We all know that Holi is celebrated because of Narashima’s victory over Hiranyakashipu and Krishna and Radha’s friendship. I will tell you an untold story of Holi.
After Sati’s death, Shiva sat in meditation, and he meditated for several centuries. In the meantime, Taraka, the son of a demon Tara, performed the most rigorous tapasya to please Lord Brahma.
Lord Brahma was impressed by Taraka’s tapasya. Taraka asked for two boons: to be the strongest person in all the worlds and that he would be killed only by Shiva’s son (since he knew that Sati was dead and Shiva was in meditation, it was impossible for Shiva to have a son).
Soon, Taraka started showing his true colours. He started attacking both earth and heaven, creating severe damage to both worlds.
“How are we going to get the wife for Shiva?” asked Indra. “Sati will come back in another form”, Brahma replied.
In the Himalayas, King Himavat (Parvati’s father) and Queen Menavati (mother of Parvati) were overjoyed to see a baby girl and named her Parvati.
After a few years, Brahma called Kamadeva (God of love), Rati (Kamadeva’s wife), and Vasanta (God of spring). “I have a task for you. Kamadeva, make Shiva fall in love with Parvati. She’s the form of Sati. You’ve got to do it, please, my dear son”, Brahma said. Hearing what they were supposed to do, Kamadeva said, “I can’t do it! Shiva has a ferocious temper. He literally cut Daksha’s head!!”
“Son, I understand. But don’t forget that I convinced him not to show this much violence to my children on Earth, and he’s kind since he gave Daksha a goat’s head in forgiveness. Taraka is on a rampage now. He must be stopped. There is no god of love like you”, Brahma convinced. He added, “If you die, I’ll get you back.”
Vasanta, Rati, and Kamadeva went to the Himalayas. Vasanta transformed the cold, chilling Himalayas into a green, beautiful paradise. But Shiva didn’t wake up.
Kamadeva took out his heart-shaped arrows and shot one at Shiva, and the arrow hit the tree.
“Who disturbed my meditation?” Shiva asked. Seeing Kamadeva, the blue-necked god opened his third eye and turned him into ashes.
Rati started weeping. Parvati was shocked!! As Rati sobbed, Brahma appeared. “Please turn him back to normal, father-in-law”, she wept while begging Brahma.
“I’ll turn him back, but he’s not going to be a person. He’s going to be a feeling that will make people admire something or someone.” Brahma said.
Kamadeva was turned into a feeling that we all feel today called ‘love’. There is a drizzle around Holi. The legend says that it is Rati’s tears as she mourns for Kamadeva.
By Aahana Pandey, 5A, Meru International School, Hyderabad, Telangana
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