Free Shakti: The Feminine Divine by Anuja Chandramouli Page B

raining blows on their enemy’s unprotected face and head. From a distance, Vishnu saw his nose explode in a geyser of blood and the asura brothers, sensing victory within reach, moved in for the kill.
    ‘Shakti! It is unfortunate that you seem to harbour a secret fantasy to break my nose and pummel me to within an inch of my life! You have set these two abominations upon me with the express purpose of fulfilling your kinky desire and here you are feasting on the sight. Seeing as you treat your friends this way, it is small wonder that you have so few!’ Vishnu called out.
    As he had expected, the illusion shattered and he was liftedclear of her handiwork, so that they could take in the somewhat surreal sight of Madhu and Kaitabha tearing apart an apparition who was a dead ringer for Vishnu himself.
    Vishnu now found himself face-to-face with the Goddess. But something was different about her. It could have been the way she held herself, or a certain aloof quality that kept him at arm’s length. He felt more disoriented than ever. This wasn’t his best friend Shakti—or was it?
    ‘You do know me,’ she said with the slightest of smiles, ‘as I know you!’
    Understanding dawned on him and a single name of power resounded deep within his being—
Durga
. Awestruck, he whispered, ‘You have emerged from the core of Shakti. A rebirth brought about by the deep need Usas felt to reinvent herself as a talisman that would never bow to wickedness, whatever form it might take!’
    Durga did not bother to confirm or deny it. Instead she said, ‘I take it you are not entirely happy with the harmless charade that was just played out?’
    ‘It was a unique way to make an entrance!’ Vishnu replied. ‘I willingly concede that your tricks proved too clever for me to see through, especially since you also saw fit to drug me into a stupor. What happens next? I am hoping you have a plan to get rid of that odious twosome. Am I to compose a long-winded boring paean in your praise like Brahma did with such heartbreakingly lofty purpose? Or should I cut off my head and offer it to you along with my blood for your dining pleasure?’
    Vishnu was clearly teasing and more than a little confused; nevertheless Durga took his hand in her own in the familiar gesture he knew so well and squeezed it consolingly before framing a reply, ‘Shattering that prepossessing air you alwaysseem to possess was a satisfying experience. That was all there was to it. I don’t see why you had to poke fun at that beautiful hymn Brahma composed! It was really charming of him and thanks to the purity of purpose he imbued it with, the Brahmastuti will always endure. Although, I will admit, he is boring when earnest.’
    ‘Purity of purpose indeed!’ Vishnu scoffed. ‘All Brahma did was to exercise his ingenuity to extricate his sorry behind from a situation, which was about to culminate with his limbs being severed off so that Madhu and Kaitabha could club him to death with them! If you ask me, he got off far too easily for his crime!’
    ‘That may be so, but we all love happy endings, don’t we? Brahma has learned his lesson and he was truly repentant. Honestly, I can’t ask for more. In all seriousness, though, nothing would have been gained by allowing Madhu and Kaitabha to actually maul him to death, wouldn’t you agree? Vengeance is overrated and it certainly doesn’t taste good, cold or otherwise, not unless you have a palate that thrives on bitterness. Mostly it just leaves you feeling hollow and empty inside. A battle which sees hate emerge triumphant ensures nothing more than an abundance of victims on all sides.’
    ‘A beautiful thought!’ Vishnu retorted dryly. ‘Allow me to return to my poor embattled Sesha, so that I can love those bloodthirsty demons to death!’
    ‘There is no need for that!’ Durga informed him loftily. ‘We can take care of the asura brothers together! They cannot be killed unless it is by their own choice. It