Once there were three asuras(demons): Tarakaksha, Vidyunmali and Kamlaksha. All of them did great penances. Lord Brahma was pleased and appeared before them and gave them each a boon. They asked to be immortal. When Brahma said nobody could be immortal, they asked for three indestructible cities made of iron, silver and gold and located on earth, in the sky and in heaven, respectively. However, as Brahma told them that nothing could be everlasting, they requested the destruction of the cities could be brought about by a single arrow only. Brahma agreed to this. Maya(Celestial architect) built them the three cities. The three cities were called Tripura. The three cities were mobile and moved in such a way that they would never be in a single line, except for a few moments in around a thousand years. All the asuras lived in the three cities happily. After sometime, their inherent evil tendencies surfaced once again and they began to destroy the earth and heaven thus shattering the peace of the worlds. The Devas were not happy with this and sought the protection of Brahma. Brahma redirected them to Lord Shiva. The Devas went to the abode of Shiva and sought his protection. Shiva promised to help them and they returned to fight with the Asuras in a mighty war. The Devas struggled to win the battle. As the battle raged, the three cities gradually came together in a single line. Shiva then arrived with earth as a chariot, sun and moon as the wheels, Brahma as the charioteer, Mount Meru as the bow, Vasuki(King Of Snakes) as the bow-string, Lord Vishnu as the arrow and Agni(Fire) as the tip of the arrow, Vayu(Wind) inside the feathers on the rear of the arrow. Shiva strung the mighty bow and shot the arrow. The three cities were destroyed! Peace was restored in all the three worlds.
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