A Story of Dvapar Yuga in Prose: (Part- 25-C)
By Lokanath Mishra:
Unable to bear the insult to her husband at the sacrificial ritual of her father Daksha Prajapati, Sati leapt into the sacrificial fire. Enraged beyond measure, Shiva severed Daksha’s head. Daksha’s head fell into the sacrificial pit and was reduced to ashes. Later, at the request of Brahma and Vishnu, Shiva restored Daksha to life by attaching the head of a ram to his body. Yet Shiva could not endure the pain of separation from Sati. Carrying her lifeless body on his shoulder, Lord Vishweshwar wandered across the universe. At the plea of the gods, Narayana used the Sudarshan Chakra to cut Sati’s body into pieces. Wherever these fragments fell, Shakti Peethas were established. It is said that there are fifty-one such Shakti Peethas spread across India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Nepal.
After Sati’s body was separated from him, Mahadeva sat in deep meditation. A long time passed. The prolonged absence of one of the Trimurti created difficulties in the divine realm. Sati was reborn as Himavati, the daughter of the King of Mountains, and in due course attained youth. Meanwhile, the demon Tarakasura was causing havoc in heaven, and it was foretold that only the son of Mahadeva, Kartikeya, could slay him. Thus, it became essential to awaken the three-eyed Lord from his penance.
The gods devised a plan to bring about the marriage of Shiva and Parvati. Parvati approached Shiva, but when the Lord did not open his eyes, the gods requested Kamadeva to awaken love within the great yogi Maheshwara. There is a legend behind the name “Kandarpa.” Kamadeva once asked Brahma about his duty in creation, saying, “Whose pride shall I destroy?” Pleased, Brahma replied, “From today, your name shall be Kandarpa. Strike all young men and women with your floral arrows and awaken desire within them. By this, creation shall flourish. Your five arrows will shatter even the pride of ascetics and gods alike, filling their hearts with passion.”
Now it was time to break the severe penance of Mahakala Dhurjati. Though the outcome was uncertain and perilous, Kamadeva strung his bow and released the arrow of love. Wherever Manasija went, spring followed. The Malaya breeze blew, the air became fragrant, cuckoos sang in melodious tones, and love filled the atmosphere. Kamadeva’s arrow pierced Lord Rudra. A tremor passed through his limbs, desire ignited within, and years of austerity were broken. But the anger born of interrupted penance burst forth as flames from Shiva’s third eye, reducing Kamadeva to ashes before his beloved Rati.
Witnessing this calamity, the gods praised Shiva to calm him. In Parvati’s presence, love flowed again in Pashupati’s heart. Seeing his anger subside, the gods drew his attention to Rati’s anguished cries. Parvati too prayed for Kamadeva’s revival. Shiva said, “Not now. In the Dvapara Yuga, Kamadeva will be reborn as the son of Krishna and Rukmini. Then Rati will be reunited with him.” The gods pleaded that without him the world would stagnate. Shiva replied that until then, Kamadeva would exist bodiless in heaven as Ananga, while Rati would perform penance by the sea and later be raised by the demon Shambara as a maiden. There she would eventually meet her beloved again.
Rati was reborn as a girl and performed penance. In the Dvapara Yuga, Shambara found her, and she introduced herself as Mayavati. She was raised in the demon’s palace. In time, Rukmini became pregnant and gave birth to a beautiful son, Pradyumna. Celebrations filled Dwarka, and the news spread even to heaven. Sage Narada attended the festivities and then went straight to Shambara’s capital, warning him that his destined slayer, Pradyumna, had been born. Disturbed, Shambara secretly abducted the infant at night and threw him into the sea. A fish swallowed the child, was later caught, and the baby was found alive. Shambara, childless, entrusted the boy to Rati, who raised him with love in the netherworld.
Back in Dwarka, Rukmini awoke to find her child missing, and despair spread through the palace. Despite frantic searches, Pradyumna was not found. Krishna feigned ignorance, though Balarama suspected him. Eventually, time dulled the pain.
One day, while Shambara was away, Narada visited Rati and revealed that her husband was the child playing in her lap. Overjoyed yet patient, Rati learned that she must wait until Pradyumna grew up, master magical arts, slay Shambara, and return with her to Dwarka. After Narada departed, Rati gazed lovingly at the calm, gentle face of her beloved, sighing softly—eighteen more years still remained.
( to be continued)