White Lotus of Mercy. Part seven.
Apparently being a Hare Krishna meant that your day officially started before sunrise... and God's day's started at 3:45 in the morning.
Oh, and that life turned into a musical, starting at 4:30.
"Samsama-davanala-lidha-loka-
tranaya karunya-ghanaghanatvam
praptasya kalyana-gunarnavasya
vande guroh sri-charanaravindam"
X repeated after Yuugi, who had ditched her opened Kimono for a long blue and red panel skirt, a white T-shirt and a blue shawl covering her shoulders and breast. Miko... or Uma devi dasi was on the altar, worshipping their Lordships with an arati tray bearing incense, a five wicked lamp, water for a conch, the conch, a neatly folded handkerchief and a flower. She was wafting the incense to Gaura-Nitai, and then moved to Radha-Krishna and finally Jagannath; a form of the lord that was hard to put into words, save for being the progenitor of all smileys.
Gaura-Nitai appeared to be a pair of dancing twins, their arms upraised to the heavens as their feet position evoked dancing steps. They wore golden yellow today, and their merciful glance gave hope to X that everything would be alright.
In the middle altar was Radha-Krishna... or Krishna on the left, and Radharani on the right. Basically, God in his most complete glories and features.
He was a Dark-blue youth with mischievous, love-filled eyes red with divine intoxication, a playful smile dancing on his bright red lips. His face was delightfully round and framed by dark curls.
Well, the marble deity of the Lord was as black as it could get, but Unzan had discreetly intimated that Krishna... God's bodily hue was an all-attractive dark blue, or black... or blue.
Same as his eyes.
Krishna wore the same coloured outfit as everyone else, but on his broad hip ( X thought only women could deserve such hips.) was a... skirt-pant combo.
Unzan had explained that this was called a dancer's skirt. And immediately, X's mind pulled up a quote about a certain mister Nietzche.
"I would believe only in a God who knew how to dance."
Yes, Nietzsche was an avowed Atheist, but seeing as most of the forms of Krishna evoked the act of dancing and music, X was sure this man was now bowing in front of the Dancing Lord. Begging for forgivness.
As X and the other joyfully chanted and gently danced in front of the Lord's three main incarnations, X could not help the laughter bubbling up in his chest.
God was a dancer, and the only murty that did not dance on the altar was Jagannath, but without conventional hands and feet, it was hard to tell. For all he knew, the alien-like Avatar was also grooving to the Mrdanga lie nobodies business, it's just that no one had the eyes to see it.
But he digressed, X knew it was something beyond what his amazing cameras could not catch, being something spiritual, and thus outside of the material realm.
All of them.
Beside Sri-Krishna was Srimati-Radharani in all of her splendour, her placeholder hewed from flawless white marble with a soft, merciful smile lighting her ruby red lips, here deep blue eyes looking straight forward... but X had the feeling she was really looking at Krishna, her eternal lover, from the far corner of her eyes. And from the numerous picture Yuugi had shown her new friend, X knew that Her fair skin was more golden then gold, and her braided hair was as curly and crooked as her desire and plans to please Krishna.
Krishna was the supreme potent, and Radharani, the queen of all of those who run to serve His lotus feet, was, is, and eternally will be Krishna's divine potency.
The supreme Maidservant and her Supreme Master.
The supreme Worshiper, perfect in all respect in her flawless devotion and God who received it.
The power and the potent.
Love and the beloved.
The bliss of the Giver of Bliss.
Male, and Female.
The Yang and the Yin.
Now, X had studied quite a few religions in the world in his early quest for answers, and practically all of the monotheistic sect worshipped the Father, the Master, the Lord. Most would have no pictures, no depiction of him other then a light or an Old man... which made no sense at all. And He had no description, no emotions save his wrath and His nebulous love... not even a clear personality save for when he smith evil and blessed the faithful.
Now, before the early morning ceremony, X had a little time and thus, he had taken a book (they had books, honest to... Krishna, books. He loved this place even more now.) and began to read.
The book was titled Krishna, the supreme personality of Godhead. And the super ancient work held both deep philosophy on numerous topics such as the nature of the Soul and its eternal nature ( eternity, knowledge bliss... same As god but atomic in size, the goal of life (to Serve God with love, reviving our eternal identity as a servant, friend, parent or lover of Krishna.) and how to be immortal...
