Chapter - 7
The True Beginning of Rankala
The Acharya gestured for both of them to step aside.
"Read this paper," he said softly. "It will light the first lamp within you."
Arav and Bajrang sat under a nearby banyan tree. Arav slowly unfolded the paper. It was slightly old — its edges curled — but the letters were clear, glowing with purpose.
Arav began to read. Within a few lines, both of their eyes widened — as if standing before a hidden doorway.
> "There is an energy that flows through our environment — called *Om*.
> In the beginning, humans thought it was just a natural force.
> But when mankind learned to use this energy, it rose beyond the realm of being merely human.
> Since then, such seekers came to be known as Rankala Sadhaks."
Bajrang took a breath in and whispered,
"Om energy... beyond human?"
Arav nodded and continued reading:
> "The process of becoming a Rankala Sadhak is divided into three stages:
>
> 1. Sharir Shuddhikaran – Body Purification
>
> 2. Naadi Vilochan – Channel Cleansing
>
> 3. Aatmabeej Jaagran – Soul Seed Awakening
>
> 4. Body Purification
> This means cleansing the body of all internal impurities.
>
> 5. Naadi Vilochan
> This involves opening the subtle channels (naadis) of the body so that the Om energy can flow freely within them.
> The seeker must also learn how to absorb this energy within.
> This path is extremely difficult.
> Many seekers remain stuck at this stage for years.
>
> 6. Soul Seed Awakening
> This is the most critical phase.
> The awakening of the Aatmabeej determines how swiftly a seeker progresses in Rankala.
> The Soul Seed is the core within the soul — the source of strength, speed, and potential.
> There are four types of Soul Seeds:
>
> Saffron – Supreme
> Blue – High
> White – Medium
> Green – Basic
>
> The color of the seed defines its nature."
Arav fell silent while reading. There was a glow in his eyes — but lines of thought creased his forehead.
He slowly looked up to find Bajrang staring at him.
"All this... is real?" Bajrang asked in a quiet voice.
Arav smiled and handed him the paper.
"Read it yourself. It'll take time to understand — but once you do... you may never be the same again."
Bajrang hesitated but took the paper.
He began reading.
Each word sank deeper into him.
After a while, he spoke:
"So, this is the beginning of Rankala?"
Arav nodded.
"Then let's go to the Acharya," he said.
Arav and Bajrang had finished reading every word. They returned to the Acharya and spoke respectfully:
"Acharya, we have absorbed all the information."
The Acharya looked at them and said:
"Good. If you truly understood it, then you know the first phase is
Body Purification.
But before that… you must understand your current strength."
With that, the Acharya gestured toward a direction.
There stood a massive stone — faintly glowing with a bluish hue.
The Acharya led them toward it.
"Now," he said, "strike this stone with your full power.
Hold nothing back."
Bajrang hesitated.
"Acharya... if I hit it too hard, my hand will hurt!"
A slight sternness appeared in the Acharya's eyes.
"If you can't bear that pain… how will you endure what lies ahead?"
Arav was already fired up.
"I'll do it, Acharya!"
And without another word, he ran forward and slammed his fist into the stone with all his might.
THUD!
The impact echoed into the rock.
But the moment his fist connected, Arav screamed out —
"AAAH!"
He was thrown back, falling to the ground in pain.
Bajrang gasped.
"Acharya! The stone… it's glowing! And those numbers — where did they come from?"
Arav, despite the pain, also looked up in shock.
The Acharya smiled.
"This is no ordinary rock. It is a measuring device — one that gauges raw strength.
Look — Arav's current power level is 200 kilograms."
Then he turned to Bajrang.
"Now it's your turn. I believe your strength may be even higher."
Bajrang said nothing. He took a deep breath… and ran toward the stone, landing a solid punch.
He too staggered back — but made no sound.
The numbers on the stone lit up — 200… 280… 320… 350.
Finally, they settled at 350 kilograms.
The Acharya spoke in a grave tone:
"Now come. Your strength has been measured. It is time for
Body Purification."
---
They were led to a special pool.
Its waters had been infused with the very herbs they had been gathering for days.
The Acharya said,
"Step into this water. It will draw out the impurities from within you.
It will hurt… deeply. But enduring this — is your first true sacrifice."
Arav and Bajrang stepped into the pool together.
At first — nothing happened.
For three hours, all was calm…
Then suddenly, a tingling sting began — like hundreds of ants biting at once.
By the fifth hour, the pain intensified — their skin felt like it was burning.
After a full day — their muscles tightened, bones felt like they were being pulled apart.
Bajrang almost stepped out — but just then, the Acharya's voice rang out:
"If you come out now, the door to Rankala will close forever."
Bajrang shut his eyes… and submerged himself once more.
By the second day, the pain was unbearable — it felt like bones were shattering from within.
But something was changing…
Something inside was awakening.
By the fourth day, the pain was so intense they couldn't even scream.
But they weren't resisting the pain anymore — they were understanding it.
By the tenth day, their skin had turned a deep, dark black — as though all toxins had been drawn out of their bodies.
When they emerged from the water after ten days —
they were no longer the same.
Their bodies felt light.
Their minds — calm.
But their eyes carried a new fire.
The biggest change was seen in Bajrang.
On his shoulder, a strange symbol had begun to form —
it glowed faintly in the light, mysterious and unknown.
Bajrang kept touching it… but there were no answers.
The Acharya smiled.
He said nothing — perhaps knowing this was just the beginning of a far greater mystery.
And when they measured their strength again —
Arav 980 kilograms (nearly 1 ton)
Bajrang exactly 1 ton
They were no longer the same.
They had truly taken their first step on the path of Rankala Sadhak