Gritasmad, an elderly rishi, had called her Naditame, Ambitame, Devitame—the best of rivers, the best of mothers and the best of goddesses—and he could now see why he was so moved by its beauty. This was the widest river in Aryavarta, wider than even the Sindhu to its east, and resembled an ocean in its expanse.
Treading the distance between the Ganga near his home and the Saraswati, it seemed he had travelled to a completely different world. While the kingdoms around the Ganga were ancient and established, the cities around the Saraswati seemed brand new in comparison.
Owing to the frequent tectonic upheavals in this region, the various tributaries of the river frequently changed course, flooding old establishments and drying up the resources in others. Therefore, major cities were built at a considerable distance from the rivers though things settled down a little once the tributaries joined the Saraswati.
The confluence was a holy spot, known as Triveni, and the mingling waters attracted thousands of sages and ascetics. Some even considered the combined waters magical though he laughed at their superstitions. His opinion changed when he saw that the water collected from that spot did not spoil even after months and it reminded him of the Ganga again whose waters had the same property.
The rationalist in him realized that both rivers, originating high in the Himalayas, could have the same bacteriophage activity but this logical explanation was challenged by other seers who asked him why the tributaries, which were also Himalayan rivers, did not possess the same activity.
He grudgingly gave in to their arguments and realized it was easier to let their beliefs wash over his scepticism and go with the flow. He spent many days just sitting on the banks of the river, trying to forget his home and family and lost count of the days spent in the company of these sadhus who had no attachments or possessions in the world.
He had never been too attached to anyone except his sister and nephew but even those bonds couldn’t keep him bound forever. He had received regular updates from Yamdagni through messengers regarding the state of affairs during the initial days of his journey after which he had felt confident about their future and stopped the couriers.
He had just one aim in life now and he would not go back until he achieved that. His destiny lay ahead, on the path to becoming a rishi and beating Vasishth on his own pitch.
Wandering along the course of the river, he walked till the confluence with Drishadvati, the third major tributary, and was amused by the different types of ascetics he encountered. Some, called Digambars or Nagas, were naked at all times, completely oblivious to societal norms, while others, called Yogis, lived in cities and preached the way to attain salvation for the benefit of the society. Shaivites used cannabis to attain a trance state akin to their lord while Vaishnavas were frequently seen chanting the name of Hari with a rosary in their hands.
He studied the methods of each, trying to figure what worked for him and, by the time he had reached his destination, he knew what his style of meditation would be. He had decided to begin as a Yogi and initiate his penance by practising control over his breathing.
Following the course of the Saraswati, he walked to the mouth of its delta but found it unsuitable for long periods of stay since the river waters frequently flooded the terrain. He then moved eastwards again, following the coast till he came to the city of Lothal, the biggest city of the region that had a huge dockyard for ships coming in from the western countries.
He set up camp there and started following a regular routine of Pranayam and yogic exercises till he attained mastery of the most difficult of postures. After a few months, he realized that he required a quieter place, and decided to go southwards.
After journeying for a few weeks, he finally found a place to his liking—a dense grove near a stream called Mahi, a little away from the town of Vatpatrak. The ocean was but a short walk from there and he felt sufficiently distant from the locals in the small town to maintain his privacy. He cleared a patch in the middle of the forest and began constructing a small hermitage for himself. It was a basic structure with wooden walls and a thatched roof but it was sufficient for his purpose. His experiences at Rishi Dattatreya’s ashram helped him cope with the vagaries of the weather and he became more innovative in using the scant resources available to him.
He used coconut coir to make ropes to bind different elements of his hut and took the help of bigger rocks to create a small enclosure outside his dwelling. Over time, he added a small storage space for berries and tubers that he collected as food, a couple of crooked stones as hooks to hang and dry his clothes on and a rudimentary floor made of pebbles from the riverbed.
Once the basics were in place, he set down to the business of meditation seriously. He knew, compared to the yagnya he had performed for the Divya Astras, this process would be long and arduous but he also realized that this was the only way he would be able to achieve his goal . . .
And defeat Vasishth.
Adhyaye 23
Swarg was buzzing with activity.
The royal court of Indra was a hexagonal hall, supported by pillars of anglesite whose prismatic structure reflected light in numerous rainbows. The floor was made of transparent latticed kamacite interspersed with grey senoite tiles to give it perspective. All the minerals were mined from rare meteorites but then no effort was too great for adorning the court of Indra.
Indra’s throne, the fabled Indra-aasan, stood at an elevation at one end of the hexagon and was shaped like a huge dragon. On this sat Shakra, the leader of the gods in this current age and he had just been informed of the intense penance being performed by a human.
Vishwarath was so deeply engrossed in meditation that he no longer felt the need to perform normal bodily functions and was sustaining himself by means of the energy generated through his penance. But meditation of such intense nature could create an imbalance in the electromagnetic spectrum around the sadhak. Once the subtle body chakras and energy channels were activated, the bioenergy created a disturbance that was discernible to anyone who had the acuity to spot it. With each passing day, the intensity of Vishwarath’s tapasya was increasing and the reverberations were being felt right up to Swarglok.
