The Weapon of the Devas

by Nanda Gopal Guruswamy

  “Hear that, Lord Varuna? That’s it. You’re gonna have to come and protect your armoury from being stolen.”

  I felt that presence again that made the hair on the back of my neck rise. I looked around wildly fearing that they had come for me. But no one was there. Then I saw something new about the statue. Something was written on the open palm of Lord Varuna. I crawled in for a closer look. It definitely hadn’t been there when I was here earlier. Was my one good eye playing tricks on me?

  ‘Asathoma Sadgamaya’

  Those were the words on Lord Varuna’s palm. I didn’t know what they were for. But I suspected. ‘Asathoma Sadgamaya’ means ‘take me from darkness to light’. Matters had transcended. Someone else was taking a hand in this. If it was coming this late, then it would have to be the nuclear option. Something that ensures that it takes out the complete yagna. And probably everyone in it. Including me, I thought. That would be the only way to stop this.

  So this is what I get for trying to protect Dharma. This would be my reward. To see, Devakratha defeated. The gods are truly capricious and we are nothing but a game to them. It was the very last straw. I started laughing and that is how the Thugs found me. Laughing at nothing and I was still laughing when they dragged me off and broke the jammer into little pieces. They had no idea that I had already won.

  They bought the broken jammer and showed it to Devakratha whose nose had stopped bleeding. He spit on the floor and went back to the yagna fire. The fire had changed colour to a very dark golden. Without the jammer blocking his yagna, it was taking effect.

  “What shall we do with him Jamedar?” asked one his Thugs

  He was looking deep into the fire. He too knew that the Gandiva would soon be on its way. “Stand him up, The Gandiva bow will be in my hands soon.”

  “And we need to test it, right? Well, I’ll test it on him.”

  He looked at me. “See, Guardian. This is what happens to people who defy me. You will be the first one to face the wrath of the Gandiva in this Yuga. And the Guardians will know what I’m capable of. What do you have to say to that now? You always had a smart reply for me. What do say, Shiva of the Guardians?”

  I had only two words for him. I smiled my bloody toothed smile as I said, “Asathoma Sadgamaya”.

  BOOM. BOOM. It sounded like two huge blocks of stone fell down from a great height. The entrances were now blocked. The plants covering the wall fell off. A spooky smoke descended from above. The light given from the gems glinted brilliantly everywhere. I saw forms rising up from the smoke. They were on the platforms connecting the pillars. The ghostly golden forms were that of smaller yaksas and they all held bows. With arrows locked and on the ready. And they were all aimed at us.

  Forms tore free from the stone just like the temple yaksa. All of them had kadathalas. Mayasura had not bound a single yaksa to defend the temple. He had bound a small freaking army. All the entrances were blocked. The Thugs let go of me and I found myself on the ground still looking on in awe with my one good eye.

  The bowmen on top of the pillars all moved at once and pointed their bows to Devakratha in a single action. They fired simultaneously. The arrows hit, but Devakratha already had a shield around him. The arrows struck fiercely but were unable to penetrate. But the other yaksas on the ground had readied their weapons. They started attacking Devakratha who fell back and started going for the exit with a huge roar of frustration. He realized he had been defeated. It was still incredible how he managed to parry and block every yaksa blow with magic.

  As for me, I had spit in Death’s face too many times and he had come to collect it himself. The Thugs holding me were still not as quick as Devakratha and the remaining yaksas and bowmen turned on all of us. So many arrows struck little Johnny that he looked like a porcupine. I was still on the ground, I saw the opportunity to extract one small revenge. I grabbed the leg of a Thug and dragged myself up and held him in a choke hold. It was the one who had shot the little girl.

  He struggled like a rat. But I held on and whispered in his ear “Face it like a man.”

  The yaksas were headed our way, already they had cut many Thugs into little pieces. Although a few did manage to get through and follow Devakratha. I was holding the Thug directly in their path in a choke hold. I was directly behind him. It was wondering why none of the arrows hit me. But the yaksas were coming. There was no chance for both of us to escape. Their coming was like a tsunami. Like the coming of Gandalf to Helm’s deep. It was a glorious end, better than any I could have dreamed of.

  The leading yaksa took a huge back swing and thrust the weapon into the Thug’s stomach. It went right through and into me. But it didn’t hurt at all. The Yaksa then drew his sword back and sliced into the thug’s neck. It went through him and through me. But nothing happened to me. It passed through like a ghostly image. I dropped the headless thug.

  And the arrows came next. They went through me and struck the Thugs behind me. It was like I wasn’t visible to their eyes. I watched as the yaksas carved up the other thugs while ignoring me like the deadbodies around them. Dead Bodies. Dead. The mark of death. The scent of the grave. My hand went up to the piece of bone from the aghori, which was tied to my hand. It was hot.

  I didn’t have the energy to question the incident. I just soaked myself in the fact that I had not only faced one badass Wizard, who was the Jamedar of Thugee. I had beaten him. I had been the last one left standing. Well, metaphorically, because I was actually on the ground. My injuries did not permit any movement. Like a dam breaking and water flooding, the dam in my mind went down and all the pains of the recent days flooded me, but it was manageable with the feeling of victory.

