The next day, Dinesh, the elders, and some villagers gathered in the clearing's square.
Dinesh looked at everyone and said, "Last night, after talking with the elders, we decided to dig further into the cave. We need to find out if there is more knowledge from our ancestors."
Elder Ratan, standing beside him, added, "Try to dig narrow tunnels so the chance of a cave collapse is minimal."
Dinesh nodded at his father's words. "Yes, he's right. We have to find more knowledge. And I have one more important announcement." He paused to gather their attention. "The warriors, scouts, and guards are to learn the weapon arts described on the slabs to enhance our combat power. The smiths will try to create the weapons."
"Now that everyone knows what to do, inform the others and start the work after breakfast," Dinesh instructed.
The villagers quickly dispersed to relay the orders, leaving only Chief Dinesh, Elder Ratan, and Elder Narayan in the clearing.
Early in the morning, before the first ray of sun reached the earth, the eight young children assembled in the cave. Some were nervous, others expectant, and a few still sleepy, but all were eager to begin. Hushed conversations filled the air.
"Do you think this essence thing is real?" whispered Ravi, his eyes wide with curiosity.
"I don't know," replied Meena, shrugging. "But if our ancestors thought it was important, it must be worth something."
Arjun, standing nearby, nodded. "I believe it. My dadu says our ancestors wouldn't leave something behind unless it was important."
"But what if we can't sense it?" asked Sita. "What if it's just a story?"
"We won't know until we try," said Ajay, standing with his head high and chest out. "Besides, it sounds exciting, doesn't it?"
Tej joined them and whispered to Arjun, "Did Guruji tell you what is going to happen?"
"No, Dadu just laughed and said everything has a time," Arjun replied.
"Hmm, sounds like him," Tej murmured.
As they waited for the last person to arrive, they calmed down. Finally, the last child approached, yawning.
Ajay spoke in an annoyed tone, "Mithun, you're the village chief's son, but you're still late."
Mithun frowned, "So what? You could have come and woken me up."
Sensing the tension, Arjun and Tej intervened. "Alright, alright, guys. We're getting late," Arjun said.
"Remember, we have to get there before the sun rises," Tej added. "Come on, quick, let's go."
Ajay huffed, "Hmph, I'll see you afterwards."
Mithun rolled his eyes. "Whatever."
As the children gathered and made their way to the village square in the clearing, their excitement and curiosity grew.
Elder Ratan, Chief Dinesh, and Elder Narayan were standing in the middle, holding three copper slabs and discussing something.
Noticing the children approaching, Elder Ratan said, "The next part is mainly for the children. Let them come."
Dinesh scanned the group. "Everyone is here. Good. Now, go over there and form two lines, sitting five meters apart. Then, sit in the lotus position."
The children did as instructed, forming two lines and sitting in the lotus position, roughly five meters apart from each other.
Dinesh turned to Elder Narayan. "Now, Elder Narayan, please."
"Of course, Chief," Elder Narayan replied, stepping forward to address the children. "Alright children, now I will explain the process you need to follow. Listen closely and don't forget."
The children's attention fully focused on Elder Narayan, anticipation hanging in the air.
"For the first step," Elder Narayan continued, "we will begin with a simple meditation exercise. The purpose of this exercise is to help you calm your mind and become more aware of the essence within you. Close your eyes and focus on your breathing. Inhale slowly, hold for a moment, and then exhale. Let go of all distractions. This step is best done when the sun is rising during the brahma muhurta*."
"Secondly," he continued, "imagine a warm, glowing light within you. This light is your essence. Feel it grow and spread through your body with each breath you take. Focus on this light, and try to sense its presence."
Elder Narayan paused, allowing the instructions to sink in.
"After these two steps, it will take some time," he added. "According to the slabs, it may take anywhere from two weeks to two months for people who don't meditate and aren't close to nature, while for those who do, it can take from a week to a month. Since our village is closer to nature and we practice meditation, I expect you all to sense it within a month. Understood?"
"YES!" the children echoed in unison.
"Finally," he said, "try to feel your essence. The next steps will be disclosed after you have sensed it. Without that, there is no meaning to them."
Elder Ratan stepped forward, adding, "Now, my children, commence your training. The first one to sense their essence will receive a gift. Are you ready?"
"Yes, Kaka, we are ready!" the children shouted eagerly, their attention caught by the promise of a reward.
The elders sighed, understanding their excitement, while Dinesh chuckled softly.
"Now, everyone, start meditating," Chief Dinesh ordered after composing himself.
As the children settled into their meditation, the clearing filled with a serene atmosphere, punctuated only by the soft sound of their breathing and the birds singing. They remained undisturbed until the first light of dawn began to filter through the trees, casting a golden glow over the village.
Meanwhile, in another part, the elders and Chief Dinesh gathered once again, their discussion turning to the significance of the children's training.
"We must monitor their progress closely," Elder Narayan remarked. "If even one of them succeeds in sensing their essence, our village will have a better chance of surviving."
Chief Dinesh nodded in agreement. "Indeed. But we must also prepare for the possibility that they may not succeed."
Elder Ratan interjected, "Regardless of the outcome, we owe it to our ancestors to honor their wisdom and preserve their teachings for future generations."
Suddenly, Chief Dinesh posed a question that caught both elders off guard. "Father and Uncle, can't older men like me try to sense the essence?"
Both elders, surprised by the sudden question, exchanged a glance before bursting into laughter. "Why not, Dinesh? You can try if you want to. Right, brother?" Elder Ratan replied with a chuckle.
Elder Narayan nodded in agreement. "Yes, why not? The slabs mention that as one grows older, the time it takes to sense essence may increase, but it doesn't mean one cannot sense it at all."
"Hehe, okay, I will try."
