Mahanayak Kharvel Ep. 15

Mahanayak Kharvel Eng-15

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[ Forest dweller Kamru has come to the Kaumudi festival due to the insistence of his beloved Kinkini. And here Manavak starts narrating like every year. ]

"Hear ye... Hear ye... Listen, my people of Kalinga! Let me tell you the tale of Kalinga. A tale from a night when the moon and stars shone brightly in the sky."

"This history is 600 years old. The 23rd Jineshwar, Lord Parshvanath, is especially revered. His footprints remain in Kalinga to this day. They are not just mere impressions but a shower of blessings."

"King Karkandu ruled Kalinga. Leaving behind his royal duties, he adopted the path of strict penance."

"Time is slipping like sand, and two sacred sites were established, named Kumargiri and Kumarigiri."

"Shraman and Shramanis from far and wide come to Parshvanath's sacred mountain, burning away their karma through intense meditation and penance."

"Two and a half centuries after Parshvanath, the religion of Lord Vardhaman flourished across Aryavarta."

"Lord Mahavir's devoted follower, King Bimbisara of the Shisunaga dynasty, heard the glories of the Kalinga pilgrimage from Arya Sudharman."

"Arya Sudharman traveled to Kalinga, visiting Kumargiri and Kumarigiri, where he touched the very places where his ancestors had meditated. The touch of those sacred spots made Arya Sudharman feel purified. His Samavasarana (spiritual assembly) has been established. Directly from Rajgriha, Maharaja Seniya (Shrenik) Bimbisara has arrived. Delighted by the serenity and purity of the pilgrimage, he decided to develop the site further.King Seniya had a grand temple constructed on Kumargiri Mountain, adorned with intricate carvings that even attracted the devas. In it, he placed the majestic, golden statue of Lord Rishabhdev. Sing praises for Kalingajin! Victory to Kalingajin, triumph to him, may he be hailed in glory....!"

The noble Arhat King Seniya (Shrenik) Bimbisara had many cave dwellings constructed on this twin mountain for the Nirgrantha monks to use during the monsoon retreat.They spend their time in meditation, contemplation, and penance. In the vicinity of the twin mountains of Kumargiri and Kumarigiri, they continue to gather a wealth of sacred energy.

"Time passed. Generations came and went. King Seniya left, and King Ajatashatru, also known as Konika, took the throne of Rajgriha. He inscribed his name on five cave dwellings on this holy twin-mountain of Kalinga."

"When Lord Mahavir was alive, there was a massive war between Magadh and Vaishali. Millions were killed. King Chetaka renounced Vaishali, fasted to death, and ascended to heaven.Then Konika (Ajatashatru), relentless and ruthless, drove out Vaishali's people with force and turned the city into ruins.

"At that time, King Chetaka's son, Prince Shobhanaraya, fled with his entire family and sought refuge under Kalinga's King Sulochan, who was also his father-in-law."

"King Sulochan, being childless, handed over the kingdom to Shobhanaraya and ascended to heaven. Thus, the dynasty of Chetaka began ruling over Kalinga. Hail the Chetaka dynasty! Victory to them!"

"When Lord Mahavir's fifth successor, Acharya Yashobhadra, presided over Kalinga, the empire of Magadh shifted from Rajgriha to Champa, and eventually to Pataliputra. In the 60th year of the Vikram era, the Nanda dynasty took control of Magadh. During Acharya Yashobhadra's time, the eighth Nanda came to power, a man known for his greed, cruelty, and ambition."

"He conquered all of Aryavarta, causing terror everywhere his army went. From the Himalayas to the sea, he subdued the entire land, filling his treasury with enough gold to last seventy generations."

“And this Nanda king, blinded by false beliefs, attacked Kalinga. It took him a long time to conquer Kalinga.Though Kalinga was small, it never bowed to conquerors. Each time Kalinga faced an external threat, the entire populace took up arms to defend their land. Kalinga's soil echoed with only one chant: freedom, freedom, freedom..."

"But Nanda's army was as vast as the waves of the ocean along Kalinga's eastern border, and Kalinga was overwhelmed. Kalinga was defeated."

