LORD BHIMASHANKAR OF SAHYADRI

ANTIQUITY

Its hoary past begins with a dreadful demon by name Tripura - Lord of three cities, whose unquenchable samrajyakanksha was quite uncommon and that indeed became the chief cause of Lord Siva's taking roudra aspect and killing him under the name of Bhimashankar. It happened - Tripura was an asura with a difference. Though over ambititious and power intoxicated, he did not adopt demonic acts for the conquest of universe, though his infinite potentialities could materialize anything and everything at any time with a mere trifle. He differed from his predecessors or even successors for that matter. Desiring to be blessed with invincibility, he propitiated Lord Brahma and started penance on the mount Meru standing on one leg with hands raised above his head for years. And as such he became a Vayubhakshaka, simple and total. Naturally Devendra was upset, presuming that it was directed against Devendrapadavi and with a view to nip it in the bud, he met Lord Brahma and solicited his counsel, appealing to him to ward off the lokas from the impending calamity. When Lord Brahma appeared before the demon immersed in his rigid penance, he asked for three boons - first, he should be invincible - none from surasuras or manavas should kill him; second, he be blessed with Kamagamana - power to travel anywhere he liked under water or in the ether; third, his three cities must be made impregnable. Granting all the desired, Brahma said that he would meet his death at the hands of one, who with a single hit destroy his three puras. Power-mad and overjoyed asura, deeming that one next to impossibility accepted the condition laid.

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