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After Lalitadevi killed Bhandasura, her grandeur was praised by Brahma,
Vishnu, Indra and other celestials. They requested
her to revive Manmatha, who had been turned to ash by Shiva’s third eye,
when trying to influence Shiva to have a son who was prophesied to kill
Bhandasura’s elder brother Tarakasura. Lalitadevi smiled compassionately and
looked at Kameshwara, and Manmatha was born again. Manmatha, along with his
consort Ratidevi, praised Lalitadevi who told him to fearlessly go and cast the
arrow of his magic on Shiva so he could marry Uma Parvati. Devi also blessed
Manmatha that from now on, he would dwell in everyone’s body and allow them to
enjoy sensuous pleasures.
Shiva,
struck by Kamadev Manmatha’s arrow went in search of Parvati, who had been
performing penance to attain Shiva. The marriage of Shiva and Parvati resulted
in the birth of Kumaraswamy who became an army commander and killed Tarakasura.
Kumar, or Kartikeya, married Devasenadevi, the daughter of Indra.
The
cosmic architect Vishwakarma and the architect of the demons Maya combined
efforts to construct 16 palaces in 16 kshetra (sacred sites) for the residence
of Lalita and Kameshwara. These are called Shripura. A Shripura has 7 walled
squares with the same center, each separated from the inner and the outer square
by 7 yojana ( a yojana = about 9 miles) –
the
kalayasa (iron) wall with a perimeter of 16000 yojana,
a
kansya (bronze) wall with the throne kalacakra on which sit Mahakala and
Mahakali,
a
tamra (copper) wall where there is a kalpavriksa (wish-granting tree) protected
by Vasanta with his consorts Madhushri and Madhavashri
an
aarkut (brass) wall with the forests of haricandanavriksha (yellow sandalwood
trees) guarded by Varsharitu (monsoon) and his consorts Nabhashri and
Nabhasyashri.
a
pancaloha (five metal) wall with a garden of mandara trees protected by
Sharadrutu (Winter) with his consorts Ishashri and Urjashri.
a
raupya (silver) wall that houses the parijata forest, protected by Hemantrutu and
his consorts Sahashri and Sahasyashri.
a
hema (gold) wall that houses the kadamba forest with Shishira (Winter) as
protector with his consorts Tavashri and Tavasyashri. Mantrinidevi resides
here, except when she is on duty to protect Lalita which is when she resides
close to Lalitadevi in a forest of lotuses.
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