The

Soma Tantra
- A Cosmic Tragedy -
Authored on Earth by ItzQuauhtli (Obsidian Eagle)
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The Soma Tantra '()( *!t+,uauhtli - Obsidian Eagle.
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1or Tara
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- 2 -
Table of Contents
I Three Planes of Existence 6
II Mythic Overview: The Denizens of Antarloka 7
III Prologue: The Nectar of Immortality 9
Act One Soma Chandras Hubris 16
[ 1 ] A Gathering of Gods 17
[ 2 ] Mutual Grievances 21
[ 3 ] Heavens Orphans 28
[ 4 ] Besieged 39
- Interstice - 48
Act Two To Hell and Back 52
[ 5 ] Avenues of Deceit 53
[ 6 ] Curious Occurrences 68
[ 7 ] Rescued by Old Enemies 77
[ 8 ] Predestined Warpaths 79
- Interstice - 82
Act Three Tremendous Upheavals 84
[ 9 ] Surya Sets 85
[ 10 ] A Duel Between Renegades 88
[ 11 ] Fall of the Devatas 91
[ 12 ] Deus Ex Machina 99
Appendix: Glossary of Sanskrit Terms 105
- 3 -
I Three Planes of Existence
"y most accounts of 4indu cosmology our universe is divided into three ma&or planes%
delineated here as follos:
Bhuloka - The physical plane% hich is here humans dell.
Antarloka - The subtle 5astral6 plane here the lesser gods and demons ar.
Sivaloka - The unfathomable 5causal6 plane here only the greater gods
*Brahma% Vishnu and hi!a along ith their female counterparts. abide.
This threefold configuration corresponds to other important trios such as the Gunas
*"a#as$ att!as % Tamas)% hich represent the active% balanced and inert 7ualities of all
conditioned phenomena as ell as the respective roles that the three main deities play%
namely: creation% preservation and destruction. 8ast% present% future% etc.
8utting all that aside% suffice it to say that most of this epic tale ta#es places ithin
Antarlo#a. The geography here corresponds only loosely to that of "hulo#a since its
edifices and landscapes are upheld by tradition% ill-poer and a social consensus. !t is
an ideal plane in every sense of the ord.
- 9 -
II Mythic Overvie! The Deni"ens of Antarlo#a
:i#e Earth% the psycho-spiritual sphere of Antarlo#a is home to a variety of races.
;ost of these have their on monarchs and are distinguishable by virtue of appearance or
special abilities. This is a brief description of their hierarchy:
Devatas - The lesser gods *as opposed to 5<evas6 li#e Shiva or =ishnu..
>onetheless% their pantheon constitutes the dominant caste of Antarlo#a and has
ruled over the others ith an admirable degree of prosperity% meeting resistance
only occasionally. ;ostly humanoid in aspect they are: Indra *#ing of gods.%
Agni *god of fire.% Varuna *god of ater.% Vayu *god of ind.% &ama *god of
death.% urya *the sun god.% oma 'handra *the moon god.% (ama *god of
desire.% (arttikeya *a young ar god. and )uru Brihas*ati *priest of the <evatas..
Ashuras - Often referred to as 5&ealous demigods6. :egend tells that they ere
once rightful rulers on this plane. As such they comprise the most formidable
opposition against the <evatas and are considered demonic. They6re also divided
into three notable tribes: +aityas *often having multiple heads or limbs.%
+ana!as *toering giants. and "akshas *vampiric ghouls.. ?et although Ashuras
are poerful arriors they tend to have trouble getting along ith one another%
hich means that these three tribes are rarely on good terms.
Ghandharvas @ Apsaras - The Ahandharvas are heaven6s musicians. :i#e
angels in Christianity eBcept ith avian heads to match their ings. They are
usually accompanied by Apsaras ho are their ives but also talented performers
in their on right. The Apsaras dance and sing hile the Ahandharvas play
instruments herever their presence is re7uested by the <evatas. =ayu% god of
ind% is the chieftain appointed to them by Cing !ndra.
Yoginis - 8ersonal attendants of the high goddess (ali *,ar!ati-s shado side..
As female combatants trained by the goddess of destruction herself% they are a
force to be rec#oned ith.
Maruts - The sons of =ayu. These air-elementals compose !ndra6s personal
guard and accompany him during any ma&or confrontation. They are at odds ith
the Ahandharvas left in their father6s custody.
Kinnaras - Essentially 5reverse centaurs6 - Cinnaras are tall% lan#y beings
possessing humanoid bodies but ith e7uine heads groing up from their
shoulders. Once pages in the court of Cing !ndra% they no reside in the
netherorld domains serving as minions under ?ama.
- D -
Pisachas @ Ganas - These shape-shifters are distant cousins of the Ea#shas.
8isachas are soul-eating raiths hereas Aanas are deformed and mischievous
little darves. !ronically% they have sorn service to Shiva% hich is hy they
inhabit the graveyards and charnels of Antarlo#a *his preferred meditation
grounds aay from ;ount Cailash..
Rudras - Close cousins of the ;aruts% Eudras *holers. are air-elementals too
eBcept that they are considered sons of Bhaira!a *Shiva6s rath personified..
"ecause of this they are more ferocious and prefer to stri#e by cover of night.
!t6s not so strange then that they also #eep company ith Aanas and 8isachas.
Nagas - A secretive race of serpent people that has been relegated to a remote
corner of ,atala *the netherorld.. There are those ho believe that they harbor
close ties to the numina of Sivalo#a. Fhile their physical forms can vary they
remain 7uintessentially reptilian in character.
- G -
III Prolo$%e! The &ectar of I''ortality
Many eons ago, before planets could take shape within the galaxies of
Bhuloka, the transcendental plains of Antarloka were already
overflowing with life. It was during those early halcyon days that a
mendicant by the name of Durvasas undertook a long walk through
the uncharted wilderness of this dimension most sublime.
Soon enough a heavenly muse separated herself from an
overhanging cloud formation and presented urvasas with a fragrant
garland of field!flowers. She smirked enigmatically prior to
evaporating completely.
At that moment the wandering pilgrim was struck by a profound
sense of euphoria mixed with nostalgia for something ineffable and
eternal. "e became so ecstatic that he burst into song while kicking
up his feet in a dance of devotion# "e continued along the foothills
praising the skies and spinning on his heels as he flung his arms about.
It was not long before he crossed paths with Indra $ %ing of the
evatas $ riding upon an elephant. &he storm god regarded this
ragged sage with curiosity. &hen without hesitation the strange little
man 'uietly offered (ord Indra the lei that he wore around his neck.
&he king accepted this gift with a polite nod, placing it on the head of
his mount.
"owever, to the surprise of both and the chagrin of urvasas
that hulking beast was affected by the scent of the flowers in such a
negative way that it began stomping about, nearly crushing him
beneath its rowdy stride. &he pachyderm went on to grab the wreath
using his trunk and slammed it into the dirt $ flattening it under heel.
)nderstandably incensed urvasas proclaimed a potent curse against
%ing Indra*
+"ark ye well king of the evatas, I hereby condemn you and
your kin to suffer defeat at the hands of your hated foes* the Ashuras#
So long as the aityas, anavas and ,akshas exist, your sovereignty
within Antarloka shall never be absolute. And though it may take eons
to culminate, the evatas will eventually grow so weak because of
their own corruption that harmic law will demand nothing short of
their obliteration . . .-
- H -
&he wandering ascetic stalked off while uttering random profanities
until he was no longer visible or within earshot.
Still stunned despite his elephant.s renewed calmness, Indra
mulled over the bitter words of the departed stranger for a few
moments. /evertheless he thought of them as little more than the
cra0ed inanities of a derelict. "e merely shrugged and sighed deeply
before starting back for Mount Meru, the site of his royal palace.
/o sooner had he arrived there than he was greeted with
pressing news of another skirmish between one of his people.s patrols
and their enemies, the dreaded Ashuras. According to their reports,
Shukra, a spiritual guru of the aityas had recently completed a
thousand years of austerity. "e had hung upside!down above the
reach of a fierce bonfire and withstood its effects for extended periods.
ue to this Shiva himself had seen fit to grant 1uru Shukra whatever
boon he might desire. &herefore the wily aitya re'uested an occult
mantra from the (ord 2one that could raise the dead whenever it was
chanted3. Indra.s scouts claimed they had witnessed Shukra perform
this miracle shortly after their own forces had slain several anava
giants among the enemy.s ranks. Apparently these were successfully
brought back to life and re4oined the struggle, leaving their small
contingent of Maruts no choice but to flee.
isconcerted by the details of this latest incident Indra wasted
no time in convening his war council. 5ithin a few days Antarloka.s
broad expanse became a raging battleground.
)nfortunately for the evatas their scouts had not exaggerated
with respect to the Ashura.s newfound advantage. As their own
numbers dwindled steadily, those of their rivals were reinforced
constantly by the very casualties that Indra.s troops inflicted.
&he situation worsened and the evatas despaired.
Again %ing Indra consulted the other gods and they all agreed
that there wasn.t any recourse other than to seek out (ord Brahma*
grandfather to all beings and an inexhaustible reservoir of obscure
wisdom. "ence they entered into a meditative trance together even
as a battering ram thumped against the castle gates.
6ollowing what seemed a prolonged silence $ Agni, 7ayu,
7aruna, Indra and 1uru Brihaspati found themselves in a psychic
clearing devoid of any discernable 'ualities. It was then that a
gleaming presence made itself known. &heir inner eyes beheld a
- )( -
snow!bearded individual seated on a lotus!throne. "is countenance
and crown shimmered with golden light as if indicating an unmatched
degree of insight. ,ecogni0ing his visitors that ancient one spoke*
+earest sons of sons, it doth mine heart good to see thee here
before me. "owever I can feel great tension coming from ye. &ell me
swiftly what circumstances weigh so heavily upon thine otherwise
capable shoulders8-
+9h thou eldest of gods,- Indra replied, +an unprecedented
calamity hast befallen us. 5e now stand on the brink of annihilation
and it is in this our darkest hour that we seek thy unfailing advice#-
&he young king continued to explain everything that had
transpired throughout his domain over the last while. Brahma listened
attentively and smiled knowingly as Indra finished briefing him.
+"ast any among thee heard tell of Amrita8- Brahma
'uestioned.
&he evatas looked around at one another but ended by
collectively shaking their heads in bewilderment.
+Amrita,- Brahma proceeded, +is the nectar of immortality.
In every universe it hath been responsible for sustaining the virtuous
so that they may uphold blessed harma* the perennial law born here
in Sivaloka. 9nly by obtaining Amrita canst ye hope to con'uer these
powerful Ashuras.-
+But where grandfather or how are we to find this legendary
nectar8- Brihaspati ventured to ask.
+Abandon Antarloka temporarily and enter Bhuloka, the coarsest
plane of reality. &here from amongst infinitesimal galaxies thou art to
choose one that is suitable to be churned as if twere an ocean of milk.
:hoose wisely for this deed can be carried out a single time and no
more. I wouldst be happy to accompany thee since I am certain that
churning said ocean shouldst yield ama0ing results as always.-
+An excellent idea no doubt,- commented Indra, +but let us not
forget that our enemies close in as we speak. "ow, honored
progenitor of harma dost thou suggest we handle the problem at
hand8-
- )) -
+Strike thee a truce with yon foes noble king. After all their assistance
wilt be 'uite indispensable for the task that lies ahead. 1o now and do
as I have instructed. In the meantime I shalt speak to (ord 7ishnu
concerning this matter. &hou may summon us both when everyone
else is prepared to depart for Bhuloka.-
&hat having been said, Brahma vanished and the evatas found
themselves back amid the chaos enveloping their celestial palace.
/onetheless, over the course of that next fight they were able to
negotiate an armistice with the Ashuras 2who were e'ually intrigued
by the prospect of extracting Amrita from a fabled ocean of milk3.
5hen the gods and their demonic counterparts gathered and
burned oblations by dint of Agni.s incendiary hands, Brahma and
7ishnu appeared as promised. &he former was seated on an enormous
swan whereas the latter stood astride his immense eagle 1aruda 2who
some believe spawned the race of 1handharvas3.
After formalities were exchanged Brahma went on to produce a
resounding* +A!)!M#-
&hey had the distinct impression that all three planes vibrated
within and without their assembly. It was an overwhelming sensation
to be sure $ gripping at one.s core $ although it took place in the blink
of an eye. Suddenly the complete host of Antarloka was surrounded
by a myriad of swirling galactic bodies. Some much larger or denser
than others.
At first the various members of that celestial company drifted
freely throughout the unlimited reaches of this vast physical field.
6ortunately, selecting an exceptional candidate didn.t turn out to be as
difficult as the creator had predicted. And so those tenuous allies
congregated at an agglomeration of tightly!packed star clusters.
&he plasmic gas of nebulas flashed periodically, releasing pure energy
into this promising maelstrom.
Brahma flew his swan up to its summit and by his alchemy its
center was transmuted into a lofty mountain. 5hilst 7ishnu and
1aruda soared within the void to trace out a widespread figure eight
from which Vasuki 2%ing of /agas3 materiali0ed. &he cosmic serpent
flowed toward the evatas and Ashuras like a violet river of light.
+)ssse me asss rope,- 7asuki hissed.
- )' -
5ith that he coiled ;round the solid central mass of the young
megacosm and stretched either half of himself across its entire
breadth. &he evatas were 'uick to grab a hold of his tail!end, leaving
that /aga.s big head to their adversaries. /ow 7ishnu leapt off
1aruda.s back and transformed into a gargantuan tortoise, making his
way to the mountain.s bottom in order to stabili0e it. Brahma floated
above its peak and signaled for the tug!of!war to commence.
)nder his direction the Ashuras went first, pulling with their
combined strength, followed by a vigorous response from the gods.
&hey continued like this for a fleeting period that was interrupted when
7asuki 2agitated by such monumental strain3 began coughing out a
rancid miasma that engulfed the whole area. &his noxious Halahala
poison wouldn.t stop spreading and the heavenly hosts scattered
driven by fear. <ven both supreme evas were at a loss= the skin of
7ishnu.s human form turned onyx as it came into contact with venom.
uring that crucial 4uncture a general clamor rang throughout
space, crying for (ord Shiva.s help. <ver gracious and merciful
Mahadeva 2greatest among gods3 proved the truth of his namesake by
arriving in Bhuloka. &he universal destroyer had only to cup his hands
and inhale, drawing murky vapor into his throat. Parvati, Shiva.s
faithful wife manifested then too. She clasped her hands around his
neck to stem the "alahala poison from circulating. All those present
sang their praises for this marvelous feat and nicknamed him
Nilakantha 2(ord Blue /eck3.
&hus the churning was taken up anew and this time 7ishnu lent
both sides half of his phenomenal stamina. Soon the luminous surface
of that galactic ocean was covered by seething froth. Incredible
archetypes started emerging from its waves* a white horse followed by
a white elephant, which were claimed by Bali 2%ing of Ashuras3 and
Indra respectively. /ext came Surabhi, the primeval cow. And then a
paradisiacal tree accompanied by many Apsaras who would later
become wives of 1handharvas. &hese Apsaras circled the tree while
dancing elegantly and were led by >ueen Varuni, goddess of wine.
&o delight Ashura and evata alike, two more gorgeous
goddesses arose from the depths* Lakshmi and Alakshmi $
benevolence and malevolence incarnate. It is told that this was when
Brahma sprouted three more heads solely to view those comely
females from every possible angle# &he first was to be 7ishnu.s future
bride and the second 4oined Bali.s aityas. It wasn.t until after the
- )I -
birth of Surya 2the sun god3 and Soma :handra 2the moon god3 that
Amrita finally issued forth, carried in an urn by a beaming male youth.
Ironically the evas and evatas were so engrossed in
welcoming their new members that the Ashuras sei0ed this
opportunity to make off with the urn. &hrough Shukra.s wi0ardry they
returned to Antarloka, thinking to seal their victory. 5hen the gods
reali0ed what had happened 7ishnu put their minds at ease by
morphing into Mohini, a voluptuous enchantress. She gave them all a
suggestive wink before disappearing as well.
Mohini found the aityas, anavas and ,akshas arguing
amongst one another about who should be allowed to drink the Amrita
first. Although her swaying hips and ample breasts became the
cynosure of all eyes in mere seconds. %ing Bali, a mighty aitya and
general of the Ashuras bowed down at her feet, asking how he might
be of service. &he girl smiled sweetly and said*
+7enerable lords, permit me to aid you in distributing this gift.
6or in accordance with harmic law it is only proper that you exhibit
magnanimity toward your challengers by letting them drink before
yourselves.-
+?our sharp mind matches your lovely physi'ue darling girl,-
Bali passingly mentioned as he took her hand and pressed his lips to it,
+but I pray you render me your name oh admirable maiden.-
+Sri Mohini,- she answered with a curtsy. "er luscious eyes
pierced his heart.
)nbeguiled by feminine wiles 1uru Shukra attempted to
intercede* +My king, I must advise against this dubious course of
action $-
+/onsense#- Bali exclaimed before Shukra could finish. +It shall
be done as Mohini has proposed and any who oppose her will have to
cross swords with me personally.-
9nce that was settled Mohini fetched the evatas and had both
groups organi0e themselves into two separate lines. As had been
agreed, she herself carried the urn to the trailing line of evatas and
made sure that it was passed when each god had taken his fill.
- )2 -
1enerosity notwithstanding the throng of Ashuras got upset rather fast
and %ing Bali felt a sting of 4ealousy as he watched Sri Mohini
caressing the cheeks of his opponents while sharing their laughter.
9ne of the ,akshas named Rahu 2who could shape!shift3 even
disguised himself as a evata and snuck into their line, sitting between
Surya and Soma. )nfortunately for him those two gods of light could
see right through that clever ,aksha.s fa@ade. &hey discretely
reported the infraction to (ord Brahma 4ust as ,ahu lifted the pot to his
mouth. Being notified telepathically Mohini reverted to 7ishnu and
severed ,ahu.s head with the bla0ing edge of his discus weapon#
Seeing ,ahu beheaded the Ashuras roared furiously and took up
their arms again. A terrible battle ensued. "owever, the evatas had
regained the upper hand 2because only an immortal can van'uish an
immortal3. 6ueled by Amrita, Indra decimated the anava ranks using
lightning while 7ayu and his Maruts rained arrows upon the ,akshas
with their bows.
:learly on the evata.s side, 7ishnu unleashed a spiral of
gamma rays from his Sudarshana :hakra. It whipped through the
aityas. front line, slicing torsos and limbs.
:omprehending that this confrontation would spell their untimely
deaths the Ashuras retreated en masse and were spared 2if only
momentarily3. &he gods of Antarloka expressed their profuse gratitude
to the eminent evas of Sivaloka, who bestowed their blessings on
(ord Indra.s kingdom and then retired to their respective abodes.
?et ever since those days that proverbial conflict between the
forces of light and darkness has resurfaced during every epoch.
/ow at long last, its dramatic conclusion draws near . . .
- )3 -
Act One Soa !handra"s #u$ris
- )9 -
( ) * A Gatherin$ of Go+s
:ady Tara glanced bac# at Auru "rihaspati as she al#ed in the direction of the palatial
gardens. 4e as still blathering on about the =edic scriptures ith his cohorts% debating
some doctrinal moot point. She and he had been married for little over a month but she
as already sic# of it. .hat a /ruel 0ate to be married o00 to a Brahmin she thought to
herself. :uc#ily% social functions tied in ith his priestly duties *such as this regal ball in
the court of !ndra. provided Tara ith much-needed respite.
She didn6t have any particular aim in mind as she meandered among the opulent
shrubbery of the gods. !t as sufficient to be alone and at peace instead of undergoing
constant introductions as if she ere some #ind of trophy. That6s hy her interest pea#ed
hen she heard the sound of music in the distance% aay from the audience hall.
Tara headed further into the gardens and noticed that the silvery moon usually high above
Antarlo#a seemed to nearly touch the hori+on ahead. 8resently she encountered a large
group of Ahandharvas croded around a princely <evata% ho spraled comfortably on
an ornate couch placed in front of an e7ually elaborate ater-fountain.
8lainly these Ahandharvas ere responsible for the captivating melody that had
lured her there as they all played musical instruments - Sitars% tamburas and tabla drums
to name but a fe. She also caught sight then of many Apsara nymphs cavorting on the
ground and in the air ali#e ith streamers in to. !t as a mesmeri+ing scene but it came
to a halt hen she entered their circle. All heads turned in her direction and even the
youthful god on the couch sat up to get a better loo#.
JFell% ell. Fhat have e hereKL 4e as#ed% voicing unanimous astonishment.
JA beauty to rival even yo%r ife% ouldn6t you agree =isavaKL
A Ahandharva standing off to his right and hose feathers ere midnight-blue
s7ua#ed at the 7uery but said nothing. Tara did not fail to observe that he as the only
one of his #ind ithout an instrument. A pair of sheathed scimitars hung from his belt.
Opposite to him a huge rainbo parrot stepped into vie% bearing an archer on its bac#.
Tara recogni+ed him from her edding as Cama% the god of romance itself.
J;ind your ords Soma Chandra%L Cama chided. JThis is :ady Tara -
"rihaspati6s ne ife.L
J1orgive me for intruding%L Tara stammered. J! asn6t aare that there as to be
a performance tonight.L
JThere isn6t%L Soma put in ith a laugh% Jthis here is my personal retinue. ! don6t
#no about you honorable lady but ! cannot endure another of !ndra6s boring parties.L
- )D -
J4e thros these parties as an eBtension of his administrative dealings but he hasn6t the
faintest idea as to ho to unind. Fhilst ! on the other hand am a master in the fine art
of hedonism. Fhich reminds me -L
Soma Chandra snapped his fingers loudly% signaling for the revelry to continue.
And so it did. Smiling he turned bac# to his uneBpected *though not unelcome. guest.
J8lease &oin us%L he invited.
J!6d love to but ! better not. !t ouldn6t be prudent of me to do so.L
J8rudenceK Fho needs itK Come% sit. 4aving one drin# ith me isn6t going to
#ill anyone.L
JFell alright% but &ust one.L
JOf course.L
Soma patted the empty space on the sofa neBt to him and Tara too# it%
subconsciously ad&usting her sil# sari. Mnperturbed the lively <evata poured drin#s into
a pair of golden goblets and handed one to her.
JA toast% to your stunning green eyesNL
:ady Tara couldn6t help giggling but she conceded the point by lifting her chalice
to meet his and ta#ing a sip. The charming moon god did seem to have a certain
mysti7ue about him after all. 4is s#in as so hite that it might have been blinding ere
it not for the soft blue aura it emitted. 4is irises ere li#e amethysts and his hair long
and blac# ith hints of silver.
J;mmm . . . this is 7uite good%L she remar#ed.
JFhy than# you for saying so. ?ou see it is my on concoction. <on6t tell
anyone but Amrita is its main ingredient. This is hat Cing !ndra imbibes henever he
has demons to slay.L
JEeallyK Fhat is it calledKL
JSoma.L
Again she laughed. The <evata responded by emptying his cup and smac#ing his
lips ith eBaggerated satisfaction.
JSuch a grandiose beverage is orthy of bearing my name%L he said grinning.
- )G -
J! guess so%L replied Tara% eyebros raised. Still% she sipped on her portion ith
increasing en&oyment.
J!6m sorry if it comes out rong but ho does a oman of your insome
character end up ith a crotchety old priest li#e "rihaspatiKL Soma daringly prodded.
Ta#en a little off guard by his gutsy 7uestion *and feeling the impact of his drin#.
the girl innocently voiced: J!t as an arranged matrimony.L
JAh% ell that ma#es sense%L he 7uipped hile pic#ing up a peter pitcher
containing his li7ueur. 4e as about to refill her cup hen domestic sensibilities too#
hold ane. She gently pushed the vessel aside.
J;y apologies :ord Chandra but ! really should return to that crotchety old priest
of mine%L :ady Tara rebutted% standing up from the couch. J! am grateful for your
hospitality and the music%L she finished% &oining her palms and boing at hip hile facing
=isava. The dar# blue Ahandharva #ept 7uiet but courteously returned her bo.
J<o come againNL Chandra shouted after her as she strolled aay. Tara turned
momentarily and aved. 4e maintained his ga+e fiBed on her until she as fully gone.
At hich point he croo#ed his finger and motioned for Cama to come closer. J! must
have her%L he stated bluntly.
J?ou had better be &o#ing%L Cama flatly retorted. J"esides% you6ve already got
tenty-seven concubines residing in the lunar palace. Fhat ma#es this one so specialKL
J>ot one of those silly enches has green eyes li#e hers.L
J<rin#ing too much is ma#ing you lose your mind. Only a fool ould ager his
#ingdom for a pair of green eyes.L
J<o not try to dissuade me cousin. !t is obvious that Auru and this girl are
thoroughly incompatible. !f anything !6ll be doing them both a favor and the other
<evatas ould be ise to than# meNL
J=ery ell%L Cama sighed. J! ill fulfill your ludicrous re7uest but you ought to
be conscientious of the devastating conse7uences of this act. ;ar# my ords audacious
cousin: you are on the verge of brea#ing the relative peace that Antarlo#a has been
en&oying for the past fe eons. And hen this ar does brea# out do not presume that
!6ll be on your side. That is to be the price for this gambit.L
J1ine% ! accept. >o 7uit plaguing me ith useless arnings and get to or#.L
- )H -
, - ,
:ater that night% long after everyone had retired and arrived bac# at their homes% Cama
stealthily steered his parrot over and touched don on the lan outside Auru "rihaspati6s
ostentatious estate. 4e produced a scarlet floer bud from a satchel slung about his
torso. 4olding its stem beteen thumb and indeB on one hand% he caused it to bloom by
gesturing ith the other.
The floer eBuded a inding mist of purple pollen that sailed on the bree+e as it
headed for the mansion. Cama then ithdre an enchanted arro from his 7uiver and
placed it across his bo. Ceeping atch over the balconies and entranceays he #ne it
as &ust a matter of time before :ady Tara appeared.
, - ,
Although a deep sleeper Auru "rihaspati as also a "rahmin trained in the fine points of
meditation. This meant that he as able to detect nearby activity amid all three states of
consciousness *a#ing% dreaming and dreamless sleep.. That night he sensed a local
disturbance rippling through psychic avelengths. 4is body signaled his mind informing
him that Tara had vacated their bed. 4e came to and scanned the room earilyO she as
nohere in sight. A +ephyr ble into the bedchamber and Auru sa no alternative but to
thro on his robe and investigate.
As he approached the closest balcony Tara6s silhouette became visible cast
against the full moon. 4e then heard a histling noise as a spar#ling green arro struc#
her chestN A second green arro *an obvious flare. +ipped past% illuminating the s#y.
"rihaspati yelled out her name and she sung around but only to glare at him in disdain.
Seconds later a &eeled chariot dran by sapphire horses passed by and Soma Chandra
reached out% seeping her up on their ascent.
Auru "rihaspati ran to the railing and shouted after him%
JSomaN 4o dare youK ! command you to bring her bac#NL
The moon god loo#ed over his shoulder at him% ma#ing eye contact hile holding
onto the reigns. 4e didn6t say anything. 4e didn6t even smile. Soma Chandra turned
around coolly% folloing a direct course to the moon.