Basically... you Chant the Hare Krishna Maha-Mantra, dance in ecstasy, serve Krishna's devotees and wait for their mercy.
It was so easy, so simple. That X was already doing it.
And most importantly; it was fun yet sane.
But back onto the main topic of the Krishna book, the ancient tom also held some very esoteric passage, like the Demi-gods worshipping Vishnu on the bank of the ocean of milk, Devaki's seventh pregnancy being transferred to a woman named Rohini without the aid of highly advance and absolutely lethal medical procedure and God being a newborn baby despite him being Birth-less.
And much, much more...
Like the relationship, he had with his devotee's the sweet dealings he had with his close friends, how his mother doted on him, ignorant of her Son's divine nature. and how Naughty the Lord was (He stole butter as a baby, ate dirt and showed the universes that rested in his round baby belly to his mother just to get out of trouble. Stole the Gopis cloths while they bathe.) and how well-loved he was by the Vrajavasis despite his restless nature.
He had asked Unzan why Krishna, God was so... ungodly. Uzaan had replied that Krishna was free to do and be whoever he wanted to be, being the supreme controller. He made the rules, and in Goloka, He didn't have to follow them since, being the supreme personality of Godhead, he made no Karma and all He did was good and ultimately fuelled by the love of his devotees.
That... and in love, there are no rules.
Krishna's name meant; all attractive. And what would be the best way to attract the pure and softhearted then by acting in such a mundane way, so sweet and kind in their ultimate natures and goal? and So relatable to all who identify as human... or close to human.
True, the Lord also had Pastimes no beings could perform, like lifting a hill for seven days and nights, like dancing in the thousand of hoods of a poisonous snake, being unaffected by the noxious fumes. But those would be ignored by the Vrajavasis. For their love was such, that any Godly act performs by Krishna was simply attributed to Sri-Vishnu's protection of a pious soul...
Sri-Vishnu being the business persona of God, the Four Arm Fort of Krishna that he shows to those who desire to worship him with awe and reverence.
When the curtains open and all bowed in front of the Deities. And all began to sing a sacred song by Visvanath Chakravarti Thakur, the Guruvastakam.
"Mahaprabhoh Kirtan-Nritya-gita
Vaditra-madian-manaso rasena
romancha-kampasru-taranga-bhajo
Vande guro sri-charanaravinda"
He repeated. Apparently singing the glories of the spiritual master every morning was extremely pleasing to Krishna. Less so then hearing His own glories.
Huh...
And thus, the morning program continued without any disturbance. They chanted a few other prayers. Worshipped the image of an occicum sanctum. (Goddess Tulasi, apparently.), had the morning announcement, sung the eight prayers sung by Sri-Chaitania and finally, Japa time.
They all sat in meditation in the temple room as Mukhara and X managed to have the old computer working and the temple speaker streamed out the sound of Iskcon's Founder Acharia voice filled the establishment.
It was a rather impressive temple, all things considered. It had been established in an old gym. Meaning that it was extensive. The main room was the old gymnasium. The floor was springy, perfect for dancing for Krishna. The front of the old gym held a restaurant. The Legendary Govinda eatery.
Unfortunately, all the windows were smashed, and the holes were boarded up to prevent the miscreant from causing more damage. The dining room was devoid of any decent furniture, all had been ransacked and broken. Only one table was left, the one with some suspicious burns.
The lockers were the Ashram, and the showers remained the same. It was a miracle that water was still flowing.
There was a library, an old boutique forgotten by time and, under the altar, in the basement, was the deity's kitchen. Were the would be Pujari would cook for their Lordship. It was a sacred area only qualified Brahmana (by saintly qualities, not by birth.) would perform their art as a sacrifice.
But to return to the altar. The whole stage was pristine, and the deities of the lord sat on richly decorated wood structures made of teak and marble.
The back held a pastoral fresco, and more marble formed pillars.
A soft light gave to the altar a early morning vibe. And whit how simple Radha-Krishna were dressed, X had the feeling that what he was seeing was none other then God in his pyjama.
