Chapter 132 - A Simple Experiment

When Ishit thought Tahir was soon going to lick the dust, the Matsyan boy let out a powerful aura. The air quivered as Narang stepped back hurriedly, but the powerful torrent of violent energy caught him off guard.

The Riverdale's apprentice's face fell as he swiftly weaved his shield. The torrent crumbled the blue shield, sending Narang flying. 

The Riverdale's fellas hushed up as Tahir's howled, and stood up. His eyes glowing. He summoned his trident and rushed for his opponent. Narang was ready with his lance. Both astras clashed sending sparks in the air.  All of a sudden, the gravity vanished around Narang, making him lose his foot. Tahir took the opportunity and pierced his opponent's shoulder. However, at the very moment, he sensed something behind him and dodged. A spirit dagger went past him narrowly. 

Narang who had gotten his footing flew up, condensing a lightning ball.  The air bemoaned, Tahir stared at the black lightning with some streak of blue. His face turned grim. His opponent apparently had gotten good training. Tahir didn't wait for Narang's attack. He put away his trident and moved his hands, weaving a powerful shield. It would be foolish to receive Dark Lightning's head-on. He also activated his bloodline powers. 

Naranga's attack was ready. Though the dark lightning was composed of inferior spirit, it did disturb Ether. The black flames crackled, as if night had appeared in the form of a giant ball, laughing.

The big drops of sweat had bled out of the flushed face of the Narang, as he threw his attack. Judges nodded their heads in approval. Especially, the goatee man in a blue cloak. His name was Akrura, the vice head of the Pushpagiri Academy, an institute known for its unparalleled discoveries in lightning arts.   

"It seems Riverdale has recruited my student. Poras, you have to give him to me. " Akrura said his eyes appraising the laws used by Narang in his attack. 

"Haa! Are you joking, Akrura? I bring him here to hone his talent, not to  trade." Poras replied; his face filled with pride.

The frightening ball slammed Tahir's shield, engulfing it as dark clouds swallowed the moon.  Tahir dropped on the floor. His face was charred, and blood trickled down from his mouth. The pale face Matsyan glared at Naranga, who stood proudly up in the air. The crow was cheering for him. It seemed Tahir had underestimated his opponent's knowledge of the destructive laws.

The strange energy had cindered his shield like fire burned paper.  If he hadn't already activated his bloodline powers, he would've been reduced to ashes. 

Tahir wiped away the blood with his tattered sleeve. Now he had to show the Kambhojian boy what he had learned on the coast of the Living Sea. 

His dried lips moved, and the air stilled as if listening to what the Matsyan boy was whispring. Tahir aura rose as he clenched his fist. The air froze imprisoning Narang up in the air. Caught off guard, Narang hastily tried to break the elemental prison. However, even the air in his lungs had stilled.  Satisfied with his earlier victory, he forgot to cast his shield. Like a fish out of water, he gasped for his breath. 

The crowd sensed the uncanniness of the attack and broke in an uproar. Casting elemental prison was an advanced battle art and required a deep understanding of the respective tatva (element). 

Tahir's attack had piqued judges' eyes. 

Only Lopa, a representative of Golden Valley remained unfazed.

The next second, the stilled air, rushed out, creating a sonic boom.  Tahir collapsed where he was standing. As for Narang, he had fainted, with cracks running all over his skin. 

No one could make out what had happened. The crowd felt silent as Narang's body hit the ground. 

A strange glitter flashed in Lopa's dark blue eyes. 

Tahir got up, wobbling. As the crier's voice boomed out his victory. 

"What was that? I have never seen such a battle art."

"Where is he from?"

"Is he really a school pass out? What is going on here?"

The crowd erupted in a frenzy talk. People looked towards the judges and the blazing eye, which was overseeing everything. Finding both Mitra's eye and judges were silent, people couldn't help but accept the unconvincing truth that Tahir was really a school-pass out. 

While all the people were watching the fight, Ishit was doing something else. Maybe due to all the clangor or Karuvaki's never-ceasing mouth, Ishit's headache worsened. Memories and chaotic thoughts began to rampage in his mind. Ishit found it difficult to focus his attention on the ongoing battle. Due to the excruciating pain, he felt he would retch up. 