- '( -
( . * M%t%al Grievances
Cing !ndra moseyed along beneath the high arches of a corridor accompanied by Agni
and =aruna *fire and ater% respectively.. Apart from their preceptor Auru "rihaspati
these three ere the oldest <evatas. Today Auru had shon up urgently pressing for an
audience a fe hours before dan. At hich time he and !ndra spo#e in private and
Auru related the outrage perpetrated by Soma Chandra. Their level-headed high priest
had been reduced to tears as a result. >ever underestimating the seriousness of such an
issue the <evata #ing had rallied his to closest lieutenants. The purpose of this current
parley as to assess hat progress they had made on his behalf.
J! tal#ed to Cama%L mentioned Agni. J4e as 7uic# to confess his participation
and has pledged cooperation to you my #ing. Though according to him the enchantment
cannot be reversed from afar.L
JAnd hat of "rahmaKL !ndra in7uired not surprised by that last bit of nes.
J! approached him together ith "rihaspati and e presented the case to him.
Arandfather has offered to mediate this dispute. 4e6s probably already at the lunar
palace trying to tal# some sense into Soma6s sollen head.L
JThen let us hope he succeeds%L =aruna inter&ected% Jfor there is more trouble
afoot. ;y brother =ayu tells me that to thirds of the Ahandharvas have deserted his
mandate and !6m afraid e three #no here they6ve gone.L
:ord !ndra nodded gravely. JFe have to contain this situation or it could escalate
into civil ar and fratricide. Fhere does Surya stand on the matterKL
J4is loyalty is not in 7uestion%L Agni assured him. JEemember that he as a
dedicated pupil of mine in ages past. "esides hich he and Chandra haven6t ever gotten
along on more than a competitive level. ! am not the arrior ! once as but if it should
come to blos then you can count on Surya to fill that spot.L
JFhat about your sonKL As#ed =aruna.
JCartti#eya li#es to #eep to himself%L the fire god divulged% Jbut ! am confident
that his s#ills can be enlisted if necessary. Although ! sincerely doubt that it ill be.L
J!f :ord "rahma fails then perhaps e can have those lads try their hands at it%L
!ndra suggested. JAgni please see to it that they6re both standing by hile e determine
the severity of our problem.L
- ') -
Agni ac#noledged the order and departed ith a perfunctory salute. The imperious
monarch no focused his stare on =aruna. J!nstruct =ayu to put the ;aruts on high alert
so that they6re ready to sortie ith me during any unforeseeable instance.L
J?es milord%L the a7uatic deity agreed% ta#ing leave.
<espite his best efforts !ndra could not sha#e an insistent feeling in his gut.
Tumbling somehere ithin his psyche there as the vague recollection of a past
malediction as ell as a neer presentiment of chaos about to erupt.
?et at the same time he couldn6t deny the unalloyed giddiness that comes from
living to itness interesting times . . .
, - ,
:ord "rahma could hardly believe his eight ears. ;ainly because they left him no doubt
that Soma had to be the most puerile and impertinent being in eBistence. Eeason thus
as not an effective tool for communication. The grandfather of gods resorted to a more
brutish vocabulary ith four mouths%
JFhat in nine hells is rong ith youK <o you really ant to thro Antarlo#a
into disarray this badlyK 4ave some common decency for you on sa#e. This behavior
is not befitting of your stationNL
JSilence you old foolNL Soma Chandra shot bac# from aloft his cushioned throne.
:ady Tara as sitting beside him and she appeared to be perfectly happy. JAs long as
there is no perceived threat then there is no need for me to orry. And right no all ! see
is a bunch of spent has-beens trying to tell me ho to run my life. Are you not aare that
! permeate every inch of this lunar sphere and that ! can intercept anything or anyone ho
comes ithin ten leagues of its circumferenceK ?ou6re only here because !6ve alloed it.
The upper hand is already mine and ! can6t see a single solitary reason to cede it to the
li#es of you.L
4earing this "rahma6s four heads guffaed heartily. J!nsolent brat - you are
completely out of your depth. !ndra isn6t #non as a destroyer of orlds for no reason.
And ho many minions have you ever slainK >one !6m sure. 1urthermore nobody else
is demented enough to form an alliance ith you hereas our allies are numerous.
?ou6d be ise to sei+e this chance to reconcile ith Auru "rihaspati.L
JFhy grandfather !6m so glad that e could have this meeting. >o #indly
remove your presence from my premises%L the upstart said ithout missing a beat.
"rahma grumbled in frustration but relented. Though he added:
- '' -
JThis fort is going to crash don on your head hether you believe it or not.
"etter brace yourself for the harsh realities of defeat youngster.L
Fith those ords :ord "rahma stormed aay% brushing against the left ing of a
tall blue Ahandharva entering Soma6s ma&estic chambers. This as Commander
=isava ho progressed to the throne carrying a similar eight in his steps.
The a7uiline creature regarded Soma ith an indignant eBpression.
JFhat is it =isavaK Are you having second thoughts concerning your
allegianceKL
JStrangely !6m not. 4oever you #no as ! do that my people aren6t arli#e.
There are some things and individuals e cannot protect you from. And ! for one on6t
endanger my brethren any more than need be.L
J;y valued commander% you orry too much. Mnbe#non to our enemies ! have
sent a proposal to the Ashura6s leaders ho harbor a deep-seated enmity for the ruling
<evatas. Fith them on our side e6ll have a much greater chance of prevailing.L
JThe AshurasK Fhy that is high treason indeed. Are you convinced that you
ant to follo this 7uestionable path herever it may leadKL
J!6m positive%L Soma confirmed. J!f and hen !ndra stages an attac# all ! need
your units to do is help me stall his advance hilst e hold out for reinforcements.L
J?ou ma#e it sound easy%L =isava cautioned. JPust don6t forget that a si+able
fraction of the Ahandharvas have chosen to remain under =ayu6s command.L
J"ahN ?ou6ll in them over yet. =ayu is a poor substitute for a pure descendant
of Aaruda such as yourself. And isn6t it time that the Ahandharvas claimed a sacred right
to elect their on leadersKL
JOn that ! cannot disagree. "ut hat ma#es you thin# that the Ashura tribes can
unify li#eiseK They6ve been fragmented for longer than anybody can remember.L
JThe Ashuras orship strength. And one has risen from the ran#s of the <aityas
ho has proven his stalartness on many occasions. !ndra himself has heard some
unsettling rumors lately regarding the heroic eBploits of Shu#ra6s youngest son.L
J?ou refer to Mpaya 8anther-;as#KL =isava uttered incredulously. J! had
heard that he as a rogue soldier ho 7uested through the obscure regions of 8atala%
hich is supposedly here he gained Aaruda6s feather from the >agas.L
JAaruda6s featherKL Echoed the moon god in7uisitively.
- 'I -
J!t is a legendary sord said to be carved from one of the mighty eagle6s feathers. !t as
probably left in the netherorld hen >aga serpents tried to ransom his mother for a
draught of Amrita.L
J!nteresting%L admitted Soma. J!6m genuinely beginning to li#e the sound of this
<aitya prince. !6ve already sent him an official summons. Fith any luc# his reply shall
be a prompt one.L
JAll the same% !6m going to continue organi+ing our defenses against hat no
seems inevitable.L
JEBcelsior commanderN ;y ne 7ueen and ! laud your efforts.L >eBt to Soma
:ady Tara smiled vacantly and nodded. =isava stifled a plaintive screech as he saluted
by pressing fist to shoulder before eBiting.
, - ,
Mpaya 8anther-;as#% 8rince of The <aityas as so called due to the blac#% iron helmet
he never failed to ear during times of ar. Shaped li#e an angry feline6s head it as
reputably imbued ith psionic enhancements that heightened its earer6s sensesO
irrefutable or#manship of Shu#ra - Auru of Ashuras and Mpaya6s father. >ot to
mention Auru "rihaspati6s undying old rival.
1e ere foolish enough to openly state it but the truth as that none eBcept
Shu#ra had beheld Mpaya6s visage since the bygone days of his boyhood.
;ost impressive of all as ho speedily he6d achieved notoriety among his peers.
4is on volition drove him to ha+ard duels and ta#e on missions that ould ma#e
anyone else tremble from coardice. 4aving proven himself hardy he as embraced by
the three tribes as he bore those traditional hallmar#s of a <harma 4eru#a *a virtuous
demon..
Still he couldn6t help feeling intrigued by the lascivious moon god6s invitation
delivered to him the previous day by a crimson Ahandharva. Certainly he as no
stranger to these sorts of tas#s. 4e6d once coordinated a subterranean campaign against
the >agas. 4is detachments of <aitya tribesmen and their <anava cousins had served as
unofficial auBiliaries in ?ama6s army. Surely their violent contributions ere hat
secured the god of death6s sta#e in that freshly-usurped terrain.
Mpaya made his ay toard his father6s tent in the hills. Shu#ra had caught ind
of the looming political unrest and sent for him posthaste. As a "rahmin% Shu#ra6s
counsel as alays orth listening and adhering to. Aarded ith unnatural longevity
by :ord Shiva for his dedication% Shu#ra had itnessed the rise and demise of every
Ashura #ing.
- '2 -
The prince removed his helmet after stepping into the tent *his father being the one
person that he didn6t conceal identity from.. 4is sarthy baldness complemented a
siney pair of tanned arms. One could have easily mista#en him for human ere it not
for the telltale clas protruding from the &oints of his #nuc#les henever he made a fist.
At the far end of this spacious tent Shu#ra as enthroned on a thatch yoga mat elevated
by a small dais. 4is four arms ere raised and he held out each hand in symbolic mudra
gestures. !t as obvious from his loered eyelids and serene demeanor that he as still
immersed in meditative absorption. Comprehending full ell Mpaya settled cross-legged
onto one of the guest mats and aited patiently.
After a fe minutes the Ashura guru6s attention returned to his immediate
surroundings. 4e greeted his son ith a arm smile and announced:
JA divine ar bres ithin the collective >oosphere of Antarlo#a. ! understand
that Soma Chandra has abducted "rihaspati6s nubile bride and is being pressured to remit
by his #in. "ut evidently the lunar deity has been consuming copious amounts of Amrita
and conse7uently turned on them. 4e currently plots to draft the indomitable Ashuras
into his service to enact a misguided scheme of supplanting the status 7uo ith a hedonist
utopia.L 4e paused to catch his breath and then as#ed: JAm ! close to the mar#KL
Mpaya laughed loudly before responding% JEevered father it never ceases to
ama+e me ho adept you6ve become at probing the ethereal >ous of our present.L
J!f only your heart ere as easy to prod my dear boy. Aiven the gravity of these
unfolding events ! am almost afraid of learning ho you plan to react to Soma6s entreaty.
The present may be easy to read but the future is beyond the grasp of my cognitive
faculties. ?et ithal% one crucial detail is sufficiently salient to deduce its tra&ectory and
that happens to be yo%r involvement amid this schism. !n some mysterious ay it
appears as if your participation is preordained.L
J1ran#ly ! cannot disavo my interest concerning these radical affairs%L
confessed the prince. J>ormally confronting the <evatas head-on ould seem to me a
brash notion. Though in light of hat e6re seeing it no longer stri#es me as unfeasible.
?ou yourself ere alays pointing out to me ho our age-old antagonists have soed
dissension among us in order to diminish hatever threat e might pose. 1or that reason
! believe it6s fitting for us to eBploit a comparable advantage no that the tables turn.L
The "rahmin crossed one pair of arms over his chest and laid the palms of the
other pair on his thighs. J:isten carefully my son%L he admonished% Jthere might be
nothing ! can do or say to deter you from this path but that is precisely hy you must be
eBtra cautious hen dealing ith the <evatas. Especially this smooth-tal#ing lunatic
Soma Chandra. >ot since e churned the ocean of mil# together has there been an
alliance beteen Ashuras and <evatas and the reason is because they ill stop at nothing
- '3 -
to accomplish their petty self-centered goals. Fe paid an eBpensive price to learn this
firsthand. Any eBtension of friendship from them is naught but veiled opportunism.L
JOf that much ! am aare%L Mpaya re&oined. JFhich is hy ! solicit your sagely
advice. 4o ould you suggest ! proceed no that !6ve resolved to reunite the three
tribes and mobili+e them in favor of SomaKL
JAs you6ve gron e6ve often discussed the donfall of our most eBalted #ings%L
Shu#ra reminded him. JOf them ;ahabali is probably the best eBample. <o you recall
that historical episodeKL
J!ndubitably%L his son affirmed. JAfter spending the golden age of Satya ?uga at
ar ith the <evatas% ;ahabali managed to rest sovereign control from !ndra for the
first part of the Treta ?uga. <uring this silver era the <aitya emperor6s influence
eBtended to include "hulo#a. 4is reign as prosperous and he as recogni+ed as a
benevolent ruler by most sentient beings. Of course then the <evatas became intoBicated
ith envy and petitioned =ishnu to intercede.L
JEBactly. That as hen Auru "rihaspati interrupted us in the midst of a
sacrificial ceremony. 4e came accompanied by the pigmy "rahmin Vamana ho as
actually :ord =ishnu eBercising his unmatched poers of illusion as usual.
The presumptuous darf demanded that the <evatas be given a fair share of ;ahabali6s
realm. =amana proposed for the #ing to grant them at least as much ground as he himself
could cover ithin three strides.L
JAnd duped by his apparent stature ;ahabali chose to neglect your eBhortations
by ac7uiescing ith an act charity% hich ended up costing him more than his cron%L
Mpaya finished for his father.
J?es. =amana eBpanded far past the heavenly vault and traversed both the
physical and astral planes ithin to immeasurable steps%L the elder guru ent on.
JSince he could find no place to ta#e a third one% ;ahabali had to #neel don and offer
his on head as a footrest. =ishnu trampled him into the very depths of the underorldN
The sum-total of that <aitya6s dynasty as thus deposed. 4e as imprisoned in 8atala
along ith his children and grandchildren here they remain to this day. :ord =ishnu
then reinstated !ndra as governor of the heavens.L
JEight but hat is the point that you are trying to illustrateKL
JFell it is primarily that =ishnu and "rahma have alays been staunch
supporters of our enemies. This particular chronicle also demonstrates that contrary to
popular opinion e Ashuras are holly capable of eBhibiting righteousness. "y star#
contrast the covetous and deceitful <evatas have someho managed to curry favor in
- '9 -
Sivalo#a. As a result ! cannot overly stress the importance of paying homage to Shiva
;ahadeva% ho is our only steadfast benefactor.L
J"ut father% every renoned Ashura potentate has been defeated hether he
orshipped Shiva or not%L ob&ected the prince. J!n fact the additional clout he provided
them ith is hat typically led to their ruin.L
J?ou are correct%L Shu#ra consented. J4oever that is not a reflection of :ord
Shiva6s munificence. Eather it denotes our on greatest failing: an inability to relin7uish
egotistic attachments. Those demon leaders ho practiced asceticism customarily did so
to aggrandi+e their personal authority. >one of them as ever able to dissociate from
tainted deeds and conse7uently reaped the negative fruits of Carma ?oga. That is here
you must strive not to repeat their mista#es.L
J!n other ords the boons conferred upon them by ;ahadeva bac#fired because
of their inherent megalomaniaKL 8osited Mpaya.
JAt last you start to rap your head around it%L his father declared% beaming.
JTherefore clever boy do your utmost to honor our patron in Sivalo#a via virtuous
comportment. ! guarantee that it6ll pay off in the long run.L
JFisest sire% your guidance does not fall on deaf ears. 1rom this day forth ! shall
endeavor to curb my inner ambitions and ill dedicate a bountiful sacrifice to Shiva prior
to any armed engagement. At present though my presence is re7uired in the =ale of
"erunni ithout further delay. The three tribes convene there tonight and ! intend to
solidify our pact ith the <anavas and Ea#shas. Once that6s in hand !6ll send
=idyunmalin to escort you to us so that you can preside over our rituals.L
J?our older brother =idyunmalin is not the brightest lad but he is strong and has a
decent soul. ?ou should ta#e care of each other throughout these coming trials.L
JFe ill father%L Mpaya pledged as he put his helm bac# on.
JAbove all be ary of Auru "rihaspati and those nearest to him.
>ever underestimate the lengths they6ll go to cheat you out of hat is rightfully yours.L
The prince nodded solemnly and boed. 4e then strapped Aaruda6s feather onto
his upper-body armor before setting off ith air of determination. Shu#ra sighed briefly
but as soon reabsorbed in a profound state of samadhi trance. There as still so much
that remained unclear.
- 'D -
( / * Heaven0s Or1hans
8riya as the ife of =isava% commander of the Ahandharvas. 4er on mother as
none other than =aruni% the ine goddess that had surfaced hen the primordial ocean
as churned. Strangely though =aruni had abdicated her 7ueenship of the Apsaras early
on to elope ith an Ashura. She hadn6t been heard of since apart from the occasion on
hich she6d entrusted 8riya to her handmaidens to be raised in the Apsara6s temple.
!n spite of those unfavorable circumstances 8riya had been treated ith respect as
she gre up and as formally trained alongside the other heavenly dancers. !n time she
blossomed into such a distinguished performer that her royal lineage had been
ac#noledged and ratified by everyone ho attended Cing !ndra6s court. These days she
spent less of her time entertaining and more of it coaching ne recruits.
At the moment she directed herself to the massive paradise tree lying &ust beyond
the limits of Amaravati% the immortal city. ;ount ;eru loomed in the distance behind
her ith the spires of :ord !ndra6s stronghold &utting into an increasingly cloudy s#y.
8riya as trudging uphill to meet ith the goddess Cali ho6d long ago established an
eBchange program beteen her aggressive ?oginis and the gentle Apsaras. As she
neared the top of that incline the transdimensional tree *hich is said to occupy all three
planes. became visible.
"eneath the ide aning of its innumerable boughs% among the gnarled roots and
ith her bac# resting against its thic# trun# sat Cali - 8arvati6s fell alter ego. She as
blac#er than soot% having eight arms and a nec#lace of shrun#en s#ulls that hung above
her bare breasts. 4er only garment as a girdle of men6s severed limbs around the aist.
A do+en muscular females holding lances or aBes and not earing much either guarded
her perimeter. One of them handed the goddess a holloed-out gourd filled ith blood%
hich she drained in a single 7uaff. Another to stepped aside permitting 8riya to
breach their circle. The young 7ueen cleared her throat gingerly% draing the distracted
Cali6s attention.
J8recious 8riya% ho nice of you to &oin usNL
JAll adoration unto mother Cali% Sha#ti to Shiva%L the Apsara 7ueen said as she
began genuflecting.
J>o% no - no need for that%L <evi dismissed% aving four right hands. J! trust
things are going ell bac# at your templeKL
JThey are indeed milady. Am ! to understand that you have a ne ard for us to
instructKL
- 'G -
JOh yes as a matter of fact e do%L Cali asserted ith transparent enthusiasm% Jbut this
one is considerably different from the rest.L
JEeallyK 4o soKL ,ueen 8riya 7ueried.
JShe is the sole survivor of the eBtinct human race%L revealed the dar# goddess%
alloing her ords to sin# in. J! handpic#ed her myself from the shambles of "hulo#a
hen she as only a child. ;y loyal ?oginis have taught her everything they possibly
could since then. All that remains is for the Apsaras to round her s#ills out completely.L
JA human oman in Antarlo#aK 4o has she been able to survive in our ethereal
>ousKL
J"elieve it or not they can be a very adaptive species hen necessity dictates.
;oreover this girl is second to none in my entourage hen it comes to combat. ! do hope
you6re up for the rigorous tas# of schooling her in your fine arts.L
JFe ill rise to the challenge%L the 7ueen voed. J"ring her forth at your leisure
ineBorable one.L
Cali bec#oned to her closest subordinate% J?a#sha - here is !shtarKL
J4ighness she is doing drills by the aterfall%L the ?ogini ansered% falling to
one #nee.
J8lease go no and get her.L
?a#sha boed her head prior to standing and darting through the air toard an
ad&acent ridge . . .
, - ,
Although she as around eighteen years old by Terran counts !shtar vividly remembered
her last days on Earth. "ac# then she6d been only five and everything had happened so
suddenly. She recalled fren+ied tal# of polar icecaps melting from her parentsO residents
of ;umbai on !ndia6s Fest coast. She couldn6t grasp it too ell at that age until the
fateful morning hen she sa a stupendous tidal ave roiling onto the streets. She had
stood there breathlessly immobile and ould have perished ere it not for ?a#sha *Cali6s
emissary. sooping don to her rescue.
Afterard her eBistence as drastically altered by forces she could hardly rec#on.
She6d been adopted by Cali% Aoddess of <estruction no less% to be tutored by ?oginis in
an array of lethal disciplines. To hat end as unclear but !shtar had developed a total
rapport ith her surrogate family. Especially ith ?a#sha ho as li#e a big sister.
- 'H -
Qealous servants of the dar# one% these ?oginis had matched eapons ith every #ind of
foe at one time or another. Even ith the Ashuras hose recent stirrings they ere
entirely aare of. !shtar had accompanied her sisters in 8atala at age siBteen - against
Mpaya 8anther-;as# - the only opponent to ever best ?a#sha in a duel.
Currently !shtar6s toes hovered over a fast-floing rivulet merely ten feet from
here the aterfall cascaded onto mountainous roc#. She stood poised% right leg straight
and left one bent at its #nee. Angled behind her head she hoisted a curved slender sord
high up in the air ith both hands. The girl inhaled audibly% filling her lungs to capacity
prior to blaring Cali6s mantra: 1Om (ring (aliyai 2amah!3
<on sished the blade% sending aves rushing bac# toard slope and slicing a
cleft into the cataract. A fine mist of droplets spar#led around her as the torrent resumed
momentarily. The human ?ogini calmly held the eapon6s blunt end against her
forehead as if recollecting her senses through it. At hich point she as bro#en from her
reverie by a familiar voice:
J?ou6re far better than ! ever as%L ?a#sha acclaimed% Jand you probably surpass
my present-day proess too.L
J! oe it all to mother Cali and you dearest sister%L replied !shtar as she turned to
face her visitorO a oman ith matching scratch scars on either shoulder blade.
JSadly though the time has arrived for you to part from us. At our mother6s
behest% 8riya% ,ueen of Apsaras has come to conscript you. They ait for you no at the
foot of the tree.L
JThen e shouldn6t #eep them aiting any longer%L reasoned !shtar.
Affectionately they hoo#ed inner elbos and glided bac# to the main group. Thereupon
!shtar and 8riya ere introduced to each other and matron Cali too# that opportunity to
honor her human daughter ith a gift. !n to blac# hands she held out her heavy ar
sic#le% hich the girl accepted as she prostrated herself.
JAll of my confidantes should #no that mine and Shiva6s ill are one and the
same%L the goddess eBpounded addressing those present. J!n earnest Antarlo#a has
entered a phase of decline and shall henceforth deteriorate further. Ergo% e have
decreed it necessary for the <evatas to burn off the negative Carma that they have
accrued throughout their tenure in this realm. ;y ?oginis are hereby charged to assist
that process through indirect involvement at these early stages and more intimate
participation later on.L
1Om (ring (aliyai 2amah!3 Everyone *including 8riya. assented out loud.
- I( -
?a#sha stepped to !shtar and presented a conch shell. The latter fastened the ar sic#le
diagonally across her bac# and stoed said conch inside a plain travel bag.
JFhen the time comes blo on it and e ill hasten to your side%L eBplained
?a#sha.
!shtar nodded in agreement and embraced her big sister as they both struggled to
restrain tears. 1or soon she as on the road to Amaravati% in no mood of conversing ith
her ne matriarch.
, - ,
Seated atop a peacoc# Cartti#eya% son of Agni strutted into a glade. At the far end of that
clearing some hubbub preceded the abrupt eBodus of many deer from the oods.
They sprinted in his direction and shortly he found himself encircled by them.
4e couldn6t help ondering hy they ere unafraid of him even though he bore a spear.
They simply eyed him as if to display a hint of recognition ithin their gla+ed stares.
This herd shifted uneasily as its pursuer caught up. Surya the sun god came mounted on
his shining steed folloed by some attendants.
JFhat is the meaning of all this commotionKL Cartti#eya demanded.
Surya heeled on his horse brandishing a fiery bo hile he spo#e%
JCartti#eya you #no these stags are fair game. Ever since "hulo#a crumbled
human souls transmigrated here and too# form as these creatures. There is an
overabundance of them. They should be hunted don in droves to atone for their sins.
?our father Agni has been a teacher to us both and he ould advocate my course.L
JThis is my forest and ! say hat is and isn6t fair game%L the younger but not less
physically imposing <evata pronounced% spinning lance ith utter confidence.
Cartti#eya had once delivered Antarlo#a from the demon Cing Tara#a% ho6d terrori+ed
the <evatas for centuries. 4e asn6t to be ta#en lightly in a fight and asn6t one to bac#
don in disputes. J! hereby forbid hunting on these premises.L
J"loody spoil sport%L complained the sun god. J! do hope you6re more
forthcoming on the dilemma caused by Soma Chandra. 4e has rebu#ed "rahma6s
counsel and is forcing !ndra6s hand. !6m afraid my cousin6s aspirations have outgron
his means. 4e leaves us no choice but to humiliate him.L
JOr you could simply let it be.L
J1or shame you should mention itN "rihaspati is preceptor of the gods and cannot
tolerate such a slight. This anarchic move has serious political implications.L
- I) -
JSocial protocol notithstanding% it6s a ridiculous reason to go to ar.L
JAs good a reason as any%L Surya mumbled. 4e gestured for his escorts to retract
ith a snap of his head and sped off ithout further utterance.
!nhaling a calming breath Cartti#eya loo#ed around at the si+able herd still
milling about. !t as then that the largest antlered buc# came forard and fiBed his
sights on the perpleBed <evata. The god peered into the bull6s iridescent eyes and
chuc#led hen he reali+ed hat he as seeing there. 1or Cartti#eya could perceive that
in its previous lifetime this magnificent buc# had been one of his Sri :an#an devotees.
4er/i0ul lord *lease 0ollo5 me he heard the deer say. 1ascinated% the young god
goaded his peacoc# to brea# aay from the group along ith this nefound guide.
4oever it didn6t ta#e long for Cartti#eya to abandon his avian mount because the stag
as leading them into progressively denser stretches of oodland. !ndeed% hi#ing
through the underbrush started to become such a nuisance that he began to reconsider his
decision. Mntil of course they reached the yaning mouth of a cave.
In there the animal indicated ith its antlers. Cartti#eya hesitated for a moment
thin#ing this all very strange. >evertheless he overcame his misgivings and ventured
inside. "eyond its entrance the cave became a inding corridor that the <evata had to
stoop and crouch through. =isibility as minimal and the sound of dripping ater
complemented a dan# odor that hung in the air. After continuing li#e that for a seeming
infinity he as able to ma#e out a faint glo up ahead here the tunnel opened into an
eBpansive ad&oining cavern. !n the center of that hollo enclosure a spindly old man sat
full-lotus on a tiger6s pelt. 4e appeared firmly lodged in samadhi and a soft silvery halo
emanated from his head.