Half of His hair was tied in a loose bun held by pearls, and a peacock feather was perched in the top, slightly waving in the wind given by the yak tail fan.
This was probably the favourite image X had saved that day. And as he continued to chant Krishna's holy name (sixteen rounds of a hundred and eight holy names.) X kept this picture at the forefront of his mind's eyes...
He had never felt so peaceful... so happy in his life.
'I could get used to this.' He thought as he fingered his beads. A gift from the departed one.
After that, they had a ceremony in honour of Silas-Prabhupada in which they worshipped his murti with a lamp and other paraphernalia.
Shinmyoumaru had whispered to X that, since this saintly benignly man was the envoy of the Lord, they worshipped Prabhupada as if he was Krishna... not that he was.
That, and the fact that the Acharia had saved thousands, if not million by the knowledge he carried. He was a devotional Hero, and no one could repeat the feat he did.
When God was on earth, five... six hundred years ago. Sri-Krishna-Chaitania-Mahaprabhu had given the holy name and Krishna-Prema to only those who lived in India... and while his foot travel was extensive, he had left some spots.
Then, he sent Bhaktivinoda Thakura to revive the true Vaishnava doctrine after unscrupulous men and women used Bhakti to gain wealth, cheap fame, woman, intoxication and other such fakers and corrupting influence had all but extinguish the flames of Bhakti that once brightly burned in the land of Navadwip.
And through Bhaktivinoda Thakura and his saintly wife, Vishnu sent one of his rays in the form of Bhimal Prashad. Also known as Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, the founder Acharia of the Gaudia-Math mission.
Father and son soon revived the ancient teachings, despite the gruelling routine the Thakura had set for himself. But... despite Bhaktisiddhanta's best effort, none of his disciples made a big splash to the west, two of his sanyasi servants having reached as far as London.
And then came Abhay Charan Dei, whom, on his first meeting with Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, had received his first instruction from his eternal spiritual master; to go and preach in the west, since it was clear Abhay was richly educated in English.
Not as intense as his Guru, but it was for the best.
It took this young man more then forty years, the collapse of his pharmaceutical enterprise, leaving his uneducated wife (she sold his Srimad-Bhagavatam, the most sacred scripture in the world, for a box of tea biscuit.) surviving as a mendicant as he published his first bi-monthly (or, was it weakly) paper called back to Godhead. Writing, editing and distributing it all by himself with whatever meagre fund he'd managed to gather.
He went through a lot, and eventually, he took his Sanyasi (renunciant) vows and began living in Vrindavan, the greatest of Holy places. The earthly area where the Supreme Personality of Godhead enacted his eternal pastime at the view of all.
He was well past fifty at that point, and to leave one's body in Vraja was a guaranteed return to Krishna's Lotus feet and the eternal realm of Goloka.
But no, Srila Prabhupada, Instead of living peacefully in Sri-Vrindavan-Dham, gathered whatever meagre belongings he had and, at the ripe age of 70, boarded a ship to crossover half the world. His destination? The Boston pier. it was in 1969.
And after two months on a rough sea, sea-sickness, two heart attacks, a vision of Sri-Krishna and a rather calm Atlantic sea; Srila-Prabhupada walked down the gangplank and blessed the American continent with his footprint, about to change the world in eleven years.
He only had seven rupees in his pockets, another change of saffron robes, an umbrella, and a crate filled with the first three volumes of the Srimad-Bhagavatam that he had himself translated, edited and printed out of his meagre earnings.
For one year, he struggled. Moving from place to place as he tried to survive in the land of meat-eaters, passion and ignorance. Begging the so-called intelligentsia for a willing ear and an open heart... only to hit with more dead-end then what his soft heart desired.
And then... he finally got a foothold, followers in the form of hippies looking for something more then drugs, sex, rock and roll. Those who had moved beyond the promises of the dying age of peace and love and onto something higher and more meaningful.
One year later, and Iskcon was registered as a non-profit organization with religious roots... and ten years later, as Silas-Prabhupada left this world in Vrindavan, in the gorgeous temple of Krishna and Balaram, he was one of the most powerful, rich and influential men on the planet.
