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https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:1080/format:webp/1*jSNwheCErk3z138OfqIR3Q.jpeg 1080w" sizes="(min-resolution: 4dppx) and (max-width: 700px) 50vw, (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 4) and (max-width: 700px) 50vw, (min-resolution: 3dppx) and (max-width: 700px) 67vw, (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 3) and (max-width: 700px) 65vw, (min-resolution: 2.5dppx) and (max-width: 700px) 80vw, (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 2.5) and (max-width: 700px) 80vw, (min-resolution: 2dppx) and (max-width: 700px) 100vw, (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 2) and (max-width: 700px) 100vw, 540px" type="image/webp"/><source data-testid="og" srcSet="https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:640/1*jSNwheCErk3z138OfqIR3Q.jpeg 640w, https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:720/1*jSNwheCErk3z138OfqIR3Q.jpeg 720w, https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:750/1*jSNwheCErk3z138OfqIR3Q.jpeg 750w, https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:786/1*jSNwheCErk3z138OfqIR3Q.jpeg 786w, https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:828/1*jSNwheCErk3z138OfqIR3Q.jpeg 828w, https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:1100/1*jSNwheCErk3z138OfqIR3Q.jpeg 1100w, https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:1080/1*jSNwheCErk3z138OfqIR3Q.jpeg 1080w" sizes="(min-resolution: 4dppx) and (max-width: 700px) 50vw, (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 4) and (max-width: 700px) 50vw, (min-resolution: 3dppx) and (max-width: 700px) 67vw, (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 3) and (max-width: 700px) 65vw, (min-resolution: 2.5dppx) and (max-width: 700px) 80vw, (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 2.5) and (max-width: 700px) 80vw, (min-resolution: 2dppx) and (max-width: 700px) 100vw, (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 2) and (max-width: 700px) 100vw, 540px"/><img alt="" class="bh lo no c" width="540" height="960" loading="eager" role="presentation"/></picture></div><figcaption class="np ff nq nf ng nr ns bf b bg z du">Her expressions weren’t that of a woman who seemed scared but rather of a hunter who was looking forward to a kill…</figcaption></figure><p id="99db" class="pw-post-body-paragraph mh mi gu mj b mk ml mm mn mo mp mq mr ms mt mu mv mw mx my mz na nb nc nd ne gn bk"><em class="nt">This story is part of the new series which seeks to retell the mythological origins of certain festivals celebrated in India. While there has been strong attempt to ensure there is some grounding by citing ancient literature, creative liberty has been taken in the narrative only to dramatize the events and add psychological depths to the characters. This may (or may not) infuse new meaning to the festival itself. The views are of my own expressed without the intention of hurting anyone’s belief. If you wish to read the retelling of the festival Onam, please see </em><a class="af nu" rel="noopener" href="/@anupriykanti/the-story-of-three-paces-301dde0157bc"><em class="nt">The Story of Three Paces</em></a></p><h1 id="0523" class="nv nw gu bf nx ny nz oa ob oc od oe of og oh oi oj ok ol om on oo op oq or os bk">OVERVIEW</h1><blockquote class="ot ou ov"><p id="988f" class="mh mi nt mj b mk ml mm mn mo mp mq mr ms mt mu mv mw mx my mz na nb nc nd ne gn bk"><em class="gu">Durga Puja</em> is one of the most popular festivals in India that celebrates the Goddess <em class="gu">Durgā</em> and her emerging victory in the battle with the shape-shifting, deceptive and powerful asura <em class="gu">Mahishāsur</em>.