Beauty And Andhaka

Once, Lord Shiva and Parvati visited the Mandara mountain. In a playful mode, Parvati closed all the three eyes of Shiva with both of her hands. Immediately, there was utter darkness all over the three worlds! The blazing fire from Shiva's third eye made Parvati's hand to sweat and the sweat fell on the ground. From it grew a weird blind being. Shiva and Parvati named this being, Andhaka (the dark one) and looked after it. Elsewhere, Hiranyaksha, an Asura, was performing severe austerities to please Shiva. Shiva and Parvati appeared before him and asked him what he wanted. Hiranyaksha said he had no one to inherit his kingdom and wanted a son. Shiva granted him this wish and offered Andhaka. Hirayaksha was jubilated and took Andhaka to his kingdom. After Hiranyaksha's death, Andhaka ruled the kingdom. But his envious cousins taunted him because he was blind. So he went to the forest and performed severe austerities to please Lord Brahma. Lord Brahma appeared before him and offered him a boon. Andhaka said he wanted to rule over the three worlds and that he can be defeated only by women. Lord Brahma granted him this wish and also made Andhaka handsome and gave him eyesight. When he returned to the kingdom, everyone were shocked to see a different version of Andhaka. His cousins did not taunt him anymore and he peacefully ruled over the three worlds. One day, Andhaka visited the Mandara mountain. As soon as he saw Parvati there, he was enamored by her beauty. He wanted to take her to his kingdom. Parvati knowing his motive prayed to Lord Brahma, Vishnu and Indra as Shiva was away. All of them appeared in their female forms. Then a huge battle ensued between Andhaka and the female forms of all the gods. Then Shiva also joined them in the fight and defeated Andhaka. Andhaka realized his mistake and asked Shiva and Parvati to forgive him. They forgave him and Andhaka asked for a boon that he be devoted to them all the time. Both of them granted him this boon and Andhaka lived happily ever after.

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