Rostam Nameh 12b: Kai Kaus builds 7 palaces and tries to fly in space

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Roj Ram Mah Adar, 1383 Yz.

Beyaamad sue Pars Kaus-e KaiJahaani bashaadi nav afgand pay! Kai Kaus returned to Pars and laid the foundation of happiness and justice.  

 

The victorious sovereign returned to his capital and began the most illustrious part of his reign. Peace, prosperity and justice ruled. The noble warriors were dispersed to various parts of the empire to ensure peace and stability. The Padshah lavished costly gifts and rare honours upon Rostam for the role he had played in saving Kai Kaus again. As this period of peace progressed, Kai Kaus became eager to put the vast riches in his treasury to good use. For this purpose he enlisted the help not only of the knowledgeable priests and scientists of that time, but he also commanded the Devs, who had their own powerful, but material, science and technology to work for the common good.

Using the advanced technology of the Devs, Kai Kaus commanded that two huge caverns be excavated at the foot of Mt. Elburz. These massive caves were held up by pillars of stone and giant steel nails. These he used to store the most high quality thoroughbred horses and mules for future use of the empire.

Thereafter, Kai Kaus commanded that two palaces be made of stone.

Thereafter, the Padshah ordered two palaces to be made of pure crystal. The inner walls of these crystal palaces were inlaid with topaz stones. Every conceivable luxury and convenience was available in these palaces. Then the king ordered a high-domed hall to be constructed, out of Onyx stone, to be used as a Madressa for training Mobeds.

Then two palaces were made out of pure silver, wherein a huge armoury was constructed and weapons stored.

Finally the seventh palace was constructed, for the King’s personal use, out of pure gold. The walls of this magnificent palace were studded with turquoise and amethyst stones. This palace was built on the equator of the earth, so that all days and nights were of equal length. The temperature was also maintained in a nearly constant range. Such was this area selected to build the palace that it rained amber and musk, instead of water. Spring was always in season and the roses there were as pink as the cheeks of lovely maidens. There was no pain, suffering, death or disease. Due to this state of affairs, the Devs were most distressed, that nobody was paying any attention to them and their evil tricks.

What is the meaning of this fantastic account in the Shah Nameh? How can palaces be made out of crystal or silver or gold? What is the real meaning behind this story?

Our Master, Ustad Saheb Behramshah explained that when Kai Kaus had finished the wars in Hamavaran and Turan, he had accumulated a massive amount of treasure. This could not be stored in the treasuries, but had to be used for the common good. It is common wisdom that during times of peace, all arrangements should be made for the time of war. Keeping this in mind, the Padshah ordered the making of giant armouries and stables for horses. These were far-thinking measures to ensure that in times of need, Iran would never fall short of arms or cavalry.

The two palaces of crystal mentioned in the Shah Nameh had a special function. Ustad Saheb explained that crystal has healing powers. These palaces were nothing but giant healing centres where any of the King’s subjects could come for colour therapy and crystal therapy and cure themselves of any illnesses under the guidance of wise Mobeds and doctors.

The high domed hall made of Onyx was nothing but a giant observatory, made for the use of the astronomer-priests of those times. Using the brilliance of the onyx and the high dome (today’s modern telescopes and observatories are also constructed similarly), the astronomer priests could peer far away into the heavens, make detailed calculations about season, weather and the coming times and relay this information to the king for the proper ruling of the empire.

Finally the palace of gold, created for Kai Kaus himself is very noteworthy. This was not built for some maniacal despot. This palace was built on the equator and at such a height that no evil could ever reach the King. When Firdausi writes that it rained amber and musk over there, Ustad Saheb explained that what he meant was the beneficial currents of the Gahambars descended in that palace without any obstruction. The beneficial powers of the Gahambars, carrying both the Yairya and Sareda components were assimilated by the King and then distributed amongst his subjects.

In this way Iran entered a golden period under Kai Kaus, which was perhaps the pinnacle of her civilization. Such was the King’s mastery over the entire empire and his perfect connection with the Divine Powers that there could be no disease, suffering, need or death. This is the real esoteric meaning of the verses of Firdausi in the chapter on Kai Kaus and his seven palaces.

But obviously the only thing constant in the world is change. Nothing can last forever. The Devs, who had been totally subjugated and made to work for the common good were most dissatisfied. They could not bear to see the entire empire at peace, all creations of God marching towards Frashogard without any difficulty. So they convened a meeting to discuss this sorry state of affairs and to come up with a plan to destroy the King and his magnificent rule.

