I was at Indore visiting few colleges for few lectures about self-realization and to make students aware that apart from their academics, they also had to develop some kind of a hobby which could lead them to a second career in life…
After all, in today’s society where you have nuclear families and you never know where your children are going to settle for their respective careers… you ought to have something to support you and entertain you when you get old… that’s what I was trying to imply.
I was also then was invited to few colleges in Bhopal which was near Kolkata – about 2 hour journey from Indore. I had some time to spare so I accepted the invitation.
When I started my visits in Bhopal a girl in a college for women had interesting things to talk about… she wanted to be a historian or at least research the correct history in India which has been murky and biased…
When I asked her what she had found which is not written in current history text books or may be simply a name mentioned in the history text book but should be told to the World…
“There are many stories and incidences in India and many more heroes who should not only be mentioned but also given their due mentions along with their stories in history books.”
I smiled at her passionate feelings toward the correct history of India and told her to mention at least one such name that we cannot easily find or remember being mentioned in our history books.
She smiled at the attention and blurted out a name ‘Baija Bai’ at the mention of which even I was stumped for I didn’t recollect the name… my memory failed to recollect having read about any such person when I studied my academics… so I asked her to proceed and pointed at the microphone which was on set up the stage. She was a bit cautious when she started but realizing the attention she was receiving from the audience, she confidently related what information she had about historical person called ‘Baija Bai’…
Even I was a bit impressed the way she related the story of ‘Baija Bai’. What I learned from her was Baija Bai was the warrior Queen of Gwalior and she had fought with British in the famous first war for Independent India in 1857.
Baija Bai was basically from Kagal district in Maharashtra married to then ruler of Gwalior, Daulatrao Shinde. She was known for her martial skills, spear and sword fighting. She always was by the side of her husband Daulatrao in all his battles.
Unfortunately they lost the battle with the British East India forces in 1803 but they still retained the throne of Gwalior… she was later removed by British authorities for her anti-colonization stand. She also had issued coins in her own name after the death of her husband and that is testament to the authority she had…
The way she related that story made me instinctively feel that I need a visit to Gwalior. This was to look at the fort and other historical places. I had time in hand so I decided on an impulse that I will not go back to Kolkata but find a train to reach there… after visiting Gwalior I would travel to Delhi from where I would take a flight back to Mumbai. At least this was the tentative plan and I checked with a travel agent in the area who said that I can get a ticket in AC First A through tatkal service and that was for the train leaving same night from Durgapur. I was excited – what I didn’t know was more excitement was on the way for me…
Though it was train that I had to catch late at night or say extremely early in the morning about 2am, I was excited and was ready for the trip… the travel agent booking the ticket mentioned that in condition should I open the door of the compartment or the bogie between Vidisha till Jhansi – the train crosses a dangerous terrain known as Chambal. I had heard a lot about the area but I thought they were stories of old and in modern India this kind of danger was uncalled for… any way, I thanked him for his help and moved to the hotel I was staying and rested for some time before moving toward the Bhopal railway station.
I boarded the train and was amazed the train was transporting couple of 1960s first class bogies and he had a booking in one of those bogies. It had an individual lockable cabin with only 2 berths and other old amnesties – like old times, coaches did not have AC, but they had individual toilets. I felt like an actor of those times travelling in a train. I knew, the new smoking laws would prevent me from smoking but in this coach, it would not only be allowed but also I could use the separate toilet to do so. I was alone in the coach so there would be nobody to object to me smoking a few cigarettes. I felt happy as the train started to pull out of the Bhopal railway station, it was 2.15am by the time the train moved and looking out of the window was not an option… the train would be reaching Gwalior at about 10am so I was comfortable thinking of a good sleep in that old fashioned compartment.
I was enjoying the ride as if I was riding a train in the past and in about 40 minutes the train pulled up at Vidisha railway station. I remembered the words of the agent and even as the train had started to move slowly, I went to the door in a bid to lock it when I saw an old person, dressed in simple clothes – a simple white kurta and a dhoti with a gathari attached to his shoulder trying to board the train. He was at the door and quickly climbed in with a relived expression. I thought that he had missed his bogie but then he smiled at me…
“Are you also going to Jhansi?” he asked
“No… I am going further…” I short replied to him
He simply locked the bogie door, “I have heard a lot of stories about dacoits looting trains in the area which we would be passing in few minutes… it spans about 3 and half hours of the travel time by the train… better to lock the door than risking the truth in those stories…” he locked and laughed and looked at me, “So you are going to be my co-passenger in here… I was hoping a a modern first class but it seems railways has surprised us by attaching this old bogie…”
I looked at him not ready to believe that he had booked a first class ticket and looked suspiciously at him…
“I can understand your thoughts young man… you seem to be from a major city looking at your attire… never judge anyone by his attire… have you heard of a company called Praan Jiva Ayurved?”
