As he entered the very core of that star that was burning up its own fuel, he saw a sight that amazed him as nothing ever had before.
He saw particles made of pure energy colliding, merging, taking on a new form and moving outwards to be dissipated into space to give life to each tiny beating heart on Earth and possibly other planets in the solar system.
He wondered what would happen once this fuel was over. Would the star collapse on itself or would it bloat into something bigger, filled with the entire residue. He remembered how the Vishnu Purana described the end of the world, where the sun was supposed to swell seven times its normal size.
The time for that was perhaps eons away, so he shrugged and plunged into the boiling cauldron of smaller molecules turning into bigger ones. There, his astral body assumed the lotus position and he sat down to meditate, focusing on the energy that drove this seemingly unending process.
Energy . . . Shakti . . . the feminine force balancing the masculine matter of this universe. The continuous exchange between the two, represented metaphorically by the divine union of Shiva and Shakti, was what sustained this universe. And would continue to do so till such time as Shiva decided to dissolve it all and give Srishti Karta Brahma new raw materials to begin the process with all over again.
He meditated on the primeval energy source for all living beings, Goddess Durga, whom Shaivites called Gauri or Kali based on her moods and the Vaishnavas knew as Yogmaya. The consort of Shiva for the former and the expansion of Vishnu for the latter was the guardian of this durg or fortress of material creation.
He meditated on the energy that flowed from the sun to Earth and was transformed by millions of green leaves into food that was fit for animals and humans which was further turned into kinetic energy that was used for creating cities, temples, art, industry, sports, literature—in short, entire civilizations.
The same energy heated up land and water differently, creating currents in the oceans as well as the sky, and helped sustain different species of life. When it entered the planktons, it provided food for bigger fish which in turn supported higher and higher forms of life right up to the giant leviathans living in the dark recesses of ocean, growing larger than any land animal could ever hope to be.
Life on Earth was possible only because this continuous flow of energy was shared in just the right proportion, neither too little, nor too much. Without this Shakti, there was no movement as even a stationary object possessed potential energy that helped it move.
His own consciousness was swirling in the flux inside the core of the sun and he felt his body shrinking, till it was small enough to enter the smallest particle. He felt as if he was watching a dream within a dream where he could see his own miniature self, entering a paramanu, an atom.
He watched wide-eyed as the bright light was replaced by a goddess of a form he had never seen before. She possessed five heads that looked in the ten directions and her ten arms held all the weapons of the holy trinity.
He fell down on his knees upon seeing this glorious form of Goddess Shakti and, with folded hands, verbalized the words that were forming in his subconscious mind:
Oṃ bhūr bhuvaḥ svaḥ
tát savitúr váreṇyaṃ
bhárgo devásya dhīmahi
dhíyo yó naḥ pracodáyāt
O giver of sustenance to the three lokas;
Residing in the sun; hidden by a golden light,
From You all proceed, to You all must return,
That we may see the Truth and fulfil our duty
I meditate upon you, to inspire my activities and stimulate my intellect.
As he finished his prayer, he fell prostrate at the feet of the goddess whose five faces wore a smile that a mother reserves for her favourite child. He knelt in front of her and searched in his mind for words that would not come. All that he had felt on seeing her radiance had burst out of his mouth and now his mind was blank like a fresh sheet of papyrus.
The goddess placed her hand on his head and blessed him and it was as if a bright stream of energy moved from her divine hands to his forebrain, stimulating his grey cells and forcing his tongue to form a new word.
‘Gayatri,’ he said hesitantly and the goddess nodded. That’s who she was, the Mother of the Vedas and the embodiment of the combined female energies of the Creator Brahma, Preserver Vishnu and Annihilator Mahesh. The goddess then spoke for the first time in a voice that seemed like a whisper, yet seemed to come from very far.
‘You have uncovered the beej mantra of the universe, the primal verse that can turn energy into matter and matter back into energy. You have made a great discovery and this mantra shall now be available for all mankind to meditate on and realize their goal of self-actualization.’
Vishwarath heard the words as if in a daze. Had the goddess just credited him, a novice, with a discovery of such proportions that it could change the spiritual landscape of mankind? This was unbelievable!
As if in response to his thoughts, the goddess smiled and said, ‘Yes, call it serendipity or beginner’s luck, but you have unravelled the most powerful set of syllables in all Creation that lay hidden from the dwellers of Mrityulok, since the beginning of Creation. Through sheer luck and intuition, you have managed to achieve what even the sons of Brahma couldn’t.’
Vishwarath beamed with pride as the real purport of these words hit him.
He had surpassed the sons of Brahma in his discovery, even Vasishth. Did that make him superior to the Brahmarishi now? Was he too now a Brahmarishi of equal stature to his arch-rival? The prospect was electrifying and he felt goosebumps rise on his skin.
Having read Vishwarath’s mind again, the goddess’ expression turned sombre and she said, ‘Brahmarishi Vasishth is a seer of countless Vedic verses and is responsible for taking them to the world at large. Your discovery is but just a beginning though it certainly deserves the highest recognition and for this achievement, I name you Vishwamitra, the friend of the world.’
