The Secret of the Chalisa (7 page)

Laye Sanjivan Lakhan Jiyaye
Shri Raghuvir Harashi ur laye

You brought Sanjivan (A herb that revives life) and restored Lakshman back to life, Shri Raghuvir (Shri Ram) cheerfully embraced you with his heart full of joy.

Raghupati Kinhi bahut badai Tum mam priye Bharat-hi sam bhai

Shri Raghupati (Shri Ram) extolled your excellence and said: "You are as dear to me as my own brother Bharat."

All of them were amazed at this new entrant. He looked shocked as if he was trying to hide his identity and escape from someone.

“Now I remember who you are. You were the one who went into the ICU last before Ma died. Suresh was very angry at you; he believes you had a hand in the mysterious death of Ma. Tell the truth or I’ll call the police now,” demanded Pawan.

“No Sir, I didn’t kill Madam. I can’t do that, I was working on an important project with her. Please listen to me once,” pleased Vikram.

“OK, I give you one opportunity to prove yourself, if you try to act smart I’ll call the police at once,” said Pawan.

“I was working on an ingredient in my college when I read Madam’s article in the journal. It was very promising, so I mailed her to help me with my study. She was a very generous teacher; she provided the information which helped me in my research. When I visited her once in the college I realized one of her students, Sanjeev was doing a better work than me and his research was more promising than mine.

So I went back and started my research at a different level. All this while I was in close communication with Madam and when I got to know that she’s attending the annual conference at Dehradun, I also came for it. I agree I gave her that coffee cup at high tea, but I don’t know how she had a heart attack after that. Later I got to know that it had an over dosage of celecoxib.

When I went inside the ICU I just thought she might tell me something about the thesis, but she was in a different world then. Her face was calm and smiling and she was chanting a verse from hanuman chalisa: ‘Anth kaal Raghuvir pur jayee, Jahan janam Hari-Bakht Kahayee.’

I swear to God I don’t know anything else,” explained Vikram.

“Then why are you running away and meeting in this mysterious way?” asked Sanjeev.

“Few days back I got a threatening call from someone asking me to keep my mouth shut for Anjana murder case. From then I have a feeling that someone is constantly following me. So I thought that I should meet you and Pawan Sir and ask for help,” said Vikram.

“Why didn’t you go to the police?” said Ravi.

“I tried, but on the way nearly escaped an accident. Then I got a threatening call again asking not to contact police. I’m scared Pawan Sir. Please help me. Please drop me to Mussoorie, once I reach home I can meet my lawyer and be safe there. I’m hiding in hotel these days here,” begged Vikram.

They all looked at each other with suspicious eyes, but everyone knew then that Vikram needed help and protection and only Pawan could provide that then.

“What information you wanted to give me?” asked Sanjeev.

“I wanted to tell you that in the conference, when I went to take coffee for Madam I had noticed some empty packs of Celact in the dustbin. However, I didn’t know its significance then. When the post mortem report came for overdose, I thought I should tell this to someone close. I went to tell this to Suresh, but he's so angry that he’s not ready to listen. So I wanted to tell this to you and Pawan Sir,” Vikram said.

“Did you notice any suspicious person there,” asked Sanjeev.

“No. But there’s one more thing I want to inform you. I was working on the analgesic properties of various compounds. In fact one of my original papers is accepted for publication. Madam told me the analgesic and antidepressant effect of jasmine. I did some work on it. But couldn’t show it to madam,” said Vikram.

“Yes, I know I’ve been working on concentrated extracts of jasmine as my thesis. By the way what is your paper titled?” Sanjeev asked out of curiosity.

“Role of jasmine as an analgesic and antidepressant-a novel approach,” answered Vikram.

The statement took Sanjeev by a shock. It seemed that the earth just slipped from beneath his feet. For a moment he was numb and stared at Vikram with his eyes aghast. The very next moment his anger took better of him and he reached for Vikram’s collar.

