Chapter - 8
The first stream awakened
After seeing Arav and Bajrang's progress in the first phase of Rankala training, the Acharya was deeply pleased.
He instructed them to rest for two days — to let both their bodies and minds prepare for what lay ahead.
Two days later, on a calm morning, the Acharya summoned them to a tranquil spot.
There, seated beneath a canopy of silence, he began to share sacred knowledge about the naadis — the energy channels — wisdom passed only to chosen seekers.
The Acharya spoke:
"The human body contains a total of 72,000 naadis.
But of these, only 108 naadis have the ability to receive and carry Om Energy.
These are what we call the Pure Naadis."
He paused, then continued:
"Among these 108 pure naadis, there are only 7 that are known as Liberation Channels.
Through these seven, the energy residing in the Soul Seed flows inward and outward.
And beyond even these seven…
There exists lone single naadi — the Pratham Dhaara — the First Stream."
"The Pratham Dhaara is the supreme channel, which only one in ten million seekers can unlock.
This naadi holds the first key to awakening the highest form of the Soul Seed —
The one that burns saffron in color."
Bajrang and Arav were spellbound.
The Acharya then revealed the classification of the naadis:
Shakti Path (Path of Power) – 36 naadis – Red
Prajna Path (Path of Wisdom) – 27 naadis – Blue
Chetana Path (Path of Consciousness) – 27 naadis – White
Ran Path (Warrior Path)– 17 naadis – Golden
Pratham Dhaara (First Stream) – 1 naadi – Saffron
> "These five groups form the 108 Sacred Naadis," the Acharya said.
> "The more of them you open, the more Om Energy you'll be able to channel.
Very few seekers ever unlock the Pratham Dhaara."
Arav and Bajrang were now in a deep meditative state.
Something inside them was stirring —
a vibration… a door…
as if an ancient lock deep within their bodies had begun to shift.
Then the Acharya fixed a powerful gaze on them.
His eyes held compassion… and the hardness of iron.
His voice grew steady —
as though echoing through mountains:
"The time has come… for Naadi Vilochan — Channel Cleansing."
The atmosphere grew suddenly heavy.
The murmuring stream seemed to fall silent.
Birdsong disappeared into the stillness of the leaves.
The Acharya gestured:
"Both of you… stand."
Without resistance, Arav and Bajrang opened their eyes and rose.
They closed their eyes again — as if bracing themselves to descend inward.
The Acharya began to slowly circle around them,
as though weaving an invisible energy spiral around their bodies.
"Naadi Vilochan doesn't happen through meditation alone.
It must be pulled — forcefully.
Your naadis won't open willingly.
They must be opened.
And for that… I must enter your body."
From beneath his robe, he pulled out a mystical needle.
It appeared to be forged not from iron or copper —
but as if crafted from living metal.
A vibrating light shimmered around it —
a faint saffron glow, like the residue of some ancient mantra.
> "This needle is charged with my energy.
> I will insert it into your body —
> one by one — at every point where a pure naadi lies."
Bajrang stepped back slightly, a flicker of doubt in his eyes.
"Acharya… a needle?"
The Acharya looked at him —
neither harsh nor gentle — just unwavering:
"This needle will touch the fire within you.
The process will be excruciating.
But remember —
He who fears this flame
will never reach the gate of the Pratham Dhaara."
Arav clenched his jaw, closed his eyes, and said:
"I'm ready, Acharya."
Bajrang took a deep breath… and bowed his head.
The Acharya placed his hand on the back of Arav's shoulder —
where the first Shakti Path naadi was hidden.
He raised the needle.
The moment the tip touched the point —
a wave of vibration surged through Arav's entire body.
The needle pierced in…
And in that instant, Arav's eyes snapped open.
His body recoiled.
A cry of unbearable pain escaped his lips:
"AAHHHHH…!"
He was about to collapse —
but the Acharya's hand steadied him —
firm, warm, pulsing with energy.
"That was the first naadi — of the Shakti Path.
Now remain — for the other 106…"
One by one, the Acharya found the energy points:
The neck.
The spine.
The center of the chest.
Just below the navel.
Arms.
Thighs.
Soles of the feet…
At every spot, the needle entered.
With each insertion, another cry —
sometimes Arav's, sometimes Bajrang's.
At times, small drops of blood emerged —
but immediately turned into glowing orange light —
as though the needle wasn't drawing blood,
but extracting energy.
