The Rigveda Code

by Rashmi Chendvankar

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  “Why have we been called here, Prabhavsen?” King Vrajesh asked Prabhavsen, as he entered the meeting chamber, followed by Queen Bhairavi. Prince Amogh too followed suit. “I have no idea, Your Highness!” Princess Rikshavi requested me to call this meeting for some urgent and important matter!” Prabhavsen replied. “Greetings Taat!” Rikshavi said, as she entered with Vikram. The doors of the chambers were closed. The guards were instructed to prevent anyone from disturbing them. “What important matter do you want to discuss, Princess?” King Vrajesh asked Rikshavi. Rikshavi took a deep breath… “I wanted to tell you about some critical information which I got during my stay in Sravasti!” she said. “You never told me anything about this, Rikshu!” Bhairavi said, obviously cross with her daughter. “I wanted to tell you about this along with everyone, Maa!” Rikshavi replied. All eyes were on Rikshavi….

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  “Lord have mercy!” Prabhavsen muttered under his breath. He was shocked to hear about the agnimadha, the death of Prince Pranav and the attempt on King Mahendra’s life. Queen Bhairavi was in a state of utter shock… She collapsed, but King Vrajesh held her in his arms. “He killed my son! That monster!” she cried… “I still can’t believe my ears, Rikshavi… My God! We have left my father at the mercy of that monster! What do we do?” Bhairavi panicked. “Don’t worry, Maa! Grandfather is capable of protecting himself. I have already told him everything! He will join us for the celebrations soon… We will not let him go back to Sravasti after that!” Rikshavi said.

  “The city does not matter, Rikshavi!” said King Vrajesh, “We have to be careful wherever we go… Indraneel’s ways are deceitful…. I have already set up a strong intelligence network. Even all our food is being monitored regularly!” He turned to Bhairavi. “This is why I did not share the secret about Amogh, Bhairavi. I suspected that Indraneel was involved. I did not want him to know. You would not have believed me, and I had no evidence to prove my suspicions! But my daughter has proved me right today!” Rikshavi was startled. Her Taat had never mentioned her as ‘my daughter’ before!” Tears welled in her eyes…

  “We all have to be ever mindful of the threat!” Amogh declared. “Vrij has no option but to attack Kosal in near future, Amogh!” Vikram advised, “There is no other way to rein Indraneel… And not to forget, King Vrajesh has also been attacked by Magadh once… We will have to act before both these kingdoms join forces!”

  “We will definitely consider that advice, Vikram. But now is the time to celebrate… the wedding of our Princess and the coronation of our Prince!” Prabhavsen declared. Everyone smiled somberly. Amogh’s face suddenly lost colour. He stole a glance at Rikshavi….

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  CHAPTER 12

  THE SOULMATES

  “How are the arrangements for the wedding and the coronation going on, Prabhavsen? King Vrajesh inquired. “We will have grand ceremonies, Your Highness! The arrangements are in full swing. Invitations have been sent out. King Mahendra is already on his way to Vaishali. Indraneel has sent his good wishes with a message that he will not be able to attend the ceremonies….” Prabhavsen replied. “We will still have to be careful, Prabhav. King Mahendra’s convoy could have Indraneel’s men…” Vrajesh said. “What about the University which we have planned?” Vrajesh asked. “The work has begun, Your Highness. Princess Rikshavi and Vikram shall move to Kaawar after the coronation ceremony, to oversee the work of the proposed University. They will be setting up a temporary teaching facility in the meanwhile, in Kaawar….” “That is good… I look forward to the ceremonies, Prabhav…. The people of Vrij can now rest assured that they have a crowned prince to inherit the royal throne….” King Vrajesh said with a smile.

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  Rikshavi was looking resplendent in her wedding costume. She wore a red kanchuka with gold embroidery over her bosom. A bright red translucent uttariya covered her kanchuka and her head. The precious gems in her earrings added to the glow on her face. She wore a gold necklace studded with emeralds, around her neck. An intricately carved arm band, studded with precious stones, was worn over her left arm. A delicate golden mekhala worn just above her bright red silk antariya, adorned her slender waist. Anklets and rings adorned her feet. Vikram could not help gazing at his bride during the wedding rituals. Rikshavi smiled to herself as she saw Vikram stealing glances at her. The couple was in their own world. They did not notice the absence of Amogh from the ceremonial hall.

