Chapter 70 Airavata’s Destiny

"Airavata," Indra tilted his head, his eyes widening in surprise as he watched the white shadow darting across the lake. Wasn't that his Airavata? Why was it running so fast?

He rubbed his eyes in disbelief, then looked again, this time with greater scrutiny. There was no mistake. It was indeed Airavata.

A frown creased Indra's face as he stood up from beneath the Bodhi tree. His mood shifted from surprise to seriousness. Without hesitation, he called out to the distant figure in the lake.

"Airavata!!!"

The name echoed through the forest, reverberating against the trees. The voice of the King of Svarga carried far, his command ringing through the air.

The Devas exchanged confused glances, all turning to look at the lake. The powerful sound of Indra's voice lingered, the echoes still vibrating in the air as they reached the ears of the little elephant.

In response, Airavata dipped his head, ears folding tightly against his head in a futile attempt to block out the sound. But it was no use—the call had reached him.

With a frustrated grunt, the elephant's trunk shot out of the water. He trumpeted loudly, the sound filled with indignation. Rising from the lake, he shook the water off his massive body, stomping across the shore, his movements heavy with embarrassment as he approached Indra.

Indra watched with a sigh, a look of disappointment creeping across his face. "What a disappointment," he muttered, shaking his head. "You're still young. How can you run away from work?"

Reaching up, Indra patted the middle head of Airavata gently, the gesture a mixture of affection and reprimand. Then, with a small grin, he rubbed his hands together and stretched them out in front of him.

A brilliant flash of golden light illuminated the area as two maces materialized in his hands. Indra tested their weight, nodding in satisfaction before turning his gaze back to Airavata.

"I know you're tired," he said with a knowing smile. "But don't complain just yet."

With a flourish, he handed the two maces to the giant elephant, slipping them into the trunks of Airavata's twin heads on either side. The maces glowed with divine power, each infused with an ancient, potent energy.

"These are the Vrista and Drista," Indra explained, his tone rich with pride. "These weapons are now yours. It is your mission to protect the human world, maintain peace, and bring rain and dew to the lands. A glorious task, indeed."

Indra stepped back, admiring his work as the maces settled into place on Airavata's mighty form. He looked at the elephant, then gave a nod of approval.

The next moment, another flash of light appeared in Indra's hand.

A seven-colored longbow materialized, shimmering with divine brilliance.

"This is Indra's Dhanush—the symbol of the rainbow!" he announced proudly. "Airavata, imagine this: every time it rains, you can use this bow to shoot into the sky, and a rainbow of seven colors will descend. You'll ride across the rainbow bridge, slowly passing over it."

Indra's voice was full of awe as he described the vision. "How beautiful! How sacred! Can you imagine how many worshippers will be captivated by you?"

He raised the divine bow high, letting the faint rainbow light dance across the air. The seven colors swirled in a dazzling display, their brilliance almost blinding as they shimmered before Airavata's eyes.

As Indra spoke, he moved the bow toward the elephant's head. With a playful yet tender motion, he gently grabbed Airavata's trunk and draped it across the bow, urging the elephant to lift his head.

Airavata obeyed, his large eyes sparkling with wonder. The elephant's mouth hung open slightly, and a line of clear saliva dripped down as he envisioned the glorious scene Indra painted for him.

"My glory be with you," Indra said softly, his voice full of reverence as he stroked the elephant's head, a solemn look on his face.

The Devas stared in awe, their eyes wide in shock.

"This cute elephant is going to be charmed out of laziness," Varuna whispered in disbelief. "Could it be that Airavata is about to replace Indra and bring rain once again?"

A thoughtful silence filled the air. But then, a new thought struck.

If Indra's mount, Airavata, worked so hard, could their mounts be given the same treatment? Varuna fell into deep thought, considering the possibilities.

Vayu sighed suddenly, clearly frustrated. "I am really jealous of Indra! Why doesn't my mount, Gazelle, maintain the wind like Airavata does?" He sounded displeased, his usual cheeriness gone.

Agni also pursed his lips, a resigned sigh escaping him. "My sheep can't replace me either," he muttered under his breath, clearly dissatisfied with his mount's inability to match Airavata's greatness.

Surya blinked, his eyes sparkling with divine light as he glanced at the Devas around him. The thoughts swirled in his mind, bringing him back to the time when he had been devoured by the mighty Narasimha. He couldn't help but wonder if his divine horses had been stronger, if they had more power, perhaps he could have escaped.

Surya clenched his fists in frustration. "I just hate the lack of horsepower!" He shook his head, determination hardening in his features. "The mounts don't run fast enough! I'll send my divine horses to Vaikuntha to train under Garuda. It must become the fastest of them all!"

His words hung in the air, and the Devas turned to look at one another, their eyes wide with surprise. The idea seemed to spark something in their minds as if they had stumbled upon a new path.

Indra's gaze fixed on Surya, his eyes narrowing in disbelief.

Wait a moment... Surya, you are a genius!

A brilliant smile spread across Indra's face. "What a brilliant idea!" he exclaimed, his voice filled with excitement. "If Airavata goes to hard penance and gains the blessing to enhance his ability to bring rain, then Airavata won't have to work overtime for me. I'll retire from the task entirely!"

