Chapter 28: The Body of a Disciple
General POV
One month had passed since Shon first bowed before Lord Hanuman and accepted his guidance. Every single day since then had been a test of will, patience, and discipline. The first phase of his training was all about learning control over his body—every breath, every limb, every heartbeat. And now, finally, Shon had done it.
He had mastered his current body. He could balance motionless on a narrow branch for hours. He could sense the movement of his muscles and breath like the back of his hand. His mind was becoming still. Not perfect, but sharper. Calmer. He had earned the right to move to the next stage.
Hanuman ji stood before him at the break of dawn. His orange form glowed like firelight as the sun rose behind the mountain.
"Putra," Hanuman spoke, his voice like thunder wrapped in calm, "you have shown great determination. Now begins the next phase—building your strength, shaping your body like a true warrior of Sanatan. This path is older than time and tested by gods themselves."
Shon bowed deeply. His heart pounded with excitement. This was what he had dreamed of.
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Mallakhamb Training
The first step in this journey? A single wooden pole.
Hanuman led him to a tall, polished vertical log placed in a clearing beside the forest.
"This is Mallakhamb," Hanuman explained. "You must treat it like your partner. Climb, hold, twist, balance. Let your muscles speak the language of the pole."
At first, it seemed impossible. The pole was smooth. Shon slipped again and again. His palms burned, thighs bruised, and shoulders screamed. But Hanuman only smiled.
"Pain is your tutor now," he said. "Let it teach you."
Days passed. Shon improved. He learned to grip tighter, swing higher, wrap his legs like coils, and flip in mid-air. It wasn't just strength—it was grace, coordination, and complete control.
Soon, he could climb and pose on the Mallakhamb like a forest monkey, twisting into postures that built immense core power and flexibility.
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Akhada Lifestyle
After Mallakhamb, came the Akhada training.
Hanuman took Shon to a circular mud pit prepared specially for wrestling. It smelled of earth and sweat. Hanuman smiled as he entered.
"This," he said, "is where warriors are born."
Shon began the legendary dand pushups. They weren't normal. He had to start in a downward dog-like position, swoop low to the ground, curve his spine, then rise like a cobra.
He did hundreds.
Then came baithaks — deep squats that pushed his legs to the limit. His thighs burned. He shook. He collapsed. But Hanuman pushed him.
Then came jori and mugdar — massive wooden clubs. He swung them in large circles over his shoulders, again and again. It looked simple. It was not. Each swing used muscles Shon didn't even know existed.
Every night, he collapsed on the grass, sore and breathless. Every morning, he stood up again.
"Strength comes to those who refuse to stop," Hanuman would say.
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Yogic Power
Hanuman also introduced yoga — not just for calmness, but for power.
He taught Shon advanced poses like Mayurasana, the peacock pose. It looked like a balancing trick. But it built steel-like arms.
Then Bakasana — the crane pose — tested his shoulder and wrist strength.
Navasana, the boat pose, lit his core on fire.
"These are not for looks," Hanuman explained. "They build inner fire."
They practiced pranayama, the art of breath. Inhale slow. Hold. Exhale slower. Then again. Then hold even longer.
It was harder than lifting a stone.
But over time, Shon felt it. His breath was calmer. His energy lasted longer. His reflexes sharpened.
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He even made Shon lift stones. Real stones. Giant ones. Carry them. Run with them.
"Not for show," Hanuman said. "For spirit. For battle."
He mimicked battlefield situations—ducking attacks, rolling in mud, moving with heavy weight on his back.
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Natural Conditioning
Shon fetched water in large pots from a spring. He climbed trees daily. He chopped wood. He even dug trenches for channeling rainwater.
Every bit of work became part of his training.
And every sunrise, he performed Surya Namaskar to honor the gods, to energize the body.
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Food of the Warriors
Hanuman didn't feed him fancy meals. Only what saints and warriors ate.
Milk. Almonds. Ghee. Fruits. Rice. Lentils. Herbal tonics.
He introduced Shon to Ashwagandha and Shilajit—natural herbs that built stamina and recovery. Shon felt his strength grow each day.
He learned to eat with awareness. To chew slow. To never overeat. To thank the food.
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Mental Training
Physical strength meant nothing without control.
Hanuman made Shon meditate twice a day. Sit still for an hour. Observe breath. Let go of thoughts.
Sometimes Shon failed. Thoughts jumped in. Memories. Fears. Fantasies.
But he tried again.
He learned to visualize. To stay alert yet calm. To hold mental stillness like a warrior in battle.
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Shon's POV
It was like being reborn.
My body was no longer what it was. I felt harder. Lighter. Faster. My movements had purpose. My breath had rhythm.
But it wasn't just the body.
Something inside me was changing too.
The discipline. The silence. The simplicity. The energy of this place.
It was shaping my soul.
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