Once, a long time ago there was chaos.   Within this chaos a vibration slowly came.   It was low and soft at first, like the distant reverberation of a giant instrument.   This was the Nada Brahma, the original sound.   Gradually this vibration became louder and churned the celestial void into the various elements.   The world was born and it was good.

     But all did not remain good.   As the world progressed through the various yugas, decay set in.   The Nada Brahma, the original word was lost.   The Gods became distressed and decided that the original word should be found.   The celestial eagle Garuda was chosen to command humans of particular abilities to go on a quest for the lost word.

     It came to pass that there was a man by the name of Robert of the clan of Goldsmiths.   He was a man known for deep austerities.   One day he went into a deep meditation.   This samadhi extended for 40 days.   At the end of which Vayudev, the god of wind granted him the gift of Nada Siddha, whereby he could work miracles by manipulation the sound from his flute.   Robert of the Gold-men was happy and delighted in charming the maidens of his village with his melodies until one day Garuda came to him and commanded him to go on a quest for the lost word.

So he set forth.

     At the same time there was a hunter of the village of Buzbee.   One day while in the forest he came upon a deer.   He prepared his bow and was about to kill the deer when suddenly the deer spoke to him. " Renounce thy killing ways and I shall give a boon to thee." said the deer.   Gus of the Buzbees was amazed at this singular event.   He accepted and promised never to hunt, whereupon his bow was transformed into a veena of exceptional beauty.   Not only was it beautiful to behold but its sound had the ability to charm all who heard it.   On the way home from the forest he met upon Garuda who commanded him to take up the quest for the lost word.

So he set forth.

     Once there was a young maiden of the village of Nada.   She was called Chandrakantha or "Moon-light".   One day her mother told her to go into the jungle to pick jasmine.   While she was in the jungle she came upon a large cobra.   The cobra was very large and reared its head to show his majestic, yet terrifying hood.   Chandra was terrified until the cobra offered her the gift of Gayaki, whereby she could charm all things by her voice.   Chandra was very happy.   One day Garuda came to her and commanded her to take up the quest for the lost word.

So she set forth.

     One day there was a man called Devid of the clan of Courtenay.   He was walking through the mountains and chanced upon a mountain goat.   This was a magical goat that could talk.   This goat told him of a magical place.   The goat then led Devid to a cave high upon a snowy pass.   Within this cave was a magical drum that was placed there by lord Ganesh himself.   It was left in the care of the goat until such time as a proper recipient should be found.

So he set forth.

     Garuda had give each of the pilgrims instructions on what direction to travel.   Chandra the moon maiden traveled from the East.   Robert of the Gold-men traveled from the North; Devid traveled from the South, and Gus of the Buzbees traveled from the West.   They all came upon the shores of the Great Sea at the centre of the world.   This sea was called Mahasamudra.   It was upon the shores of Mahasamudra that they came to meet for the first time.   There they found a seafaring man and obtained passage to the island in the centre of the sea.   In the centre of this island were the ruins of a once stupendous edifice.

     This location was no accident.   They thereby stood at the cent er of the earth in the centre of the Tribuvan.   This was the centre of resonance for the entire of creation.   With their music they started to explore the meaning of sound.   This prayog continued.   They played throughout the day and throughout the night.   They neither stopped for food nor for drink.   Neither did they sleep.   This prayog continued day and night until finally they distilled their music down to the ultimate essence.   They had found the Nada Brahma.

     But alas they found that the extent of their austerities had taken its toll.   Through lack of sustenances their bodies had withered away until nothing yet remained of their physical bodies.   And it is said that even today if one journeys to the ruins at the centre of the world, on dark nights one can still hear their music echoing from the far hills and in the deep oceans, from the sky and at the same time from the bowels of the earth.

© 1998 David Courtney