Demon Narakasura was blessed at birth,
Came forth he did from the womb of Mother Earth.
Lord Vishnu as Varaha, a boar and ' Bhooma Devi ' in communion,
Narakasura was born from this holy union.
No one could cause his death, his destruction,
Except if following Mother Earth's instructions.
Mighty powers were bestowed upon him,
He could use them to satisfy every desire, every whim.
He asserted himself when the Devas he assaulted,
They fled in distress, humiliated, exhausted.
He surveyed ' Devaloka ' with pleasure,
His gaze fell on a priceless treasure!
On the ears of Mother Aditi, on her earrings,
Glowing, sparkling, glittering.
Like the king's bejewelled crown,
Like a queen's shimmering gown.
Aditi, the Mother of the Devas and the Sun,
Aditi whose earrings could be equalled by none!
Narakasura's eyes gleamed with greed,
To his better counsel, he paid no heed.
He snatched the jewel from Mother Aditi's ears,
Callously ignoring her pain, her tears...
With women Narakasura could not be trusted,
He leered, he lured, after them he lusted.
Thousands of women from all over the world,
He captured and into a prison he hurled...
Mother Aditi did Satyabhama seek,
To Lord Krishna, her husband, she asked her to speak.
Heaven had been converted to hell,
Evil did reign, fear did dwell.
A bitter lesson Narakasura needed to be taught,
Goodness and virtues had been reduced to naught!
Lord Krishna and Satyabhama sat on Garuda, the eagle,
Hooked beak, golden, regal.
Off they went on this great adventure,
Dangerous, hazardous, perilous venture!
Narakasura had to be stopped from his cruel deeds,
Mammoth proportions they had assumed indeed!
In heaven, Sage Narada plucked the Tanpura strings,
As he witnessed the scene, he began to sing...
"Garuda Vaahanane,
Gaambhira Murthiye,
Gaambhira Murthiye,
Unnai Sharanam Adainthein,
Karuna murthiye..."
"Lord Krishna On Garuda, His Vehicle, Rides,
Regal He Sits On Him Astride,
We Bow, We Surrender, We Seek Refuge,
From Him Infinite Compassion Flows, A Deluge..."
Demon Mura stood in Pragjyotishyapur, guarding the gate,
Monstrous he was, demon Narakasura's mate!
Bitter it was when the battle ensued,
Hatred and venom Mura spewed!
He snorted, he threatened, he rained blows,
Lord Krishna killed him in a trice with his feathered arrows!
Mura's life he thus claimed,
'Murari' became one of his numerous names.
To confront Narakasura, Lord Krishna needed,
Towards the battleground, he proceeded.
A spectacular sight met his eyes, one would say,
Elephants did trumpet, horses did neigh!
Like the crests of waves in high tide,
White elephants and horses did move and rise!
With outstretched wings, Garuda did fly,
Hiding the sun and blackening the sky.
Lord Krishna and Satyabhama, clad in blue light,
Like a beacon it pierced, luminous, bright!
Garuda lowered himself on his downward flight,
Gasps this drew, the sheer power, the sheer might !
The sound rose stentorious, the sound of the bugle,
It heralded the start of the historical duel !
A clash of the Titans in the battlefield,
Metallic armours with glinting shields!
Feathered arrows from Lord Krishna's bow,
Carpet of corpses lined up in rows.
Narakasura rubbed his eyes in disbelief,
To get rid of 'maya' and himself relieve.
By hundreds of Lord Krishnas surrounded he was,
His mind was playing tricks, he was at a loss!
Blindly all around his weapons flew,
To face Lord Krishna, he had not a clue!
With concern, her Lord, Satyabhama viewed,
On Him her eyes were firmly glued.
For hours and hours, he had been fighting with zest,
Time it was to stop, time to rest.
"Kill him at once this demon,
This appalling, abominable, atrocious heathen!"
Her voice rang out loud and clear,
It was heard both far and near!
Lord Krishna used the 'Sudarshan Chakra' and did as he was bid,
Narakasura fell, on the ground he slid...
"I acted as per your mother's decree,
Satyabhama is the incarnation of Mother Bhooma Devi."
Satyabhama looked at Narakasura with saddened eyes,
To stop him for the sake of the world had been wise.
Narakasura took in their divine light,
Despite the pain, despite his ailing plight.
Soothing, calming, healing..
Overcome he was by penitent feelings.
From such a divine womb, he had come forth,
Not realising the value, not realising its worth.
The boons that were given, he had carelessly tossed,
Their significance diluted, a colossal loss!
In a quagmire of evil, he waded deep,
Regret, remorse in his heart did seep.
His eyes leaked tears, he silently did weep...
His mother's compassionate hand stroked his head,
'Please give me one more boon!" he begged.
" In the twilight of my life, I see,
Fatal mistakes, misconduct and misdeeds.
I bask, am bathed by thy luminous light,
Through the darkness, I see a glimmer grow bright.
Let this bring hope to every soul,
Let my story to every child be told."
Lord Krishna dazzled and grew in size,
Blessings he showered on the world wide...
" On this day, rows of lamps will be lit,
Crackers will burst, a riot of colours they will emit.
Goddess Lakshmi will grace every home,
The world will erupt with joy on Lord Rama's return to his throne.
Most of all celebrations will be rife,
The triumph of light over darkness and strife.
This festival of lights as 'Diwali' will be known,
Great joy, devotion,and love will be shown,
In light, through darkness man will be borne."
Footnotes
---------------
Bhooma Devi - Mother Earth
Devaloka - The place where Gods And Demi-Gods Exist
Devaloka - The place where Gods And Demi-Gods Exist
Aditi - Name of the Heavenly Mother
Satyabhama - Name Of Lord Krishna's Wife
Narada - Name Of A Vedic Sage
Tanpura - A Long Necked String Instrument
Garuda - Name of An Eagle, Mount Of Lord Vishnu
Pragjyotishyapur - Name Of An Ancient City
Sudarshana Chakra - The Discus Weapon Of Lord Vishnu
Sudarshana Chakra - The Discus Weapon Of Lord Vishnu
Lakshmi - The Goddess Of Wealth
Lord Rama - The Seventh Avatar Of Lord Vishnu
Diwali - The Festival Of Lights.
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