08 – The warning

The sky is just as clean and blue like last Sunday when their adventure started. When they enter the temple complex, they are greeted with a magical, alluring rhythm accompanied by strange singing. Kadin listens intently but cannot identify the instruments that keep the rhythm but the instrument that plays the melody sounds like one or other keyboard instrument.

Are they singing in Sanskrit? Their inquisitiveness urges them on while they are looking excitedly at each other. This is going to be an interesting experience.

They stop at the row of shoes in front of the Krishna temple and get their shoes off and enter. The people in there smile happily at each other and dance in a circle following one another. Now Kadin sees how they keep their magical rhythm. There are three men with miniature cymbals that hit out this strange rhythm. They are supported by three young girls that hit steel triangles with little steel rods. Kadin also now experiences the lovely aroma that fills the temple with the smell of roses and honey and she finds the source in frankincense burning.

A middle-aged lady with a red spot on her forehead just above her nose, is sitting on the floor and is leading the singing with an one-note melody using her right hand on a strange looking, small organ while she from time to time pushes a pedal with her left hand to provide sufficient air for the organ to play. Next to her sits a bald man in a light-pink robe and he sings the verses in the strange language and the dancing people repeat the verses after him.

Then abruptly the music ends and all take their seats on the mat in front of him. The statue behind the leader looks like the one in the centre court of the blue figure. Kadin admires the beautiful paintings against the walls. There is one that looks like a beautiful, light, bluish boy with a little flute in his hands. So dainty is he that he could easily be confused with a girl. She wonders whether it could be the same god in his early days that is depicted in one of the statues. This surely is Krishna, she thinks, because this is a Krishna temple. The women are all clad in colorful thin drapes and all the men wear the same clothes as the leader’s but theirs is white.

The leader smiles at the unsuspected visitors: “Welcome, do you want to join us?”

Kadin smiles eagerly: “We’d like to if we may …”

The man smiles happily: “We are so thankful that Krishna blesses us today with your attendance. Please take a seat.”

Kadin and Billy sit down next to the worshipers and struggle to get into the right position because of the hard floor. They peep at the rest and wonder how they achieve so easily the cross-legged position on the hard floor.

The leader bends forward and opens a book in front of him: “What are your names?”

Kadin answers: “Kadin and Billy.”

“Welcome Kadin and Billy, I am Swami Vyasa Dharma. Today I’m going to read out of the Bhagavad-Gita. I’m first going to read the original Sanskrit and then the English translation and then I will explain the text. The Gita is an excerpt from the Mahabharata, a historic script. It is a conversation between Krishna and Arjuna before the fight between the good and bad forces that ruled the earth from about 5000 years back with the beginning of Kali Yuga, the iron era. The Iron Era is the era in which mankind totally decayed and increasingly became spiritually impoverished so that civilization suffered and deteriorate systematically. This conversation is used as the basic premise of different Hindu beliefs. Krishna orientates the panic-stricken Arjuna before the fight in which Arjuna must fight against some of his family and bosom friends that represent the evil forces. They are going to fight until death so that good can conquer evil. Krishna, the last incarnation of Vishnu, explains to the bewildered Arjuna the basic principles of the creation and encourages him to fulfill his duty as commander of the good forces successfully.”

Kadin and Billy listen intently and don’t want to miss anything and whilst he explains their philosophy they listen eagerly. For the first time in their lives, they hear Sanskrit when he reads out of the Bhagavad-Gita. Kadin is hopeful and excited that the swami might explain the writings in the booklet.

The swami is impressed with their intense focus on every word he utters. Later they dance and sing with the group without knowing or understanding the words but following the swami enthusiastically as best as they can. After the ceremony in the temple, they are invited to join for Prasad. Prasad is a blessing, it is holy meals by the worshippers that are prepared, offered to and blessed by Krishna.

Kadin is extremely excited when they enjoyed the Prasad opposite the swami. They sit between the worshippers on an oblong picnic table in the outer court beneath an awning. The Prasad is tasty and delicious. It is a tradition to eat only with the right hand with water nearby to wash the hand.

Kadin smiles at the swami. "What is your name again, please. Your names are difficult to remember.”

“Vyasa Dharma.”

She doesn’t want to wait any longer: “Billy and I had a strange experience on Saturday last week and we became friends and tried to solve a puzzle. It is this puzzle that brought us here to you.”

Vyasa asks curiously: "What riddle did you bring here?”

Billy answers: "We are looking for someone with knowledge of Sanskrit and who can explain what is written in this booklet.” He takes out the book from his trouser pocket and places it in front of the swami.

Vyasa rinses his hands and dries it before he takes the booklet and opens it. Billy and Kadin watch him in great anticipation. The swami is flabbergasted. He pages through the book and studies each page and it seems to be hugely fascinating to him.

Kadin is burning of curiosity: “What is it, Vyasa, do you understand it?”

“Where did you get these strange writings? It looks as if it is written in pencil. You must go and put it back immediately where you found it. I have a very bad feeling about this. Tell me everything; where did you find it?”

Billy frowns. “What is written in there? Why must we put it back?”

“I understand most pages, but page three doesn’t make sense at all. The first page is strange and makes me uneasy. Page three looks like Sanskrit symbols but it is either not Sanskrit or a very old form of a strange dialect that doesn’t exist anymore. That is all I can say. It is very weird.”

Kadin’s curiosity takes over: “What is in the first page that makes you uneasy?”

