Tripuri Purnima
Tarakasur
Tarakasur was a powerful demon. He began to practise aus-tere penance. The
gods tried to disturb his penance, because they knew that by doing penance the
demon would obtain some boon or other. Brahmadev, Vishnu and Shankar would
become pleased with him and they would grant the boon. Then the demon becom-ing
haughty would defeat the gods. But Tarakasur persevered in his penance.
Brahmadev asked him, “What are you doing penance for?”
Tarakasur answered, “I want to obtain immortality.”
“No one can become immortal,” Said Brahmadev: “Why are you asking the
impossible?”
Tarakasur insisted. “Alright. Grant me that I may not die by man or woman,
gods or any other celestial or terrestrial being.”
“Amen. Tathastu,” said Brahmadev. “May it be according to your wish.”
Tarakasur was happy. He felt that in fact he had become immortal.
The gods became restless when they heard the news that Tarakasur had
obtained the boon of immortality. They went to their king Indra. Indra went
first to Brahmadev. Brahmadev sent him to Vishnu. Indra went with the gods to
Vaikunth, the heaven of Vishnu. Vishnu said that only Shankar could remedy the
situation and he himself went to Shankar. In the meantime Tarakasur had brought
chaos everywhere. He organised a huge army of all the demons and attacked the
gods who were roundly defeated, and became the slaves of Tarakasur. Vishnu went
to Kailas to meet Shankar. But Shankar was sitting in deep meditation (samadhi)
and could not be disturbed. So Vishnu had to wait a long time. By that time
Tarakasur had become the king of the three worlds.
Three Cities
Then Tarakasur ordered the architect of the gods, Vishvakarma, to build
three cities in the sky for each of his three sons, one of iron, one of copper
and one of silver. Three cities were built and given to his three sons,
Tarakanksh, Vidyunmali and Kamallochan. Then heaven and earth began to clamour
for liberation. “Trahi Bhagavan!”, “Lord, mercy, save us!”
Finally Shankar’s meditation came to an end. He welcomed Vishnu. They had a
long discussion, since at first Shankar did not see the reason for fighting
against the demons. But finally he was convinced that he had to take the side of
the gods and prepared for battle.
Vishnu himself became the arrow of Shankar’s bow. Indra became the pointed
blade of the arrow. The wind took the place of the feather of the arrow. The
clouds took the shape of the bow. The earth became the chariot. The four vedas
became the four horses. The sun became the banner. Brahmadev himself became the
charioteer, and took the reins in his hands. The moon became the parasol (chatra).
Ganpati and the army officials formed in array, began to march with Shankar, and
the whole army came on Tripurasur. For three days the battle went on without any
side obtaining the decisive victory.
Then Shankar took out the sharp edged arrow which was the form of Vishnu.
With that single arrow Shankar killed the three demons of Tripura and burnt the
three cities which were reduced to ashes. The fate of Tarakasur is not known.
This joyful victory is celebrated on the full moon day of Kartik. Shankar
got the name of “Tripurantak”.
In front of the temple of Shankar a “tripur” or “dipmal”. is erected in
commemoration of this victory. A great number of oil lamps are lit on this tripur. With leaves small lamps are prepared and left to float on the water.