</p><p id="da4d" class="mh mi nt mj b mk ml mm mn mo mp mq mr ms mt mu mv mw mx my mz na nb nc nd ne gn bk">Signifying the triumph of good over evil, various retellings and enactments have evolved over the years, but the earliest version of the story can be traced to <em class="gu">Devi Mahatmya</em>, a key text in the Hindu scriptures and <em class="gu">Shakti</em> tradition that is recited during the festival that dramatically recounts the fantastic event.</p></blockquote><h1 id="1dc2" class="nv nw gu bf nx ny nz oa ob oc od oe of og oh oi oj ok ol om on oo op oq or os bk">STORY</h1><p id="8de5" class="pw-post-body-paragraph mh mi gu mj b mk ow mm mn mo ox mq mr ms oy mu mv mw oz my mz na pa nc nd ne gn bk">— — — — — — — — — — Start — — — — — — — — — — —</p><p id="6f98" class="pw-post-body-paragraph mh mi gu mj b mk ml mm mn mo mp mq mr ms mt mu mv mw mx my mz na nb nc nd ne gn bk">As the <em class="nt">Trishul</em> (trident) struck forward towards him, <em class="nt">Mahishāsur</em> realized it was the end.</p><p id="9199" class="pw-post-body-paragraph mh mi gu mj b mk ml mm mn mo mp mq mr ms mt mu mv mw mx my mz na nb nc nd ne gn bk">His weary sight followed the hand wielding the weapon to the figure standing over him. Perhaps for the first time, he finally acknowledged who it was — the woman who he had underestimated based on nothing but her gender.</p></div></div></div><div class="ab cb pb pc pd pe" role="separator"><span class="pf by bm pg ph pi"></span><span class="pf by bm pg ph pi"></span><span class="pf by bm pg ph"></span></div><div class="gn go gp gq gr"><div class="ab cb"><div class="ci bh fz ga gb gc"><p id="35ca" class="pw-post-body-paragraph mh mi gu mj b mk ml mm mn mo mp mq mr ms mt mu mv mw mx my mz na nb nc nd ne gn bk"><em class="nt">Why shouldn’t he have?</em> <em class="nt">Mahishāsur</em> thought. After all, men — mortal and divine — had tried to stand up to his might but none had been able to last long enough to be considered a challenge. They couldn’t defeat him because he was blessed by <em class="nt">Brahma</em>. He capitalized that blessing into a boom of never letting any man defeat him.</p><p id="0016" class="pw-post-body-paragraph mh mi gu mj b mk ml mm mn mo mp mq mr ms mt mu mv mw mx my mz na nb nc nd ne gn bk">But that boon by <em class="nt">Brahmā</em> that made him invincible was now a curse with a loophole. All because he was blinded by his own ego to see the truth. And now, a woman was about to commit that very act that no man was capable of.</p></div></div></div><div class="ab cb pb pc pd pe" role="separator"><span class="pf by bm pg ph pi"></span><span class="pf by bm pg ph pi"></span><span class="pf by bm pg ph"></span></div><div class="gn go gp gq gr"><div class="ab cb"><div class="ci bh fz ga gb gc"><p id="a2e6" class="pw-post-body-paragraph mh mi gu mj b mk ml mm mn mo mp mq mr ms mt mu mv mw mx my mz na nb nc nd ne gn bk">The <em class="nt">Trishul</em> inched closer slowly as if time itself wanted him to feel every moment. Moments that led him to this point.</p></div></div></div><div class="ab cb pb pc pd pe" role="separator"><span class="pf by bm pg ph pi"></span><span class="pf by bm pg ph pi"></span><span class="pf by bm pg ph"></span></div><div class="gn go gp gq gr"><div class="ab cb"><div class="ci bh fz ga gb gc"><p id="5cb5" class="pw-post-body-paragraph mh mi gu mj b mk ml mm mn mo mp mq mr ms mt mu mv mw mx my mz na nb nc nd ne gn bk">Little did he know then that his doom was destined from the moment he heard that roar of a lion that reverberated through the cosmos.</p><p id="ac80" class="pw-post-body-paragraph mh mi gu mj b mk ml mm mn mo mp mq mr ms mt mu mv mw mx my mz na nb nc nd ne gn bk">He knew devas were beaten and weakened by him to conjure something like this, so something was different about it.</p><p id="17c0" class="pw-post-body-paragraph mh mi gu mj b mk ml mm mn mo mp mq mr ms mt mu mv mw mx my mz na nb nc nd ne gn bk">Having set forth scouts to find out what it was, he continued pillaging the Earth as he had been doing for millennia after gain control of it from the devas. He didn’t have any reason to do this, save that he just could. <em class="nt">Who was there to stop him?