(DISCLAIMER: Fictional representation ahead!!!)

Author's POV:

Om namo Narayana! Om namo Narayana! Om namo Narayana!

The Chanting was heard from an Ashram in the dense forest. A beautiful lady of marriageable age was chanting Hari's name and was seated under a neem tree. She was lotus-eyed. Her curly locks were brown falling on her face which brightened her face. Her face was divine representing her devotion to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. She wore a pink Saree and aroma of the lotus flower arose from her. 

An elephant was sitting near her to aid her always. Whenever she felt thirsty, the elephant would go to the river and fulfill her thirst. An owl was situated upon the branches of the neem tree by making the nest. It guarded the lady devotionally day and night.

The young lady, the elephant, and the owl spent their time in the devotion of Narayana. 

One night, A sage came out of his Ashram and headed towards the woman. It was Sage Brighu. He felt happy seeing her. 

"Open your eyes, Sri."

Yes, Her name was Sri. Sri opened her eyes. 

"O Father, Accept my respects." Saying so, she bowed before her father.

"O dear daughter, I am really delighted to see that you never gave up your wish of attaining Lord Vishnu, the master of the Universe. You are determined and taking hard penance. I bless you that your wish will be fulfilled soon."

Sri's POV:

Ever since my childhood, my father always talked about the greatness of Lord Vishnu. I totally fell in love with him. I desired to marry Hari since the day I realized about him. My father encored my wish and directed me to do penance and meditate on Narayana.

Ulooka made a sound from the branch. "What is it, Ulooka?". By her sounds, I understood that she wants me to take a break after many years of penance. 

"No, Ulooka. Until Hari himself says to me to stop the penance and accept me as his wife, I will never stop my penance. Gaja, Thanks for bringing water for me, every day. But hereafter I am not going to even drink water."

Gaja nodded his face and sat down near me with his trunk bowed down. I got back into deep penance by fixing my mind of Hari.

Author's POV:

Meanwhile, Diti gave birth to a clan named as Asuras or Demons. As said by Kashyapa, they were destined to get defeated by Devas and killed by Hari himself. 

Years passed. The demons grew up and they started feeling jealousy and hatred towards their half brothers- Devas. 

"Dear sons, Jealousy, and greediness always lead to defeat. I advise you to never desire for something you don't deserve. You will attain what you deserve." said Kashyapa.

"What do you mean, Arya? Isn't this partiality? My sons are suffering in a dusty world, Patala and your other sons are enjoying in beautiful heaven! Dear sons, Fight for justice." said frustrated Diti.

Asuras under the order of Diti attacked heaven. Devaraja Indra, Surya Deva, and other devas under the directions of Deva Guru Brihaspati attacked back. A great battle between Devas and Asuras took place. 

Indra started taking the lives of Asuras cruelly by his mighty Vajra. Surya Deva burnt all the demons and beheaded them with his Axe. Slowly, Asura started getting defeated. They started running in all directions to protect their lives.

"We should not let them live, O Devas. They dare to attack their own brothers. They will become an impending danger if we leave them alive", yelled Indra.

Devas started to follow them as they ran. Asuras saw an ashram in deep forests. They saw an old woman doing chores. She was the wife of Sage Brighu, Poulama. Poulama was watering the plants in her ashram by chanting the name of Hari.

The demons immediately went and fell at the feet of Poulama. "O Mother, Protect us. We have surrendered to you. It is the responsibility of a person to protect the surrendered ones." said the demons.

Demons cunningly appealed to Poulama because they knew that no one will dare to kill the wife of Sage Brighu.

Poulama being a pious lady and the knower of scriptures accepted and gave them shelter in her house. Devas who followed the demons reached the Ashram and felt the presence of the demons.

Poulama was seen guarding the entrance. "O Mother, Have you seen any Asura this way? We feel they are hiding in this ashram," asked Indra.

"Yes, Devaraja, the demons are under my shelter. They have surrendered to me and it is my responsibility to protect them," said Poulama.

Devaraja warned Poulama to leave her from their way. But Poulama refused. They feared to attack her as she was the wife of Brighu.

The Devas decided to pray Sri Narayana. "O Narayana, Bhakta Vatsala, You always come running to help your devotees. Please help us in this situation. It is our responsibility to destroy the bad spirits in this world."

Sri Hari immediately appeared hearing the pleas of Devas. "Poulama, You are a devotee of mine. You were always faithful to your husband and a pious lady who worshiped me with selfless love. I, therefore, give you a chance to get away from my way."

Poulama refused to do so. "O Narayana, I am ready to accept liberation by your hands. I will be the most fortunate one to have died by your hands."

Narayana smiled and immediately chopped her head with his Sudarshana Chakra. The head fell on the feet of Sage Brighu currently who was just entering the Ashrama after meeting her daughter.

Sage Brighu with his red eyes said, "O Vishnu, You have killed my wife who was the dearest to me. You have separated me from my wife forever. You must be punished for your acts. I, Brighu, curse you that you will feel the pain of separation from your wife, not once, but thrice!!!.

TO BE CONTINUED...

(Published on 9th July 2020)

NEXT EPISODE: Union of Sri- Narayana

||Om Namo Narayana||

(Image credits: NDTV Ramayana and Radha Krishna shows)