King of Devas

The two beams of white light shot out from the Kshira Sagara one after the other, soaring over the vast expanse of water before colliding mid-air.

Boom!

The impact was immense. Waves of air surged outward, and the viscous milk of the Kshira Sagara rippled like jelly, their surface undulating violently.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

"What are these wonders?" Puloman muttered, his voice laced with curiosity and greed.

"Wait... could it be?" Agnideva stepped forward, his eyes widening with realization. "Yes! I recognize them!"

"Uchchaihshravas!" exclaimed Vayudev, pointing at the majestic seven-headed flying horse. Its ethereal mane gleamed with the colors of the dawn, each head exuding an aura of divine power. "The King of Horses, born from the essence of purity itself!"

"And there!" Agnidev called, as the massive, cloud-like figure of Airavata stepped forward, its white, radiant form wreathed in mist. "Airavata! The celestial elephant, bearer of the clouds and storms, destined to serve as Indra's mount!"

The Devas and Asuras alike were drawn to the spectacle, their attention fixed on the massive collision. As the radiant white light slowly began to fade, the shapes of two colossal creatures emerged, their forms as tall as mountains. They clashed together with thunderous force.

First came Uchchaihshravas, the celestial steed. Its seven heads reared high, each letting out a harmonious whiny that echoed like a divine symphony through the heavens. The sound wasn't merely a cry but a melody, a layered cascade of tones that wove together like celestial flutes singing in perfect unison.

"Eeeeeh-aahhh! Eeeeeh-aahhh!"

Even as they marveled, the waters of the Kshira Sagara surged again, and from the vortex emerged the towering figure of Airavata, the cloud elephant of legend. Its emergence was marked by a thunderous trumpet, a call so deep and powerful that it seemed to resonate with the core of the Earth itself.

"Prrrraaaahhh! Prrrraaaaahhh!"

The sound rolled across the ocean, shaking the skies and silencing all other noise. Water cascaded from its massive form like waterfalls, crashing into the ocean with deafening roars. As Airavata stepped onto the solidified foam of the sea, each step landed with a heavy, resounding thud, leaving ripples that expanded outward infinitely.

Once again, the two giants collided, their heads and trunks twisting and struggling, creating waves across the milk sea as their forms shook violently.

The Devas recognized the elephant at once. Airavata, the divine white elephant, was unmistakable.

"Then this white horse must be the king of horses—Uchchaihshravas!" Indra thought, his heart stirring with excitement.

"Uchchaihshravas!"

Unable to contain his enthusiasm, Indra stepped forward, calling the horse by name.

At the sound of Indra's voice, Airavata, the six-tusked elephant, shook his massive head, its large ears flapping like fans made of cattail leaves. It was as though the elephant had been stirred by an unseen force, reminiscent of a child calling for its father.

Eeeeiiiihhhh!

Airavata lowered his head with a mighty trumpet before lifting his enormous body. The elephant's trunk swung up, and in a single swift motion, he lifted Uchchaihshravas off the ground with his tusks.

Boom!

With a powerful thrust, the white horse was sent flying through the air, hurtling toward the Asura army.

"Huh? Hahahaha!"

Hiranyaksha let out a gleeful laugh, his knees bending as he prepared to leap into action. In a flash, he shot forward, charging toward the airborne horse.

"If Indra claims the King of Elephants, then the King of Asuras shall command the King of Horses—Uchchaihshravas! Mark my words, I will ensure you never set foot in Svarga again!"

Hiranyaksha sought to subdue the wild white horse, but this creature, with its tall, pointed ears, was furious. It neighed loudly and charged at him like a meteor, its speed and force even faster than the speed of thought.

Boom!

Despite Hiranyaksha's immense strength—powerful enough to lift the very Mandara mountain the axis of the earth and Svarga—the king of horses struck him with a swift kick. Its neck was caught in his grasp, but the sheer strength of the horse caused Hiranyaksha to stagger sideways.

Boom!

Uchchaihshravas's ears standing tall in anger, let out a fierce roar as it crashed into the Asura army, sending shockwaves through their ranks. The Asuras screamed in panic as they were knocked aside, falling into the milky sea.

"Wait a minute! This wasn't the direction I aimed for—why did it land in the army?"

Hiranyaksha cursed under his breath. "I've been unusually unlucky lately."

Still disoriented, the white horse quickly regained its footing, letting out a loud hiss before charging back to its feet. With the fury of a wild king, it began trampling over the Asura army with all four of its hooves.

Hiranyaksha sneered, his eyes narrowing with fury as he glared at the rebellious steed. He straightened up, ready to face the white horse once more.

"Airavata! You've come!" With a smile on his face, Indra raised his right hand and clenched his fist in victory.

PRUUUUMMMMM!

The four-tusks and seven trunks white elephant, Airavata, let out a long cry. His large, watery eyes blinked, and he happily shook his head. His slender trunk reached out and gently touched Indra's fist in a gesture of affection.

Indra nodded, a sense of gratitude swelling in his chest. His beloved elephant had finally returned.

Glancing around, Indra motioned with his hand and whispered, "Come over."

In response, Airavata nodded and, with a quiet grace, moved closer to Indra. His enormous ears, like cattail leaves, folded around Indra, creating a protective shield. The two shared a quiet moment as secret talks began.