The swami reads out: “I will translate it: ‘Put me back where I was found immediately before the world perishes and if the devil visits you, don’t look him in the eyes …”

A cold shiver runs through Kadin and she and Billy look wide-eyed at each other. She looks at the swami again: “What on earth does this mean?”

Vyasa shakes his head bemused: “I don’t know, but I suggest strongly that you put this book back immediately because this is a strong warning. Page two describes the magical powers of the followers of Shiva, The Destroyer. Then on page three is this old script and the next pages describe the demise of the people of Kali Yuga. I think you must listen to this grave warning and put the book back before it brings a curse over you. Go and put it back exactly where you found it before these words become true of you, please.”

Kadin isn’t satisfied: “Who is this devil and why must we not look into his eyes?”

“Do you see my bald head? We practice Bhakti yoga that is selfless service to Vishnu. We cut our heads clean because we are always in contact with Vishnu in the Spiritual Dimension and we denounce this material existence and don’t want to gather any property, authority or connections of this world but live a selfless life in the service of others.”

He looks at them intently.

“Promise please, if ever a man with very long hair and a sturdy beard crosses your paths, don’t look in his eyes. Sometimes it might seem as if he wears a massive cloth on his head but this is his hair that is rolled up into it. These people are separated from Krishna and are in the service of Shiva who gives them magical powers in this material dimension. They are self-serving and that gives them the power to do the ugliest, devilish deeds that I don’t even want to mention.”

His words make Kadin even more curious: “Which devil with long hair and dangerous eyes? And what will happen if we look into his eyes?”

“I surmise this warning is against a powerful magician that probably has his own occult group and they are after the script, that even I don’t comprehend, and they want it badly.”

“These magicians frequently have supernatural hypnotic powers and the warning on page one definitely refers to such a person. But I am not going to converse further about these things, it is unhealthy. I have no clue what their agenda is, I only know it sounds ominous. I also wonder about the prophecy that the world will perish if you don’t put the book back in time. I can’t figure out the meaning of that. How long do you have this booklet?”

Billy answers concisely: “We found it last Saturday in Settlers’ Park.”

The man sitting to the right of the swami has listened intently to their conversation. His name is Michael. He is looking very disturbed and speaks slowly.

“You have been keeping this booklet for over a week. This means that the curse could already be upon you. Can I see that third page that you do not understand, Swami.”

Vyasa Dharma is worried: “Are you sure, Michael? You must not allow this script to retard your progress here with us, please.”

Hesitantly the swami hands over the booklet. Michael studies the script and his eyes started to flicker strangely. He stutters: “This is a c…code, this is a c…ode. It is h…hidden as S…Sanskrit. I can…can solve … I must s…olve it, there is a pat…pattern, yes I must… I must…. I must….”

The swami puts his hand on Michael’s arm: “Rather concentrate on the mantra, Michael, and leave this book now.”

Michael’s whole body shivers and he clutches at the booklet in a panic: “No, I must solve it, I must… I must….”

Vyasa now looks extremely upset: “The first page is a clear warning in Sanskrit that the book must be returned immediately to the place it was found. If not, the dangerous devil will come after you …”

Michael instead begs Billy and Kadin. “Please, give me time until tomorrow and I will solve it. Come and get it by tomorrow only, please …” He hangs on to the booklet perplexed as if his life depends on it.

Kadin finds the whole situation quite awkward: “Okay Michael, where must we collect it tomorrow?”

Vyasa answers: “Michael and I are visitors at the Chettys in number 12 in Park Drive and if you wish, you can come and fetch it tomorrow afternoon around five.”

Billy smiles surprised: “Thank you so much for your help, Vyasa, we will see you then at five. Incidentally, I am just staying further down on the same street.”

The swami accompanies them to the exit of the temple while Michael still sits immersed in his study of the booklet. He often turns the pages and is in a world of his own groaning oddly.

The swami explains: “I know you find Michael strange; so I must explain. He came to us and joined ISCKON here in Port Elizabeth after years of living like a bum. He was antisocial and had often lost his job because he could not live with his fellowmen. He smoked and drank excessively and stank of urine sweat and what else. He slept in the park. Look at him now; he is clean and civilized in the service of Krishna. He is autistic and brilliant in many ways but something untoward like this strange script can overwhelm him so completely that he totally forgets himself and his surroundings.”

“The Bhakti yoga that we practice helps him to focus on Krishna and that keeps him healthy. That booklet is a threat that could divert his attention from Bhakti yoga and as you can see it has a toxic influence on him. So, you must relieve us not later than tomorrow of this curse of the script.”

Billy smiles at Michael. "It is really a surprise that we live in the same street. We are at 24 Park Drive.”

Vyasa smiles: "I don’t have a home and travels all over the world in the service of Krishna. It was predestined that we met here because I’m visiting this temple for only two weeks. The week after next week I’ll be travelling to Durban and from there I’m going to America. I’ve got no belongings or home and sleep over at friends or followers of Krishna everywhere I go. We swamis broke all material connections and serve Krishna with all our abilities.”

~*~*~

Kadin SMS Billy before she puts out her bed lamp: ‘Book = Sorcery?’

He answers so quickly as if he was waiting for her text: ‘Also think so …’

‘Happy I made a copy for myself’

‘Was brilliant idea’

‘Michael weird ...’

‘Very ...’

‘Wonder if he will solve script?’

‘Don’t know …Not likely’”

‘Sleep tight ...’

“Sweet dreams ...”