Vashishtha sat quietly on the ground, resting against a tree. He looked at his ashram from the distance, seeking solitude in the early morning hour. He looked towards the gently flowing stream. Leaves floated on the surface, strangely even-spaced, as if in a quiet procession. The tree, the water, the leaves … nature seemed to reflect his deep satisfaction.
His wards, the four princes of Ayodhya — Ram, Bharat, Lakshman, and Shatrughan — were growing up well, moulding ideally into his plans. Twelve years had passed since the demon king of Lanka, Raavan, had catastrophically defeated Emperor Dashrath, changing the fortunes of the Sapt Sindhu in one fell blow.
It had convinced Vashishtha that the time for the rise of the Vishnu had arrived.
Vashishtha looked again at his modest gurukul. This was where the great Rishi Shukracharya had moulded a group of marginalised Indian royals into leaders of one of the greatest empires the world had ever seen: the AsuraSavitr, the Asura Sun.
A new great empire shall rise again from this holy ground. A new Vishnu shall rise from here.
Vashishtha had still not made up his mind. He wasn’t sure which of the two — Ram or Bharat — he would push for as the next Vishnu. One thing was certain; the Vayuputras supported him. But there were limits to what the tribe of Lord Rudra could do. The Vayuputras and Malayaputras had their fields of responsibility; after all, the Vishnu was supposed to be officially recognised by the Malayaputras. And the chief of the Malayaputras … His former friend …
Well …
I’ll manage it.
‘Guruji.’
Vashishtha turned. Ram and Bharat had quietly approached him.
‘Yes,’ said Vashishtha. ‘What did you find out?’
‘They are not there, Guruji,’ said Ram.
‘They?’
‘Not only Chief Varun, but many of his advisers are also missing from their village.’
Varun was the chief of the tribe that managed and maintained this ashram, situated close to the westernmost point of the River Shon’s course. His tribe, the Valmikis, rented out these premises to gurus from time to time. Vashishtha had hired this ashram to serve as his gurukul for the duration that the four Ayodhya princes were with him.
Vashishtha had hidden the true identity of his wards from the Valmikis. But of late he had begun to suspect that perhaps the tribe knew who the students were. It also seemed to him that the Valmikis had their own carefully kept secrets.
He had sent Ram and Bharat to check if Chief Varun was in the village. It was time to have a talk with him. Vashishtha would then decide whether to move his gurukul or not.
But Varun had left. Without informing Vashishtha. Which was unusual.
‘Where have they gone?’ asked Vashishtha.
‘Apparently, Mithila.’
Vashishtha nodded. He knew that Varun was a lover and seeker of knowledge, especially the spiritual kind. Mithila was a natural place for such a person.
‘All right, boys,’ said Vashishtha. ‘Get back to your studies.’
‘We heard that the Vishnu blood oath has been taken,’ said Radhika.
‘Yes,’ answered Sita. ‘In Guru Shvetaketu’s gurukul. A few years ago.’
Radhika sighed.
Sita frowned. ‘Is there a problem?’
‘Well, Maharishi Vishwamitra is a little … unorthodox.’
‘Unorthodox? What do you mean?’
‘Well, for starters, the Vayuputras should have been present.’
Sita raised her eyebrows. ‘I didn’t know that …’
‘The tribes of the Vishnu and the Mahadev are supposed to work in partnership.’
Sita looked up as she realised something. ‘Guru Vashishtha?’
Radhika smiled. ‘For someone who hasn’t even begun training, you have picked up quite a lot already!’
Sita shrugged and smiled.
Radhika held her friend’s hand. ‘The Vayuputras do not like or trust Maharishi Vishwamitra. They have their reasons, I suppose. But they cannot oppose the Malayaputra chief openly. And yes, you guessed correctly, the Vayuputras support Maharishi Vashishtha.’
‘Are you telling me that Guru Vashishtha has his own ideas about who the Vishnu should be?’
Radhika nodded. ‘Yes.’
‘Why do they hate each other so much?’
‘Very few know for sure. But the enmity between Guru Vishwamitra and Guru Vashishtha is very old. And, very fierce …’
Sita laughed ruefully. ‘I feel like a blade of grass stuck between two warring elephants.’
‘Then you wouldn’t mind another species of grass next to you for company while being trampled upon, I suppose!’
Sita playfully hit Radhika on her shoulders. ‘So, who is this other blade of grass?’
Radhika took a deep breath. ‘There are two, actually.’
‘Two?’
‘Guru Vashishtha is training them.’
‘Does he plan to create two Vishnus?’
‘No. Father believes Guru Vashishtha will choose one of them.’
‘Who are they?’
‘The princes of Ayodhya. Ram and Bharat.’
Sita raised her eyebrows. ‘Guru Vashishtha has certainly aimed high. The family of the emperor himself!’
Radhika smiled.
‘Who is better among the two?’
‘My father prefers Ram.’
‘And who do you prefer?’
‘My opinion doesn’t matter. Frankly, father’s opinion doesn’t count either. The Vayuputras will back whomsoever Guru Vashishtha chooses.’
‘Is there no way Guru Vashishtha and Guru Vishwamitra can be made to work together? After all, they are both working for the greater good of India, right? I am willing to work in partnership with the Vishnu that Guru Vashishtha selects. Why can’t they partner each other?’
Radhika shook her head. ‘The worst enemy a man can ever have is the one who was once his best friend.’
Sita was shocked. ‘Really? Were they friends once?’
‘Maharishi Vashishtha and Maharishi Vishwamitra were childhood friends. Almost like brothers. Something happened to turn them into enemies.’
‘What?’
‘Very few people know. They don’t speak about it even with their closest companions.’
‘Interesting …’
Radhika remained silent.
Sita looked out of the window and then at her friend. ‘How do you know so much about Guru Vashishtha?’
‘You know that we host a gurukul close to our village, right? It is Guru Vashishtha’s gurukul. He teaches the four princes in the ashram we have rented out.’
‘Can I come and meet Ram and Bharat? I’m curious to know if they are as great as Guru Vashishtha thinks they are.’
‘They are still young, Sita. Ram is five years younger than you. And, don’t forget, the Malayaputras keep track of you. They follow you everywhere. We cannot risk revealing the location of Guru Vashishtha’s gurukul to them …’
Sita was constrained to agree. ‘Hmm.’
‘I will keep you informed about what they are doing. I think father intends to have an honest conversation with Guru Vashishtha in any case. Perhaps, even offer his help.’
‘Help Guru Vashishtha? Against me?’
Radhika smiled. ‘Father hopes for the same partnership that you do.’
Sita bent forward. ‘I have told you much of what I know. I think I deserve to know … Who is your father?’