Throne of Purvakhand

by ASHUTOSH RAI

  Nandkant answered lowering his voice, ‘Don’t be livid. There is nothing to worry he had lifted the Vindhvir’s Hammer and it proves that he has a pure heart and only He can kill The Evil Lord Jakrant. And it is not only twenty three years. It is twenty three years, seven months, twenty nine days, two prahar, four hours, thirty five pala, twenty lipta and counting and we are not alone. We have made a savior. He will avenge his father’s death. You should never forget the truth. We are not his real parents, we are just his guardians and he is the only single hope of the light of happiness and affluence of the destroyed Virnagre. He is our Master. Our King as per the mandate of the people of Virnagre Kingdom and If possible He will be an emperor one-day.’

  Saras took his hands over his heart. He could not believe in words said by Nandkant.

  ‘He is not ready for this. Did you glance his wounds in just his first encounter with Vahuns? He need more strength. He needs some more time to learn how to deal with social, economic and political affairs. He does not know about how to deal with warfare. He is very obedient. And the most weird thing ---- Do you really meant it? You said that we are not parents?’ said Gita arguably. Her eyes were red. She can’t tolerate this. She continued. ‘How can you say this? I always loved him as my own blood. His my real son. Pack up all the clothes and other belongings. We will leave tomorrow morning along with Kumud. She is too now our family. Life and Family is not a game of politics. I am serious.’

  Nandkant argued, ‘Why do you don’t understand. He is the need of Time. Don’t forget everything happens in life is a play politics because you cannot displace politics from one’s life. Even you are an archer. You too fought in that war. You too got wounds and scars. That Battle of Angagrah. I can never forget those days. According to the forecast he can defeat Sharak. He had enough strength. Only he can slay Evil Lord Jakrant? What should I do? What you really want? Is there any other way to get what was once ours?’ Nandkant continued, ‘No. Only Saras can do that. Only he is that way. He can bring the glorious days back. He is Rakshak. And you knew this well. We had grown him but he is not our son. He is blood of our emperor Vikramchandra. He should know this.’

  Saras was overhearing them. He could not stop himself any more. He came in the house from the window and interrupted their talk before they could speak further.

  ‘I heard much of your talk,’ said Saras. His voice and eyes were delivering the pain he had in heart. ‘Maa? --- Pita ji?’

  ‘Saras,’ voiced Gita.

  ‘I could not understand what throne. Which black flag and who is Jakrant and what Virnagre. I had heard it have been destroyed by the Danavas and other devil creatures. And the more important matter is that Pita ji you said I am not your son. How can you lie?’ Do you really mean it? Did I made any mistakes?’ said Saras to Nandkant. ‘I can’t be a prince. Neither I can be a Rakshak?’

  Nandkant said, ‘I am sorry to say but this is true .You are a Prince. The heir to the empty throne of VIRNAGRE. According to the prophecy made, you are rebirth of a Rakshak who was called RUDRAVIR. One of the greatest warriors of all times. You are the second son of Emperor Vikramchandra the Great who was a kind, responsible and a brave king. He was killed in Battle of Angagrah against the codes of war.’

  Before Nandkant could complete Gita interpreted quickly, trying to ignore the concern of Saras. ‘Don’t behave like whacky man! Once Again. No Words.’ She turned Saras toward herself and continued in a feeble voice, ‘Saras, I think your father is angry with us. There is no truth in what you heard. You are my son. My only son.’

  ‘What is the real matter, Pita ji? I had heard all you said’, Saras asked with hesitating eyes. He turned back to Nandkant, stepped ahead of him and said further, ‘Today the neighbors are seeing me with strange eyes; the place where I have my childhood friends behaves me as I am a stranger. Few stared me like I am their enemy and few bowed like I am special to them. Everything behaves me oddish. And mother is trying to ignore my concern. I never saw you both talking like this. I am feeling that she wants to save me from an unknown danger. What is the truth? I can’t live like this.’

  His mind was filled up with an ocean of questions about himself in which he was a poor ignorant. And his labefaction created a mist in the brains of the two old learned parents.

  The tear which Gita had hold from twenty three years could not themselves from flowing. The dilemma pondering in mind of Saraswatichandra had threatened her soul eerily. A mother can never see her child in any dilemma. Cleaning the tears she said, ‘I would reveal you all the truth but you have to promise that you will do exactly what I say.’