"The Kshira Sagara will be very dangerous soon, so don't get too close," Indra whispered urgently.

Airavata nodded, his eyes shifting slightly as if to say he understood everything.

"Good," Indra said, his voice soft. He patted Airavata's head, stepped back, and turned his gaze toward the vast Milky Ocean.

Placing his hands on his waist, Indra sighed in relief, a sense of comfort settling over him. As long as he secured the Amrit, he could focus on his training in peace. He had no desire to be drawn into the dangers of battle with the Asuras in the future.

"Hey! King of Svarga, only a fool would attempt that!"

Indra couldn't help but smile in amusement.

Boom! Boom!

Suddenly, violent tremors shook the Milky Sea. Indra looked toward the disturbance and saw Hiranyaksha engaged in a fierce struggle, repeatedly knocking the white horse to the ground. Each time, the white horse tumbled into the Asura army, seemingly guided by some unseen force. Many Asuras were caught in the chaos, letting out cries of pain as they were trampled by the mighty hooves of the horse which couldn't even be bound by time and space.

Indra couldn't help but click his tongue in disapproval.

Even a mare was difficult to tame, let alone a stallion. And not just any stallion, but the King of Horses—Uchchaihshravas.

Finally, after an unknown amount of time, Hiranyaksha emerged from the Asura army, his expression dark and grim. Behind him, the white horse, its tall ears drooping, was tightly bound by five-colored ropes.

"This white horse is truly extraordinary!" Hiranyaksha muttered under his breath.

"Vajranga, take this white horse back to Patalaloka immediately." Hiranyaksha's tone was frustrated as he addressed his subordinate.

Uchchaihshravas had been a wild force, kicking anything in sight. If not for Hiranyaksha's immense power, taming it would have been nearly impossible. Moreover, if the horse remained in the army, it was bound to cause more chaos and harm to the Asuras. It was better to send it away.

Hiranyaksha paused, a thoughtful look crossing his face.

"I feel as though misfortune has been following me lately. The temple of the goddess Jyestha should have been completed decades ago. She is associated with wealth and fortune. When you return, go to her temple and offer your prayers."

Hiranyaksha's words carried a weight of warning.

"I will fulfill your commands, my Lord," Vajranga replied immediately, his voice firm with understanding.

Hiranyaksha exhaled in relief, then turned to face the Deva army. His fists clenched with determination.

"Continue!" he shouted, his voice ringing across the battlefield.

Indra's eyes flashed with determination as his expression grew serious. He grasped the tail of Vasuki and maneuvered his way among the many Gandharvas.

Only the Kalpavriksha, Halahala, and Amrit remained in the Milky Sea. The white horse and the white elephant had emerged together—two magnificent beings appearing simultaneously.

Halahala and Amrit were also twin entities. Next would be the Kalpavriksha, the wish-fulfilling tree. This sacred tree, which belonged to the Devas, had been transported to the peak of Mt. Meru, nestled within the heart of Indra's five paradise gardens.

Legend had it that anyone who prayed devoutly beneath the tree could have their righteous desires fulfilled. Even Parvati, the personification of the creative energy that sustains the cosmos, once made a wish under its branches for a daughter, and thus Ashokasundari was born.

"The Asuras will surely try to seize the Kalpavriksha," Indra muttered. "Thankfully, my divine armor is almost finished."

His gaze sharpened with resolve as he grasped the long tail of the serpent, pulling it closer to himself. He pressed his arms firmly against the snake's scales and began to pull with all his might.

Airavata, ever loyal, extended his trunk and wrapped it around the serpent's body, helping to pull it as well.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

The massive body of the Snake King Vasuki was tugged from left to right, causing Mandara Mountain to rotate slowly. The sound of its movement was like that of the Patalaloka shaking, a loud rumbling echoing through the air.

As time passed, year after year, Indra felt the power of his penance growing stronger within him, a burst of energy radiating like lightning from his body. His meditation had reached its pinnacle.

Boom!

A deafening crack of thunder and lightning exploded in his mind. Indra's focus was shattered, and he slowly lowered his head, ending his penance.

A faint golden light began to glow around him, and within that radiance, the figure of Surya appeared. The golden sun armor became even brighter, its first layer now complete.

"What power should I bestow upon this first layer of divine armor?" Indra pondered deeply, his mind already turning to the next phase of his preparation. 

…

On the other side, Vishnu's eyes suddenly opened as he returned from his meditation. His gaze fell upon the churning Sea of Milk below, his expression growing serious.

"Narayana, what's wrong?" Lakshmi, the Devadess, asked, her beautiful eyes sparkling with concern.

"I caught a glimpse of the future during my meditation," Vishnu replied slowly. "What comes next is..."

"The Kalpavriksha!"

He paused, his voice heavy with gravity. "This wish-fulfilling tree will be tied to Shiva in the future. The Asuras must not get their hands on it!"

---

Ashokasundari was born from the wish-fulfilling tree, Kalpavriksha when Parvati wished for a daughter to reduce her loneliness. Her name is derived from her creation. Ashoka refers to the easing of Parvati's Shoka, which means "sorrow", while Sundari means "beautiful girl