Chapter 7: chapter 7

Devendra also beseeched Brihuspathi to come back to heaven. He fell on his legs and apologized for his deeds. Brihuspathi felt delighted as his students realized their mistake. Brihuspathi went along with Indra and took his position as dev purohit again.Years passed. Narad every day described leelas of Sri Hari and made Laxmi immerse in bhakti of Vishnu. Laxmi fell completely in love of Vishnu as soon as she attained twenty five years.(20 years later);"Hey sakhi! Laxmi!", Jaya came shouting towards Laxmi, who sat beside the bank of Narmada river and totally had been immersed in citing Vishnu's name and his love such that she even see only his reflection in the river. Laxmi came to collect lotuses but forgot the entire world in love of Hari. Laxmi was glowing radiantly in her blue saree with a divine smile etched on her face.Jaya is the best friend of Laxmi. Her actual name is Jayaprada, her friends including Devi laxmi lovingly call her as Jaya"Sakhi!Jaya!!", she astonished to see her coming in a hurry. "You want paarijatha flowers and cried so much that they're not even one in our ashram henna. But I finally found them somewhere""Where?" excited Laxmi."In the forest near our ashram!But tell me why you're craving much about those flowers?""Not for me sakhi! For my beloved Arya!He likes them so much", she replied smiling and stood up holding the basket of lotuses in her hand, and walked towards ashram."Laxmi! Sakhi!! Why do your Arya likes only lotuses and paarijatas? You always worship him with lotuses", asked Jaya.Laxmi felt delighted with her excitement and told,"If one worships him with true devotion, he will accept any flower. He is fond of lotuses and paarijatas but mostly because of their significances.A lotus starts as a bud underwater in muddy ponds and grows until it emerges as a beautiful blooming flower. Here the lotus bud represents humans and muddy water represents human life struggles and cycles of karm and death. Humans should be able to overcome all human feelings, like enemity, hatred, anger, lust, etc and as the same way, a bud became a blooming flower, he should reach spiritual enlightenment. Blossoming lotuses represent humans reaching Nirvana and free from worldly suffering. It also symbolises that wherever you start in your life, whether poor or in miserable conditions, you've the ability to rise above, overcome all the difficulties and reach the best positions.Lotus flower also indicates birth of universe. My Arya and Brahmdev, our creator were too born from a lotus. It symbolises eternity and divine beauty.And coming to paarijata flowers, it's the most beautiful among all. It has great medicinal properties too. It's leaves can be used to get relief from all health problems. It's used in treatment of skin diseases, constipation and stomach ailments. It's scent is used in making agarbattis. People even drink soup prepared by those leaves for robust health. Lord Vishnu, my swami made this flower his favourite flower so that people atleast use it for his worship and get benefited. Because even it's smell removes all health problems and fills one's mind with peace and bliss.""Great! Sakhi! Really great!! Parijat and lotus are helping us a lot! I'm glad to learn many unknown things from you. Shall I bring those parijatas for you? You can happily worship him."Laxmi spoke then,"No sakhi(softly). Actually I am planning to do a special pooja for my Arya on Vaikunth ekadashi, day after tomorrow. It's a very auspicious day. I want to worship him that day with parijaat flowers that's why I asked you about them. As I'm performing the pooja, let me do all the works related to it. My Arya too feels happy then.""OK Sakhi! As your wish"Laxmi hurried, "It's time for pooja of my Arya! Let's hurry".Both reached ashram quickly and Laxmi prepared a beautiful garland using those lotuses. Laxmi decorated it around neck of the idol of her Prananadh and got enchanted.As soon as she worn the garland, it directly fell around neck of Padmanabha, who's residing in Vaikunth. Laxmi prayed before idol,"Arya I hope you'll surely accept my love and devotion towards you and make me your ardhangini. You're my breathe, you're my life. I'm waiting for that day you take me along with you"He giggled and said,"Laxmi! You were born on Earth to teach everyone love and devotion. I'm greatly impressed by the way you explained significance of lotuses and you daily do my aarti with them.I'm granting a boon that from today, whoever offers garland of 108 lotuses to appease you, they'll be blessed with all fortunes and prosperity in their lives. And Parijata flowers is considered as the most precious flower during vrat. And I'd definitely bring you Vaikunth Priya. Infact I'm also craving for that moment."Meanwhile in heaven, Indra had been enjoying his throne and all comforts continuously for those twenty years. Until then he didn't expect that he's going to confront severe challenges."Devraj Devraj", his messenger came hurriedly and informed him,"A huge demon entered heaven and is destroying everything. It killed all the guardians and coming towards your court."Indra and all the members of devraj's court got appalled at that news."Indra! Indra! Where are you??? I won't leave you?", suddenly everyone heard this huge vibrant sound. It trembled everyone especially Devendra. Instantly that huge, strange demon came into the court and started screaming loudly seeing Indra. "Indra! I'll smash you into pieces! "His fearful personality frightened everyone. He was tall, blackish and appeared like unconquerable. His body was in the colour of molten copper and eyes as piercing midday sun. He shook entire heaven with one sudden tap of his feet. He yawned,"Indra! You're here! I have been wandering allover the universe for you. At last I found you"Indra got startled and asked him,"Who're you? Why do you want to kill me?""I'm VRITRASUR, son of Prajapati Thwasta", his voice echoed all over the heaven and shook everyoneTO BE CONTINUED