5) Chapter

After all the important guests were seated, the nine young devadasi maidens who were to perform Ananda Tandava dance came on the stage.

The devadasis were a vision of elegance and sacred beauty, adorned in attire and ornaments that symbolized both their spiritual role and their dedication to the art of Bharathnatyam.

They all wore red mixed golden richly hued silk sarees, draped in the traditional panchakacham style. Their dark black hair was elaborately braided, adorned with fresh jasmine flowers that flows down like garlands, filling the air with a delicate fragrance. Every aspect of their appearance was divine.

After greeting the audience they all began to sing  in sweet sanskrit and dance.

Their every movement is a fluid expression of spiritual fervor. As they glide across the temple floor, each step resonates with the rhythm of the anklets, echoing the heartbeat of the universe.

Their hands, adorned with ornate bangles, paint stories in the air through presenting mudras, while their faces, illuminated with serene expressions, communicate profound emotions of love, longing, and reverence.

As the rhythm of the dance softened, one of the devadasis, a young girl of striking beauty and poise, stepped forward and strat to sing with the rhythem of veena. Her voice, unexpectedly delicate yet powerful, rose in song, filling the temple with praises for Lord Shiva.

"On His neck flows the river Ganga, cool and refreshing,

On His forehead shines the crescent moon, radiant and calm.

The serpent lies around his neck, majestic,

And He, who is of dark hue, bestows upon us divine nectar."

Her eyes, lined with deep kohl, sparkled as she sang of Shiva's strength and compassion, and a subtle smile played on her lips, reflecting her devotion.

"Take me away from the pains of this endless cycle of birth and death,

O lover, lord of the universe! Grant me the strenght,

to sing your praise with devotion."

Each note of her song was imbued with emotion, her voice carrying a divine sweetness that drew the audience closer. As the last note of her song faded into the sacred music of veena and mridangam ( drum) ,  the young devadsi  gracefully took her place in the center of the temple floor once more, resuming her dance with a newfound passion.

Her arms extended gracefully, creating shapes in the air, while her fingers curled and stretched with mesmerizing precision, forming mudras that symbolized creation, preservation, and destruction,echoing Shiva's divine roles.

She began with slow, deliberate steps, her bare feet pressing into the earth, grounding her movements in the rhythm of the mridangam. But with each movement, she seemed to dissolve further into her devotion; her footfalls grew faster and speeder, a rhythmic storm of sound against the temple floor, until she appeared almost weightless, as though carried by the spirit of her prayer.

As the music reached its end, she performed her final pose, her palms pressed together in a gesture of surrender, her head slightly bowed, yet her eyes lifted in reverence.

Without a doubt she took everyones attention.

"Who is that enchanting dancer? It's like she weaves magic with every step she takes. I've never seen anyone express such emotion through movement before!" Ananta whispers with widen eyes.

"Hmmm she's very fine... ohh wait, Anant did you saw my brother? Look his seat is empty.." Vishnu who were sitting beside asked.

"Hmmm, good... Hey, wait! Did you say he's gone?" Ananta asked, pulling himself from his thoughts.

"Seem so .. someone has to check on him " Vishnu spelled.

"i can go?" Adithya asked.

"Hmm I think I can go and check on him? While you two can relax a bit from your long journey."Ananta spelled hurrly.

"Go on, then. We'll be here holding down the fort. Just let us know if you need help finding him."Vishnu patting Anantas shoulder.

"Of course, I'll be quick.." Ananta said while managing a serious face and with a final nod he disappeared to the crowd.

As the first dance of the day concluded, the temple filled with a brief, sacred stillness, only to be broken by the first resonant beat of the mridangam signaling the start of another performance. A new group of devadasi gracefully stepped forward towards the temple floor.

Devadasis are designed to dance throughout the night, honoring the sacred vigil of Mahashivaratri until the dawn.

Time went as Vishnu and Adithya, sitting on their seats begin to look around, puzzled that neither Ereya or Ananta has returned.

"You'd think by now we'd see at least one of them, wouldn't you? It's been ages since Ananta left to find the Ereya." Adithya said while looking at the entrance.

"True. And they're both missing now? I'm starting to wonder if something's happened."Vishnu said nodding slowly while scanning the crowd.

"Perhaps our noble Prince Ananta got as 'lost' as the crown prince he went looking for. Or he's gone on some grand adventure that has nothing to do with his original excuse."Adithya said  with a hint of concern,

You're right. I'll have to take a look at them.. We can't be the only ones noticing their absence."As they exchange their final glances Vishnu stood up and went towards the entrance,