</em></p><p id="3e70" class="pw-post-body-paragraph mh mi gu mj b mk ml mm mn mo mp mq mr ms mt mu mv mw mx my mz na nb nc nd ne gn bk">He got his answer when the scouts that returned stated that devas were sending forth a warrior.</p><p id="9867" class="pw-post-body-paragraph mh mi gu mj b mk ml mm mn mo mp mq mr ms mt mu mv mw mx my mz na nb nc nd ne gn bk">He smirked, wondering if it was even worth his time to be dealing with this new problem.</p><p id="cb35" class="pw-post-body-paragraph mh mi gu mj b mk ml mm mn mo mp mq mr ms mt mu mv mw mx my mz na nb nc nd ne gn bk">But the scouts’ anecdote about their encounter with this champion was peppered with a mix of fascination and embarrassment.</p><p id="5672" class="pw-post-body-paragraph mh mi gu mj b mk ml mm mn mo mp mq mr ms mt mu mv mw mx my mz na nb nc nd ne gn bk">“<em class="nt">Mahārāj (Great King) Mahishāsur. There is one more thing…It’s a woman leading the army of devas.</em>”</p><p id="75ae" class="pw-post-body-paragraph mh mi gu mj b mk ml mm mn mo mp mq mr ms mt mu mv mw mx my mz na nb nc nd ne gn bk">“<em class="nt">What? Who is this…woman</em>?”</p><p id="f3e7" class="pw-post-body-paragraph mh mi gu mj b mk ml mm mn mo mp mq mr ms mt mu mv mw mx my mz na nb nc nd ne gn bk">“<em class="nt">We hear a rumour that devas went to Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva who manifested their feminine energies in creating this…Devi. She is known by many names, but one stood out: Durga, one who cannot be stopped.</em>”</p><p id="4bd8" class="pw-post-body-paragraph mh mi gu mj b mk ml mm mn mo mp mq mr ms mt mu mv mw mx my mz na nb nc nd ne gn bk"><em class="nt">Mahishāsur</em> wasn’t sure if he felt more insulted or amused. He was being challenged by a <em class="nt">stree</em> (woman)?</p><p id="a316" class="pw-post-body-paragraph mh mi gu mj b mk ml mm mn mo mp mq mr ms mt mu mv mw mx my mz na nb nc nd ne gn bk">The <em class="nt">devas</em> clearly didn’t learn their lesson. <em class="nt">Mahishāsur</em> decided to unleash the wrath of his full fleet.</p></div></div></div><div class="ab cb pb pc pd pe" role="separator"><span class="pf by bm pg ph pi"></span><span class="pf by bm pg ph pi"></span><span class="pf by bm pg ph"></span></div><div class="gn go gp gq gr"><div class="ab cb"><div class="ci bh fz ga gb gc"><p id="1002" class="pw-post-body-paragraph mh mi gu mj b mk ml mm mn mo mp mq mr ms mt mu mv mw mx my mz na nb nc nd ne gn bk">Looking back, he now understood that to be his first mistake…</p><p id="3527" class="pw-post-body-paragraph mh mi gu mj b mk ml mm mn mo mp mq mr ms mt mu mv mw mx my mz na nb nc nd ne gn bk">The <em class="nt">Trishul</em> approached nearer, and the blades touched his thick skin, oozing blood from the point of contact. But this was nothing compared to the blood that was spilled on the battleground.</p></div></div></div><div class="ab cb pb pc pd pe" role="separator"><span class="pf by bm pg ph pi"></span><span class="pf by bm pg ph pi"></span><span class="pf by bm pg ph"></span></div><div class="gn go gp gq gr"><div class="ab cb"><div class="ci bh fz ga gb gc"><p id="6766" class="pw-post-body-paragraph mh mi gu mj b mk ml mm mn mo mp mq mr ms mt mu mv mw mx my mz na nb nc nd ne gn bk">News of the death of his generals <em class="nt">Udagra</em>, <em class="nt">Baskala</em>, <em class="nt">Asiloman</em>, <em class="nt">Bidala</em> who been with him from the start helping him conquer the cosmos for millennia got his blood boiling. Their legions mercilessly slaughtered at the hands of this warrior <em class="nt">Durga</em>.</p><p id="4ccb" class="pw-post-body-paragraph mh mi gu mj b mk ml mm mn mo mp mq mr ms mt mu mv mw mx my mz na nb nc nd ne gn bk">Well, if it’s carnage she wants, then that what she will deserve. <em class="nt">Mahishāsur</em> thought to himself.