Tripurantaka
Tripurari | |
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Kartik Purnima | |
Consort | Tripura Sundari |
Tripurantaka (
Legend
According to the Padma Purana, the asura Taraka had three sons named Tarakaksha, Kamalaksha (or Virayavana), and Vidyunmali. These asura princes performed severe penance towards the creator-god Brahma and obtained the boon of immense power. Brahma, on being pleased with them, presented each of them with an aerial fortress revolving in the sky, one each of gold, silver, and iron built by Mayasura.[2] The boon granted the provision that they would reign for a millennium and could be destroyed only by an arrow that could merge the three forts into one, and set them ablaze. The asuras, armed with this boon, wreaked havoc on the universe. The asuras well-entrenched in their aerial cities would mount attacks on the devas (gods) and the rishis (sages), and harass them. Ultimately, the gods and the sages approached Shiva, pleading for his assistance in removing this menace. Shiva refused as they were not engaging in undue harm. Vishnu caused the brothers to convert to Jainism, abandoning the worship of the lingam.[3]
Seeing that the asuras had engaged in sin, Shiva created a bow and an arrow and a chariot with the various gods and goddesses and components of the universe. His chariot was the earth itself, his wheels were the sun and the moon, his bow was Mount Meru with Vasuki was its string. With Brahma as the charioteer, he sped across, and shot a single arrow of fire, representing Vishnu. The cosmic arrow destroyed the three cities.[4]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/08/Shiva_Tripurantaka.jpg/250px-Shiva_Tripurantaka.jpg)
Shiva immediately regretted his decision to release the arrow, since he had forgotten to protect Maya, a great devotee of his. Realising this,
The legend is also featured in theYajurveda:[5]
The Asuras had three citadels; the lowest was of iron, then there was one of silver, then one of gold. The gods could not conquer them; they sought to conquer them by siege; therefore they say--both those who know thus and those who do not--'By siege they conquer great citadels.' They made ready an arrow, Agni as the point, Soma as the socket, Visnu as the shaft. They said, 'Who shall shoot it?' 'Rudra', they said, 'Rudra is cruel, let him shoot it.' He said, 'Let me choose a boon; let me be overlord of animals.' Therefore is Rudra overlord of animals. Rudra let it go; it cleft the three citadels and drove the Asuras away from these worlds. The observance of the Upasads is for the driving away of foes. One should not offer another libation in front; if be were to offer another libation in front, he would make something else the beginning. He sprinkles clarified butter with the dipping-ladle to proclaim the sacrifice. He makes the offering after crossing over without coming back; verily he drives away his foes from these worlds so that they come not back. Then returning he offers the Upasad libation; verily having driven away his foes from these worlds and having conquered he mounts upon the world of his foes.
— Yajurveda, Tattiriya Samhita, vi.2.3
Significance
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Stella Kramrisch's full analysis of the Tripurasamhara episode appears in Chapter XI.3 of her book, The Presence of Siva [Princeton University Press, 1981], in the section on "Cosmic Demons."[6] In one part, Kramrisch speaks of the story as having "the body of man for its scene":
"the Asuras entered the bodies of men. Then pride, which destroys man's dharma, arose. From pride arose anger, then shameful behavior, then delusion." [in IX.3.iii of Kramrisch's book, "Tripura in the Microcosm," p. 411]
Iconography
Tripurantaka is usually portrayed as an archer with
.The earliest form of this can be seen in
In Hindu art, Tripurantaka is seen as a giant person of light showering light at the darkness which is known as "the destroyer of evil and darkness".
Festivals
Tripurantaka had various festivals, mainly he is celebrated on
Devotees offer
An image of Tripurantaka is enshrined at Tiruvatikai near Chidambaram. The Veeratteswarar temple here is one of the eight Veerata sthalas celebrating Shiva as the destroyer of evil forces. Tripurantaka is also enshrined at Tiruvirkolam (Koovum) near Chennai.
See also
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)
References
- ^ A History of Ancient and Early Medieval India. p. 560.
- ISBN 978-81-7625-039-9.
- ISBN 978-93-5118-144-6.
- ISBN 978-1-947137-36-3.
- ISBN 978-1-4655-7839-6.
- ISBN 978-0-691-22422-0.
- ISBN 978-0-429-62425-4.
Sources
- Dictionary of Hindu Lore and Legend (ISBN 0-500-51088-1) by Anna Dallapiccola
- Encyclopedia of Hinduism – Volumes on Shiva Ed. by Dr. Nagendra Kr. Singh (ASIN B09JWTPLCM)