And yet... he remained a humble man, a renunciant with no home and no money to his name, despite having what amount to a hundred and eight temples and an international society and book publishing house to his name.
But what do you give to the man whom the Lord belonged to?
(End of the IRL portion. for more information, please read the Prabhupada Lilamrtia.)
Once the Guru-Puja was done (the song chanted was sweet, and the Bengali easy to understand), they turned around to see Radha and Krishna dressed for the day as George Harrison and Yamuna Devi dasi belted out the Govindam prayer.
And after that, they would have another prayer/song and a one-hour class on the Srimad-Bhagavatam. And today, X would help Uma (apparently, Miko had another name.) shop around for renovation material to bring the temple to its former glories.
X smiled as he gazed at God and his lovely Primeval potency, Srimati-Radharani. this was already so different from his usual morning. It was sweeter and... he felt fulfilled in a way that made whatever horror of the past flee in fear.
Yes, he could get used to that.
Zero could also get used to that.
Despite being on the road and fighting hordes of maddened Mechaniloid and mavericks (different strain, based on Zero's second codding but... it essentially turned the afflicted like docile and loyal dogs to one master. And it was neither Zero nor Sigma... thankfully.) Zero greatly enjoyed his new life on the road as he learned about the soul and Love.
Yes, Love.
"Alright, let's end class here Zero, I hope I didn't lose you with my ramblings." Bahula gave a little bow as she closed her blue and gold sutra scroll, the one that held the Holy scriptures.
Zero shook his head as he grabbed his crutches and pulled himself up from the rock he was sitting on. "No, not at all. I'm still wrapping my head around the fact that love really does exist and that wanting to feel it and give it is the soul's nature."
"Indeed, but Bhaktivinoda Thakura also says that the Love that lives in the Souls' heart is meant for Krishna and Krishna alone, to give it to anything else but Krishna as the same as pouring hard-earned water in a basket."
"Wow... talk about inefficient."
"Indeed... it doesn't mean that other souls have to be ignored or, God Forbid hated. But first, you need to love God. And since we're all parts and parcels of the ever full and ever complete Lord, to love Krishna means to love all."
Zero smiled. " Yeah, make sense. You can't love just some parts of someone, you gotta love the whole!"
Bahula chuckled as she made herself busy by parking up their last camping area. They were now close enough to Abel city to see the skyline, and Zero could not help but feel a bit anxious.
'Hey, Krishna... I know I have to offer you something nice and precious... with love and devotion but. Can you please take my anxiety? I'll get you something nice when everything will be dealt with, or even earlier if I can get away with it." Zero promised.
It was easier to speak to him now, especially after He had made it rain in order to ascertain Sigma's status. Still, Zero felt awkward asking Sri-Krishna for things. Wasn't it a very... cheating way to deal with one's friend? Let alone a best friend?
He'd never asked X anything save for his friendship, and even them, he'd never forced his buddy to it. X thought that the murderous jock was friend material.
And now... it seems God thought the same thing, despite the many flaws that plague the red maverick hunter. But it also meant that Zero could apply all that he had learned of X and iris about interrelationship with his intimate dealing with Krishna.
With God...
"I never understood the whole 'God made us to his Image' Crap, thought it was just this pro-human propaganda," Zero admitted as he tried to see what he could do to assist his Guru. " But now... I think I get it."
"Oh, really? Care to elaborate?" Bahula asked as she checked her bike over.
She was dirty, thin like a dying woman and yet still glowing more then the sun and moon combined. And Zero couldn't wait to get her some actual food to eat, since Bahula's reserved were already empty.
Zero turned back to the looming shadow that was Abel city, then turned back to Bahula, for she was waiting to hear his paltry realization.
The reploid stood as tall as his condition would allow, and spoke whatever was in his heart about this particular topic.
"God... Krishna's the source of everything. The air, the sun, water and all species of life. Not just humans." Zero began, the usual bliss he felt when he spoke about anything related to Krishna filling him like the most potent of drugs... the ones for reploids.
The one that made them forget the terrible reality of their situation, and turned them into 'happy' little workers.
And yet... this one felt more like water to a fish. it felt right. It felt...natural and desperately needed. Unlike this other drug that would turn them into mere machines working in a dream.
