THE GARLAND OF SWORDS

“Is it the place?” Asked Sari as I got into the river Kaveri for my evening dip.

I took a fistful of water and offered my oblations to Suryanarayan as it descended into the illusory horizon to arrive again for the nest day, welcoming the night of the full moon.

“It is and it is not’ I replied as I came out of the river and started patting my wet hair with my angavastram that I left with her.

‘What do you mean?”asked Sari perplexed.

I smiled and then said,”the doorway to our destination is through here. It is just that we have to find the key.”

“And where is the key?”

“We will know that soon” I replied smirkingly.

I took a fistful of water in my right hand and closed my eyes.

“Oh mother Lopamudra, hear my plea. Please manifest yourself as we need your counsel.” As soon as i offered the water into the river, the river water started gushing and swinging into giant waves from which a beautiful lady manifested. Rudraksh beads on her neck and arms with ochre robes as her adornments, she descended her elite steps on the riverbank.

I approached and touched her feet. Sari did the same. 

“Yashasvi bhava’ she replied caressing our heads with both of her hands.

“Daughter, why have you invoked me?” She asked smiling.

“Gurumaa Lopamudra, we need to visit the Chintamani Griha and to get there we need your help.”

Sari nodded.

“But i am not a human anymore, daughter. I have transformed into river Kaveri as was destined, hence, do not have the authority to do so.” Replied Devi Lopamudra.

“So there is no other way that we can get there?” Asked Sari, anxious.

She smiled, closed her eyes and put her hands in namaskar and said,”Swami, I call upon you.”

“I am here, Lopamudra” replied a deep voice.

We looked around  and found a man with small stature and a big belly. His  long beard symbolised his wisdom and his tapas emanated through his presence. He came and stood beside Devi Lopamudra.

“Pranam Maharishi Agastya” I said while holding my hands in namaskar..

“Kalyan ho, Devi Kishori. Kalyan ho, Devi Sari” he replied while holding his hands in Var mudra.

“Oh great sage, we need your aid to gain access to Shrimata’s abode. Grace us with the passage so that we can bring to fruition, the very cause for which we were sent.”

“Dear Kishori” replied Maharishi “you have been an established practitioner of Her and have been initiated into it through various lineages which includes Devi Lopamudra and I. And yet, you are asking for the key when you are it.”

Sari’s eyes widened as she looked at me, surprised.

“You, Kishori?” She questioned like a typical interrogator. “You are the key! Then what is the meaning of all this?”

I nodded at her with a smile and said,”Sakhi, it is because a key can’t get inside the door when it is invested in keeping it unlocked.”

“What do you mean?” Asked Sari perplexed.

“Let me explain, Devi Sari” replied Mata Lopamudra. “Have you heard of Samyachar?”

Sari nodded negative.

“It is the process where one’s own body is consecrated as the abode of Shrimata and is worshipped through internal mechanisms. Kishori has mastered this practice across all 16 lineages which includes Swami’s and mine as well. So she can be the door as well as the key to Her abode but can’t  get in and hence, she needs someone to do it for her through which you can also pass.”

“Yes, and since Mata Lopamudra was the one who initiated me into this for the very first time, I knew she will have the answer for our passage.” I replied to Sari.

“But if the key is there with Maharishi, where is the door?” Asked Sari, puzzled.

“I am, Devi Sari” replied Mata Lopamudra “I am the door.”

Sari looked more curious than ever.

Sensing her curiosity Rishi Agastya said,”Devi Sari, there are 3 ways through which Mahadevi can be approached. One is the Srishti krama, the way of creation in which, Devi Lopamudra is an adept, the next is the Samhaar krama, the way destruction which I specialise in and the third.”

“And the third?” Asked Sari.

Looking at Sari’s eagerness, they both smiled looking at each other. They walked into each other, merging and forming a half man half woman being.

“The Sthiti krama, the way of sustenance” they replied in unison. “Only when the creation and destruction is balanced, sustenance can be ensured. Creation is the way of the feminine and destruction, the way of masculine. Only when it is balanced can the seeker truly attain the fruit of life which is none other than Shree Herself.”

As they said it, they transformed into the Yantra of Shrimata which opened a portal of whirling gust of energies leading into oblivion.

“Come, let’s go” I said to Sari.

She nodded and we held each other’s hand and ran into the portal.

“Where are we?” I asked Kishori as I got up from a deep state of slumber.

“We are here” replied Kishori. As I looked around, it seemed like a forest full of Kadamba trees which somehow reminded me of Goloka. Humming birds sucking the nectar out of parijat flowers with a constant buzz of ‘Hring’ that pervaded the entire place. Like Goloka, this place too had its own illumination. The ground radiated its own illumination and the flora was mesmerising. 

“Look Sari, there:” said Kishori pointing towards the north east of where we were standing.”There is the Chintamani Griha.”

I could see a palace like structure far off across the hilltop through the lush canopy of trees.

“It looks like a steep climb, Kishori’ I said to her quite exasperatingly.