</p><p id="0ead" class="pw-post-body-paragraph mh mi gu mj b mk ml mm mn mo mp mq mr ms mt mu mv mw mx my mz na nb nc nd ne gn bk">But everything changed when <em class="nt">Mahishāsur</em> finally met her on the battlefield. <em class="nt">Durga</em> was nothing like what he had been hearing. All he saw was a beautiful figure dressed in a <em class="nt">sari</em>, sitting on a lion, wielding a <em class="nt">Trishul</em> as a weapon. She was drenched in blood, but given the way she still stood, it was clear that it wasn’t her own but of the corpses of his <em class="nt">Asura</em> army.</p><p id="83c9" class="pw-post-body-paragraph mh mi gu mj b mk ml mm mn mo mp mq mr ms mt mu mv mw mx my mz na nb nc nd ne gn bk">Almost instantly, he didn’t care about what had happened to them. He was transfixed by <em class="nt">Durga</em>’s beauty. It was as if the <em class="nt">devas</em> had manifested her for him. He didn’t need a boon to beat her. He knew exactly how to deal with her kind.</p><p id="758b" class="pw-post-body-paragraph mh mi gu mj b mk ml mm mn mo mp mq mr ms mt mu mv mw mx my mz na nb nc nd ne gn bk">“<em class="nt">Oh, Sundari (the beautiful one)! Look at the mess you have made. I was going to have to teach you a lesson about this. I think I have another one in mind.</em>”</p><p id="04f7" class="pw-post-body-paragraph mh mi gu mj b mk ml mm mn mo mp mq mr ms mt mu mv mw mx my mz na nb nc nd ne gn bk"><em class="nt">Durga</em> didn’t immediately respond. She got off the lion and walked toward a wounded <em class="nt">asura</em> who moved slightly withering in pain. Fixing her gaze on <em class="nt">Mahishāsur, </em>she swung her <em class="nt">Trishul</em> and stabbed the <em class="nt">asura </em>at her feet with a fatal blow, leaving it planted straight on his back until his withering body turned into a lifeless corpse. She then smiled.</p><p id="97c1" class="pw-post-body-paragraph mh mi gu mj b mk ml mm mn mo mp mq mr ms mt mu mv mw mx my mz na nb nc nd ne gn bk">“<em class="nt">I know exactly what kind of thoughts are festering inside that rotten head of yours. But do not worry, it won’t stay attached to your body long enough.</em>”</p><p id="7354" class="pw-post-body-paragraph mh mi gu mj b mk ml mm mn mo mp mq mr ms mt mu mv mw mx my mz na nb nc nd ne gn bk"><em class="nt">Mahishāsur</em> laughed, although it was only to mask his seething. He always liked it when the woman resisted, but this one was crossing a line.</p><p id="ec9a" class="pw-post-body-paragraph mh mi gu mj b mk ml mm mn mo mp mq mr ms mt mu mv mw mx my mz na nb nc nd ne gn bk">“<em class="nt">Come now, Roopvati (pleasant face). You shouldn’t have to fight me. Not at least on the field. Join me, and I shall make you a queen. With beauty such as yours by my side, we shall rule all the three realms.</em>”</p><p id="ac7c" class="pw-post-body-paragraph mh mi gu mj b mk ml mm mn mo mp mq mr ms mt mu mv mw mx my mz na nb nc nd ne gn bk">Hearing this, it was <em class="nt">Durga</em> who let out a laugh now.</p><p id="a918" class="pw-post-body-paragraph mh mi gu mj b mk ml mm mn mo mp mq mr ms mt mu mv mw mx my mz na nb nc nd ne gn bk">“<em class="nt">Rule? With what? The army that begged for their lives as I cut them down one by one? You are alone now, Mahishāsur. Like a cornered beast.</em>”</p><p id="a02c" class="pw-post-body-paragraph mh mi gu mj b mk ml mm mn mo mp mq mr ms mt mu mv mw mx my mz na nb nc nd ne gn bk"><em class="nt">Mahishāsur</em> had enough. He wasn’t going to be talked down by this arrogant female who dared insult him. But if it’s a beast she saw him as, then that’s exactly what he was going to end her as.