Tilottama

Tilottama

Demon Sunda and Demon Upasunda were two demon brothers. They were cursed to die at each others hands but they loved each other too much that they can't inflict any pain on the other. Tired of the destruction they had caused on earth, Lord Brahma approached Lord Vishwakarma, the heavenly architect, to find a solution. They decided to create a woman so beautiful that nobody could take their eyes off her. Accordingly, Lord Vishwakarma created the exquistly beautiful Tilottama, seeing whom even Lord Shiva could not remove his gaze. Lord Brahma then instructed her to meet the demons. Tilottama appeared before the demons and seeing her, both brothers fell for her charms. They both wanted to marry her and thus, a fierce enmity followed. They took up arms against each other and died fighting. Unfortunately, Tilottama's charms kept captivating one and all. So Lord Brahma gave curse that nobody would be able to cast his eyes on her for too long.

Yaksha teaching lessons to the proud gods

The Proud Gods

 Yaksha teaching lessons to The proud Gods

The Demons once defeated the Gods and started ruling the world. They caused a lot of destruction. The Gods went to the all powerful Lord Brahma, the creator of the universe. Lord Brahma blessed them and asked them to fight the Demons again. This time the Gods won and got their kingdom back.

The Gods started celebrating their victory and forgot their duties. They became very proud forgetting that they had won because of Lord Brahma's blessings. Lord Brahma decided to teach them a lesson and sent a Yaksha (demi-god) to their kingdom .

When Lord Indra Deva, the king of Gods, saw the Yaksha, he sent Lord Agni Deva, The God of fire, to him. Lord Agni deva said, "I am the powerful God who can burn anything, " The Yaksha gave him a blade of grass and asked him, "Can you burn this?" Lord Agni Deva laughed and said, "This is such a small thing, I can burn it in a second ." Lord Agni Deva tried to burn the blade but failed. Ashamed, Lord Agni Deva returned.

Then Lord Indra Deva sent Lord Pawan Deva, the god of wind. Lord Pawn Deva told him that he was a powerful God who could blow away anything. The Yaksha gave him the same blade of grass and asked him, Can you blow this away?" He placed the blade on his palm and blew at it, but couldn't even move it. he also returned in shame.

Lord Indra Deva then went himself. The Yaksha said, "You Gods have become so proud that you do not recognise that I am Lord Brahma's messenger. I have come to make you realise that it is the most powerful and who made you win. Now leave your pride and fulfill your duties."

The Reformation of Demon Duraasadana

The Reformation of Demon Duraasadana

When Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati killed Bhasmasura the demon, his son demon Duraasadana was very angry. He performed a long tapasya and obtained the boon of immortality from Lord Shiva. Scared by this, all the gods left heaven and hid in Kashi. Demon Duraasadana followed them to Kashi and so they went to Kedarnath. There, the gods prayed to Goddess Parvati. An avatar of Lord Ganesha, Lord Vakratunda, with five faces and ten hands, came out of Goddess Parvati's face. She gave him a lion to ride. Lord Vakratunda went and fought with Demon Duraasadana. He assumed his huge form (viswaroop) and placed his foot on Demon Duraasadana's head to remove all his evil thoughts. Demon Duraasadana was reformed and Lord Vakratunda gave him the duty of removing evil, henceforth.