The Signal

Part 1: The First Encounter

I met Raghav for the first time when I was 16 years old and travelling to Faizabad by train. The simple-looking calm boy a little older than me caught my attention as he was lost in thought looking at the passing landscape.

My curiosity was piqued and I extended a friendly gesture. “Care for some Indian Plums?” I asked, breaking the silence.

Raghav’s eyes sparkled with a quiet gratitude. “Thank you, they are my favourites. A friend of mine used to share these with me,” he replied, accepting the offer. This simple exchange marked the beginning of our profound friendship.

As the train chugged along, our conversation deepened, weaving through topics of travel leading to philosophy & and ultimately religion considering that I was a pandit in learning. I despite my rich Vedic lineage, felt both challenged and intrigued by Raghav’s insightful perspectives.

Time passed and our discussion was suddenly interrupted by my father who must have gotten free from his disciples, and sternly reminded me as usual of my legacy and the importance of my Vedic studies. “You carry the wisdom of generations, Laxmikant being a descendant of  Gaga Bhatt who presided over the Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaja Coronation ceremony. Do not stray from your path,” he admonished.

“Maybe I am in the wrong line,” I said, once my father was out of earshot.

Raghav gently prodded, “Your father seemed a very learned man and I believe one should explore his path once fully before deciding on it. Your heritage seems like a treasure trove of knowledge. Maybe there’s more to explore there than you think.”

I pondered this, my thoughts a mix of rebellion and respect. I said, “I have already given so many years to it & and will have to give several more if I even have to explore it fully.”

Raghav smiled, “I don’t think several more years will do it but I believe that you should explore it to the maximum you can and then reflect if it is worth it or not. You have a very long life ahead, you owe it to yourself and your legacy to think this through.”

This made sense to me & and we continued our conversations. Finally, my curiosity about Raghav’s own story grew, especially as I noticed Raghav’s frequent, thoughtful glances outside.

“What are you looking for out there?” I finally asked.

“Just waiting for a signal,” Raghav replied cryptically, smiling, leaving me with more questions than answers.

I felt a little awkward and didn’t pursue it in case my father heard it and scolded me for getting involved in things that weren’t straightforward and right. I had heard of some dacoits in that region and I didn’t want to get involved in anything. However, I always remembered him somehow and often thought of the mysterious encounter with him travelling alone at such an age & and his mysterious talks.

Part 2: The Reunion

Years had woven their stories when I, now a learned pandit, found myself aboard a train to Delhi. Amidst the hum of the moving train, a familiar figure caught my eye: a man, sharply dressed, gazing out the window with an air of quiet anticipation.

“Waiting for a signal?” somehow I couldn’t resist the urge to speak, my voice tinged with a blend of humour and nostalgia.

The man turned, and a smile of recognition spread across his face. “Oh Laxmikant, so you finally embraced the path of a pandit,” he said, his voice warm and familiar.

It was Raghav, unchanged in essence though years had passed.
“Oh Raghav, imagine meeting you after so many years. How have you been & what are you doing?”

“I have been travelling all around, meeting people and having nice conversations like I am having with you? I am so glad to see you and that you have embraced your legacy,” he replied.

“Yes, once I realized how prominent and important my legacy is I devoted myself to learning and now I am one of the leading Vedic pandits of India. I am right now going to Delhi to perform puja for a cabinet mister,” I said.

“Excellent, but don’t you mean, you are going to perform your puja for the almighty,” he said.

“Yes, it’s the same thing,” I replied flustered.

“Performing for the almighty & and performing for someone can never be the same thing. Remember I told you, you are underestimating the time required for learning it all my friend, he said.

I was seething with anger as no one after my father had ever dared talk to me like this but his smiling calm face, his friendly glance forced me to absorb this and try to understand his perspective.

We delved into a deep conversation, sharing the wisdom and experiences gathered over time. I spoke of my journey through the scriptures, finding meaning in an ideal life, while Raghav listened, agreeing and sharing his learnings as a traveller who explored all regions comprehensively seeing and learning all.

Yet, the mystery that had lingered in our first encounter resurfaced as Raghav still kept glancing outside. He caught me looking at this and murmured, “Yes, I’m still waiting for that signal.”

“For what signal> Why is it important?”

“I was promised by someone that one day I will be able to return where it all started. I was told I would see the signal when the time was right. So, I am biding my time till the time is right. Fortunately, friends like you make it much easier,” he replied.

“So, you keep travelling? That’s it. How do you make money, how do you live, I don’t know anything about this?”

“Don’t worry friend, I have more well-wishers than you can imagine and if anything, I am a man of patience. We all will get what we deserve at the right time. Have patience, my friend, and use it to keep learning,” he said.