“We are at the periphery of Manidweepa, the island where Chintamani Griha is located. Bhrata said, the abode is a fortress which is tightly protected through 9 layers of extremely tight security. To get to Shrimata, we have to face the guards first and Bhrata also said that, well, some of them are quite not entertaining.”

“Well, only one way to find out” I replied as we started heading towards it.

We crossed streams, lakes and waterfalls that added serenity to the place and started our climb towards the palace.

“Well there is our first gate and it seems to be closed” I said to Kishori looking at the big wall of the fortress.

Kishori went near the gate and touched it with her hands. To our surprise, a voice reached out from the other side,”Oh Devis, return from where you came. No one crosses this gate, not even Yama,  who is the son of Aditya and God of death himself.”

“Oh Devi’ Kishori replied in a courteous manner “we are Sari and Kishori, disciples of Mahadevi herself and just seek to have an audience with Shreemata as per my bhrata’s request. Please let us through as it is urgent.”

“We don’t know you nor do we know your bhrata, so leave at once without wasting both of our time or things won’t turn out well for you.”

“Now I get what did Sakha mean when he said that some of them are not  entertaining at all” I said to Kishori.

Kishori replied staring at me,”Well, bhrata also provided me with the solution too as he had already anticipated that this might happen.”

“What?” I asked inquisitively.

She said folding her hands,”Oh Maa Tripura, We call upon you. Please open the doors so that we can get through.”

With that she murmured some seed syllables that sakha had given her and without a moment’s rest, the door opened.

“How did you?” I asked Kishori, surprised.

“Well, Bhrata had already informed me the layout of the entire palace and what to use on whom if things don’t turn out, well, welcoming for us.”

There was a devi standing guard which looked like someone I knew.

“Pranam, Devi Tripura” said Kishori with folded hands. I followed her.

She nodded positively. “How did you known what to do?” She asked surprised.

“Well devi, my bhrata” replied Kishori smiling.

‘“Your Bhrata?” She asked perplexed.

Kishori unwrapped something from her cloth and to my amazement, as she looked at it, her eyes glowed and a grin radiated her entire face.

“Come with me. I will especially escort you to Shrimata’s court.”

“That will be highly appreciated, devi” Kishori replied with a grin.

As we proceeded through all the 9 gates one by one, I could see armies of various beings and feminine warriors stationed which was presided over by a chief devi. We also witnesses various divine cows grazing the land and sages and saints occupied in their austerities, performing yagyas and humans to please the Mother Goddess. 

“Well that was the last gate and a pretty steep climb” I said to Kishori.

“To say the very least Kishori’s bhrata could traverse the entire Manidweepa in just a muhurta” replied Devi Tripura.

“Truth be told, we don’t know really much about sakha. He always keeps him secluded and out of reach in a specific way.”:

Devi Tripura replied with a smirk,”Well, fruit never falls far away from its tree, is it? As father as son.”

Before I could inquire further, we were standing at the most royal court of the entire 105 universes. Majestic as it could get, lay a lion throne where she stood, in all her prime, silently looking at us, smiling, as I was busy with trying to dig deeper about Sakha’s past.”

Red was her radiance as the glow of 1000 suns during sunrise. Red saree with jewels adorning her entire body and a garland of Kadamba flowers on her neck. Champak and Punnag placed on either side of her ears, she was the epitome of all that is beautiful.

As Kishori saw her, a sudden eulogy erupted from her mouth.

“Shrimata, Shrimaharagni, Shrimat, Singhasaneshwari, Chidagnikundasambhuta, Devkaryasamudyata…”

“I am very pleased with both of you and I must admit Kishori, your bhrata has taught you well”

“Oh Mother, it is by your grace that I could grasp your knowledge from my gurus. It is you by whose grace we could have the privilege of having your audience and it is you for whom we have come.”

“I know dear” she replied with a voice whose melody was more enchanting than my Gurumaa’s veena, Kachchapi.

“I presume your bhrata sent something for me” asked Shrimata looking at Kishori’s hand.

“Yes” Kishori replied and handed it over to devi Hrilekha which then handed it over to Shrimata.’

As she opened the cloth, a beautiful festoon of Kadamba flowers came up. Mixed with parijat the fragrance covered the whole hall. The companion devis also knows as Nityas were mesmerised with the smell that the festoon was emanating As signalled by Shrimata, devi Anang Kusuma took it and placed it over Shrimata’s hair.

“Now let us listen to what your bhrata has to say, shall we? Proceed” said Shrimata looking at Kishori, pleased with sakha’s offering.

‘Well Mother, bhrata has requested you by her side now as he plans to execute the final phase of the plan and that can’t be fulfilled without you by her side physically with all your opulences.:”

Her eyes glowed and she replied,”I was waiting to hear the exact words from you Kishori. It brings me immense delight to be by your side for the final phase of the plan..”

“But”

She was interrupted by a heavy masculine voice. As we looked at its source, everyone stood up from their thrones, even Shrimata herself to place their obeisances to the Supreme Masculine, Mahashiva Kameshwar himself.

“Your Bhrata has to be eligible first to contain the energies of Mahadevi first. The question is, is your bhrata competent enough?”

