disciples were imparted skills via Bubba’s siddhi that made them experts at multiplying power and wealth. They successfully sought employment with those whom Bubba had selected to become ‘immortal.’ Bubba ensured that the churels replaced the real spouses of future ‘immortals.’ The actual spouses were abducted and put in a trance in Bubba’s caves, frozen in time using Asura technology he had obtained.

  Once Bubba had everyone in place, he ensured that he played his part. He shaved his head and facial hair, revealing his hauntingly seductive face. He traveled to cities where the opulent and the powerful lived, along with a dozen aghori disciples disguised as benevolent ascetic. A couple of decades later, the opulent and the powerful men had aged, but the churels, their spouses, and the aghori working for the men had not. It was easy for the churel spouses to convince many of their men to seek immortality from their guru, the ‘benevolent ascetic Bubba.’ Sooner or later, some of these mortals came to Bubba, seeking immortality.

  The price was simple—total submission and allegiance to the edict through elaborate blood ritual that gave Bubba complete control over them. Bubba granted these mortals only the illusion of immortality. Over time, what belonged to the wealthy who had submitted to Bubba’s will was at the disposal of Bubba. This strategy was replicated over and over. He was a master of exploiting mortal weakness, vice and illusion.

  It did not take Bubba long to convince the Asura to further strengthen their pact with him. By putting a huge chunk of mortal wealth at the Asura disposal to aid their search of the Vital Knowledge, he was given further access to Asura technology and backing. The Asura didn’t realize that any bargain with Bubba was total and absolute illusion or maya. Interaction with Asura had also sown the seed of cosmic ambition in Bubba.

  But that was years ago. Now Bubba’s full attention was on one mortal being whom his spies had spotted again on the mountain range, this time with a small boy, a yogini whom he believed had got more from the masters than
he had and knew where the masters were.

  CHAPTER 27

  AWE

  Danta and Gerua had been moving downhill for about an hour when they came across a river. Thrilled by the perfect natural setting, Danta stood by the river, awed by the fast-flowing water. A vast array of flora and fauna covered the mountain around the river, and some of them were rare. The myriad of colors and shapes of the trees and flowers was miraculous to Danta, who was seeing such natural beauty for the first time. The forest around the river was covered with mossy oak, drooping branches of spruce, and the smooth, silvery bark of the Himalayan fir.

  Gerua saw the euphoria Danta was feeling as he looked up and around to take in the natural marvels. Gerua could feel the forest emitting energy that was nothing less than captivating. She wanted to give Danta time to witness the splendor around them. Gerua was suddenly overcome with love for her son, seeing him smiling, breathing deeply and silently, and absorbing the essence of the mountain forest. She bent down and picked Danta, hugging him tightly. Thoughts of losing Danta to the gate flooded her mind. She controlled herself, recalling what Master Shalya had told her when such thoughts would arise.

  “Do not let your love and affection for Danta get in the way of your goal,” he advised. “Your love for the boy is enduring. Draw strength from it. It will only become stronger as your son grows. He will always be yours and will come to you when you need him. You must believe that Danta’s life has a higher purpose. He must be allowed to fulfill the prophecy and learn the necessary skills to accomplish his life’s goal.

  “It takes great effort for such an enlightened soul to choose birth on Earth. The soul is required to rip itself from the universal consciousness, become a spirit and acquire an ego, and dwell inside a mortal body with mortal limitations for a lifetime. Such a spirit has to give up the universe for an ego, only to learn to give up the ego again and become the universe. Those who understand and assist such a spirit to achieve the objective for which the spirit has made such a sacrifice may themselves find liberation from mortality. You must believe what we believe about Danta.

  “But know that there are forces in this world and beyond that may become aware of his birth. They have the tools, the knowledge, and the power to cause Danta harm when he is young and vulnerable,” said Master Shalya solemnly. “It has to be your karma, which, in turn, will lead him to fulfill his karma, and you must not falter. Do not be overcome by the sorrow and pain of parting. Be resolute and let him go. It must be the only outcome you should accept, and there must be no doubt in your mind about this. Fulfill this calling without hesitation.”

  Gerua attempted to lower Danta to the ground. He clung on, his hands clasped tightly around Gerua, not letting go. “Danta, you have to let me go,” she said softly into his ear. “We have to get moving again.”

  “I love you too, Mom,” said Danta, looking into her intense eyes before releasing her. She gently lowered him to the ground.

  “I know you do, my darling,” said Gerua. “We will stop here for a bit. You must be thirsty. You should drink some water, and then we will move on. We have to cover as much ground as possible today.”

  As she began to take out the water flask, Danta asked, “Can I drink water from the river?” Gerua looked at him and gently nudged him toward the river. This was natural, free-flowing water, untainted and pure. It was safe to drink. “Yup, you can.”

  Danta squatted at the edge of the river, dropped on all fours, and dipped his face in the water to quench his thirst. As he was straightening up, he saw his reflection in the gently swirling water. He looked closely at himself, thinking that he did not look like his mother and had a round face of a child. He looked at his mother, who turned around and smiled at him. She was tall, lean, and sinewy, her looks regal. Her dark hair slowly swirled around in the wind.

  “Don’t worry about it. You will be very handsome and strong when you grow up,” Gerua said comfortingly. Danta smiled at her, comforted by her sweet, firm voice. He waved his hand over the flowing water, distorting the reflection.

