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Shiv Rahasya

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6-Shadow of War

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6-Shadow of War
Shiv Rahasya-6 from Om Namah Shivaya Group[10/22/09]

While Skand was camping at Tiruchendur along with his army, he sent a messenger to Mahendra Puree, the capital of Shoorpadm, to inform Shoorpadm that the Devtaa were ready for a fight with him and that the war could be averted only if the Asur released Jayant, son of Devendra, from prison and abstained from giving any more trouble to the Devtaa. Veerbaahu Devar was chosen as the envoy to Shoorpadm; and he obeyed the words of Skand and prepared himself for his southward journey across the ocean to Mahendra Puree.

On the way he came across an Asur named Veersinh, who was the ruler of Lankaa. The Asur tried to prevent the messenger from crossing over his land, but Veerabahu showed his prowess and headed towards Mahendra Puree. This was repeated in the case of another Asura, Ativeer also. The messenger then continued his journey to Shoorpadm's capital. To his great surprise Veerabaahu saw that innumerable Asur with curious shapes were guarding the numerous gates of the fort round the city of Mahendra Puree and that it was no easy task to get into it. Deciding to cut away for himself into the city, he approached one of the gates of the fortress.

An elephant-faced Asur named Gajmukhaasur, challenged him and engaged him in combat, and it was only after a hard fight that Veerbaahu was able to overcome his opponent. Desirous of obtaining an intimate knowledge of the city and the life of the people there, Veerbaahu entered the city incognito. Assuming the form of a very small creature by the Siddhi of Animaa, Veerbaahu entered the city of Shoorpadm.

A sight of the city of the Asur created feelings of sympathy and jealousy in the mind of the messenger - sympathy because that a city of such incomparable grace and beauty should come to be inhabited only by people of low Aasurik nature and that it was to perish so soon for the sins of its inhabitants; and jealousy because at the power of the Tapas of the Asur, by which they had been able to create such a super-city with all its many enviable perfections.

The messenger, in the course of his perambulations in the city, sighted the prison in which Indra's son Jayant was bemoaning his fate as a prisoner. He cheered him up and assured him of a quick release by Kaarttik. Thence Veerabaahu proceeded in his subtle shape to the Darbaar hall of Shoorpadm. He was greatly dazzled at the grandeur and the pomp of the Asur's Darbaar, unparalleled even in Dev Lok. By the grace of Kaarttikeya, the messenger Veerabaahu was provided with a Divine Sinhaasan (throne) on a level with the one on which Shoorpadm himself was sitting. Disconcerted and annoyed at the unprecedented disturbance created by the messenger and enraged at his defiant demeanor, Shoorpadm, controlling himself with a mighty effort, enquired of Veerbaahu of his identity and the purpose of his visit.

Undaunted in spirit and unswerving in his faith in Kaarttikeya, Veerbaahu explained his mission, after introducing himself as the humble messenger of the glorious son of Shiv. He informed Shoorpadm that he had been ordered to visit his capital and ascertain his mind as to whether he was agreeable to releasing Jayant and abstaining from troubling the Devtaa further or whether he was prepared for a fight with Lord Kaarttikeya, who had come down from Kailaash for the purpose of saving the righteous and punishing the wicked.

Insulted and infuriated, Shoorpadm bluntly refused to accept any of the terms offered by Kaarttikeya to him on the ground that it would be below his dignity and prestige even to listen to such messages. He ridiculed the idea of his being dictated to by a mere child, of whom he would make mincemeat at the first encounter. These haughty and arrogant words of Shoorpadm so excited and provoked Veerbaahu, who, in an outburst of anger, cursed Shoorpadm and his Asur dynasty to an early uin at the hands of Kaarttikeya. This was sufficient to enrage Shoorpadm and his followers and induce them to vent their spleen on the messenger. But Veerbaahu outwitted them all and returned safe to Tiruchendur to report to Kaarttikeya all that had happened at Mahendra Puree.

In the meantime, imperious Shoorpadm called a council of war and, with the help of his ministers, began to concert measures for offensive and defensive operations against the enemy. A few of his advisers tried to persuade against Shoorpadm to release the Devtaa and Devendra´s son and make peaceful compromise with Kaarttikeya. Sinhmukh pleaded that as Kaarttikeya was none other than Shiv himself in the form of a young boy, "To obey him would be worthy of us and could bring nothing but good to all of us, and to disregard him is to court certain destruction." But the doomed Asur king, in his arrogance and pride, would not listen to such wise counsels.

Accordingly, on the orders of the King, mighty preparations for the ensuing fight were taken in hand and completed with great expedition. Sinhmukh went back to his capital, promising his brother to come to his help when the time came and bring his army immediately on the declaration of war.

 

 

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Created by Sushma Gupta on 3/15/05
Contact:  sushmajee@yahoo.com
Updated on 06/24/13