"Fifteen contestants, fifteen greatest warriors, princes and kings have gathered here to vie for my daughter's hand" King Suchihero paused."It truly an honor. The ancient system of Svyamvaar was established to choose the best man for a princess. There are 5 senses, 5 elements, 5 continents on this blessed Earth. Hence there would be 5 challenges. They will be revealed as we proceed." The first contest was taking place in a hall which was the size of an average auditorium. There was a central stage where the contestants were seated.The highest pavilion, near it, was filled with the royal family. Then the guests, and courtiers.Rudra shifted in his seat. He was not interested in the contest really. He was scanning the pavilion for Toshani.Anbir bristled in anger having to appear for such a childish contest for the foolish king but he restrained himself. As per his father's order, he had to win.The oracle took over from the king as she approached the stage to brief the contestants a
Bhairav leaned against a snowy boulder. The chilly air felt like little needles on his exposed cheeks. He had been trekking for hours. It was not always like this.Long ago before the ice age, Kailash was full of greenery, tropical trees, and plants. However, it changed along with several other things on Earth. At least it did not have wild animals now, only snowy emptiness.Peering through the fog he tried to ascertain his location. The Citadel would be right after the giant Shivling.Shivlings were representations of the infinite, with no beginning or end. The Shiva himself.He clutched his staff and started further.*******Rudra was waiting for Toshani at the stables. He hoped he was in the right place. She did not precisely stipulate where.A young stable boy of about 15 approached him and asked him to accompany him.Rudra nodded and followed the boy.The boy took him through a labyrinth of walkways, finally arriving at what looked like a haystack somewhere in the stable.He stopp
Toshani was feeling like a tour guide. Rudra was fascinated by everything, he wanted to visit every shop, try out every eatery, and struck a conversation with random people."Rudra you must not talk to everyone like this. We'll attract attention" She reprimanded him.Rudra was happily strolling on the cobbled road. They were in the middle of the market area. It was crowded with merchants and shoppers."I thought you were the fearless one." He spoke."I am fearless, not stupid!" She replied."Hmmm so tell me what the most fascinating thing about your city is?" He asked casually munching on a stick of kababs which he had bought from a vendor."Isn't it enough? You have seen almost everything!" Toshani grumbled.They had been wandering around for hours and she was tired.He just grinned at her. His eyes were suddenly caught by the glowing pagoda of a temple in a distance.He stared at it spellbound."What is that?" "That is the temple of Aditi.the mother goddess of Shambala," Toshani rep
Anbir was swimming through the lake. He had been swimming for hours through the weeds and fishes. He no idea how to find the pearls. It would take days to scan the entire lake to look for a tiny pearl.He broke through the water surface to catch some breath. There were various water lilies, swans, and ducks floating on the lake surface."Of course! The swans!" He suddenly recalled Sarasvati the Goddess of wisdom resides on the swan. The pearls of wisdom were not in the lake, they were with the swans floating on the lake!He swam back toward the bank where swans built their nests. He just hoped that he was not wrong or too late.He found a flock of swans, but he had no idea how to look for Pearls. Anbir started looking through the nests for pearls or any clues for the pearls."Are you looking for the pearls of wisdom?" A sweet voice asked him.He turned back but did not find anyone."Well, I am here." The voice called again."I must be going crazy" Anbir muttered."Well, if you don't w
When the universe was created by "Brahma" the creator God. He had several "mind-born" children. Mind born means born from his mind.Kashyap was one of the “mind-born” sons of Brahma and part of a prominent constellation Saptarshi (The seven).Brahma ordered Kashyap to go to Earth and marry 8 daughters of the celestial king Daksh for Earth was new and barren, devoid of any life.Kashyap married the 8 sisters and each wife bore him different races of children.His chief wife Aditi's sons were called Aditya.Second wife Diti's sons were called Daityas.The third wife Manu bore him manavs (humans)Fourth wife Danu bore him Danavs (demons)And so on. These children went on to produce different races and species on Earth. Everything was going peacefully when Brahma created Heaven. The Adityas and the daityas fought fiercely among themselves to rule the heavens. But daityas were evil, they were winning by deceit.To save her children Aditi gave her power to her sons the Adityas.The daityas
Rudra was lying on his bed staring at the ceiling and daydreaming about Toshani when a worried Malcolm arrived in his chamber. "My lord, we need you."Annoyed at his broken daydream Rudra turned towards Malcolm."What happened now?""The Prince....he is not waking up," Malcolm replied, fear exhibiting on his face.Rudra sat up immediately."What do you mean not waking up? What happened to him?" He did not wait for an answer and scrambled off the bed pulling on his robe. It was not late night but most of the people in the palace were either asleep or going to sleep.Rudra rushed into Anbir's chamber. Gopi their other guard was sitting near him bending on his body shaking him awake.Gopi turned towards Rudra and bowed slightly.Rudra approached the sleeping form of Anbir. He seemed to be sleeping blissfully a slight smile on his face."He looks fine to me. What's wrong?" Rudra asked the guards."He isn't waking up my lord, it's time for his energy potion. He had ordered me to remind hi
Udaya checked the pulse of sleeping Anbir and sniffed the wine goblet."It's a simple sleeping potion but combining it with wine can make a person sleep for 24 hours. Luckily, I have an antidote." She smiled pleasantly.She took out a root that smelled like wasabi. It was strong enough to make anyone's eyes water.She broke a piece of the root and pushed it in Anbir's mouth."It will work in a few minutes, " she added.Rudra waited with bated breath.In a few minutes, Anbir woke up coughing and gagging."What the hell is this! Who stuffed this nasty thing in my mouth.”? Anbir grumbled and spit the bitter root. Then catching glimpse of everyone in the room he asked."What happened? Who is this lady?" He eyed Udaya."Give him a cold shower, and drink lots of liquid. This will flush out the potion from his body." Udaya gave further instructions to Rudra while Anbir looked on stupidly."Thanks, Lady Udaya. Please allow me to escort you back to the infirmary." Rudra said."I will explain
The arena was full of people. Right from the Royal family, the noblemen, knights, and the commoners. Everyone was packed in the circular arena with a capacity of more than 5000 people.The third round of the contest was about a show of strength. The contestants had to fight against -"Ogres!" Rudra gasped.Ogres or rakshasa were magical creatures who were inhumanly large, tall, with a disproportionate head and body. However, they were amazingly fast, extremely powerful with an appetite for human flesh.They also had literally impenetrable skin making it exceedingly difficult to kill or subdue them through normal weapons."Some of them might die here, my lord." Gopi who was standing behind him whispered to Rudra." Yes, it is a fight to the death, but Anbir will make it. He is the best warrior of Vatsaya." Rudra replied.While the ogres roared behind their cages the seven contestants prepared themselves to face the ogres.Killing an ogre was tricky, it required special weapons, a massiv