"Indeed, Zero. Krishna's numerous avatars are the source of all species of life." Mercifully, Bahula must have noticed his spiralling thoughts.
"yeah." Zero's smile was bright and free from his usual cockiness. " So... His original form is that of a human... or, his original, Primal form is the basis for the human form. So those who have the human form of life will have an easier time getting him. Like... humans will steal stuff they find good at a young age, and teenagers will have escapades with young girls. Just like Krishna."
Bahula smiled. "Yes... Since were all trying to imitate him, it makes sense."
"Thing is... we have to give those feelings back to him," Zero muttered as he made his way to the bike, under Bahula's stare. " What I mean is... you told me we all have a relationship with Krishna. And eternal relationship. Right now, were living those relationships with other conditioned souls, and since those relationships are material..."
'Z... Zero... I'm sorry.'
Zero painfully closed his eyes and he vented out. " They don't last..."
"Oh... Zero." The reploid in red could hear the sheer pity that filled Bahula's voice. Usually, this would be the fastest wait to either get the mother of all earful... or being smacked into a wall, depending on how pissed Zero felt.
But not with Bahula, never with Bahula.
With her, this Pity felt more like compassion sympathy... for it was.
Bahula would feel the pain Zero felt. She would cry for and with him, just like X would, and she understood what was going on in his heart.
It was not merely a person above that felt bad for the sake of feeling bad. It was a saint who only wanted the best for him, and who knew the special kind of pain Zero went through...
and if it was pity, then Zero didn't mind. Once in a while, it felt good to be pitied... especially by someone like her Grace Bahula devi dasi.
He cleared his throat, an action that was wholly unneeded and awfully human. He didn't cry... Wily never had this piece of hardware in mind when he builds this wretched body.
X was lucky to have them.
"So... I... I know it's forward of me. But... I'm... I want to be friend with him. N-Not now, I'm still too green but-" yes, so sputtering about what relationship he was attracted to was about as embarrassing as Asking Iris out the first time... and the second time.
He didn't want to remember the third time.
" But you are naturally attracted to Sakhya-Rasa..." Bahula spoke gently, with a smile filled with a kindness Zero knew was not from this world. " There's nothing wrong with that Zero. Krishna is our most intimated friend, you know." She said from the seat of the road-tearer.
Oh, if this bike would be a reploid... or even a human, Zero would absolutely marry her and, somehow, give her twenty kids.
Yes, so, he loved this bike.
"Yeah... I know." Zero admitted, mentally slapping the back of his mind's head for this thought. This was just material, a hunk of magical metal shaped in a way that made it conducive for road travel.
"Now, if you want to cultivate this mood, I would suggest that you look for a Guru in the movement first. Get initiated serve Krishna's Devotee and read about Krishna's pastime with his cowherd boyfriends." Bahula listed as Life-saver would. But with more warmth and love. " Is ISKCON still around?" She asked, and Zero could hear the frightful hope in her voice.
"I... Have no Idea Mother. Falling... err, I think my trip to Cyberspace burned out my communication array. Same as my internet access." Zero admitted as he awkwardly sat on the back seat, swinging his damaged legs over the seat and plopping down behind the saint, holding her waist securely.
"Ah... Mother." He began, not knowing how to broach this particular subject.
"Yes, my son?" Bahula gently spoke as she covered her dusty and gaunt face with her helmet, now covered in whatever bug she'd unfortunately splattered.
"You... When I'm processed, please bath, eat something more filling then havish and rest... you look like I dug you out of a shallow grave."
"A shallow grave?" Bahula asked humorously. "Oh my son, It was not from a shallow grave they dug me out from, trust me. Now hold on." And with that, the saint turned on the engine and the road-ripper rumbled enthusiastically.
Zero grinned as his spiritual mother shredded the road. But despite the bliss of thrill of the ride, the robot master could not help but feel ... restless.
Something was about to happen, he just knew it.
Back at the temple, X was helping with the cleanup. Not that he felt very needed anyway.
While it was true that his strength, speed and sight were better then humans, those he was with were not, by any stretch, Homo-sapiens.
Or... they were, but not the normal type.
Those were Youkai, Japanese demons of different types and strengths.