</p><p id="7c46" class="pw-post-body-paragraph mh mi gu mj b mk ml mm mn mo mp mq mr ms mt mu mv mw mx my mz na nb nc nd ne gn bk">Transforming into a wild buffalo, he charged at her while she quickly mounted her lion and waited. But as he got nearer, he noticed that she wasn’t budging. Her expressions weren’t that of a woman who seemed scared but rather of a hunter who was looking forward to a kill…</p></div></div></div><div class="ab cb pb pc pd pe" role="separator"><span class="pf by bm pg ph pi"></span><span class="pf by bm pg ph pi"></span><span class="pf by bm pg ph"></span></div><div class="gn go gp gq gr"><div class="ab cb"><div class="ci bh fz ga gb gc"><p id="eb63" class="pw-post-body-paragraph mh mi gu mj b mk ml mm mn mo mp mq mr ms mt mu mv mw mx my mz na nb nc nd ne gn bk">This was going to be his final mistake. Like the trident that was now getting lodged into his neck, the meaning of the last thing he witnessed was sinking deeper.</p></div></div></div><div class="ab cb pb pc pd pe" role="separator"><span class="pf by bm pg ph pi"></span><span class="pf by bm pg ph pi"></span><span class="pf by bm pg ph"></span></div><div class="gn go gp gq gr"><div class="ab cb"><div class="ci bh fz ga gb gc"><p id="21d2" class="pw-post-body-paragraph mh mi gu mj b mk ml mm mn mo mp mq mr ms mt mu mv mw mx my mz na nb nc nd ne gn bk">While the battle went on for a few centuries, during its course, <em class="nt">Mahishāsur</em> had only managed to get a few strikes on both the lion and <em class="nt">Durga</em> but had himself sustained a fatal injury. It wasn’t before long he was under the lion’s feet.</p><p id="8fd9" class="pw-post-body-paragraph mh mi gu mj b mk ml mm mn mo mp mq mr ms mt mu mv mw mx my mz na nb nc nd ne gn bk">As he laid on the ground, <em class="nt">Durga</em>’s silhouette emerged from behind the lion’s mane, and it was at this point he understood.</p><p id="0a5d" class="pw-post-body-paragraph mh mi gu mj b mk ml mm mn mo mp mq mr ms mt mu mv mw mx my mz na nb nc nd ne gn bk">This wasn’t some ordinary being. It was <em class="nt">Shakti</em> herself, the primordial feminine energy that birthed the universe.</p><p id="d9a2" class="pw-post-body-paragraph mh mi gu mj b mk ml mm mn mo mp mq mr ms mt mu mv mw mx my mz na nb nc nd ne gn bk">“<em class="nt">Mahishāsur</em>! So proud you were of your masculine strength that you didn’t think a woman could be an equal let alone stronger than you! If you had looked beyond your male gaze, it would have been clear that this chauvinistic arrogance is what made you ignorant of the truth. Blinded by your boon, you didn’t for once think of using it for the betterment of the world. Instead, you focused on satisfying your greed and inflating your insecure ego. No more! You thought you would teach me a lesson? Let your death be a lesson to any man who misuses his status and privilege!”</p><p id="ebf1" class="pw-post-body-paragraph mh mi gu mj b mk ml mm mn mo mp mq mr ms mt mu mv mw mx my mz na nb nc nd ne gn bk">Saying this, she lunged the <em class="nt">Trishul</em> at him which moments later, cleaved <em class="nt">Mahishāsur</em>’s head off.</p><p id="2668" class="pw-post-body-paragraph mh mi gu mj b mk ml mm mn mo mp mq mr ms mt mu mv mw mx my mz na nb nc nd ne gn bk">Seeing the inevitability of his death, it was within those moments, he knew he had experienced something that would go on to be celebrated for ages to come. The only solace to his soul being liberated from his dying body was in the knowledge that his legacy was always going to be associated with this divine force by her most well-known name — <em class="nt">Mahishāsurmardini (Killer of Mahishāsur).</em></p><p id="d8af" class="pw-post-body-paragraph mh mi gu mj b mk ml mm mn mo mp mq mr ms mt mu mv mw mx my mz na nb nc nd ne gn bk">— — — — — — — — — — End — — — — — — — — — — —</p><p id="f78e" class="pw-post-body-paragraph mh mi gu mj b mk ml mm mn mo mp mq mr ms mt mu mv mw mx my mz na nb nc nd ne gn bk"><em class="nt">Citations:</em></p><ul class=""><li id="3472" class="mh mi gu mj b mk ml mm mn mo mp mq mr ms mt mu mv mw mx my mz na nb nc nd ne pj pk pl bk"><a class="af nu" href="https://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/db/bk05ch18.htm" rel="noopener ugc nofollow" target="_blank"><em