Indra's grin widened as he imagined the possibilities. When the time comes, I can continue to penance hard if I feel like it, or simply enjoy my life whenever I want.

"One year of hard work, one year of rest—repeat, endlessly!" Indra exclaimed.

"Let's go!" he declared with renewed energy. "We'll go to Vaikuntha to send them off for their penance!"

He was already excited about the prospect of resting while Airavata worked, and now it seemed like his own chance to focus on his training would come soon enough.

With that, Indra turned to the Devas, calling them to action. One by one, they mounted their steeds and set off together toward Vaikuntha, a synchronized force in motion.

Suddenly, the sky was streaked with light.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

Five brilliant beams of light shot through the sky, each trailing behind a divine mount. They passed like white horses in the void, racing across the vast expanse of the human world before entering the Kshira Sagara.

The waves of the Kshira Sagara roiled beneath them, crashing violently against one another.

"I, Indra, have returned!" Indra called out, his voice rich with mirth, as the Devas continued their swift journey.

The incident of Samundra Manthan of Kshira Sagara is still vivid in my mind. The memory is always before my eyes, and the haunting image of Hiranyaksha never fades from my thoughts. But that being, that force, is completely gone. Gone, never to be seen again.

Whoosh!

As Indra approached the Kshira Sagara, the sight of the vast, black waves struck him. They were endless, bottomless, stretching out into an infinite darkness. But at the farthest point, amidst the shadows, a golden light shimmered, like the rising sun, casting a brilliant glow that seemed to promise something magnificent.

Without hesitation, Indra and the Devas moved in unison, flying toward Vaikuntha, the abode of Vishnu and Lakshmi that lay just ahead of them.

The gates of Vaikuntha stood tall, adorned with golden rings that gleamed in the distant light. These gates, connected in a continuous series, led deep into the heart of Vaikuntha. Everywhere they looked, there was green grass, flowers in full bloom, and lotus blossoms floating in the air. Jewels dangled from every surface, their radiance reflecting the eternal brilliance that filled the sacred city, which seemed as if it would never crumble.

"Finally, we've arrived!" Indra murmured, his heart stirring with a sense of awe. His eyes roamed over the beautiful scenery, and he couldn't help but sigh in wonder. "Svarga is rich and beautiful, but Vaikuntha... Vaikuntha is even more so."

"Truly magnificent!" Surya adjusted his crown and looked around, his voice filled with admiration.

Vayu and Agni shared smiles as they too gazed at the breathtaking surroundings.

"It's so beautiful," Vayu said with a deep breath, clearly moved.

Varuna, ever stoic, couldn't hide his amazement either. "Indeed," he murmured, his gaze lost in the splendor.

Indra stood straighter, a satisfied smile on his face, and strode forward with long, purposeful steps. The Devas had passed through the thousand-layered golden gates of Vaikuntha and now stood before a lush, serene garden. Green grass stretched beneath their feet, lotuses bloomed in vibrant colors, and majestic trees rose high, their leaves swaying gently in the breeze.

However, as they ventured deeper into the garden, their attention was drawn to a gathering at its heart. A group of revered figures stood there—Brahma, Sarasvati, and many revered Rishis—but it was not them that captured the Devas' gaze.

No, it was two goddesses, the most enchanting and beautiful beings in all of Vaikuntha. Their radiance outshone everything around them, captivating the gaze of Devas with their sheer divinity and grace.

The woman on the left possessed a face of unmatched beauty, adorned with a crown of rubies that gleamed brilliantly in the light. Her luxurious golden and crimson gown clung to her divine form, lavishly decorated with treasures as if all the wealth and splendor of the world were embodied in her alone. It could be none other than Goddess Lakshmi, the embodiment of fortune and grace.

To the right stood another vision of divine perfection. Her face, as luminous as moonlight, radiated nobility. Her presence was flawless, her skin glowing with a holy brilliance that seemed to emanate from the very core of the cosmos. Her eyes—vast and deep like the universe itself—held a penetrating gaze, watching all with a profound compassion. This, too, could be none other than Goddess Parvati, the wife of Lord Shiva.

In a quiet corner, Vishnu and Mahadeva stood observing, their expressions speaking volumes. The great Protector of the World appeared helpless, his usual composure slipping in the face of the unfolding scene. Beside him, the terrifying Destroyer remained silent, his gaze fixed yet unreadable. It seemed there was little they could do to mediate between their wives.

A tense silence filled the air, thick with unspoken energy. Then, with a sudden flare, the two Devis locked eyes. Their gazes clashed like a thunderclap—fiery, intense, crackling with divine power. The very air between them shimmered, charged with an impending cosmic storm, the tension mounting with each passing moment. This was no mere quarrel; it was a clash of Shakti, a dispute of goddesses that could alter the very balance of the cosmos.

From his celestial throne, Indra observed with keen interest. His lightning-like eyes flickered between the two Mahadevis, and a knowing smile played on his lips. Conflicts among gods were not unheard of, but a confrontation between Devis, especially of such magnitude, was a rare and formidable sight.

"Now this is something that is going to be remembered!" Indra mused, his anticipation rising. Even he, the wielder of Vajra, dared not intervene in a battle of Adi-Shakti's manifestations. This would be a divine struggle unlike any other.

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