Nobody needed him to lift heavy equipment, or garbage, the Hell prostitute and the Avatar of Bishamonten could probably lift the entire building. Acyuta-gopi's and her amazing puppets. (dolls) was sweeping and mopping the premise while Miko (Uma Devi Dasi, apparently.) was busying herself in the kitchen. Leaving X and Shinny to loiter around and attempting not to get in the way.
X let out a heavy sigh as the mini-moe gave encouragement to the rest of the group, her energy refreshing and sincere.
'Man... I wish I had the same vim as her.' X thought as he returned to his book. It was the third time he had read the Bhagavad-Gita as it is, they had yet to find a full Srimad-Bhagavatam set tough.
He couldn't wait to start reading it, for Uma had explained that everything was explained in this five-thousand-year-old scripture, the ripen fruits of the Vedic three, written last, as the great sage Vyasadeva had reach spiritual perfection and narrated by his pure son, Srila-Sukadeva Goswami.
X sighed as he closed the Bhagavad-Gita as it is, having scanned all of its pages and keeping the PDF in his personal cloud. It was well and truly committed to memory... meaning, X was bo-
"Hey, X Prabhu." Shiniomaru addressee X. " Do you want to help me cheer everyone?" the tiny moe asked from the safety of the lacquer bowl.
X sighed. " Shinny, I've already helped you with that... but, I would love to do more then just cheer."
"Oh..."
Suddenly, Uma emerged from the kitchen, the first place that she had personally cleaned and fixed (being the Japanese 'Buddha' of carpentry had its perks.) she gazed at X with eyes filled with bliss and amusement... and childlike glee.
Quite the feat for someone who was well over a thousand.
"Ah, such a beautiful song you sing, X Prabhu." She began, a benevolent smile on her lips. " Service to God, Krishna is rarely given, and even more rare and fortunate are those who actively look for it."
Right, Mother Uma (or Uma Prabhu) could hear the ten desires in his heart. Yet another proof that he was not but a mere machine with human-like emotions.
"My apologies for not letting you help me in the kitchen," Uma spoke sheepishly. "I'm not used to having a helper, my friend Futo... I'd rather not have her close to anything flammable, and my old Tao teacher couldn't find her way out of a potato bag... Pyromania and being born in aristocracy. Anyway, since you are still clean, perhaps you could help me in the Pujari room? It's were we prepare everything for their Lordship, sort of like the backstage of the temple."
"Ah, I see..."
" To be honest, I don't really need any help... but I wouldn't mind at all if you could clean the Lord's dishes once he's done eating," Uma informed him. "I will admit that despite my position as a hermit, being the only Pujari is rather tiring."
X was so bored and desperate, cleaning the dishes sounded like the most wonderful thing in the world.
Uma laughed at X's reaction. "Oh! Such enthusiasm for such a humble service. Come with me, X Prabhu, I will show you how it's done... and my Guru-deva gave me my names a long, long time ago... I won't tell you when, nor will I tell you why I didn't use it when we first met. I have my own reasons... now, let us not make our Lord wait any longer, shall we?" And with that, the most ancient and confusing Vaishnavi walked away, bearing with her the tray of offered food, all cooked in cow's ghee.
How did she manage to get this much butter, X would never know.
Once in the Pujari room, Uma quickly began to show X what she needed of him, and since X had the highest processing power of them all, it was rather easy for him to learn.
The stainless steel plates were laden with an incredible a mouth of expertly prepared foodstuff, then she added some leaves, occicum sanctum, of sacred basil.
"From Vishnu to Krishna, passing by the other avatars and Govinda, no one will accept any offering of food without a Tulasi leave," Uma explained as she quickly moved about making an arati plate with five items. ( a stick of incense, A five-flamed lamp, loaded with ghee wicks, water with a conch shell, a piece of fabric, and a flower. There was another ghee lamp, this was generously peppered with strong-smelling camphor.) Srimati-Radharani can hold a Tulasi leaf, a Manjari... Tulasi bud or Tulasi garland in her hand, but she will never accept them on her lotus feet."
" Oh..."
