For The Earth Prologue 2- Chapter 1- 27/1/17 - Page 22

PERCEPTION

Dharani, though hurt by her family's perception of her, refused to bow down to it and cry about it. Her birth was for a purpose. She couldn't waste the purpose. She remembered the dream she had had last night.

"Vasudha", said MahaVishnu. "There is someone who wants to meet you"

"Okay Swami", said Dharani, her eyes glinting with curiosity.

"Dharani"

A soft, melodious voice heard Dharani; a voice filled with music, dance and knowledge. She turned to see the golden beauty Hamsavahini, the One everyone worships as Vidya Swaroopini, the Mother of the various arts, the Goddess of Knowlegd and the One who wears white, Mata Saraswati Herself.

"Mata Saraswati", said Dharani, tears forming in her eyes. She rushed to fall at the Goddess' feet, and feeling Mata Saraswati's hand on her head, blessing her, she slowly got up, and stared into affectionate dark brown eyes.

"Dharani", said Mata Saraswati, smiling. "Narayana and I felt it was time for me to meet you"

Dharani nodded, a little speechless.

"Dharani, you know you are the Earth", said Mata Saraswati. "You know what else the Earth is? The very base of knowledge, just like the Earth is the very base of emotions as well. Anything man needs, the Earth has, for the Earth is the Mother who bears them. In that way, you have all the knowledge within you"

"Mata, every human has all the knowledge within them. It depends on how one harnesses it. That is the secret of your blessing. When you bless someone, it means they will be able to harness the knowledge which is already present", said Dharani.

"You are very right, child", said Mata Saraswati, smiling. "And you have the blessing in plenty. Not just me, Lord Hayagriva Himself has blessed you"

"I know Mata", said Dharani. "But for my own understanding, why the failing?"

"It is a lesson. Not to you, but to your family, which they have sadly not learnt", said Mata Saraswati. "A lesson to show that even academics has to bow down to love and compassion. Only when you have both can you understand what Vidya actually means. Vidya is not mutually exclusive of that. All types and forms of education must be respected"

"Ji Mata", said Dharani, smiling.

"Now, onto the more important part", said Lord Vishnu. "You were made to fail for yet another reason"

"What was that, my Lord", asked Dharani.

"Lets call it a way to induce you to work to make changes, shall we?", asked Lord Narayana, grinning at Dharani.

Dharani still couldn't believe that her husband and Mata Saraswati wanted her to help with bringing changes to the education system. But how will she do it? Her mother will never understand her point of view, for her mother was one to always support teachers. Whose help could she take other than the Lord and Pragati for this? She needed to work it out.

Dharani's eyes became hard, as she heard the Earth being insulted again and again. She was not arrogant as Satyabhama! All of that was Krishna Leela. But the worst that hit her was people saying that Shridevi was His favourite wife, His primary wife, His cherished wife. Hllo! They were talking about the Lord who doesn't differentiate between anyone. Would He ever differentiate between His wives or play favourites? Dharani knew for a fact that He loved Bhudevi as much as He loved Shridevi. If Shri was cherished, so was Bhu. They were equal in His eyes, they are equal in His eyes, and they will forever be equal in His eyes. Why do people never see it, and choose one over the other? Well, usually it is Shri, but even then. They choose Shri due to obsession over Her, rather than respecting and understanding Her importance. As for Bhu? Not many cared about Her. They don't get that if they don't respect Bhu, Shri would never truly bless them. Shri and Bhu were such that they were equal, they were the same. Bhu had Shri in Her, and Shri had Bhu in Her. Both together provided the world with wealth. One was obsessed over, one was forgotten. Without one, the other won't exist. And without both, there is no Narayana. Which made Dharani conclude that Shri was born in this time as well. Just where she was, Dharani didn't know. Even as she thought that, a vision attacked her.

"Swami, you can't descend without Shri", said Bhudevi.

"I am not going to. She will reside in my heart", said Narayana.

"But it is not fair", said Dharaa. "If Bhu is born, Shri also should be"

"Love, do not anguish over it. Your sister is always with you", said Lord Vishnu.

"I know that, but isn't it unfair to Her?", asked Bhudevi.

"Isn't it unfair to you when your own children forget that you are also Mahalakshmi?", asked Lord Vishnu.

"I am used to that, Lord", said Vasudha.

"You shouldn't be. This Kali Yuga is about you love. Don't you see it?", asked Lord Keshava. "As Alamelu Manga, as Andal, and soon, as Dharani"

"But Bhu can never be if Shri isn't", said Vasudha.

"Love..", said Lord Vishnu, though sighing, knowing Bhudevi was right. He needed Shri as well.

"Alright Vasudha. An ansh of Shri", said MahaVishnu.

"Ansh? Why not purna?", asked Bhudevi.

"Purna is not possible. Rules are rules", said MahaVishnu.

"Okay. Half at least?", asked Vasudha.

"We can keep that flexible", said Lord Vishnu. "Ansh or half"

"As you say lord", said Bhudevi. "You aren't complete without my Shri"

"And I am not complete without my Bhudevi either", said Lord Vishnu, pulling Bhudevi close to Him, enclosing Her in His arms.

And there it was. Her Shri was also there. Excitement filled Dharani, and she felt complete. Her soul sister was out there somewhere!

In Ksheer Sagar...

The Eternal serpent, Adisesha's heads swayed and danced. He could feel it, and His happiness grew by leaps and bounds. His Lord and His two mothers were watching Him with love and affection, and also slight knowing in their eyes. He didn't mind. He was too full of happiness!

Tall and dark-skinned. Well built, but no bulging muscles. He was dressed in modern clothes. His bare feet were Lotus like. She looked up to see His face, but all she could see was a blur.

Dharani opened her eyes. This was her Narayana in the flesh, she knew. She remembered Pragati and her talk about the importance of Ramayana and Mahabharata in Dharani's life, in the sense that the way of living. They had, after a long discussion, come to the conclusion that Dharani's life was going to be like Bhama-Krishna, as well as Sita-Rama, with a mixture of Bhudevi-Narayana.

The bustling in the household brought her to her senses, and she suddenly realized. Her father was coming from Saudi! All to question her about her future plans. Closing her eyes, she told herself, I will get through it. Lord, I am leaving this to you. Give me the strength to get through it'