Everyone was stupefied listening to Kamesh’s response. They looked at each other’s faces. There was silence and it was as loud as the sound of mahatandav itself.

“Swami, you are questioning the competence of your own son and disciple?” Said Shrimata exasperatedly.

“I know your plight of separation from our son Mahadevi. It has been many kalpas and you want to hold him in your arms but that does not omit the question of his level of competence to house you in your full potency.”

“Forgive us for our audacity, Kameshwar but not only Mata but we all also are eager to meet our prince” said Nilpataka, the head of the army of all Yakshinis and one of the nityas/ companion energies of Shrimata.

All the devis nodded in unison. Their desperation was clearly visible.

“Then Parameshwar, let you be the judge and guide us the way of how my Sakha can be competent enough to house Shrimata with all her Aishwaryas?” I asked folding my hands in namaskar.

A smile manifested on his camphor face like the moon on the third day of its waxing phase.

“I can’t deny your plea Sari as you are very dear to me.”

He opened his hands and a beautiful radiant wide sword appeared. He signalled Kishori to take it from him and glanced at Shrimata.

Shrimata nodded and smirkingly took out the garland of Kadamba flowers off her neck and signalled me to take it.

We obliged and then he said,”Give it to your bhrata and he will know what to do next.”

We nodded affirmative.

Then for some reason, Shrimata looked at me, as if looking through me smilingly said,”No matter even if we are with you, if you are not with us, we can’t be with you.”

“Yes Mata?’ I said perplexed.

“It was not for you Sari” replied Shrimata smiling.”But sometimes we pave the way for others to be somewhere where they couldn’t even  be by themselves. That’s where you come in, Sari. You are the epitome of bhakti and samarpan. You are the bridge through which they can attain us otherwise we are unattainable.”

“I am humbled by your words Shrimata but how can I be the bridge to you when I am meeting you for the first time?” I asked confused.

As she heard me, a grin appeared on her face and she said,”Are you sure? Look at us again.”

As I blinked my eyes, my eyeballs widened with surprise. I was petrified not with horror but with the sheer emotion of devotion and love that emanated from my very being. I cried,”Govinda!!!”

There he was, sitting on the throne, holding a flute and adorned with the very feather as his token of appreciation towards me, I ran towards him and hugged him tight not able to restrain myself from the pangs of separation that was my constant bearing.

He giggled and caressing my head, said affectionately,”It has been long, Sari. I was dying for the hug. But it so not only me who is waiting for your hug. Look around.”

I got up from his arms and looked around. 

“Radha rani!!!” There she was standing, her arms wide opened. I got up and ran up to her. She held me tight caressing my head and kissed my head.

“It finally feels home, Devi” I replied sobbing heavily overwhelmed with the reunion.

“It is, my Sari. It has been kalpas since you left Goloka. We just wanted to say that we miss you as much as you do.”

I couldn’t stop myself from crying. With tears pouring out incessantly I said,”I am tired now, Devi. I want to return back to Goloka. I did everything I could. Will you come to Bhuloka to take us back?”

‘You did more than you could, Sari” replied Govinda. “And we will, definitely, with all of our gopis and sakhas. The entire Goloka will arrive but there is still time for that. Just a little more patience, Sakhi” replied Govinda wiping my tears with his hands.

“Yes, Sakha. I will” I replied smiling. I was so occupied with them that I didn’t even realise that I was in Goloka itself with sakhis accompanying the main Raas bhoomi, the exact place from where I left for Bhuloka for the very first time.

“Lalita, Vishakha, Chandravali, Kalindi..” I went towards them and all of them hugged me tight.

“We are soon arriving to be with you for the final phase” said Lalita.

‘“How?” I asked confused.

They all looked at Radhagovinda smiling uncanningly and everyone continued giggling looking at me, even Govinda.

‘Sari. Sari. Are you ok?” I was broken out of my state with Kishori patting my back. I looked around. Everyone was still looking at me, smiling. But instead of Govinda, there lay Shrimata and Kamesh instead of Radharani. The Nityas stood where the sakhis stood. I was back at the hall.

Seeing my bewilderment, Kishori looked at Shrimata, confused.

“What happened? Was it all a dream?” I asked bewildered.

“Yes Sari” replied Shrimata still looking at me, smiling. “It was all a dream but the dream was true.”

Kishori looked at me perplexed having no idea what had happened.

“It is time that we take our leave, Mata and Prabhu. Kumari and Sakha would be waiting for us and we would like to be with Kumari as she unveils her part on the Bhuloka” I said folding my hands in namaskar.

“You may leave but the latter part may not be possible, dear” replied Shrimata with a neutral tone.

Kishori and I both looked at each other’s faces and then looked at Shrimata for answers.

“You will know when you return” replied Shrimata anticipating our curiosity.

As we left Manidweepa, my heart trembled with fear. 

“What happened, Sari?” Kishori held my hand anticipating my fear, asking desperately.

I replied staring at her, still trembling,”Kumari. Kishori, It’s Kumari.”