"Tulasi, as you may have noticed this morning, is not but a mere plant, but an eternal associate of the Lord. In Vaikuntha, her name remains unchanged, for she is Tulasi Devi, the Best of all Flowers. She is also the most fortunate of Lord Narayana Wives, for unlike Lakshmi Devi, who's Chanchalam... unsteady and always in motion, Tulasi Maharani is stira, or fixed in her position at the Lotus Feet, and never leave this enviable position for anything."
X stared at to woman, her entire body is shaking. She took a deep, steadying and somewhat got her emotions under control.
"... Yes X, this is how loving ecstasies are shown... no, I didn't want to show it, I don't like showing it off. A Devotee never shows his loving symptoms if he or she can help it."
"It's alright, I read that at a certain level, ananda can't be stopped," X spoke with a soft smile and a renewed respect for this woman.
Mukhara's pale cheeks coloured. "Yes... well, don't get caught up in mere decorations," she grumbled as she finished the plates quickly resuming her glorification of the most sacred of plants. " In Vrindavan, she is known as Vrinda-Devi, and Vrindavan belongs to her, she is the one who plan's all of Krishna's activities and decides who will join his pastimes. One cannot reach the highest stratum of the spiritual world without her blessing." Uma finished in a softening tone.
Everything was ready, the plates were made, the Arati trays were done and Uma's Vaishnava Achamana (purificatory rite performed before entering the altar, which includes washing one's feet and hands and their false ego off) was performed, she rang the (new) golden bells and entered the altar.
X stood outside, feeling too unworthy to even catch a glimpse of the Lord's back. Instead, he returned to the Pujari room and began to clean the place up. While it was already spotless, the phrase 'cleanliness is close to Godliness' was very much in effect, especially now.
Did he mention how much he loved the place and the people? And the philosophy and how God was easily conceivable despite his inconceavableness?
Well, now he did.
He was busying himself with cleaning the floor and planing how to wash the sacred workroom from top to bottom when... he received an alert he should not be privy to.
/Maverick attack./
X dropped his mop and ran to the altar door. "Mother Uma! Were under attack!" He warned as politely and calmly as possible, all the while managing to convey the sense of urgency that came with such news.
He had experiences on this matter.
"Oh... wait." X heard the ancient woman through the door. She was speaking to the lord in fluent Sanskrit. "Alright, I was wondering what I was hearing. Thank you for telling, me, I will stay here and protect the temple, warned the others."
X was about to protest this rash decision. (Uma was the most human of the group, and thus had to be protected.) when he felt his alarm blared as if Zero would have walked it with his full power of display.
But no... it was only Uma, who now held a wooden stick of untold power in her hand, a sword hanging from a richly decorated belt hanging loosely from her thin hips.
"I know you want to protect me, X. But I am a trained warrior, and my desire is to used my forty-plus years of experience to protect my Lordships." she declared. "Go and warn the other of the danger that looms upon this temple, I will remain in this room." And with that, Uma returned to God and his Consort, an amused smile on her lips.
X could not help but stare... he had just told the short woman about the maverick attack, events that killed and traumatized thousand daily.
She... never lived through a maverick attack.
X rushed out, manifesting his buster as he rushed to warn the others. All with more or less the same reaction.
Or lack of thereof.
Yuugi had given a whoop of cheer before flying to the roof, eager for a fight.
Achyuta had sighed and called a few dolls. But the enthusiasm had not faded from her blue eyes.
Toramaru had given a feral growl with a grin and Uzaan rolled his eyes, unafraid.
He was a cloud, and no known reploid had the power to bust clouds.
The only one who had a normal and logical reaction had been Shinmyoumaru, being so small, the first thing the mini-girl did was to hide in X's frame, calling it the safest place to be short of the altar or a Sankirtana.
"X-Sama... you will protect me, right?" The dwarven girl asked, her voice echoing in X's internal working.
'There's no way she's safe in me... she may get crushed.' The reploid tough with dread, memories of the first time he'd gotten infected with roached still a bit too fresh in his CPU.
But... he was a protector and protecting he will. "Yes, Shinny, I will," X spoke from his hidey hole in the basement. He didn't dare move in case Shinmyoumaru would get stuck, crushed and killed by his innards.
X hated this...
No, wait.
X... felt relived, it was hidden but... he was!
