End of Nikumbha!

         Once upon a time, there lived a demon named Nikumbha. He was strong and ferocious that even the devas were scared to stand against him. Nikumbha, the vicious demon had the greed of living a long life. He did not wish to die. He was so greedy that he wished to rule all the worlds and be a king, forever. So he did penance facing North, where the abode of mountains, Kailash is. Worried devas tried to disturb his penance but none worked. Nikumbha was so firm on his stand and was doing penance expecting Lord Shiva, for hundreds of thousand years.

Lord Shiva and Nikumbha!

         Pleased on Nikumbha’s devotion, Lord Shiva appeared in front of Nikumbha and said, “Nikumbha! I’m so satisfied on such devotion from you. Ask me for any boon.”

        Nikumbha was so excited and he asked for the wish of living forever. “Nikumbha, every life that’s born on this earth should die. That’s nature’s way. I can’t grant a boon against nature and life.”- Lord Shiva replied with serenity.

         Worried Nikumbha had a thought for few moments – “Oh Lord, if that’s nature’s way then I want a boon where my soul will have three forms. Three forms which cannot be killed even by Devas, Demons and the Demigods or even by humans, by using any weapons that’s made by them.”

         Lord Shiva observed at Nikumbha deep through his eyes. He smiled and said- “Nikumbha, Your boon will be granted. But remember, if you do anything that’s not liked by sages or Brahmins, you will be killed. I and Lord Vishnu are the last refugees of sages, saints and Brahmins. So if you do anything that we don’t like, you will be killed by Lord Vishnu.” Thus, warning Nikumbha, Lord Shiva vanished.

         Nikumbha made sure that he should not die. Even by Krishna. So he hid the form that’s with the soul in Shatpura.  Shatpura is a city of demons ruled by Nikumbha’s brother, Vajranabha. Vajranabha has got a boon from Shiva that nobody can enter Shatpura. Even the gods could not enter. So Nikumbha was happy and sure that he cannot be killed. Another was taking care of diti with penance.

Dwaraka City!

         Years went on. Lord Vishnu, incarnated as Lord Krishna was ruling the splendid Dwaraka city. Nikumbha was so proud of his boon and his three forms. So he was assaulting devas and demons too. His cruelty grew within him every time when he defeated a Demi God or Devas. Same way he even defeated Lord Indra. He even forgot about Lord Shiva's warning. One day, the Yadavas of Dwaraka, along with Krishna and Balram  undertook a pilgrimage to the sea in order to celebrate a great joyous festival there. As festival was going on, Lord Krishna has invited the Pandavas and Draupathi too. Krishna with his sixteen thousand wives, Balram with his only wife Revati, and youths of the Yadavas with thousands of courtesans gave themselves up to playing and singing, feasting and drinking, and all kinds of enjoyments in the water and on the sea-shore. 

   

      The demon Nikumbha saw Banumathi who was playing with her friends on the sea shore and fell for her beauty. He took the form of a large bird and abducted her. Bhanumati is the granddaughter of Lord Krishna and the daughter of the Yadava, Bhanu. On hearing the distress call from Bhanumathi’s friends and Banumathi crying for help everyone looked up and saw a huge bird carrying her away. Krishna and everyone started firing arrows and throwing swords and stones on Nikumbha. But nothing stopped Nikumbha. Even Arjuna’s arrows were not able to stop Nikumbha. 

Nikumbha abducts Bhanumati!

         "Brother, You and the rest of the Pandavas leave to Dwaraka with our Yadavas. Protect the women and children. I, along with Pradyumna and Arjuna will go and rescue Bhanumathi."-Requesting Balram to take care of the clan, Krishna accompanied by Arjuna and Pradyumna, left looking for Nikumbha.

         Arjuna and Pradyumna were firing arrows fiercely at Nikumbha. Nikumbha is much more powerful than Gatothkach, the son of Bhīma. He was opposing them nonchalantly swirling his heavy mace that’s with many thorns in his right hand and holding Banumathi in his left hand. Arjuna never stopped firing arrows. Best archer ever on this earth but as his arrows failed to pierce or even make an impression on Nikumbha’s body, Arjuna got fury and confused. He and Pradyumna thought of using celestial weapons on Nikumbha but as the effect of the weapon will harm Banumathi, they were helpless.