  The couple sought blessings of their elders after the wedding rituals. “Don’t you want to see my wedding gift, children?” King Mahendra asked, as he blessed the newlywed couple…. He took them to one of the balconies of the palace. “Look!” he excitedly pointed outside. Rikshavi was thrilled at the sight. A beautifully adorned elephant stood right outside the balcony! The trunk of the elephant was adorned with thin golden plates which had intricate carvings. There was a golden canopy, the Ambari, on the back of the elephant, which also had intricate carvings. The Ambari had silk cushions to provide a comfortable seating. The newlyweds enjoyed an elephant ride across Vaishali, along with their Grandfather…..

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  The bright moon of Vasant Poornima, the full moon night of the spring, lit the sky. As Rikshavi entered her chamber, she saw Vikram standing by the balcony, gazing at the sky. The tinkling sound of her bangles, anklets and ornaments startled Vikram. He looked at his newlywed bride. His eyes were moist….

  “What’s the matter, Vikram?” Rikshavi asked. “You know, Rikshavi…” Vikram said with a heavy voice, “My parents passed away when I was very young. Whenever I felt lonely, I spent hours gazing at the night sky. The stars and the moon were my silent friends. As I grew up, I realized that someday, a beautiful girl will be my wife and I will never ever feel lonely again…”

  Rikshavi tenderly held Vikram’s hand, as he continued…, “And I always had this quaint belief that one day, the moon will reflect the face of that girl whom I will marry!”

  Rikshavi laughed. “So did you see her face in the moon, Vikram?” she asked. “Of course!” Vikram replied with a mischievous smile, “I have seen your face in the moon every night, after I first met you in the outskirts of this blessed city of Vaishali!”

  “You are lying!” Rikshavi teased, “The full moon is visible only once in a fortnight… How could you see my face in the moon every night?” she asked. Vikram moved close to her and softly placed his palm on her cheek. “Oh yes!...” he whispered… “Initially, when the moon was a crescent, I could only see a delicate chin… Gradually, I saw soft, pink lips, then a reddish sharp nose and then deep brown eyes…. Eventually, on the full moon day, I saw the most beautiful face I had ever seen!” Rikshavi blushed. Vikram softly lifted her face in his palms and gazed into her eyes. Rikshavi could not withstand his gaze. She melted into his arms….

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  Amogh looked contemplative as he sat through the coronation rituals, clad in a gold bordered, bright yellow, silk antariya. A bright red silk uttariya rested on his broad shoulders and fell across his chiseled torso. The royal court of the palace was filled with a mixed fragrance of incense sticks, sandalwood and rosewater. Rhythmic chants of priests created a solemn atmosphere.

  Vikram watched his friend from a distance along with his wife, Rikshavi. He could understand Amogh’s contemplative mood. After all, the rituals marked the beginning of a completely new chapter in his life. He would have to shoulder responsibilities and take decisions which would affect a lot of people….. He was being coronated as the Prince of Vrij! He was taking the responsibility in face of a threat to his own life and the lives of his parents; and a threat to the sovereignty of Vrij itself! Life ahead was indeed challenging…. Little did Vikram know what Amogh had sacrificed at the altar of his prince hood…

  King Vrajesh and Queen Bhairavi also somberly watched the rituals along with Prime Minister Prabhavsen and Vajrasen, the Commander of the Vrijian army. Soon, Amogh was seated on a throne which was towards the left of the main
royal throne of Vrij. Amogh bowed to the throne with folded hands before he sat on it. Accompanied by religious chants, the priests poured a pitcher of diluted honey on Amogh’s head. It was followed by pitchers of curd, ghee, milk, sandalwood paste and rose water. The chants of the priests sought the blessings of the Gods for the new prince. They sought wisdom, strength and a long and healthy life for him. A bronze pitcher of water was then brought forth. The priests applied bright red kum kum powder to the shiny bronze vessel as they kept chanting.

