Swarga loka

"Om Sahastranetraaya Vidmahe
Vajra Hastaaya Dheemahi
Tanno Indrah Prachodayat!"

The repeatitive chanting of Devaraj's name was echoing in every corner of Amaravati, soothing IndraPriyaa Sachi's ears and soul.

Who was chanting her Lord's name with so much devotion? The Queen of heaven left her aesthetic mansion and stepped into Deva sabha to find out. But the first thing that drew her attention was curves on Indra's brow. She wondered why this devoted chanting could not please him.

"Any problem, Swami?"

"King Chitravahana has begun very hard tapasya to seek my grace, Devi." Indra gravely said. "And he deserves to receive the result of this penance."

"Chitravahana, the Lord of Manipura?" Sachi looked down at earth, following Indra's gaze. "What does he want that worries you so much?"

"He wants me as his son, Indrani! Hence this hard penance to please me."

"So what is the problem in fulfilling his wish, Devendra?" Sachi wondered.

"Problem is in his clan, Priye. His ancestor, Prabhanjana, had a boon from Mahadeva that each generation of his descendants will have only one child, be it son or daughter." Indra explained. "No one can go against that rule decided by the Lord himself!"

"I remember, Natha." Sachi nodded. "You have told me once. But you can still take birth as his only son, in your other form."

Indra shook his head. "Chitravahana does not have a son in his destiny, Devi." Indra sighed. "I cannot go against what Lord Brahma, the Vidhata himself, has decided in his fate!"

"That means," Sachi thought aloud, "He is destined to have a daughter, right?"

Indra nodded. "Right. And that daughter will be his only child. His sole successor. The future ruler of Manipura."

"I can understand. No wonder that he prays to you for being his heir! He wants your grace on his kingdom. And I, being your Sahadharmini, cannot let him go empty-handed!" Her eyes shone, indicating that she had found a way.

Indra looked intently at his beloved. Sachi was smiling a knowing smile.

"Are you thinking the same which I too am thinking, Devi?" He too smiled, realizing her wish.

Sachi's smile widened. "How can our hearts think differently, Swami?Chitravahana is true in his devotion. As for now, we must go to him!"

***

Manipura

"Open your eyes, Chitravahana!"

The King of Manipura was overwhelmed to have a vision of the King and Queen of Deva loka. Finally, his tapasya had become successful!

"Pranam Devaraj! Pranam Devendrani!" He bowed.

"I am pleased with your devotion, King!" Indra smiled a kind smile. "Do ask what you want from me!"

Chitravahana joined his palms. "Don't you know the wish of my heart, Lord?"

"I do. But you are not destined to have a son, Chitravahana! You have to accept the creator's choice."

Chitravahana's face fell.

"Then, will I not get my choicest boon from you, my Lord?"

Indra smiled. "Not like that, King! You will have a daughter who will be like me, who will be my Shakti herself!" He exchanged a glance with Sachi and added, "Devi Indrani herself will be born to you!"

Chitravahana did not reply. He seemed to have been thinking.

"I and Devi Sachi are not different, Chitravahana! In this way, I'm fulfiling your wish only!" Indra added.

"And you will have Devendra as your son-in-law at the right time!" Sachi assured. "Our grace will always be there on Manipura."

"As you wish, Devi!" Chitravahana bowed half-heartedly, and went back to his palace. Sachi stared at the path for long, thinking something.

"He is not yet convinced, Natha!" A sigh escaped her.

Indra nodded. "I knew it. He thinks women are weak and unable to protect a kingdom." His eyes betrayed anger. "He does not deserve your grace, Devi!"

"He is a mortal only, Natha. Mortals are bound to make mistakes and we are responsible to bring them back to the right path." Sachi held Indra's palm. "Let's give him another chance! If I cannot make him realize, I shall do what you want."

"I have complete trust on your Shakti that forms even my power, Aindree!" Indra lovingly mused.

***

Manipura

"Not again!" Chitravahana frowned. It had been over a month that a man-eater tiger had been ruining everyone's peace.

"Pray, do something, Maharaj!" The subjects cried with folded hands. "Save us before that bloodthirsty creature devours us all!"

"How did it enter the city in the first place?" Chitravahana wondered.

"We don't know, Maharaj. Possible that it has been starving for long in the adjacent jungle and hence came here to feast on humans." Said one minister.

"I see. But whatever it is, we need to get it killed first." Chitravahana stood up. "Do make the arrangements! I myself will go hunting today!"

***

King Chitravahana, with his full team of well-chosen, efficient hunters, failed to defeat the tiger. It hid itself again and again, sometimes ran to the forest, and sometimes pounced on the King's bodyguards from behind.