  I was resting when I heard a huge crackling. What now, I thought as I turned around. The fire had turned red and had grown, it had reached the ceiling. And in the fire was a bow. The most magnificent bow I had ever seen. It was nearly six feet tall. As tall as me, and it had thousands of golden bosses on it. Its string was a ray of incandescent light. It was shining in the fire. The Gandiva bow.

  The yagna must have continued. I had no idea what to do. I couldn’t move, it was just hanging there for anyone to take it. If Devakratha came back, he could just take it. I watched for some time and then it disappeared. The fire moved and writhed, it slowly shrunk and took the shape of a human being. It was intensely bright. Like someone had switched on a ten thousand watt bulb in the temple. Everything lit up. It was bright as day. But the fire was still brighter.

  My eye was still trying to adjust when the shape took a step out of the yagna fire. It was headed to me. As it came close, the environment changed. It was super charged with life, energy and power. Also with a familiar feeling. This was the second time I felt that feeling today. The feeling of being safe.

  The figure stood before me. It was too bright to look at. I could hazard a guess as to who it was—the only one being lived in fire.

  Lord Agni. The God of Fire.

  And I couldn’t even stand up. I was on the ground shading my eyes with my hand as I squinted up. The figure raised a hand and blessed me. A warmth spread through me. It felt wonderful. It burned away the pain, repaired my body and left me filled with hope.

  I was healed. I sat up in shock. I checked my hands and legs. Every scar was gone. Even the blood on my clothes.

  I heard a laugh. Full of joy and confidence. I looked up and could make out only the vaguest features. His face was radiant. I kneeled and bowed low. I had met many evil beings but this was my first time meeting a Deva.

  “Rise, Kaalarakshaka.” He spoke in Sanskrit.

  He looked around with a smile and said,

  “Well, it looks like you have managed to stop the Gandiva from falling into the wrong hands. My congratulations.”

  “Thank you, Lord Agni,” I replied humbly

  A sudden thought occurred to me “That was you. With the fireflies. The fireflies that showed me the way to the temple.”

  “Oh oh. Have a care, Guardian. Be
wary of your speech. Others may be listening.” His words were calm and peaceful. His tone conveyed that I was right.

  “Shiva. All the Devas are most pleased. Even the sour-faced Indra. The Guardians will be told of your bravery.”

  He continued “All of Devaloka rejoices. A special puja has been prepared in your honour. Share with me your lineage and nakshatras, Shiva.”

  The voice was curious, like almost he knew. And why wouldn’t he? He was a Deva after all.

  He had hit the nail on the head. Or rather into mine. All of the trials and pain I had suffered was nothing compared to Lord Agni’s arrow that struck right at the centre of my heart. I felt it keenly, an involuntary tear rolled down my eye.

  I bit my lip and said “I do not know, Lord. I do not know anything about my mother or father. I do not know my lineage or my nakshatras. And nor do I remember my childhood. I do not remember my past. I have lost all of my memories. I have no identity,” and hung my head.

  As soon as I said it, this admission, that which I was unwilling to admit to myself, I felt lost. Like a fly in a hurricane. Like a broken ship left adrift on the ocean. I remember only the last ten years. Nothing before that.

  But Lord Agni’s voice did not seem to mind. “Do not despair. Every mortal is born alone, dies alone and faces Lord Yama.”

  “So what if you don’t remember the past? You have the present.” He said

  But still I was silent, he had ripped the deepest secret from my heart and displayed it.

  “Oh, Cheer up Shiva. If this worries you so much, I shall give you a name. Henceforth you shall be known as Shiva Adipati.”

  Words could not express my gratitude. He had given me an identity I thanked him from the bottom of my heart.

  “Now, the Gandiva has been summoned. It cannot be returned quite so easily. And since there is no one else here, you are to be its keeper. And if need be, its wielder.” His eyes were dead serious as he said this.

  “I have sent the Gandiva to your home. It shall reside there and be in your care.”

  It was a bit funny to think that an indestructible weapon of the gods was in my two bedroom apartment.

  “Your actions have to be rewarded, Guardian. I wish to give you a boon,” he said happily.

  I thought of a million things I could ask but one stuck in my mind. “These Yaksas were bound to this temple to serve, Lord Agni. My request would be that you release them so they can continue on their earthly journey.” They had suffered enough, bound to stone for a thousand years.

  “So be it.”

  “Thank you”

  “I shall take my leave now. The war is not going well and the other Devas will miss me.”

  He gave a godly smile as he blessed me again. I stood with my hands folded in a namaste with my head bowed. When I looked up again, he was gone. So was his radiance. The temple was dull and dark again.

  I took my staff and went to the Garbagriha. I was met by a horde of yaksas. It was the same ones who had risen from the ground. At their head, was the temple yaksa. They were a grim group.

  The temple yaksa spoke with a low growling voice. He probably hadn’t used it in a long time. “I am Nisbagg, prince of the Yaksas. We thank you for setting us free, Shiva Adipati.” And they all went down on one knee and bowed except their leader.