Shakra was openly suspicious of Vishwarath’s penance and had discussed it with the other Devas. While Agni and Vayu, his closest confidantes, thought it to be a mere whim on the part of the eccentric human, Shakra knew enough about him to be wary of his activities.
The erstwhile king had already gained access to divine weapons through the massive yagnya he had performed and Indra and the other Devas had been forced to share their weapons as per Brahma’s rules of rewarding the humans who performed such tasks. What more could he possibly want now? Revenge for the humiliation the SOS had unleashed on his army? Ha! As if a puny human would ever be able to match their technological superiority and physical strength.
Shakra had witnessed the Devastation of Swarg during the reign of the previous Indra, Mantradruma, by the Asur Bali. He had heard horror stories about the near fatal attacks by the blonde twins Hiranyaksh and Hiranyakashipu and knew that they had been saved only through Lord Vishnu’s intervention.
Devas throughout the ages had done so much to ensure mankind’s progress and saved them from the onslaughts of marauding Asurs—he himself had had to duel with the dragon Vritra to ensure that the parched Earth got back its waters—and still these Earthlings found reasons to complain.
Could this upstart human be actually vying for his throne? After attaining the ability to conquer any kingdom on Earth, was he now aiming for Swarg? No, he would not let a mere man take away the position that rightfully belonged to a Deva!
How he wished he could just smite Vishwarath with his vajra and be done with it but he knew that would not do well for his image and his political rivals might get an opportunity to file for his impeachment. A politician should always play his cards right and, after studying Vishwarath’s life, he knew just the right way to achieve his goal.
This wa
s something he needed to plan away from the eyes and ears of the council, for he knew what he had in his mind would never be approved by the Adityas and the Vasus. But then, it was his position that was at stake here and desperate times called for innovative measures. His neural pathways had gone on overdrive and he finally hit upon a plan whose first step was issuing an invitation to Menaka, the most beautiful Apsara in the heavenly realm. Her beauty was beyond description and her voluptuous body, gracefully moving hips, long raven hair and deep blue eyes could mesmerize any virile Deva. No wonder, Shakra thought, his wife Shachi was not too comfortable having her around but he had convinced her, albeit with considerable difficulty, that their relationship was purely platonic.
His reverie was broken by the sound of her anklets and, as she entered, her delicious aroma filled his spacious chamber. For a second he looked unblinkingly at her rose-red lips, then gathered all his self-control and said formally, ‘Greetings, Menaka, I am glad you could come at such short notice.’
Menaka gave him a seductive smile and replied, ‘How could I not obey your orders, my lord? You know I would leave anything to be with you, yet this is the first time I have received an invitation to come here!’
Shakra felt his cheeks turning red and said hastily, ‘Ahh . . . well! The invitation was extended for professional reasons, my dear. I want you to perform a really important task for me.’
Menaka loved seeing the blush on his handsome cheeks. Shakra had a high forehead, big olive-green eyes, dark wavy hair and a perfect nose sitting above bow-shaped lips. He was dressed in white robes that accentuated his well-built body in a way she found extremely seductive.
She came close enough for him to feel her breath on his bare chest and said, ‘Menaka is more than willing to do anything you ask of her, my lord.’
Shakra blushed at this overt display of wantonness and was more convinced than ever that his plan would work. He took a step back and said light-heartedly, ‘Hold your horses, my dear! The task I ask you to perform is to entice not me but someone who would be more appreciative of your feminine charms.’
Menaka’s pretty mouth formed into a pout and she asked, ‘Does that mean Devraj himself does not appreciate my charms? Or is it that you find masculine attractions more to your taste now!’ she finished with a smirk.
Shakra laughed and replied honestly, ‘No Deva worth his salt could resist your charms, dear lady. Yet, my resistance has nothing to do with the potency of your magic or my own sexual inclination but is a result of a promise I made to the other lovely lady in my life. I cannot let any act of momentary pleasure ruin what I have with her and I say this with no offence towards anyone, especially not to you.’
Menaka had never met a Deva who was immune to her allures for most of them succumbed to her advances quite easily. She just had to bat her long lashes or run her finger on a Deva’s skin and he would melt like a burning candle. Yet, Shakra had a steely resolve she had not been able to break even after all these years.
She changed her tone and said with a deep sigh, ‘Oh, such heartbreak! I wish I could just end my life right here. What use is my body if it cannot be of use to my lord?’
Shakra laughed out loud at this display of petulance and clarified, ‘Your magnificent body could prove to be of considerable use to me, if you would but say yes to what I ask of you today.’ He could almost see her brain cells furiously working behind that seductive facade.
She got rid of the pout and asked frankly, ‘So who is it you consider worthy of my attention, my lord? None before you have managed to resist my charms and I doubt there will be any in future.’
Shakra replied in a serious tone, ‘The person I am concerned about is not a Deva nor does he reside in Swarg.’
Menaka was surprised but kept her composure. This was something new and she liked the way this conversation was going. ‘Interesting,’ she said. ‘Does that mean you are talking about an Asur or a Yaksha? I would love to try one of those, they’re rumoured to have big . . .’
