Mandala Murders ending explained: Did Vaani Kapoor's Rea really stop Yast?

The ritual to transform Yast into his mortal form was once again foiled by Rea's prompt intervention, leaving viewers with more questions than answers in the Mandala Murders finale. The show's demise in Charandaspur has left a path of dead, shattered boons, and an immortal cult.

Origins of the cult and the Aayasthal project

Under Rukmini's leadership, the Aayastis started carrying out Yast's plan in a clandestine site within the Varuna Forest known as Aayasthal in the 1950s. Scientists Anant and Nandini came to construct a nuclear power plant, but their plans to demolish holy territory set off disastrous events. Following Anant's death, Nandini became enamoured with the cult and its occult-science fusion; nonetheless, she betrayed them when she learnt of their end-of-the-world plot. Her rebellion led to her death, but it briefly halted the cult. Because they were unwilling to pay the fee, the villagers—who had previously benefited from Yast's "boons"—burned down the facility.

Rukmini's granddaughter Ananya revived the goal of creating a Frankenstein-like deity decades after the fact. In the name of science, religion, and a new global order, Charandaspur had become a testing ground for mutilation and murder while the vessel was being readied once more. A politician named Ananya, who stood to lose a lot of money, gambled it all. She sacrificed her humanity, her loved ones, and her life to become a cult leader.

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Violence, apathy, and community’s silence

It was to her advantage that the town seemed unconcerned. The senseless slaughter of innocent people, including children and gangsters, went unnoticed. It transformed Abhishek into a being resembling a starfish. Beheaded was Kalindi. Kavita’s face was ripped off. A little girl named Noor was killed. Still, very few people paid attention. There was still no outcry even after Awdesh resurrected and was disfigured once more. No one rose to the top to rally the people against the Aayastis, in contrast to Giyassudin in the 1950s.

Without considering the consequences in the long run, Ananya mindlessly followed Rukmini. In contrast, Rea took after Nandini's moral code even though she had no idea she was her granddaughter. Ananya grew quite religious. Reason, law, and defiance were Rea's choices. The show's moral compass revolves around that disparity.

Boon that backfired and saved Vikram

Even though his mother Vasudha's gift rescued him, Vikram came dangerously close to being a sacrifice. That unrealised blessing, however, was the catalyst for Yast's downfall. A wrench was eventually thrown into the cult's machinery when the boon struck Vikram instead of Pawan.

The haziness around Yast's overarching strategy is a major concern. And why is a mortal vessel even used? Why is it a combination of human anatomy? Why was such an intricate energy-transfer mechanism built? What was the point of destroying everything in order for Yast to create something new? Yast's teachings were supposedly from the Aayast Granth, but its origin and purpose are unknown. Was Yast pro-apocalypse in 2020 but anti-nuclear in the 1950s? There is a complete absence of context regarding the ideological shift.

Confused timeline and flawed logic

Also, why start the project up again today if Yast's plan stopped nuclear expansion in the 1950s? The reasoning is backwards, and Yast's "utopia" lacks a solid ideological foundation. Does the existence of hooliganism, corruption, and adultery warrant the imposition of a global genocide?

Rea murdered Ananya and Vaitarni at the showdown. After serving time in prison, the assassin Moksha was released. Without a trace, Maithili disappeared, most likely with the gemstone that could reawaken Yast. The evidence room's equipment reactivated after the escape, suggesting that the danger remains.

Survivors and fight ahead

Jimmy managed to escape the carnage that befell his family. The long-awaited reunion of Vasudha, Vikram, and Vishwanath had succeeded. Aware of the cult's true scope, Rea informed the CIB and pledged to persist in her struggle. However, since the Aayastis have persisted, there remains hope for Yast's return.

Those who get Yast's favour end up becoming his sacrificial lambs, according to the show's clues. Vikram and Vasudha will be among the first to go if Moksha takes the lead once more. However, Vikram is now aware of the inner workings of the cult, unlike previous generations. We will see if that's sufficient.

Missing generation in the cult's history

There is an entire Aayasti generation that Mandala Murders omits from the timeline between Rukmini and Ananya. During that period, what transpired? What took 75 years for it to be restarted? What activities were the locals, Rukmini's daughter, and Nandini's descendants engaged in?

The show should also clarify Yast's character and the Aayast Granth's origins. Maybe Yast's followers misunderstood his intentions and he never meant to be resurrected as a human. Without researching their beliefs, the cult appears less like complex enemies and more like simple villains.

What Season 2 needs to address

If Season 2 chooses to delve deeper into its lore and transcend simplistic morals, it could pave the way for a more comprehensive exploration of religion, science, and fanaticism. If this does not happen, Mandala Murders may reduce itself to a simplistic good-vs-evil story with an overly complicated setting.

As of today, the cult is still very much alive. There will be no end to the struggle for heritage, ideology, and continued existence.