I was walking down the corridors when I saw my dadi being busy with preparations around the house such as decorating the house with flowers. “Why are you making such prepara-tion,when Diwali is over?” I asked dadi. “don’t you know, today is Tripurari Purnima”. “Tripurari Purnima, what is that?” I question dadi.
“Let me tell you a story of Tripurari Purnima. Three demons, Tarakakusha, Vidyunmali and Viryavan were deep in penance. The three were the sons of the asura Tarakasura, who was killed by the Devas. While on her death bed, Tarakasura instructed her three sons, “You three shall take the revenge of my death. You shall deafeat and overthrow the Devas.” A thousand year pass, the were still in penance. Lord Brahma satisfied by the tough penance, came down to them and asked, “Children, I am pleased with your penance.” The three opened their eyes. “ Ask me for any boon,” Brahma continued. A deep voice from Tarakakusha’s throat emerge “make us immortal.” “That is beyond my powers” Bramhma solemnly said “Asked for something eles.” The asuras discussed for a couple of minute then Tarakakusha spoke “Ok then we want three forts flying in the air. The fortress shall be as big as a city. They shall be made up of gold, silver and iron. They would have elegant palaces.”
“And you death?” Brahma asked. “After every thousand years these cities would align in a straight line for merely a second, if the cities are destroyed at that time we would destined to be die. The arrow that destroys the cities shall be Brahma Astra that one can use only once in his hole life time.”
“Tatastu. You shall be granted all these boons” speaking as this, Brahma disappeared into thin air.
Evil thoughts rushed to the asuras mind. They exchanged evil smiles among themselves. The asuras beagan to misuse there power. They began to burn and loot the villages. The Devas went to Lord Shiva who agreed to destroyed the cities. He made the Vast Meru parvat his bow shaft and the great Vasuki nag his bow string. Lord shiva used his Brahma astra at the precise second. The arrow pierced the three cities in straight line. The arrow destroy three cities. That was the end of the three demons. After thousand years of menace, good won over the evil. The Devas showered flowers on Lord Shiva. In fact they were so happy that they illuminates the land with many diyas. It was so bright that it looked like all the star had come down to earth. That is why this festival also called Deva Diwali. On this day numerous diyas are lit in Ravidas ghat of Varanasi in honour of sacred river Ganga. We celebrate this day as Tripuraru Purnima.” Dadi completed the story.
“Oh! Now I understood the significance of Tripurari Pornima is, I said.