JFho are youKL Cartti#eya interrogated% putting aside the usual considerations.
The hermit stirred and countered ith a cryptic remar#% J"oy% ! could as# you the
same 7uestion and ! am sure that you ould give me the rong anser.L
J! am Cartti#eya son of AgniNL 4e claimed ith conviction.
At that the little old man roared ith laughter% hich resounded off stony alls.
The <evata youth as tempted to impale him on his spear but something ineBplicable
occurred: the elder6s balding head started to crac# li#e an egg and luminous fissures
shoed up on other parts of his frail body. Fithout arning he burst into fragments that
fle outard in every direction. Cartti#eya shielded his face ith forearms on a refleB
though it proved unnecessary. Subse7uently he had to lean bac# so that his vision could
encompass the vast and effulgent figure of Shiva ;ahadeva% in hose immeasurable
presence he no found himself suspended. "ehind that cross-legged <eva his on light
- I' -
cast a shado onto the cavern6s interior. Fithin it Cartti#eya atched dumbfounded as
Calacha#ra "hairava *Shiva6s ogre-li#e double. devoured stars from "hulo#a by trillions.
The brobeaten <evata #nelt and eBclaimed:
JShiva - bearer of the trident and lord across all three planes - hat ould you
have of me Auru of gurus% Aodfather of ?ogaKL
J1rom here on in%L Shiva confuted% J! ould have you #no that in truth you are
my firstborn son S#handa - :ord of ArmiesNL
JFhat6s this you sayK "ut ho is that possibleKL
J! once made a pact ith an Ashura named Tara#a. To reard him for his
devotion he as granted invincibility on the condition that only a son of mine could
overcome his monstrous strength. >eedless to say ! had neither a son nor a mate then.
>evertheless% in due course "rahma and =ishnu approached me together ith the
coering <evatas. They implored me to copulate ith 8arvati but didn6t find disrupting
my samadhi to be an easy tas#. 4ence they employed Cama% hose charms did manage
to ignite my latent passion for 8arvati% daughter of 4imalaya.L
J!f that is true then hy have ! spent my hole life in Antarlo#a and not ith you
in Sivalo#a li#e Aanesha or >andiKL
JOddly enough my seed did not impregnate your mother. Fe ere engrossed in
Tantric love-play for so long a span that "rahma deemed it necessary for Agni to
interrupt us assuming the shape of a turtledove. The fool caught my semen in his bea#
hen he cooed and it almost destroyed himN 4e passed it on to =ayu ho delivered it on
a gale to Aanga the river goddess. !n turn% Aanga placed it among the reeds along her
East ban# here it too# ten thousand years to ferment. Thence% siB stellar maidens
#non as the Critti#as found you and became your nursemaids. That is hy you are
called Cartti#eya *son of the Critti#as. and can sprout siB heads as ell as telve arms.
This also eBplains hy your s#in is blue li#e mine.L
JSo in effect you6re saying that Agni adopted me and concealed my identity up
until noKL
J!s it too hard to believeK The <evatas fear you for being my son. ?et they are
cunning and manipulative. ! have chosen the most opportune moment to reveal these
secrets in order that you might respond appropriately. Cno then that !ndra6s supremacy
is reaching its climaB and that ! ould have you occupy his throne in short order.
Accordingly you are not to parta#e in this 7uarrel beteen :ord Chandra and the others.
!t must be alloed to play out in full.L
- II -
J!t is &ust as ell%L S#handa concurred% Jseeing as ! had no intention of &oining them to
begin ith. "ut hat am ! to do during the interim% omnipotent sireKL
J;a#e for the Southern astelands. 8urify yourself by practicing ?oga amid
those charnel grounds. Fhen the hour is at hand you ill be confronted by a righteous
Ashura capable of trading blos evenly ith you.L
JA righteous AshuraK Surely you &est for that is unheard of.L
JThere is a first time for everything%L certified Shiva. J?ou should also ta#e the
buc# ho brought you here in that general direction. 4e has another appointment to
fulfill ith destiny.L
S#handa got to his feet and nodded emphatically. JToday is a &oyous day because
the unruly suspicions of my heart have been dispelled by >ila#antha% :ord "lue >ec#%
ho drains poison from our livesNL
That having been said S#handa as transported bac# outside here he as met
by the stag. They left together% heading south.
, - ,
1lan#ed by his four-armed brother *=idyunmalin. and the Ea#sha 8riestess Caitabh%
Mpaya sauntered through the horde of <aityas% crossing over into the <anava6s
encampment. They ere met there by Andha#a Eight-Arms% <asyus and TrisirasO
surviving comrades from their campaign into the nether sphere.
As they aged <anava giants tended to gro more arms. Andha#a6s cohorts had
only one pair each but didn6t loo# any ea#er than him. Standing siBty feet tall and
ielding bludgeons befitting their scale they ere undeniably intimidating for anyone.
The opa7ue plates of their armor alone could be used as shields by their somehat
scranier cousins. "oth triads eBchanged formalities and Mpaya spo#e ith Andha#a%
JFhen can ! eBpect to converse ith the elders of your clanKL
JOur patriarch "erunni ill be arriving any minute no%L imparted Andha#a.
True to those ords they then sa "erunni and siB members of his family shoving
their ay through the mass of brutes. "erunni Tenty-Arms as oversi+ed even by
<anava standards. !t as remar#able that his tus#s didn6t pierce his long bearded face
hen he tal#ed%
JMpaya 8anther-;as# and Caitabh of the Ea#shas - ! elcome you to my vale
though ! harbor 7ualms concerning your ob&ectives.L
- I2 -
JThen let me assure you paramount one that my intentions hold the best interests of all
Ashuras at their core and not my on personal gain%L Mpaya professed. J! believe e6d
be unise to let the opportunity that no presents itself slip through our fingers.L
J?ou mean the opportunity to suffer terrible deaths caused by the <evatas%L
riposted the ogre% Jor have you forgotten that they6re immortalKL
J8erhaps "erunni has forgotten that Soma is the <evata entrusted ith the
distribution of Amrita%L Caitabh dared to add% raising a claed indeB. 4er bat-li#e ings
unfolded and her pupils dilated hen she spo#e% ma#ing it loo# as if those sanguine eyes
ere about to detach from that frilled s#ull. J!f the legends don6t lie e may stand to
gain more than e bargain for.L
J4umphNL Scorned the <anava chief. J!sn6t that hat everyone says hen
misfortune befallsK ?ou are undoubtedly naRve to thin# that :ord Chandra ould share
immortality6s nectar ith the li#es of us.L
;any giants in the periphery grunted their agreement. Mpaya eighed his ords
carefully before stating:
JThe moon god really has no say in that matter. !f he does not supply at least
some of us ith Amrita then e shall ithdra and deprive him of our sorely needed
military assistance. 1urthermore ! for one ill not coer before the <evatas. !f need be%
! am determined to spearhead our assault against Cing !ndra himselfNL
4earing this Mpaya6s older brother raised his four brany arms% holding different
eapons in each hand. 4e called bac# to the onloo#ing <aityas: JMpaya #nos no fearNL
The entire tribe chanted that phrase in a rousing eBhibit of support for their valiant
prince. "erunni traded frons ith his associates until the tumult receded then said:
JForthy <aitya% hile e do not 7uestion your commitment to our common
cause there is only one ay this can be settled and you #no it.L
Catching his drift the prince straightened to reply: J>aturally. Custom demands
that ! prove my fitness to lead by dueling your champion. Select him then but be
forearned - he could lose limbs in this fight. :imbs that might be dearly missed during
upcoming engagements.L
J! ouldn6t orry about that%L Caitabh interposed hile ringing her hands.
J!t6s nothing my healing sorcery can6t handle.L
The prime <anavas ignored them as they huddled to decide on their champion.
Afterard "erunni Tenty-Arms proceeded to introduce his nephe =irocana of
- I3 -
Telve-Arms - ho sported a titanic sledge hammer as ell as to curling ram6s horns
that gre from his head.
Andha#a Eight-Arms hun#ered don near Mpaya to hisper% JAre you positive
you ant to carry on ith thisK Even ! ould avoid a scuffle ith that lummoB. 4e6s a
thoughtless #illing machine.L
JThe higher the sta#es the greater the reards%L the pluc#y <aitya recited hile
grasping the hilt of his sord and ta#ing a fe practice sings in order to stretch out his
eager muscles. 4e continued loosening his nec#% upper body and legs as everybody else
bac#ed aay from these paladins% creating a ide circle of spectators. Mpaya adopted a
stance in hich he propped the length Aaruda6s feather behind his ample shoulders%
leaving one hand free to incite his opponent into stri#ing first.
J:ittle panther tal# brave but <anavas no afraid of anythingNL =irocana &abbered
as he lurched forard% bringing the sledge up over his head to smash don on the
<aitya6s position . . .
Mpaya leapt aay &ust in time to s#irt the big crater left behind by that allop.
"ut the ornery behemoth sustained his attac#% deftly passing the hammer6s handle from
one beefy hand to another. The agile prince as so hard pressed to dodge this barrage
that he had to protect himself at one point ith the broad side of his blade. One solid hit
#noc#ed Mpaya bac# a long distance% sending him into somersaults. The throng of giants
hooped and cheered.
Eegaining his footing the <aitya groled as the <anava closed in again. I must
dra5 blood and end this 6ui/kly he reflected. !n that instant he caught glimpse of a cliff
face not too far off behind him. 4e slung the blade in its holster and hen =irocana
reneed his frantic offensive Mpaya performed a nimble succession of bac#-flips.
<aityas and Ea#shas cleared a path as the combatants aded through. Fasting
not a single second the cat-li#e Ashura scrambled up the side of the bluff% reaching its
crest ith ama+ing speed and deBterity. Aiving his rival no chance to react he ithdre
Aaruda6s feather as he fle at the giant6s head% slicing diagonally to miss only his eyes.
=irocana reeled clutching at his face. 4e holed furiously and tried to retaliate
by slamming his horns against that stony all. 4oever Mpaya had landed gracefully
and served in behind him to cut out the fleshy bac#sides of his #nees. The ogre
stumbled forard but managed to hold himself up ith telve hands. Still unsatisfied
the ferocious <aitya planted his reddened sord into the ground before delivering a sift
#ic# to the <anava6s posterior for good measure.
>o it as Mpaya6s tribe and Caitabh6s ghouls ho celebrated ith noisy
abandon. "erunni Tenty-Arms and his cre ambled over to here =irocana lay in dirt.
- I9 -
Sha#ing his head ith embarrassment the patriarch ordered consorts to remove his
disgraced nephe from the scene. 4e then turned to address the victor% boing slightly.
JFell met son of Shu#raN The might of my people is at your disposal.L
J4onorable chieftain% you have my gratitude and my oath that ! shan6t betray your
confidence in my leadership.L
"erunni shifted on his heels to observe the moon climbing into evening s#y.
JEegardless% ! do not understand ho you plan to get our combined armies onto Soma6s
terrain. Mnli#e the <evatas most Ashuras are incapable of flight so our involvement
appears precluded from the onset.L
Eight then Caitabh fluttered to their side and disclosed: J:eave that to usN
Fe Ea#shas have pooled our arcane abilities to devise a method of transporting you
hul#ing <anavas and everyone else through the ether. ;y scouts have also mapped out
the terrain e are to navigate. "elieve me% any re7uired preparations have been made.L
Although they ere loath to admit it both Mpaya and "erunni ere a bit disturbed
by the Ea#sha priestess% ho eBercised control among her faction through itchcraft.
All the same they eren6t stupid enough to loo# a gift horse in the mouth -
hich as hy they nodded appreciatively.
The neBt morning as per Mpaya6s re7uest the three tribes convened to render a
sacrifice to :ord Shiva. Mnbe#non even to Auru Shu#ra the perfect stag they offered
as the same one that had helped Cartti#eya become S#handa. Everything as
unfolding according to Carmic design.
, - ,
:ord Chandra reread the parchment that announced !ndra6s declaration of ar as ell as
offering him terms for surrender. !t had been brought that afternoon by a green-plumed
Ahandharva% ho6d also ta#en the opening to sear fealty to Commander =isava.
The lunar deity crumpled up the message% tossing it aside. 4e #ne things had
progressed ell beyond the point of no return. Even so he didn6t care. Truth be told
Chandra &ust hadn6t been the same since planet Earth perished. Soma6s favorite pastime
used to be spending endless hours pee#ing in on the deni+ens of "hulo#a. 4e as
enthralled by the mortal race of humans% ho lived for such short spans that they rarely
discovered all seven of their senses.
Mnsurprisingly it asn6t alays a pleasurable distraction. Those tiny beings
could be eBceedingly cruel toard one another and hence the moon had itnessed more
than its share of atrocities. 8articularly during their hectic final days hen =aruna and
Surya or#ed in concert for the oceans to rise against them *albeit at Shiva6s prompting..
- ID -
Cali herself had rac#ed the globe ith a 7ua#e of unprecedented magnitude. Certainly
the human species had arranted such punishment but there as little forgiveness in
:ord Chandra6s heart for his #infol#.
That as hy he6d been ta#en abac# by the revelations of Cali6s envoy% ?a#sha.
Evidently the mother goddess had salvaged a solitary human female. Thus she
re7uisitioned a portion of Amrita on her Terran daughter6s behalf. Soma had complied
ith this order on the assurance that neither Cali-;a nor her ?oginis ould interfere
ith his plans. "esides% as he too# another loo# at his pri+e concubine he passingly
ondered if the human oman might be any prettier.
- IG -
( 2 * 3esie$e+
"orne on a litter of air-elementals% Airavata *:ord !ndra6s elephant. soared high above
the moon of Antarlo#a. Mpon him as nestled a palan7uin from here the <evata #ing
could oversee the proceedings belo. !ndra stro#ed a bleach-blonde beard% hich
matched his a+ure eyes. An almost imperceptible field of static electricity clung to his
diamond armor as he contemplated the scene.
o it has /ome to this he considered hile =ayu% =aruna and the ;aruts
harnessed poc#ets of condensation and similarly used them to bear their foot troops aloftO
the hapless Cinnaras. ;indless horse-headed #nights% these Cinnaras had spent centuries
ith ?ama in the underorld and ere noticeably arped because of it. Conversely the
siBty original ;aruts had been born from =ayu6s first breaths. Each of them had eBhaled
siBty sons of his on though that as here it ended. >either of these races as
immortal but they comprised the bul# of !ndra6s forces. A minority of Ahandharvas
ostensibly in league ith =ayu as there too.
Some of the nimbus formations produced by Cing !ndra6s clansmen also carried
their siege engines. !ndra reali+ed that he ould need them bearing in mind the small
handful of <evatas in attendance. Agni and "rihaspati ere sitting this one out citing age
as a factor hereas ?ama as too preoccupied in 8atala to accompany his legions.
1ortunately Surya as present% riding in his gilded battle-chariot pulled by hite horses
ith flaming manes. ?et ithal Cartti#eya as definitely missed.
2o matter he thought this /om*any should su00i/e. The #ing as aare that
despite Soma6s allegations there as no ay he could #eep such a host at bay ithout
eBpending insufferable amounts of his on vital energy. All !ndra needed to do as
provide a suitable chance for his troops to touch don by softening up the lunar defenses.
Fith that aim he shuttered his eyes in order to con&ure an electromagnetic storm unli#e
anything he6d ever brought forth. =ayu and =aruna assisted by summoning an
impenetrable layer of cloud-cover.
Fithin moments their bombardment commenced. :ightning bolts saturated the
surface along ith hailing pyroclastic boulders hurled by Cinnaras. Those salvos
intensified as their battalions neared the shell-shoc#ed territory belo. Electrical rays
rebounded from the ground and tisted all around them before tapering off. Scorching
pillars begat a sheet of fallout that afted donard. As such it didn6t ta#e long before
they attained their ob&ective. Airavata as landed once substantial footholds had been
established. The siege could no be conducted in earnest.
- IH -
, - ,
8erching on ramparts% Commander =isava and his Ahandharvas surveyed the landscape
outside Soma6s palace. The front lines of !ndra6s soldiery ere sighted promptly. Their
initial hailstorm had been impressive to say the least but it as clear that its sole purpose
as to shatter hatever focus the moon god had invested in preventing their intrusion.
The lunar fortress remained otherise unscathed. >o it as up to =isava to lead his
fellos in a counterstri#e.
:uc#ily there asn6t anyone better suited for that &ob. 8opular belief held that
=isava as a direct descendant of :ord =ishnu6s eagle: Aaruda. 4e as an ae-
inspiring paragon of his race% hose only anthropoid features ere to lightly feathered
arms separate from his ings. A hoo#ed bea# and yello eyes ere offset by deep blue
plumage that converged to form a cron on his head. 4e stood upright on a pair of
vicious talons hen the crimson Ahandharva named Silat sidled to his right.
JOur archers are fully prepped come hat may%L Silat put plainly.
J! ouldn6t eBpect any less of them%L half-#idded =isava% placing a hand on his
captain6s shoulder. 1eeling the need to revie stratagem he turned to face his #indred
and discoursed: JThose of you adept at close-7uarter combat ill sortie ith me shortly.
Fe shall assail the pompous ;aruts head-on and prove ourselves to be much more than
entertainers in slavery. Tonight they ill learn that our s#ill ith hostile implements
mirrors our other talentsNL
<rums sounded among them% emphasi+ing his speech and bestoing approval.
;any relaBed their posture and seemed to stand taller for it. Some fidgeted anBiously
ith their armaments. =isava ent on: JShould e be obliged to fall bac# the half of
you staying here ith Captain Silat ill cover our retreat at my signal. Pust remember%
e ant to hit the ;aruts as hard as possible. <isregard the Cinnaras and ayard
members of our clan. !s that understoodKL
Their stern nods ere all the affirmation he sought. Still he thre in: JFe might
be the youngest race in Antarlo#a but nobody% not even the <evatas can brag about
surpassing our style or velocity in flight.L
That comment elicited lots of amused cac#les among his confederates. Thence
=isava unsheathed his tin scimitars and spread out his elegant ings% scrutini+ing the
field ane. 4is s#irmishers folloed suit% seeing a sell of clouds rolling toard them
afully fast. The alpha Ahandharva gave a raptorial shrie# prior to diving straight for it.
1ive hundred vassals fle in tight arrohead formation along either side of him.
They dragged a flourish of trumpets in their a#e. ;ere seconds later the aerial battle
as &oined as their edge carved effectively into a bra+en assembly of ;aruts.
- 2( -
;aruts started dropping in large numbers unable to ithstand the coordinated flap of to
thousand Ahandharva ings. =isava himself slashed through a do+en air-elementals
ithin the first fe minutes of that encounter. Then again their dominance as not to
last if =ayu could impede it. 1or that as hen he rose to meet them enshrouded in the
turbulent column of a hurricane.
J=isava - this affront to my divinity on6t stand. ! am your rightfully
appointed magistrate and you should accord me the deference oedNL
JFhat rubbish%L scolded the blue one% Jby all accounts you6re our forefather6s
arch-nemesis and that6s hy you attempt to sub&ugate us. ?ou6ve become scared that
Aaruda6s progeny might defeat you as he did.L
=ayu6s eyes flared ith rage. Fithout another ord he pushed forard using
both hands% thereby pro&ecting the hirling mass of ind outard against the rebellious
Ahandharvas. "uffeted by this cyclone the bird-li#e arriors became totally scattered
and the ;aruts didn6t hesitate in giving chase% ta#ing don scores of them.
=isava cried out to his companions: JEegroup and retreatNL As he had led them
into the fray he led them bac# to relative safety behind the battlements. JArchers on my
mar#%L he ordained% aiting for every able-bodied *and oft-bloodied. Ahandharva to
return. The ;aruts ere hot on their trail% J>oNL
A bright sle of arros shot past the all and tore into the advancing
thunderheads% felling hundreds more of their foes. >o it as =ayu ho ordered his
henchmen to regress% ma#ing it seem as if that storm might abate. Although it certainly
ouldn6t since by then the Cinnaras ere finali+ing the setup of their trebuchets and
ballistas. Surya too# note of =ayu6s ithdraal and triggered the first ave of missiles
by firing a burning dart from his bo. 1ireballs and steel pi#es cruised toard the castle.
The Ahandharvas braced themselves for the orst but at that critical moment a
veil of crystalline radiance descended before them. ;olten roc#s eBploded against it and
the barbed poles ricocheted hence they cameN 7ormidable Surya deemed but let-s see
ho5 you handle this. 4e raised both arms above his head and fashioned a ballooning orb
of hot plasma.
JSurya don6tNL !ndra yelled from the rear. !n vain because the sun god had
already ound up and cast his pro&ectile. !t bla+ed a slo but sure path to the alls
here it loo#ed li#e it ould brea# through Soma6s barrier before imploding and blinding
them all ith its brilliance.
Atop the bular#s Commander =isava and his brethren couldn6t see anything
either. At least not for a minute after hich their eyes read&usted to the setting.
Confusion ensued as to hy the enemy6s artillery as ta#ing so long to reload. 4ad they
- 2) -
given up on that methodK !t as then that they heard a different type of pandemonium
afield. =isava s7uinted through blurred vision and gasped involuntarily% struc# by his
recognition that the Ashuras had arrived . . .
, - ,
A humongous metallic cylinder floated far above the site of the battle. !t ould have
appeared as a bright star to those belo eBcept that their attention as dran elsehere.
This state of distraction afforded Mpaya 8anther-;as# a bird6s-eye vie of the ongoing
havoc. 4e stood at the brin# of a hatch on the vessel6s side% scanning that distant
panorama through sensory augmentations ingrained in his helm. The fulmination that
had dissipated a little earlier ould have blinded him too ere it not for said helm
shading his eyes from any glare.
JFhat do you seeKL 8riestess Caitabh in7uired neBt to him.
J"erunni6s <anavas have found their ay from the shados and engaged the
<evata6s infantry% hich means that my <aityas shouldn6t be far behind.L
JEBcellent%L crooned the Ea#sha% Jallocating our ground forces on the dar# side of
the moon as a superb idea ily prince.L
J>ot 7uite as superb as these craft. ?our mages are eBceptionally gifted to eBtract
such artifice from the collective unconscious of "hulo#a. ! alays assumed that there
as nothing left orth retrieving in the spatial-temporal sphere.L
Caitabh only grinned% ringing her hands as usual. They both directed a ga+e at
the nearby ships of their armada and beheld a bat-inged messenger flying toard them.
They moved aside and the incoming Ea#sha #nelt summarily at the feet of his superior.
JEBalted matriarch%L he articulated amid halting breaths% Jour brigades aait your
commandment.L
She diverted her red eyes to Mpaya% ho gripped a railing and studied the surface
intently again.
J! do remember saying that ! ould spearhead this assault%L Mpaya reasserted.
JEven no ! have :ord !ndra in my sight.L The <aitya prince freed Aaruda6s feather
from its sling.
J>o last-minute doubtsKL She tested.
J>one% if this grants me the momentum you6re so sure of.L
- 2' -
JCount on it as you count on that sharp rudder.L
JFatch me then.L
4e dashed bac# inside the hull and too# a running start for the egress. Out he
ent% plummeting li#e a meteorite. 8riestess Caitabh handed a magic flute to her herald
ho used it to spur on their paratroopers as they plunged after Mpaya.
, - ,
=ayu could not accept hat he as seeing. ?ama6s Cinnaras ere suffering horrendous
casualties versus a multitude of colossal <anavas. The Ahandharvas among their ran#s
had dispersed% providing only nominal resistance. .here in tarnation ha!e these giants
/ome 0rom and /ould more Ashuras be en route8 4is 7uestions ere ansered hen an
uneasy sensation compelled him to face the firmament. Something - or more alarmingly
someone as falling straight toard them at an incredible rate of accelerationN
Apprehending their alignment ith !ndra% =ayu resolved to defend his #ing.
The diaphanous deity gathered numerous ;aruts about himself. Together they
inhaled to blo any intruder off course ith an unyielding gust of ind. MneBpectedly
their blast as rebuffed and eighed don on them from above. =ayu and his sons felt
themselves being brushed aside li#e flies. !n the ind god6s eBperience there as &ust
one entity capable of this feat: Aaruda.
J!mpossibleNL 4e bemoaned hen flung past some neighboring sierras.
Mltimately that tempest ra+ed the roof off !ndra6s conveyance% ho immediately
spotted the intrepid Ashura. JMpaya 8anther-;as#% 8rince of The <aityas%L he muttered
ith ire. The <evata #ing lifted an arm and concentrated half of his on pneuma into the
thunderbolt clenched by his fist. J! cannot be con7uered by such a cipher as heNL
4e too# accurate aim of this s#ydiving contender before lobbing the incandescent
shaft. A da++ling trail si++led toard Mpaya *for hom it sna#ed closer in slo motion..
4ad !ndra #non this he may have evaded the beam% hich as adroitly deflected ith a
single sat of that Ashura6s ing-blade. !nstead the rueful god as hit s7uarely in the
chest by his on shot% hereupon he discovered himself crashing through protuberant
bedroc#.
4aving seen everything =aruna rushed to his old friend% J:ord !ndraN Are you
alrightKL
J?es%L he vouched as he stood from the rubble. J;y armor has saved me.L
- 2I -
!n any case he as more hurt than he let on but too much hung in a balance to register
pain. Amidst gridiron <aitya reserves ere ma#ing their entrance in tandem ith Mpaya.
They bolstered the pressure that their enormous cousins had eBerted upon the Cinnaras%
permitting those <anavas to demolish !ndra6s battery.
;eanhile their feline mastermind drifted ever nearer to the arena% singing
broadsord to affect both the angle of and celerity of his descent. Several leftover units
of air-elementals made an effort to obstruct his passage. 4oever they ere minced into
vaporous shreds that faded li#e fog. "y the time Mpaya6s feet contacted basalt% no less
than thirty ;aruts had died fighting against him in mid-flight.
?et someho that did little to deter others from attac#ing. After all even Mpaya6s
endurance had to have limits. So it as that Surya &oined in% practically boling this
<aitya head over heels as he strea#ed to the fore in his chariot.
J?ou6re doing remar#ably ell son of Shu#ra%L conceded the <evata hen he
brought his vehicle around. J! didn6t eBpect to cross any orthhile adversaries tonight
but you have truly earned this%L he tugged on his bostring and let loose a cluster of
searing arros.
The pantherine Ashura sprung behind a ballista% narroly escaping the
conflagration that 7uic#ly reduced it to cinders. These flames lit up some Cinnaras close
at hand as ell as the <anavas they ere fighting. Arms flailed in agoni+ed despair.
Mpaya ished he could help them but tangling ith Surya re7uired his unavering
attention. Although as luc# ould have it that as precisely hen the Ea#shas came
sarming donard as if from nohere.
Alone those vampiric thralls eren6t terribly robust but in such large numbers
they ere dreadful indeed. Msing clas and fangs for eapons they moed through the
thinning lines of ;aruts% homing in on Mpaya6s location. Surya moved to intercept them
and noticed their arrangement: concentric circles dissected by straight lines. !n the center
as a prominent female hose eyes ere shut. Apparently sensing his gloer%
her eyelids flitted open and she mouthed an indistinct syllable.
