Story of Tripurantaka Form of Shiva

Lord Shiva is known as Tripurantaka since he has destructed the three cities of demons.

Story of Tripurantaka Form of Shiva

The story is about three sons of Tarakasura whose names were Vidyunmali, Tarakaksha and Viryavana respectively. Once they performed a tough penance to pacify Lord Brahma. They had been in this feat for thousands of years. At last Brahma appeared in front of them. But to his surprise, they requested for immortality. But Brahma confessed his inability to offer that boon. Thus they demanded three huge forts constructed of gold, silver and iron respectively and liked to live there for thousands of years. After that, they wanted these forts in a combined form called ‘Tripura’. They chose their ends together with its collapse which they desired to happen with only one arrow. Brahma granted these boons and they lived there comfortably.

Day after day the glory of demons increased considerably. They lived in utmost virtue and not committed any sins. This made demigods to have fears of loosing their dignity and heaven. So they presented the matter in front of major gods and requested to save them. All except Lord Vishnu discarded their request. He told them that the demons cannot be punished unless they were doing any type of sins. For this purpose Vishnu appointed an individual and asked him to approach demons in Tripura. Before leaving, Vishnu taught him that both heaven and hell are on earth and the outcome of deeds is vanished by death. He was asked to propagate these versions among demons and persuade them to do sins. This was absolutely successful. Thus they deviated from doing rights and preferred only wrongs.

Photo Courtesy - Dinamalar.com

As per the boon, thousand years were over by this time and the three forts got united. The sinful life leading by demons, gave Gods a chance to destroy Tripura. They visited Lord Shiva and revealed the conditions going on there. He also came to know that the demons already stopped worshipping Siva Linga. This made him so angry and decided to destroy the three cities. For this requirement he used a magnificent chariot constructed by Viswakarma, and Brahma himself came forward to ride the same. 

Using of Pashupatastra 

Along with Shiva Shankar all other gods participated in this attempt with their featured abilities and weapons. Lord Siva installed a divine power called ‘Pashupatha’ into his arrow and shot at Tripura which burnt the cities to ashes within seconds. This is how Lord Siva came to know as Tripurantaka or Tripurantakesvara or Tripurantakeshwara.

An ancient temple of Tripurantaka form of Shiva is located in Balligavi town of Shimoga district in Karnataka, India.

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