“You cheat, you incorrigible miscreant, poisonous serpent! I’ll kill you,” shouted Sanjeev and gave a strong blow to Vikram. In a flash Vikram was on the floor grasping his jaw. Pawan and Ravi ran towards them. Ravi held Sanjeev tightly. “Calm down. What happened to you, Sanju?”

Pawan was helping Vikram to get up.

“This ugly fellow, he stole my thesis and published it as his work. Now he’s telling me stories about it. I’ll kill you, you second-hander,” Sanjeev was bursting with anger. “Take him away from me, or else….”

Pawan took Vikram out of his house. “Wait here, I’ll get my car and drop you to Mussoorie. And for God sake don’t ask for any other help. You’ve already caused a lot of trouble,” Pawan said and left to get car keys.

Sanjeev was on the floor with his hand buried in his palms. He was weeping. Only he could understand that all his efforts have gone waste. His thesis would be rejected as it was no more an original work. Vikram’s publication turned all his efforts in to a waste.

Just then he felt a warm touch on his shoulders. “I can understand your thesis is no more applicable now. But have faith in your guide. She had bigger plans for you. You still have time for submission I guess. We all will work it out for you,” said Bhumija empathetically.

“You are a strong man, doctor!” exclaimed Ravi. “Now get up and let’s try to solve this puzzle as soon as possible. It’s the only way to save your thesis.”

Sanjeev was still struck with distrust, which made Bhumija's tender heart fill with compassion. She got a glass of water for Sanjeev and said, “I’ll look into the folder again. There must be some answer in it.”

“Let’s also eat something, empty stomach won’t help the brain to work,” said Ravi as he opened the burgers and the pizza.

“Yes, bhaiya has gone to drop that fool I guess. So while he returns we’ll do our analysis,” added Bhumija.

Sanjeev was captivated by the solace his friends provided. He was especially attracted to the kindness of Bhumija. In such a short time she grew so considerate and amicable for Sanjeev. They all sat down with the papers. There were many papers with reactions. Some of them had some reference study articles, some review articles while others were evidence based medicine journals.

“I’ve seen some of the articles, as I myself kept them in the folder. But some are new. However, most of the articles are concentrated around cancer, anti-tumor activity and the like. Sanjeev, were you doing research on anticancer drugs also?” she asked.

“Me? No,” he said clearing his throat. “My
work was on analgesic and antidepressant role of molecules.”

“Well, actually if you see, pain and depression are very common in cancer patients. There was a very beautiful article by Dr Crispian Scully which talked about the quality of life in cancer patients. He has described the importance of maintaining a good pain free life for patients. Anticancer drugs would merely prolong the five-year-survival rate, but patients mostly suffer from the side effects of the chemotherapy rather than the underlying disease.”

“Yes, that’s true. During the thesis I realised Madam had kept my thesis as a sub project. She was definitely working on something big,” Sanjeev remarked.

“Sorry to interrupt you people, but I have in hand this verse from Hanuman Chalisa which was there in the folder. It has some 8
Siddhis
and 9
Nidhis
which are some chemical ingredients. Would you like to throw some light on it?” said Ravi.

Sanjeev took the paper in his hand and sat gazing at it. Bhumija came to his side to have a peep into it, which passed a shiver in Sanjeev’s veins.

“Hmm… I think there are some related articles too in the folder. Let’s go one by one. Sanjeev will you list the 9 Nidhis in order to me?” cried Bhumija.

“Oh yes, sure. The first and second seem related. They are,
Mahapadma
and
Padma
which means the great lotus and a Himalayan lake with treasures.”

“OK, I have an article here which highlights the medicinal property of lotus.”

“Yes, I know that too. Neferine, a major alkaloid extracted from the seeds of lotus, Nelumbo nucifera. It has anti cancer potential. It has shown to cause activation of the tumor suppressor gene p53.”

“Right, I’ve read about it too. It causes G1 cell cycle arrest and induces apoptosis. But if you speak with Pawan bhaiya he will give you a metaphysical aspect of lotus,” said Bhumija.