Throughout their array bars of lavender light intersected% forming a diabolical
lattice. The pattern came to life oscillating and pulsing among its beacons. Fithin it one
could espy macabre scenes from forgotten ar +ones.
JAn evil mandala%L murmured the sun god.
JSic#ly pallor of doomNL Caitabh corrected hile ra#ing her nails across the
middle. A ispy luminosity spilled onto Surya. 4is horse6s manes ent out li#e candles
and they shriveled up into s#eletons. Even the <evata became gaunt and his splendor
perceptively dimmed. >evertheless it could not absolutely obliterate his vital spar#.
- 22 -
Stubbornly he pointed the arc of his bo% draing its string. This time though% Mpaya
vaulted shoulder-first into Surya and sent him s#idding along the moon6s crustN
Eapidly ta#ing stoc# of their army6s predicament !ndra eBhorted =aruna to sound
a decisive retreat. They had gotten more than they6d bargained for upon this battlefield%
ma#ing recoupment imperative. =aruna did as he as told and assisted his nephes by
repelling demons in pursuit of the Cinnara6s dindled phalanB. ;any doubts ran through
their minds but <evata opinion on the debacle as unanimousO 9o5 des*i/able oma-s
a/tions - /om*ounded by this ine:/usable betrayal!
, - ,
:ater on the four leaders of each rebel clan stood at one end of an open courtyard:
Commander =isava% "erunni Tenty-Arms% 8riestess Caitabh and 8rince Mpaya.
They ere shoulder to shoulder and to#en detachments from their respective militias
filled every corner of that s7uare. All eyes regarded :ord Chandra% ho officiated these
proceedings on an altar in front of those about to be honored.
Earlier hen the battle as on =isava had been sent to invite their allies into
the palace. Thereafter the Ashura bosses had met the turncoat <evata and bluntly stated
their terms of allegiance. Those negotiations ere brief since Soma had foreseen as
much and hence proffered to favor the three of them ith Amrita. >evertheless Chandra
maintained that his supply as finite and so it could not be disseminated liberally
amongst everyone. At any rate even the #navish moon god had standards pertaining to
ho should or shouldn6t be aarded this coveted nectar. Thus the fiendish triumvirate
approved that compromise as ell as a stipulation entitling =isava to his fair share.
8resently :ady Tara al#ed out from behind cashmere curtains near the altar.
She as heeling a ponderous brass urn on a trolley% hich she obediently uncapped for
her patron. There ere hispers among the Ashuras relating to Soma6s lovely assistantO
Isn-t she the /ause o0 all this8 They ere silenced almost instantly by a lo guttural
rumble from Mpaya. Soma Chandra ignored them hile he scooped out a bit of the
gloing yello li7uid ith a ladle and dripped it onto a lotus blossom. 4e held it up for
the crod to behold before declaring:
J:ast night e achieved a glorious victory by defying the immemorial tyranny
under hich my relatives have #ept Antarlo#a. Obviously it could not have been
possible ithout the unified efforts of every group represented here. Therefore as a
sincere eBpression of my gratitude% ! am pleased to furnish these gallant eBemplars ith
the means by hich they may stand toe-to-toe ith immortal <evatas. This first lotus
goes to Mpaya 8anther-;as#% 8rince of the <aityas% ho in spite of being a mortal
managed to unseat Cing !ndra from AiravataNL

- 23 -
The Ashuras clapped and histled &ointly as Mpaya too# center stage to receive his pri+e%
JFon6t you remove your helmetKL Soma urged.
JThat shan6t be necessary%L averred the prince% introducing said bloom into the
ma of his mas# and retracting solely its stem. !t had a pleasant bitterseet flavor.
Almost immediately he felt a dynamic surge of puissance coursing ithin himself and as
the ceremony carried on he gradually became aare of lustrous contours highlighting
everything around. !n individuals nearby he could no see subtle fluctuations of energy.
;oreover% his enchanted mas# also responded to the Amrita. !t seemed to meld fully
ith the <aitya% ma#ing him a truer feline by eBtending its tendrils into his eBtremities.
1inally he understood the real source of the <evata6s long-standing supremacy.
Fhen all four leaders had been given their due after &oining Soma upon the altar
they regarded each other ith #noing ga+es. As if on cue Mpaya roared% "erunni
belloed% Caitabh screeched and =isava shrie#ed together in triumphant elation.
There as another longer round of applause. Then the moon good admonished that
raucous ma&ority to follo in the footsteps of their nely immortal monarchs *hinting
that they too might earn this endoment.. 1or despite everyone6s good cheer% the ar
had only &ust begun.
, - ,
;iles aay from the lunar fortress% !ndra% =aruna% =ayu and Surya hovered above the
pea# of a mountain staring out into the distance. >obody said anything for some time
though Surya as the first to crac#: JFe should never have abandoned such a struggleN
!t ould have been difficult but e could have still on. !nstead e lost both our dignity
and the chance to prevent those pes#y Ashuras from gaining Amrita courtesy of Soma.L
JSurya6s right%L mused =ayu. J!f they ere sufficiently poerful to rout us bac#
there% thin# of ho much more dangerous they6ll become hen they imbibe our eliBir.
Mp until today it6s been our cutting edge against those ho oppose us and yet e6ve let it
fall into the rong handsNL
J<on6t you thin# e #no thatKL =aruna retaliated. J!t6s no use grousing about
hat6s been lost. Fhat e need to figure out is ho to surmount these ne obstacles.
8reviously Mpaya and his cronies had the element of surprise on their side but that is no
longer the case. !mmortal or not% they on6t ever be our e7uals because of our
prodigious eBperience. There is no reason hy e shouldn6t be able to smite them.L
JAll the same e ought not to underestimate the <aitya6s prince%L =ayu advised.
JThe rumors about Aaruda6s feather eren6t false and he ields it as if it ere an
eBtension of himself.L
- 29 -
J:eave him to me%L proposed Surya. J4ad the Ea#shas not interfered he ould already
be dead by my hands. ! do solemnly sear that Mpaya 8anther-;as# shall rue the day he
crossed me.L Even so after a moment6s pause the solar deity deferred his oath to :ord
!ndra% JMnless of course your ma&esty decides otherise.L
Since he as engaged in tactical speculations% Surya6s 7uestion caught the <evata
#ing at unaares. JMh% yes that6s fine. Fhat6s important is that he dies no matter ho
does the actual #illing. Anyay% can someone please tell me hat state our troops are in%
numerically spea#ingKL
J!t6s not loo#ing good%L =ayu related. J;y sons have sustained irreplaceable
losses though upards of a thousand ;aruts survived. The Cinnaras aren6t much better
off but at least to thousand of them are still ith us. As for our Ahandharvas% !6m sorry
to say that every last one has defected and gone over to =isava.L
JThen e shall re7uire reinforcements%L !ndra noted% suspiring lengthily.
J=aruna and ! ill return to Amaravati and garner additional support. ?ou to are to
stay here and establish a garrison. <o not% ! repeat% do not launch any offensive
operations in my absence. Trust me lads% this time !6ve got a plan.L
=ayu and Surya made eye contact prior to saluting in unison% J&es sir!L
- 2D -
4 Interstice 4
<very once in a while when 1uru Shukra was submerged in meditation
and his astral body streamed through that primal ether dubbed the
Aarma Akasha, he would spontaneously relive past chapters of his
prolonged lifespan. At present that was precisely what occurred*
Shukra was transported 2both mentally and corporeally3 to the
era preceding the galactic churning. It was a time of persecution for
his kind. Mahabali had been dethroned by 7amana 2an Avatar of
7ishnu3 and the evatas swept the realm in a crusade that nearly
drove the Ashuras into extinction. Many flocked to Shukra then,
seeking sanctuary in his Ashram. Because he was a devout Shaivite
Brahmin the gods wouldn.t dare to lay a hand on him, though that
didn.t stop them from massacring his pupils whenever possible.
It was specifically this brand of merciless conduct that compelled
the aitya guru to take up his thousand!year vow of mortification=
hanging upside!down above a bonfire for days on end. <ver leery the
evatas conspired to divert him from that path when they learnt of his
endeavor. &hus (ord Indra dispatched his own attractive daughter
(ady Jayanti to seduce Shukra and alienate him from his followers.
At first their ruse didn.t bear the desired fruit since that Brahmin
was unshakably committed to his task. 9n the other hand, Bayanti.s
humble ministrations weren.t overlooked by Shukra either. 6or a
thousand years she prepared him daily meals, tended the pyre and ran
all sorts of errands on his behalf. <ventually her perseverance paid off
2albeit after (ord Shiva had imparted an esoteric mantra to his Ashura
disciple3. 6eeling indebted to her servility the young guru accepted
this strange girl.s invitation to partake in &antric love!play for no less
than a century.
uring that lapse the evatas sent 1uru Brihaspati to sabotage
the Ashuras from within. Brihaspati took on the outer aspect of Shukra
and postured as priest of the hated demons, using his disguise to
persuade them into renouncing their faith in Shiva Mahadeva.
"e suggested that they convert to 7aishnavism instead by submitting
to (ord 7ishnu.s conservative doctrine. According to Brihaspati.s
sermons, they would be better off if they embraced their lowly station
as opposed to shunning the preserver.s stratification of Antarloka.
- 2G -
&his unconventional dogma had the aityas, anavas and ,akshas so
thoroughly convinced that when their real guru came back $ they
eschewed his counsel and ousted him from their midst $ unable to tell
him apart from the impostor.
As a result 1uru Shukra spent yet another century exiled from
his people. "e passed the greater part of those years doing penance
in the wilderness, regretting his pleasurable days in Bayanti.s arms.
6or it was plain that it had all been orchestrated by the unscrupulous
evatas and that 1uru Brihaspati must be the one impersonating him.
Sadly the penitent Brahmin was at a loss as to how he might reverse
these ominous tides.
&hen one day while Shukra was practicing ?oga atop a hill,
a younger aitya stumbled onto his camp. "e turned out to be on the
verge of starvation and so the priest fed him some rations.
5hen 'uestioned the youth recounted recent events to his savior,
+%ind prabhu, your charity has made me the most fortunate
Ashura alive. ?ou see, there is a guru among us whom you resemble
and who preaches the complete renunciation of personal possessions.
Because of his advice the performance of 7edic rites has ceased.
/owadays our once proud race wanders through Antarloka reduced to
nomadic mendicants, begging food and alms from strangers. 5hat.s
worse is that anyone who re4ects this degrading lifestyle and tries to
keep private property is invariably murdered by the evatas.-
+(isten my son, it is no coincidence that this other priest and I
look alike. 7erily I say that he is 1uru Brihaspati posing as me,
the legitimate 1uru Shukra.-
+1uru Brihaspati8 But why would he do such a thing8-
+Isn.t it obvious8 5hat better way to steer our people toward
imminent disaster than as you.ve described8 Surely he acts on orders
from %ing Indra.-
+?ou.re right, that would explain why he spends whole months at
Mount Meru supposedly bargaining with the gods. 5oe unto us 1uru,
we need you now more than ever#-
+&hen I shall return though surreptitiousness is strictly in order.-
- 2H -
"aving made that decision 1uru Shukra departed with his clansman,
assuming a low profile on their way back to the Ashram. %nowing of
secret passages inside it they infiltrated the temple and hid in a cubby
behind the shrine. "ence, when the camouflaged evata sat down to
deliver his latest sermon Shukra cast a spell that disrupted Brihaspati.s
techni'ue of mental control. &he Ashuras bellowed wrathfully as they
pieced together what was going on. &he Shaivite Brahmin came forth
and publicly denounced his 7aishnava rival,
+?ou have wronged me and mine in a manner heinous beyond
description, Brihaspati, Areceptor of evatas#-
"is cover blown, the aforementioned priest fled for his life,
chased for a stretch by devils weakened from their former
subservience. "owever it wasn.t long before the three tribes rallied
under Shukra and the next war was declared.
6ollowing that flashback the aged aitya.s superlative senses
re4oined his body in the present, alerting him to a familiar presence.
1uru Brihaspati strolled into the tent wearing a smirk of contempt.
+&he sons of Shukra have raised their hands against us gods,-
Brihaspati accused. +At last you.ve overstepped all bounds through
your failure to corral them. I have waited eons to see your head
served on a platter.-
+Since you have come this far to claim it I can reasonably
presume that the expedition goes well for )paya. <xistential anxiety
has forever driven you to paltry deeds as it does now. May my
offspring succeed everywhere that I.ve faltered against your timeless
depravity.-
+I wouldn.t get my hopes up if I were you. 5e won.t loosen our
grip so easily and your sons will follow you into the abyss. o not
forget why we evatas still dominate this sphere.-
+/othing is forgotten. (et.s 4ust get it over with shall we8-
+As you wish. I.ve brought a friend who yearns to meet you.-
Brihaspati pulled open the tent.s flap and bowed as ?ama, god of
death, rode in upon his black water buffalo. &hat beast snorted angrily
in Shukra.s face. <levated by its hump the frightful evata held a
bron0e mace and a braided noose with each hand.
- 3( -
+It.s not every day that I take such a trip to collect someone.s soul,-
?ama commented, +but for yours ancient son of iti $ ICve made an
exception.-
+Believe me when I say that I feel genuinely privileged oh
aboriginal human, who was created by Surya at (ord Brahma.s behest.
But hear me, for I have also foreseen the nature of your demise. ?es,
it is a lingering female of your own ilk that will supplant you. So shall
the final human wipe out the first.-
+5hat nonsense. &hat strain has been utterly effaced, like yours
must be#-
?ama swung only once but from then on, 1uru Shukra felt
nothing more.
- 3) -
Act %&o %o #ell and Back
- 3' -
( 5 * Aven%es of Deceit
A vehement chorus of female voices protested the unannounced entry of :ords !ndra and
=aruna into the residential chambers of the Apsaras. ,ueen 8riya herself confronted
them ithout batting a lash as she fastened the aistband around her sil#en robe.
JTo hat do e oe this most irregular visit% :ord !ndra% Cing of <evatasKL
J;y apologies young ma&esty%L he offered in turn% Jbut e are officially under
state of emergency and your assistance is urgently re7uired.L
JAm ! to understand that you6ve declared martial la% all over a marital dispute
beteen members of your on godly houseKL ,ueen 8riya catechi+ed% arms crossed and
foot tapping impatiently.
J"e careful :ady 8riya%L =aruna arned% Jas ives of the insurgent Ahandharvas
you Apsaras are hardly in a position to be passing &udgments and can scarcely afford not
to cooperate ith us.L
J8oint ta#en%L she capitulated through tightened &a% Jbut ho can e - a troupe
of eBotic dancers - possibly be of any use in an armed struggleKL
J>ot to orry%L !ndra reassured her hilst moving among the scantily-clad
nymphs% Je need but one volunteer to act as little more than a messenger.L !t as then
that he espied a maiden 7uite unli#e all the rest. She as more muscular and possessed
smooth s#in bron+ed to sensuous perfection but there as something else mystifying
about her% hich he as unable pinpoint. JAirl% please step out from behind that flimsy
screen panel% it is rather ineffectual against <evata eyes.L
The Apsara did as he ordered% shyly patting don the folds of her nightgon.
J8ray tell stunning damsel% hat is thy nameKL
J;ilord% ! am called !shtar.L
JOhK <o tell me that you6re not already betrothed.L
J! am not.L
J=ery good then% ho ould you li#e to try your hand at seducing an AshuraKL
- 3I -
!ndra6s proposition dre gasps from every oman in the room and ,ueen 8riya voiced
their collective ob&ections:
J:ord !ndra% this proposal is grossly indecent and unbecoming of royalty.
1urthermore% !shtar is our neest recruit and cannot be considered 7ualified to carry out
such an unmentionable tas#.L
J4old your tongue 8riya. ,ueen though you are% do not presume to lecture me on
regal eti7uette. <esperate times call for desperate measures and !6ll be the final authority
on ho is 7ualified to do hat.L
!ncreasing anger elled up in the Apsara6s leader. 1ortunately% !shtar interrupted
before she could say anything that might have orsened their bad situation%
J!t6s alright milady% ! am of age and s#illed enough to underta#e this mission%
despite its inherent ris#s.L She made direct eye contact ith the 7ueen% confiding
telepathicallyO 7ear not ; surely this is *art o0 (ali<4a-s *lan.
8riya visibly relaBed.
JThen the matter is settled%L !ndra concluded. J!shtar% please present yourself at
my #eep by noon. ?our escort ill be aiting to eBplain the finer details as ell as
transporting you to the lunar palace forthith.L
JCertainly Cing !ndra.L
Their business done% the to <evatas eBited 7uietly. !shtar on the other hand
began to rifle loudly through her things as she devised ays to conceal an edged eapon
using her ne ardrobe.
, - ,
Cama6s psychic eBchange ith Chandra hen the former approached the latter6s domain
to deliver a passenger as characteristically &ovial. 'ongratulations dear /ousin Cama
transmitted turmoil 5ra/ks the realm and e!eryone has you to thank or /urse 0or it=
E!en our king is 5orried to no end ;
Indra is no longer my king! I renoun/ed him 5hen he took )uru Brihas*ati-s
side o!er mine and de/lared 5ar on the moon= All the same$ I thank you 0or the
/om*liments and grant sa0e *assage to 0ul0ill your dubious errand= 2o5 5hat e:a/tly do
you bring8
It-s nothing really$ #ust another strum*et 0or your harem I-d say= >ord Indra
seeks to *la/ate the +aitya-s *rin/e by gi!ing him a !irgin A*sara=
- 32 -
7utile ma/hinations= I-ll *ermit it only be/ause ?*aya-s rea/tion may amuse me=
4ake your 5ay to the usual landing area$ 'a*tain ilat 5ill usher you inside=
Very 5ell$ 5e shall see you shortly=
Cama then turned his attention to !shtar% as#ing out loud: J4ave you memori+ed
the mantra ! taught youKL
J?es%L came the anser from behind him. The saddle on Cama6s large parrot as
broad enough to seat to ith ade7uate comfort.
JSplendid. Eemember though% it can be effective only if you6re loo#ing straight
into each other6s eyes. That means you6ll have to achieve something considered
impossible by many - you must find a ay to coaB Mpaya into removing his helm.L
JFhile !6m aare that it6s no simple chore%L she made clear% Jlet me stress that a
girl has her ays.L
JThat6s the proper spirit%L lauded Cama as they neared the lunar sphere.
, - ,
Mpaya 8anther-;as# entered Soma Chandra6s private audience room *located atop the
central citadel. to be met there by the moon god as ell as a light greenish fello
accompanied by a pretty young oman.
JFelcome Mpaya%L Chandra signaled invitingly for him to ta#e a seat across from
their visitors. True to form% Soma himself as sitting in the middle on a higher platform
in order to mediate beteen everyone else. J!6d li#e you to meet my cherished cousin%
Cama% :ord of <esire and his entrusted ard.L
J!t is a pleasure to ma#e your ac7uaintance 8rince of the <aityas. !% acting as
goodill envoy on behalf of Cing !ndra hereby introduce to you :ady !shtar% ho is a
heavenly dancer that ould pledge her life and love to you all in the interest of peace.L
!shtar nodded submissively% to hich the prince groled almost inaudibly%
JAlthough ! am not so uncouth to flatly refuse such a gesture% ! distrust <evatas%
especially hen they come bearing gifts.L
JThat is understandable%L permitted Cama% Jbut #no this: :ord !ndra ma#es no
demands in eBchange for your acceptance of his to#en. !nstead% he is letting you see that
there is no reason hy e should carry on li#e outright enemies. 8erhaps once you have
- 33 -
learnt the true value of !shtar6s betrothal you ill reali+e that a truce and negotiations are
actually the best course of action.L
J8erhaps%L Mpaya purred% Jbut ! ant to hear from !shtar6s on lips hat she
opines over this hole sordid affair.L
J;y lord%L she ac#noledged% Jit is as Cama says. ! am committed to serve you
no matter hat and do everything ithin my limited poer to please your sensibilities.L
J!f that is truly the case then by all means feel free to stay%L the <aitya arrior
alloed. JCeep in mind hoever that ! have much to attend to among my #infol# and
cannot be bothered ith edding plans or anything of the sort at present. ! hope :ord
Chandra has readied separate accommodations.L
JA suite is being prepared ad&acent to your on%L the moon god informed.
J! suppose that6ll have to do%L accepted the prince.
JThan# you #ind sir% your ise decision on6t bac#fire%L !shtar promised him.
At that% Soma rang a tiny silver bell. One of four doors connected to ad&oining
al#ays opened and :ady Tara stepped inside ith a cursory bo. J4ello Tara love%
please do us a favor and sho !shtar here to her 7uarters as e previously discussed.L
:ady Tara #issed him on the lips in a passionate display of affection% after hich
she led the ne girl out.
Cama cleared his throat and spa#e ane% J8erfect% my duty is served and ! ould
hasten bac# to Amaravati. 8rince Mpaya% this has been a pleasant meeting and Cing
!ndra ill hear of it from me. ;y cousin can call me bac# again henever you are ready
to bargain ith us <evatas.L
The Ashura ould have sha#en Cama6s hand eBcept that it appeared far too frail.
4e merely craned his head don to denote respect before also ta#ing courteous leave.
, - ,
That 5as the easy *art the clandestine ?ogini deliberated% folloing :ady Tara. !shtar
didn6t honestly estimate a high probability of success in convincing Mpaya to unmas#.
Something about ho he had scrutini+ed her bac# there as eBtremely unsettling. !t had
been as if his hidden ga+e pierced right through her and yet he as letting events unfold
naturally% utterly unafraid. Even so% he couldn6t have much to go on apart from
suspicions. To some degree she still had the advantage of secrecy on her side.
:amentably Cama6s subservience mantra might be no help hatsoever.
- 39 -
Eventually both omen arrived at another area and Tara too# !shtar into her designated
7uarters. These ere spacious and elegant% lac#ing nothing. The posing Apsara started
to ma#e sense of hy Tara as irreparably smitten by Soma Chandra. J;a#e yourself at
home :ady !shtar%L she recommended.
J?ou have my humble gratitude.L
J<on6t mention it% there is none more beneficent than my beloved :ord Chandra.L
, - ,
:ater in the evening Mpaya contemplated the oddity of :ady !shtar hile sitting alone in
his room% aiting for her to enter in response to his summons. There as definitely a
peculiar aura around her - but at the same time - its 7uality felt vaguely familiar.
Fhatever the case% it ould be foolish to loer his guard in her presence until he got to
the bottom of things. This intervie should ideally go a long ay toard alleviating
those concerns. 4e heard a #noc# at his door. JCome in please.L
The girl did as re7uested and stood before him bedec#ed in the ceremonial veil
and garb of an Apsara performer. JSalutations my liege. ! hope that my appearance
pleases you. !f nothing else% maybe a dance can allay the prince6s nervesKL
JAs you ill%L he agreed% getting to his feet. The dancer put a small shiny boB on
the floor and depressed its top lidO musical tones sounded throughout their delling.
Soon her hips ere gyrating and her belly undulated through an opening in the clothes.
She raised a toned pair of arms% forming hands into mudras then spun her hole body
hile flailing limbs smoothly. Mpaya stal#ed about her outer radius li#e a cat circling a
mouse. She as truly a sight to behold% particularly ith his heightened senses.
JTell me !shtar - and try being sincere - ho you really are. Though you possess
un7uestionable talent and beauty% you don6t come across as an ordinary Apsara.L
J4ave you #non many Apsaras milordKL She fended off ithout avering%
continuing to move fluidly along ith the atmospheric melody.
JAdmittedly ! haven6t but ! have spo#en ith several Ahandharvas today and
they eBpressed doubts similar to mine.L
J<id theyK Fell ! a' a neophyte inductee if that6s hat you6re see#ing to hear.L
J4o very convenient. Obviously the <evatas are up to something more than
meets the eye here and ! must find out hat that is. ;y best guess is that Cama gave you
a charm of the same #ind that Soma has used to maintain :ady Tara at his bec# and call.
!ndra thin#s me susceptible to carnal temptations. 4e shall be sorely disappointed.L
- 3D -
JThe prince is astute as he is strong. Clever guesses notithstanding% he cannot
see the full picture.L
JOhKL
JFhat if ! ere to reveal that ! am in fact a free agent ith my on agenda to
loo# afterKL
JFould that eBplain hy there6s a burdensome ob&ect hidden ithin the layers of
your eBtravagant disguiseKL
1or a moment !shtar fro+e in place. She hadn6t foreseen such acuity of
perception. >o her eyes narroed and nostrils flared slightly. !n a blin# she grasped
the heavy ar sic#le6s handle and tore it free from fashionable capesN
Shaped li#e a tongue of flame% its blade flashed purple hen it struc# hard against
Aaruda6s feather . . . both adversaries loc#ed in defensive stance.
J1ascinating%L snarled Mpaya% pushing forard a single step. J! #ne that !
recogni+ed certain aspects of your appearance and behavior. Even your dance resembled
4ahamudra Tanda!a. ?et ! never thought that Cali-;a6s ?oginis could stoop to the
employ of Cing !ndra.L
J!6ve already told you that !6m here of my on accord and it6s to settle a score
from our days in 8atala. Mpaya 8anther-;as#% 8rince of The <aityas% you ill pay in
blood for defeating my sister ?a#sha outside the Temple of Shesha->agaNL
Fith those ords she bro#e loose and lashed out once again.
JFe6ll see about that little one. !6ve been itching for a fight since ! received
Amrita the other night. <on6t eBpect me to hold bac# on account of your youth.L
The <aitya parried each of her stro#es ith minimal effort but the ?ogini as &ust
arming up too. 4er attac#s became increasingly poerful% ma#ing it necessary for him
to eBpend energy avoiding them instead of absorbing their impact. A fe 7uic# sings
of the sic#le reduced the surrounding alls to rubble. !nevitably% this bout as going
beyond the confines of their private chamber for all to itness. !n short order% ga#ers
started gathering at the periphery of that eBpanding conflict.
"linding arcs of spar#s ere produced as the sords clashed in a deafening series
of echoes. Mpaya had begun a vigorous counterattac# and his catli#e speed compensated
for !shtar6s overhelming fortitude. 4e batted ildly at his target% shredding through
marble columns in the process. !shtar for her part rose to the crystal ceiling above% aare
- 3G -
that Mpaya as unable to fly. She lifted her eapon high up ith both arms hile
eBhaling%
JOm (ring (aliyai 2amah!L
:i#e a bla+ing comet she dropped and cleaved a chasm across the entire floor%
hich caved in immediately. Mpaya barely managed to &ump aay and ride the
shoc#ave but as able to grab onto a spiral staircase that provided him ith useful
altitude. 4er laughter rebounded from the distant alls left standing.
JThe ielder of Cali6s sic#le is rendered virtually invincible by it%L she boasted%
Jfor it is imbued ith Tamas - the tendency of decay responsible for cosmic dissolution.L
Mpaya chuc#led unabashedly hen he heard that. JThen our armaments are
e7ually pitted and the outcome of this contest ill be decided by s#ill alone. Aaruda6s
feather contains pure "a#as - the active tendency that propels atoms% bodies% planets% stars
and galaBies. !t6s impossible to brea# or bend. Fhat6s more% it can generate ind
anyhere. FatchNL
The Ashura rapped his arms tightly around himself% gripping haft in one hand.
