The Rise of Daruka – From Birth to the Siege of Amaravati
In this Bhadrakali Mahatmyam –
When Daruka was born, terrible signs shook the world. Meteors blazed across the sky. Jackals cried out from every direction. Fierce winds raised storms of dust, clouds poured down showers of blood, and mighty trees crashed to the ground. The earth itself shook, along with its oceans, forests, and mountains. Even the sacred fires of the ritualists were suddenly extinguished.
Daruka and his brother Danava grew quickly into youth. Their mothers reminded them constantly that Vishnu — who had destroyed their people — and the gods were their true enemies.
The brothers went to the sacred place of Gokarna to win boons from Brahma. There they performed dreadful austerities. In summer, they stood surrounded by five fires. In winter, they stayed immersed in freezing water. In the rains, they sat exposed without shelter. They lived only on air. At times Daruka hung upside down from a tree, scorched by smoke and flames. At other times he stood on one foot, unmoving, firm in his will.
But Brahma, seeing their arrogance, did not appear. Angered, Daruka seized a sword and declared, “I will cut off my head and offer it as sacrifice!” As soon as the blade touched his neck and a drop of blood fell, Brahma appeared before him.
Brahma said, “From each drop of your blood, a thousand demons like you will arise. Ask now, what further boon do you seek?”
Daruka replied, “Make me invulnerable to gods, men, and demons. Give me the strength of elephants, the Brahma-danda, victory in battle, and the powers of Mayavati and Tamasi.”
Brahma granted all this, but warned him: “You forgot to ask protection against women. Remember — a woman will one day be your destroyer.”
Daruka laughed. “Women? Weak, clumsy, and fickle! At my sight they flee. No woman can harm me!” With this arrogance, he dismissed Brahma and returned to the netherworld.
There he bowed to his parents and brother, and announced the boon he had received. To build his capital, he summoned Maya the architect. Maya built a magnificent city on the western ocean shore: palaces of gold and silver, halls filled with jewels, gardens of fragrant trees, ponds and reservoirs shining with lotuses, and stables full of elephants, horses, and cattle. The city was so splendid, it rivaled even Indra’s Amaravati.
At an auspicious moment, Daruka entered his new city with his family. He honored Maya with ornaments and ordered the great drums to be sounded. Hearing the thunder of those drums, demons who had long hidden in caves out of fear of Vishnu came forth. They gathered in countless numbers, consecrated Daruka as their supreme king, and took their places as generals, ministers, and allies.
Then Daruka, with his vast army bristling with weapons, mounted his chariot. Together with elephants and warriors carrying gleaming arms, he set forth to conquer heaven.
At last he reached Amaravati, the city of the gods. With eyes red with wrath, Daruka surrounded the city on every side. The thunder of war drums struck fear into the hearts of the immortals. The siege of Amaravati had begun.
Bhadrakali Mahatmyam will continue..