“Really, there is a metaphysical analysis for a lotus flower? I just know that it is the national flower of our country,” added Ravi.

“I’ll tell you what I’ve heard from Bua and Pawan bhaiya. Lotus is considered as a divine flower not only by the Hindus but also by the Buddhists. In fact it was considered sacred by the Egyptians and the Africans as well. Lotus flower grows in a mud pond but blooms as an uncontaminated flower and hence it’s a symbol of purity and resurrection. So though we may live in a deluded world, the spirit inside us is clean and when one attains enlightenment, this pure spirit blooms happily. It is a flower which flowers and seeds at the same time signifying that cause and effect are generated at the same moment. The moment a cause is created, a simultaneous effect arises, though it may manifest itself later.

There’s also a story about Mansarovar and the blooming lotus in it. Mansarovar and Mount Kailash are places of pilgrimage. But they have an equally beautiful scenic beauty as is the mythological importance of the place. When I went there two years back with my family I was taken aghast by the breathtaking view of the place. I still get goose bumps when I think of that.

The mythical story says that the term Mansarovar is
a combination of the words “
Manas
” “
sarovara
”
manas
meaning
mind
and
sarovara
meaning
lake
. According to the Hindu religion, the lake was first created in the mind of the Lord Brahma after which it manifested on Earth.

It is regarded as the residence of Lord Shiva who resides on Mount Kailash with his wife Parvati. Mansarovar is the highest fresh water lake and it’s in the shape of sun. In fact there’s another lake,
Rakhast
Tal
, which is the highest salt water lake and is in the shape of a moon. So they both signify the presence of sun and moon and confluence of their respective energies,” said Bhumija.

“Yes, I’ve heard these stories from my mother too,” said Sanjeev. “She told me some more peculiar facts. It is said that Maharaja Mandhata has discovered the Lake. The legend goes: Mandhata had done penance on the shores of Mansarovar at the foot of the magnificent mountains named after him. According to the legend, there was a big mansion down below on its bottom. It is said to be the abode of the king of Nags - the serpent gods - and in the middle of the arc like surface of the lake once there stood a huge tree. Its fruits fell into the lake with the sound 'Jam'; thus, the surrounding region came to be known as "Jambu-ling" or "Jambu-Dvipa" in the Hindu Puranas.

In some Pali and Sanskrit Buddhist works, Mansarovar is described as Anotatta or Anavatapta - the lake without heat and trouble. Buddhists believe that in its centre there is a tree, which bears fruits of celestial medicinal properties that may cure all known physical as well as mental ailments.

Actually, it’s this folklore which rang a bell in my mind. Is there actually a tree with those properties?” Sanjeev stated.

“What I’ve learned from Bua, is that if myth is an idea, mythology is the vehicle of that idea. The mythological stories are designed to invoke curiosity in us so that we think out of the box. The truth is out there, we need to search it. And, if she has given us a hint in some way through this verse, I completely trust in the latent truth it holds,” asserted Bhumija.

“You mean to say that there’s some medicinal fact behind this entire Chalisa composition which she wants us to explore?” asked Ravi.

“Yes, definitely,” replied Bhumija.

“What is the next ingredient then in the list?” asked Sanjeev.

“
Shankh
- the conch shell is the next. Let me see if there’s related text to it,” Bhumija said searching for papers from the folder. She laid down all the papers from the folder on to the table.

“Ok, here I got one. It says about the significance of conch in Hindu religion. The sound of conch is ‘
aum’
which is considered as the first sound of creation. The term ‘
shankh'
means pacifier of impurity and inauspicious. So a conch is blown before commencement of any ceremony to replace negative energy by a positive one. Of great significance is the
Vishnu Shankh,
which is called ‘
Panchjanya'
and signifies confluence of the five elements earth, water, air, fire and sky. The right handed conch’s are more valuable than the left handed ones.”