The History of Tripura

The History of Tripura: The Three Cities of Illusion

In an age when demons rivalled the gods, three brothers - Tarakaksha, Kamalaksha and Vidyunmali - performed intense penance to please Lord Brahma. Impressed, Brahma granted them a boon: "Build three indestructible cities of gold, silver and iron. They will align once every 1,000 years, and only then can they be destroyed by a single arrow". Confident of their invincibility, the brothers enlisted Maya, the divine architect, to build the flying cities of Tripura.

The cities soared through the skies, shifting dimensions to avoid detection. From their floating fortresses, the demons terrorised the universe, corrupting sages, overthrowing kingdoms and defying the gods. The Gods pleaded with Shiva, the Destroyer, to intervene.

Shiva agreed, but waited millennia for the celestial alignment. When the three cities finally converged, he mounted his chariot, guided by Brahma as charioteer. The gods contributed to his divine arrow:

• Vishnu became the arrowhead.
• Agni (fire) fuelled its power.
• Yama (Death) sharpened its point.
• Vayu (wind) guided its path.

As the cities lined up, Shiva drew his bow. The demons unleashed their full power, shrouding Tripura in illusion. But Shiva, his third eye aflame, saw through the deception. He unleashed the arrow, piercing all three cities in a single blow. The explosion lit up the cosmos like a second sun, reducing Tripura to ashes.

The surviving demons pleaded for mercy. Shiva, compassionate even in destruction, granted them rebirth as virtuous beings. Maya, the architect, was spared for his skill and went on to build sacred temples for the gods.

This myth, from the Shiva Purana, symbolises:

• The Futility of Arrogance - No power lasts forever.
• Unity Against Evil - The gods combined forces to create the ultimate weapon.
• Destruction as renewal - Shiva's act restored the cosmic balance.

The story also inspired the name of the north-eastern Indian state of Tripura, where it is believed the cities fell. Hindus re-enact the event during festivals, celebrating Shiva as Tripurantaka ('Destroyer of Tripura'), who ends delusion to reveal the truth.