Rajguru

By V Manjunadh Chintapenta

In the mythical land of Kumari Kandam, the great kingdom of Vijayapuri flourished, unrivaled in its wealth and wisdom. It was governed by the just and noble King Visweswara Bhupathi, a land blessed with fertility and a deeply spiritual populace. Though the King adored his four kind-hearted daughters, he knew none were suited to bear the weight of the throne, a concern that weighed heavily on him as enemies lurked.

A perpetual threat to Kumari Kandam came with each New Moon. In the resulting unnatural darkness, a reclusive tantric clan from the dense forests of Tantra Kona would habitually emerge. They struck without warning, repeatedly raiding cattle farms with ruthless precision. These attacks were part of an ancient, terrifying ritual that had plagued the kingdoms for generations.

During one such incursion, King Visweswara led his soldiers to confront the raiders. He narrowly escaped death when a devout local priest sacrificed his life to save him. Deeply moved, the King vowed to care for the priest’s orphaned son, Rudra. The boy, with his fiery eyes and indomitable spirit, soon became an integral part of the royal family. Rudra’s arrival marked a turning point. Though an outsider by blood, the young boy possessed a charisma and wisdom beyond his years. The kingdom’s revered Raja Guru, Surya Vardhan, a devout worshiper of Goddess Raja Rajeshwari, took a keen interest in him. Surya Vardhan had dreamt of a divine prophecy foretelling the arrival of a savior for Vijayapuri. Recognizing the potential within Rudra, the Raja Guru became his mentor, imparting the sacred mantric arts, martial skills, and the philosophy of leadership. Under his tutelage, Rudra blossomed into a formidable warrior, admired for his strength, wisdom, and compassion. To ensure the kingdom's future stability, King Visweswara arranged the marriage of his eldest daughter to his sister’s son, Vikrama Verma, a nobleman of royal blood known for his bravery. The grand wedding filled the kingdom with hope.

Soon after the wedding, the King fell gravely ill. With his final breath, he summoned his queen, Rani Lakshmi, and shared his dying wish: "If my time has come, let Rudra be adopted as our son and crowned the next ruler of Vijayapuri. He has the strength and wisdom to uphold the kingdom's legacy." Heartbroken but resolute, Rani Lakshmi promised to fulfill her husband’s wish.

As the palace prepared for Rudra’s adoption and coronation, dissent arose. The King’s sister, driven by ambition, openly challenged the Queen, declaring that her son, Vikrama Verma, was the rightful heir and deriding Rudra for his lack of royal blood.

“How can an outsider, born of common blood, sit on the throne of Vijayapuri?” she exclaimed, throwing the court into turmoil.

Rudra, choosing peace over strife, chose to leave. “I have always served Vijayapuri selflessly, not for the throne but for its people. If my presence brings strife, I shall depart,” he declared, bidding a sorrowful farewell.

Surya Vardhan, devastated, sought solace in prayer. The goddess appeared to him, reassuring him: “Rudra is not meant to rule as king. His destiny lies in being the Raja Guru, the true kingmaker who guides rulers and protects the realm.” With this divine revelation, Surya Vardhan found peace and passed away shortly afterward.

Upon hearing of his mentor’s passing, Rudra returned to the temple to pay his respects. Still seeking solitude, he wandered the cliffs near the forest, where he noticed a herd of cattle being driven into the dense woods by the Tantra Kona raiders. Consumed by anger, he pursued them, cutting down the intruders with unmatched fury, which led him deeper into the forest where his destiny awaited.

Meanwhile, Vikrama Verma took charge of Vijayapuri’s military. Determined to end the menace of Tantra Kona, he launched a daring campaign. Using intelligence, he tracked the tantrics to their hidden sanctuary and, leading a surprise assault, he and his warriors overwhelmed the clan, slaughtering the entire group and seemingly ending the raids. Vikrama returned home victorious, confident he had eradicated the kingdom’s greatest threat.

Yet, in the heart of the forest, Rudra encountered a sage locked in combat with a mystical white lion. Rudra saved the sage, who introduced himself as Virupaksha. The sage spoke of an ancient power hidden in a cave, guarded by a tantric goddess, that could prevent a catastrophic disaster threatening Kumari Kandam. Rudra agreed to assist him in retrieving this power.

Inside the cave, Virupaksha began a secret ritual, invoking the tantric goddess and preparing Rudra as a “pure warrior” sacrifice. Alone, Rudra faced a colossal wolf, a supernatural form of tantric goddess protecting the sacred flower within, which was imbued with solar energy. Using his martial prowess and mantric abilities, Rudra defeated the wolf, which acknowledged his worthiness and granted him the sacred flower.

Emerging victorious, Rudra confronted Virupaksha, who then revealed his true identity as the Raja Guru of Tantra Kona. The sage confessed the dark secret of their clan: they had been cursed for generations to serve Makarasura, a monstrous crocodile demon dwelling in a bottomless abyss. To appease the demon’s insatiable hunger, the tantric clan had been abducting cattle for centuries. Virupaksha, seeing hope in Rudra, pleaded: “Take my tantric powers, Rudra, and use them for the greater good.” Through a sacred ritual, Virupaksha transferred his powers to Rudra, transforming him into a warrior of unparalleled strength.

With the destruction of the Tantra Kona clan, a ravenous Makarasura rose from the abyss, he brought with him an army of demonic crocodiles, and a dark flood of black water spread across the lands. Hearing of the chaos, Vikrama Verma rallied Vijayapuri’s forces. The warriors fought valiantly but were overwhelmed by Makarasura’s terrifying might.

Rudra arrived on the battlefield, now wielding both mantric and tantric powers. Using the sun-infused flower, he descended into the abyss, sealing it and draining the black water, which weakened Makarasura’s forces. With the tide of battle turning, Rudra joined forces with Vikrama Verma for a climactic battle against the demon. Together, they vanquished Makarasura, bringing peace and stability to the land of Kumari Kandam.

In the aftermath of their victory, the people hailed Rudra as their savior. Even Vikrama Verma bowed in deep respect and offered the throne to Rudra. However, Rudra, ever humble, declined. He recognized Vikrama Verma’s courage and capability as a leader, believing the kingdom's true strength lay in wise rulers who upheld justice.

Instead, Rudra embraced his role as Raja Guru, dedicating his life to training the princes and guiding Vijayapuri toward a brighter future. In this way, Rudra fulfilled his destiny—not as a king, but as the kingmaker of Kumari Kandam.

Thus, Rudra’s journey from orphan to savior became a legendary tale, a timeless testament to the power of selflessness, courage, and divine purpose.

By V Manjunadh Chintapenta