Karuvaki's noticing his grimacing face started to badger him with her questions. 

"What's wrong with you? "

"Can't circulate spirit if you have a headache?"

"You deserve that who told you to go and challenge a master smith."

"Should I call Nimohi?"

"Don't vomit here. You fool. Let me help you"

"How the hell will you fight in this condition?"

Karuvaki's questions were arrows piercing into Ishit's grey matter. 

"Don't tell me you've tried something stupid again as you did three years ago?  Yes, this may be the case.  How you could be so dunce!"

Ishit wanted to smash the evil girl's head then and there. Why couldn't she keep her mouth shut?  Ishit sealed his ears with spirit and closed his eyes. 

What should he do now? There was no way he could win a battle in such a condition. He wanted to scream like an insane beast. The pain was so sharp that he thought of smashing it with a stone.  Maybe that could help. If he tried all the possible methods ranging from spirit paths to pills, but nothing worked. Now only two paths had left before him; either he should visit Nimohi Guild or he should try the methods Onish's had learned from his master- the strange breathing technique called Anulom-Vilom pranayam. 

Among the chaotic memories, Ishit had found the scene where the old sage Anand Giri was teaching child Onish something called Pranayam, and the yogic method to control pranic energy. 

Unlike other memories, this peace was complete. 

The old monk was sitting under a banyan tree on a raised platform while his disciples were sitting in a lotus position with their spines straight like sticks. Oddly, like a bystander, Ishit could see the whole panoramic scene clearly. The old man spoke, 

"This is not just a breathing exercise, but it is a noteworthy yogic technique that involves controlling of subtle 'Pranic energies' (or vital force or bio-energies) of our body flowing through specific channels. The 'ida' and 'pingala' nadis or channels (nadis or channels cannot be anatomically indicated.)  The controlling of the Prana through a regular practice of Anulom Vilom pranayama helps to balance the energies flowing through the Ida and Pingala nadis. This, in turn, stimulates the central channel called Sushumna Nadi. This helps in the elimination of free radicals and toxins from the Ida and Pingala nadi and helps to restore a balance between the two hemispheres of the brain. This helps to purify the entire nervous system. Healing and bringing about a mental calm, peace, and tranquillity." 

The old man stopped for a pause and went on 

"This ancient practice helps in the strengthening of the mind and complete relaxation. Helpful in preparing the whole body for meditation. Bhagwan Shiv invented it to calm down his mind after Bhagawati Sati self-immolated herself.  "

It was then Onish, who must have been in seven or eight, spoke up. 

"Guruji, Why did Bhagwati self-immolate herself?" 

"For she couldn't see her Shiva be humiliated by her own father. " Anand Giri replied with a smile. 

"AH! for such a small reason!"  Child Onish seemed surprised at the answer. 

"It is a puranic tale, Chotto. You shouldn't take it word-for-word." chimed in a senior disciple. 

"Oh! Then how should we interpret such a tale, Hari Charan Das? " The guru asked. 

"According to the ancient tradition of sruti, Puranas are historical accounts complied to understand complex Vedas and Upanishads. However, their purpose was never to remember history but to make the next generation see what happens to a person who doesn't follow his dharma, and what is the destination of a Dharmic person, one who abides by his dharma. "

"Okay! now explain what this Shiv's tale teaches us. " Anand Giri said, satisfied with the explanation of his pupil. 

"There are many interpretations of the tale, and all are true. As the validity of a puranic tale lies in its renditions. As we are all yogis, I will articulate what we as yogis should learn from this tale.

Pita Shiv in this tale is the soul of a yogi, and Ma Sati is Mana (mind) trying to lure away Shiv( yogi) to her father's house. But when a yogi refuses to accompany his mind on his flighty desires. The mind tries to roam alone, but it soon finds itself unable to sustain its existence and vanishes. It becomes one with the yogi, just like Ma Sati. Ma Sati and Shiva are not two. Similarly, Man and soul are not two, they are one. Mind is a consequence of the cravings of a soul. Once Cravings dies so does Mind.. So this tale teaches us, that we, yogis, just have to drop our passions and the mind will vanish on its own. "