         “Oh you naive people, I’m fed up with you all. You people are no match to my talent and strength. You people can’t stop me from taking this beautiful lady away.”- Nikumbha laughed at all and he used his illusory power and started flying to the city of Shatpura taking the form of Haritha bird. Pradyumna, who is an expert in illusory power, sensed that Nikumbha has left the place. “Nikumbha is not here. He is flying towards north. I wonder where he is going. We can out run him with Garuda.”- Pradyumna said in an assured tone.

        “No Pradyumna. It seems like Nikumbha is trying to reach Shatpura. If he reaches Shatpura, we cannot kill him. None can enter the city. Not even me. We have to save Banumathi before he enters the city.”- Saying so Krishna started to think of a plan.

         “Before entering Shatpura, Nikumbha has to cross the Gokarna Mountain. It’s protected by the splendor of Lord Shiva. Neither the Devas nor the demons or even the sages could cross that mountain easily. Arjuna and I will attack Nikumbha. While he is defending himself, Pradyumna, you rescue Banumathi and take her back. Myself and Arjuna will follow him.”-Sharing his plan with Arjuna and Pradyumna, Krishna mounted on Garuda and started flying uphill the Gokarna.

         Krishna and Arjuna fired arrows on Nikumbha. Nikumbha was unable to fly and defend himself by holding Banumathi at the same time. So, he placed Banumathi on a rock next to him and started attacking Krishna and Arjuna. Pradyumna used this opportunity and rescued Banumathi before Nikumbha could notice. He took her back to the family.

         Nikumbha who was oppressed by the continuous arrows of Krishna and Arjuna noticed that Banumathi was taken by Pradyumna. He abandoned the mountain and started flying towards Shatpura. Mounted on Garuda, Krishna and Arjuna followed him. By the time they reached Shatpura, it was night. Nikumbha was safe inside the city while Krishna and Arjuna were waiting outside. In the meantime, Pradyumna returned to Shatpura’s entrance where Krishna and Arjuna were waiting.

Krishna, Arjuna and Pradyumna attack Nikumbha in front of Shatpura!

      “Nikumbha is safe inside his city with his family and friends. He should probably be coming out once he is refreshed. Till then we have to wait.”-sensing that end of Nikumbha is near, Krishna spoke in an assured tone to Arjuna and Pradyumna.

 Arjuna unconscious!

         After a long wait, as sensed by Lord Krishna, Nikumbha came out of the city entrance. Desiring the death of Nikumbha, Arjuna and Pradyumna blocked Nikumbha from moving. They fired arrows around Nikumbha and made him stand still. But the ferocious and powerful Nikumbha came out of the blockade and struck Arjuna and Pradyumna on their head with his mace. Unable to handle the power of Nikumbha, the valiant Arjuna and mighty Pradyumna fell unconscious.

 Seeing Arjuna and Pradyumna lying unconscious, Krishna got angry. He took his mace and started attacking Nikumbha. Unable to be defeated, both of them fought fiercely like trumpeting elephants. Krishna, having powerful arms, an expert in battle, playing with his mace Kaumodaki, showed a variety of techniques.  Nikumbha got angry as he found it hard to defeat Krishna. Krishna swirled his Kaumodaki and hit hard on Nikumbha’s head. Enraged, Nikumbha whirled his mace with full swing and with a terrible roar; he pulled all his strength and hit Krishna. For a moment, Krishna was unable to hold himself to the ground. He touched the ground with his mace for support. Within the instance of blink of eyelids, he became unconscious and fell down.

Krishna attack Nikumbha with Kaumodaki!

 “Lord Shiva warned me that Krishna will kill me. This man! This man is going to kill me!! Not even able to stand against my one full swing, he fell down like a dry leaf unable to stand against a typhoon. Weaklings! Against me, all are weaklings. I’m the best!!! I cannot be defeated. Never, ever.”- Mocking Krishna and so proud of his power, Nikumbha laughed at Krishna who was lying unconscious. Filled with pride, he looked at Krishna and his soul vanished leaving the body on ground. 