"In the time of the fifth king of the Chetaka dynasty, Chandaraya, the eighth Nanda defeated Kalinga in 749 Vikram Samvat. This is the tale of defeat from Vikram Samvat 749. Kalinga was defeated.The streets of Tosali ran with rivers of blood."

"Nanda's rage knew no bounds. This tyrant king’s anger flared up. Such a small region, yet so much arrogance? So much pride? He unleashed his full wrath on the heart of the Kalinga region, the sacred Kumargiri-Kumarigiri mountains.By throwing burning embers on the battered and wounded bodies of the Kalingas, he violated the very dignity of Kalinga.Laughing a demonic laugh, he destroyed the sacred temples. The ancient 150 years old  temple built by King Seniya was demolished, and inside, our very breath,our honour our whole and soul—Lord Kalingajin—was taken and imprisoned in Pataliputra."

"To save Lord Kalingajin, hundreds of Kalinga warriors sacrificed their lives on every step of Kumargiri,rivers of blood flowed but the tyrant's heart did not melt, and since then, Kalinga has been a land in bondage."

"To save Kalingajin, hundreds of Kalinga residents sacrificed their lives on each step of the Kumargiri mountain. Rivers of blood flowed, but the tyrant's heart did not melt. Since then, the very soul of Kalinga has been enslaved. Nanda imprisoned Kalingajin in the gold cave, as if Kalinga had been defeated forever."

"Time passed, and the eighth king of Shobhanaraya's dynasty, King Khangaraya, ascended the throne of Kalinga. During his reign, Kalinga's troubled land faced even more hardships and attacks. Kalinga could not remain subjugated for long. Kalinga regained its independence. Meanwhile, in Magadh, the Nanda dynasty was overthrown, and the Maurya dynasty rose to power. Chandragupta and Bindusara had already come to power in the Maurya lineage, and the third ruler to ascend the throne was the fierce Ashoka."

"Ashoka, like the eighth Nanda, conquered all of Aryavarta, except for Kalinga."

"In his later years, Ashoka waged a war against Kalinga. King Khemaraya of Kalinga fiercely resisted, and Ashoka's forces suffered greatly. Enraged, Ashoka transformed into 'Chandashoka,' merciless Ashoka. With his vast army, he attacked Kalinga. Every Kalinga warrior killed ten enemies before falling, but Ashoka's army was an ocean, and Kalinga was defeated. A hundred thousand Kalinga soldiers and civilians were killed, and one hundred and fifty thousand were left crippled."

"Finally, with tears in his eyes, Maharaja Khemaraya went to Ashoka and requested peace. Only then did Ashoka calm down. He had worked hard to achieve this victory. He started his own calendar, which became known as the 'Maurya Samvat,' named after his clan, the Maurya."

"After suffering the blow from Kalinga, Ashoka was shattered internally. To sustain his empire, he had to resort to a conquest through dharma (righteousness). Conquering Kalinga is difficult. Only those willing to risk everything and prepared to be impoverished can come forward to fight Kalinga. Kalinga is not easy to conquer for anyone. It is a mighty land, and anyone who dares to take away its freedom must pay a very, very heavy price for its victory."

"Kalinga is great, was great, and will always be great. Hail the great land of Kalinga!" As soon as Manavak finished speaking, a young man in the crowd stood up, clapping loudly, and said, "Bravo, Manavakji! Bravo! Amazing..."

Kinkini's heart skipped a beat. The voice was Kamru's, but Kamru had been standing right beside her. She quickly glanced around, but Kamru was nowhere to be found. Where was he?

Oh no! In the middle of the field stood a tall wooden tower. On top of the tower, dressed in colorful attire, were various performers showing off their tricks. Somehow, Kamru had climbed to the top of the tall wooden structure and started speaking.

The crowd's attention turned to the tower. At the top, a boy stood with a torch in hand. His face was illuminated by the fire, and it was hard to tell if it was his face or the torch that was burning. Fiery words burst from his mouth, and wherever they landed, they ignited a spark.

"Enough..." Kinkini thought. "He's completely lost it. He's climbed up this impossible pole. It seems impossible to stop him now. What should I do?" After a moment's thought, Kinkini quietly slipped away.

(To be Continued...)