An exhausted, dissappointed Chitravahana sank on his chariot, wondering what could have been the reason of his failure.

Maybe an eligible son could have get rid him from this, he thought with a heavy sigh.

The next moment, he looked up, hearing an elephant. With eyes widened in surprise, the Lord of Manipura saw a little girl, giggling on the back of the elephant.

"Couldn't find a solution yet, Maharaj?" She spoke.

"Seems like Lord Indra is displeased with me!" Chitravahana sighed. "Otherwise why would this happen?"

"Why would he be displeased with you, Maharaj? What have you done?"

Chitravahana lowered his head.

"I could not accept his boon with all my heart! I might have disregarded Devi Indrani too, which is even greater offense!"

The girl smiled. "Realization and regret washes off everything. Pray to them, Maharaj! They will listen to you!"

Chitravahana thought for a while, staring at her face. Her smile seemed unearthly and assuring. A part of Chitravahana wanted to trust her words.

To their horror, the guards and hunters saw their King kneeling down on the ground, ignoring angry roar of the tiger who seemed to have come closer.

Kshamaswa Purandara praseeda Sachyai Saha!

[O Purandara! Forgive me! Be pleased with me along with Sachi!]

A yellow frame flashed on the air like lightning coming from the clear sky. The tiger had rushed towards the King, making everyone freeze in fear.

Just a few moments more and Manipura will surely lose her ruler, without a heir to succeed him!

But more surprise was still awaiting them! The little girl jumped down her elephant and aimed an arrow towards the tiger. It was hard to say which one was more powerful, the sharpness of her arrow or her eyes shining with the urge to protect this land. The arrows sprung from her bow, surprisingly, did not pierce the tiger's heart. They created a barrier in front of it, blocking its way to Chitravahana.

Everyone present could not believe their eyes. The deadly animal calmed down like a humble stag, as the girl rode on its back, holding the bow in her left hand, smiling.

"Do not kill this poor creature, Maharaj!" She requested. "He had to be a man-eater due to lack of food. You are responsible to feed these creatures of your kingdom, too! Arrange alternative food for him so that he doesn't attack your subjects anymore."

Chitravahana joined his palms.

"You cannot be a human! Who are you, Devi?"

The girl laughed. "You will know me in right time! Go home without a worry, Lord of Manipura! I promise to protect your kingdom till the end of Dwapara!"

***

Chaitra Shukla Saptami

For the first time in their clan's history, the royal palace of Manipura could not cheer up on the King's childbirth.

"What a misfortune it is!" Sighed the Rajmata. "Due to Mahadeva's boon, all your ancestors did have a single child but they all had a son to succeed them. What will happen now to this kingdom in absence of a heir?"

Chitravahana looked at his newborn daughter. Her Madhuka flower-like bright complexion and dark doe eyes shining with courage, reminded him of the girl who saved his life and his subjects, nine months ago. A smile appeared on the King's lips as he remembered her last words.

I promise to protect your kingdom!

"Do not say so, Maa!" Chitravahana turned to his mother. "Having a daughter cannot be a misfortune! If God has given her to me, then she only will be my heir! The successor of Manipura!"

"Apologies, Maharaj!" Prime minister came forward. "But a woman will rule this land? How is that possible?"

"Mahamantri, I hope you have not forgotten that it was a woman who saved us when we men could not do anything." Chitravahana coldly replied. "At least for that incident, be grateful to the power of Aadi Shakti who resides in every woman!"

Chitravahana took the baby in his lap.

"I declare my Princess as Putrika, a son in the form of daughter. I'll raise her like a son only. She will rule Manipura as a Queen and Queen-mother even after her marriage. I name her Chitrangada, the most-suited heir of Chitravahana!"

Now, the baby smiled.

"Mahamantri!" The King addressed a confused prime minister. "Let the entire Aaryavarta know that Princess Chitrangada, the future ruler of Manipura, has arrived! May no one even dare to think that my kingdom is heirless and weak!"

The maids who stood still, not knowing whether they should hail the newborn or not, now received the King's indication to begin a grand celebration.

"Hail Rajkumari Chitrangada!" Conchs played to greet the newborn Princess.

Devendranim yashaswinim Aindree Indra vallabhaam
Namami Manipura sutaam Sabyasachi pranadhikaam

[I bow to Devi Aindree, the glorious Devendrani, the consort of Indra. I bow to the daughter of Manipura, the life-breath of Savyasachi.]
___________________________________________

Author's note: Chitrangada as incarnation of Devi Sachi is found in Garuda Purana, by PandavaPriyaaand PadmaVaasati

A special mention to my dear sister theroyalmisfit for the reason she knows. Hope you will like this chapter!

All Sanskrit verses except the Indra Gayatri in the beginning, are written by me.