The Fall of Tripura Cities

After fall of Tarakasura, by the hands of Kartikeya his three sons Tarakaksha, Vidyunmali and Kamalaksha (together referred as Tripurasura) performed great penance to Brahmadev and got a boon that they will live in three separate cities which can only be destroyed by a single arrow, knowing that the task was impossible.

With the help of asura architect Mayasura they built three cities, which were moving constantly and would align only once in one thousand years.

Unable to control Asuras, all the Gods requested Shivji to help.

Earth became the chariot with the Sun and the Moon its wheels. Bhagwaan Vishnu took the form of a bull to pull the chariot, with Brahmadev as charioteer. Mount Meru became the bow, Vasuki naag its string. ShriHari provided the arrow with Agnidev its tip and Vayudev feathers at the end.

When the cities got aligned and time to fire the arrow came, all the Gods felt proud that they were helping Shivji in this massive task. Shivaji felt this pride and instead of firing the arrow, just looked at the cities and smiled. The cities started burning.

Brahmadev pleaded to Shivji to fire the arrow and finally he fired the arrow invoking the Pashupatastra to destroy the Tripura cities with a single arrow.

However just before the destruction he sent Nandi ahead to save his devotee Mayasura from the carnage.

After the destruction of Tripura cities Shivaji performed the tandav, which is also referred as “Tripura Nasha Nartana”. This act of destroying Tripura cities earned Shivaji the name Tripurantaka.

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