I nodded in agreement without even realizing it. Our time was brief, and my stop approached. We parted as old friends, the enigma of Raghav’s words hanging in the air.

Part 3: The Aged Meeting

Decades had passed, turning me into an elder, revered and followed. On a journey accompanied by my disciples, I found myself in a familiar scenario. Coming back from the toilet, I emerged to a sight that tugged at the strings of time.

There stood a man, his back turned, looking out the window. The sense of familiarity was overwhelming. As I approached, the man turned, and time seemed to pause. It was Raghav, his presence still calm and composed, yet marked with an unexplainable youthfulness as compared to my distinct old age.

“Raghav!” I exclaimed, the joy of recognition lighting up my aged features.

“Pandit Laxmikant Mathuranath Dixit!”, he exclaimed.

“A pandit in learning my friend. Your advice was correct, my dear Raghav, I am still learning and have dedicated myself to my lord which changed my life, and my purpose and I feel it is coming to its conclusion pretty soon,” I replied.

“Learning, seeing, absorbing & living is the only thing we can do. What is complete, what is the conclusion we can never fully know. What is the end for one is the start for some other chapter,” he said.

“Wise as ever, my friend,” I said.

We embraced, a meeting of souls transcending time. Our conversation flowed, filled with tales of travels and maybe my subtle boasts of accomplishments. Yet, I carefully veiled his purpose for this journey as I remembered what he had said to my last endeavour and this was even bigger. I was glad he didn’t bring it up as I sometimes felt he could see into my soul.

It was then Raghav spoke, his eyes reflecting a deep, fulfilled joy. “I’ve finally seen the signal I’ve been waiting for all these years,” he shared, gratitude evident in his tone.

“What is it?”

“The signal that I can come home once again. I was sure this day would come,” he said.

“That’s so great. Give me your address, I would like to come to visit you there and have more talks than this small journey affords us,” I said.

“All in time my friend. If destiny has to make us meet at my home it will happen. Maybe sooner than you think.”

We parted once more, with me feeling an unexpected sense of relief and happiness for my friend, a feeling that strangely overshadowed even the significance of my journey. I didn’t think anything could deviate me from the task at hand but somehow it did. Even the arousing welcome that I received and the seriousness of the great task that lay before me could not let me shake off my thoughts of him.

Part 4: The Revelation

A Moment of Truth

With thousands of people around us along with my benefactor who was one of the most powerful men on Earth, yet as devout as us Vedic Brahmins, and the mammoth recital I was performing I could somehow only think of him.

And imagine my surprise or shock or bewilderment whatever you call it, when I saw Raghav walking towards me as if oblivious to thousands around him and even the massive security just letting him walk as if he was invisible. As he came nearer he started looking younger & and then again younger as he kept walking through these all amidst chants of Jai Shri Ram, Jai Shri Ram.

He kept coming nearer and now he was even younger than when I first met him! My benefactor, Narendra Modi ji said “Jai Raghupati Raghav Raja Ram”, the only other person looking at him & it finally dawned on me that the child now walking towards me was none other than My Lord Shri Ram who was waiting for the signal to come back home and bless us all. He had been looking for the right time and was with me guiding me throughout as he knew one day I’ll be the one to recite his Pran Pratishta ceremony. “My Lord Shri Ram,” I whispered in awe, the realization washing over me like a divine revelation. I met our beloved PM’s glance and it was enough for us both to realize how we were walking on this divine path, unknowingly & and unaware. Who knows how many lives our lord touched in his cosmic travels?
“Jai Shri Ram, Jai Shri Ram” the chants resonated around us, as I stood there, a humble servant in the presence of divinity as he was now just an infant walking towards & and eventually merging with his idol. Jai Shri Ram, Jai Shri Ram

Reflection and Closure

Laxmikant stood there, a life’s journey culminating in this celestial moment. His encounters with Raghav, now understood as divine interventions, had shaped his path, leading him to this ultimate revelation. The pandit, once a boy with questions, now stood as an old man, his soul touched by the divine, his heart chanting in unison with the crowd, “Jai Shri Ram.”

Notes & Real News:
1. Indian Plums mean Ber, Raghav is another name of Lord Shri Ram. Seems he was again travelling in exile.
2. The above names & story is totally a creative and not based on any real person or incident.
3. On January 22, 2024, PM Narendra Modi will perform the Pran Pratishtha ceremony under the guidance of Pandit Laxmikant Dixit along with other 121 Vedic Brahmins from across the country. This will happen under the Sanjeevani Yoga, which is considered one of the most auspicious Yoga. Pran Prathishtha will be performed during the Abhijeet Muhurat. The auspicious time for the Ram Lalla idol installation will start from 12:20 PM to 12:30 PM. Once the idol will be installed, PM Narendra Modi will perform the first Aarti of Lord Shri Ram.