The Destruction of the Three Forts by Mahadeva
Once, Shiva vanquished three formidable asuras who dwelled in three
impregnable forts of metal and wreaked havoc upon the rishis. This tale,
detailed in the Mahabharata, narrates the downfall of these demons
through divine intervention.
The three sons of Tarkasura, after performing severe penances, obtained a
boon from Brahma: they would reside in three separate castles, one of gold in
the heavens, another of silver in the sky, and the third of iron on the earth.
These castles, built by the asura architect Maya, would remain independent for
a thousand years, after which they would align into a single fortress,
vulnerable to destruction by just one arrow.
With their newfound power, the asuras launched relentless assaults on the
gods. Indra, wielding the Vajra, attempted to subdue them but failed. The gods,
seeking a solution, approached Brahma, who revealed that the asuras could only
be destroyed with a single arrow, a feat possible only for Mahadeva.
Following Brahma’s guidance, the gods fervently prayed to Mahadeva,
imploring him to undertake this divine mission. In response, Mahadeva agreed
but demanded half of their collective strength, as the demons were too
formidable to be vanquished otherwise. The gods consented, offering their
power, thereby amplifying Mahadeva’s might beyond all other deities. This
unparalleled strength earned him the title Mahadeva, the Great God.
Each god played a role in this celestial battle:
- Vishnu transformed into the arrow,
- Agni became its barb,
- Yama formed its feather,
- The Vedas became Shiva’s bow,
- Savitri served as the bowstring,
- Brahma took the role of his charioteer.
Empowered by these divine elements, Mahadeva unleashed the fateful
arrow—composed of Soma, Agni, and Vishnu—obliterating the three castles
and annihilating the asuras within.
This legendary destruction finds echoes in earlier Vedic scriptures. The Yajurveda
recounts how the asuras, after being defeated by the gods, performed intense
austerities and built three celestial castles, which were ultimately
incinerated by Agni. The Brahmanas describe a cosmic rivalry wherein the
gods and asuras, though born of the same progenitor, Prajapati, clashed in a
battle of supremacy. The envious gods sought to destroy the asuras’ fortresses,
preparing a divine weapon: Agni as the shaft, Soma as the iron, and Vishnu
as the point.
An alternate account further embellishes the tale. The asuras’ three
castles—iron, silver, and gold—rendered them invincible. Unable to breach these
strongholds, the gods forged a singular, potent arrow. Yet, they needed a
warrior mighty enough to wield it. Their choice fell upon Rudra, the
fierce and relentless deity, who unleashed the arrow, shattering the three
castles and expelling the asuras from the celestial realms.
Thus, the legend of Tripura Samhara, the destruction of the three
forts, stands as a testament to Shiva’s supreme power and the divine
orchestration of cosmic order.