Krishna was lying unconscious!   Devas, who were watching the fight from Indralok were astounded on seeing Krishna falling down unconscious. Everyone stood speechless and distressed. Fear struck their heart and they started looking at each other with a confused look. The Devas looked at Indra with one single question in their eyes- “What to do now?”

Confused and clueless, Indra rode his white elephant Airavat to Kailash. He fell on the foot of Lord Shiva-“Oh Lord! Help us! Protect us. Save the world and all of us. Nikumbha has gone fiercer. He is troubling everyone. No one is able to stop him. He even made Krishna, the incarnation of Lord Vishnu unconscious.”

      Lord Shiva smiled-“Don’t worry Indra. The end is near for Nikumbha. I believe Krishna did this on his own will. Who is capable of making Krishna unconscious, unless he decides to? Mix Ganga water with amruth and sprinkle on Krishna. He will regain consciousness.”

      Lord Indra took the amruth and rushed towards Krishna. He sprinkled the elixir amruth mixed with Ganga water on Krishna to revive him. Once Krishna came back to senses, he used his power on Arjuna and Pradyumna to regain consciousness.

       Arjuna saw Nikumbha’s body lying on ground. He took up his bow and shouted at Nikumbha’s body-“Get up Nikumbha! Get up you cruel soul! Come and fight. Are you tired?”

         While Arjuna was wondering whether he is dead or not, Pradyumna, the expert in illusion realized that Nikumbha’s soul is not there. “Oh Father! Nikumbha’s soul is not here! Only his body is here! The one with the wicked intelligence has gone somewhere else. He is still alive!”

         Confused Arjuna queried Krishna,”Oh Madhava! Is Nikumbha more powerful than you? I’m the world’s best archer but yet none of my arrows killed him. He even made you unconscious. How come he did this to you?”

       Krishna smiled and in a serene voice he said, “Oh Arjuna! Son of Pandu, Nikumbha cannot be killed by any weapons of humans or even Devas. He is a great tyrant   having three souls, a boon he got from Lord Shiva. I destroyed one during his abduction of Banumathi. And, when I hit him with my mace, here in front of Shatpura, I killed the second one. The one that was inside Shatpura was difficult to kill.  Now he’s left with the only chance to take the one from Shatpura. It’s time to kill him and it’s getting late. I will save the story for our return journey. Just follow my lead.”

        They destroyed the body of Nikumbha that was lying on the ground. Once the body was destroyed, thousands and thousands of Nikumbha emerged in the sky. Arjuna and Pradyumna started firing their arrows. Filled with wrath, thousands of Nikumbhas approached Krishna to kill him. Lord Indra and other devas were watching all this with a wonder. Though it was all Nikumbha’s illusion, every single illusion of Nikumbha fought like the real Nikumbha. Even the illusion form of Nikumbha was unable to be killed. Every time an arrow pierces the body, the body just splits and joins again. It seemed like there was no end to this war.

       Sensing that Krishna would never stop at this, Nikumbha’s illusionary forms seized Arjuna. Few held Arjuna’s bow, few held Arjuna’s legs and few held his hands making Arjuna unable to move. Holding the greatest archer Arjuna they rose up in the sky. Then all the Nikumbha’s illusions turned into Arjuna.

     Master of knowledge, Lord Krishna understood that it was an act of Nikumbha.  Pradyumna, who is an expert in illusion, cut off Nikumbha’s illusions carefully by shooting his celestial arrows. Lord Krishna realized the true form of Nikumbha. He understood that the only soul left for Nikumbha is the one that’s holding Arjuna firmly. He took his discus. Using his discus, Lord Krishna cut off the head of Nikumbha’s physical being.

         The moment Nikumbha’s head was cut, his body fell down from the sky like an uprooted tree that got struck in the hurricane. Pradyumna got hold of Arjuna who was also falling down. Krishna, Arjuna and Pradyumna destroyed the final body of Nikumbha and returned towards Dwaraka with Krishna explaining the story of Nikumbha and his brother.