In the clearing, the children sat with their legs crossed and eyes closed, a mixture of excitement and nervousness. They could hear the gentle rustling of leaves and the distant chirping of birds, but they tried to focus solely on their breathing. Inhale, hold, exhale. They repeated the process, visualizing the glowing light Elder Narayan had described.
Minutes turned into hours as the morning sun climbed higher, casting dappled patterns on the forest floor. Despite their efforts, the children struggled to grasp the feeling of essence. Some shifted uncomfortably, others furrowed their brows in concentration, but none made any progress.
As the morning stretched on, the rhythmic beat of tools, the chatter of villagers, and the sounds of the village coming to life became more apparent. The children, sensing the change, began to lose focus.
Finally, unable to continue meditating, they opened their eyes. The period Elder Narayan had told them was most suitable had passed. They rose and made their way back to the cave for their meal, their stomachs rumbling with hunger.
As they walked, Ravi sighed, "I tried so hard, but I couldn't feel anything. Did any of you feel it?"
Tej nodded in agreement. "It's harder than it sounds. But maybe we just need more practice."
Arjun said, "We'll get there. It just takes time. Remember what Elder Narayan said—it can take weeks."
Ajay, his enthusiasm undiminished, added, "Let's make a pact. We'll help each other, and whoever senses their essence first helps the rest. Deal?"
"Deal," the children echoed in unison.
The aroma of food wafted through the air, drawing them towards the communal area where the village gathered for meals.
Arjun reached Bhima, who was sitting in the pens while watching the animals. "How is your leg, Dadu?"
"It's healing. Now tell me, how did it go, Arjun?" Bhima asked, looking at his grandson with a gentle smile.
Arjun sighed, "It was hard, Dadu. None of us could feel anything."
Bhima nodded, laughing. "Hahaha, my boy, remember patience and perseverance are key. Even the mightiest tree started as a small seed. Keep trying, and you'll succeed."
Arjun smiled. "I will, Dadu. I'll make you proud."
"You already do, Arjun. You already do," Bhima replied, giving his grandson a strong pat on the back.
"Now, Dadu, let's go. It's time for breakfast. Everyone's gathered in front of the communal area."
"Okay, let's go. Bring me my stick," Bhima said, pointing to his walking stick leaning against the nearby fence.
Arjun quickly fetched the stick and handed it to Bhima, who used it to stand up slowly. Together, they made their way toward the communal area where the aroma of freshly cooked food mingled with the sounds of villagers chatting and laughing.
As they approached, the children waved and called out greetings to Bhima, who responded with a warm smile and a nod.
Soon after, everyone went their own way, doing the work they were assigned. Arjun and the rest of the kids spent their days like this—meditating in the morning and trying to sense the essence, while in the rest of the day, they helped the villagers with various tasks.
Days went by in this way.
One week later...
"Chief, we have found another cave," a young boy came running towards the walls where Dinesh was sitting.
"Really? What's in the cave?"
"Chief, it was like the previous one, but it only had two big stones. There are some copper slabs and pictures of animals and people riding them. But the other big slab only has some geometric pictures on it."
"Huh, show me the way."
As Dinesh and other villagers reached the cave through the newly dug tunnel, they found five people already searching the place. The cavern was dimly lit by torches.
Seeing the chief arrive, the people gathered around him. "Chief, we dug all around the cave and only found these seven slabs," one of the diggers reported, holding out the copper pieces.
Dinesh took the slabs and examined them. Intricate pictures of various animals and plants adorned three slabs, while geometric figures and diagrams covered others.
One slab caught Dinesh's attention—it looked like a map, depicting forests, hills, and other symbols.
"This looks like a map," Dinesh murmured, tracing the lines and symbols with his fingers. "But I don't understand all the markings."
Elder Ratan, who had followed Dinesh into the cave, stepped closer to inspect the slabs. "These symbols might be a path or locations of significance. It may be another clue from our ancestors."
Elder Narayan, examining the slabs alongside them, nodded. "We should compare this with what we already know about the surrounding areas. Maybe it will lead us to more knowledge or resources."
"Agreed," Dinesh said, "We'll need to study these slabs carefully. And we should also prepare a team to explore the areas marked on this map."
"What about these geometrical figures on this one?" Dinesh asked, handing over the slabs to them both.
"These diagrams look like the ones on yantras," Elder Narayan replied while examining the slabs.
Elder Ratan nodded. "Now that you mention it, they do resemble yantras. We should call Pujari ji to see if he recognizes these. There's also a large stone with similar diagrams and some words at the bottom. Maybe they will reveal more about this mystery."
Chief Dinesh agreed. "Good idea. Send someone to bring Pujari ji here."
Soon they sent someone to bring the pujari ji.
Meanwhile, Elder Bhima, who had been carried over by some villagers, was examining the cave walls. "Look at that section," he pointed out. "There are pictures of various plants with words written underneath them."
His words caught the attention of Dinesh and the Elders, drawing them to examine the wall.
"You're right. These may be important plants," Dinesh observed. "Let's record all these and save them for later."
Selecting a young boy, Ratan ordered, "Go and bring some bark for recording."
As the villagers busied themselves with tasks, Dinesh turned to Elder Ratan. "Do you think the animals and plants depicted here have some special significance?"
Elder Ratan looked thoughtful. "Our ancestors might have considered them important for survival. It could be beneficial for us to learn more about these creatures."
"Let's record all these and save them for later."
###
Brahma muhurta
a 48-minute period before sunrise that is considered an auspicious time for spiritual practices. The term is Sanskrit for "time of Brahma" and it is often called the "creator's hour" in ancient Vedic traditions. The exact time of Brahma Muhurta varies depending on sunrise, but it usually begins around 1 hour and 36 minutes before sunrise.