ACCORDING TO KANDHAPURANAM
PART I
SAKTHASRI
DR.S.JAYABARATHI
THIRIPURANTAKA
The Thiripuraadhis were three asuras. They were Thaarakaaksha, Kamalaaksha, and Vidhyunmaali who were the sons of Thaaraka asura.
They performed intense tapas towards Brahma. They asked for immortality. But Brahma told them that only one was immortal, and that was the Supreme Lord Siva who was the SarvEsvara.
So they asked for three fortified flying cities of gold, silver, and iron which would be in Bhumi, Mid-space, and Paradise. They should be able to go anywhere, whenever they wished. They could be destroyed only by He Who is Most Supreme and Immortal. He should destroy them together with only one missile. This should be done only when the three purams or fortified cities come together at one place. They should assemble together for only minute fraction of a moment. That particular time should be on the Pushya nakshatra day of Thai month. The cities should be filled with every form of riches and luxuries, entertainments, and enjoyments and should be equal to the royal cities where important asuras could reside with every amenities and luxuries. The asuras should possess unequaled valour and boundless courage.
Brahma granted all this.
All the asuras heard about this this and they came together.
The asura architect called Mayan, constructed the three cities according to the specifications asked for by the asuras and granted by Brahma.
(There were two architects - the asura architect was Mayan. His counterpart for the Devas, was VisvaKarma. Apart from being architects who built cities, they also made weapons, flying chariots of the gods, etc.)
These were the 'Thiri Puram's.
Mayan also gave them invaluable advice.
"Siva is the supreme Lord of Lords. He possesses fast missiles and strong and powerful bows. He is the Treasurehouse of all the souls. He is the Lord of all the worlds. He does not show patience to enemies but shows boundless love towards His devotees who pray to Him and worship Him. He also tolerates the wrongs committed by His bhakthas. All the Vedas say that He bears the sharpest weapons".
"Therefore it is imperative that everybody should worship the Supreme Lord of all - SarvEsvara. If He is worshipped, all the troubles, enemies, diseases, and bad planets will disappear and there will be great peace of mind".
"You and all your kinsmen should worship Him in the Siva Linggam. If you worship Him, who gives goodness to all the worlds, all your enemies will be destroyed by His Grace. So, you must pledge within your minds and worship Him with Bhakthi and care. You will receive all riches, victories, and His Blessings".
The asura brothers took Mayan's words and followed his advices.
They also received Siva Linggams for pujai from Mayan.
By preforming Siva pujai with austerities and sincerity, the asuras attained everything they wanted. Everything that the others possessed became theirs. The devas and the deva women became their servants. They went with their cities to wherever they willed. The cities would alight upon whole worlds and crush and destroy them.
So Vishnu, Brahma, and the devas convened at mount Meru and discussed how the asuras could be destroyed.
According to the decision taken, they performed a fierce yaaga, which set a great number of bhuthas to destroy the asuras. But the bhuthas were destroyed instead. Because of this, the asuras in return disturbed the devas. So the devas escaped and went into hiding in Mount Meru.
After this, Vishnu, Brahma and the devas decided upon a plot.
The Thiripura asuras were powerful because of their strict disciplines and austerities that they observed and the pujais that they performed to Siva. If they stopped these austerities and worship, Lord Siva Himself would destroy them.
So Vishnu took the form of a Buddha and Naradha became his disciple. Both of them went to the asuras and convinced them with their teachings and deviated them from their religious observances. They also made them lose their strict religious disciplines. By performing many acts of maya, they made them beleive that Vishnu Buddha was the supreme god. Thus they prevented the asuras from performing Siva pujai. The asuras removed their rudrakshas, vibhuthi, pujai, and all other aspects of Siva worship.
But the three Thiri puraadhi brothers were incorruptible and remained as staunch Saivites as ever.
Vishnu and the other devas went to the Maanasa SarOvar lake and immersed themselves neck-deep in the water. Vishnu chanted the Rudra manthras and all the devas stood in the water around him and did severe tapas and facing him.
Siva appeared before them and told them to prepare vibhuthi according to the Viraja HOma method, wear it and observe the Paasupatha Viradham. At that time, Murugan who was in the form of a child upon the laps of Siva, performed the Cosmic Dance.
Then the devas did as told by Siva, and observed the Paasupatha Viradha.
Thereupon Siva sent Nandhi to the devas, ordering them to prepare all the equipment for war, like the chariot, bow, and arrow.
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