CHAPTER 5: Man With A Mission

Speaking thus, he yet again flew in the air and looked for a secluded spot where he landed and converted into a brahmin! His attire now included a white dhoti and shawl. His forehead was smeared with three horizontal lines of vibhuti and his head was bald with only a tuft of hair hanging out. He even had a mala around his neck. He quickly walked towards the temple. Already there was commotion outside with people coming out of the temple and looking on either sides to see if anyone had played a mischief on them!

With some difficulty, Aryaman managed to enter inside where he found a huge marble idol of Lord Shiva placed at the center. The Lord was depicted in a sitting position lost in deep meditation. His face was so serene and divine that it at once filled ones’ heart and mind with tranquility.   However, this usual peace of mind that devotees derived by having his darshan was shattered on this day following the mysterious voice that everyone had heard!   Aryaman found devotees discussing about the voice in hushed tones. He smiled and then closed his eyes in meditation. After a short while, he opened his eyes and found no change in the scenario around him. Then, he suddenly raised his voice, “Look!” His voice echoed in the temple and all eyes turned towards him. “See! The Lord has indeed disappeared!” He exclaimed in alarm!

As everyone looked back at the idol, to their horror they found that this indeed was the case! The grand idol of Lord Shiva was no longer there! Everyone stood there in shock and disbelief. The prognosis of the voice had indeed come true! Some sat on the ground and even began to wail. They were certain that their beloved Lord had gone away from them with a grouse. Soon, the temple authorities came over and stood discussing about the terrible inauspicious calamity that had befallen their place of worship.

After a while, Aryaman slowly moved towards a golden pillar and disappeared behind it. No one noticed him, as they were all engrossed in trying to piece together the unbelievable events that had taken place before them.   As he emerged, his look had yet again changed! Although he still appeared a Brahmin, his body had taken the form of an old man who walked with the help of a stick. He walked some distance and suddenly shouted, “Hail the Lord! Look! He is back where he was!” As everyone looked at the place where once the idol stood, there it was again in all its glory! The initial shock and commotion gradually gave way to signs of relief and cheers!

Aryaman came out of the temple and walked to a scheduled place where he at once transformed himself yet again to a crow and flew to the top of the temple dome. He again spoke aloud, “The Lord just went away from you for some time. Do you want him to go away permanently owing to your discriminatory attitude? That is for you to decide!”

So saying, the crow flew in the air and as it attained a great height, it transformed to Aryaman who continued to fly around to his next destination!

He soon reached a palatial place that had a huge iron gate surrounded by walls made of red sandstone. This unbarred gate was nearly thirty meters from the ground and had an arched closed enclosure in the beginning, which when opened would lead an entry inside the palace. Aryaman landed and came near the bemused guards who were standing vigil at the giant door.

“I want to meet King Ravichandran!” He expressed his wish.

The guards exchanged glances and looked suspiciously at the visitor.

“How can you fly like that?” One of the guards asked him.