Vidyunmaliविद्युन्माली

The Iron Stronghold of Tripura

The brothers withdraw to Mount Meru and perform rigorous austerities. Brahma appears, but he will not grant their first request for freedom from death. They instead ask for separate, virtually impregnable cities. Only a single arrow striking the three cities at their rare moment of alignment can destroy them. Their request therefore turns their lives and kingdoms into parts of a shared defensive arrangement.

Maya, the architect of the asuras, builds Vidyunmali’s stronghold on earth. Tarakaksha’s golden city occupies heaven and Kamalaksha’s silver city the intervening sky. The cities provide comfortable homes and extensive resources, attracting other asuras who seek security and prosperity. The Shiva Purana depicts temples, sacred fires, gardens and reservoirs within them, rather than describing the settlements simply as weapons.

Their growing strength becomes a danger beyond their walls. In the Mahabharata, warriors restored by a life-giving lake in Tarakaksha’s city replenish the forces attacking the worlds. Indra’s thunderbolt cannot overcome the cities’ protection. The gods consequently turn to Shiva, who alone can accomplish the required shot. When the cities come together, he burns the three brothers and their strongholds with one arrow. The Shiva Purana describes the arrow as formed from Vishnu with fire at its head.