Sushmajee
Puraan | 13-Skand Puraan | Shiv Rahasya
Shiv Rahasya-7 in Om Namah Shivaya Group [10/23/09] On hearing from Veerbaahu Asur got ready to fight, Kaarttik shifted his army camp from Tiruchendur to Emaakudam, very near the city of the Asur, Mahendra Puree. News of this soon reached Surpadm, and he at once dispatched a battalion to drive away the enemy from the outskirts of his city. Baanukopan, the eldest son of Shoorpadm, who was the commander of the battalion on the first day sallied forth and found the whole host of the army of the Devtaa arrayed against him. The grim fight between the two mighty armies then began. The Devtaa suffered very heavy casualties at the hands of Baanukopan and his battalion. Leaders like Veerbaahu and his brothers were laid low and in a dead faint by the secret Astra of Baanukopan. On getting the news of how the day was going against the Devtaa, Kaarttikeya used his Mohan Astra to cover the whole army of the Asur, and all the warriors who had been killed or thrown into a swoon by Baanukopan were restored. The Astra winged its way towards Baanukopan. Realizing the gravity of the situation, the young chief with the help of Maayaa, his grandmother, disappeared from the field unnoticed and made his way to the palace, where he acquainted his father, Shoorpadm, with the latest situation of the fight. The Chief of the Asur himself took over the command on the second day. Enraged at the discomfiture of Baanukopan and determined to crush the army of the Devtaa once for all, Surpadm himself gave battle to the Devtaa and began to work havoc on them. Ugra, one of the leaders of the Bhoot Gan (on the side of Devtaa) after an arduous fight killed Atisur, the son of Sinhmukh. Roused to a high pitch of fury at this set-back, Asurendra, son of Taarak, threw himself into the thick of the fight and sent celebrated leaders like Kanak, Unmatt, Manthan and many other flying from the field. Veerbaahu Devar hurried to that wing of the army and soon found himself in a hand to hand sword fight with the dreaded Asurendra. Their grim fight seemed endless, but Veerabahu Devar by the exercise of his utmost powers at last succeeded in killing Asurendra. This brought Shoorpadm himself into the active fight and, by the exertion of his supreme valor, he soon made short work of the eight brothers of Veerbaahu Devar, who immediately engaged him in a deadly combat. After a prolonged and sanguinary engagement, Shoorpadm realized the mettle of the opponent and directed his special Dand (a thick stick) against him. The Dand struck Veerbaahu on the chest and laid him out bleeding and unconscious. The fall of Veerbaahu encouraged Shoorpadm and he chased the remnants of the demoralized Devtaa army out of the field. Kaarttikeya now emerged to the front and faced the triumphant Asur king. He dispatched his Chakraayudh which annihilated hundreds of thousands of the Asur. Finding the ordinary arrows to be of no avail against his formidable foe, Shoorpadm took up the Pashupataastra which he had received as a boon from Shiv, and directed it at Kaarttikeya, confidently expecting his enemy to fall immediately, But to his consternation and terror, Kaarttikeya calmly took hold of the Astra and kept it aside. Now realizing in a measure the valor and greatness of Shanmukh, who could handle such an Astra in such a manner, Shoorpadm using his Maayaa disappeared from the battlefield unseen and retired to his palace. The next day, being the third day of the battle, Baanukopan equipped himself for the fight with special care and made his appearance in the field. At the very outset Veerbaahu and Baanukopan confronted each other. And both realized that the contest was to be a fight to the finish. To free himself completely from this grim encounter, Baanukopan, in the flash of a moment and with the swiftness of a hurricane, sent out his Mohan Astra against the Devtaa; and the whole host of the leaders were rendered unconscious and dropped into the sea. He directed his Vel to bring back safe and sound all the discomfited leaders; and to the dismay of the Asur, all those who were thought to have been sent to their certain doom were again seen soon afterwards stationed and arrayed against the Asur as if nothing had happened! Kaarttikeya issued orders to his army to take Mahendra Puree by storm. Shoorpadm resisted the onrush of his enemies into his capital. Hiranya, his second son, hastened to help his father. Veerbaahu brought his forces to this spot field. At first the Devtaa suffered heavy casualties, but there was no resisting the terrific sallies of the mighty Veerbaahu, who slowly but steadily pushed Hiranya and his forces back. Desirous of preserving himself to do the funeral rites of his family members and, if possible, to try and rehabilitate the lost fortunes of his people, Hiranyan disappeared from the field and lived in concealment, far away from Mahendra Puree. After the flight of Hiranya another son of Shoorpadm, Agnimukh, appeared on the scene of battle. Though the fire-faced young chief was successful for a time but he had to succumb ultimately to the superior strategy of Veerbaahu Devar. Finding himself no match for the latter, Agnimukh prayed to his Isht Devee, Bhadra Kaalee for assistance. At his prayer Shree Devee came and in a fury rushed forth and worked havoc on the army of the Devtaa. But on approaching Veerbaahu Devar, she smiled graciously on him, wished him success and disappeared. This sobered Agnimukh and he resumed his fight and struggled desperately against Veerbaahu Devar, but soon lost his life. On the death of Agnimukh, the other sons of Shoorpadm took command of the situation but fell very early an easy prey to the irresistible Veerbaahu. Baanukopan now made his third appearance on the battle front but was overcome by superior forces; but through the influence of Maayaa, he disappeared again from the scene and was fighting with great destructive effect, remaining unseen by his opponents. Observing this, Veerbaahu Devar with the aid of a Gyaan Astra put an end to his Maayik concealment and forced him to come out of his hiding. A terrible hand to hand fight then ensued between the two commanders. Angry and annoyed Veerabahu exerted himself as never before and soon had the satisfaction of seeing Baanukopan falter in his tracks. He then gathered himself in a supreme effort and cut off the head of the Asur chief. News of this catastrophe was soon brought to Shoorpadm, whose grief knew no bounds. He came to the battlefield, and, retrieving the dead hero's remains, swore on them that he would avenge his loss without delay. He then summoned his brother, Sinhmukh to Mahendra Puree and acquainted him with all that had happened. He exhorted him to do his utmost and turn the tide of fortune. Sinhmukh accordingly appeared on the field and went through the army of the Devtaa like a tornado. Veerbaahu Devar stemmed this tide of reverses and soon accounted for all the sons of Sinhmukh, single handed. Enraged at this, Sinhmukh faced Veerabahu Devar. By one Astra he bound hand and foot the leaders of the Devtaa including Veerabahu and removed them all in that condition to a hill far away from the field. The mighty Sinhmukh was audacious enough even to enter the base camp and kill many of the Bhoot Gan there. News of this disaster soon reached Kaarttikeya. Realizing the indomitable spirit and extraordinary valor of Sinhmukh, Kaarttikeya himself now appeared on the scene. By a number of Astra He brought back the Bhoot Gan from their inglorious place of retreat; sound in limb and mind. He then took on Sinhmukh himself in combat and, though greatly admiring his courage and prowess, yet mindful of the future, made an end of the Asur chief by one powerful Astra.
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Created by Sushma Gupta on 3/15/05
Contact: sushmajee@yahoo.com
Updated on 06/24/13