He heard the name and rolled the syllables in his mouth, testing them on his tongue.
Throughout his life, he had been called by many names—Vishwarath, the name given by his father; Vishwa, the shorter form his sister and nephew used; Kaushik, his sobriquet for belonging to the lineage of Kush. But he liked the sound of his new name best and bowed to the goddess gratefully.
He felt as if he had achieved everything in life! His one act of exploration had made the Gayatri Mantra available to all mankind and he was proud of his achievement. As his conscious mind began filling up with self-congratulation, his subconscious dragged him out of the sun’s core, back to Earth. The journey to defeat Vasishth had begun.
Adhyaye 25
Menaka was sulking; she did not like the task that had been assigned to her.
Still, she figured, this was the first time Shakra had requested her for a personal favour and, if she played her cards right, she might be able to use this to her advantage in the future.
She had liked him even before he became Indra and had it not been for that confounded Shachi, she could have been the one riding the Airavat with him. Anyhow, Devas’ and Apsaras’ lifetimes were long enough for future opportunities and this could very well prove to be the turning point in their relationship.
She had obtained from him the antecedents and life history of the human he was targeting, though he would not tell her why he wanted her to seduce him.
As far as she knew, Devas had always helped humans progress on the path of spirituality and sending her to disrupt a rishi’s penance seemed odd to her. She had no idea what Shakra’s real intentions were and, if she were to be honest, she didn’t really care.
She had taken up the challenge so she was just going to head to this rishi’s ashram, complete her task and return to Swarg as soon as possible. Though she was aware that he had recently attained a new title of Vishwamitra through his penance, given her track record, she doubted she would require more than a couple of days to ensnare him and br
eak his vow of celibacy.
Indra had told her to take the help of Kama and the two now travelled together to Earth, giggling as if plotting a prank. Kama was probably the most handsome male in all fourteen realms and she enjoyed his company though they had never had a conversation before. He had numerous stories to share and she didn’t even realize when they arrived near Vishwamitra’s ashram.
Kama had played cupid to many couples, both human and divine, and he knew how to set the mood well, so he first began transforming the forest area surrounding the ashram into a blooming garden in all its spring glory. Fragrant lilies replaced thorny brambles and timber trees were supplanted by rose vines and kachnar, showering their yellow and pink flowers in the breeze.
The sun went into hiding behind the soft white clouds stacked like bales of cotton in the sky. Cuckoos sang spring songs while lavender lotus buds opened up in the ponds. Vishwamitra did not notice these changes as he usually started meditating quite early but by evening, the entire area around him had metamorphosed into a garden fit for a king and demanded attention. Waking up from his trance, he felt disoriented for a second, imagining himself back in the royal gardens of Kanyakubja. Was it spring already? Of late, he had hardly been aware of the seasons, so he shrugged and walked to the ocean to offer his evening prayers.
But as he proceeded, he started noticing unmistakable changes around him. The texture of the sand seemed softer to walk on. Gone were the mangroves with their ugly upward projecting roots and, in their place, wispy willows swayed happily. The palm trees near the beach were laden with fruit and the fragrance of jasmine and champa was in the air. A sweet melody played somewhere deep in the forest and he felt lighter and happier than he had felt in a long time.
As he offered his final prayers that evening, he noticed that there was someone further along the shore, not too far from him, doing the same. The shadowy figure turned away from the setting sun, and his breath caught in his throat.
It was the most beautiful woman he had ever set eyes on. Water rolled off her smooth alabaster skin while the evening light played on her exquisite features. She was tall and voluptuous her long hair was tied in a braid that fell to her hips and her wet sari clung to every curve of her body.
She turned at that moment and their eyes met. It seemed to Vishwamitra as if an arrow had pierced his heart and he felt compelled to greet her with a smile. She acknowledged his greeting with a polite nod and began to move away from the bank.
He was overcome by the sudden urge to not let her out of his sight, and in order to gain more time to admire her ethereal beauty, he moved to intercept her motion.
‘Namaskar,’ he said tentatively.
She paused in her step and turned a shy glance towards him. He was emboldened and took a few strides towards her while she stood rooted to the ground; the closer he got, the faster his heart started to beat.
Her sun-lit face seemed to be made of molten gold, with a hint of peaches and rose. It was the most perfectly proportioned face he had ever seen and that was saying a lot since the women of Aryavarta were widely acknowledged to be gorgeous even by residents of other kingdoms.
As he came face-to-face with her, she looked directly at him. Her kohl-lined deep-blue eyes burnt a hole in his heart and he staggered a little under the onslaught of cupid’s bows. He could not stall her for long without reason, so he said, ‘My apologies for stopping you, my lady, but I have never seen you around here before. I assumed you had lost your way so wished to help.’
Menaka smiled inwardly at the ploy he was using. Vishwamitra was innovative, that much she would give him. Evidently, he was not used to having people around and lived a secluded life. She glanced at him shyly and decided that she liked his looks. Though his hair was matted and his beard was unkempt, his handsome features still stood out and the short angavastra did little to conceal his tall muscular body. His deep baritone voice only added to his appeal. Suddenly, the desire to go back to Swarg took a backseat and she realized it would be fun to toy with this human before returning to the monotonous humdrum of the high-society life of her loka. Telepathically, she conveyed a message to Kama to play along with her and aid her in her ploy.
