Construction of Tripura - The Three Cities

Dadi: "Guddu, what would you ask for if a god granted you any wish?"

Guddu: "Umm... maybe a superpower? Or infinite wishes?"

Dadi: "Tonight's story is about three demon brothers who asked for something very clever - three floating cities that could only be destroyed in an almost impossible way."

Guddu: "Floating cities?!"

Dadi: "The brothers were Tarakaksha, Vidyunmali, and Kamalaksha - sons of the demon Taraka who was killed by Lord Kartikeya. They wanted revenge against the gods."

Guddu: "So they asked for weapons?"

Dadi: "They were smarter than that. They performed intense penance for many years until Lord Brahma appeared. They first asked for immortality."

Guddu: "Did he give it?"

Dadi: "He couldn't. Only Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva are truly immortal. So the brothers came up with a cunning plan B."

Guddu: "What did they ask for?"

Dadi: "Three indestructible cities - one made of gold that would float in heaven, one of silver that would float in the sky, and one of steel that would rest on earth. Together they're called Tripura - the Three Cities."

Guddu: "But what's the impossible part?"

Dadi: "The cities would only align in a straight line once every thousand years. And they could ONLY be destroyed when all three were in that line - by a SINGLE arrow - shot by Lord Shiva."

Guddu: "That IS almost impossible!"

Dadi: "Maya, the demon architect, built these magnificent cities. They had beautiful palaces, gardens, Kalpa trees that could grant wishes, and everything anyone could want."

Guddu: "So the brothers just lived there happily?"

Dadi: "More than that - they conquered the three worlds! They defeated the gods and took over heaven. But here's something interesting - inside their cities, they actually worshipped Lord Shiva."

Guddu: "Wait... they worshipped the only god who could destroy them?"

Dadi: "Strange, right? When the gods went to Shiva for help, he refused! He said, "Why should I destroy my own devotees? They're not doing anything wrong.""

Guddu: "So the gods couldn't get help?"

Dadi: "They went to Lord Vishnu, who had a clever plan. He said, "The problem is that they're righteous. Make them sinners, and Shiva will act.""

Vishnu created false teachers who went to the cities and slowly convinced the demons to stop worshipping Shiva, to abandon dharma.

Guddu: "That's sneaky!"

Dadi: "It worked. Once the demons became arrogant and stopped their spiritual practices, Shiva agreed to help."

The gods built an incredible chariot for him. The earth became the chariot body. The sun and moon became wheels. Mount Meru became the bow. The serpent Vasuki became the bowstring. And Lord Vishnu became the arrow!

Guddu: "The whole universe became a weapon?!"

Dadi: "Yes! Shiva waited patiently. A thousand years passed. Then came the moment when all three cities aligned. At exactly that instant - midday, on a Thursday, under specific stars - Shiva fired."

One arrow. Through all three cities at once. BOOM! Reduced to ashes instantly.

Guddu: "That's why he's called Tripurantaka?"

Dadi: "Yes! "Destroyer of Tripura." But there's another version of this story in Tamil tradition."

Guddu: "What's different?"

Dadi: "In that version, Shiva didn't even need to fire an arrow. When everything was ready, he simply... smiled. And just from his smile, the cities burned to ash!"

Guddu: "A smile destroyed entire cities?!"

Dadi: "That's how powerful true divinity is, beta. All the elaborate preparations, the cosmic chariot, the special arrow - and in the end, a smile was enough."

Guddu: "What's the lesson here, Dadi?"

Dadi: "Many lessons. No matter how clever your defenses, eventually truth catches up. Devotion protects you, but arrogance destroys you. And never underestimate the power of a smile."

Guddu: "I'll remember that last one!"

Dadi: "*smiles* Good. Sometimes a smile can indeed change everything."