King of Devas

"Ah-choo!" Indra sneezed violently. He frowned, instinctively raising a hand to rub his nose. Strange, he thought. He was the mighty Lord of Svarga, the Deva of Thunder and Lightning—the sovereign of the celestial realms. Could he be affected by something as trivial as a cold? It was perplexing. Could someone be calling him?

He pondered, then shook his head. As the eldest Deva and ruler of the Svargas, he could hear the prayers of any devotee who built an altar, kindled a Yajna Agni, and called upon him with devotion. But to sneeze at the mere mention of his name—unlikely, unless one had attained extraordinary devotion.

Only by opening the Ajna Chakra, the sixth of the seven chakras, could a Deva be alerted when someone simply spoke his name. The Ajna Chakra, a symbol of wisdom, granted insight and awareness, enabling a Deva to feel even the faintest invocation as a tribute and a source of strength.

This heightened perception was just one gift of the Ajna Chakra. Its greater power lay in helping the Devas endure and overcome divine trials. The entire existence of the universe was divided into four cosmic ages, each representing a distinct phase in the cycle of creation, preservation, and destruction. These ages were: Satya Yuga, the Age of Truth, where righteousness reigned supreme; Treta Yuga, the Age of Three, during which Vishnu incarnated in three avatars to preserve the waning righteousness; Dvapara Yuga, the Age where the last two pillars of humanity—compassion and truthfulness—stood firm; and Kali Yuga, the Age of Strife, marked by moral decay and chaos. Together, these ages spanned 4.32 million years.

Satya Yuga was the Age of Perfection, where truth, virtue, and righteousness (dharma) reigned supreme. It was a golden age, where harmony and divine presence flourished. The Devas and humans lived in purity, with no need for strife. Life was long, and the consciousness of all beings was elevated. The divine order was upheld without effort, and sin did not exist.

As time moved forward, Treta Yuga emerged. In this age, righteousness began to wane, with dharma divided into three parts, and human beings became more inclined toward material desires. Although virtue still existed, it was not in its perfect form. Divine intervention became more frequent as the Devas worked to guide the world back toward harmony. It was during this age that Lord Rama incarnated to restore balance, marking one of the greatest divine acts in human history.

Following this was Dvapara Yuga where dharma was reduced to only half of its former strength. The world descended into conflict and strife, with the divine presence growing weaker. The Devas continued their efforts, but the material world was increasingly dominated by greed and ambition. The Mahabharata unfolded in this age, where the epic battle between the Pandavas and Kauravas marked a pivotal moment in the struggle for righteousness.

Finally, Kali Yuga, the Age of Strife, arrived. This was the darkest and shortest of the four yugas, where virtue was nearly extinguished. The world was engulfed in chaos, suffering, and moral decay. Humanity was focused solely on material pursuits, with little regard for spiritual truth or divine connection. In this age, beings were short-lived and plagued by constant strife. The divine presence was veiled, and the Devas struggled more than ever to maintain balance.

4.32 billion years, made up one day for Brahma, also known as a Maha Kalpa which is followed by the "Great Wave of Calamity"—a cycle of day and night that marked the trials faced by the entire universe.

When Shiva initiates the destruction, the world will indeed meet its end, completely obliterated. Without the opening of the Ajna Chakra, the Devas would face full reincarnation, compelled to unravel the karma of their past lives and reestablish their ranks. Only then would Brahma recreate the cosmos. Thus, the Ajna Chakra marks the state of "Reincarnation at the End of Tribulation."

As for the final Sahasrara, Crown Chakra, it is said to represent the state of "Unity of Brahman and Self"—a transcendence even Indra had yet to comprehend. He murmured to himself, "Time is ticking. If I fail to unlock the Ajna Chakra, even I, the Lord of Svarga, will have only 4.3 billion years left."

With a resigned sigh, he pondered his fleeting time, ironic as it was for a being of his stature.

Just then, radiant beams streamed down from above the Kshira Sagara, or Milk Ocean, casting a warm glow that filled Indra with peace. In the heart of this golden light sat Vishnu and Lakshmi, poised on a lotus, their gazes serene yet all-encompassing, observing Devas and Asuras alike.

Lakshmi, radiant with divine light, followed Vishnu's gaze and noticed Alakshmi, who was departing with the Asuras. "She is my sister, born from Kshira Sagara," Lakshmi said softly. Turning to Vishnu, she smiled, "My dear, would you call her beautiful?"

Lakshmi's gentle smile radiated a beauty as serene and pure as a lotus in full bloom. It was as though, in that moment, her splendor filled the entire cosmos.

"Of course she is beautiful," Vishnu replied, a soft smile gracing his lips as he looked at Lakshmi with affection.

Alakshmi, the Devi of misfortune and poverty, carried the energies of conflict, jealousy, hardship, ignorance, and negativity—a near-opposite to Lakshmi. Yet, she shared almost the same origin, bound as both counterpart and contrast to her sister Lakshmi, the goddess of prosperity and light.

In Vishnu's eyes, Alakshmi was indeed a being much like Lakshmi. As radiant as his beloved wife, so was her counterpart, Alakshmi. To praise Alakshmi, Vishnu thought, was also to honor Lakshmi.

