King of Devas

The Trimurti—the three principal gods, Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva—represent the cosmic functions of creation, preservation, and destruction, respectively. These gods are self-manifested, emerging not from birth, but from their own divine essence. Brahma, the Creator, is the source of all life, and from him, nearly every form of existence has sprung.

Yet, despite the vast beauty of creation, something was amiss. The universe was void of voice, wisdom, and rhythm. Troubled by this silence, Brahma meditated deeply, seeking a solution. He realized that to breathe true life into his creation, he required something far beyond raw power—he needed Vak, the divine essence of speech, knowledge, and creativity.

From Brahma's mind, radiant as the dawn, emerged Vak, the Goddess of Speech and Wisdom, later known as Saraswati. With her arrival, the silence was shattered, and the universe was imbued with the melody of knowledge, the rhythm of creation, and the voice of wisdom.

Narada Muni on the other hand was Brahma's mind-born son and the first cosmic messenger.

Upon hearing this, Devi Saraswati smiled and shook her head. Her eyelids fluttered slightly before she closed her eyes.

"Thank you, Mother!" Narada Muni exclaimed joyfully, clasping his hands in reverence. He then turned and vanished into Brahma Loka.

"Where should I go next?" He wondered. "That sound of tapasaya must be coming from Patalaloka. My father is there, so I'll head to the Svarga loka instead." Narada smiled to himself as he set off.

…

…

In the heart of a seething magma pool, intense heat radiated, exuding a terrifying power of extreme warmth.

A tall, bare-chested man stood on one foot in the molten lava. His hair was disheveled, his body withered, and his face covered in ashes. Yet, despite his gaunt appearance, his facial features were unmistakably those of King Asura Hiranyaksha, with hardly any difference.

He was Hiranyaksha's twin brother—Hiranyakashipu!

"Om Brahamane namah~"

"Om Brahamane namah~"

Hiranyakashipu tightly shut his eyes, his lips constantly murmuring praise to Brahma, the God of Creation. The immense power of his penance radiated from his body, transforming into countless invisible forces, wreaking havoc on everything nearby. Lava, rocks, and even earth and wood were reduced to ashes under the overwhelming might of his devotion.

A brilliant golden light appeared in the sky, signaling Brahma's descent. Brahma gazed down at Hiranyakashipu, his smile faltering for a moment, feeling a twinge of awkwardness. But now that he was here, there was no turning back. The ritual must be completed.

With a soft grunt, Brahma raised his right hand. A golden light streamed from his palm and descended upon Hiranyakashipu. In that instant, the power of Brahma calmed the magma, dispelled the searing heat, healed the wounds that marred Hiranyakashipu's body, and restored his once-majestic form.

Hiranyakashipu's eyes snapped open. He lowered his gaze to his revitalized body, his eyes narrowing with intense excitement. The long and arduous penance was finally complete!

"You have given everything to this moment. Whatever your heart desires, it shall be yours. Speak, and it will come to pass.," Brahma said slowly.

Hiranyakashipu raised his head, his eyes blazing with anticipation. He spread his arms wide, his voice filled with greed as he made his request. "I want to live forever since I was born!"

"Brahma-pita please fulfil my little wish!" Hiranyakashipu exclaimed, his voice trembling with excitement.

"I cannot grant the blessing of immortality! Life is truth, and death is also truth. Birth, old age, sickness, and death are the cycles of existence and the fundamental laws of the universe. The blessing of immortality goes against these laws. Even Shiva and Vishnu cannot bestow such a boon."

"Ask for something else!" Brahma explained.

Upon hearing this, Hiranyakashipu's initial pride and excitement from his successful penance began to fade.

Is that so? His eyes grew calm. He took a deep breath, steadying himself. Looking up at Brahma, he clasped his hands together, bowed slightly, and spoke the blessing he had prepared.

"My lord, the greatest of gift-givers! If you are kind enough to grant me a favor, please protect me from harm by the beings you have created!" Hiranyakashipu's voice grew louder, filled with rising excitement and ambition.

