THE DIVINE ASTRAS

Chapter 4

A few days back
"Bhaiya, tell that Shiva story father used to tell us?"said Kartik.
"It's Lord Shiva Kartik." said Rudra.
"Yes, Lord Rudra," said Kartik while promptly puffing up his cheeks reflecting his pompous behaviour.
"Kartik! Behave."
"But, bhaiya!"
"Okay, I will. One day, Lord Vishnu was having a argument with Lord Brahma about who was more powerful,
"I have the power to protect this world you created! I am the most powerful."
"You didn't have the power to create this world, I did, therefore, I am almighty."
"I had the power!"
"DID NOT!"
"DID TOO!"
Suddenly, a lightning cracked through the sky, and the ground began to shake. From the ground, a great blazing pillar erupted. It just kept on rising, until it touched the sky, then it's branches went beyond the sky and it's roots grew beyond the earth.
"Did you see that?"
"Oh yes, brother Brahma."
"What to do now?"
"Let's find out where this goes to!"
"Good idea! I'll take to the skies!" said Brahma and turned into a goose and started flying towards the sky, to see the pillar's end.
"And I'll take the earth!" saying so, Vishnu turned into a boar and and started digging into the earth to find the beginning of the roots of the pillar.
Lord Brahma flew for hours and days but couldn't find the top.
Lord Vishnu wasn't faring well either, he kept on digging and digging, but couldn't find a bottom.
They both decided to give up.
They came back to the ground, and as they reached there, they saw an opening in the pillar, from it he emerged, a man with snakes in his neck, a crescent moon on his bun of a head, wearing a leopard skin on his lower limb, a few necklaces in his neck.
Both Vishnu and Brahma could feel his divine aura emanating towards them, they both then realised, he was their brother, a third power ruling this universe.
"Who are you brother?" asked Brahma.
"As this is an auspicious occasion...."
"I, for one, highly doubt it. What's so auspicious about this occasion?"
"You both realised today, we are not greater than each other, we are not lesser than each other. But, I am here to teach you something you cannot learn on your own. To teach you the truth, and show you that we are all one. That's why this is an auspicious occasion. Got it, Vishnu?" said he with a coy smile.
"Now as this is an auspicious occasion, I think it suitable to call myself Shiva."
"LORD SHIVA!" said both of them
"Now, there will come lots of times when we shall all need to unite. But one time, I shall be your Guru, Vishnu and I shall teach him your power Brahma."
"Really?" said Brahma.
"I, Lord Shiva, pledge to destroy evil whenever required, at whatever cost. I, pledge, to treat my brothers as equals, and to remember their purpose and not interfere in their work."
"Marvelous, Shiva." said Brahma.
"Actions speak louder than words, Shiva, but you need not have taken such a pledge, nobody is above us, we are the supreme ones, so you just wasted my time." said Vishnu.
"You are wise, my brother, but not wise enough,"
"What do you mean?"
"You can stop time, brother."
"Oh, right, but still, you did waste a pretty good pledge. Anyways, there is this problem in heaven...."
And they all started their work, as brothers, they were the Māhākāl and the Trimurti.
There was this one time, that Lord Shiva taught Lord Parashurāma the Kalaripayattu, and the use of the divine astras created by lord Brahma and as you know, Parashurāma was the sixth incarnation of Lord Vishnu. Therefore, Parashurāma was not Vishnu alone, he was all three, Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh. Together, these three regulate the Brahmānda and take care of it. The end. Good night, Kartik."
"But Bhaiyā, I have a question!" said Kartik.
"Yes?"
"Is Mahesh the same as Shiva?"
"Yes, my dear brother, they are both one person."
"HAR HAR MAHADEV!"
"Don't say his name in vain Kartik, plus you'll get yourself charged up and won't be able to sleep."
"Okay, Bhaiyā."
"Good night."

****

Present day
Somewhere in a room, a scared Kartik lay alone, awake and crying. As he remembered the story, his brother told him, he realised, that his brother would come for him, he would save him, thinking about it, he became stronger.
He picked up the tray of food next to him, and started eating. He had to eat, he was starving.
As he ate, he whispered,"Har har mahadev, bhaiya, Har har mahadev."