"Nath, you know everything that has happened, is happening, and will happen in the entire universe," Lakshmi said playfully, her eyes sparkling. "So tell me, who is more beautiful—me or her?"

Vishnu replied with a calm smile, "Alakshmi is most beautiful when she walks away from me. And you, my beloved wife, are most beautiful when you face me."

The Devas and Asuras, though unable to hear the words exchanged between Vishnu and Lakshmi, keenly felt the undercurrent of the moment. A charged silence fell over the scene as if the very air quivered with the intensity of their gaze. The Devas, ever in awe of their divine lord and goddess, exchanged looks of reverence mixed with slight discomfort. While they adored the bond between Vishnu and Lakshmi, they couldn't help but feel that such open displays of affection were out of place amidst the turmoil of the ocean churning.

On the other side, the Asuras, with their usual bitterness and rivalry, exchanged glances laden with frustration. The sight of the divine couple locked in such an intimate connection only served to fuel their envy. They muttered amongst themselves, growing more irritated with each passing moment. Their task, already arduous, seemed to carry even more weight in the presence of such a display of divine affection.

Indra, observing the scene with a thoughtful frown, couldn't suppress a sigh. He glanced around at the churning ocean and then back at the divine couple, shaking his head. "Ah, love," he muttered, his tone tinged with a mix of envy and resignation. "I can't say I envy them."

He folded his arms, leaning slightly to the side with a rueful expression. "I suppose I'll just keep to my duties," he added, his voice carrying a hint of dry humor. "At least I don't have to deal with the... complications of romance."

Meanwhile, Hiranyaksha confirming that Alakshmi was the sister of Lakshmi, stirred with anticipation. Stepping forward, he rallied his army, readying them to resume their efforts. Victory seemed close at hand—first, the Amrita, and then the ultimate triumph over the Devas.

In the Deva ranks, Indra readied his forces as well. "Only two hundred years left to complete the thousand I need to finish my first layer of divine armor," he whispered to himself, excitement flaring. He could hardly wait.

The two sides took their positions once more. Under the watchful gaze of Vishnu and Lakshmi, the churning of the ocean of milk resumed with renewed vigor.

Boom! Both Devas and Asuras seized Vasuki, gripping its head and tail, and with a united force, they continued the legendary act of churning the cosmic sea.

Mandara Mountain rumbled as Vasuki's vast serpent scales moved like tectonic plates, heating with friction. Chunks of earth broke free, turning into mountain-like fragments that crashed down into the Kshira Sagara, each impact shaking the ocean.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

The Kshira Sagara grew thicker and denser with each churn.

A century passed. Suddenly, a brilliant silvery-white light burst from the depths of the sea.

"Something's emerging!" Hiranyaksha's eyes widened as he saw a silver moon slowly rise from the Kshira Sagara, soaring swiftly into the sky.

"Somadev, the god of moon and wine!" he whispered, his gaze hardening. Hiranyaksha clenched his fists, the sound of his grip echoing.

"Everything coming out from Samundra Manthan shall belong to us, I will bring you down to Patalaloka with me!" Hiranyaksha stepped forward, his resolve unwavering. But as he prepared to advance, he halted, eyes widening as he murmured to himself.

"Mahadeva...?!"

Before him stood a towering figure clad in tiger skin and bearing a trident. The moon ascended, resting above this figure's head and transforming into a brilliant silver ornament.

Vishnu smiled knowingly but said nothing. Indra gazed up, immediately recognizing the imposing figure before him—it was Shiva, the god of Destruction.

Lord Shiva, the Deva of Destruction, the God of Innocence, and the Mahadeva, bearer of countless titles. Among Devas, he was reverently known as Mahadeva.

"Pranama Mahadev!" Indra exclaimed, bringing his hands together in reverence.

The Devas followed, voices raised in unified devotion.

"Pranama Mahadev!"

Amidst the resounding praises, Shiva smiled gently, and a soft silver light drifted down from the moon. The light descended among the Devas, taking the form of the Moon Deva Soma, clad in gleaming silver-white armor.

"Pranama Mahadev!" Soma declared, his silver armor glinting as he joined in reverence.

Shiva nodded slightly, his form dissolving into particles of golden light before disappearing.

"Lord Shiva just came to disrupt us and help the devas! Who doesn't know Soma's drink can boost any army's capabilities to their maximum." Hiranyaksha Asura's face darkened as he clenched his fists, striking the air in frustration, causing tremors throughout the Milky Sea.

"What should we do now, King?" asked Vajranga, anxiously.

"Keep stirring! Next time, it will be ours for sure!" Hiranyaksha replied, his voice steady and determined. "Next time, without a doubt!"

Another fifty years passed.

Boom!

A radiant Mani gem, brilliant as a pearl, rose from the sea. Its light filled the surrounding space, infusing the air with a sense of clarity and renewal.

"This gem is mine!" Hiranyaksha's eyes blazed with anger and disbelief.

"Ha?!" he growled, eyes narrowed as he watched the Mani gem settle on Vishnu.

"A gem?" Indra remarked, unmoved. He recalled what it was said to eventually gravitate toward Vishnu. He watched as the Kaustubha mani, almost instinctively, flew straight toward Vishnu, coming to rest upon his chest, where it shimmered brightly.