King of Devas

A column of golden lightning erupted from Indra's body, splitting the sky and clouds as it surged upward toward the Svarga. Almost simultaneously, the throat chakras of other Devas—Vayudev, Agni, Varuna, and Suryadev—flared to life. The wind column, fire column, water column, and light column followed, racing toward the Svargaloka.

Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh!

The light columns, brimming with the power of the chief Devas, shot upward, joining Indra's lightning column. Indra's lightning reached the Svarga first, exploding upon impact. The lightning danced like dragons and Snakes, crackling as it struck at the very center of the divine realm.

In the heart of the explosion, an immense and indescribable city materialized amidst the lightning.

This city, Amaravati, spanned 2,500 yojanas on each side and rose one and a half yojanas high. Its vast, flat expanse stood as a gleaming testament to divine craftsmanship. The city walls, made of radiant gold, emanated an ethereal glow. A thousand gates, each facing a different direction, were adorned with pearls, conch shells, corals, and lush trees. White clouds floated gracefully at ground level, creating the sensation of walking on a luxurious brocade.

Amaravati was the dwelling place of Indra, the lord of the Svarga.

Not far behind, the palaces of the wind, fire, water, and sun Devas rumbled into existence, rising alongside the divine columns of their respective elements. Wind, fire, and water surged and spread throughout the Svarga, each element blessing the power of the Devas with its divine might.

"Indra's power is coming back!"

Indra felt the surge of energy coursing through his body. His heart raced, his blood boiled, and he couldn't help but mutter in awe.

The Svarga was the domain of the Devas, but it was also the domain of the King of Svarga. While the Devas—Vayu, Agni, Varuna, and Surya—had divided the Svarga into their respective divine realms, the entire expanse ultimately belonged to Indra, the ruler of all.

Lightning flashed in Indra's eyes as he felt a tremor ripple through his mind.

Power.

The power of the entire Svarga flowed through him. It was overwhelming, too powerful to fully grasp.

As Indra reveled in his newfound strength, his senses sharpened.

Meanwhile, Hiranyaksha's eyes opened wide with excitement, his beard curling in eager anticipation as his body trembled with renewed vigor. The power of the earth surged through him, completely restoring him to his peak. As the Asura King, he now had the strength to shake the very foundations of the world. Combined with the divine blessings he had received, he was nearly unstoppable.

"I am invincible!" Hiranyaksha declared, his voice thunderous. His gaze locked onto Indra, and a wild grin split his face as he laughed with manic excitement.

"Hahaha! Let me test the power of the Svarga and see what you're truly made of, Lord of the Svarga!"

With a roar of laughter, Hiranyaksha took a step forward. His massive body covered thousands of miles in an instant, and a colossal golden hammer descended from the sky, aimed directly at Indra.

A terrifying aura filled the air, and Indra instinctively extended his hand, his fingers splayed wide.

In a flash of golden light, a Vajra materialized in his grasp. Violent lightning crackled and surged across the weapon's surface, bursting with destructive energy like the very fire of the Svarga.

Boom!

When the two forces collided, a shockwave of unimaginable power erupted. The air trembled, and even the fabric of space seemed to crack under the strain.

After the initial clash, the aftershock made Indra's wrist numb, but it also cleared his mind. He stood ready for what was to come next.

"Hiss!"

Indra couldn't help but inhale sharply. With the power of the Svarga coursing through him, he felt nearly invincible, ready to charge at Hiranyaksha Ashura and engage in combat. But the power from Svarga couldn't compare with the boon of Trimurti Brahma.

As soon as his mind cleared, Indra swiftly retreated, feigning defeat as he withdrew back toward the Devas.

Hiranyaksha, sensing his victory, raised his hand and pointed at the retreating Indra, a sneer curling across his lips. "Is this all the power of the Lord of Svarga?" he mocked, shaking his head. "After churning the Kshira Sgara, I will return to fight you in the Svarga. Just wait!"

With that, he turned and walked away, his laughter echoing.

Surya, basking in his golden radiance, raised his left hand with a graceful yet arrogant air. "Once Soma returns, and we drink his Soma rasa, these Asuras will be no match for us!" he declared, his golden attire gleaming brilliantly as he walked with a regal swagger.

The darkness that had once clung to him had receded, leaving him with a striking appearance: handsome, adorned in golden garments, and exuding an undeniable arrogance in every step.

"Yes," added Vayu who wore a golden hoop and light armor, his posture noble and confident. "Once Soma is here, our divine power will be strengthened!"

