Jul 31, 2007

Chapter 18: Prahallada sent back to Ashram

News of Prahallada coming back to Palace upon completion of education. Prahallada mom overjoyed. The reunion with mom. HK’s invitation to Prahallada at the palace. The reunion with dad. Small talk. Prahallada says he was taught all wrong things. HK overjoyed at his son’s brilliance. But, pray, what wrong things, asks he. Prahallada informs that the real God is Vishnu and not HK. HK is stunned. He throws Prahallada away, unable to bear the shock. Conveniently he blames S&A for teaching Prahallada about Vishnu. He hears no excuses from them and gives them one more chance to make amends. The next time, they have to face death.

Lakshmi tensed over happenings to Prahallada. Vishnu pacifies that this is just the beginning. He asks her not to worry. The light which has to be spread will spread anyways.

HK’s dilemma as well. Informs his wife about his love for his son and his ire against his son for Prahallada’s love to Vishnu. Tells her that, worse comes worse, he might have to kill Prahallada. Prahallada mom’s nightmares start.

Prahallada is taken back to ashram. S&A tensed. Tells Prahallada what a student he is and what difficulties he has brought them. Prahallada promises no harm comes to S&A. He says he alone is responsible for his thoughts albeit his thoughts do not go hand-in-hand with their thoughts.

Prahallada does shavasan yoga (form of dead body). Disciples think he is dead. Informs S&A. Panic. Prahallada awakes. Tells them about how important it is to control one’s breath. Whereupon both the soul and the body can receive strength. Vishnu agrees. He says breath is the other name of life. If one can control Breath, one can control Life. In the future, pollution will rule the world. Then its necessary to control the breath. Yoga is the art of controlling one’s senses and strengthening one’s inner soul.

Everyone in ashram is fighting with swords. But not Prahallada. He is meditating. S&A enquire why not fighting. Prahallada says, learning to fight are fit for those who are afraid and do not have strength. He is not afraid and he has mental strength. Also, fighting encourages thoughts of violence, which he has no interest in. So he doesn’t want to learn. Other pupils are impressed by him, and want to follow his ways.

Panic for S&A as they are unable to control their disciples. So, at night, they approach Prahallada’s mom to request her to visit the ashram and tell Prahallada to behave. She does so. But Prahallada although surprised and happy to see her at his ashram at that time of the night, informs her of why to worry about the future. She asks him to follow what his teachers are teaching him since they are worried. P says they are not worried but they are scared because they know that the knowledge they are imparting is not based on truth; they themselves doubt the ideas they want their students to accept! They dont have faith in what they preach! She tells him of her midway position between hubby and sonny and she is worried whom she will lose. Prahallada just tells her to keep calm for He exists. When she has no control over Life, why worry? Life, death, problems, solutions are all the matter of Vishnu and why to worry when he is gonna do what is for best. When He is with you, there is neither fear nor worry.

HK wants to check the progress of his son. So he sends for him. Prahallada is teaching his friends about the magnificence of Vishnu when HK’s senapathi visits the ashram and asks for Prahallada’s and Prahallada’s teachers presence at the palace. Sensing ‘its guillotine time’, S&A panic. But Prahallada assures them and tells them again about his promise that he shall not bring harm to either of them. With that, the company proceed to palace.

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