  I was a bit surprised, but happy for them. “uhh, no problem. All the best, guys.”

  Their leader had a bemused expression as he growled “Happy hunting to you too… dude.” He might be a lean mean killing machine, but he did have a certain roguish charm.

  I waved them goodbye and went to Lord Varuna’s idol. There was no inscription on his hand now. I looked into its black eyes. My mind went back to the strange presence that I felt. Did I just get help from Lord Agni and Lord Varuna? And how did the Aghori know that he had to give me that bone amulet?

  I had answered a few questions, but several others had risen. But this was a time for celebration. I had just survived an impossible mission. What’s more, an immense responsibility had been thrust on shoulders. The Gandiva. The entrances to the temple were blocked. But the temple was built by vedic scriptures. So I went to the back and found the symbol for the Transport. I looked around the glittering temple of Lord Varuna for the last time before saying the mantra for the temple back home.

  Just before I transported, I saw a painting in the background. It was that of a man with a dark complexion, a large moustache and he held some sort of instrument in his hand and seemed to be staring at the gem stone stars above his head in an expression of wonder. It was the Mamuni Mayan. Mayasura.

  Raja would be unhappy that I managed to lose all the stuff he gave me. I transported to the temple and gave a little shock to all the sleepy eyed priests. I stepped out of the temple into the early morning air of my beloved city. I was grateful just to be back when suddenly an auto swerved into my path and bumped me on the shoulder.

  The driver looked at me and started shouting obscenities. I had probably saved the city he was living in so I just looked at him and said, “You’re welcome”. He muttered something and went on his way. Why do I even bother?

  I walked over to a small tea shop and dropped on the wooden bench asking “Half-tea?” The owner nodded and gave me a glass filled with one percent tea, once percent milk and ninety eight percent hot water that passed for tea in the thousands of roadside teashops in India. It was good.

  Chapter 25: Pawn takes King

  Raja and Kajur were filled with relief as soon as they saw me. The welcome back party was loud and raucous. After getting a much deserved rest, I headed off to Palak’s home. I had figured out how to control Narimbu using the ring. He was not amused to see me as his master. But he had no choice. He left Prajwal and entered the ring.

  Palak was overjoyed when her husband woke up. Their tearful reunion was one of those beautiful rewards I got after a crappy week. Prajwal confirmed everything about Aditya and was saddened to hear of Suryaprakash’s death.

  The Malhotras had been very generous with their payment. Palak’s expressions of gratitude was sickening and a treat to watch. I left their palace on my bike, Lakshmi. Raja had found her in that ditch I had fallen.

  My ride back from Hoskote was over 100 kmph with Daft Punk Robot Rocking in my ears and the wind in my hair. I was like a bright black bullet snaking along the highway. Recent events had convinced me of one thing, there was something big going on, and I was part of it. My past was lost to me. I have tried looking behind that door to no avail. Sure, I was lonely, had very few friends and did stupid things like name my bike. But elder Madhava’s call was a sign that things were about to change. For the present, I had a new toy at home to play with. The future as always looked dark. I will face whatever comes my way. Maybe I’m not the biggest dog in the yard, but I am the most tenacious.

  I am Shiva Adipati, the cursed, Hacker of reality, blessed by Lord Agni, Master of Kajur and Narimbu, caretaker and if need be, wielder of the Gandiva Bow, and most of all, Kaalarakshaka. So if you see something supernatural that be rockin, just raise the signal and I’ll come a knockin.

  Chapter 26: Just Bring it!!

  I woke up from a deep restful sleep to the sound of my smartphone ringing. I saw that it was Vajramuni, a priest of the occult, a charming, intelligent fraud. He preyed on the gullible by showing them just a little magic and selling them amulets or inciting a spell to spread a disease among the livestock or people of a place and curing it himself. Strange, he and his group of misfit friends did their best to avoid me. This is a first.

  I slowly got up and reached for the phone on my nightstand.

  “Hello” I said

  ”Please, please, you must come to help me right now or I’m going to die” a high panicky voice said in fear.

  That’s when the door to my apartment was kicked into several pieces and a huge roar shook the whole room.

  My eyes tracked the golden light and fixed on the Gandiva.

  * * *

  [S1]
AQ: What is the reference to? This is out of context.

  [GGN2] Youll know in the next chapter – regarding the local crime stuff

  [S3] Irrelevant.

  [GGN4] I agree. Lets remove.

  [S5] Are Aghoris also called Bhairava? It is the name of Lord Shiva.

  [GGN6] I think so as they are worshippers of Shiva

  [S7] Should this be ‘Rakshashas”?

  [S8] Devakratha has short spiked hair, hair cannot be flying.

  [GGN9] Shiva is speaking like yoda from star wars

  [S10] Is this name correct? How did Devakratha come here?

  [GGN11] Sorry, yes it should be Raja

  [S12] A better comparison is warranted here. This one mellows the emotions.

  [GGN13] Hmm how about this..?

  [GGN14] Don’t want to remind them of the ring for now.