  ‘The words of mother are more important to me than the order of the god’, he replied by his knees on ground and his head on feats of his guardian mother. He felt the pain, which his mother was suffering while she made herself ready to introduce the truth of dark past to Saras.

  And the mother recited the story with excitement of the glories of her motherland.

  ‘We are from the kingdom which is plotted as birthplace of the mythical Ashtputras in legends. The pure land of warriors, sages, and philosophers who were praised and celebrated all over the world. You are descendant of “Vir the Great”. Emperor Tezvir & his younger brother Rudravir are the legendary shining flowers of Virvans. And there are a thousand names whom remembering we boast aloud with pride and prestige. ‘Virvans’ The only royal dynasty on earth which exited till date from the last of first Satyayug. The kingdoms whose people are even brave than the Devas and Asuras who possess divine power of the strength. The largest kingdom in every sense. Filled with glories, innocent charm, divine truth and happiness all over. The first kingdom where women have access to all the Vedas and other source of knowledge. They possess all the right with equity to the right of men and they were given important post in administration.

  The only kingdom which followed the ancient original rule of “VARNA SYSTEM” which says that the division of caste is based on duty and is given by a proper examination held by committee of all four varna-pramukh and is not based on birth. It is examined by the dutiful work i.e. “KARMA” done by the man and women during their age of brahmcharaya. A son of Brahman is not a Brahman by the birth and the same way the rule was for Kshatriya, Vaisya and Shudra community. The state where everyone has right to equality in every public affairs and access to every public place irrespective of their birth, color, language and appointed caste. And after the examination when the results are announced as per the gained marks people are given one title from the four titles of VARNA as per their rank. They were the Virvansi who had always passed the examination with high rank and assumed the title of Brahman.

  Our capital Angabhumi, the most beautiful city on earth is on the hills of Ananthiya from where the Holy Saraswati River Emerges, which along with the Ananthiya hills was taken to earth by Sage Krantivir from Meru Mountains of heaven during last of first Satyayug .The Saraswati River divides the capital city in two equal parts. Both are joined through big wide golden bridge. The most dangerous Volcano “Vitra” is just beside the hills of Ananthiya but it could never harm the capital city because of big and strong nine layered fortification of Angabhumi which is cannot be destroyed by any volcano or mass destructive weapons made on earth. From our ancestors we heard that Ashtputras built the beautiful royal palace surrounded by hills and holy water of Saraswati River. The Tales sing that it can be seen clearly on every sunrise by gods residing in heaven.

  The City of Angabhumi on Ananthiya, on every dusk forms a vista behind the mouth of Saraswati so appealing, serene and beautiful enough to pleasure the warmth the eyes. When the sunlight falls, the city sparkles due to the gold palaces made on the land of golden hills of Ananthiya. It shines high boasting up to Brahmaloka, which is one of the three highest peak of heavenly mountain range of Meru.

  Continuing to the everlasting glories one day about forty three years ago, the affluent kingdom comes into hands of your father Emperor Vikramchandra after his father Madhurvir passes
away due to his old age. Vikramchandra had won the whole Purvakhand twice. Every new King of Virnagre has to do a war to declare himself as an Emperor.

  After the four years of his coronation, he was on tour of Adarshnagre Kingdom which is the north most boundary of Purvakhand.

  While the tour he met your mother Queen Mandheyaki, who was then daughter of King Ajayvardhan and his consort Queen Indumati and Princess of Adarshnagre. Our Emperor was embraced by her beauty and later they fall in sentimental love with each other. They meet many time but never framed any relationship. The emperor remains there for two years. During course of these two year tour the affairs of kingdom were looked by the Group of uncertain number of feudal kings, nobles and warriors known as “Satyarathi”. The highest class of warrior lords in Purvakhand who are well educated in every field of life. They were the chosen by the new Emperor. Emperor Vikramchandra had chosen the best team of Satyarathi warriors from both classes of humans. The blessed Manava class, literally the normal humans and the cursed Nirmanava class, literally the deformed humans. He had chosen five normal and five deformed humans along with one Danava, literally a demon. Elcleis, a white man from Virome. He is a wizard of degree three in white magic. Abhiyudh, a Vanara is king of Kapikshetra, land of mighty Vanaras. Hi Len Duerk of Mahisandhya who is leader of Sandhya clan. Dravid a Rikkshar is brave king of Redra Pradesh. Mohammad Sakri, a man of Pak religion who was king of Alexistan. He was a great athlete. Dirgha, a dwarf was king of Tayns. Harintdev, a Danava is King of Ardhwaya, the land of good Danavas. Ceaser Kurien Cruise who was King of Virome, Mandhir who is Phanin King of Naggrah and Hakim Sietmenur Mahmud Angus, the greatest mathematician of Purvakhand along with the royal priest Nandkant.’