  Danta was almost four feet tall. He had a very childlike face with broad, full lips and a well-shaped, prominent nose. Under the somewhat pudgy face of a child, Gerua could see his square jaw and strong long neck. His eyes were deep-set with irises that never touched his lower eyelid, giving Danta an intense gaze that showed resolve and grit that was sometimes unnerving. He had full dark eyebrows and thick black hair that fluttered in the wind. He stood straight with broad shoulders and long somewhat muscular arms and legs for a child. Danta walked briskly but silently, his curious mind taking in everything around him. He wore a loose light yellow-orange tunic over dark khaki pants, and his locally made rubber-soled running shoes were made out of cloth. He carried nothing.

  Danta could see the reflection of the monkeys looking at him from the overhead branches. Birds too chirped excitedly above him. He looked up at the monkeys and then extended his perfectly formed hands with their long artistic fingers, calling them to come down. One of the monkeys climbed down from the tree and cautiously approached Danta. Gerua saw what was happening and took out a banana and handed it to Danta with a smile, looking at him and then at the monkey. Danta took the fruit and extended his hand toward the monkey. The animal lost his inhibition and took the fruit, sat next to Danta, and started eating it. Soon, more monkeys surrounded Danta as he mimicked their chirping. They clambered on and around him excitedly. Even the birds came down and were within touching distance. Seeing Danta grinning widely, playing with the monkeys and the birds, Gerua was again overcome by strong emotions that once again threatened to overwhelm her. She wondered how much time she had left with her son.

  Out of the ashram, in the wild, Gerua was experiencing feelings of loneliness even though she was with Danta. What had changed in a few hours? The mother in her had erupted and just wanted to spend time with Danta. Seeing him so carefree and happy in these natural settings was so overwhelming. In the ashram, their life had been about discipline and learning. For the first time, she saw the child in him, entirely free of responsibility and care. Danta looked at her, grinning widely as he played with the monkeys. She wanted to cry, but she held back.

  Danta saw the overwhelming emotions on her face. Master Ku had told him that his mother would become emotional at times and he would have to help her. When they found the gate, everything would be as it should be. He would make his mother proud. He could not waste more time, and they needed to cover as much ground as possible in the daylight. He was curious to find out what the night would be like in the forest. Gerua heard Danta tell the monkeys and the birds to go back to the trees because he had to leave. He looked at her and said, “Mom, we should continue our search for the gate. The Hamsa will be here soon.”

  “Hamsa?” Gerua asked.

  “Yes, Mom, to give us a clue.” Gerua was shaken into reality by Danta’s comment. Apparently, her son saw and knew a lot more than she thought he did.

  Danta got up, and the monkeys took to the trees, and the birds flew off. Gerua waded into the river, inviting him in. Danta had always known his mother to be a calm person, in control of her feelings, and he wanted to help her regain her composure now that she was feeling emotional. He saw her smile as she beckoned him into the water. He grasped her extended hand eagerly and stepped into the river.

  The water touched him and flowed past, soothing his skin, even though it was cold. Danta began to drift away in the fast-flowing river.

  Gerua caught his hands gently but firmly. He momentarily floated in the water when she pulled him toward her, and they began wading to the other side. Danta reveled the sensation of the flowing water and enjoyed it. Gerua regained her composure and focused on getting them across without being swept off their feet. If the Hamsa joined them on their journey, their path would be much easier. She knew that the Hamsa was a bird of passage and was often associated with enlightenment.

  CHAPTER 28

  CONTACT

  “Stay calm and do
not be unsure. The water is your friend,” Gerua urged Danta on.

  “It tingles,” said Danta. He could feel the magic of the water swirling around him. Something touched his skin, and he could feel it gently rubbing against his legs and body. It felt like an elephant’s trunk or a snake. “Mom,” Danta whispered, “I think there is something in the river. It’s touching me.” The unfamiliar sensation made him instinctively tighten his grip on her hand.

  Gerua immediately lifted Danta out of the water, standing still. She saw an elephant-like head rise out of the water and reach up to the boy. The trunk sniffed and touched Danta. Then the head sank underwater, and a fish-like back and tail emerged and then went under again, making an arc. The creature had the head of an elephant and a body of a fish. Gerua took a scroll out of her backpack and looked at it. Satisfied, she returned it to the backpack. “It is the Makara,” Gerua said relived. She lowered Danta into the water again and gently pushed him away as he relaxed his grip. “It is often used as a vehicle by the deity of the water to travel across the water. It also protects gateways and thresholds, specially the secrets to throne rooms or temples. It will not harm you. Let’s see what it does.” Gerua smiled, reassuring Danta. Danta relaxed, smiling back at her. She wondered if the gate was near and if the Makara was protecting it. The Makara swam around Gerua and Danta a couple of times before the elephant head emerged and the trunk curved upward, sniffing. Its eyes looked directly at Danta, and then the Makara backed up slightly. It turned its big head toward Gerua and trumpeted. The Makara swam quickly to their left and went under the water, gently swimming on their east side and shielding them from the current flowing westward, making it easy for them to cross the flowing river. Gerua smiled when she understood the Makara’s intent. They began moving across, protected somewhat from the current by this friendly creature. The water became shallow as they reached the opposite bank of the river. The Makara swam away, trumpeting again.