Shakra cut her sentence midway and replied, ‘It is neither a demiurge nor a demon that I talk about. It’s a human and a very special one at that.’
The Apsara was stunned and sat down on the couch with a shocked expression.
‘You wish to have me sleep with a mere human! Me, the most ravishing Apsara in Devalok, go and cavort with a filthy Manav! Is this some perverted fantasy of yours, my lord?’ she asked sarcastically.
Shakra felt anger rise within him. ‘Be very careful of the words that come out of your mouth, Menaka. I am not someone you can afford to talk to in this manner.’
Menaka realized she had overstepped her boundaries but said indignantly, ‘Perhaps that was a tad too direct but what in the name of the holy trinity do you have in mind! Surely this can’t be a result of logical thinking for I have never heard of an Apsara being asked to sleep with a human being before!’
Shakra controlled his temper and replied tactfully, ‘There is no force or coercion involved and you are free to refuse. I thought only the best Apsara of my court was suited for this task but if you believe that position does not belong to you or that you’re not up to it, you are free to leave. I shall summon Rambha to do what you can’t!’
‘Like hell you will!’ Menaka retorted. ‘You know as well as everyone else in Swarg that I am the most beautiful Apsara in all the fourteen lokas and that wench Rambha ranks nowhere near me!’
Shakra laughed inwardly. How easy it was to manipulate females.
In a softer tone, he said, ‘I know no other Apsara comes even close to you in beauty, hence had invited you, but you do not seem to understand the significance of my call. You raise your voice against me as if I am one of your love-struck Gandharvas. I am the king of Swarg. I could force you to do my bidding, yet I am asking humbly for your help.’
Menaka seemed to cool down with these words and, after a deep breath, inquired, ‘May I ask who this man is and why you want me to fulfil his amorous fantasies? I know it’s every man’s impossible dream to make love to an Apsara, but I don’t see why this particular man should get the opportunity to realize it.’
Shakra sat down beside the gorgeous nymph and played with her hand suggestively. ‘Just do what I say now and I would gladly answer all your questions once the task is done.’
He knew he could manipulate her desire for him to make her agree to his plan and, more importantly, keep it a secret. He also knew that Menaka was the only real chance he had to get Vishwarath out of the equation swiftly yet surely.
Adhyaye 24
Vishwarath felt great this morning.
His breathing was completely under his control and, with all the practice he had put into his penance, he could now enter a trance state for hours together. His capacity to dive into the subconscious and explore the hidden recesses of his mind was strengthening and his awareness of all external components was growing by leaps and bounds.
He could now sense the divine consciousness pervading the very ether around him and could feel the life force inside every living being in his vicinity. As he turned his mind outwards, he was able to identify each and every animal within a radius of one yojan and that brought him some surprises. He had earlier observed several black bucks in the vicinity but had never seen the cheetah sitting in a tree not very far from him or the python that lay swollen with its prey! It was astounding. He wasn’t afraid of the animals for he knew they rarely attacked unprovoked. It helped that he had made it abundantly clear that he was not a part of their food chain by periodically marking the perimeter of his ashram with a mix of chemicals that reproduced the scent of the urine of a mountain lion.
He turned his attention to the plants around and could individually count each leaf on each branch! He could feel the coolness of the morning dew on unopened buds and sense their return to wakefulness as the sun’s rays activated their light receptors. For all practical purposes, he was one with his environment and realized the true significance of the term Vasudhaiva kutumbakam�
��the world is my family.
Focusing on the micro level he could discern a lady bug crawling on the log near his right leg, three mushrooms struggling to rise up from the earth below it, uncurling blades of grass and unfurling fronds of ferns that slowly but greedily expanded their surface area to absorb as much sunlight as they could.
He wondered if he could expand the area under his consciousness to find out what lay below the earth. For a second he was deafened by the cacophony, for the ground below his feet was teeming with life. But as he concentrated, he could identify small burrows occupied by tiny earthworms and a veritable underground tunnel system that had been created by rodents of various shapes and sizes. He moved on to a bigger burrow and felt the consciousness of a king cobra taking care of its eggs that had tiny pulsating hearts within them!
The experience almost overwhelmed him and he closed his eyes tightly to shut out the sounds and sights of the world taking deep breaths to calm himself. He gradually slowed his respiratory rate, entering into a state of deep samadhi. The self-induced trance took him to a trip out of the confines of this forest and he felt himself soaring higher and higher into the atmosphere until he cleared Earth’s orbit and shot past the moon.
His consciousness was taking him towards the brilliant ball of fire that was the reason life existed on his planet. It hung in the sky by the powers of Sankarshan, what his guru used to call
‘gravitation’. Dattatreya had told him that this was the potency of Sheshnag, who supported the entire cosmos through his powers.
He crossed the revolving planets of Budh and Shukra and zoomed towards the brilliance that almost blinded him. He plunged into it, deeper and deeper, trying to protect himself from the heat that his conscious mind knew could incinerate him instantly. Yet, no harm came to him. He was immune to the extreme of temperature and lack of oxygen and he realized that only his astral body could attain this feat.
Vishwamitra Page 11