Epilogue

 

 

Shambala, Beginning of Satya Yuga

For several months, Jack and the remaining survivors of the terrible war struggled with their sadness not just for their fellow travelers but for all the victims on both sides. The few dozen of them were the only humans left on the planet. Every single other person—whether villager, Rak, soldier, monkey, bear, Hero and even Kallin himself—went to the other side where no earthly differences are remembered.

A great sadness descended upon them and during the customary morning gatherings under the trees, many recited heart-rending stories of loss. Steve’s eyes moistened upon hearing the agony of bereaved parents and separated lovers. Shanti joined him, her eyes wet, with great despondency in her heart. But also, tales of countless heroic deeds, of supreme sacrifices and unparalleled bravery were recounted. The elders remained stoic, knowing the material world to be a place of suffering, where none escape death, but their hearts still grieved for the young ones. Yet, the end of the war brought relief.

Kalki Avatar, Hanuman, and their companions left soon after the war’s end. The small band of survivors became broken-hearted upon the departure of their kind benefactors and protectors. Jack felt especially sad to see Hanuman go. He came to appreciate the loyal monkey’s valor and devotion. But the Avatar’s work on this planet had ended and he traveled to another place, in this universe or another, always engaged in his lilas, his eternal pastimes. The survivors offered prayers and fire yajnas for their dear departed ones and offered penances for their benefit. Yet, sadness remained.

 

* * * * *

 

But the sun rose every day and life had to go on. It was, after all, the nature of reality that all things must pass and, after many months, the sorrow dissipated. The earth, refreshed, sprouted grasses, flowers, and trees. Jack wandered through the pastures, letting go of hurry and anxiety, savoring the aroma of the renewed land. The guilt and despondency he felt about Maya’s death slowly lifted as Satya Yuga gently poured its benevolent waters over him and, while it removed the self-loathing, it also helped him see clearly his follies and his responsibility in the heartbreaking affair. He learnt well his hard lessons. The karmic aspects of his actions became clear and he determined to never again put himself or others in a similar situation.

He imbibed the spiritual practices of yoga and meditation, of living in the moment, of doing his duty and leaving the results to a greater power. The seasons changed and the earth, with the burden of sinful men and their karma lifted from her breast, once again became a happy place. As Satya Yuga began, it brought with it longevity, peace, and contentment.

The residents of Shambala smiled again, joyful and satisfied to live in their intimate spiritual community, taking care of each other in their simple, sweet lives. They re-established their rituals—those of waking at the brahma muhurta hour, yoga, meditation, japa and puja, performing their duties, gathering wood, cooking and singing the evening kirtans—finding in this both solace and structure. It helped them endure their pain and loss and brought them back to the present.

 

* * * * *

 

Finally, the day arrived when the community moved on. Parvata Rishi consulted his sacred books and on the day the constellations provided their benign blessings, the young members of the community got married. The beautiful spring day sparkled beautifully, the sun rose high, the firmament shone a perfect blue and a soft wind caressed the faces of those gathered for the ceremony.

Twelve young couples, each from a different community, representing the different peoples from all parts of the earth, gathered for their weddings. They sat around the havan, chanted mantras, cast grains into the sacred fire, circumambulated the flames and promised the seven great vows that all wedded couples make.

Jack observed his brother and his sister-in-law. Shanti looked impossibly radiant. The sun sparkled on her hair and her face glowed golden. She wore a red sari and adorned her hair with scented blue blooms from Shambala’s forest. The flower of womanhood blossomed into a fullness and freshness that shimmered on her face and on her body. Steve stood next to her and when the time came for husband and wife to circumambulate the sacred fire, tied the end of her sari to his white dhoti. As they strode around the fire repeating their vows, Lakshmi Devi, the goddess of material and spiritual abundance appeared in eight forms above. Each of these four-armed female divinities sat on large white lotuses, circled a hundred feet in the air above the yajna, and sprinkled flower petals on them and the other lucky couples. Steve and Shanti looked up and tendered their respects to the heavenly guests with palms pressed together before offering their obeisances to Jack.

“Good going!” he declared. “Congratulations!”

Shanti looked a bit young. Jack made her out to be eighteen at the most but, obviously being meant for each other, the age difference would only narrow after time. And none could deny their love. Steve would make a good father—he had that sense of duty, that sense of loyalty.

