AVATAR@VARAHA-THE PIG

                                                                     ‘257865757 are expected to die because of COVID19 by this year- end’ said an astrologer to an illiterate middle aged layman sitting in  the premises of Tirupathi Venkateshwara temple, India while making a mental calculation with his fingers.

‘Is it …actually, I don’t know the number you just mentioned, but I think it’s very huge’ exclaimed the layman to the astrologer scratching his head.

‘When will this end?’ he questioned.

“Never end….it will continue for ever until the world ends completely.’ replied the astrologer

‘What??...layman’s eyes popped out.

‘It’s an undeniable fact …Man has made too many atrocities on the nature .. so it’s taking its taking it’s revenge, now.’ predicted the astrologer.

‘Oh…I am almost 40 years …unmarried’…murmured the layman in a feeble voice.

‘What has this to do with your age.’…asked the astrologer.

‘I was just wondering .... I have not enjoyed life completely…and what if I fall prey to this Godly revenge within this year’….heee heee

“Ohhh, then,..  that’s your fate.”…said the astrologer.

‘I wish I was a superhuman to stop this calamity here itself’… replied the layman in despair.

‘Is there anything that can stop this disaster?’ layman raised his doubt again.

‘Yes … definitely.’ confirmed astrologer.

“What is it” layman opened his eyes widely.

“He can”….astrologer  pointed his index finger somewhere in the centre of the temple.

‘Who?’ questioned layman

“That…. Lord vishnu who is in disguise of lord venkateshwara’..said the astrologer.

‘Hmmm’…layman  nodded with disbelief.

‘But he his god…in our thoughts ..  how can he be in the physical world… like practically for example….saving the diseased from dying.’ layman continued

‘Have you heard of varaha avatar? asked the astrologer.

‘What’.…questioned the layman.

‘It’s the god in the physical form of a pig…in the KALYUG meaning contemporary world.

According to Hindu mythology he is the supreme God of saviour.

And avatar means some sort of a form.’ explained astrologer

“Ohhhh…

So when will he take this form?’ asked the layman.

‘Even u can help him to take this form.’said the astrologer

‘But how?’…layman asked.

‘Can you see read the scriptures written in Tamil and Telugu on the walls?’ astrologer waved his hand to some corner of a huge temple wall.

‘No…. I never stepped into school.’ replied layman

‘In that there is a  shloka/hymn about varaha avatar…and  if u continuosly chant that in the entrance of this temple after taking bath in the  nearby pond .. ..then he will come I front of you and fulfil your wish.’ explained the astrologer.

 ‘I am ready, except …the reading part’ layman dragged that part.

‘Don’t worry .. I’ll teach you now, just memorise these words and repeat it over there.’ astrologer offered.

‘Ok .. done.’ replied layman in excitement.

‘Om…..’ it started and went on  for almost 8 verses.

‘Repeat it in your mind continuously ….and once you are ….done with it then start chanting closing your eyes … from 3.30 A.M. tomorrow.’ directed the astrologer.

‘Sooooo early…’shouted the layman…

‘That’s the time when God will be free and listen to to your prayers completely….astrologer said.

The layman.. nodded….in acceptance

‘Ok….i’ll leave now as it’s time for Pooja.. in that KALI temple over there’…..and astrologer started  walking away.

‘What if he doesn’t turn up…at all.’ Layman yelled.

‘Then you haven’t prayed properly and carry on with your work.’ astrologer replied without turning back and walked away…swiftly.

Gazing at the astrologer the layman thought for a while and walked towards his house to have dinner and sleep immediately so that he could rise early in the morning…

Next day….he woke up somewhere in the midst of night to check his watch lying in the bed next to him.

It was exactly 3.05 A.M.

He quickly ran to washroom… answered the  nature’s call, took bath and ran towards the pond to take a dip.

