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Certain medieval texts like the Jayadri- Mahatmya,the Martand-Vijay,the Malhari- Mahatmya and narrate how and why this incarnation of Malhari or Martand became necessary. Long long ago there were two daityas known as Madhu and Kaitabha. They had performed long tapas and had achieved immense power and strength and had troubled the entire Universe. Hence Vishnu slew them, but from their remnants two more daityas, Mani and Malla arose.These two again undertook penance to please Shiva and after hundreds of years of tapa Shiva appeared before them . They were anxious to revenge the defeat suffered in their previous lives and asked for boons the conditions of which appalled Shiva. They wanted to defeat all living things, human beings, gods, and demons and conquer all the Lokas.
Nothing, neither the gods,the human beings,nor the Pancha- Mahabhutas (five elements of nature) nor any of the astras or shastras should kill them. It would be as you desire’ said Shiva.But the god had by nowbecome apprehensive of the power of the daityas and decided upon a course rather unusual for gods. He asked the demons to bestow a boon on him. The demons were greatly flattered and said ‘Granted’; even without waiting to hear what his demand was.Shiva asked that they should die at his hands. The demons agreed even to this but told him that they would face death only after they bad conquered all the three Lokas, defeated the gods, thoroughly humiliated the brahmins, desecrated the temples and fully discredited the existing dharma. Shiva had no other recourse but to agree to these conditions.
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