Hey! It's Holi!! Again!!!

Somewhere around 5000 BC.

The entire Himalayan mountain range was in deep silence. The occasional falling of the snow flakes was amplified by the silence and echo. It was heard as a thunder. The entire mountain was looking very serene and holy. Even some animals that survive in the cold climate were reluctant to leave their caves. Fishes in the river were not moving either. Everything was stand still. Silence was the language spoken there.

Three men stood a little far away from the peak of Kailash. They were under a cave. One man was holding a tanpura in his hand and other men were bare handed. Three of them were deeply concerned about something. Their expressions were very grave.

“Don’t Know how long Shiva is going to be in this deep meditative state?” asked a man with beard.

“Me neither Bhrigu! But it has to stop. Otherwise, the entire world will come to a standstill” said the man with tanpura.

“Narad! You are a very intelligent man. Didn’t you come with something? I heard Rati complaining about your scheme” said the third man.

“Hey! Rishi Mandook! You are speaking as if I am a plotter” said Narad with a ghost of a smile.

“No! I am not accusing! I know for sure that you are a plotter. Can’t you tell us the plot?” said Rishi Mandook.

Narad let out a long sigh.

“How much ever I try to do good for the humans, I get only called names.” Again a long sigh.

“Oh! Come on Narad! As if you care for these things! Tell us your plan. May be we could help.”

“Yes! I need all the help in the world!”

“Please spare us your pomposity! Tell us your plan.” Snapped Rishi Bhrigu.

“It is simply based on the idea that, no one could resist a love for conjugal pleasure. Shiva has gone into deep meditation due to the loss of his wife Sati. Now Sati is reborn as Parvat Raj’s daughter Parvati. If Shiva sees her, he will fall in love. He might marry her.”

“Wonderful idea! But, how are you going to make Shiva see Parvati? He is not even creaking his eyes.” Said Bhrigu in a vexed tone.

“Here where Rati and Manmad come to our aid.” Said Narad in a whisper. He was not too sure of himself.

“What?” chorused both rishis.

“I know! It is really dangerous to make Manmad to dance and sing in front of Shiva now! But do you have a better plan?” asked Narad angrily.

There was a pause between three men. Every one was analyzing the pros and cons of the situation. It looked like they were not left with any other choice. Whoever wakes him from this long deep meditation was going to face the wrath of Shiva. No matter what, his fate was sealed. Better try it out.

“But! Will Madan agree to this?”

Narad fell silent. He recalled Rati and Madan’s reaction to his proposal. Both of them were petrified by the idea of dancing and singing seductively in front of Shiva. It was not surprising. Everyone knew what happened to Daksh and his army after Sati immolated herself. Shiva single handedly massacred everyone. Even after that his wrath did not diminish. He danced across the country Bharat Varsh carrying the corpse of his wife Sati on his shoulder. The entire country started burning because of his anger.

Mahavishnu who is the protector of the world intervened. He sent his Sudarshan chakra and mutilated the corpse of Sati so that, it fell down. After his wife’s body parts fell into different places in Bharat varsh, Shiva realized that Sati is gone for good. His grief knew no bound. His heart was full of misery and hatred. He despised the human race. He despised everyone. He came back to his place Kailash peak and sat there in deep meditation. Initially everyone thought that Shiva will grieve his wife for a few years and after that he will become normal. But they were all wrong. Even after 2 yugs have passed nothing disturbed his meditation.

In fact, the nature succumbed to his feet. The mountain range stopped reproducing. Animals, trees, even single cell creatures stopped reproduction. Slowly this was spreading across Bharat varsh. If this goes on, in a few decades Bharat will cease to exist. The rishis were very much concerned about this. They called for discussions and meetings. No good result was attained.

The head of rishis Bhrigu and Mandook met Narad and discussed various plans. But how far Madan and Rati will be willing to perform in front of Shiva after all those massacres?

“Madan was at least hearing me out! But Rati was so angry with me that, she ordered me out of her place.” Said Narad.

“Have you tried Dhamaru? He loves that sound” asked Mandook.

Silently Narad pointed to a pile of something. Both rishis were taken aback. It was a pile of torn and broken Dhamarus. There were al least thousands of them.

“Let’s go to Madan’s! We must persuade him. There is no choice left.” Said Bhrigu.

Very slowly three men started walking towards Madan’s place. As they approached, they could feel the difference. Other regions were dull grey and silent. But Madan’s palace was colourful and buzzing. Both Rati and Madan were happily playing with each other. Because of their conjugal energy, the plants, insects and animals were reproducing. So, there was a buzz of insects, croaking of a frog and chirping of birds. The trees were laden with different coloured flowers.

The three important men of Indian mythology came to a conclusion that if not Madan, then no one could.

Madan did not seem to welcome them at all. He was reluctant to invite them. But out of respect, he asked them in.

“Naradji! If you had come to persuade me to perform in front of Shiva! I must say I am sorry” said Madan even before they started speaking.

Three of them looked at each other.

“Rati and Madan, have you stepped out of your palace? Have you seen how other regions are?” asked Bhrigu .

“Why would we do that? We are very happy in our palace.” Replied Rati.

“I never knew you people are very selfish. Turning your back on humanity, when they really need you? That’s not good” said Mandook.

“Do you realize that, if this situation persists soon our country will be a grey mass without any life?” said Bhrigu.

“Even you cannot sustain longer Rati. While coming I saw a tree going grey at the northern corner of your palace. How long it will take for other trees to become like that?”

