Tripura (Hinduism)

Tripurantaka points his arrow at Tripura. Mount Meru with a Vasuki snake stretched over it serves as a bow. The sun and moon are presented in the form of chariot wheels.
Sandalwood carving. Mysore , end of the 19th century.

Tripura (“three cities”, “triple city”) ^[1] - three huge flying fortified cities described in sacred texts of Hinduism , erected by the Mayasura maiden architect for asuras . Destroyed by Shiva , who appeared in the form of the five-headed Tripurantaki. ^[one]

The legend of the destruction of Shiva Tripura is described in the Shiva Purana . ^[1] After the death of Tarakasura , who died at the hands of Karttikeya , his sons Tarakaksha , Vidyunmali and Kamalaksha performed severe austerities in order to satisfy Brahma . When Brahma appeared before them, the brothers asked him for a blessing to find three eternal fortresses that could not be conquered. When Brahma noted that nothing lasts forever in the material world, the brothers asked that the fortresses could be destroyed only by an arrow fired from the bow of Shiva. Brahma granted them this blessing and the huge fortified cities were erected by the architect of the gods Mayasura. The cities were respectively made of iron, silver and gold. The iron city was located on earth, and silver and gold - on the heavenly planets. Cities did not stand still, but floated apart in space, lining up in one line for one second every thousand years, when the Pushya Nakshatra met the Moon. Thus, the brothers were confident in their safety - in fact, it seemed impossible to destroy all three cities with one shot from a bow. These cities were famous for their luxury. Many asuras settled in them and carelessly enjoyed life.

Soon, the Asuras became very proud and began in every possible way to pursue the pious rishis and virgins. Mayasura meanwhile zealously worshiped Shiva. When it came to the war between the virgins and asuras, the troubled virgins led by Indra went for help to Brahma, who, in turn, sent them to Shiva. With the support of Shiva, the maidens went to the battle with the Asuras, in which Nandi appeared on their side. In this battle, Vidyunmali, killed by Nandi, and several other powerful asuras were killed. However, the magical living water from the pond in Tripura brought them all back to life.

From fierce battles, the Earth fell into the Causal Ocean . The guardian of order in the Vishnu universe came to the rescue. Having taken the form of a giant boar , he with his fangs lifted the Earth from the ocean and put it in its place. Then he entered Tripura and drank all the living water from the pond.

When the asuras began to gain up above the virgins, Shiva decided to personally enter the battle. For this purpose, he showed a huge chariot. Brahma became his chariot, Vishnu took the form of an arrow, the tip of which was Agni , and the plumage - Vayu . The chariot was so huge that it contained all the virgins. At this moment, all three cities of Tripura stood in one line and the Pushya Nakshatra united with the Moon. Shiva pulled his bow, but did not fire an arrow, but simply smiled. From his smile all three cities were incinerated in an instant. It is said that in this way Shiva taught a lesson to all the virgins who were in the chariot, who were proud, thinking that the upcoming destruction of Tripura from the arrow of Shiva was their merit. In order not to violate the blessing of Brahma, Shiva nevertheless fired an arrow at the already incinerated cities. Shortly before the destruction of Tripura, Nandi saved Mayasura's life by warning him of the impending denouement.