Decked on her shiny brown tresses flourished the fragrance of the flower garland, beautifying her enigmatic gorgeous face twinkled the bindi on her forehead, draped in the attire of a golden feathered peacock, adorned with the jewels of the heavenly gold danced displaying her dazzling voluptuous frame the ravishing Apsara Suriyavacchasā. The sound of her silver gemmed ankle strings resonated with every plunge she took flaunting her slender legs as they tapped back on the floor. The charm of her moves seemed majestic with every single swing of hands and twists of her delicate waist which mesmerized each and every Deva (Gods), Gandharvas and other celestial beings present in the Court of the Kings of Devas, Śakra (Indra).

After Pañcasikha witnessed the elegance of Suriyavacchasā’s danced, he fell in love with her art and virtue. Pañcasikha was one of the Gandharvas, a celestial singer, musician and a messenger for the Four Heavenly Kings. He conveyed news from them to Mātali the charioteer of Śakra while Mātali latter represented the messages to Śakra and the Trāyastriṃśa Devas.

Like the sun raises without a call, like the rivers flow without a push, Pañcasikha’s fondness grew within a surge and that was when he expressed his feelings of love to the celestial nymph. Though Suriyavacchasā already had preordained feelings for Sikhandī, the son of Mātali, she denied Pañcasikha letting him know about her reservation in life as vowed to her father Timbarū, the chieftain of the Gandharvas. With all due respect for Suriyavacchasā decision of life, Pañcasikha went off heartbroken.

Image Source: Anie Angulo Ulloa Pins, DM-Nastics Tweet

It was that day and the day when Pañcasikha went to Timbarū’s abode for an occasion when he was asked to perform. Pañcasikha greeted Timbarū and the audience around joining his hands in the posture of Namaste then placed his lute of beluva-wood on the ground with a poise holding the fretted fingerboard it in his beefy left hand than adjusted the pegs by its top with his right. As the sound of silence spread around Pañcasikha closed his eyes and started tuning the strings with a melodious tone on which he had great skill. The mood in the ambiance filled with exhilaration listening to the soothing resonance and invigorated the audience around. But it wasn’t just for the audience until Pañcasikha started to sing in his timbre voice a love-song in which he interwove themes about the Buddha and his arhats. Now Pañcasikha soul was completely drowned in perfecting the music and song he played bringing about practical emotion uplifting the spirits around, turning the atmosphere in that arena dynamic, drifting the dust, waving his elegant silver hairs and the robe decked on his vivid saffron-violet fabric attire with every move he took to play attuning his fingers on the cords. The pupil of his eyes hid deep as if he meditated in a trance enlightened and evoked with sheer devotion to express his art. The classic he played at the abode of Timbarū had not just boosted the audience around but every living creature, earthly nature and even Swarglok, the abode of Śakra itself.

It was later, Śakra prevailed upon Pañcasikha to play the song and mediate with the Buddha so that Śakra might have an audience with him. As commanded by the King of Gods, Pañcasikha did the same and appeased Buddha on which Buddha granted him the boon. Though Pañcasikha didn’t want anything for himself, he requested Buddha to have a conversation with Śakra. After Śakra’s wish was fulfilled he questioned Pañcasikha in regards to his dedication to his art on which Pañcasikha revealed the grey shade of his heartbroken story. After all that Pañcasikha’s had done in the service for Śakra, Śakra explained the same to Timbarū and requested him to pass on the message to Suriyavacchasā. Suriyavacchasā who was already pleased with Pañcasikha’s display of such skill and devotion to these events finally agreed to marry Pañcasikha for all he was determined to love her even though being rejected once. With all the blessings of Śakra, Timbarū, Trāyastriṃśa Devas, Rishis, Gandharvas and other celestial beings, Pañcasikha’s and Suriyavacchasā consorted the marriage ceremony and lived a life appeasing their art forms either enticing each other in love or teaming up for the audience at times.

Image Edit: Rohan R. Pednekar

Reference: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gandharva

© Rohan R. Pednekar 2018, All Rights Reserved.