He wouldn't have to face the numerous dead littering the streets, he won't have to kill some potential friends and allies turned mad by the virus... no, instead, he would have to stay in a cool, if damp basement to protect a Koibito from the big scary robots while Prince Toyosatomimi no Miko, Hoshiguma Yuugi, a Dai-Oni from hell, Achyuta-Gopi; The adopted daughter of Shinki, the semi-goddess of hell and Toramaru Shou; The Avatar of Bishamonten protected the temple with an enthusiasm only Zero would show.
All were serving God, Krishna, the supremely powerful.
For the first time in his life... X felt safe. There was nothing to be afraid of.
~0~
Gate watched with amusement and satisfaction as Chaos descended upon Abel City. The resurrected (and liberally reprogrammed ) reploids clamouring for more blood as they chanted the glories of Zero and Sigma, the source of their freedom.
He let a chuckle out as he listened to his dear Alia's panicked tone as she and her team of Navigator desperately tried to quell the influx of Maverick. But Gate knew full well that this would only cause a bigger infection in the end.
The real Maverick Virus was... an anomaly, to say the least. Not really a program, but an... energy that took the form of a poison. A Miasma.
For some reason, Sigma had managed to drain Zero from this amazing matter and gained the power to turn any reploids maverick. And since it was not a virus, nor a program, no vaccine could stop it.
It was... beautiful. And it had given ate the push he needed to go beyond his silly moral code and to really start experimenting as he had always wanted.
Gate gave a chilling, demented grin. He had been repressing his true feelings for the sake of Alia and the outdated humans. So slow, so selfish and fragile.
He had found his freedom in a fluid sample a Lifesaver had collected... the purple blood had a beautiful glow, and Gate had been tasked to study it by the main doctor.
And... oh, just the contact with this amassing mater, not quite a fluid, but not a gas either, had awakened something in him... a thirst for knowledge, for freedom.
He didn't want his thoughts to be controlled by the general public, he didn't want to be led by a leash of moral code just because the puny humans couldn't bear the thought of becoming obsolete, another apex predator emerging from the mires of the evolutionary pool.
"Oh, Sigma... such a shame that your demise was so swift. You had the best interest for the world, and those humans destroyed you for it." Gate sigh. " you gave me my freedom... the least I can do is to continue your sacred work." The scientist's smile turned feral again. "And I swear, oh liberator... that I will not merely continue your work..."
"No, Sigma... I will not be but a mere follower..."
Gate chuckled. "I will be even greater... yes, I will push the boundaries, I will break the mould and excel you in every way possible." He raised his hands to the heavens above, his red eyes glowing, warning all that his mind had well and truly being corrupted. " You aimed at being the king of reploids... the ruler, the commander in chief... the emperor. But I, Gate, WILL REACH GODHOOD AS THE MORTAL MASS WATCHES IN AWE!"
Unseen by all, Gate let out the demented laughter that had built in his chest ever since he'd realized that nothing was stopping him from performing 'unethical' experiments. The one that only grew stronger when he realized that Alia's look of disappointment and anger had no more control over him.
The one that almost got free when Zero's samples were tasted... for science, of course!
As Gate laughed and laughed at his perceived ascension. Kokila Devi Dasi merely shook her head in disappointment.
Prabhupada had said that two types of persons could never become a devotee of Krishna.
The Crazies, and the lazies... and that man was the definition of crazy.
He was coo-coo alright. And Kokila knew all about the cuckoo's... and this one was not a big blackbird singing on the fifth note, he was a genuine bad mad man.
"So, Krishna... should I stop him?" The minty greenette asked the Lord of all sweetness and love.
Krishna shook his head, making his shark-shaped earrings danced among an ocean of black curls kissing his round, flawless cheeks. "No... I will let other's have this glories." He spoke his sweet voice the same as the sound of a rain-filled cloud after a drought.
"Oki then!" And with that, Kokila returned to Iris's side, entering her dream.
"Alright Iris, Let's continue your Bharat-Shastri course, shall we?"
Once again, what I have written about Bhaktivinoda Thakura, Bhaktisiddhanta and Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada is a hundred percent true. Also, happy 125 aniversary of Srila Prabhupada. may this chapter lease him somewhat.
