Tulasi - III

The battle between Shiva and Sankhachuda was ferocious. Divine missiles and illusionary tactics were used by both sides. The encounter lasted for over a year, in which most of the demon army was decimated, but the demon king stood firm. Shiva could have killed Sankhachuda any time he wanted, but he had to respect Brahma's boons. So he bided his time till Vishnu entered the scene.

The battle would halt every evening and resume the next morning. Even in the heat of the battle Sankhachuda would not forget to perform his acts of charity. It was at this time Vishnu appeared in the guise of a mendicant. He told the king that he had not eaten for days and made the king promise to give whatever he asked. After obtaining the vow he asked for the amulet. Sankhachuda gave it away without a second thought and then began to ready himself for the duel with Shiva. His wife's chastity was protection enough for him and in any event he would prefer death to dishonour.

Vishnu then went to Sankhachuda's capital disguised as the demon king. He created an illusion of the king returning from a great victory. There were soldiers in a boisterous mood shouting and dancing to the beat of drums. A messenger saw the approaching victorious army and informed Tulasi. Tulasi ran to the gate of her palace to greet her husband. They embraced warmly and Tulasi was unable to discern that the man she was with was not her husband. Then Tulasi led Vishnu inside and bathed and applied medication to his wounds. After a sumptuous meal Tulasi demanded to know the details of the battle. Vishnu explained that after an equal duel with Shiva, Brahma intervened and stopped the fight. Sankhachuda was allowed to keep whatever he had won from the demi-Gods and they would be forced to accept his supremacy. Vishnu then took Tulasi to her bedroom and they spent their pent-up passions with an ardor that left them both exhausted.

Shiva was keeping track of the proceedings with his divine vision. No sooner than Vishnu violated Tulasi's chastity, Shiva released his trident at Sankhachuda. When the king saw the resplendent weapon hurtling towards him he realized that his faithful wife had been tricked. He knew his end had come. He put down his weapons and remembered his Maker. The trident smashed into Sankhachuda's head and burnt his body in a flash of flame. The demi-Gods rejoiced and fell at Shiva's feet. Shiva then collected the bones of the demon and flung them into the sea. These bones were converted into sea shells. In fact 'Sankha' means sea shells. Sankhachuda reverted to his original form, that of Sudama, and went back to Golok.

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