  “Those are the waters of ‘Abhishek Pushkarni’, the coronation tank!” Rikshavi whispered to Vikram, “It contains the waters of all the sacred rivers of Vrij - Gandak, Ghagra, Baghmati, Kosi, Mahananda and the Ganga…” “May the prince lovingly nourish the kingdom, like the sacred rivers which provide nourishment to the land of Vrij!” the chants continued….

  Rikshavi was amazed to know the significance of the waters of sacred rivers, during the coronation ceremony… A golden crown studded with precious stones, was placed on Amogh’s head. The pitcher of the sacred water was poured over Amogh’s head with a high pitched religious chant, as the entire court watched with ecstasy. Vrij finally had its crowned Prince!

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  “…………….Take care of the royal family, gentlemen! Always remember, keeping them alive is extremely critical, even at the cost of losing a battle! The Vrijian throne and consequently, the very existence of Vrijian kingdom hangs on the ropes of their lives… If we lose a battle, we can retaliate with renewed strength, but if we lose our King or our Prince, we would lose all hope… We will not be able to reclaim the kingdom!” Rikshavi was addressing Prabhavsen, Vajrasen and Samarjit. Vikram silently stood beside her. She had summoned the three most important personnel in the services of the royal palace, before she left Vaishali.

  “We will always protect them… We will remember your advice, Princess!” Vajrasen said with a grave face. The others nodded in affirmation. “Take care of yourself, too, Princess! May God bless you!” Prabhavsen said. His eyes had brimmed with tears. Rikshavi had never seen the Prime Minister so emotional before. “I will be ever grateful to you, Prabhavsenji!” Rikshavi said. Other than Queen Bhairavi, the Prime Minister was the only person in Vrij who had unconditionally trusted Rikshavi and had supported her without a second thought – ever since she was a child. It was because of him, that Vajrasen and Samarjit too, trusted her discretion now.

  “She will protect this land from evil forces!” Prabhavsen remembered Acharya Devak’s words as he left Rikshavi’s chamber.

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  “I am not surprised that you chose to give your good advice to Prabhavsenji, Vajrasenji and Samarjit, instead of speaking directly to Amogh...” Vikram said. Rikshavi wearily smiled. “Yes dear…” she said, “Amogh is after all, a Kshatriya prince. His vanity will not allow him to understand that in critical time, saving his own life will be more important for Vrij than dying with the glory of valour!”

  “He did not heed to my advice either!” Vikram said, “Well… he was not rude to me… But nonetheless, he disregarded my advice!” “What advice?” Rikshavi asked. She knew that her husband had substantial expertise in military science, and he would have certainly made some critical readings about the state of affairs of Vrij. “I will tell you later…” Vikram replied, as he saw Queen Bhairavi walking towards their chamber….

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  “Please reconsider your decision Grandfather!” Rikshavi begged to King Mahendra. He had decided to go back to Sravasti the next day. Rikshavi and the entire royal family of Vrij were obviously worried. But King Mahendra was determined to return to his homeland. “Don’t worry, Rikshavi… I will take good care of myself and Queen Chandrika…” he assured Rikshavi, “And if I have to die, I would rather die in Sravasti, in my motherland of Kosal, rather than anywhere else…” Though Rikshavi was worried, she understood King Mahendra’s feelings. She knew that he would not change his decision. She sighed. “Take care, Grandfather…” she said, looking away. A strange silence fell upon the two, which resounded with the lingering question that pestered Rikshavi and every other person in the royal family of Vrij – When Vrij and Kosal are at war, whom will King Mahendra support? King Mahendra understood Rikshavi’s dilemma… “My blessings will always be with you all, Rikshavi…” he said diplomatically. “But will you fight against Vrij?” Rikshavi indignantly posed a straightforward question.