Exactly at 3.32 AM   he sat just in front of the entrance of the temple sitting comfortably as if in yoga pose of ‘Vajrasana’

He looked around….not a single soul in the 360 degrees radius of his view. He was shivering uncontrollably not because cold weather but, because of being alone in the darkness.

He almost felt like running away to safety as it was pitch dark  except a small bulb glowing from inside the temple.

In spite of that, he closed his eyes was firm to see the Varaha avatar of God and bring the worldly disaster to an end.

He started chanting loudly while holding both his fist, and even without shaking his head as… ‘Om…..

Not a single verse he had forgotten because he  repeated the whole of yesterday some thousand times….may be.

He went on…and on…without checking the time…

Although he wanted to open his eyes which were shut at the beginning….. his inner instinct didn’t allow him to do so until Varaha came and opened it.

After a very long time…..he got tired in between and  paused  for a long breath.

Suddenly, he could sense a dirty smell from a distance.

Yet he continued with hymn.

The nauseating smell increased as he could sense something walking towards him from the entrance.

Unable to bear the smell from almost an arms length the layman shouted….’Whoever is this please walk away….i am focussing on  chanting shloka  and not able to bear your bad breath.’ shouted the layman

‘If u can’t even withstand this smell of mine….then why are you calling....me loudly?’said some stranger in a commanding voice.

‘What…’ the layman stopped for a moment and opened his eyes in reflex without even having a second thought.

A huge dark black pig stood majestically with it’s long snout facing the sky and two horns emerging from either sides of it.

Layman winked his eyes some 20 times in disbelief and pinched himself to make sure that whatever he  witnessed was the truth.

Without saying a word he fell on the legs of the Varaha God in spite of the foul odour and continued...’Please forgive me,.God…I asked u to go away…I didn’t know it was you ..and probably cursed you as well.

Varaha smiled” Don’t worry almost every human being curse me… so I am used to it.’

‘Now .. come to the point why u called me? Varaha continued

Layman thought for a while.. thinking about the reason why he actually called him as he almost forgot everything in excitement.

After a while he recalled everything and hesitated…’I want you to do a miracle ..right here.’

‘Ok..i’ll do whatever you ask for but only one thing.. either some miracle or a wish…choice is yours.’, Varaha gave affirmation.

Although he called Varaha for a social cause, he changed his mind after seeing him and continued.

‘I want a beautiful and a rich wife….to enjoy the rest of my life’ ..blushed the layman

‘Ok…but is that all…think about it….you are a superhuman who has brought God in this real world and don’t regret later for asking such a small wish’. said Varaha God

Layman got confused for a while and reviewed his thought that if he gets infected with Covid 19 then, even his beautiful wife might maintain social distance and probably leave him and marry someone healthier.

He re-framed his wish’ Atleast, stop the disease related death immediately and give back our normal happy life….whole world will be happy I think.

‘That was a good one…. But don’t you want the credit fot it?”Varaha said

‘Yup..undoubtedly’ ..layman said.

This time he thought seriously and refined his wish closing his eyes.

‘I want to be called as a world renowned scientist who has found the vaccine for Covid 19…who literally cured everyone from dying…overnight.’ confirmed layman.

‘Granted, now open your eyes…after a moment.’…Varaha said.

‘Ok….’ and he opened his eyes slowly and looked around.

‘Dr. Panni.. how did you find the formula for this medicine to cure Covid 19?Congratulations for getting the Nobel prize for this.’ asked a reporter working with BBC

‘What naobel prize in Medicine….me’. layman exclaimed

He looked at the badge on his chest which read  Dr.Panni…and that was his new identity given by lord Varaha…..but was still confused and wondering as how he had come here in a flash of a second.. ..probably miracles of Varaha…he thought to himself.

Dr. Panni smiled at the reporter and exclaimed’ It’s a big story that happened yesterday night. and very confidential…and thanked Varaha for giving him a new Superhuman and literate life…chanting to himself..”Om.........                                                                          THE END