In a soft whisper, she said, ‘Rishivar, I had come to this beach with my family sometime in the morning and happened to fall asleep under the cool shade of a tree. When I woke up, I couldn’t find anyone and have been searching for them for almost a praher now. I fear now that they have left without me.’
Vishwamitra was stumped. ‘How can your own family not realize they have left you behind!’
She looked at him with eyes filled to the brim and said, ‘Perhaps they left me behind deliberately.’
He was shocked. ‘That is outrageous! Why would they leave such a delicate wisp of a girl alone in the middle of nowhere?’
Menaka’s plan was running like clockwork. She let two tears fall and made an exaggerated gesture of wiping them.
‘My birth parents died in a boat mishap and I was raised by my uncle and aunt along with their children,’ she said. ‘As I grew up, they got many proposals for my marriage but the local astrologer predicted that the family I got married into would be destroyed completely. Moreover, he warned that if I stayed at their house after turning eighteen, all their children would die within a year!’
Vishwamitra was aghast at her story and immediately felt a surge of protectiveness towards her.
The girl continued, ‘It’s my eighteenth birthday today and we had come to this beach to celebrate as a family but it seems that they had other plans all along. Perhaps they thought leaving me so far away, at the mercy of the elements and wild animals, would rid them of their problem.’
He marvelled at her restraint. Even though she had been left behind by the only family she had known, she was still managing to hold onto her self-control. She was really brave, trying to fight back her tears even though she must be terrified. When he had seen her, she had been well inside the waves and her sari had been completely wet—had she been trying to end her life? God knows what she would have done had he not arrived there in time.
Aloud he said, ‘It’s a shame that they got scared by the predictions of a soothsayer. Half of these dimwits can’t even predict their own tomorrows and they talk about you destroying a family!’
He came closer to the girl and put his hand on her shoulder; it was almost as if a current traversed through his entire body. He realized taking her home would invite trouble for his own self-control but at the moment he had no option but to give her shelter for it was almost night.
Lightning flashed through the darkening sky and moments later was followed by a clap of thunder. Controlling the storm within his heart, he said, ‘Dear girl, don’t be afraid. You may spend the night in my ashram and in the morning we could try to locate your family or arrange for transport back to your city. Right now let us hurry for it seems a storm is almost upon us.
We can discuss the situation in a relaxed manner while sitting in the safety of my humble abode.’
She nodded meekly and started following him. Vishwamitra thought it best to lead the way and make sure she did not slip on any of the bigger rocks on the shore.
Seconds later a downpour began and he again wondered which season of the year it actually was! Though he signalled to the girl to follow faster, by the time they reached the ashram they were both drenched in the rain.
As soon as they entered the hut, he picked up the arani wood he used for lighting yagnyas and built a small bonfire in one corner of the hut. Since her sari was completely soaked he gave her his spare angavastra to change into while he went out to gather thick leaves that he could lay down as her bed. He himself had slept on dry ground since the day he had left his kingdom, yet he knew he would have to provide something more comfortable for her. Things he had never bothered about suddenly became very important. He had a few tubers stored in his hut but she would need something more filling to eat. He foraged the surrounding forest for whatever he could fi
nd and rushed home, not wanting to leave her alone for too long.
When he returned, she was sitting near the fire, wrapped in the piece of cloth he had given her earlier that left her shoulders as well as legs partially bare. Her aquiline nose and the rims of her eyes were tinged with red but her cheeks glowed with a fire from within.
There seemed to be a slight chill in the air and he went to sit near the fire as well. He spread his gatherings to dry them and then offered her the few fresh fruits he could find. She took a berry thankfully and started munching on it politely. As she bit into it, the juice trickled down from her lips and slipped along her long shapely neck to slowly reach the edge of the angavastra.
Vishwamitra’s eyes had followed that drop of juice all the way to her bosom and stayed fixed there. The now familiar stab in his chest had returned and he felt an ache develop in his abdomen. As he picked up a fruit to eat himself his hands trembled and he dropped it accidentally.
Menaka quietly picked it and offered to him but as their hands touched he felt another jolt of electricity pass through his entire being.
He had not touched a woman for many years now and suddenly his desires couldn’t be controlled any more. He forgot his penance, his dream to best Vasishth, and gave in to her ethereal beauty, grabbing her hand and pulling her close to him.
She embraced his bare upper body as tightly as he clasped hers and, in a heartbeat, his lips crushed her trembling ones. A thunderclap resounded and a gust of wind blew in through the window and extinguished the only source of light in the small hut.
As the embers died, they were consumed by an inner fire that could only be extinguished once he had released all his pent-up passion between her loins.
Adhyaye 26
Vishwamitra woke up with a smile on his face.
He hadn’t been so close to anyone in years and had almost forgotten how wonderful the warmth of another body felt. Their love-making had felt different too; it almost felt as if it was the first time he had been with a woman!
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