After every needle, a gentle warmth would spread at the point —
and slowly, a faint circle of light would form there.
Trembling, Bajrang said:
"This… this is unbearable."
The Acharya turned to him:
"And this is only the beginning.
Pain must go beyond your awareness —
Only then will the naadis open.
Otherwise, they will remain mere paths— not gateways."
Hours passed.
Stars twinkled in the sky above.
Arav and Bajrang now bore 107 glowing points across their bodies —
as if a galaxy had descended upon their skin.
Their breathing was ragged, their bodies exhausted —
but in their eyes now burned something new: Light.
The Acharya put away his needle.
His voice was quiet now… but deeply resonant.
"I have opened 107 of your naadis.
But the last one — the Prathham Dhaara—
That… you must open yourself."
Three days had passed since the Naadi Vilochan.
Arav and Bajrang now had 107 energy channels opened in their bodies —
each point humming, glowing, pulsing with flow.
But one final channel still remained —
the one that awakens only from within…
the Pratham Dhaara —the First Stream.
The Acharya led them deep into a secluded cave.
It wasn't like a temple, nor an ashram.
There were no lamps.
No mantra-inscribed walls.
Nothing sacred to the eye.
Only silence.
Silence… not heard through the ears, but through the soul.
And in that silence — a faint vibration,
as if a hidden hum of *Om* echoed through the space —
but so subtle, it could only be heard by the silence within.
Arav and Bajrang sat cross-legged in padmasana.
Standing in the center of the cave, the Acharya spoke:
> "Only one gate remains —
> the Pratham Dhaara."
>
> "This channel does not lie in the body... but in the soul.
> No mantra can unlock it.
> No penance, no needle, no master can force it open."
>
> "It only opens…
> when something within you becomes utterly true.
> No performance. No desire. No proving.
> Just acceptance, purity, and surrender."
Both of them closed their eyes.
Arav focused all his energy on the naadis.
One by one, he brought his awareness to every point
where the Acharya's needle had pierced.
He wanted to prove himself.
He knew he had endured the pain,
he too was a seeker,
he too walked the path of Rankala.
There was a fire in him —
a challenge turned into determination.
But something inside… stayed stuck.
Something just wouldn't unlock.
Bajrang, on the other hand, sat still.
He wasn't doing anything.
He just closed his eyes —
and without meaning to,
a memory of his mother surfaced.
He had been only eight years old when she passed.
His mother… who would draw Om on his forehead every night,
and whisper:
"When you're scared, chant Om, my son...
Om is where a mother's embrace lives."
Something inside him melted.
No technique.
No mantra.
Just memory,
just love,
just a true moment.
Two tears fell from Bajrang's eyes.
They were warm… but calm.
A faint saffron line began to form on the wall of the cave —
gently, slowly —
as if drawn by an invisible finger.
From the center of the cave, a subtle hum of Om began to rise.
There was no instrument.
No chant.
That sound wasn't coming from outside…
It was emerging from Bajrang's heart.
Not from his body —
but from his soul.
The Acharya opened his eyes.
His face was serene,
but his eyes were moist.
There was a soft smile on his lips —
a smile of recognition,
a smile of realization.
And he said, gently:
> "The Pratham Dhaara*... has awakened.
> Not through mantra.
> Not through technique.
> But through a simple,
> honest human…
> who may not even understand the full meaning of Rankala —
> but who knows the depth of Om."
Arav felt his meditation break.
He opened his eyes… and saw.
A saffron aura surrounded Bajrang —
and behind him, the glowing saffron line on the wall
was slowly beginning to fade.
Arav's heart grew heavy.
He lowered his head.
His pride hadn't shattered —
but inside him was a new silence…
a silence of acceptance.
The Acharya walked to him,
placed a hand on his shoulder, and said with affection:
"My son, this is not a defeat.
It is simply a path —
one that was not yours.
Your path is different… deeper."
"To be given the greatest by fate
that does not make one great.
But to earn it — through effort
that is what makes one supreme."
"If your road is harder…
know that the divine is preparing you
for something greater than you can imagine."
Outside, night had fallen.
The cave was once again silent —
but this silence was no longer empty.
It was now full.
Within Bajrang, Om resonated.
Within Arav, a fire had been lit.
Their paths had diverged now —
but both remained on the journey of Rankala.
To know what happens next, keep reading…
The Origin of Om.