A Leap of Faith Part -2 Towards the Grove

“Pitter patter.”

“Splash, sploosh.”

“Focus on the sound outside this auditorium,” stated Pandit Narottam as we lay on the floor, eyes closed, feet relaxed, hands stretched with palms facing the ceiling. “Today’s rains provide us with soothing and artistic background music, but try to focus on other sounds as well,” Panditji recommended in his calming voice.

“Chirp, chirp.”

I heard the faint sound of a bird chirping as Panditji told us to internalize our awareness and listen to our heartbeat. “Yoga Nidra is a guided meditation practice where even though your eyes are closed, you should not sleep,” Panditji jovially continued.

My nostrils were tingling with the earthy fragrance in the air, courtesy of the rain. Panditji guided us, saying, “Fill your mind with positive thoughts and recollect the learnings of the Sunderkand.”

After a few minutes of meditative silence, Panditji calmly mentioned, “As I take you through a new journey through the past, feel the boundless energy of Hanumanji, surrounding you!”

I felt my eyes twitch a couple of times, and then I noticed a golden-hued figure dashing across Pushpak, the renowned flying vehicle.

“Hanumanji!” I shouted as I saw Maruti jumping over the fort wall at the speed of lightning.

“Crackkkk!!”

“Boooom!!”

I heard the sound of lightning cracking the skies, as I felt the ground shaking. Immediately, Panditji announced, “Don’t worry about the lightning, just make sure you don’t fall asleep.”

My mind shifted focus as I quickly followed Hanumanji. My right arm instantly stretched towards Maruti as I reiterated, “Hanumanji, Hanumanji, where are you going?”

In a fraction of a second, I reached Maruti and tried to hold his arm, but my hand passed through him. “Hanumanji, can you not see me?” I asked, as I felt sweat trickling down my cheeks.

“Yoga Nidra is a profound meditation; It is a conscious state between waking and sleeping. So do not worry and quietly observe what you see for the next twenty minutes!” recommended Panditji, which calmed my mind.

In the hush of silence, I saw Hanumanji’s mighty frame becoming visible in the dimming night light. “I have searched for the daughter of Videha everywhere, ponds, lakes, pools, rivers, forests, mountains, but I am unable to see her,” revealed Maruti, as I felt the heaviness in his voice.

Suddenly, the wind blew into my face. I immediately closed my eyes and raised my right arm to protect myself. After a few moments, I opened my eyes and saw myself on a lush green mountain, beaming under the sunlight.

“A-are we back on Mahendra mountain?” I whispered, noticing a giant, elderly vulture standing before Hanumanji. “When did we fly back from Lanka?” I questioned the situation.

“Hanuman, Mata Sita is in Lanka, in Ravan’s abode!!” stated the magnanimous wingless bird.

“But, Sampati, I am unable to find her,” replied Maruti, as the bright light was replaced with the darkness of Lanka.

“What if she is with Ravan?” questioned Hanumanji, as I heard an evil laughter in the background.

“Bwahahaha, bwahahaha!”

I felt the sunlight beaming into my eyes as I saw Mata Sita falling from the Pushpak Viman. I could see Hanumanji diving towards her. “Mataaa!!” Maruti shouted, as my heart skipped a beat, questioning if the event was an illusion or reality.

Instantly, the air turned chilly as I felt cold water splashing my face. “O-ocean, b-but we crossed the ocean, did we not?”

“Splashhhhh!”

I saw Mata Sita fall, but this time into the vast blue ocean. Even though celestial beings frequented the place, I didn’t see any beings in that moment. My mind somehow calmed down at that observation, as I questioned myself, “It couldn’t be, or could it? It’s as though I am observing Hanumanji’s thoughts!”

The scene changed again, as I saw Ravan dashing at the speed of lightning, but Mata Sita seemed unconscious.

I heard Ravan’s evil laughter again, but this time it was accompanied by a woman’s laughter. It was as though Mata Sita had been engulfed by a terrifying illusion of Ravan and his wives, acting as cannibals.

“Ram, Ram, Ram!”

I now saw a young woman seated under a tree, with black lotus eyes, meditating on Lord Ram’s name, tears rolling down her cheeks.

“O Ram!”

“O Lakshman!”

