MY GAME BEGINS Intermission / Interval Part 6: Lord Yama's Arrival

  MY GAME BEGINS

Intermission / Interval Part 6: Lord Yama's Arrival

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Aira, Rose, Kaito, Jin, and Chief Rai were still outside the shrine entrance alongside Srinivasulu’s lifeless body, waiting in tense silence for the transport car to arrive.

Aira held Srinivasulu's lifeless body in her lap, her face filled with grief, while Rose was still weeping, pressing Srinivasulu's lifeless hand onto her forehead.

Without warning, the atmosphere shifted violently.

A howling gale ripped through the sanctuary grounds, bending the ancient trees.

Massive bronze bells suspended throughout the shrine compound began to swing wildly, clanging on their own with deafening force.

The earth beneath their feet trembled violently.

Overhead, the morning sky vanished beneath a heavy blanket of pitch-black clouds, split open by roaring bolts of thunder.

Chief Rai stumbled back, gripping his coat against the sudden gale as he looked around at the sudden chaos.

"What is happening here? What is causing this unnatural storm?"

Aira, Rose, Kaito, and Jin braced themselves against the wind, their eyes wide with confusion as they scanned the darkened sky.

None of them could see the divine presence hovering above.

High above the clouds, Divine Sage Narada watched the unfolding chaos with wide eyes.

"He has arrived," Narada whispered.

On the ground, standing directly in front of Srinivasulu’s ethereal soul, Jaya and Vijaya—the divine gatekeepers of Vaikuntham—instantly snapped to full alert.

"Be prepared, brother," Jaya warned, his voice ringing with power.

Together, the twin guardians raised their divine spears, crossing them in front of Srinivasulu's soul in a locked 'X' formation to shield him from the coming force.

A tear ripped through the air in front of them, spinning open into a swirling portal of deep crimson light.

From within the rift, the grand, resonant voice of Chitragupta echoed across the spiritual plane:

"Behold the Sovereign of Yamalokam! The Ultimate Arbiter of Justice! Son of the Sun God Surya! The Terrifier of Corrupted Souls! The Divine Impartial Judge! Devout worshiper of Supreme Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva! Premier among the twelve Mahajanas who serve Narayana!

Lord Yama Dharmaraja approaches!"

Chitragupta stepped through the crimson rift first, carrying his glowing scroll and writing stylus.

He raised his hands high, declaring to the heavens:

"Bearer of the divine gada (mace) and the inescapable Yamapasam (noose)! Rider of the great vahanam Mahisham (buffalo)!

Lord Yama Dharmaraja arrives!"

A split second later, the massive divine vahanam, Mahisham, stepped heavily out of the portal, its iron-hard hooves crashing onto the stone ground.

Seated upon its back, exuding absolute royal authority and terrifying power, sat Lord Yama Dharmaraja.

The moment his divine mount stepped into the mortal realm, pink sakura petals began to rain down from the sky, drifting past his face and shoulders, as if the very air of the world bowed to welcome his presence.

Yama turned his head slowly, sweeping his dark, piercing gaze across his surroundings.

He looked at the tall Torii gate marking the shrine entrance, the lined rows of sakura trees swaying in the storm, the bewildered mortals of Team Divine—Aira, Rose, Kaito, Jin, and Chief Rai—and finally down at Srinivasulu’s cold, lifeless physical body resting in Aira’s lap.

Yama saw every single one of them clearly.

Yet because Aira and her group were ordinary mortals, they could neither see nor hear Lord Yama, Chitragupta, or the divine gatekeepers standing merely feet away from them.

Finally, Yama brought his gaze to rest on Srinivasulu’s soul, and then onto Jaya and Vijaya, who stood anchored between them with their crossed spears.

Up in the heavens, Divine Sage Narada leaned forward, his eyes wide, completely stunned by the magnitude of the encounter unfolding below.

Jaya and Vijaya shifted their weight, locking their sandals against the stone as they prepared for combat.

Looking directly at the majestic figure of Lord Yama, Srinivasulu’s soul was suddenly overcome by an overwhelming mixture of terror, anguish, and profound reverence.

His hands trembled violently as he pressed his palms together, bowing his head low toward the Lord of Justice and Death.

Yama looked at the twin guardians, then glanced over at Chitragupta.

"How long has it been, Chitragupta, since I last set foot upon this mortal realm?

This place looks remarkably beautiful."

"Indeed, mighty Lord," Chitragupta replied, bowing slightly.

Yama turned his eyes back to the gatekeepers.

Chitragupta stepped forward, gesturing toward his master.

"You, the guardians of Vaikuntha, dared to issue a challenge, demanding that our Lord appear in person.

Look upon him! Lord Yama Dharmaraja stands before you!"