Agni and Varuna stood nearby, both restored to their former glory. Clad in golden armor and jeweled ornaments, their radiance shone brightly as they nodded in agreement.

Indra remained silent, his thoughts deep in contemplation.

Soma was the Deva of wine and the moon. His name was synonymous with the potent beverage that, when consumed by the Devas, significantly increased their strength, boosting their divine power and doubling their combat abilities.

But...

Indra knew that, in comparison to the divine boon, the power gained from drinking Soma was feeble. The true strength lay not in the drink, but in the divine favor bestowed upon them.

Soma's power, while useful, had become outdated. The new generation understood that boons were the true path to greater strength. The ship that once carried Soma had long since sailed.

Boons were the true answer, the key to achieving ultimate power.

"From this perspective, the Devas are conservatives, and the Asuras are the reformists!" Indra couldn't help but reflect, his mind running wild with thought.

At that moment, a radiant cascade of beams of light descended from the Sky, illuminating the world below. From within the celestial glow, Lord Vishnu appeared beside Goddess Lakshmi, his face adorned with a gentle, knowing smile. As he stood by her side, Lakshmi, the Goddess of Wealth, gazed at him with profound affection, her eyes reflecting the timeless bond they shared. In a gesture of sacred devotion, she lovingly adorned him with a varmala—a garland of divine flowers, symbolizing their eternal union.

It was as though the very cosmos had conspired to honor this celestial marriage, a union that transcended all realms and time. In that fleeting, yet infinite moment, the divine couple exchanged a glance filled with love and promise before vanishing together, leaving behind a sense of peace and blessings that made Asuras and Devas happy and jealous.

Seeing this, Hiranyaksha snorted coldly, his face tightening with displeasure. His mission to the Kshira Sagara had been to capture Goddess Lakshmi and enshrine her in Patalaloka, but now she had been taken by Vishnu once again, just as he had finally managed to bring her out. His fists clenched, and his anger flared.

Just then, the Asura general Viprachitti approached Hiranyaksha.

"King, it wasn't just Goddess Lakshmi who emerged just now," Viprachitti reported. "Another Goddess has appeared as well."

"We've located another goddess!" he added.

"This Goddess was recently born. There wasn't much of a disturbance when she emerged, but we found her."

Viprachitti's words caught the attention of the surrounding Asuras, and their eyes lit up with interest. Goddess Lakshmi had followed Vishnu, leaving the Devas empty-handed. But now, they had found another Goddess.

"Good fortune!" Hiranyaksha murmured.

Rishi Shukracharya furrowed his brow, sensing something unusual about this new Goddess.

Hiranyaksha, on the other hand, was ecstatic. "Bring her here, quickly!" he ordered eagerly.

"Yes, King!" Viprachitti responded and sped off. Before long, he returned with the Goddess in tow.

Hiranyaksha's expression shifted as he examined the Goddess. He frowned, confusion clouding his thoughts. The Goddess stood before him in tattered clothing, her hair wild and unkempt. Her appearance was unsettling—her feet were shaped like those of an antelope, her eyes like the unblinking gaze of a goldfish, and her thick, twisted lips were sharp like the teeth of a bull. Nothing about her seemed divine, yet the potent surge of divine energy emanating from her form made Hiranyaksha pause—doubting, but unable to ignore the unmistakable aura of her true nature.

Goddess Lakshmi was a vision of glory, so why did this one appear so ragged and unattractive?

After a long silence, Hiranyaksha finally asked, "Devi... what is your name?"

The unattractive Goddess spoke slowly, her voice rough and grating, like the sound of metal scraping against stone.

"Jyestha," she said, her tone almost like a whisper.

Hiranyaksha crossed his arms, deep in thought. This Goddess, Jyestha, may not be as beautiful as Lakshmi, but being born alongside Lakshmi, the Goddess of Wealth, surely there is some connection between them. Their names are similar too. She must have some significance. We can't let the Devas learn of her—she must be sent away immediately, back to the Patalaloka.

With this decision in mind, he waved his hand, summoning Asura Holika.

"Holika, take this devi back to the Patalaloka at once!" Hiranyaksha commanded.

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Jyestha otherwise known as Alakshmi, the Goddess of Misfortune, stands as the shadow of Lakshmi, the Goddess of Wealth and Prosperity. While Lakshmi bestows fortune and abundance, Alakshmi represents the absence of both, embodying misfortune, scarcity, and adversity. She is also the wife of Kali (The embodiment of Kalyuga, the Age of Darkness and Strife.)

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