Madan sat there silently. He was thinking hard.

“Let it be so! But we do not want to face the wrath of Shiva.” Said Rati in a small voice. There was an awkward silence between the hosts and the guests.

Narad started getting up. Bhrigu motioned him back to his seat.

“Look here Madan! Later or sooner everything is going to end. Even you and Rati have lost hopes. This is a dire situation. Don’t you think its better if you try? Only you have the power to revoke him now. Do you want to waste it?” said Bhrigu.

“What if we don’t succeed?” asked Rati.

“We all will die peacefully knowing that at least we tried.” Said Mandook.

Again, there was laden silence. The three men had lost all their hopes.

“Yes! Let us do this Rati” said Madan.

An electric current went through all of them. Rati looked at her husband with terror in her eyes.

“Yes Rati! You heard me right! We were created to keep the conjugal love alive. Our duty is to see that every creature reproduces. Now we all know this is not happening. Don’t you think this is our duty to bring back love? Don’t you think we have to make creatures reproduce?”

“Madan! My love! What if something happens to you?” asked Rati in a worried tone. Her eyes were already moist.

Madan came near his wife and patted her head.

“Dear Rati! You know the answer. But still you are asking me” said Madan in a calm tone.

Rati rubbed her eyes with her pallu.

“Ok! Madan! Let’s do this for the benefit of all creatures in this world.” Said in a determined tone. The three great rishis were very happy.

“I bless you with courage” said Bhrigu.

“I bless you with victory” said Narad.

“I bless you with determination” sadi Mandook.

Rati and Madan started planning their performance. It was going to be the performance of their life. Many thigs were at stake.

Beautiful Colours and fragrance are the key for love. Himalayan region looked like a great mass of grey. If they filled it with different colours with fragrance from the flowers, then the magic could work.

With a sense of commitment, Rati and Madan gathered pollen grains of the flowers for fragrance. They took blue from the sky, green from the trees, orange, indigo and other colours from rainbow. They mixed the colours with fragrance from the flowers. They gathered flowers also for spreading love. Madan took his bow of sugar cane. Rati got a quiver full of arrows made of flowers. Before they started for performance hugged each other. Their heart was full of hope and grief at the same time.

Madan and Rati came to the place where Shiva was in deep meditation. Light seemed to shine behind his head. Because of that they were not able to see his face. He looked as if he was carved out of marble. His sacred presence was intimidating. For a moment even Madan and Rati were not interested in spreading conjugal love. The fragrance of flowers made them realize their mission.

And they started their performance.

They threw coloured water and powder to make the environment colourful. As they did, they sang love songs seductively. The spirit of love started to spread slowly. Colours were making the place a beauty to look at. Fragrance made the air so pleasant that even the trees longed for love and affection. Without tiring, Madan and Rati went on and on spreading colours. Madan even dared to touch Shiva and rub some colours on his chest and face.

As the birds and butterflies saw that Shiva had silently accepted the colours, they started singing too. The soft songs of love penetrated Shiva’s ears. He remembered Sati’s musical voice, her love and her touch. Slowly he surfaced. As his mind came to consciousness, he realized that, Sati is no more. No longer he could feel her loving hand. No longer he could see her beautiful face.

His subdued anger came to him again. “Who is making him come to the world where Sati is not there? Who is waking him up to face the grief?” His anger boiled up.

Noticing the twitching of muscles, Madan shot an arrow of flowers at Shiva. This was the last straw. With wrath and contempt, Shiva opened his eyes. Instead of seeing grey he saw colours everywhere. The world looked merry and colourful. His anger knew no bound.

With all his wrath he opened his third eye of anger and saw Madan dancing and playing. The moment Shiva’s eyes fell on him, he turned into ashes. Merry and happy Madan was just a heap of ashes. Rati could not tolerate this. She started crying and complaining.

“Hey Lord Shiva! My husband was only helping the people. It is not for that you created him? What will happen to me without my husband?” and on and on she accused everyone and cried hard.

Shiva’s mind was disturbed. He could understand the loss of life partner. Also, the colours and the fragrance had induced a long-lost love with in him. He longed for a partner. Rati’s grief reminded him of his loss. But this time he was compassionate. Now rishis Bhrigu and Mandook presented Parvati in front of Shiva. One look at her face made him realize that, his Sati had come back to him.

His heart filled with happiness and love. Parvatraj offered his daughter’s hand in marriage to Shiva. He accepted immediately. Every one was happy, except one soul. And that was Rati.

“Lord Shiva! Everyone is happy because you are going to marry so that the world will not come to a standstill. But what about my husband? Without him this could have never happened. When every one is happy, no body is bothered about Madan. Please give him back to me.” Pleaded Rati to Shiva.

Shiva took pity on her and made Madan from the ashes. But said that he will only be visible to Rati’s eyes.

A very handsome Madan rose from the ashes and thanked Lord Shiva and seek his blessings. Shiva blessed him whole heartedly.

“Madan, Rati! To commemorate this day, the day I was reunited with my wife, the rebound of love and happiness, the people of Bharat will celebrate with colours and call this festival holi. Which means happiness to come along with colours. They will remember your contribution to their lives. You will be remembered forever.” Announced Shiva.

The whole universe bent down to the greatest of all Gods, lord Shiva. From that day onward began the colourful festival of holi. Wish you all a happy and colourful holi. Hey! It’s Holi again!