  Nandkant argued, ‘You could take my name with a little respect. I am your husband.’

  Gita takes a small sharp glance a Nandkant and continued her long talk.

  ‘Elcleis, Dirgha and Hi Len Duerk were best in the Satyarathis. Vanara, Rikkshar and Phanin and Dwarf are too human but with certain deformities. Probably the most elite Nirmanava. They are cursed by gods to take birth, live their life and die with these deformities. Their deformities gave them great strength and some qualities of the animal from whom they are compared. Vanara are people cursed with face and a tail like money. They are the best climbers. Rikkshar are people with nose, ear and jaw like that of bear and unlike Vanaras they are tail less. Their eyes, skin and body below neck is of human structure. It is said that when a Rikkshar is enlighten to his real power then he can turn into a giant Richh. But this only happen when a Rikkshar lives more than a hundred years. Phanin are people with body resemblance like the serpents. They have flexible backbone and forked tongue. They even possess venom. It is said that once their ancestors of the Nirmanava people denied to fulfill their promises and were cursed that men of their race with suffer with certain deformities which they possess now. But as women of these races have nothing to do with that promise so the women of Nirmanava race are always born like a perfect human.

  Everything was going fine and then a man whose real name is still a mystery and whom the world call by name of Evil Lord Jakrant return after many ages and no one knows how do he returned. He was imprisoned in Kaal- Chidra Bandigrah by Trideva. It is said that it was made by Ashtputras. Many gods died there after being imprisoned. No one could escape from there. Even the Ashtputras who made Kaal – Chidra Bandigrah died in it after they lost battle against the gods. In some part of ancient legends Jakrant is described as enemy of Devraj Indra, the legendary king of gods. And one day the saints of Sumat University announced that by his fear, Indra and other gods flew somewhere to escape from their death and no one knew where they are today. This is reason that Jakrant is called Slayer of Immortals.

  Emperor rejected the news that Evil Lord Jakrant is alive and has escaped from Kaal-Chidra Bandigrah after many ages. Anyone who know about the tale of Kaal – Chidra would claim that news was surely wrong. The same our emperor did. Everyone believed that it is just a superstition.

  At the same time King Ajayvardhan has announced a Swayamvara of her daughter and in Swayamvara he invited every king from Purvakhand. In those kings there were two wrong men. Daryamir, the King of Mlecchas of Kanch and Daetyachur, the sons of Danava King Sharak of Chandier. Just like others King Ajayvardhan warmly welcomed them in Swayamvara.

  Those days the daughter of Ajayvardhan was single virgin blue blood on the land of Purvakhand and her beauty has convinced every man of those days. She was blessed by the ostracized human legend Lord Bhumishool that she will become mother of two powerful son. For her Swayamvara there was no competition. She has to just choose a king or prince as her husband with pure heart and our Emperor Vikramchandra as her choice.

  The both wrong man Daryamir and Daetyachur were angry. Somehow they knew the truth of love story of emperor which was unknown to King Ajayvardhan. Actually it was their insult on one side of coin and on the other side it was not an insult because both Daetyachur and Daryamir were sinners. Twenty Eight times they married to different woman and everyone knows that both had shared each other’s wives and then made them nude publicly in Chandvere. Those women were beaten sadistically with hunters, and were raped by soldiers and guards of Kanch. And then hanged to die.

  King Ajayvardhan invited them even after knowing all this truth. He was unknown to truth that Vikramchandra and Mandheyaki having sentimental love before the Swayamvara.