class="nt">https://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/db/bk05ch18.htm</em></a></li><li id="e247" class="mh mi gu mj b mk pm mm mn mo pn mq mr ms po mu mv mw pp my mz na pq nc nd ne pj pk pl bk"><a class="af nu" href="http://www.aghori.it/devi_mahatmya_eng.htm#c2" rel="noopener ugc nofollow" target="_blank"><em class="nt">http://www.aghori.it/devi_mahatmya_eng.htm#c2</em></a></li><li id="e375" class="mh mi gu mj b mk pm mm mn mo pn mq mr ms po mu mv mw pp my mz na pq nc nd ne pj pk pl bk"><a class="af nu" href="https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/the-markandeya-purana/d/doc117155.html" rel="noopener ugc nofollow" target="_blank"><em class="nt">https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/the-markandeya-purana/d/doc117155.html</em></a></li><li id="4e96" class="mh mi gu mj b mk pm mm mn mo pn mq mr ms po mu mv mw pp my mz na pq nc nd ne pj pk pl bk"><a class="af nu" href="https://www.livehistoryindia.com/snapshort-histories/2017/09/21/navratri---the-glory-of-the-goddess" rel="noopener ugc nofollow" target="_blank"><em class="nt">https://www.livehistoryindia.com/snapshort-histories/2017/09/21/navratri---the-glory-of-the-goddess</em></a></li></ul></div></div></div></div></section></div></div></article></div><div class="ab cb"><div class="ci bh fz ga gb gc"><div class="pr ps ab iw"><div class="pt ab"><a class="pu ay am ao" rel="noopener follow" href="/tag/fiction?source=post_page-----b6bb623e25cf--------------------------------"><div class="pv fj cx pw ge px py bf b bg z bk pz">Fiction</div></a></div><div class="pt ab"><a class="pu ay am ao" rel="noopener follow" href="/tag/durga-puja?source=post_page-----b6bb623e25cf--------------------------------"><div class="pv fj cx pw ge px py bf b bg z bk pz">Durga Puja</div></a></div><div class="pt ab"><a class="pu ay am ao" rel="noopener follow" href="/tag/mythology?source=post_page-----b6bb623e25cf--------------------------------"><div class="pv fj cx pw ge px py bf b bg z bk pz">Mythology</div></a></div><div class="pt ab"><a class="pu ay am ao" rel="noopener 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While there has been strong attempt to ensure there is some grounding by citing ancient literature, creative liberty has been taken in the narrative only to dramatize the events and add psychological depths to the characters. This may (or may not) infuse new meaning to the festival itself. The views are of my own expressed without the intention of hurting anyone’s belief. 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He capitalized that blessing into a boom of never letting any man defeat him.","hasDropCap":null,"dropCapImage":null,"markups":[{"__typename":"Markup","type":"EM","start":0,"end":22,"href":null,"anchorType":null,"userId":null,"linkMetadata":null},{"__typename":"Markup","type":"EM","start":23,"end":33,"href":null,"anchorType":null,"userId":null,"linkMetadata":null},{"__typename":"Markup","type":"EM","start":239,"end":245,"href":null,"anchorType":null,"userId":null,"linkMetadata":null}],"codeBlockMetadata":null,"iframe":null,"mixtapeMetadata":null},"Paragraph:daf7e95b648_12":{"__typename":"Paragraph","id":"daf7e95b648_12","name":"0016","type":"P","href":null,"layout":null,"metadata":null,"text":"But that boon by Brahmā that made him invincible was now a curse with a loophole. All because he was blinded by his own ego to see the truth. 