"Grant me that I shall not die in any house or outdoors, neither by day nor by night, on earth nor in the sky! Let no being, whether living or non-living, be capable of causing my death. I ask that none of your creatures—be it devas, asuras, or mortals—can harm me! No weapon shall have the power to slay me, nor shall man, beast, or any other creature be able to defeat me!"

"Grant that I may never perish from existence or non-existence and that no divine being, demon, or any force shall be able to take my life! Even the Nagas of the netherworld shall not harm me!"

With his arms raised in a gesture of triumph, Hiranyakashipu shouted:

"No one shall be able to harm me on the battlefield. I will be invincible! No enemy will be able to defeat me! No power will be strong enough to overcome me!"

"Therefore, grant me invincibility, O Lord! Give me the incredible power that I have earned through my penance, a strength I can never lose!"

Hiranyakashipu's eyes gleamed, his voice burning with passion. He waved his arms grandly, as though conducting an orchestra, his words flowing like a powerful chant as he detailed his blessings.

Brahma listened patiently to the blessings Hiranyakashipu desired.

Without a doubt, This request was more challenging than the Hiranyaksha blessing. If there were a grading system for asking for boons, Brahma would undoubtedly give Hiranyakashipu full marks for his logical approach. Indeed, this was no major loophole! It was perfectly aligned with the natural laws.

Brahma's face remained expressionless as he raised his right hand. Streams of golden light descended and merged into Hiranyakashipu's body.

"As you wish."

The words echoed through the air, their sound vibrating with the Sanskrit chant of "tathāstu." In these echoes, Hiranyakashipu could feel profound changes within himself. The immense power of the boon raged through his body.

What is invincibility? Hiranyakashipu now understood—he was invincible!

"It's time to return."

Hiranyakashipu walked barefoot, his strides long and steady, making his way out of the now-calm magma.

Suddenly, three familiar figures appeared before him. The leader, holding a snake staff, was a tall figure with snow-white hair and a cold expression—none other than Rishi Shukracharya.

To the left stood a young man with a handsome face, the son of Hiranyaksha. On the right was another young man, ordinary in appearance, save for the black cloth tightly bound across his eyes—Hiranyakashipu's eldest son, Andhaka.

Seeing them, Hiranyakashipu eagerly stepped forward toward his Asura mentor, Shukracharya.

"Teacher!"

He gave Andhaka and Saṃhrāda a quick glance, signaling them, before clasping his hands together in a respectful greeting to the Rishi. Rishi Shukracharya nodded slightly.

Hiranyakashipu, still beaming with happiness, looked around curiously. "Where is my elder brother?" he asked, a puzzled expression on his face.

Rishi Shukracharya's expression stiffened. He turned his head away with a cold snort, his face betraying a hint of discomfort.

Saṃhrāda also looked saddened.

"Father is dead!" Andhaka suddenly spoke, his voice heavy with grief.

Boom!

Hiranyakashipu's body shook, as though struck by lightning. His entire being trembled in disbelief. His eyes widened in shock before filling with tears of sorrow and rage. Murderous intent radiated from him.

"Who did this?!"

Andhaka lowered his head, speaking mournfully. "It was Vishnu, the Preserver of the world, and the King of Svarga who killed my father."

Hiranyakashipu's fists clenched slowly as he absorbed the words. "I will avenge my brother!" he declared coldly, his voice dripping with fury. With that, he turned to leave.

"Wait!" Rishi Shukracharya suddenly stepped forward, raising a hand to stop him.

"The patalaloka is in chaos. Various Asuras and Danavas are fighting for the throne. Before you can take revenge, you must first defeat them and gain the power of the Asura armies. Only then can you become the King of the Asuras."

"In doing so, we will be in a stronger position to confront the King of Svarga and the Preserver of the world," Shukracharya continued.

Hiranyakashipu met the Rishi's gaze, took a deep breath, and quelled the grief and anger that swirled within him.

"I understand," he said hoarsely.

His eyes darkened, and he strode toward the Asura Temple with a powerful, unyielding presence.

"Vishnu, you will pay for this! I will see who dares to stand in my way!"

...

In Svarga, the city sprawled beautifully under the clear skies. Indra was on his way to visit the royal garden.

"Let's plant the Kalpavriksha here," he said, gazing around with a satisfied smile.

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