  King Mahendra was stunned. He had not expected that he would have to demonstrate his loyalties to his granddaughter. “Well, No… I would not fight against Vrij” he finally said with a firm voice, “But neither will I do anything against Kosal. I am now leading a retired life, Rikshavi! I am no more the King of Kosal. My vanaprastashram, my retired life, is now my dharma. I do not interfere in the affairs of the kingdom… Nor does King Indraneel seek any advice from me… Now I am as good as any other common citizen of Sravasti! So I will not be on either side. And I hope that my children do not compel me to take sides…”

  King Mahendra paused for a while and looked at Rikshavi. She was not only embarrassed for trying to corner her grandfather, but was also very apprehensive. “I understand your apprehensions, Rikshavi!” King Mahendra continued in a deep, sagacious voice, “But in the war history of the Bharatkhanda, a common citizen has never taken sides. What difference does it make to him? He continues with his daily life. Wars have been fought in Bharatkhanda only for the imperial ambitions of the ruling Kshatriyas…. Not for the benefit of common people… They have rather often been the silent sufferers of wars… Even the disastrous Great War which was fought more than three hundred years ago was fought for the claim of the Pandavs…. Not for the benefit of the citizens of the Kuru kingdom… So, my dear Rikshavi! Who rules Sravasti does not make any difference to me, until the ruler does not adversely affect the citizens of Kosal… As the former King of Kosal, I only pray for the wellness of my people…”

  Rikshavi looked at the great patriarch with profound admiration. His insightful words had a deep impact on her. She remembered the words of the queer old man Viduraksh of Bhoganagara…... “The people of the Bharatkhanda will not suffer now… We will not fight wars…. We will not fight for these selfish Kshatriya kings… We will be the kings of our own destinies!”

  “If the regime of Pandavs is no different than the regime of Kauravs, why should the common people suffer in their war?” Her own words haunted Rikshavi as she walked out of the palace chamber…..

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  Rikshavi bid a teary farewell to the royal family and her beloved city, Vaishali, as she left for Kaawar. Suketu, Kairee and all her archery students walked with her convoy upto the gates of the city to see her off. Vrushasen accompanied the convoy. He was going to teach medicine to students at Kaawar. Baijaamaa too, was sent along with Rikshavi by Queen Bhairavi.

  Amogh was conspicuous by his absence, which left Vikram and Rikshavi a bit puzzled. They did not notice that he watching them discreetly from a high balcony of the palace. He could not risk his emotions being seen on his face. The love of his life was finally leaving…. He would not see her again for a long time… “Take her away from my heart and my mind too, O Lord!” he prayed… “I cannot bear the pain…”

  The Princess of Vrij finally left her palace and her city. She set off towards newer horizons, with her soul mate Vikram. But as she parted and looked back towards the city, she had a strange intuition that some twist of fate will bring her back to Vaishali in future…. Her destiny had some unexplainable connection with this capital city of the Vrijian kingdom…

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  CHAPTER 13

  DAWN AND DUSK

  “Have mercy! Are we going to teach in these cowsheds?” Vrushasen exclaimed. “Don’t worry, Vrushasen! The village head of Kaawar shall make some houses available for teaching purposes in a few days…” Rikshavi told him. “Uncle Birendra has also allowed us to use the temple courtyard in the afternoons…” Vikram added. “But we were supposed to start teaching in a Uni
versity!” Vrushasen said, a little crestfallen. Vikram and Rikshavi laughed. “That will take some time, friend!” Rikshavi said, “The construction has just begun a few months back…” “Let’s go to the construction site!” Vikram said, to cheer up Vrushasen.

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  “This is going to be a unique residential University Vrushasen!” Rikshavi proudly said, as they watched the labourers work at the University site. “But Takshashila was also a residential learning centre!” Vrushasen retorted. “Takshashila does not have an organized residential unit, Vrushasen! Students stay at their teacher’s homes… But in this University of Kaawar, there will be separate compounds for residential and teaching areas…” Vrushasen and Vikram listened intently as Rikshavi animatedly described the layout plan of the University….

  “The University shall have four compounds. Two compounds shall house residential accommodations of teachers and students. The residential accommodations shall be housed in three storied buildings, complete with comfortable boarding facilities for teachers and students. The remaining two compounds shall be dedicated to classrooms and laboratories, and shall also have three storied buildings. These compounds shall also have a huge library. We intend to collect manuscripts from all over the Bharatkhanda for the reference of our students. Our own teachers shall also contribute to the stock in this library! We are planning to invite learned men and women across Bharatkhanda to teach here. In Takshashila, teachers have to buy or build their houses themselves and set up their own teaching units. At Kaawar, we will offer them furnished residential facilities. I am sure many learned people would be happy to teach here!”