!!!BONUS CHAPTER!!!

Author's Notes:--

Hi,

Greetings to all my dear readers. Thanks a lot for sharing this journey with me. In the recent chapters, there have been some developments that might not be easy to relate if one is not familiar with the aspects of Hindu mythology that have inspired me to begin this creation in the first place. So, I decided to release some bonus chapters along with the regular ones to share some side stories or backgrounds or details of the events being referred to in the story.

I mention it again that the story in itself is simply a piece of fiction and is not intended to promote any religion. Also, the character developments are fictional and none of the events claim to be real or exactly as stated in the Hindu mythology. Please enjoy the read as a piece of art.

Thanks again!! Keep reading and commenting!!

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

For today's bonus chapter, let us take a look at the character of General Durg (who has recently been killed by Mallika) and his backstory....

Since the ancient times, there existed a terrible rivalry between the Devas (the Gods) and the Asuras (the Demons). The Devas were known for their righteousness and gentle demeanour. They resided in the Swargaloka (the Heavens), and were in charge of the forces of nature.

On the other hand, the Asuras lived in the Paataal Loka (the Netherworld). They were infamous for their sky-kissing ambitions and their hot tempers. The Asuras bore a deep rooted grudge against the Devas. They felt that they were treated unfairly and more often than not, the Asura kings had their eyes set on conquering the three realms and becoming the masters of the world.

In order to gain immortality and become invincible, a demon named Durgasura (the 'asura' in his name refers to his identity as a demon) once performed a terribly difficult penance to propitiate Lord Brahma, the Creator.

Pleased with his penance, Lord Brahma appeared before him and asked him to state what he wished for.

Durgasura was very pleased. He was elated to see that his years of penance had finally borne fruit. He bowed to Lord Brahma and requested the Lord to grant him the boon of immortality.

However, Lord Brahma refused to do so. According to the laws of creation, anything that took birth had to die at some point of time. Otherwise, the delicate balance that is responsible for the smooth progress of the creation would be disturbed.

Durgasura didn't lose heart. Instead he decided to try tricking Lord Brahma into granting him the boon of immortality. He prayed to the Creator, "Oh Great God! If you do not want to bless me with immortality, then please grant this wish of mine-- I, Durgasura, pray that no man, Deva or Asura will ever be able to defeat or kill me!"

Lord Brahma smiled, "As you wish!"

In his vanity, Durgasura had requested to be protected only from the masculine entities. He didn't bother to mention about the feminine (women), thinking himself to be powerful enough to deal with what he considered to be the 'weaker sex'.

After his boon was granted, Durgasura began to wreck havoc in the three realms. He started committing atrocities so recklessly that the beneficial results of all the good deeds that he had previously performed, all the goodness remaining after his penance was over, and all the goodwill of his people began to gradually ebb away.

Soon, the three realms cried out in plight to be delivered from the ruthless cruelty of the demon.

When the situation worsened, the Devas appealed to Lord Shiva for help. Lord Shiva had long known how Durgasura's vanity would come to an end. He knew, that in his mind, Durgasura nurtured the illusion of himself being more powerful than even the Tridevas (three primary deities)-- Lord Brahma (the creator), Lord Vishnu (the preserver), Lord Rudra or Lord Shiva (the destroyer). He knew that the arrogant demon had a hidden desire to conquer Mount Kailash as it was His sacred residence.

So, in order to save the creation from the tyranny of Durgasura, Lord Shiva intentionally created a period of His absence from Mount Kailash, leaving the safety concerns of the place in the hands of His consort-- Goddess Parvati.

When Durgasura received word of Lord Shiva's absence, he found this to be a great opportune moment for attacking and conquering Kailash. Without further ado, he set off with his demon army to conquer the sacred mountain.

However, before he could set his feet on Kailash, he was stopped by a terribly fierce manifestation of Goddess Parvati, who was extremely enraged on knowing of the demon's audacity.

Years of anarchy had corroded Durgasura's senses, and he failed to realise the grave blunder he was about to commit. Without any regards for the Goddess, he started to gloat about his invincibility and immortality and kept emphasizing how neither a man, nor a Deva nor an Asura could ever kill him.

His arrogance drew the ire of Goddess Shakti, who reminded him of his vulnerability to the feminine. When Durgasura refused to surrender and mend his ways, the Goddess challenged him to a battle.

Ignorance got the better of the demon, and he readily agreed to fight Her. He assumed the most terrible form he could conjure, with a gigantic body that towered into the sky! In his hands, he held weapons of supernatural abilities and his vicious laughter was strong enough to shake the earth.

However, this was a paltry show of power that only made him appear as a fool infront of the Mother Goddess. Devi Shakti, enraged at the developments, assumed a fierce yet radiant form.

She was seated on a mighty lion, the king of beasts. In Her ten hands, She held various divine weapons, including the Trishula, (the Trident used by Lord Shiva) and the Sudarshana Chakra (the divine Discus used by Lord Vishnu). According to some accounts, the Goddess is said to have assumed the form of Devi Kalratri, or the eternal darkness.

In front of Her, Durgasura certainly didn't stand a chance. However, his audacity didn't reduce. He kept mocking the Goddess and looking down on Her, asserting that a woman could not kill him.

Ultimately, a violent battle ensued and he was thoroughly defeated by Goddess Shakti, who impaled him using Her trident. As the slayer of the demon Durgasura, She also came to be known as Goddess Durga, or the one who removes all sorrow and misfortune.

Hope you liked the story... Keep reading for more!