Chitragupta then pointed his quill toward Srinivasulu’s soul.

"And you, Srinivasulu! What are you staring at?

Have no doubt—the figure before you is the Lord of Death and the Supreme Judge Himself!

"Will you surrender and come willingly, or must you be dragged by the Yamapasam itself before Lord Yama Dharmaraja's Court of Justice to face your punishment?"

Srinivasulu remained frozen, paralyzed by fear.

"Has your doubt still not been dispelled?" Chitragupta continued sternly.

"Or has arrogance blinded you?

Do you still hesitate because you compare our Lord to the foolish, comical character mortals create on Earth?

"Mortals create those caricatures out of pure ignorance, insulting the Lord of Justice!

The souls responsible for such blasphemy have already been dragged by our guards into the Hall of Judgment, where their sentences will soon be pronounced!

"Your time to stand beside them has arrived!

"Come forward, Srinivasulu! Step forward!"

Jaya took a firm step in front of the soul, his spear burning with celestial energy.

"He will not take a single step forward!

As long as we stand here, no one will take Srinivasulu!"

Yama’s eyes narrowed into a fierce glare.

"What utter arrogance!

Explain this foolishness. Why do you dare interfere with my sacred duties?"

"This is the direct command of Lord Venkateswara Himself!" Vijaya declared firmly.

"Do you believe I am ignorant of my Supreme Lord Venkateswara?" Yama replied, his deep voice reverberating like thunder.

"Why would the Almighty send His own gatekeepers to protect such a vile, corrupted sinner?

"This human named Srinivasulu is a master among deceivers!

Driven by pure selfishness and a desire for personal comfort, he abandoned his parents and turned away from his family and earthly responsibilities!

"He entered this realm, defeated its true protagonist, Ren, and took his place!"

Yama pointed a heavy finger at Srinivasulu's soul.

"He intended to play with the lives of others for his own pleasure!

"He deceived Ren's friends, intended to break Aira’s heart, pursued Rose for her wealth, and sought to seize Rai’s fortune!

"He brought misery upon his own family on Earth and intended to bring destruction upon the lives of innocents here!

"A sinner of this caliber belongs in the dreadful currents of the Vaitarani River after standing judgment in my court!

"Is this the kind of sinner you intend to protect?"

"You see only what has already transpired, Lord Yama Dharmaraja," Jaya countered, standing his ground.

"You do not see what lies ahead!

Srinivasulu was never meant to perish in this Mrityu Gandam—the grip of death."

"His arrival in this world was inevitable!" Vijaya added, his voice echoing across the courtyard.

"Everything that has occurred here—and everything that is yet to happen—is part of a grand Leela (Divine play)!

"It is not merely about Srinivasulu; it is meant to guide all of humanity back onto the path of righteousness!

"How can you presume to measure the infinite plays of Supreme Lord Venkateswara?!

"If Srinivasulu's soul must leave this place today, he belongs at the feet of the Supreme Lord Himself—not in your realm!"

Chitragupta gasped, his eyes widening in absolute shock at the guardian's audacity.

Yama let out a sharp, cold laugh.

"What did you say, Vijaya?

That I do not understand the cosmic plays of my Lord?

"Do you claim that I—His devout servant—do not comprehend His divine will?

"And you claim this sinner belongs directly beside the Supreme Lord?"

Yama leaned forward on his mount, his eyes blazing with absolute authority.

"Listen to me very carefully!

"If this soul does not come with me to my court immediately, he will have nowhere to go!

"He will receive no salvation, no rebirth, and no rest!"

Jaya, Vijaya, Srinivasulu, and Sage Narada in the sky all froze, stunned by Yama's proclamation.

"Do not pretend you are ignorant of the cosmic laws!" Yama continued, his voice heavy with unyielding truth.

"Srinivasulu was born and raised within the Vedic culture of the Telugu people!

"According to the sacred Vedic scriptures, when a mortal passes, specific funeral rites must be performed for his soul!"

Yama pointed down toward Srinivasulu's lifeless body.

"The sacred rites—the thirteen-day ceremonies, the offering of Pinda, and the gathering of his blood relatives to comfort his grieving parents—must be carried out!

"The Anthyakriyalu—the final rites—must first be performed by his family.

"Then come the rites that follow in the days after death.

"On the third day, his family must perform the Chinna Dinam—the small day of the funeral rites.

The ashes and remaining bones of the deceased are collected, and the appropriate rites and offerings are performed according to their family tradition.

"In the days that follow, the family must continue the prescribed Pinda offerings and Śrāddha rites for the departed soul.

"Then come the important concluding ceremonies—the Pedda Dinam, the great day, together with the final rites prescribed by their tradition.