“Yes… I use a lot of products by this Ayurved company. They are good. Why?”
“I am the owner of that company now handled by my two sons who have studied in reputed college in a big city… I have learned Ayurved from my Guru and also a lot of Sanatan knowledge from him… I started by first going into the jungles in search of herbs required or my products when I started… when the company grew… I purchased land and then more land where the required herbs are grown.”
“Oh! Nice meeting you Sir…” I felt ashamed for I had tried judging the person and his ability looking at his attire – not his knowledge.
“This happens with me many times – so don’t feel bad about it… tell me what do you do?”
I told him that I write stories… and the plots and themes of my stories are generally patriotic or the twists in the plots are so weird that the twists take readers by surprise. I was contemplating few stories which were mythical or differently poised.
“Don’t you think writing a bit on current affairs is something you owe to the nation?”
I told him about the website: www.storiesandme.com… Where I wrote on current affairs as well other topics which I discussed with people I met during travel.
On hearing this, he smiled at me and looked at me a bit queerly, “Then I think I can tell you something you can think about writing – either a book or a short write-up… it will be something I can tell you…”
I always wanted to hear people out till they had something worthwhile to say… I wasn’t interested in the lowly politics by stupid politicians or discussing about politics, movies and sports… though geopolitics did interest me… “Go on… I am all ears to what you got to say and then decide to write or ignore…”
“Let me first test your GK… have you heard about Buga Sphere?”
“I had heard and read few articles on the topic but it still was a mystery and nobody had any specific explanation. All about the topic were theories coupled with fictions… what I remember is about 4-5 months ago at place called Buga, located somewhere in Mexico a strange sphere was found… people say it could be extra-terrestrial or something modern science doesn’t know about… it is now in some high-tech lab and experiments are going on to understand more about it…”
“Then you must also have read that it doesn’t respond to anything physics endorses… temperature, water, atmosphere. However, when they tried sound, it did react to Gayatri Mantra – one of the Sanskrit sholk…”
“Yes – I kinda ignored it as an exaggerated fantasy by some Indian…”
“I told you my Guru not only taught me secrets of Ayurved but he also imparted me with the knowledge of Sanatan… I have every reason to believe what you heard and read could be true…” I looked at him in disbelief as he continued, “you seem to be a bit sceptical… ok… let me explain it the normal way you would understand…”
I said nothing as he continued… “In the mists of ancient India, tucked deep within the jungles encircling the Vindhya range, whispered tales floated about an spherical artefact known as the ‘Divya Rahasya Kanduk Praana’ – a radiant orb of celestial energy believed to predate recorded history. According to the Puranic texts, this sphere was fashioned by a secretive sect of sages called the Vataharas, who sought to safeguard knowledge and harmony from the cosmic cycles of creation and destruction.”
I now was interested for I was going to hear some mythical story and I was thinking of writing a mythical thriller…
“About centamillennial ago, the Vataharas meditated under the ancient Mahua trees and visioned that epochs of darkness would cyclically descend upon the world… to protect humanity, they channelled the prime elements – earth, water, fire, air, and rare elements from Earth into a single sphere. They encoded within it not only their wisdom but also a dormant blueprint for social unity and consciousness, meant to guide future generations in periods of turmoil. They knew mankind will deteriorate and will be thrown into darkness of ignorance and hate… the humans will be slave to SHADRIPU… Do you know what SHADRIPU are?”
“I have some idea – it’s basically the sins humans commit…”
“Yes – and they are the main reason for misery and hinder the spiritual growth… they basically are Lust, Anger, Greed, Ego, Delusion and Jealousy… look around you and you will find most – I would say 99.999% are slaves to SHADRIPU… hardly few have managed to conquer one or more of these vices… in secrecy, the Spheres are said to glow and pulse in accordance with the moral character of the world – sometimes dimming during ages of conflict and shining brightly during times of peace. There were three spheres in total and it is said that they were kept in different parts of the World… Legends say the Chola and Maurya emperors both sought and failed to search it, understanding only fragments of the power it carried. From the saints who carried the wisdom they knew the power of these spheres… if all the three come together and specific Vedic Mantr are pronounced to awaken them… together, they will end all the things which are bad in the world and recreate the wisdom that has been lost in the period of Kaliyug… they will lead the mankind to Satyug…”
I was a bit confused at what he was saying – was he spinning a yarn on me?