4e unound as he #ic#ed off from the top step% hirling toard her. An intense gale
blasted !shtar through the glass enclosure overhead and out of sight into the starry night.
Mpaya ent to the closest stable ledge and searched the s#y intently. ;inutes
seemed to pass although they ere actually breaths. he has to be u* there some5here
he &udged or /an she trans*ose8 The hair on his nec# stood on end hen he sensed her
standing behind him. 4e turned in time to bloc# an impending coup-de-grace but it sent
him smashing through the fissure belo.
;omentarily Soma arrived% floating above the epicenter of this disaster. 4e as
flushed pale ith anger. JFould someone care to eBplain hy my estate is being rent
asunder from ithinKL
There as an audible shift beneath the rec#age folloed by a loud eBplosion of
dust and debris. Mpaya had pulveri+ed hat he as buried under using his claed fists.
"rushing detritus from shoulders he pointed at !shtar% J:ord Chandra% thy brethren hath
planted an assassin betiBt thine carefree auspices.L
JAirl is this trueK Fait a minute - you - you6re a ?oginiNL
JAuilty as charged% hat of itKL
JFhy the nerve. ! as eBplicitly told by Cali6s emissary that this sort of
interference ould not occurNL
- 3H -
J?a#sha as hereKL
J?es% and she spo#e of your coming ithout describing its circumstances. ! have
even put a helping of Amrita aside for you as per <evi Cali6s re7uest. !f it is Cali-;a
that you serve and not !ndra then you must comply ith her orders and put your eapon
aay this instant. That is the sole stipulation of our sacred pactNL
!shtar hesitated briefly. She as seriously driven to avenge her sister but
incapable of contravening Cali6s mandate. "esides she felt her point had been made and
Amrita as a highly acceptable consolation pri+e. The ar sic#le ent bac# into its sling
and the ?ogini boed at the aist% hands folded. JThis has been a most sporting match
8rince Mpaya.L
J!ndeed chee#y girl. Fe shall have to do it again sometime.L
, - ,
Afterards !shtar too# the opportunity to publicly disclose that the Apsaras ere being
held hostage by !ndra and his subordinates. This of course caused much commotion
among the Ahandharvas% ho ere insistent on ta#ing action. =arious arguments ensued
beteen members of the alliance until 8riestess Caitabh of the Ea#shas came forard
and introduced her sister >amuchi. That lamia proceeded to transfigure before their eyes%
becoming indistinguishable from !shtar in every respect. Caitabh claimed that she had
numerous subalterns at her command ith this same ability% suggesting that they could
sitch places ith heaven6s dancers in order to act as decoys and lay an ambush. Thus
as hatched a plan to lure their rivals into palaver ith the pretense that Mpaya had been
snared via Cama6s love-mantra.
Soma had felt it necessary to underline their scheme ith an indispensable caveat%
J"e ary ye Ea#shas% this illusion ill not or# on all <evatas. ! for one can see
through it clearly as can my cousin Surya.L
The errant ?ogini then put forth that she could further empoer >amuchi ith
Cama6s charm% in case her detachment did cross the sun god. !t asn6t long thereafter
that those shape-shifters ere surreptitiously dispatched to the oods bordering
Amaravati. 8resently% >amuchi herself as in the Apsara6s temple% still assuming
!shtar6s role. She had already conveyed the or#ings of their plot to ,ueen 8riya%
ho she sat neBt to hile they both aited for Cing !ndra6s arrival.
The embattled monarch no entered and regarded them blan#ly. J"ac# so soon
:ady !shtarK Fhat nes from the moonKL
- 9( -
JEsteemed lord% the mission has been a dashing success. 8rince Mpaya is currently in my
thrall and ! come to deliver a message on behalf of Commander =isava. 4aving learnt
of the situation here the Ahandharvas ish to conciliate.L She handed !ndra a scroll%
hich bore the unmista#able seal of =isava.
The #ing unfurled said scroll and too# his time mulling over its import.
According to hat he read =isava and his renegade #nights ould betray Soma6s forces
during the upcoming struggle on one condition: that they be summarily reunited ith
their ives. !ndra as pleased ith these results but debated hether or not to
temporarily relocate these Apsaras. !t ould be a lot easier to use them for leverage and
prevent their abscondence if they ere #ept in his lunar outpost. Such a move ould also
ensure the continued support of their husbands since they ould have to fight that much
harder to forestall harm from befalling their mates. 4aving considered those angles he
turned bac# to the omen% J?ou say that Mpaya is under your control !shtarKL
J=erily highest #ing. 4e is as docile toard me as :ady Tara is to :ord Chandra.
! ould have brought him to you if it didn6t rouse suspicion.L
J?ou did the right thing and ! am duly impressed by your eBpedience in this
trial%L !ndra commended. J,ueen 8riya% prepare the full complement of Apsaras to
depart by morning. Fe are all going to the moon together.L
JStraightaay my liege.L
, - ,
That same night by the shadoed moon% a sarm of Ea#shas snuc# into the city. ?et not
only did they go undetected - they opened a portal bac# to the forest - enabling the real
Apsaras to escape. >amuchi let 8riya #no that a vessel lay not far off from here they
ere being sent and that a guide aaited as they spo#e. !n the morning =aruna escorted
the impostors to a specially designed transport vehicle. Even then the <evatas ere none
the iser that something calamitous as happening.
, - ,
1rom a atchtoer at one corner of their provisional fortifications Surya observed as
=ayu aided =aruna in landing :ord !ndra6s long overdue reinforcements. !t loo#ed li#e
?ama had come too along ith fresh Cinnara shoc#-troops. To be sure% the god of death
brought ith him as many e7uine henchmen as he had originally lent them. Surya6s
curiosity as pi7ued hen he sa a long rhombus-shaped structure being set don
painsta#ingly by the ;aruts. The sun god descended for a closer inspection and as met
by both ?ama and !ndra. JFhat have e hereKL Surya pried hile motioning to the
apparent ar#.
- 9) -
JA little insurance to safeguard us against the Ahandharvas%L the #ing told him.
JApsaras thenKL
JCorrect. >o more 7uestions though. Chandra has probably detected us and e
must ready ourselves for the imminent confrontation. 4elp ?ama organi+e our ran#s.L
1e outside this circle #ne that ?ama had not been born a <evata. 1actually
spea#ing he as humanity6s prototype and had been granted Amrita by :ord "rahma for
being the first person to ever reach 8atala - the underorld. 1rom then on he had eBisted
as a custodian of the nether sphere% the blea#est social station anyhere. At the moment
he stared dispassionately at Surya *ho as incidentally his creator.. The solar deity
found it hard not to turn up his nose at ?ama6s seaty facial hair and the lumbering oB he
rode in on% hich defecated loudly then as if to thoroughly veB him. Surya restrained an
impulse to undo his creation before finally saying: J!6ll fetch my horse.L
, - ,
!ndra as right in supposing that Soma might sense their accession. !ndeed% the traitor
had been #eeping a close eye on his #in the hole time. 4e #ne that they ere located
in the craterous badlands here they6d established a crude bivouac using &agged roc#s.
Earlier on the lunar god had eBperienced a compulsion to eBpel them from his
principality by causing moon7ua#es but he as confident that his allies ould spare him
such trouble. >o that ,ueen 8riya and her vassals ere hidden safely inside a
guesthouse% their husbands6 reprisal should prove a grand spectacle.
Outside Chandra6s palace Mpaya6s vast army as beginning to mobili+e.
=isava had ta#en his contingent ahead to play the part of scouts and for the second time
in as many nights Soma shrouded the <evata6s hemisphere ith uttermost dar#ness.
, - ,
JThis is nothing compared to the despairing mur# of 8atala%L ?ama ridiculed% spitting on
the ground. 4is buffalo #ic#ed up dust hen its ears caught ind from flapping ings.
=ayu fle up to intercept those responsible. J4alt and identify yourselves in the
name of !ndra% destroyer of orlds% ;ahara&ah of the <evatasNL
J:ord =ayu% it is !% Commander =isava of the Ahandharvas.L
JAh yes% the duplicitous brood of Aaruda. State thy business.L
- 9' -
JFe come to give thy Ea&ah ord of the Ashura6s advance and to resume our allegiance
to thine clan.L
4aving heard the eBchange Cing !ndra levitated to their level and made public%
JThou art elcome bac# into mine fold provided ye #neel and #iss =ayu6s ring.L
An a#ard pause preceded the Ahandharva commander6s response%
JFhere are our omenKL
The storm gods casually pointed out the ar#% illumined by its proBimity to Surya.
J1air enough% ! shall do hat you have as#ed of me.L
Captain Silat held out his lance lengthise so that =isava could perch there.
The fledged immortal stooped belo =ayu% bringing his rostrum near the <evata6s ring.
4e loo#ed up at the ind god and too# in his smug eBpression. Split-seconds later a pair
of scimitars glimmered through the dar#ness. =ayu6s severed head hung in the air briefly
before vanishing li#e his body.
JFhat have you doneKL !ndra clamoredN
JAnnihilate the ;arutsNL =isava commanded his comrades. Thereith
commenced a massacre as the sons of =ayu% caught largely at unaares% received the
vindictive stri#es of Ahandharva arms. =aruna tried to intervene but as met midst the
fray by a ?ogini.
J?ou put your proud ancestor to shame =isava%L :ord !ndra berated% hovering
opposite to him% Jand you force me to douse my hands in the blood of Apsaras.L
J?ou6ll never get that chanceNL The raptor reproached. >o sooner than he
uttered those ords% cacophonous rumblings ere heard emanating from a distance.
These rumblings came from the drums of devastation played by the <aityas in Mpaya6s
front line. The planetoid6s surface shoo# beneath the eighty steps of <anava titans ho
blared morbid notes through bone trumpets.
Coming to terms ith dire straits !ndra called on ?ama% J1ire the artillery noNL
Areat balls of fire pierced the surrounding shados. 1ortunately% shield-bearers
among the giants mitigated the carnage inflicted by bombs and spi#ed missiles% although
they could not stave off in&ury for all. After the initial cannonade unharmed demons
charged the barrac#s. "erunni6s people made a concerted effort to slam clubs% hammers
and mauls simultaneously against the barricade. Their combined pounding caused
seismic ripples that even Soma could feel bac# at head7uarters. "rea#ing through the
ma#eshift gates Mpaya6s infantry collided head on ith seven thousand Cinnaras.
- 9I -
Concurrently the Ea#shas loc#ed inside the boB colluded to attract Surya6s attention. 4e
as unable to ignore an insistent torrent of hispers in his mind that dre him to the ar#
and ca&oled him to unlatch its door. .hat /om*els me8 4e ondered% not holly given
to their tric#ery. >evertheless% Surya anted to find out hat as amiss for himself. 4e
thre open the ar# and out burst the ghouls% screeching aggressively as they claed past
their unsuspecting liberator.
J<amnationNL The solar <evata ailed% bursting defensively ith deadly flames
that scathed at least a score of Ea#shas. J!6ll incinerate you lotNL
>amuchi6s division then received the support of Caitabh6s airborne sorceresses
ho started casting pro&ectile spells that laid aste to ordnance. 8riestess Caitabh
taunted Surya openly% JAgain e spoil your sport shining one. Mnderstand that you need
to get past me to hurt my span.L
J1oul itch% thou art drun# on Amrita. ! shall sho thee its pure essenceNL
Surya dre his bo and let fly an arro% hich created an incommensurable
thermonuclear eBplosion across the firmament% ma#ing ashes of countless Ea#shas.
The priestess shrie#ed irately% gre four more ings and covered her body in
sharp 7uills hile diving straight for the sun god ith outstretched arms. She tirled her
body li#e a drill and sped toard him% emitting a sinister radiance.
Surya tossed his bo aside and brought his burning palms together to cast an
ardent spout of empyrean fire% hich ould instantly #ill anyone ho hadn6t dran#
Amrita. Though sloed by it this Ea#sha continued or#ing through to her target.
The spin of her attac# accompanied by blac# magic dispersed the heat enough for her to
come ithin range to gra+e the <evata6s chest. 1eeling that pinpric# the indignant deity
augmented his blast and Caitabh ent reeling into a safety net set up by her acolytes.
Surya no became lightheaded and stumbled involuntarily% confused. There as
a sharp stinging sensation throughout his being. Suppressing this pain he pic#ed up his
bo and histled ith his fingers. A stellar stallion rushed to its master% ho scattered a
spread of blooming flares overhead as they bro#e for the foothills.
J:et him go%L ordered the head priestess% heavily singed. J>amuchi% ma#e sure
our con&urers finish hat as begun.L Fith that Caitabh retired from the field to have
her ounds tended.
Elsehere !shtar tussled energetically ith =aruna% :ord of Fater. Around them
a pitched aerial clash beteen bird-arriors and air-elementals continued although it as
clear that the ;aruts didn6t stand a chance of surviving it.
- 92 -
JSo <evi Cali sees fit to side ith this rabble instead of usKL The a7uatic god critici+ed.
JAnd you girl% you6re neither Apsara nor ?ogini% you6re something far orse: an Earth
omanN ! don6t #no hy it didn6t dan on me before but that oversight can be fiBed.L
JThat they are blind to their on faults is truly the <evata6s most glaring fault%L
countered !shtar. JEemember% it as you ho droned the human race ith tsunamis.L
J?ou dare begrudge my <harmic dutyKL
J!f that as your duty then eBacting retribution for the species is mineNL
J?ou6ll never manage it%L scoffed the <evata. J!6ll ipe you out li#e the rest of
your failed #ind.L <eriding her thus% he summoned ater hidden deep inside craters.
Tall polar geysers birthed heavy clouds% hich precipitated rainfall on their hemisphere.
!ndra% god of lightning% asted no time directing potent surges from overhanging sells
to the <anavas. Stroboscopic for#s of light crac#led toard their aimed tra&ectories in
the a#e of a resounding thunderclapN
4undreds of giants ere stopped dead in their trac#s% some convulsing as they
toppled noisily onto the turf. "erunni Tenty-Arms though% as unfa+ed. 4e strode in
silent obscurity as he made for the <evata #ing.
J=ery impressive%L !shtar complimented =aruna bac#handedly. J;aybe neBt you
can get floers to gro upon this barren astelandKL
JArrogant child% you more than most should #no better than to underestimate
the lethal nature of ater.L 4aving said this =aruna formed hard-hitting &et streams that
!shtar had to parry ith her sic#le. Any that missed carved through stone ridges li#e a
gust of ind parting ocean aves. The marine lord raised the fre7uency of those volleys
in an effort to thro his opponent off balance.
>o slouch% the ?ogini gained ground hile satting aay his atery barrage.
She closed the distance separating them and too# a sipe at that incredulous <evata. "ut
to her chagrin% =aruna6s body li7uefied and reconstituted itself outside of her reach again.
"efore she could catch her breath !shtar as sidesiped by a moving all of ater%
hich #noc#ed her to the floor.
J?ou almost had me%L =aruna shrugged off. J!f the fountains of sorro are not
enough to inter you% ! mustn6t hold bac# any longer.L The oceanic god gathered all
available ater about himself% giving rise to a toering cascade that he held in place.
JThis ould be more than enough to inundate any Terran city. 8erish by it scion of
"hulo#aNL
- 93 -
A veritable tide tumbled forth% seeping Cinnaras and <aityas aside indiscriminately
hile rolling rapidly toard !shtar. The girl stood perfectly still and focused on its
approach. 1rom one moment to the neBt the human ?ogini invo#ed Cali6s mantra and
sung her cutlass% rebuffing that torrent. =aruna gasped in horrified disbelief as his on
element crashed bac# upon him% dissipating cohesion and bringing his life to its end.
!ndra could not help noticing that another of his closest #ith had met ith demise.
=isava fle aay earlier leaving him to deal ith the Ashuras and no this girl bested
his right-hand lieutenant. 1or honor6s sa#e he confronted the culprit. JFell done !shtar%
daughter of man% but don6t thin# for a second that !6ll let you pass unchallenged.L
J?ou6ve got bigger problems to orry about%L she pointed out coyly. Amid dar#
and din the #ing had failed to discern that "erunni Tenty-Arms as standing behind
and belo him. A monstrous hand clasped around the unsuspecting <evata6s aist%
pulling him don to here the <anava could scol at him from above.
JAll too many of my #in have died at your hand Cing of The <evatas. 4ence
shall ! enforce our &ustice.L
"erunni hurled !ndra through a stretch of palisade and consecutively thrust a
massive polearm after him. The halberd grinded basalt% scraping at its sorry victim.
!ndra staggered a fe steps prior to regaining composure. 1lustered but enraged this
<evata fought bac# by eaving a eb of lightning that paraly+ed the offending <anava
ith electrocution.
J>one% not even you ho6ve dran# Amrita can escape my be&eeled net. Ashura
filth you too ill die by these handsNL
A stone6s thro aay astride the shoulders of Andha#a Eight-Arms% Mpaya
oversa the ongoing slaughter of ?ama6s foot soldiers. Mn#non to all ?ama himself
had already fled the scene since he possessed free access to 8atala from anyhere. >o
aided by his mystic helmet the <aitya atched a rangle beteen !ndra and "erunni.
J!t appears your chieftain is being overpoered by the <evata6s #ing%L Mpaya
reported into Andha#a6s ear. JThat6s my cue to cut into their dance% ta#e me to them.L
Fithout hesitation this armored behemoth obeyed the Ashura prince and sprinted
in the specified direction% covering much distance ith his gait. ,uic# on the upta#e
!ndra spread his eb% +apping Andha#a as ell.
J"ring on the entire host of <anavas. ! have plenty left to go aroundNL
Pust then the <evata glimpsed someone leaping from atop that second giant.
Mpaya generated a draft using his ing-blade% dispelling !ndra6s electric field.
- 99 -
Eecovering% "erunni siveled incredibly fast dealing a sound blo to the vulnerable god.
Finded% !ndra bounced against the moon6s surface several times before his body rolled to
a stop. Shortly the #ing pic#ed himself up though stiffened by aches. <emons
encroached and he had no tric#s left. ?et as the feline <aitya floated donard he
spotted something bright coming closer from afar. The prince shielded himself
instinctually ith Aaruda6s feather. This incoming shot as an incendiary that ble a
ne caldera into the valley as its mushroom-shaped effulgence ascendedN
The ;ahara&ah heard Surya6s voice inside his headO (ing Indra ; this 0oray is a
0ailure and 5e must /ut our losses= 7lee 5ith me be0ore it-s too late=
>ot re7uiring further convincing !ndra teleported to his elephant and stormed off.
!t as mostly luc# that could be held accountable for the survival of Mpaya and
those close to him. "y such virtue they lived to revel in another monumental victory.
- 9D -
( 6 * 7%rio%s Occ%rrences
Seated on four sides of the most intricate dice board ever designed% Shiva ;ahadeva%
>andi the bull% Aanesha and their honored guest "hrngin *8eer of the Bhuta<)anas. ere
barged in on by the goddess 8arvati. 4aving trudged up ;ount Cailash <evi as rather
more upset than usual. She thre up her arms and began scolding her husband%
JFhy Shiva% ! inside the house coo#ing and cleaning hile you sit out here on the
snoy summit smo#ing bhang and corrupting my son Aanesha ith these loutsNL
J"ut precious the boy is playing your turns. "esides% ! thought relocating the
game here ould give you respite from our loud bantering.L
J!f that6s true then be careful oh remover of obstacles. ?our father is both a liar
and a cheat. 4e still oes me for our last ager.L
The elephant-headed god lifted his trun# and giggled uncontrollably.
J1orgive me my darling 8arvati but ! had previously promised to settle that debt.
!s there something else pendingK Fe happen to be right in the middle of a pivotal toss.L
JAs a matter of fact your royal hind ass% there is something elseN :ord "rahma
and the <evatas have arrived see#ing an audience ith their derelict overseer.L
JAoddamn itN That6s all ! need. !6ve got a good mind to banish "rahma to
Antarlo#a. Of course they on6t ta#e no for an anser so you may as ell bring them.L
JThey folloed me% hich means they6ll be here shortly. >o put out your pipe%
! don6t need the hole universe #noing that !6m married to an addict.L
;ahadeva complied. 4e patted don a tiger-s#in pelt and leant on his trident
hile all present aaited the necomers. !t as not a long until "rahma and his
grandsons shoed up short on breath. The ultimate destroyer engaged them at once%
JAreetings Cing !ndra% hat brings thee and thy brethren to Sivalo#aKL
J8ardon this disruption my lord. As you no doubt already #no e have been
aging ar against our clansman Soma Chandra for #idnapping Auru "rihaspati6s ife.
! am 7uite sorry to say that the campaign has not been or#ing out favorably. On the
contrary% e have lost =ayu% =aruna and every last ;arut to a terrifying host of Ashuras
serving Soma. The moon god has distributed Amrita among them% closing the gap
beteen our strength and theirs. ;erciful >ila#antha please deliver us from doomNL
- 9G -
J!s that allKL Shiva phonated hile sighing. J! suppose that your miserable faces do
arrant my intervention. Therefore three nights hence shall ! shatter the moon and defeat
your enemies in a single stro#e. "e ready to sei+e homever you ish to live.L
JOh mightiest <eva e are eternally indebted to your #indness.L
After !ndra vocali+ed that praise he and the other <evatas prostrated themselves
before Shiva% hose pet cobra nec#lace hissed hen its tamer insisted:
J:ord "rahma% march these Ants bac# don the hill and ta#e care never to disturb
my game again.L
JCertainly ;ahadeva.L
8arvati departed along ith them but left behind a threat% J?ou had better not be
late for dinner. ! don6t ant you playing out here all night. "e assured that ! ill
interfere ith your beloved game if tested. And don6t even thin# of inviting that s#eletal
scamp "hrngin to our family6s table.L
J?es dear.L The husband accorded. Fhen he believed her to be out of earshot%
he addressed three-legged "hrngin% JSo here ere eKL
JFe ere on the verge of discovering if my faction can recogni+e their master
prior to meeting ith eBtinction. ! say there6s no 7uestion yet you choose to differ.L
J!mpious darf% allo me to illuminate your obscured mind.L
Shiva ble on a pair of ivory dice and rolled them onto the board . . .
, - ,
"ecause Mpaya and !shtar occupied rooms ithin the same vicinity it as inevitable for
them to bump into each other at some point. <uring the interval in hich the last battle
too# place Soma had restored the ing of his palace damaged hen Ashura and ?ogini
crossed sords earlier. >o they both made a#ard attempts to sidestep one another
and conversation naturally ensued%
J?ou fought ith eBceptional s#ill and grace the other night :ady !shtar.
! commend you for smiting <evata =aruna. Amrita has made you an unimaginably
formidable adversary. ! do hope that e can put our differences aside and move forard
as allies if not friends from here on in.L
JThan# you seet prince. ! too ould li#e that very much and should add that !
am e7ually impressed by your leadership and valor. "erunni Tenty-Arms might not be
- 9H -
alive if you hadn6t stepped in to save him from Cing !ndra6s clutches. The three tribes
are truly one under Mpaya 8anther-;as#.L
The <aitya coc#ed his head forard respectfully. 4e then proceeded to probe%
JFhere is it you6re going at this late hourKL
JTo be honest% ! haven6t the faintest idea. ! simply get so restless being cooped up
around here ith nothing to do. A good al# may relaB me.L
J4ave you been to :ord Chandra6s personal observation dec# yetKL
J>o - is it orth the visitKL
J?es - but very fe have access. !f it pleases you ! ill gladly s7uire you there.L
JSounds li#e a charming pastime. :ead the ay milord.L
The observation dec# housed a magnific rotating mirror on hich either the local
terrain or that of Antarlo#a6s various provinces could be visually scanned. Mpaya
instructed !shtar on the usage of four levers% hich ad&usted their vie in different ays.
There as no shortage of things to see and the to spent many hours spying on events
elsehere through the loo#ing glass. At length they unittingly aligned the controls in a
manner that placed a ravaged planet on display. =eins of molten magma gloed feebly
against its blac# cloud-covered orb.
!shtar6s &a dropped before she as able to articulate% JThat6s my home orld -
it6s EarthNL
J"hulo#a%L Mpaya consonated. J;y one secret fear is that a similar fate may
aait Antarlo#a.L
1or a minute they stared in silence together until the girl started sobbing softly.
The prince put a hand on her shoulder and iped her tears aay delicately ith another.
J! onder if all the omen of Earth ere as beautiful as you are.L
She smiled faintly% J?ou6re only saying that to console me.L
JMntrue% it6s ell-#non that <aitya females aren6t particularly comely.L
That elicited her laughter% J!s this also true of <aitya menKL
J?ou be the &udge%L he decreed hile ceremoniously removing his helmet.
- D( -
!shtar couldn6t help gasping% J"ut milord% hat if ! recited Cama6s mantraKL
J! can thin# of orse ays to pass eternity than enthralled by a gorgeous oman
li#e you. Ao ahead and do your orst.L
Mpaya stood before !shtar% unmas#ed% and she beheld his handsome countenance
for the first time. She ran a hand along its smooth features and he pulled her in closer to
himself. >o more ords transpired as their lips met ithin a moonlit embrace.
, - ,
Though officially Antarlo#a6s capital% Amaravati *the immortal city.% too# up but one
small corner of that dimension6s broad eBpanse. "eing an ideal plane its geography
corresponded to a ide gamut of possible mental and emotional states. So hereas
Amaravati as analogous to concentration% #noledge and bliss - the outlying southern
area #non as >ara#a - matched torment% hallucinations and fear. !t had originally been
?ama6s main &urisdiction until Mpaya and his Ashuras helped ?ama gain the upper hand
against the >agas further south inside 8atala6s seven dungeons.
At this moment in >ara#a% S#handa *Shiva6s nely ac#noledged son.% sat
meditating amid a field of burning bodies. !n actuality those corpses ere *retas -
hungry ghosts ho had andered there by accident - and ho moaned in pain as their
astral bodies ere consumed by etheric fires. S#handa6s on divine flesh seared ith
that same heat% hich enveloped him too. >onetheless he ithstood it hile mentally
reciting compassionate mantras for all the *retas6 ayard souls. After long repetition
he chanted the sacred syllable aloud and altogether eBtinguished these pyres. Still he sat
in unavering aareness before being beset by verbal critics%
JFho is this upstart that dares 7uell the flames of >ara#a and treads our charnels
as if he ere their proprietorKL
The <evata stretched his legs assuming a dignified stance and lifting his spear.
J8isachas and Aanas - you6re naught but lesser fiends - hardly 7ualifiable as demons.L
JFhoever you are e shall have your head on a pi#e before this night is through.
>obody has ever defeated the "huta-Aana6s brigade on their on territory.L
All around that fledgling ar god sinister raiths too# on the most menacing
physical forms and a legion of grotes7ue goblins arose from >ara#a6s blood-red soil.
8isachas rattled their appendages hile Aanas battered shields ith cudgels and maces.
