CHAPTER 2 : ABOUT VARANASI

Ages ago wandering saint Narada reached Vindhya mountain range in the middle of his journey. The mountain range consists of a beautiful forest with peaceful atmosphere. Upon the arrival of Narada, Vindhya mountain king took his human form and welcomed Narada with utmost respect and served him well. Then he asked Narada "Oh great saint! Even though there are many great mountains, Meru mountain and I are the greatest right? With out being partial please tell me who is better between us both"

Narada is a saint but he loves when people argue and fight against each other. "Mountain king! I visited Meru mountain recently. You are respecting Meru mountain saying you both are equal and comparable. But that Meru mountain king is adamant in saying that he is the greatest and no one can be compared to him. How can any one tell differences between you both!!" After finishing his mission of igniting a fight, Narada left.

Vindhya mountain king felt sad. "Meru mountain king is too arrogant. I will teach him a lesson right away". Thinking so Vindhya mountain king came back again to his mountain form and increased its size more and more tearing the sky apart and blocking sun and moon's paths. It even disturbed the paths of some planets. Which resulted in some countries covering in darkness, some countries covered in hot sun and some with cold fog. This resulted in increase of diseases among people. The gods of nature felt scared by this and discussed among themselves what can be the solution to this problem. They came to a conclusion that the master of Vindhya king is the only person who can resolve this matter. He is living in Varanasi now. So the gods went to Varanasi in search of that master.

Mani paused the story here and asked Kota if he has understood the story till then.

"Yes. I understand. But i have a doubt. Vindhya mountain is a mountain. How can it talk or change its size as per its wishes?"

"On earth there are many great mountains which have human forms. Some ancient texts say that few mountains have wives and kids too. Didn't you hear the story of God Siva marrying Parvati who is the daughter of a mountain Himalaya? Vindhya mountain is also that way."

"Ok. I understand."

"Now lets continue with the story."

Gods of nature reached Varanasi. They felt happy that because of this issue they got to go to Varanasi to visit the God Siva and bathe in Ganges. After they finished their prayers they went to the master of Vindhya mountain who welcomed them warmly. They explained the whole issue with Vindhya mountain and asked for his help. Master agreed and bid them farewell.

Master is unhappy with the fact that he had to leave Varanasi. "We are living a secluded life with out all these disturbances. How did they even know our place of stay?? These gods disturbed our peaceful days. My great name brought upon me this fate. Why didn't even you warn me not to accept their request??" Master was pouring his grievance to his wife.

Master and wife packed and prayed to god Siva in temple of Varanasi for last time and set on their journey to the south of Indian peninsula. Varanasi is a place in Northern part of country. While Vindhya mountain range is in the middle of north and south parts of India. Soon master and his wife reached Vindhya mountain.

Seeing master and his wife, Vindhya mountain king bowed respectfully clearing the sky. Soon the nature took its original form and things got in order.

Master glanced at his disciple. "Dear! We are going on a journey to South. Stay bowing like this until we come back." Saying this master went to south thinking of never coming back. He started going to all pilgrims of Southern India. But he was still sad on leaving Varanasi.

"Dear husband! This is Srisailam. One of most holy places of god Siva. This mountain is full of medicinal plants, trees, different types of animals, holy places. Holy river Krishna also passes through here. All the stones here are said to be forms of god Siva. Even the tribes are saints here. This place pure and holy. Why are you still sad on leaving Varanasi?" Master's wife raised her question.

"Let me tell you a story of a brahmin named Siva sarma with which your doubt would get cleared."

"Siva sarma was a brahmin who is well educated and has many sons. He became old and then had the thoughts of vairagya. He was sad that he spent too much of his life on useless worldly things. He didn't do much of good deeds which could help for him to get a better life in next reincarnation. So he started his journey to pilgrims. He first went to Varanasi and bathed in Ganges and then he went to other pilgrims.

One day he sat on the bank of Ganges and cooked food for himself. But he died suddenly even before eating his food. He fell into the river. Some time after he died, he started seeing some lights. It looked like the lights are reaching him slowly. After some time a beautiful chariot embedded with many precious and colorful stones came near him. From that chariot two people with holy aura came down and gave him new priceless clothes and jewelry and told him to wear them which he did. He did not see such priceless things till then. He understood that the two people are respecting him, so he asked them who they are and why they are treating him nicely. They introduced themselves as subordinates of God vishnu and are there to take him to the abode of god.

Siva sarma understood that it is the result of going to pilgrims and followed them both and entered the chariot. While going into the world of God vishnu they came across another holy looking person who was riding buffalo. Siva sarma asked his companions who that person is. And they answered him saying he is Yama, King of hell. 'Don't they describe Yama horribly? Why does he look like a holy person?'

'He looks horrible to the sinners. For good people like you, he looks peaceful like this'

and so Siva sarma reached abode of god just because he went to Varanasi and other pilgrims."

"Kota, did you understand the greatness of Varanasi now? You will know once you go to those pilgrims. So are you willing to come with me to Varanasi? "

"Oh great saint! After listening to you I got the interest to go to Varanasi. But I have a condition. If there is any new or strange thing we come across on the way, you should explain the thing to me like a story. If you don't i will return home"

"Alright. I can explain things to you in the form of stories. For now go and inform your owner that we are going to Varanasi. Then you can pack and leave with me."

One fine day Mani siddha and Kotappa started their journey to Varanasi. While on journey Kota kept asking Mani various questions but was given cold shoulder by Mani since the latter was chanting mantras to gods. When they reached a town they entered an inn and started preparations for their cooking. Mani ordered Kota to bring wood for cooking. Kota obliged to it and went to forest to bring wood.

In the forest Kota saw a horse carriage in sky. He was amused to see a carriage which is going with out touching the ground. He went to Mani and hurriedly asked what that strange thing was. Mani didn't give answer to him since he is praying and he wouldn't talk until they eat food. Kota did not know about this custom and warned Mani of leaving the place and return home. Mani signed to him that he would talk to him after eating.

After eating-

"Now tell me. What were you saying earlier."

"Sir! I saw a carriage going in sky. There are few men and women in that carriage chatting and having fun. I did not understand what that was. Explain to me in simple language since I cant understand deep words."

Mani prayed to the diamond he got from the saint and got to know the story behind that horse carriage and started narrating it to Kota.