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He didn’t have any reason to do this, save that he just could. Who was there to stop him?","hasDropCap":null,"dropCapImage":null,"markups":[{"__typename":"Markup","type":"EM","start":221,"end":247,"href":null,"anchorType":null,"userId":null,"linkMetadata":null}],"codeBlockMetadata":null,"iframe":null,"mixtapeMetadata":null},"Paragraph:daf7e95b648_17":{"__typename":"Paragraph","id":"daf7e95b648_17","name":"3e70","type":"P","href":null,"layout":null,"metadata":null,"text":"He got his answer when the scouts that returned stated that devas were sending forth a warrior.","hasDropCap":null,"dropCapImage":null,"markups":[],"codeBlockMetadata":null,"iframe":null,"mixtapeMetadata":null},"Paragraph:daf7e95b648_18":{"__typename":"Paragraph","id":"daf7e95b648_18","name":"9867","type":"P","href":null,"layout":null,"metadata":null,"text":"He smirked, wondering if it was even worth his time to be dealing with this new problem.","hasDropCap":null,"dropCapImage":null,"markups":[],"codeBlockMetadata":null,"iframe":null,"mixtapeMetadata":null},"Paragraph:daf7e95b648_19":{"__typename":"Paragraph","id":"daf7e95b648_19","name":"cb35","type":"P","href":null,"layout":null,"metadata":null,"text":"But the scouts’ anecdote about their encounter with this champion was peppered with a mix of fascination and embarrassment.","hasDropCap":null,"dropCapImage":null,"markups":[],"codeBlockMetadata":null,"iframe":null,"mixtapeMetadata":null},"Paragraph:daf7e95b648_20":{"__typename":"Paragraph","id":"daf7e95b648_20","name":"5672","type":"P","href":null,"layout":null,"metadata":null,"text":"“Mahārāj (Great King) Mahishāsur. There is one more thing…It’s a woman leading the army of devas.”","hasDropCap":null,"dropCapImage":null,"markups":[{"__typename":"Markup","type":"EM","start":1,"end":97,"href":null,"anchorType":null,"userId":null,"linkMetadata":null}],"codeBlockMetadata":null,"iframe":null,"mixtapeMetadata":null},"Paragraph:daf7e95b648_21":{"__typename":"Paragraph","id":"daf7e95b648_21","name":"75ae","type":"P","href":null,"layout":null,"metadata":null,"text":"“What? Who is this…woman?”","hasDropCap":null,"dropCapImage":null,"markups":[{"__typename":"Markup","type":"EM","start":1,"end":24,"href":null,"anchorType":null,"userId":null,"linkMetadata":null}],"codeBlockMetadata":null,"iframe":null,"mixtapeMetadata":null},"Paragraph:daf7e95b648_22":{"__typename":"Paragraph","id":"daf7e95b648_22","name":"f3e7","type":"P","href":null,"layout":null,"metadata":null,"text":"“We hear a rumour that devas went to Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva who manifested their feminine energies in creating this…Devi. She is known by many names, but one stood out: Durga, one who cannot be stopped.”","hasDropCap":null,"dropCapImage":null,"markups":[{"__typename":"Markup","type":"EM","start":1,"end":205,"href":null,"anchorType":null,"userId":null,"linkMetadata":null}],"codeBlockMetadata":null,"iframe":null,"mixtapeMetadata":null},"Paragraph:daf7e95b648_23":{"__typename":"Paragraph","id":"daf7e95b648_23","name":"4bd8","type":"P","href":null,"layout":null,"metadata":null,"text":"Mahishāsur wasn’t sure if he felt more insulted or amused. He was being challenged by a stree (woman)?","hasDropCap":null,"dropCapImage":null,"markups":[{"__typename":"Markup","type":"EM","start":0,"end":10,"href":null,"anchorType":null,"userId":null,"linkMetadata":null},{"__typename":"Markup","type":"EM","start":88,"end":93,"href":null,"anchorType":null,"userId":null,"linkMetadata":null}],"codeBlockMetadata":null,"iframe":null,"mixtapeMetadata":null},"Paragraph:daf7e95b648_24":{"__typename":"Paragraph","id":"daf7e95b648_24","name":"a316","type":"P","href":null,"layout":null,"metadata":null,"text":"The devas clearly didn’t learn their lesson. 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But this was nothing compared to the blood that was spilled on the battleground.","hasDropCap":null,"dropCapImage":null,"markups":[{"__typename":"Markup","type":"EM","start":4,"end":11,"href":null,"anchorType":null,"userId":null,"linkMetadata":null}],"codeBlockMetadata":null,"iframe":null,"mixtapeMetadata":null},"Paragraph:daf7e95b648_27":{"__typename":"Paragraph","id":"daf7e95b648_27","name":"6766","type":"P","href":null,"layout":null,"metadata":null,"text":"News of the death of his generals Udagra, Baskala, Asiloman, Bidala who been with him from the start helping him conquer the cosmos for millennia got his blood boiling. 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