J! see you do as you please here here <harma runs thin. "ut since <harma and
Carma are closely related ! have to teach you "huta-Aanas some respect.L
- D) -
J;ere malar#ey%L they disdained openly as one. JFe may only be tamed by Shiva
;ahadeva himselfNL
Thus those hellions assailed S#handa en masse% see#ing to overcome strength by
sheer numbers. The youth subdued line after oncoming line of them% inflicting fatal
gashes ith his infleBible metallic pole. !ts length shimmered li#e a shooting star across
midnight s#y but even so the Aanas and 8isachas someho regenerated themselves and
reneed their onslaught. This affray carried on for hat seemed an eternity yet neither
side gave any sign of a aning commitment to inning. 1inally the young <evata
slapped his staff onto the field% unsettling their foundation ith a most shoc#ing tremor.
4e folloed that up by intoning his father6s mantra thrice:
JOm 2amah i!ayah!L
S#handa6s third eye opened and emitted a radiant beam that melted don
everything and everyone in its path. Their ma&ority li7uidated the "huta-Aanas had no
choice but to ithdra. At last the godling slumped% alloing himself ell-earned rest.
Fhen he as convinced that they ouldn6t bother him any longer he slept ahile.
4oever% during his slumber he heard hispers at the very periphery of percipience%
JEemar#able. This lad has single-handedly van7uished most of the "huta-Aana6s
brigade. 4e is undoubtedly a peerless <evata. Fhat should e doKL
J4old bac#. 4e is eBtremely dangerous and perilous to underestimate. "hrngin
ought be present to provide us advice.L
JThe night remains young. Fe shall miB caution ith courage for e are Eudras
formed from the eBhale of "hairava.L
S#handa as roused by a tumultuous rac#et as the bloodied dirt of that aste
pelted his blue s#in ith its pebbles. 8osturing defensively in a trice% he barely riposted
the headlong charge of multiple attac#ers. Eepelled they regrouped among shade% hich
afforded their &et outlines an eBcellent camouflage. Curved daggers gleamed held by
countless invisible hands. Again they advanced on him ith such rapid stealth that some
of those dir#s did sin# in his flan#s.
The boyish arlord eBploded ith rage% releasing another A#na 'hakra dischargeN
Although on this occasion the Eudras impossibly rapped themselves around the edges
of his luminous stream li#e a tunnel. Fhen its brilliance subsided they surrounded their
7uarry ith moc#ing hols. A peal of thunder bro#e in pitch blac#ness and the #nives
came rushing forard once more. Then as these Eudras lunged nearest to S#handa% that
<evata sprung five more heads ith e7ual pairs of arms. Ta#en by surprise many of
those specters found themselves grappled and fell victims to the rod.
- D' -
J4o can this beKL They despaired. J!t appears he is strong as "hairavaNL
On each of his foreheads the god6s tertiary eyes shone forebodingly. Telve
upper limbs could spin a lance better than any to ever ould. Ee&ecting hirlind he
reprimanded:
JOnly fools ould provo#e me to fire in all siB directions. !f you value life
surrender and pledge loyalty to me - S#handa - :ord of Armies and Shiva6s direct heirNL
Fhen the truth of that youth6s identity as revealed the Eudras reali+ed their
transgression and #neeled before S#handa% begging absolution%
J1orgive our sinful conduct and spare our orthless lives ye master of mysteriesN
Fe are forever at thy service son of Shiva ;ahadeva.L
JSo be it. Then abide ith me hilst ! aait the advent of a <harma 4eru#a.L
Thus ere the surviving 8isachas% Aanas and dar# holers brought to heel by
S#handaO to carry out his bidding un7uestioningly as members of that tilight battalion.
, - ,
1arther south than >ara#a% comprising the very boels of Antarlo#a lay the cavernous
dungeons of 8atala. Mntil recently in heavenly history all its seven regions had been the
principal abode of Cing =asu#i and his serpentine subordinates the >agas.
Though theirs as possibly the eldest race inhabiting this plane it as
simultaneously the least understood. !f the dinosaurs of Earth had continued to evolve
they ould probably have loo#ed li#e these >agas. Some ere oversi+ed sna#es hile
others ran on either to or four legs ith reptilian agility. Cing Ananta% successor of the
late Cing =asu#i% as *unli#e his slithering sire. an upright biped.
Ananta6s on elite s7uadron had long resisted ?ama6s unlaful anneBation of
their halloed domain. Mnluc#ily ith increased support from !ndra and later from
Ashuras% ?ama gradually confined 8atala6s rightful rulers to the innermost dungeon.
Ananta vividly recalled the battle during hich Mpaya 8anther-;as# beheaded his father.
!f it hadn6t been foretold by Shesha->aga% Ananta might not have been so at ease about it.
Amongst his people there as no 7uestioning the sooth spo#en by their pythonic oracle.
After all Shesha spent a greater part of his eBistence in =ai#untha ith :ord =ishnu *that
<eva6s secluded paradise..
JFhence thy father is slain thou shalt have to ta#e shelter ithin this deepest
underground% to dell here in pacific 7uietude until these caverns tremble as if the
- DI -
heavens couldst collapse upon thine head. Cometh to me thence and ! ilt guide thee
further.L
So had Shesha counseled Ananta many cycles ago and today stalactites rained
from the lofty ceilings above. Eivers of lava overfloed% spilling into the >aga6s last
remaining refuge. Casualties ere nominal but none harbored doubts that something
significant must be happening over and outside 8atala itself. "earing those omens in
mind the reigning serpent #ing sa fit to reenter the Temple of Shesha->aga.
4e as met at its entranceay by eight female votaries ho ushered him belo.
They halted at an adorned balustrade% hich loo#ed out into a bottomless crevasse.
The deified >aga6s disciples sang incantations that echoed from afar as their droning
rebounded off an unseen canopy. Fithin the abyss there arose a timorous bubbling
sound as ater filled it. Subse7uently the thousand heads of Shesha began emerging%
spreading their ma&estic hoods inside that grotto. Each individual head ore a fragment
of "hulo#a upon its cron: asteroids% comets% stars% pulsars% 7uasars% nebulas% hite
holes% blac# holes% na#ed singularities and things undiscovered or unimagined by Terrans.
They ere a beda++ling galaBy that appeared buoyant as the >aga bobbed its heads in
aveli#e motion. Ananta and his retinue ere hypnoti+ed via stare of to thousand
emerald eyes. 1or#ed tongues speed draconic vapor hen through them he dictated:
JTime is short% cyclical and ineBistent Ananta->aga. 4eed my ords then inside
this fleeting perpetual instant. Tomorro ?ama returns ith a prisoner in to. A 8rince
of The <aityas ho be also thy foe. Efface thine former grudges and set Ashuras free -
ye shalt both obey the ar god unto eternity.L
Eegaining his its the #ing 7uestioned% J"ut honorable ancestor% hat of our
#ingdomK ! submit that e reclaim territories lost.L
JThere isn6t any reason for hat6s amiss to stay astray. Mpaya6s far nobler than
many care to say.L
JThese are elcome tidings illustrious one. ?ou have my than#s and obedience
to count on in this course.L
JSuperb. To ;ahavishnu thy virtues ilt ! antonly endorse.L
Shesha->aga retracted all his coils and Cing Ananta headed bac# to plan a coup
on such brief notice.
, - ,
- D2 -
:ady Tara hummed contentedly to herself hile she pruned floers in :ord Chandra6s
hidden garden. A+aleas% hyacinths% lilies% magnolias% orchids% plumerias and an endless
variety of similar blossoms flourished there in many vibrant hues. These too ere
vestigial specimens from "hulo#a% collected by Soma6s on hands. 4e had recently
shon her this greenhouse because he #ne that she6d be thrilled tending it in his stead.
!ronically% Tara ould probably have behaved much the same ay hether or not she fell
under Cama6s spell. "ut her attention as suddenly diverted hen she noticed a nearby
cloud formation dissolving to reveal a reflective surface as if fog ere lifting from a
placid la#e. The vie of Antarlo#a also faded and Tara could see the full moon
represented ahead. Once this optical illusion culminated% the s#y seemed to ripple li#e a
pond 5neath rain.
:ittle did she reali+e that these ere the effects of Shiva himself blurring the line
beteen Sivalo#a and this middling realm. "efore long the steep outline of an
inestimable mountain6s summit replaced that apparition. !ts apeB became ;ahadeva6s
dreadloc#ed head and Tara6s eyes could scarcely ma#e out his muscled nec# and
shoulders. The #idnapped bride screamed hen he raised his hand overhead% for ith it
he bore Trishula *the trident scepter.. She might have curled up and succumbed to fear
had it not been for a #non voice bec#oning her%
J:ady Tara come hither this very instantNL
She loo#ed bac# and sa that Cama as there upon rainbo parrot as alays.
Fasting no time the girl ran to him. 4e offered her a hand and they sped off together.
Shiva inhaled sonorously then asserted:
JAs 5tas found mid infinitude so it is and ever shall be.L
The destroyer brought Trishula don to bear and in the blin# of an eye the lunar
sphere as crac#ed in less than half - to thirds of it rec#ed by that invincible eapon.
Soma Chandra6s fortress folded in on itself and a holloed-out crescent shell of the moon
descended made holocaust to barrens belo. A larger part of the three Ashura tribes
ere thereby met ith eBecution.
, - ,
Mpaya as rudely ao#en by a #ic# to his side. 4e couldn6t recall hat had happened
and asn6t given a chance to assess the surrounding desolation. 4is rists ere shac#led
and Surya propped him onto both feet only to punch his solar pleBus. The sun god
censured%
J?ou are luc#y that :ord !ndra ants you brought to him alive. Though perhaps
not so luc#y as ! assume. There are definitely orse fates than death for those ho defy
us <evatas. >o follo me loly beast lest ! lose my even temper.L
- D3 -
Eeluctantly obeying the <aitya surveyed those charring remnants of Soma6s proud
chateau. 4ay she ha!e gotten a5ay sa0ely he hoped. After covering a small distance
they encountered Cing !ndra% Agni% Auru "rihaspati and ?ama. "ehind them trailed a
veritable slave-train composed of <anavas% Ea#shas and <aityas. Mpaya spotted his
brother =idyunmalin and his friend Andha#a Eight-Arms among these% as ell as
"erunni Tenty-Arms% 8riestess Caitabh% Commander =isava and some Ahandharvas.
Surya forced the prince to #neel before that company of <evatas and Auru "rihaspati
came forth ith a prismatic boB% hich contained the top half of Auru Shu#ra6s head.
Eecogni+ing his sire6s eyes the <aitya yaped in agoni+ed fury%
J?ou6ll never get aay ith this - mar# my ords - !6ll #ill you allNL
JStrong ords 8rince Mpaya%L came !ndra6s retort% Jbut you are in no position to
be uttering threats. Surya% ta#e off his mas# and let us finally see our enemy6s face.L
That Ashura roared in pain as the solar <evata attempted to pry panther-helm
from his head ithout success. Agni tried to help by holding the prince steady hile
Surya grilled his eBposed nec#% again to no avail. "oth he and Agni faced !ndra earing
befuddled eBpressions.
J!t appears to be bound by one of Shu#ra6s spells%L "rihaspati chimed in. JThis
helm needs to be shed voluntarily.L
JMseless priest ! could have told yo% that%L the #ing belittled. JA s#illed "rahmin
ould reverse the spellNL
Mpaya 8anther-;as# cachinnated openly% inciting :ord !ndra to loose a bolt that
propelled the upstart through ruins standing close by. The lightning god +ipped to his
side and continued to antagoni+e%
J!6ve not yet had the cruel pleasure of torturing another immortal. !6ll separate
you from that helmet even if ! have to sever your head from its corpse. 4oever e
<evatas must first repair to :ord Chandra6s tribunal. ?ou shall be dealt ith by me in
due course. ?ama% ta#e these Ashuras to 8atala and see to it that they become a lot more
agreeable. Surya% bring the Ahandharvas along ith us.L
?ama lassoed Mpaya from atop his oBen mount. The death god then motioned
forard ith his club and the Cinnaras present hipped captives into a grueling march.
They ould soon &oin an amalgam of fallen demigods #ept alive simply to undergo
interminable spans of harroing mutilation. All the same the sons of Shu#ra #ept faith
that Shiva ould not forsa#e them to such a fate. The <aitya prince might find a ay out
and hen he did% there ould truly be hell to pay.
- D9 -
( 8 * Resc%e+ 9y Ol+ Ene'ies
Assumed dead% !shtar had managed to escape &ust in time since Cali-;a blessed her ith
#een precognitive instincts. She had itnessed the moon6s cataclysmic donfall
firsthand and ent on to stal# the caravan of survivors from far off altitudes. The ?ogini
understood that they ere being herded to 8atala here it could prove difficult to free
them. :ater hen they6d entered the primary dungeon !shtar started to onder if she
should use the conch shell to call upon her sisters. ?et hile abandoning Mpaya as
unthin#able% proper timing as indispensable. 8rematurely triggering ?ama6s alertness
ould be costly for &ust a do+en ama+ons. At least the terrain as not unfamiliar to her.
Thus she #ept up ith ?ama6s procession as it tre##ed through inhospitable tracts of
craggy roc#s% some ra+or sharp.
4anging high above them she held the best vantage for vieing the clinching of a
double-pronged pincer made of lithe li+ard figures. Sei+ing the chance !shtar sounded
her conch and a circle of ?oginis appeared around that human oman.
J?a#sha% there6s little time to eBplain but e have to intervene belo. Mpaya is
in mortal danger and he has eBhibited virtue to me of late. Currently the >agas struggle
to liberate him and ho more virtuous than theyKL
J!t is 7ui++ical considering that they6re former adversaries%L surmised ?a#sha.
J"ut fret not. ;other has primed us to assist you as her e7ual. Our eapons and lives
are at your disposal.L
J! am honored dearest sister and you can all trust that my blade shall slay ?ama -
follo me foreNL
, - ,
1or his part ?ama as effectively fending off Ananta6s ambush by using the archetypal
strength of his bron+e mace. The Cinnaras started neighing ensemble and more s7uads
rallied to this callO far-flung ones brea#ing through ith archaic mortars and drills.
Together in such a spraling mass they ere deadloc#ed ith a si+able regiment of
intimidating >agas. ?ama as not about to give !ndra6s hard-on pri+e over so easily.
Ananta himself couldn6t come ithin ten paces of that <evata because he as too busy
hac#ing horse-men apart.
Aa#ing behind his mas# Mpaya sa !shtar and her sisters descend to their level
in formation. >ot oblivious to their approach ?ama struc# at and displaced the
subterranean air% stopping those ?oginis mid-flight. The death god vituperated them%
- DD -
JStand don daughters of Cali. !6ll not thin# tice about burying every last one
of you to preserve =edic order.L
J?ama% it is you ho should surrender%L declaimed !shtar% raising her eapon.
J"y Cali6s dictum <evata rule is abolishedNL
4earing this the first human struc# out at that final one and felled a pair of
serrated strata% hich shoered shrapnel upon ?oginis% Cinnaras and >agas ali#e.
Mndaunted !shtar launched herself into action% trumping ?ama6s mace ith her sic#le.
<isarmed% that god as poerless to prevent this girl from running him through. Entrails
spilled onto the cave floor as ?ama6s top half slid off his bottom half.
J?a#sha please free Mpaya and the others - the rest of you follo me - e are
going to help Cing Ananta6s forcesNL
The serpent lord greeted her ith praise%
JFell met young ?ogini but e must hasten to defeat these Cinnaras forthith.
Since they do not belong here in 8atala they 7uic#ly succumb to blind bloodlust. :et us
ipe them out thoroughly.L
So commenced the eBtermination of an entire race. Shortly the surviving Ashuras
fought alongside these ?oginis and >agas against their common enemy. Fhen this
genocide concluded the victors stood #nee-deep in bubbling blood. Mpaya 8anther-;as#
had regained his freedom and a ne alliance as reached by those old foes. Shiva6s dice
ere still in play.
- DG -
( : * Pre+estine+ ;ar1aths
The most infamous region of 8atala as its fourth - Talatala - here <aitya% <anava and
Ea#sha monarchs from past eras had been forever imprisoned. !nside this netor# of
deep intercrossing tunnels ere &ail cells containing innumerable Ashuras. Central to
everything as a circular courtyard% hich lodged a platform on an incline. Mpaya
ascended steps up that slope because its pea# afforded one top-don vistas of the
dungeon6s eBtensive layout. A curling nautilus shell delivered the prince6s spo#en ords
to inmates in this necropolis%
J4ear me ye ho have been sentenced to eternal damnation by =ishnu and !ndra.
! am Mpaya 8anther-;as#% 8rince of The <aityas and ! come to proclaim thy salvationNL
At that a bedlam bro#e loose among those prisoners as they rattled their cages in
tandem tantrum. Mpaya aited for this rac#et to subside before continuing%
J;any of you remember me as a self-serving double-crosser but #no that
Amrita pumps through my veins and that Auru Shu#ra - my sire - has been murdered by
our mutual nemesis: the <evatas.L
There as a grumbling no more subdued than before. 4e had pi7ued their
interest and they aaited his follo-up% hich ent:
J"rothers and sisters let us put bygone differences behind and move forard
together. Serve me faithfully and ! shalt lead thee unto triumph. 1or Cing !ndra himself
ilt suffer cruel death at mine hands. !f ! canst count on thee then hail my name aloudNL
JOo*aayaa$ Oo*aayaa$ Oo*aayaa!!!3
Thus did the prince raise a second army% thrice as large as his first.
, - ,
:ater on the <aitya chief as led by 8riestess Caitabh don to one of the grittiest
sections in Talatala. She pointed out a tar pit that seemed unremar#able after hich she
pulled on a rusty bar underfoot. The pool became drained of dar# fluid thereby revealing
another Ea#sha6s oversi+ed head% spit through eyes and mouth ith thic# chisels.
>onetheless its ears titched and tongue pulsated.
- DH -
J4e as found by >amuchi6s scouts%L Caitabh told Mpaya. JEahu has probably been in
this place longer than the others. 4e is the only other Ashura besides us to have tasted
Amrita on his palette.L
J!nteresting. Fhat #ind of condition is he really inKL
J!f set free his eyeballs ill surely regenerate. 4oever he is predisposed to
uncontrollable rabidity and should be #ept under strict surveillance. Fhat ould you
have us do noble princeKL
J1ind something to contain him in and then release him from these shafts.
! ould have you transport that container along ith us hen e eBit 8atala.L
JConsider it done.L
Mpaya #ne that Eahu might come in handy during upcoming encountersO
especially against Surya.
, - ,
Agni - herald of :ord !ndra6s court - accompanied a tall ?ogini into the ;ahara&ah6s
throne room here Surya% Auru "rihaspati and Cama ere also gathered. The ancient
fire god introduced her%
J;y lords ! present ?a#sha% captain of Cali-;a6s honor guard.L
JFelcome daughter of <evi%L !ndra saluted. J4o may e assist youKL
JCing !ndra ! bring dire tidings from 8atala. ?ama has been overthron by
Ananta->aga and the Ashuras have regrouped under Mpaya. !ndeed he has sent me here
to declare ar on his behalf.L
The <evatas gasped in unison. :ord !ndra rose from his throne and pressed on%
JAnd hat of the ?oginisK <oes Cali not intend to aid our causeKL
J>o%L she verbali+ed and then vanished to thin air.
Those gods became astir ith concern. Surya as vociferous above all%
J! told you to let me #ill himN >o !6m through ta#ing orders from this council
and shall henceforth ta#e matters into my on hands.L
- G( -
JSurya you are the youngest and strongest left among us%L asseverated Agni. J1or these
same reasons e need you to stand at our side more than ever.L
JThe only ay to end this 7uic#ly is by challenging Mpaya in person%L Surya
argued. J1urthermore ! possess something that belongs to him.L
J<o tell%L !ndra solicited.
!nstead the sun god shoed them hat he meant hen he reached into himself
and produced Aaruda6s feather from ithin. This begat nods of admiration about him.
Such as his determination to s7uare accounts that Surya departed for 8atala% alone.
, - ,
:oc#ed inside a large holding cell framed by an immovable iron grate% Soma%
Commander =isava and his Ahandharvas aaited trial. "eing official members of
Amaravati6s royal court they ere duly accorded a formal hearing before public &urors.
>ever in heaven6s eBtended history had any <evata been put to death by his peers.
Chandra ran the ris# of becoming an eBceptional case in that regard and his aides ere no
better off than he. A morbid silence pervaded their atmosphere until they beheld Cama
coming toard them on fleet feet. <esire personified brought them up to speed on
current affairs%
JEe&oice ye reprobates thy trial hast been postponed. Mpaya and his cohorts have
been freed from retched 8atala by Cing Ananta and the >agasNL
All heads per#ed in7uisitively at this revelation. <uring their successive uproar
the voice of =isava carried more than anyone else6s%
J:ord Cama please tell us hat has become of our ives the ApsarasKL
J:et your mind rest at ease commander. They survived as most of you have and
are being held in custody at another facility.L
1olloing several related 7uestions from other bird-men% Soma Chandra *ho
had remained silent up till then. snapped his fingers in annoyance. The Ahandharvas
ac7uiesced and heard him spea# thusly%
J?ou see all is not lost and <harma abides by us yet. >o tell me cousin Cama%
ho difficult do you thin# it ill be to release us once Mpaya attac#sK As our alliance
ith those Ashuras persists e must stand close together ith them for better or orse.L
J:eave it to me%L Cama inspirited% leaving their midst ith a in#. The hour of
rec#oning as nearly at hand and everybody could tangibly feel it.
- G) -
4 Interstice 4
Beyond the farthest edges of Arakriti 2creation3 lay (ord 7ishnu.s
abode* 7aikuntha. 1ossamer swans and other exotic fowl swam or
flew there. &he boughs of trees in full blossom wafted petals onto the
immaculate lawn of this veritable <den. "ere Brahma.s consort
Sarasvati $ goddess of music and artistry, was putting on an outdoor
recital at which Aarvati and (akshmi 2Shiva and 7ishnu.s wives,
respectively3 sat front row center. But apart from Brahma their
husbands were nowhere in sight. %nowing that their female
counterparts would be enraptured by Sarasvati.s performance
Mahadeva and Mahavishnu strayed into 7aikuntha.s abstract weald.
&hey arrived at a circle of stones whence 7ishnu cleared the
underbrush to reveal an exact replica of Shiva.s dice board.
+?ou see, all our pieces have entered the stage of fruition.-
Mahadeva explained. +5ould you care to place a wager8-
+At this critical phase it is only prudent that I do.-
+:ertainly though I am curious to find out how you will approach
the dilemmas presented by these particular circumstances. &hings
aren.t 'uite the same in this %alpa.-
Mahavishnu rapidly analy0ed every nuance of that game.s
progress before announcing*
+espite grim appearances I shall stake reputation on my
nephews the evatas. &hey are bound to win even if it means that I
myself must enter Antarloka.-
+So you think to contend with a scion of my loins8
Areposterous#-
+Says one brimming with overconfidence to a second who is
unaffected by the three 1unas and wholly capable of manipulating
Maya.s veil.-
+7ery well then I accept your wager even if it reinforces belief in
our difference when we are in fact nothing short of identical.-
- G' -
+1ames within games. Mirrors unto infinite regress. &he heedless
aren.t deserving of self!evident truths. ?et you and I must also
transcend each other.s sub4ectivity.-
5ith that, (ord 7ishnu picked up a pair of ebony dice and tossed
them onto the board.
- GI -
Act %hree %reendous 'pheavals
- G2 -
( < * S%rya Sets
A Eudra scout named Eshana genuflected in S#handa6s presence and delivered his report%
J;y lord% an inscrutable source of brightness dras nigh. Fe Eudras have
attempted to becloud it ithout any success.L
S#handa studied the hori+on and nodded pensively. 4e instructed Eshana%
JTell your #indred to ithdra and let hatever may come forth. ! believe
myself ac7uainted to this light6s fount.L
The scout carried out that arlord6s re7uest and ithin a fe minutes Surya could
be seen riding his steed up steep hillside. "efore long he came across his #insman
hereupon they loc#ed stares and discoursed:
JCartti#eyaN Ms <evatas decimated by demons under Chandra6s employ and yet
you repose here hile consorting ith 8isachas% Aanas and Eudras.L
JSteady yourself cousin. Cartti#eya is no longer my name since ! am S#handa -
son of Shiva ;ahadeva and head over all the hosts of Antarlo#a.L
JSo you6ve finally learnt about your real heritageK "ut if hat you say is true
accompany me to 8atala and command your legion against the Ashuras% nely allied ith
Cing Ananta6s >agas.L
J! on6t lift a finger to aid those ho have concealed my actual identity from me.
"esides% ! specifically told you early on that you ere flirting ith disaster. Even no
you go on a fool6s errand. 1or the sun has no place in the land of shado.L
J!rrelevant. 1ear is not in my ma#eup and your negligence leaves one duty-bound
ithout recourse. The underorld shall tremble beneath me and !6ll personally see to it
that e <evatas remain in poer li#e alays.L
JSurya you are brave to a fault. ! have it from the highest authority that the
Ashuras ill prevail no matter hat. Fhy embar# on a misadventure in hich you may
ell lose your life due to a misplaced sense of obligationKL
JFhyK "ecause of pride and principleN <o you plan to bar my ayKL
JOn the contrary% ! ish you luc# in your endeavor. Ta#e care brilliant cousin.L
- G3 -
"lessed by S#handa Surya circumvented the "huta-Aana6s brigade and descended into
the depths of 8atala. True to his previous ords% the subterrane shoo# hen he entered%
as if 5tere ob&ecting the ingress of such resplendence.
, - ,
=itala% the second dungeon as an abysmal glacier here &arring bli++ards ble
perpetually through the mountains. At present Mpaya found himself on its highest
plateau accompanied by his <aitya troops as ell as !shtar and her ?ogic sorority.
The >agas and <anavas ere already descending the mountainside ahead of them hile
Caitabh and her Ea#shas comprised their rearguard% still ascending from behind.
"ecause he donned a reptilian leather cape that buffered him from ind and frost
Mpaya couldn6t help noticing a drastic increase in temperature. Snodrifts melted as hail
evaporated on the heat blur of a decreasingly faint and scintillating glo. Fithout further
arning an ice shelf bro#e off loudly at that company6s fore hen the tundra belo as
roc#ed by multiple impacts coinciding ith compelling coruscations.
=idyunmalin pushed his ay through the crod to update his younger brother%
JMpaya% Surya comes forth ielding unmatched poer li#e usual. ;any giants
and serpents lie interred in his a#e.L
A lot sooner than I e:*e/ted the prince thought to himself. Ceeping his its he
urged those about him%
J:isten% ait for me to grab his attention and then continue moving onard. ! am
the one that he ants.L
Almost on cue the sun god galloped to their level and confronted that <aitya%
JThere you are - Mpaya - ! congratulate you on your eBpedient escape.