She was weeping profusely, her strength and willpower visibly drained. It felt like a parrot, weeping when captured in a cage.

At that moment, I heard Pandit Narottam’s voice, echoing in my ears. “I repeat, Yoga Nidra is a deep meditation, and at present, you are with Hanumanji, and are closely visualizing his inner struggle. Closely observe his resolve, his unwavering strength, and dedication towards his goal.”

“It is not possible for the virtuous Mata Sita, born in Janaka’s noble lineage, to ever submit to Ravan,” inferred Hanumanji as he calmly thought about the situation.

“And how can I declare Mata Sita to be dead or lost, without any certainty. But, if I don’t mention it, then too, it is wrong,” he added, highlighting an evident dilemma in his mind.

“If I return to Kishkindha without having seen Mata Sita, all my efforts of reaching Lanka, and just observing rakasas would be futile,” admitted Maruti, as I heard a barrage of questions from the vanaras.

“Why could you not find Mata Sita?”

“You came back empty-handed?”

Maruti’s dilemma deepened as the scenario changed again; we stood on a hilltop, in the middle of a lush green forest.

“My Lord, I was unable to find Mata Sita anywhere in Lanka,” mentioned a dejected Maruti with utmost humility.

“Sitaaaa!!” I heard a screeching voice as I saw the broad-shouldered, lotus-eyed Lord Ram fall unconscious.

“Brother!!” shouted the muscular, copper-eyed Lakshman, as he dashed towards Ram.

“No, no, I cannot let this happen, because if something happens to Ram and Lakshman, Bharat and Shatrugan will also not survive, nor with their mothers, Kausalya, Sumitra, and Kaikeyi,” concluded Maruti, as we stood under the moonlit city of Lanka.

Maruti’s vision showed that the entire vanara clan would cease to exist, with Sugreev and Angad relinquishing their lives, and the other vanaras following suit.

Visualizing the destruction of the Ikshvaaku dynasty and the vanaras, I heard Maruti’s voice echo deeply, “I cannot go back to Kishkindha without Mata Sita!”

“This long night has shattered me. Even if I am unable to find Mata Sita, I will live as an ascetic, staying in the forest, surviving on alms if required!” remarked Maruti.

“At this stage, Hanumanji was about to give up, but this is where his power of devotion and inner strength kept him motivated,” exclaimed Panditji, as he asked us to focus on Maruti’s inner resolve.

“If required, I will slay the ten-headed Ravan, or hurl him over the ocean and throw him at Lord Ram’s feet, but I will not give up my life.”

“I will keep searching for Mata Sita again and again till I find her.” His resolve remained unshaken, as I noticed a lush garden ahead of us, surrounded by trees.

Each tree rose as tall as a palace tower. The garden was blooming with dark green foliage, as orange and red flowers appeared in dense clusters.

“Ashok Vatika!!” announced Panditji, as I felt a coolness in my breath. It was as though the air had been cleansed.

“I haven’t been to this grove, I must search here,” suggested Hanumanji as he bowed to Vasus, Rudras, and Adityas, the two Aswinis, and seven Maruts.

I followed Maruti as he performed his rituals, invoking various divine forces. He then moved swiftly towards the grove as he shouted, “Jai Shree Ram!!”

“Be aware of your surroundings and keep your eyes closed, and remain awake,” stated Panditji in a calm and measured voice.

“Now, listen to this prayer as I read it aloud,” advised Panditji cheerfully.

May there be well-being for all.

May there be peace for all.

May there be completeness for all.

May there be auspiciousness for all.

Om!

“Gently move your fingers, toes, hands, and legs. Turn to one side and stay there for some time,” Panditji mentioned as we neared the end of the morning Yog Nidra session. “Slowly, sit up. Rub your palms together and place your warm palms on your eyes,” he added as I followed the instructions.

“My dear friends, that concludes the thirteenth Sargam, in the Sunderkand. Please have your breakfast, and return soon,” requested Panditji, as I opened my eyes, turned left, and observed a broad smile on the man seated next to me.

“Why was I not able to speak with you?” I asked calmly, as I hugged Maruti.

“I was in deep thought at that moment so I couldn’t interact with you. But, I heard everything you said, and as I said earlier, I am always there with you!” the golden-hued Hanuman replied, placing his palm on my head.

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