As the meeting progressed, the Devil asked for a volunteer who would try to trap Kai Kaus. But the Devs were so petrified of him that none dared to stand up and be counted. Finally, one old multi-talented Dev stood up and took up the offer. He disguised himself as a slave and followed the King’s party as they embarked on a hunting trip. As the party rested after the kill, the slave went up to the King to present him with a bouquet. As he handed over the flowers, the Dev used his extra-sweet tongue to flatter Kai Kaus. Like Jamshid of the olden days, the slave commented, Kai Kaus too was the master of the entire earth. None dare stand up to him. But…

At the word ‘but’ the King’s eyebrows rose. Let us see how Firdausi describes the scene:

Yaki kaar maandast taa dar jehaan; neshaane to hargez nagardad nehaan.

Che daarad hami aaftaab az to raaz; ke chun gardad andar neshibo faraaz.

Chigunast maah-o shab-o rooz chist? Barin gardeshe charkh saalaar kist?

Bedaani hama bundihaa baraaz; chu baa chaarah bartar shavi barfaraaz.

But there is one task that remains, by completing which your name shall be remembered forever!

Why should the sun hide the mystery of his rising and setting from you?

What is the moon? What is day and night? Who is the Master of the revolving heavens?

If in some manner you could rise above, then these mysteries would be revealed to you!

 

When Kai Kaus heard the words of the Dev in disguise his interest was piqued. The King thought about the matter for many days and consulted with his astrologers and other wise men. Their opinion was unanimous – how could someone fly without wings and cover the great distance that separated the earth from the heavenly bodies? But the King was not be put off so easily. Soon he came upon an ingenious plan. In the dead of night, Kai Kaus sent soldiers to steal eggs from the nests of eagles. These eggs were brought back to the palace and carefully hatched. The chicks were fed a very rich diet of chicken and lamb cutlets. For one year and one month, the chicks were fed relentlessly, till they grew so large and strong as to be able to carry off a mountain goat with their claws. In the meanwhile the King ordered that the most precious aloe wood (agar) be obtained from Kanyakumari. The wood is very strong but very light. Pure gold sheets were beaten to a very fine thickness and the aloe wood was plated with this gold. A throne was fashioned out of this wood. At the four ends of the throne, four long lances were fastened. At the very top of the lances, a nice juicy leg of lamb was tied up.

Four of the strongest eagles were taken and tied to the foot of the lances. The Kai Kaus sat on the throne with a golden goblet of wine in his hands. At his signal, the birds were freed. As they leapt up to get at the leg of lamb, their powerful wings propelled the throne, along with the King sitting on it, into the sky.  As the birds tried to get to the leg of lamb, the higher the King soared into the sky. What a sight to behold!

Kai Kaus flies in the sky 4

And so the King flew on higher and higher. But lo, soon the birds started getting tired. The leg of lamb didn’t seem so appealing anymore! Their wings were covered with sweat and the feathers grew heavy with the load. The birds stopped flapping and all of them – the birds, the throne, the legs of lamb, and of course, the King began hurtling down to the ground. Soon they were in the region of Amul in China. There the contraption and its unlucky occupant finally crashed. But a miracle happened. No harm came to the King. Maybe he was destined to give birth to Kai Siavaksh. That is why the heavens spared his life! See the beautiful words Firdausi uses to describe the great King’s plight:

Chu oftaad andar chunan jaaye bim; ze gham bud bichaarho del do neem. Ba jaaye buzorgi-e takht-e neshast; Pashemaani-o ranj budash badast.

Be maandeh babisheh darun khaaro zaar; Neyaayesh hamikard bar kerdegaar.

Hamikard puzesh ze kardeh gunaah; Varaa mibejostand har su sepaah!

When he crashed at that frightful spot, then his heart broke with deep regret.

Instead of sitting regally on the throne, he was placed in danger and repentance.

He stayed there in the jungle, full of remorse and sadness, praying to his God.

He began to offer Patet for his sins, meanwhile the army began to search for him.