>evertheless ! have come to settle our old score face to face. 8repare to perishNL
Surya fired out a fusillade of eBploding arros% causing everyone to scatter and
the prince himself to recoil. Mpaya raced don the opposite incline% bac#trac#ing aay
from his assailant. !nfuriated by this flagrant display of coardice the sun gave chase
hile haranguing%
J:et it be #non that dispossessed of his precious sord Mpaya 8anther-;as# is
nothing but a #nave. 4ence shall ! - Surya - dispatch him to the graveNL
So that solar <evata ent after his furtive 7uarry% hellbent on obtaining victory in
this decisive shodon. 4e still held Aaruda6s feather inside himself.
- G9 -
, - ,
8riestess Caitabh and those around her bal#ed hen they sa and heard a series of
volcanic salvos pelting a glacial mass further up along the mountainous slope.
!nevitably% this led to an avalanche% hich rumbled threateningly as it came toard them.
Every Ea#sha instinctually lifted off the ground to avoid said threat. >amuchi6s unit also
bore aloft a steel crate% mounted on sturdy poles. Caitabh then told them%
J!t appears to be Mpaya on hom Surya is gaining. They aren6t very far no.
Eeady yourselves to unlatch the cage on my mar#.L
<eft li#e any cat the Ashura prince s#immed that snoslide and rapped his cape
under himself% stomping through it onto advancing crest. !nvigorated by Amrita he
bounced over Surya ho as more incensed than ever. That angry god unleashed a
flurry of fiery astras - fabled eapons that scorched =itala6s inner dome. Mnable to
dodge such concentrated combustions Mpaya plummeted into moguls% hich than#fully
put out the flames eating at his garb. 4e reached out through the >ous to CaitabhO
"elease "ahu immediately!
Accordingly the Ea#sha6s high priestess signaled >amuchi6s team ho complied
ith prior orders by throing Eahu6s portable prison ide open. Though lac#ing a body
that cra+ed demon6s head had become sollen because sacred nectar floed through it.
4is mutilated face as ghastly to behold and Surya #ne fear for the first time in his life.
Eahu fle straight at his ancient condemner% pouncing on the sun ith gaping fangs.
Surya heroically resisted% preventing this monster6s ma from clamping don on him.
As these to restled to the snoy surface Mpaya6s immortal eyes perceived an
unmista#able shape inside Surya. Ta#ing heart the <aitya bounded forard and buried
his claed fists into that <evata6s midsection.
Surya griped stoically% JMpaya - you coardNL
Mpaya snic#ered cruelly% JSurya - you foolNL
4aving said that the con7uering Ashura cleft his enemy in halves from ithin
hen he eBtracted Aaruda6s feather% disregarding recalcitrant solar rays. All others
shielded their vision as a refulgent emanation aBed throughout =itala. ;omentarily
everyone could see the figure of Mpaya 8anther-;as# reunited ith his fated blade%
hich continued shining li#e a sliver of sunlight. >eBt to him Eahu lic#ed his lips ith
satisfaction% recogni+ing a friend in this <aitya.
- GD -
( )= * A D%el 3eteen Rene$a+es
Short on breath "hrngin the darf approached S#handa and his "huta-Aanas. That
<evata sat meditating in single-headed guise but shot up a glance at "hrngin ho tattled:
J4ear me :ord of 4osts% for thine Eudras have engaged a clutch of ?oginis that
appear to be an advance party bro#en off from a main group% hich ! also espied yonder.
!t is nothing less than an endless sea of malignant spirits pouring out of 8atala6s mouth
and they are led by none other than Mpaya 8anther-;as#.L
JA prince of the <aityas% ho appropriate. Today comes the foul dan ! foresa.
;y every atom pulses ith #noledge of this Avatar6s purpose as ! as engendered to
maintain stability even hen our universe enfolds and an inverted pantheon runs amuc#.
Ao "hrngin - sound thy horn and ta#e these troops afield but let 'e deal ith Mpaya.L
Those orders ere carried out hile that boy arrior calmly got onto his feet and
uprooted his lance from the earth into hich it as planted.
, - ,
On >ara#a6s rolling plains the confrontation beteen !shtar6s corps and holing Eudras
had escalated considerably. <espite their mastery of aerial combat those omen ere ill-
prepared to handle perpleBing mirages oven by eBpert specters. !shtar lashed at Eshana
in hotheaded frustration unable to tell him apart from his shado or if he possessed one
to begin ith. She missed three consecutive stri#es hereas Eshana6s butterfly blades
gra+ed her arms and legs tice. Smarting from that she reciprocated ith a shove
through the flat face of her heavy ar sic#le. This provided enough space for her to
intone Cali6s mantra and seep said sic#le sideard% producing a surge that tore a rift in
the ground as it traveled to the offending Eudra. Eeacting instinctually Eshana became
an in#y smo#e cloud% hich the aggressive energy scattered harmlessly. 4e recollected
himself and chastised her%
JAll the potency of Amrita on6t avail the unise against e sons of "hairava.
<aughter of Cali you should lay don your arms and pay homage to S#handa.L
J8atroni+ing brigand% this battle has &ust commenced. !f you choose to stay blind
to the righteousness of our cause then your life is forfeit via such lac# of virtueNL
As if they had heard her ords the "huta-Aanas and Mpaya6s &oint forces arrived
synchronously and charged at each other across those prairies after running don
opposing declinations. That valley rang ith a chaotic din unheard of anyhere else.
- GG -
, - ,
"etiBt the strident ring of countless armaments clashing S#handa moved forard
e7ually deliberate and dauntless. 4e seemed taller ith each step he too# and his voice
carried above the noise calling Mpaya out to fight%
JMpaya 8anther-;as# har# my appeal: come hither and meet me amid strifeN
Cno that ! am S#handa% son of Shiva and Aeneral over A:: Antarlo#a6s militants.L
A do+en stalart <aityas responded hostilely to that entreaty% thin#ing to defend
their sovereign6s honor. ?et they ere put don summarily hen they tried this youth.
Cruising along on Eahu6s flying head Mpaya encountered that scene and dismounted.
JS#handa% if you are truly Shiva6s son then ! gladly accept your bold challenge.
4ere stands a slayer of <evatas eager to test your claim. :et us stay our armies then.L
Agreeing% the ar god raised an open palm indicating for his subordinates to
desist their violent actions. ;atching this non-verbal bid the pantherine Ashura yoled
frenetically until his allies and underlings fro+e in place. Everyone6s eyes transfiBed on
this transpiring contest. Those contenders circled one another for several moments
before Mpaya lost patience and thrust his sord against S#handa6s unbrea#able spear in a
succession of fluid sipes. Standing his ground firmly the <evata tirled to ind up a
single blo% hich pitched Mpaya into an overcast s#y. "ut instead of drifting li#e usual
that Ashura used his blade to impel himself donard rather 7uic#ly. Ama+ed% S#handa
didn6t have an opportunity to guard himself hen Mpaya6s helm rammed his faceN
Staggering bac# three hole steps the boy6s tongue lapped at blood dripping from
his forehead. 4is eyes then reddened into rubies% contrasting dramatically ith blue s#in.
Ten more arms and five more heads gre out of his body. S#handa6s scream as A-M-;
- resonating at its highest possible octave - the halloed *anda. 1la#es of slate lifted
off hen the ground split into discrete tectonic plates. Eising from a crouching position
the feral prince braced his entire being to ta#e on that god6s imminent counteraction.
"lin#ing ould have been fatal because hen the transformed <evata came at him
Mpaya could sear to be fighting six S#handas. That <aitya s#irted death continually as
the spearhead inched past his eBtremities from various different angles second by second.
Embodying the epitome of a sprightly cat Mpaya6s acrobatic evasions ere
ondrous to itness. Throughout the three realms his refleBes ere truly unrivaled.
Araceful de#es notithstanding it as only a matter of time before S#handa landed a hit.
A direct &ab to his sternum through breastplate armor found flesh and gouged the prince.
Ever hardy% he grabbed that sharpened point and held it steady ith one hand even hile
S#handa6s telve arms fought to pull it aay. <istracted momentarily the <evata failed
to preempt a slice of that Ashura6s ing-blade% hich lopped off his siBth head.
- GH -
Eeleasing S#handa6s &avelin Mpaya unclipped his metal vest and thre it aside.
;iraculously his chest had healed over probably prior to the cranium dropping.
>o ;ahadeva6s progeny dran# from his on hemorrhaging nec# ith five
mouths% scooping up the severed head and seamlessly replacing it. A fe droplets fell
there too giving rise to some ne Eudras. Mpon half a do+en bros S#handa6s third eyes
lit li#e stars and glared offensively at their target. 4oever as those A#na 'hakras
homed in Mpaya used Aaruda6s feather to billo out a solar e&ection of e7ual intensity.
"oth currents contacted in the middle% neither overcoming its contrary. 1rom their
luminescent fusion arose something else: a spiraling column of primal fire that changed
hues and seemed to reach up infinitely high through cyclonic brume and far don beyond
8atala. !t as as if they had accidentally uncovered a rupture in reality6s fabric.
Everyone *including both duelers. shran# aay% aestruc#. Sloly but surely that
flaming >ingam loo#ed to be eBpanding and boring a bigger hole into >ara#a6s
landscape. Concerned% S#handa regained his composure and decided to negotiate%
JEnnobled 8rince of The <aityas - e must have a truce for Antarlo#a6s sa#e.
1ran#ly my father predicted your coming and this has all been a mere test. ! am also
aare that you see# to dethrone :ord !ndra and eradicate those around him but ! never
participated in their campaign to subvert Soma. !f thou art desirous of #ingship then !
shalt appoint thee Cing of Ashuras hen ye eBact revenge and treat thee li#e a brother.L
JS#handa - pardon my doubts. ?our divine genealogy is clearly evident to me.
"eing a faithful servant of Shiva ! ill defer to his ultimate authority and also serve you
hether or not ! am croned. Such ambitions are trivial hen compared to 4oksha%
hich only sage Shan#ara can grant to those of us contaminated by savage Carma.
>evertheless ! shan6t eBtend mercy to any <evata ho hast previously ronged me.L
So those foes formed an armistice and vacated the site of that conflagrant >ingam
since it continued earing aay at Antarlo#a in spite of their optimistic hopes.
- H( -
( )) * >all of the Devatas
Mpon palace terrace above ;ount ;eru% !ndra% Agni and "rihaspati stood side by side.
These three elder <evatas loo#ed out over Amaravati6s rooftops% hich glittered li#e a
mosaic of gemstones herever their immortal eyes ent to rest. 1rom afar they could
hear the sound of an encroaching demonic horde hose numbers ere unprecedented.
Eons had passed ithout the immortal city6s gilded streets and her citi+ens coming under
such duress. Conscious of the sta#es Cing !ndra lectured his ministers%
J:o% our orst fears have materiali+ed and e must ard them off or die trying.
Agni% impart my decree to Amaravati6s people: they should evacuate through the hidden
labyrinth. Anyone ho stays ought to #no that they need to fight alongside ith us.
"rihaspati ill remain here and operate the magical defense grid hile ! go head to head
ith these impetuous Ashuras. Agni meet me halfay and e shall eBpunge them mid
this sacred place once and for all.L
"oth nodded but before they could act a ne sound arose outside the city alls.
That distinctive conch-blon note as recogni+ed by Auru "rihaspati ho piped up%
J8ancha&anya soundsN "ehold ye gods - it is :ord Cal#in - hose Avatar has
been prophesied by various 8uranas. 4e comes forth brandishing a saber and riding
abac# his hite horse <evadatta ith a band of mystical heroes close behind him.
8ancha&anya6s tenor signifies an end to the iron age of Cali ?uga. Fe cannot be beaten
if Cal#in &oins us. Thus e can proceed in confidence that the day is truly ours.L
8roving that "rahmin6s ords :ord Cal#in rode out from =rindavan forest
folloed closely by "alarama% 8arashurama% =isva#sena% both Ashvins% all five
8andavas% ;anu and his ten Cshatriya sons: =ena% <hrishnu% >arishyan% >abhaga%
!#shva#u% Carusha% Saryati% 8rishadhru and >abhagarishta. Several distinguished males
of :ord "rahma6s line came along too: ;arichi% Atri% Angiras% 8ulastya% 8ula#a% Cratu%
=asishtha% <a#sha% "hrigu and >Srada. They made their ay to city limits here
demons ere already bashing at its pearl gates and engaged them. >either as#ing for nor
giving 7uarter to the unary fiends% those mighty men slaughtered many <anavas and
<aityas. Encouraged by these signs !ndra restated%
JThis does bode ell. Still% do as ! have said and adhere to our original plan.
Mpaya has slain Surya and surmounted the depths of hell to come here. Fe mustn6t
underestimate him again. ! ill go no and put an end to his spree myself.L
4ence the thunder god departed% mounting Airavata hile poering Va#ra bolts.
- H) -
, - ,
The supreme personality of Aodhead enshrined in :ord Cal#in proved absolutely
unassailable to those enlisted under Mpaya6s banner. S#handa had said that he ould
observe from the sidelines and get involved only if his participation became essential.
Ergo% hen the prince sa his #ith effectively routed by Cal#in6s cavalry he #ne no
alternative but ta#ing matters into his on hands. Otherise he might soon be left ith
no armies to command. As he thought about fighting these latest rivals !shtar arrived at
his side and proponed%
J;y dear prince% your best troops are no match for this <eva6s incarnation.
4oever e ?oginis can at least #eep his #nights at bay hile you &oust ith him.L
J"eloved !shtar% ! do gladly accept your offer. :et us tempt destiny then and
attempt to accomplish something altogether impossible: #illing the undyingNL
Mpaya hopped onto Eahu and had this Ea#sha elevate him over those contenders.
Fithout second-guessing that <aitya bailed from his mount% sending out a photonic blast
as he glided toard Cal#in. !t leveled the moors belo and incinerated "rahma6s sons.
Mnconcerned% =ishnu6s Avatar bloc#ed Mpaya6s lunge ith adroitness though the prince
pushed on defiantly atop <evadatta6s saddle. Shoing sheer mastery their rapid
movements gave a false impression of them dancing in standstill. <uring this altercation
the ?oginis caught up and affronted Cal#in6s cortege. Seeing the bind that Mpaya as in
!shtar tried to help by unhorsing :ord Cal#in but it turned out to be a lot more difficult
than she eBpected. !ntuiting their design the arring <eva continuously turned aside
either blade using his &eel-encrusted saber. Fhen they closed in together he #noc#ed
them both bac# ith one incomparable satN
J!t6s futile%L groused Mpaya. J=ishnu is considered 2irguna% hich renders our
eapons totally useless against him. Fhosoever could taint "hagavan6s perfectionKL
J<on6t give up my love. There is another ay open to us but it depends on proper
eBecution of a Tantric techni7ue passed don to me from <evi herself.L
Cal#in regarded them apathetically but ondered hat free ill ould lead loly
creatures to do. ;eanhile !shtar communicated mind-to-mind ith Mpaya% sharing a
secret sadhana. To everyone else6s collective astonishment - those to concentrated
attention and energy into their on blades then struc# at each other. Although instead of
being cut don li#e one might eBpect they had someho used eapons as bridges and
crossed into enigmatic terrain. Cal#in as confronted ane by a single opponent ho is
easily described as !shtar 8anther-;as#. That fused <aitya-?ogini as seBless and bore
Aaruda6s feather as ell as Cali6s sic#le. Fith to of four arms it raised its armaments
and pronounced three mantras in a strange concordant voice:
- H' -
Om hri )aneshaya 2amah
Om (ring (aliyai 2amah
Om 2amah i!ayah
Mpaya-cum-!shtar surged forard ith numinous strength that not even =ishnu incarnate
could guard against ithout eBperiencing stress. !n a superb display of sordplay
!shtar6s arms clinched Cal#in6s saber beteen improvised scissors after hich Mpaya6s
claed fists sung out to decapitate this <eva an+ his horseN
"efore anyone could reassess the situation it appeared that Cal#in had traded
heads ith <evadatta. !ndeed% the horse carried his master6s head upon its nec# and it
smiled at the e7uine face resting aloft Cal#in6s shoulders. That #ingly Cinnara lifted an
indeB finger% udarshana 'hakra spinning on it. =ishnu6s celestial astra shot a fine
filament% hich slipped through the culprit% dividing !shtar and Mpaya into separate
beings once more. Oddly a third entity came along ith them thenO a female child hose
features shone pleasantly.
Mnsure hat to ma#e of this the horse-headed Avatar decided to be rid of them%
aiming udarshana again. "oth parents crossed blades to protect their nefound
daughter. ?et at the last moment S#handa6s lance s#eered Cal#in6s godly s#ull%
bringing bane to the 7uadruped abomination. The ar god arrived and retrieved his
trusty pro&ectile. On the other half <evadatta6s head hinnied in agony as its humanoid
limbs contorted. :ion &as protruded from its bac# and cheed the horse6s face aay.
:ion pas shredded his hands. Soon a young <evata found himself faced by an ageless
<eva ho had ta#en on those leonine traits of >arasimha. That upright manticore gre
to astounding heights until he stood tall over Antarlo#a6s masses. 4is loud roar stirred up
a maelstrom ithin the primordial ether. ;any fled hile he monologued%
JCali6s brood are more devious than ! gave them credit for. !rrespectively% these
trespasses cannot be forgiven. This demon-slaying form shall stop you as it has done
ith similar nonentities throughout infinite universes. ?our inning strea# ends hereNL
!mpressed but not coed Shiva6s son ululated% summoning all Eudras. >umerous
frightful specimens floc#ed to him including Adityatma#a% "havodbhava% "heema%
<evadeva% Eshana% ;aha#ala% ;aharudra% >eelalohita% =idyara&a and =irabhadra.
Everyone atched hile shadoy figures ere assimilated into S#handa6s body% ma#ing
him bigger and dar#er. !t got to here he seemed to demateriali+e thus confounding
observers. "lac#er than =ishnu% S#handa6s s#in as the s#y itself. Even Cing !ndra
halted in his trac#s hen +ig+agging strobes of light split Antarlo#a6s vault into
#aleidoscopes. A deep brooding hol came from that hurly-burly and paraly+ed every
itness present. !t cautioned :ord Cal#in6s permutation in the folloing manner:
- HI -
J<o not overstep your bounds defender of <harma. 1or ! - Calacha#ra "hairava -
inhabit the interval beteen universes along ith their cyclical evolution and involution.
Everything occupying the ten directions and occurring ithin the three states of time
ta#es place inside this illimitable empty space. S#handa dells in the unborn Atman
here Shiva himself resides. Since they are favored in Sivalo#a these Ashuras are under
;ahadeva6s protection. 1rom here by my sire6s leave you ill be returned to that
everlasting bliss devoid of differentiationNL
1illed ith livid disbelief >arasimha re#indled udarshana in a vain attempt to
in&ure S#handa6s indelible embodiment. That lucent discus radiated the light of a billion
galaBies into the void ithout hitting its mar#. :aughter bro#e in loud peals overhead as
a translucent beam fell toard >arasimha. Again S#handa6s missile pierced this Avatar6s
third eye. "emoaning the manticore eBploded into an immense golden nebula. Aurous
rain shoered don% blan#eting that bloodbath beneath hot stardust. All gathered no
sang their praises to a hole ne demiurge ho reassumed his role as S#handa. Eudras
rallied around him after they ere eBpelled through his mouth and everyone #nelt hile
reverently boing their heads. Fith to of telve arms the blue god elevated Mpaya and
!shtar before conferring%
JThis battle is hardly concluded. !ndra and his captains still dra hither.
! cleared the path before you. Ao and eBpiate them at your leisure.L
J?ou have my eternal gratitude son of Shiva ;ahadeva. !shtar please stay here
ith the little girl. As previously sorn ! ill attend to :ord !ndra myself.L
JAodspeed brave prince and may your sord stri#e true%L !shtar prayed then
turned to the child no robed in saffron. J?oung lady do you possess a nameKL
J;other - ! am >ila incarnate - born to synthesi+e the normally irreconcilable
differences eBisting beteen any bipolar opposition.L
4earing :ila eBpress herself so elo7uently !shtar proceeded by introducing her to
the other ?oginis. Of course it as naught but a preteBt to ignore the ongoing discord.
, - ,
!nside those same cylindrical vessels utili+ed during the lunar siege 8riestess Caitabh and
her closest subordinates ere held rapt by developments far belo. Turbulence
generated hen gods gre into transcendent monstrosities had nearly blon their ships
off course. Mndoubtedly they had been cloa#ed and ere shielded via arcane sleight.
:oyal Ashuras% these Ea#shas aaited a signal from the <aitya tribal chief. !t came in
telepathic formO (aitabh I am entering the /ity to oust Indra 0rom his o5n *remises=
"elease your drones but be mind0ul o0 Amara!ati-s de0enses.
- H2 -
Comprehending% that matriarch called on her younger sister in this ise:
J>amuchi ta#e your scouts and alert our battalions% it6s time to bomb the city.L
>ot needing to verbali+e a reply >amuchi did as she as as#ed. Fithin minutes
their airborne s7uadrons descended on Antarlo#a6s capital% dropping caustic payloads.
=iolet irradiance coincided ith these impacts and lit up that dreary day. Eegardless
such an assault could not go unansered. Those Ea#shas had the tables turn on them
hen a plethora of colorful heels spun into action atop city spires. Some reacted
passively% snaring hapless prey li#e flytraps hereas others discharged nettles. Either
ay their advance units too# heavy casualties. The high priestess sa no choice but to
root out hoever as operating those magic machines from behind the scenes.
Shrouding herself in vermillion furor she dove headfirst into the melee and rent through
various structures as she sought this symphony6s conductor. After running a rampage she
finally sighted the dais here Auru "rihaspati as situated. !mpelling herself ith siB
demonic ings Caitabh reached him chiding draconically%
J! should have #non that it as you little priest. Allo me to demonstrate the
supernal siddhi bestoed on us by Tantric sadhanas.L
8riestess Caitabh cast a heB against "rihaspati ho had only &ust noticed her.
,uic# itted the <evata guru activated a ring of s#y floers surrounding his alcove to
eBorci+e the succubus. That elder Ea#sha balled up and absorbed their harmful energies.
She then bested her competitor ith a fren+y of malefic spines. One such spine impaled
"rihaspati6s left leg and it ent limp beneath him. Entrenched the priest fell bac# on
tradition% invo#ing =edic hymns and gesturing mudras. Their effect as very limited
because Caitabh6s bac#up arrived and together they composed a spiritual mirror. All of
Auru6s tric#s couldn6t avail his efforts to eBtirpate this crone. <emoness apprentices
arranged themselves into a geometric mandala clearly meant for an offensive launch.
As it became lucific Caitabh railed on that <evata%
J?our time has come preceptor of the gods. Suspire a last breath and recite a
penitential vo. The ailing inds of Carma do bec#on at you noNL
Auru "rihaspati gaped open-mouthed as an undeniable constellation pro&ected
from the esoteric circle crashed don onto his pulpit. Mp rose an eerie fulgor &oined by
echoing temblors. !n that moment this eruption as the cynosure of attention.
Mnbe#nonst to most the <evata6s priest lay buried under its dross. 4aving neutrali+ed
their main hindrance Caitabh6s ghouls continued ith the dismantlement of Amaravati6s
defensive apparatus. They carried out that tas# frivolously% #noc#ing about those
gigantic lotus heels as their surroundings ere consumed by an inferno. !nterestingly
this smolder as but a poor prelude of hat loomed close at hand. Along lambent lanes%
a palpable smelting process seemed to be underay% evinced in the rising heat. Agni as
no bree+e and he ould surely try avenging Auru.
- H3 -
, - ,
"eing an independent curmudgeon "erunni Tenty-Arms had forged ahead alone li#e on
previous occasions% fully dec#ed in regalia and armed to the tus#s. 4e still felt
dissatisfaction regarding the results of earlier s#irmishes. 4is old bones longed for glory.
So hen he happened to cross paths ith Agni% :ord of 1ire% "erunni blessed his stars.
<evata and <anava circumambulated each other estimating respective strengths and
possible ea#nesses as they paced. Escheing calid outbursts the giant instigated
aggressions but con&ointly disparaged%
JThou hast gone dim and gaunt from imbibing Shiva6s seed% to-faced Agni.
Conversely ! have gron eBponentially due to Amrita and canst #ill thee in a soop.L
"ac#ing those ords "erunni sung his poleaBe using all tenty upper limbs.
A score of lifeli#e statues as reduced to mere smithereens but Agni held his ground.
Setting their arena abla+e that <evata tried to set the record straight as ell%
JThou spea#est ill foolhardy <anava. Though the 9iranyareta consumed every
superficial part of my being it also taught me untamed ardorNL
Agni held out his open palms% forming a fireball that as at least as large as
"erunni himself. 4e pushed said fireball toard the toering troll hereupon it
concussed against "erunni6s plate mail. The <anava ploed through% stabbing forth ith
pi#e in hands. 4oever the seltering deity evaded him ithout any fuss and #ept
castigating his body ith igneous orbs. >ot overly concerned that Ashura persisted in
chasing after this elusive <evata. "erunni Tenty-Arms brought don many an edifice
as he pursued Agni and the latter charred his share of buildings hile deploring%
J:oo# about us heretic - there is nohere to retreat from these cleansing flames.
Offer thyself illingly as a sacrifice for me.L
J<egenerate divinity - e sons of <anu are the most fastidious Shiva bhaktas
and ! have endured austerities far eBceeding thine pitiful calefaction.L
Again lending credence to hat he said "erunni shed his outfit and stood nude in
front of Agni. Outraged% the <evata meant to call the <anava6s bluff by tac#ling this
giant and digesting him ithin primeval embers. Anticipating Agni6s onrush "erunni
spread his arms out ide and elcomed harmful hatred into his very soul. <uring an
eBasperating pause it appeared as if he ere being immolated via sacred incandescence.
4is cry as a resonant angered groan. "erunni gritted tus#s and spurned physical burn.
Even hen Agni intensified thermal abrasion there as little alteration in that <anava6s
outer composure. "oth god and demigod vied for ascendancy ithin the same space but
it started to become clear ho actually held the advantage.
- H9 -
8lumbing his soul6s depths "erunni concentrated aareness at the pit of his stomach and
thus gave issue to devotional ta*as *inner armth.. 1olloing a period in hich it as
beyond discernment to #no ho ould prevail% Agni6s eBistence dindled before he
himself could accept being superseded by this gloing eBemplar. "erunni Tenty-Arms
no eBtinguished nearby conflagrations ith &ust one seep from his lustrous limbsN
, - ,
4aving stopped partay on his approach :ord !ndra atched *rather catatonically. as
Amaravati - Antarlo#a6s immortal capital - as destroyed both inside and out. 4e had
been rendered dumbstruc# and immobile since S#handa put Cal#in in line a bit earlier.
At that later moment the <evata #ing underent a crisis% second-guessing every move.
Somehere deep inside he #ne that theirs as a lost cause. >o matter ho much of a
fight they put up these Ashuras seemed destined to overcome them. Fhat could a lone
dissenter do in order to turn bac# such an intransigent tideK 8ondering this% !ndra
deduced a fairly simple anser: in% lose or dra - <harma demanded his participation
here in the respectable capacity of a combatant. Aoading Airavata from the palan7uin
straddling that alabaster elephant the #ing carried on. Once more many among those
<anavas and <aityas present felt the cruel sting of electrifying thunderstro#es hailing into
their midst . . .