"In the thirteen-day observance followed by many Telugu families, the tenth, eleventh, twelfth, and thirteenth days each carry their own sacred rites and responsibilities.

"The tenth day marks an important stage of the funeral observances.

"The eleventh and twelfth days bring further Śrāddha and purification rites, and the thirteenth day marks the completion of the principal mourning ceremonies.

"The exact customs may differ between families, communities, and traditions—but the rites must be performed by his family according to the dharma entrusted to them.

"His parents must receive their relatives and mourn for their son.

"His blood relatives must gather and perform the rites on his behalf.

"Pinda offerings must be made for him, and sacred food offerings must be placed for the departed and their ancestors.

"These offerings are left in places where crows may receive them, symbolically signifying that the offering has reached the departed ancestors.

"And their parents, blood relatives, and his parents might arrange food offerings for the relatives who came across the villages, and they all must eat at his ancestral village on both Chinna Dinam and Pedda Dinam, and during the Samasrikam on his first death anniversary.

"These rites are not mere ceremonies.

"They are sacred duties owed by the living to the dead."

Because he died unexpectedly in his youth during an unnatural death trap, specific Vedic rites and peace rituals must be performed at his home to appease his spirit.

Yama's voice grew even heavier.

"All those thirteen days, he would stay at his home, seeing all that happening."

"Only after those thirteen days are fulfilled do my emissaries arrive to guide the soul to my assembly!

"There, based on the balance of his good and bad deeds, I issue my judgment within a year, directing him to one of the twenty-eight hells or to the higher realms!

"But look at what is happening here!"

Yama gestured toward the group and Srinivasulu's physical body, which was resting upon Aira's lap.

"Has any of this happened?

Will it ever happen?" Yama demanded.

"His parents on Earth do not even know that their son is dead!

"They do not know where his body lies!

"They cannot perform his funeral rites!

"They cannot perform his Anthyakriyalu.

"They cannot perform the Chinna Dinam.

"They cannot perform the Pedda Dinam.

"They cannot complete the thirteen-day rites prescribed for their family.

"The people here believe he is Ren—they will cremate or bury his physical body according to their own local customs!

"Without the proper Vedic rituals performed by his true bloodline on Earth, if this soul does not come with me to Yamapuram, he will be trapped forever!

"He will receive no salvation, no rebirth, and no entry into heaven or any of the seven realms above!

"He will be forced to wander this world for eternity as a wretched, cursed spirit, haunting abandoned ruins and empty trees!"

Srinivasulu’s soul shook violently, terror seizing every fiber of his ethereal form.

Jaya and Vijaya stood completely silent, unable to refute the unyielding law of scriptures.

High above, Divine Sage Narada closed his eyes in grim acknowledgment.

He knew every word uttered by the Lord of Death was absolute, undeniable truth.

"Every living creature on Earth—whether righteous or wicked, whether beautiful or ugly, whether rich or poor—must stand before my Court of Dharma when their time comes!" Yama declared, raising his voice so it echoed across the dimensions.

"They must bow at my feet and receive my judgment!

"That is the eternal cycle of life and death!

"No mortal can escape it—not the wealthiest Emperor, not the poorest beggar, not the most beautiful nor the most hideous!

"When their hour strikes, my emissaries will arrive, and they will bring them to me!

"This is Yama Dharmam!"

Yama slammed the butt of his heavy iron mace against his mount's side.

"This is the very order of creation established by the Supreme Lord Venkateswara Himself!

"And by that very law, as the Sovereign of Justice and Death, I command you: do not obstruct my duty!

"Step aside!"

Jaya and Vijaya looked at each other for a brief second.

Then, setting their jaws, they tightened their grip on their golden weapons.

"If this is your sworn duty, Lord Yama Dharmaraja," Jaya spoke quietly, "then protecting this soul by order of our Lord Venkateswara is ours!

"We will not step aside!"

"Let the foundations of creation shatter if they must!" Vijaya roared, raising his spear high.

"We will never disobey the direct command of our Supreme Lord Venkateswara!

"If you wish to claim the soul of Srinivasulu, Yama Dharmaraja, you must go through us first!"

Lord Yama’s eyes flashed with fierce, terrifying anger.

Chitragupta backed away slightly, his hands trembling as he clutched his scroll.

"Oh Lord... It looks like a great battle is about to unfold for a mortal soul!"

High in the sky, divine Sage Narada wrung his hands in anguish.

"Narayana... Narayana... What a terrifying twist of fate!"

Yama Dharmaraja raised his heavy iron mace (Gada Danda) in his right hand and tightened his grip on the glowing coils of the Yama Pasham in his left.

He glared down at the two divine guardians with absolute resolve.

"Then battle is Inevitable!" Lord Yama thundered.

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(End of Intermission / Interval Part 6)