“You just hear me out… The Sphere slumbered in obscurity until about 5 months ago, when a simple man found a sphere which was about to sweep the scientific curiosity and global community to investigate the unusual energy readings emanating from the ancient sphere. Collaborating with a multidisciplinary team of historians, linguists, and engineers, they have unearthed what is now known as the Buga Sphere… I have interpreted Vatahara inscriptions that hinted at its activation code: ‘When wisdom unites with action for the good of all… The Sphere shall Awaken.’
The actual breakthrough came amidst a global crisis – climate collapse, social fractures, information wars driven by competing media narratives, and a loss of trust in basic truth. When the team – a blend of diverse backgrounds, beliefs, and cultures solved a riddle, their collective intent for universal knowledge triggered a brilliant activation. The Buga Sphere emanated a vast, unseen harmonious resonance – a signal that travelled both through the earth and across digital networks worldwide… responding to Gayatri Mantra…
I am sure with its activation the Buga Sphere shall inspire an era of renaissance in India and beyond. New patterns will emerge: grassroots movements for education and pluralism, innovations in green technology mimicking Vatahara practices, and cultural revivals reconnecting youth with ancient wisdom through the digital platforms and open media hubs. The Sphere’s pulse can be felt as a synchronizing signal in the world’s data grids, subtly dampening disinformation and amplifying content fostering empathy and clarity.
Media, too, will experience a shift. Just as negative, partisan narratives had once divided society as in the story of the ‘Left and Liberal Media,’ now the Buga Sphere’s invisible influence will promote a deeper fact-checking, civil debate, and stories of coexistence, resembling to how ancient Indian kingdoms stressed on dharma rather than conquest alone… spiritual growth is of prime importance.
In the present day situation, the Buga Sphere should be revered as a symbol – an active reminder that ancient wisdom of Sanatan and modern innovation must combine to address the world’s challenges. Its glow – brightening and dimming with society’s choices will compel the generations of humanity to unite in pursuit of harmony, truth, progress and spirituality.
This legend, like those of Vikramaditya and the ancient kings will serve as a bridge connecting India’s past to humanity’s shared future through the mysterious and transformative power of the currently known as Buga Sphere…”
I looked at him in wonder and shook my head unknowingly still trying to understand what he had just said…
“Well as I stated earlier, there were three spheres and I have every reason to believe that this is one of them… we now have to search for the other two. This should be done on highest priority if the world has to see some sanity and the path toward Satyug. Of the remaining two – I believe one is somewhere here in the region then known as Bharatvarsh. I will get off the train at Jhansi and travel first to Bundelkhand and from there to Chitrakoot and Amarkantak which is the starting point of the Holy river of Narmada… I will try and search for sadhus who know about Vatahara practices… from them I will try to search the location which should be somewhere in the region of Vindhyas…”
“The Vindhyas start from somewhere in Gujarat and span across all the way to Varanasi and Amarkantak… it’s a long way to cover…”
“Nothing good is recovered unless you toil for it… Do you think Narmada Parikrama is only for Holy reason of pilgrimage? Speak to people who have experienced it… they have reached another level in spirituality and self-exploration… I believe the sphere is somewhere around this Parikrama path and needs to be found… we can then spiritually explore the possibility of finding the third sphere… and once the third sphere is found… humanity will be blessed…” he said this with conviction and looked out of the window… “I think we are now approaching Jhansi railway station. I have to go now and start my search… I hope the success will follow…” saying this he gathered his gathari and as soon as the train halted he turned around for a moment, “I hope you will at least try to write a gist of all that we have spoken…” saying this he waived a bye to me and vanished among the crowd of the railway station.
I couldn’t stop thinking about what he had said – after all, he had been telling me many things for almost 4 hours… I don’t remember all the things he said but whatever I remember, I have tried to write in this travel log… if he was speaking truth and if whatever he said is not a myth… I wish him all the best in his quest… at least the insane world will regain normalcy.
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