Albeit Mpaya 8anther-;as# came dashing anon% flaunting Aaruda6s feather.
Fith the first chop his blade let loose a splendorous solar arc% hich devoured anything
encountered along its path. >o pushover% !ndra erected a force-field around Airavata that
arrested Mpaya6s emission. Ta#ing up bolts reserved for this <aitya prince the ;ahara&ah
thre these choice Va#ras and put his fearless foe on guard. Though a bit surprised
Mpaya s#ipped gracefully through the blit+#rieg% cinching the distance beteen himself
and that <evata. !t did him no good though because !ndra6s pachyderm as virtually
insurmountable. !n fact getting so close only made him an easier mar#. One of those
deadly flic#ers caught Mpaya at point-blan# range% flooring him in a blin#. 1e others
ould have been able to stand after such a #noc#don but the prince sure did.
J;agnificent rebuttal orthy !ndra%L he flattered% dusting off his bare shoulders.
J!t is an honor to duel unto death inside Amaravati6s gates. ! shall fulfill my oath and end
your life in this place. 4ave at you Cing of The <evatasNL
8reempting the Ashura% !ndra released some rarely seen ball lightning% hich
Mpaya as barely able to deflect because of its speed and proBimity. >evertheless the
<aitya #ept pace by doing flips in midair. ?et hen these rondures faded from sight they
left behind small implosions that scathed the mas#ed arrior6s eBposed torso. Eelishing
in pain Mpaya stabbed upard and managed to nic# !ndra6s left ear. 4oever this
maneuver proved costly for him since it provided Airavata an opening to slap the prince
aay ith his trun#.
- HD -
JAlas% although e are being hunted into eBtinction neither terror nor remorse inhabits
my heart. !t is a shame that your father could not be here today son of Shu#ra. 4e ould
have been an apt bystander for these final moments herein ! seal your fateNL
Mpaya braced for another round as !ndra released a coiling fluorescent chord.
"atting aay that horl in the direction of some stately manors the <aitya began
focusing on his sord. Aaruda6s feather responded ith a phosphorescent burst.
Eefusing to relent the <evata spread out his &eeled net over the Ashura and trapped him.
:ord !ndra upraided%
JFhat folly to loer your defenses 8rince of The <aityas. !t behooves me to
revo#e that immortality granted to you by AmritaNL
Caterauling% the feline fighter as heard by Eahu ho descended then to pounce
upon !ndra6s elephant. Airavata blustered in agony hile that bodiless Ea#sha gorged on
tender innards. Clambering out from his toppled conveyance the <evata #ing too# to the
air here he created a high-voltage vorteB. !ndra commenced amalgamating all leftover
electromagnetism from the phenomenal universe into this nucleus. "hulo#a6s stars and
planets yielded baleful amplitudes% hich fattened that globe. "u++ing erratically it
oscillated in place hile everything around as displaced. >onetheless Mpaya had not
7uit heating his blade either. 4ence hen the lightning lord deployed his finishing blo
it met halfay on its tra&ectory ith a torrid photosphere. These ignitions collided
violently and revolved around each other until mutual resistance gave ay to a breach in
Antarlo#a6s mesh. A ravenous vacuum pulled at everyone from ithin this blac#
hirlpool. Above the ensuing confusion Mpaya denounced:
JFe are both fools for stubbornly pursuing such a disastrous course. Even so it is
far too late to turn bac#. ! ill drag you along ith me destroyer of orldsNL
4aving uttered that threat he &umped off Eahu6s cron onto !ndra6s person and
together they started gravitating toard the anomaly. An adamantine god continued
grappling against a tenacious daemon through the turbid s#y. As those immortal nemeses
got closer to the hole6s rim Ananta->aga6s scaly tail came from beneath and snagged
around Mpaya6s an#le. Appreciating this uneBpected safety-tether the prince &ettisoned
Aaruda6s feather before digging claed #nuc#les into !ndra6s &ugular. !mmediately after
Mpaya disentangled himself and punched the <evata6s forehead ith his second fist.
Mnconscious *or possibly dead. :ord !ndra as salloed by that aperture% hich sealed
behind him as if its hunger had been sated. Fhen Mpaya plunged don !shtar his#ed
him belo here everybody else ent to bo at feet of Antarlo#a6s neest magnates.
The <aitya than#ed Ananta for saving him and S#handa also came to congratulate them.
Mnder his meddling auspices these Ashuras% >agas and ?oginis had usurped dominance.
- HG -
( ). * De%s Ex Machina
Shortly folloing those momentous events and hen the ashes had settled Soma Chandra
resurfaced along ith his entourage. The last battle had been so intense that Cama
delayed to uncage them but they ere actually grateful for it. >o the moon god
flan#ed by Cama and Commander =isava greeted Mpaya% !shtar% 8riestess Caitabh%
"erunni Tenty-Arms% Ananta->aga and S#handa mid a s7uare at the center of
Amaravati6s remains. Sudden regime change called for democratic diplomacy and every
ma&or faction as represented there. Eight aay Soma got the ball rolling%
J4ail ye heroes of this greatest celestial feudN 8lease permit me to apologi+e
holeheartedly to anyone ho has suffered loss as either direct or indirect conse7uence
of my on ell-#non actions. ?et ! thin# most of us can agree that e have each
gained an infallible freedom to eBpand ithin our nely unified cosmos. Aladly do !
intend to share Antarlo#a6s rulership ith you all once my satellite is restored.L
There as a silent moment of unease but the tension relaBed hen Captain Silat
arrived accompanied by :ady Tara% ,ueen 8riya and her Apsaras. The latter ent
straight for their husbands hereas Tara ga+ed on Chandra as if they had &ust met.
;omentarily her beauteous lips smiled at him in recognition and she draped both arms
over his nec#. Soma6s siBth sense felt the presence of another being beteen them too.
4e placed a palm belo Tara6s stomach and then his compleBion registered onderment.
She nodded a reply to his unspo#en 7uestion before :ord Chandra publici+ed:
JA daughter is to be born to :ady Tara and !N She ill be called "uddhi and to
her ! be7ueath my hidden estates on planet ;ercury. 1or none shall outspeed her mind.L
>o sooner did those ords leave his mouth than :ila fluBed to their fore li#e
li7uid 7uic#silver. Mpaya and !shtar6s supramundane neonate shrilled%
JTrue though that may be nobody is faster than meN !n contrast to "uddhi6s
7uic#ness at cogitation - none can overta#e >ila hen it6s a 7uestion of action.L
All ere nonplussed by this but they didn6t have time to muse on it because
another development as already calling their attention. Mpon ;ount ;eru6s pea#
rubicund smog ascended from inside Cing !ndra6s castle and hatever its source as
lighted the enclosing nightfall. Fithin seconds that stronghold6s alls crumbled due to
strain and gave vie of an allotropic obelis# rising through the foundation. Thic# ha+e
became increasingly nitid hile everyone loo#ed fiBedly at this pulsating monolith.
"rea#ing the pregnant silence :ila &ubilantly apprised them:
JThere gros the >ingam #non as =isvatman. Alembic of master and mistress.L
- HH -
Eliciting a collective eBclamation an anthropic figure began to coalesce ithin those
clouds. "efore long everyone could ma#e out that otherise inconceivable aspect of
Shiva fused ith Sha#ti: Ardhanarisara. Even the bravest and strongest beings present
there 7uivered hen faced by this pervasive androgyne ho had one female breast.
!ts right hand held Trishula *ith +amaru drum attached. and its left pinched the stem of
a pin# lotus beteen thumb and indeB. >andi the bull and tigress <aon flan#ed
Ardhanarisara. All eBcept :ila felt obligated to bo don lo hen this epicene
started tal#ing in an eBigent tone%
JFoe unto thee inhabitants of Antarlo#a. Thine momentary triumph is no cause
for celebration. =erily the orse has yet to transpire. That is hy e are here to edify
and instill proper <harma ithin your hearts. Cno then that during the coming eon you
and these children ill be directly responsible for this universe6s undoing. !ndeed the
splendent >ingam ye founded at >ara#a has begun to rend through thy >oosphere.
"ut fear not. Fe shall no mete out austerities to our chosen ambassadors in order to
absolve them of negative Carma beforehand. Soma Chandra% you are guilty of sedition
and moral incontinence. ?our lunar fortress cannot be rebuilt unless by some miracle
you can overthro your on self-righteous gall. Mnderta#e a pilgrimage to "hulo#a and
attend the Ashram at Somanatha as you have in other (al*as. One6s eBterior can only be
eBalted once interior grandeur has been addressed. Therefore the fruit of Carma ?oga
belongs to Mpaya 8anther-;as#% Cing among Ashuras. Amid this and in future universes
he ill manifest himself as our sanctioned delegate - the <harma 4eru#a. 4oever%
that title also re7uires his performance of an unparalleled ta*asya.L
Apprehending their meaning the <aitya further prostrated himself hile lauding%
J"lessed are e to behold your unbounded form ineffable OmkaraN Fhat you
have as#ed me for ill be my pleasure to effectuate. ! shall cremate the sin of deicide
assiduously throughout these concluding millennia% contemplating your preeminent face.L
Fhen Mpaya finished S#handa found courage to spea# as ell%
JArdhanarishara% both father and mother% ,rakriti and ,urusha combined -
#indly eBpound reality6s ultimate truths to those gathered here tonight. 8lease tell us
hat our communal purpose and individual modes of action should be in your absence.L
JAn eB7uisite re7uest my superlative son. :isten then to this utmost Tantra%
hich e prescribe for your benefit as much as everyone else6s. Fhether they reside in
the physical% astral or causal plane all eBtant beings are as transitory as temporal space.
>onetheless a subtle undercurrent runs beneath any superficial appearance. That tremor
is called *anda - the reverberation of A-M-; - and it is alays audible to the attuned.
;a#e no mista#e though% since it lies beyond ords said *anda is more than either
sound or image. 4o could our universal ellspring be reduced to mere sensory signalsK
Such an ambiguous and amorphous source does not lend itself to conceptuali+ation.
- )(( -
Conse7uently it is understood imperfectly by finite minds and represented in myriad
conflicting ays. That is hy it is also called 4ahamudraO the primary archetype.L
At this point transparent bubbles started issuing from the gaseous pillar. !nside
each one% pictures% letters% symbols% depictions of deities cast in stone and other tangible
trappings became visible. Some displayed elaborate mandalas% maps or complicated
diagrams. One globule ent before Ardhanarishara6s chest here it graphically charted
a course through the galaBies of "hulo#a until planet Earth filled its circumference.
Scenes of past human events cycled therein eBposing man#ind6s rise and inevitable
donfall. Calmly the interseBual <eva-<evi continued hat it as saying%
J!shtar - hom ! no designate Chief ?ogini - is the sole remnant of these
bygone people. There is no destructive force in eBistence greater than basic ignorance.
Simply put% the human race fell victim to its on nearsightedness as a young species.
:i#e !shtar they possessed the potential to transmute their animalistic instincts but they
ere neither disciplined enough nor holly cogni+ant of a common binding essence.
!ncapable of perceiving or even ac#noledging the fount of all icons% ideas and dreams%
these loly creatures devised sciences that could only account for physical phenomena
and hich thus discounted ethereal noumena altogether. "ecause of that most humans
could not distinguish the fine difference beteen 5thought6 and 5consciousness6. Fhile it
is rather empirical to those ho live here in Antarlo#a% these underdeveloped primates
mistoo# one for the other. Obviously though thought occurs linearly and verbally on
one6s mental foreground hereas consciousness is the very bac#ground of aareness.
"eing a product of microcosmic brains% thought is evanescent but consciousness is
Brahman-s macrocosmic breathO the eternal Atman.
=ibrating at occult fre7uencies this mysterious animating impulse is immanent on
every level of energy and matter as ell as sub&ective eBperience. Though inferior
organisms may appropriate it via ego-mentation% consciousness is never truly theirs in an
absolute sense. ;isapprehending the 7uiddity of our omnipresent omniscience
human beings fancied themselves to be eBclusive sub&ects ithin an ob&ective reality.
>othing could be farther from the truth. *anda drove material evolution prior to the
development of sentient hominids and it as 4ahamudra that conferred intellectual or
imaginative faculties upon them. 1urther% despite outard veneer% hich leads relativists
into perceiving a orld of solid% static and independent ob&ects - they actually lived
alongside the composite% #inetic and interdependent processes of divine recreation.
Fe repeat: the difference beteen conceptual thought and purified consciousness is that
hich distinguishes a mammal6s limited intelligence from a sage6s profound isdom.
4ence atheists% materialists% positivists% rationalists% s#eptics and their ideological il# are
ill-e7uipped to grasp us.
>evertheless there ere some humans ho managed to catch glimpses of
Brahman-s atemporal non-local nature. "y eBamining their insights you too can gain a
better understanding regarding this transmundane 5suchness6. 1irstly comprehend that
- )() -
Atman has three steady hallmar#s: being% consciousness and bliss. These 7ualities are but
slightly varying aspects of the same thing - in fact - they are reflected on loer levels of
creation in multifarious manners. Aenerally though% our sub&ects ma#e predominantly
dualistic &udgments ithin their psyches. 1or eBample good versus evil% soul over body%
self against other. "ut alas even material manifestation is triadic at its core.L
"reathta#ingly Ardhanarisara6s features morphed hile to more heads sprang
from its shoulders. >o heaven6s congregation shed tears of unspea#able &oy hen their
eyes too# in the sight of Sadasiva. This Trimurti *triple form. smiled upon its children
e7ually ith "rahma6s face on the right% =ishnu6s in beteen and Shiva6s to his left.
?et their morphing did not end there. Their faces and bodies fluctuated beteen
masculine and feminine traits so that at times Antarlo#a6s people could see Sarasvati%
:a#shmi and 8arvati instead. Abruptly Sadasiva sprouted a thousand arms too% on hich
other famous gods and goddesses then appeared and disappeared li#e magical tattoosN
Trimurti of constant motion% those spectacular deities ent on to pontificate in a
repercussive voice that inspired both anBiety and thorough reverence%
JFithin these loer planes the three )unas condition everything. "a#as
activates% att!as maintains and Tamas renders inert. Together said )unas comprise the
fabric of ;aya6s shroud% hich misleads the profane aay from our sacred actuality.
Thus compleB configurations arise% abide and are annulled amid three temporal modes
bearing those aforementioned 7ualities in fleBible combinations as ell as concentrations.
!t has often been preached that living individuals should strive to overcome their internal
ma#eup in order to obtain deathless illumination or to escape rebirth. Cno then that
such goals do not befit all beings. >ayN ;any are born ho ould contravene <harma
by operating too far outside the leanings of their inherent self-nature. Our secret Tantra
contains a revolutionary edict: act according to your strongest inner tendencies. 1ollo
your heart herever it leads for it is the compass of one6s soul. Fe may each be li#ened
to players upon a stage and everyone has a specific role to play% hich is partially ritten
onto Carmic imprints. <o not orry overly much about purity or righteousness. 8eace is
an ocean toard hich every river must flo through a process of perpetual perfection.
Some might disagree though due to faulty logic and dogmatic misinterpretation.
!f properly distilled personal desire can easily serve as a springboard into liberation.
4aughty priests focus eBcessively on ceremony and elitist tradition thereby precluding
the dynamism of earnest religious congress. That is hy ! tell thee that those ho
orship devoutly inside their on system are almost alays better off. >obody can loo#
to anybody else for enlightenment. "esides% the ma&ority of devotees open themselves
eBcessively to eBternal influences and therefore fail to contact us. ;ired mid biased
opinions% lesser aspirants hail a single name% Avatar or mantra and try to promulgate it
above every other. A sad state considering that imposition of beliefs denotes their
insecurities in faith. So remember this alays: ords are arbitrary sounds that carry no
eight apart from that imputed on them via socio-cultural programming. After all%
speech is &ust an eBtension of thought. Still ignorant fol# mista#e signifiers for hat is
- )(' -
being signified. As a result they orship little more than empty syllables rather than their
origin. :i#e a mon#ey trying to scoop the moon6s reflection from la#e ater.
Clearly ye can see that even our Trimurti is provisional and that e lac# an
eBtraordinary self-seriousness normally associated ith Aod. Although since those ho
represent us are typically firebrands they bring demerit to themselves and their religion
through outright stupidity. 4ear#en then my Terran names and behold my diverse figures
across forgotten ages of "hulo#a6s history.L
Another cluster of globes gravitated near Sadasiva6s upraised arms. !nside those
drops ere seen the emblems of Earth6s monotheistic religions: Pudaism% Christianity and
!slam. Thereith the manifest trinity commenced enumerating in drone%
JAbba% Abhir% AbraBas% Adonai% El Elyon% El Shaddai% El-"erith% El-Aibhor%
Elohim% El-Olam% Aaol% !mmanuel% Pehova% Cadosh% ;ele#h% ;essiah% 8alet% Shaphat%
Soter% Tsaddi7% ?aheh% ?eshua% Qur% Christos% <espotes% <eus% 4ieros% 4osannah%
4upsistos% Curios% :ogos% 8anto#rator% Sophia% Theos% Theotes% Allah% Ad-<arr% Al-5Adl%
Al-5Ali% Al-5Alim% Al-5A+im% Al-5A+i+% Al-Afu% Al-Ahad% Al-A#hir% Al-Aal% Al-
"a6ith% Al-"adi% Al-"a7i% Al-"ari6% Al-"arr% Al-"asir% Al-"asit% Al-"atin% Al-1attah% Al-
Ahaffar% Al-Ahafur% Al-Ahani% Al-h 4a77% Al-4adi% Al-4afi+% Al-4a#am% Al-4a#im% Al-
4alim% Al-4amid% Al-4asib% Al-4ayy% Al-Pabbar% Al-Palil% Al-Pami% Al-Cabir% Al-Carim%
Al-Chabir% Al-Chafid% Al-Chali7% Al-:atif% Al-;a&Td% Al-;U&id% Al-;ali#% Al-;ani6% Al-
;atin% Al-;u6a#h#hir% Al-;u6id% Al-;u6i++% Al-;u6min% Al-;ubdi% Al-;udhill% Al-
;ughni% Al-;uhaymin% Al-;uhsi% Al-;uhyi% Al-;u&ib% Al-;umit% Al-;unta7im% Al-
;u7addim% Al-;u7it% Al-;u7sit% Al-;u7tadir% Al-;usair% Al-;uta6ali% Al-
;uta#abbir% Al-,abid% Al-,adir% Al-,ahhar% Al-,ai% Al-,ayyum% Al-,uddus% Al-
Fadud% Al-Fahhab% Al-Fahid% Al-Fa&id% Al-Fa#il% Al-FalT% Al-FUli% Al-Farith% Al-
Fasi6% An->afi% An->ur% Ar-Ea6uf% Ar-Eafi6% Ar-Eahim% Ar-Eahman% Ar-Ea7ib% Ar-
Eashid% Ar-Ea++a7% Ash-Shahid% Ash-Sha#ur% As-Sabur% As-Salam% As-Samad% As-Sami%
At-Taib% A+-Qahir% <hul-Palali Fal-!#ram% ;ali# al-;ul#% ! Am That ! Am% Alpha
and Omega% EBistence itselfNL
4aving listened intently% !shtar folded her hands and humbly submitted:
JOh 8ara-"rahman and ;aha-;aya con&oined - graciously elucidate for us -
ho can these appellatives refer to a single Aodhead hen those ho coined them arred
amongst each other to assert the primacy of their preferred epithetsKL
J!ncisive as alays my invaluable daughter but the anser is straightforard.
Since they delled in several countries and continents% sublunar peoples did not ever
share a common tongue. Eesultantly% members of those isolated nations became attached
to their particular dialects or eBpressions% thin#ing them to be the only rightful rubrics.
They could not agree on an apical truism that #noledge of Aod is both manifold and
ecumenical. !n turn such sectarianism fostered mutual eBclusivity.
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?et clerical institutions that promote eBclusion err because divisive doctrines ill
unavoidably lead to 7uibbling and violence. Fhat good prophet has not preached love
and benevolenceK :ife should be treasured forasmuch a healthy body is a prere7uisite on
the road toard enlightenment. Anyone ho #ills in the name of compassionate Aod
commits the orse atrocity possible and shall die at birth many times. Our on ords
notithstanding% allo us to contradict them by divulging a sacrosanct paradoB.
1rom the final perspective neither death nor inanimate matter can be said to occur at all.
Pust as 5no-thing6 is a misnomer and a fallacy% hich imperfect language cannot
encapsulate. Everything that isn6t has merely been inferred from hat actually is.
Again though% mortal cerebration reifies that hich lies outside its eBperiential field.L

J,uit believing in absurd impossibilitiesNL Sadasiva advocated. J<ispelling
these relative notions the ise attain salvation through an unending presence in no ay
different or separate from ours. Fherefore meditate on this Tantra hereafter because it
subsumes the substratum of the =edas% Agamas% Mpanishads% 8uranas% !tihSsas and
previous Tantric literature. Those ho doubt its authenticity condemn themselves to
countless incarnations spent as base animals that are either devouring or being devoured.
1or any act of consumption is not simply a survival tactic. !t is also the modus operandi
adopted by imbeciles ho un#noingly see# ineBhaustible plenitude *at<'hit<Ananda.
in vain efforts to fill the void of their spiritual impoverishment. :astly ! en&oin S#handa%
my faultless son: you are free to enter Sivalo#a hen you please. Albeit your final test%
seeing as it is far easier said than done. 1are thee ell - middling Ants - strive to find
your proper place during this decadent era.L
Fith those ords the smo#e cleared and Shiva-Sha#ti6s relucent eidolon faded
li#e a beautiful daydream% leaving their orld in comparative dar#ness and ruin.
Eenovating that realm ould prove a tall order for its inheritors. Of course happiness
as prevalent then ithout a trace of anguish. Fhosoever could consider their lot
eBecrable after being graced by such an august visionK Eather% Antarlo#a re&oiced as one
and :ila as gaily tossing elysian floers about hile the confluence eBulted%
Om 2amah i!ayah
Om hanti hanti hanti
Om hantihi Om
, - ,
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A11en+ix! Glossary of Sans#rit Ter's
A$a'as? Itih@sas? P%ranas? A1anisha+s? Ve+as - =arious classes of 4indu scriptures
*previously listed in approBimate chronological order..
ABna 7ha#ra - "etter #non as our 5third eye6. The ord /hakra literally means
5heel6 and seven such centers are counted ithin humans in ascending order:
4uladhara *root.% !adisthana *regenerative organs.% 4ani*ura *solar pleBus.% Anahata
*heart.% Vishuda *throat.% A#na *third eye. and ahasrara *cron..
Ashra' - A hermitage set aside for meditation and ?ogic instructionO holy place% shrine%
or temple.
AstraCsD - Also called +i!yastras *enchanted eapons.% astra denotes any pro&ectile.
At'an E 3rah'an - >o simple eBplanation of these ords could do. !ndeed% volumes
are filled ith ambiguous descriptions of both. They are sometimes regarded in the Fest
as e7uivalents for Soul @ Aod but that is inaccurate since they are rather interchangeable.
Arasping their actual import ould be tantamount to aa#ening.
Avatar - A holy incarnationO an emanation of a formless deity into form.
3ha$avan - One of =ishnu6s soubri7uets% implying illustrious fortune and sanctity.
3ha#taCsD - Forshiper% devotees *from bhakti..
3han$ - Cannabis% either smo#ed or concocted into a drin#.
3rah'in - ;ember of learned caste. 1rom the fourfold Varna system: "rahmin *priest.%
Cshatriyas *arrior #ings.% =aisyas *farmers / traders. and Shudras *artisans..
G%nas E &ir$%na *RaBas? Sattvas? Ta'as. - As heretofore eBplained the three )unas
govern material and immaterial manifestation. Even physical atoms are #non to contain
positively charged protons% neutrons and negatively charged electrons in their nuclei.
2irguna therefore means 5ithout 7ualities or tendencies6.
Hiranyareta - 5Aolden seed6% a euphemism for Shiva6s superheated seBual emission.
Fal1aCsD - These are cosmic ages but conversely% parallel universes.
Far'a Go$a - Carma is 5volition6 hereas ?oga translates into 5union6. 4ence%
practitioners of Carma ?oga unify their intentions ith action and thereby attain to
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supreme <harma. Other types of ?oga include Ea&ah ?oga *union through
psychosomatic governance.% Pnana ?oga *union through gnosis. and "ha#ti ?oga *union
through orship..
Lila - 58lay6% the ludic imperative permeating sentient life.
Lin$a' - 8hallus or 8hallic shrine ith ?onic base.
Maha'%+ra - 5Areat seal6% this term refers to the purity of consciousness that underlies
ordinary eBperience. Additionally it encompasses practices aimed at balancing one6s
body-mind continuum *i.e. 4ahamudra Tanda!a: <ance of The Areat Seal..
MaharaBah H RaBah - A vaunted potentate.
Man+alas - Aeometric heels used as visual representations of rarefied reality.
Mantra - Ceremonial chants believed to carry a cumulative resonance of recitations
from all universes via the ,arma Akasha.
Mo#sha - :iberation from the rounds of suffering. Cnon as >irvana by "uddhists.
M%+raCsD - 5Seal6% 5sign6% 5symbol6% or 5gesture6. Often refers to ritual hand-poses.
O'#ara - 5Om syllable6% see S1an+a.
Par'a A#asha - 8rimordial EtherO that subtle medium ithin hich all else ta#es shape.
Pra9h% - An honorific used for male lords and masters.
Pra#riti E P%r%sha - !n amkhya cosmology the former is li#ened to 5mother nature6
*phenomena. hereas the latter is more along the lines of a 5spiritual father6 *noumena..
Pretas - 4ungry ghosts. Their souls are damned to feed on bile% eBcrement% etc.
Sa+hanaCsD Eegimented spiritual techni7ues employed for numerous purposes.
Sa'a+hi - A state of 5non-dualistic6 trance in hich sub&ect and ob&ect are as one.
There are progressive degrees ascribed to consciousness thus altered through meditation%
these are *briefly.: >aya% a!ikal*a% 2ir!ikal*a and aha#a.
Sat47hit4Anan+a - "eing-Consciousness-"liss.
Sha#ti - The feminine 5energi+ing6 principle. !t is said that Shiva is inert ithout Sha#ti.
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Si++hi - Supernatural abilities reputedly brought about by Tantric adepts.
S1an+a - 5Sacred tremor6% evinced in the contractions and eBpansions of cosmic forces.
This impulse is closely related to ,rana!a *the sacred hum of Omkara..
S%+arshana 7ha#ra - =ishnu6s discus eapon.
Ta1as E Ta1asya - 5!nner heat6 and 5fervent devotion6. Traditionally anyone ho
performs a daunting ta*asya is aarded some boon by "rahma% =ishnu or Shiva.
VaBraCsD - :ightning / lightning bolts.
G%$a - A universal age. 1our such ages are posited ithin 4induism in the folloing
order: Satya ?uga *gold.% Treta ?uga *silver.% <varapa ?uga *bron+e.% Cali ?uga *iron..
Fe are presently mid Cali ?uga% a coarse and unenlightened era% farthest from our gods.
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