  After the marriage when the newly married couple was in Angabhumi enjoying their couple life, the two wrong men attacked and destroyed the whole kingdom Of Adarshnagre. They had murdered the king Ajayvardhan and queen Indumati. It made Emperor Vikramchandra and Queen Mandheyaki furious. Our Emperor sends Elcleis to Chandvere, the capital of Kanch, who fought the battle of Chandvere and defeated and killed both Daryamir and Daetyachur by his strong hand of in the battlefield and brought their head as sign of his victory. The uncivilized Mlecchas has a sparse population. Later Elcleis was made the feudal king of Kanch by Emperor.

  It has been just month passed and a prophecy was made by my mother-in-law, Raj Gurumata Tripti Devi. She was highly skilled in making the fore tales according to situation of stars and planets. In Virnagre only she and Elcleis were able to see and predict the future from the indications given by Eye of Fire. It is always an important instrument in the main temple which helped in making prophecy and finding truths of past. One day she saw something horrible in Eye of Fire. The Eye of Fire had shown her the future of world and beginning of its annihilation. She made a forecast from what she has learned from the Eye of fire. I still remember her words. ‘With the return of confined Evil, the annihilation is marked. To condemn the evil, for the goodness dwelling, the great souls will reincarnate in the line of Virans. They will pave their own way to demolish the evil within. The two holders of the roar will return. The future has been inked.’

  She explained us that Evil Lord Jakrant was made free from Kaal-Chidra Bandigrah. He had to devastate his foes, the goodness and the gods. He was ready to mark the end of world with his atrocity. With the return of Evil Lord, the saviors of annihilation too will born. Rakshaks were the holders of the roar. The two men who will rise the light of hope will be the reincarnations of the mighty Rakshaks and they will hold the duty to save the goodness in world. They only can slay him and Vikramchandra will surely father them.

  Her prophecy had confirmed the return of Jakrant. We are all were illuminated by the prophecy but once again our emperor refuted the truth of prophecy. For him these all were just a superstition.

  After one and half year of prophecy and happy rule of the Emperor, the happiness of kingdom got doubles when the first prince was born. He was named “Charanchandra” because he was born in full moon and at his birth queen saw the infant touches her feat giving respect and the later showed features of an admiring son at very small age. He was an apple of Rajmata Sraddha Devi’s eye. Charanchandra was a gifted swimmer. We were happy that we were not going to be annihilated. Our
savior was born but we were wrong.

  In the next following years many evil things happened. For the first anything was theft in Angabhumi. People started lacking virtue. A boy of Virnagre was cursed to be a Pishacha, literally a Vampire. He killed and infected many. It was Elcleis who saved us from that danger. For the first time a lava of Vitra Volcano found in the fort. The trees in the forest of Bhrig shed their leaves in rain season and every ship which sailed to other continent were either looted by pirates or destroyed by sea monsters. We were suffering from heavy loses.

  Emperor too started believing in the prophecy. To find the solution of Jakrant our scholars started finishing all the books and other knowledge sources. Even the gods had stopped their presence on auspicious events. Everyday people were massacred. We heard a big complain of kidnapping of infants. Saile was converting them into vicious evil creature, the Cauvcrach. Virnagre had started seeing the effect of Jakrant’s return. In tales and ballads, we had heard that he was confined by trinity of Lord Shiva, Lord Vishnu and Lord Brahma in Kaal-Chidra Bandigrah which is somewhere far in void. A havoc has started prancing in our heart. We could feel that there was a very dangerous power whom everyone fear and he was the Evil Lord Jakrant. And this belief came truth when Sharak who even can’t dare to speak us, had started a massive revolt against Virnagre. He and his men was helped by a mysterious power. His commander were given supernatural powers. Some of them could turn themselves invisible and some could turn in a batch of deadly insects and beasts. We all were knowing that someone is behind them planning something beyond our strength. No one could see the face of that power. Legendary, dark, powerful, fearsome and mysterious. He was the second name of what we say is Evil. A personality that can’t be explained. Sharak started winning the feudal states of Kundey, Tayns, Ardhwaya, Naggrah, and Alexistan in next two successive years by the powers given to him by Evil Lord Jakrant in order to weaken the Empire of Virnagre. Our administration was declining. Durdambh, father of Nasur and Vikrant was then king of Kundey. His son Nasur assassinated him and captured his throne. With death of Durdambh, Kingdom of Kundey turned its loyalty. Vikrant and his loyal Swayambadha were sent behind the bars. Nasur was too vicious as Sharak.