 

As news of Kai Kaus’ disappearance was conveyed to the nobles, there was great consternation and a sense of weariness that once again the King had put not only his life but the entire future of Iran at stake. Soon a team lead by Rostam began its research and rescue mission. Through his divine powers and assistance, Rostam was able to find Kai Kaus and finally got him back to the capital. A severely repentant Kai Kaus did not assemble his court. Every day, for the next forty days, the Padshah stood near the throne and offered prayers of repentance (Patet) for the great sin he had committed. Finally, at the end of the forty days, God forgave Kai Kaus and he sat on the throne of Iran once more. His rule of justice, peace and freedom was re-established and the progress of the entire Iranian empire and most of the civilized world at that time was once again brought back on tract.

These descriptions of Kai Kaus in the Shah Nameh may make one wonder, what kind of a king was he? In the Shah Nameh, Kai Kaus comes across as self-willed, stubborn and always getting into trouble. But in the Avesta, Kai Kaus (known as Kava Usa) is widely praised. Even in our marriage benedictions, the priests pray: ‘Chun Kaus agahmand bed!’ May you be as prudent as Kaus. But in the Shah Nameh Kai Kaus is depicted as being very far from prudent. Why this disparity between the two? What is the real story behind Kai Kaus’ adventure in the sky?

Ustad Saheb Behramshah explained that Kai Kaus was a highly spiritually evolved sovereign holding the Kyanian Khoreh. Such Padshahs cannot be cheated by Devs or other ordinary mortals. His entire reign was marked by his desire to tame the Devs, including the very powerful Devs of Mazandran which we have seen earlier. Using very powerful Nirangs written in the Asmani language, Padshah Kai Kaus could control the Devs and their material sciences. At the same time, the King was eager that his population be gifted with all kinds of prosperity and advancement of culture and knowledge.

For this purpose, the King tried to use the material science possessed by the Devs for the advantage of his subjects. This is depicted in the story of Kai Kaus building the seven palaces. But the Padshah did not rest here. Despite building the observatories on earth as explained above, Kai Kaus was eager to take even more precise measurements of the heavenly bodies. For this purpose he realised that he should escape from the earth’s atmosphere, which often distorts the readings of the celestial bodies. This fact is proven today in the difference of objects observed through giant telescopes on earth and the pictures taken by the Hubble telescope which operates from space. The Hubble has been able to take far more clear and detailed pictures of galaxies and systems millions of light years away since the instrument is not constrained by the earth’s atmosphere.

In the same manner, but over 10,000 years ago Kai Kaus tried to escape the earth’s atmosphere and observe the galaxies far away, for the betterment of his empire. But here the King suffered a blow. The Kayanian Khoreh – which enveloped and protected the King and gave him the Divine Right to Rule, is a highly sensitive and spiritual field. When Kai Kaus went above a certain height, the Kyanian Khoreh could not remain with him in those rarefied realms. At that height, the effect of Gashak (spiritual pollution) gets much greater than at ground level. As a result, the Kyanian Khoreh was separated from the Padshah.

As the Padshah hurtled down and came to lower heights, the Kyanian Khoreh once again enveloped him and saved him from dying by making him land safely in the jungle of Amul from where his Kyanian Khoreh sent out a homing beacon-like signal which was picked up by Rostam who finally rescued the King and escorted him back to the capital. This experience of Kai Kaus had a profound effect on him and he was severely chastened and remorseful for his folly. As a result, he gave up sitting on the throne for forty days, as a mark of penance and Patet and to show his subjects that even the King was bound by rules and discipline. Once his period of repentance was over, Kai Kaus ascended the throne of Iran once more and expanded his golden rule.

Readers of Frashogard, this is the divine explanation of Khshnoom, revealed to us by our Master, Ustad Saheb Behramshah which so clearly unravels the mystery of the differences in the story of Kai Kaus in the Avesta and the Shah Nameh. Blessed were those Mazdayasnis who were born in the rule of Kai Kaus. Cursed are we, who are born in this time of leadership vacuum in our community. We must await the coming of the Promised One who will finally deliver us from the mess we are in today. May that day come soon!

Readers of Frashogard, we will now move on to one of the most tragic events in the life of Rostam – his encounter with Sohrab. Prepare to wet your eyes and burn your heart, as this story now moves to a very different level.

To download the audio recording of this lecture please click the icon below: File size 5.8 MB, lecture duration: 31 minutes

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Ervad Marzban J. Hathiram

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Comments

  1. Behram Wadia  May 25, 2014

    Can Zoroastrian men wear earrings like those of antiquity as described in this story? Or is a khshnoomist taboo?