12. Lalithopakyanam (Devotional)

      Lalithopakyanam is story of goddess Lalitha Devi on whom Lalitha Sahasra namas were written. Actually the namas itself explains her story. Here i am narrating the story in short. If you want to read complete story, you can click here. This story is continuation of Daksha Yagnam. After Sathi devi immolated herself, Lord Shiva became an ascetic. Sathi Devi born as the daughter of Himavantha (Himalaya Mountain) and Menaka, as the couple did penance for 150 million years with the intention to beget her as their child. The new born was named Parvathi (daughter of Parvata-mountain). Lalitha Devi's story comes as part of the story of Parvathi's marriage with Shiva.

      One day sage Narada came to Himavantha and advised to send his daughter Parvathi to serve Shiva who is meditating in near by mountains. Himavantha happily agreed and requested Shiva to allow his daughter Parvathi to serve him. With Shiva's permission, Parvathi was going to Shiva everyday to serve him. This being so, a demon by name Taraka being confidant that Shiva will never get married, got a boon from Lord Brahma that he will get killed by Shiva's son only. He started to hurt and pester celestials who approached Indra for solution. Indra called the god of love Manmatha and ordered him to make Shiva to love Parvathi. Manmatha aimed an arrow of lust at Shiva while Parvathi was serving him through which Shiva's mind was affected a bit but Shiva having control over his senses immediately regained and saw Manmatha hiding in bushes. Shiva got angry and opened his third eye in between his eyebrows to reduce Manmatha to ashes. Manmatha's wife Rathidevi wept bitterly. Then she remembered curse of Brahma to Manmatha. That story goes as follows.

      Once upon a time Brahma accumulated the essence of beauty of all the fine things in the world and created a beautiful woman who was name Thilothama. Her beauty enchanted even the celestials. Brahma was checking up his creation keenly whether her beauty was superb in all aspects. Manmatha anted to play a practical joke and aimed an arrow of lust at Brahma Due to which Brahma forgot that she was his daughter and chased her lustily. Thilothama started running from him taking the form of a deer. Brahma also took the form of deer and followed her. To save Brahma from doing this sin, Shiva manifested as a hunter and scared him with an arrow. By looking at his fierce form, Brahma came to senses and prostrated to his feet praying for pordon. Then Brahma cursed Manmatha that he will be burnt to ashes by the fire of Shiva's third eye. Frightened Manmatha and Rathidevi prayed Brahma who blessed them later saying that divine mother will manifest as Lalitha Devi and revive Manmatha. Thus Rathidevi was waiting for Lalitha Devi to manifest.

      One day Chitrakarma the commander of one of Shiva's troops started toying with the ash of the burnt Manmatha and prepared a doll out of it. He showed it to Shiva whose eye sight gave life to that toy. Chitrakarma was happy and taught Shiva's manthra to that boy. That boy started meditating that manthra and finally Shiva appeared before him and called him 'Banda' who later called as 'Bandasura' (as he became Asura means demon by his qualities). Shiva gave him boon that he will rule the world for sixty thousand years. In the mean time, from the ashes of Manmatha were born two other demons Vishukra and Vishanga who became main brothers of Bandasura. Some thousands of demons also were born out of the ash.

      Sixty thousand years were almost over. Bandasura called all demons for a meeting and explained them that as his authority of sixty thousand years is almost over, they should kill gods before the time is up. They hatched a plan that they will assume the form of air and enter bodies of gods and dry up all their body fluids thus they will be annihilated. All demons followed the plan due to which gods became impotent and sterile. They lost enthusiasm to do anything. Slowly gods started observing their own condition and started discussing about this. All gods and Brahma couldn't comprehend what was going on and they approached Lord Vishnu. Vishnu understood Bandasura's plan and explained them that Bandasura was responsible and even Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva also couldn't escape from his torture. Everybody worried about this. Vishnu told them that there is one almighty god who is beyond this manifest brahmanda. That is Maha Shambhu with Parashakthi's company. All gods started with their left energies to meet Maha Shambhu and Parashakthi.

      After they travelled a long distance they found Maha Shambhu and Parashankthi out side Brahmanda. Gods praised Maha Shambhu and asked for his help. Maha Shambhu observed their situation and told them that only Lalitha Devi can help them, who will be created by Parashakthi. Gods devoted Parashakthi by which Parashakthi agreed to help them. Maha Shambhu explained them that he will do Maha Yaga and every one has to sacrifice their present bodies in fire of Yaga through which lalitha Devi will be born and will revive them with new pure bodies. All gods agreed to the plan. Maha Shambhu made the water ocean dried up and used it as Homa Kunda (Fire pit). Fired it with fire from his third eye and did penance with milk from milk ocean and ghee from ghee ocean etc. Finally all gods sacrificed their bodies in that fire. Thus Lalitha Parameswari manifested. She created Parabrahma in the name of Kameshwara and had him as her consort. That couple re-created the entire universe. All gods were created again with fresh pure new bodies.

    Lalitha Parameshwari with all gods prepared for a war with Bandasura. Bandasura heard about this but he underestimated Lalitha Devi being a lady and sent some troops who were slayed by Lalitha Devi's troops. Finally Bandasura himself came to fight and lost his life. Gods celebrated their victory over demons. They praised Lalitha Devi and requested her to revive Manmatha from whose ashes all these events happened. Lalitha Devi smiled and looked at Manmatha's remaining ashes. Manmatha took rebirth. Meanwhile Parvathi was performing a great penance to marry Shiva. Lalitha Devi told Manmatha to cast his magical arrow on Shiva once again. Shiva couldn't control this time due to Lalitha Devi's blessings and agreed to marry Parvathi. Later Karthikeya was born to them and killed demon Tharaka.