He viewed the rishi. Mischief sparkled in the old man’s eyes. What joke, what piece of humor crossed the old man’s mind? Parvata Rishi caught Jack’s eyes for just a second, long enough for the secret to be transmitted.

Of course! Jack realized it right away. “Wait a minute! None of this happened by chance, did it? That I ended up in Kali Yuga? That Steve got married?”

“No, it didn’t,” admitted the sage laughing. “It took me some time to realize it, but now it’s perfectly clear. There’s no doubt that Steve’s destiny is to be a Prajapati.”

“What is a Prajapati?”

“A Prajapati is a progenitor. At the beginning of every Satya Yuga, several Prajapatis are necessary to repopulate the earth. All these young couples you see here are Prajapatis for this age.”

Steve’s jaw dropped. “How long have you known my destiny?”

“I wondered about my daughter’s future for a long while. I prayed for a suitable husband and when you appeared in Satya Yuga and the two of you fell in love, I have to admit, it surprised me. So many other fine young men live in our village and in the neighboring ones. Yet God found it in His desire to send you. Certainly, you will make a fine husband for my daughter and a good father for your children.”

“That’s how I ended up here!”

“Yes,” said the rishi, still smiling roguishly. “We can say, truly, that you are a divinely chosen couple.”

“And we…we’re going to have children?”

Shanti interrupted. “Yes,” she revealed, clasping his hands excitedly, “we’ll have nine thousand, four hundred and eighty sons!”

“Nine thousand, four hundred and eighty sons!” gasped Steve.

“And they’ll all look like you,” she exclaimed happily.

“And how many daughters?” asked Jack.

She screwed up her face with disappointment. “Only three thousand, three hundred and twenty-seven.”

“How are you going to find the time to do all this?” asked Jack, laughing.

Steve turned red.

Parvata Rishi answered. “This is Satya Yuga. One can easily live for a hundred thousand years. My dear son-in-law, your descendants will inherit the earth. This is your destiny.”

Steve looked stunned, unable to fathom what had just happened. Jack watched his brother walk away with his bride. Though utterly charmed by Shanti’s sweetness and modesty, he himself felt in no way touched. No thoughts of marriage or even women entered his mind. How empty were the glories of the flesh! He wished his brother the best, but his path lay in a different direction.

“And what about me?" he questioned. “By what design did I end up here?’

“You were a surprise,” admitted the old man candidly. “I never had an inkling of your showing up. But I have studied you carefully and now realize who you are.”

“Who?”

“My dear son, you have a great destiny ahead of you. You are the incarnation of Gautama Rishi, one of the greatest rishis who ever lived. Your arrival here is of great auspiciousness.”

“Me, an incarnation of a rishi? How is that possible? I was born in America.” He swung his arm around. “I had no knowledge of any of this.”

The rishi nodded. “At first, it perplexed me. But our understanding is insignificant compared to that of the Divine. Your destiny is to become a great yogi and you will be known in history as one of the carriers of yoga to the next Satya Yuga. Just as I am, for this age.”

Jack’s head spun. “I don’t know if I can believe any of this. It’s too far-fetched!”

“Don’t worry, it will be revealed to you in time.”

“Now that your daughter is married, what will you do?” Jack asked, already knowing the answer. He felt a kinship with this old man. After all, despite the age difference, nothing of family, of material life, remained for them.

“I’ll pick up my solitary spiritual practices again. It is what I’ve always wanted to do but since accepting the responsibility of taking care of my daughter, something I had to put aside. I’m very grateful for Shanti. I’ve learned a lot from her. But from now on, sadhana will be my sole occupation.”

He pointed to a cave high in the hills. “I will spend the rest of my days there, engaged in yoga and meditation.” Jack regarded Parvata Rishi with great affection. His kind, fatherly expression left him no doubt that he wanted to spend the rest of his days in his company. He bent down on his knees once again.

“Can you please teach me?” he requested. “I really want to understand who I am. I need your spiritual instruction.”

The rishi smiled. “You are welcome to come with me, my son. I am your spiritual father. When I pass away, you will carry on for me. That,” he chuckled, “is my destiny.” He lifted Jack up by his arm. The old man and the new renunciate walked slowly up the path toward their place of meditation.

“Come,” said the old man, “let us practice yoga.”

 

 

The End