Indian Mythology: the Heavenly Emperor is not working today Chapter 3 - 3 3 Austerity Garuda's Fury

3: Chapter 3: Austerity, Garuda’s Fury 3: Chapter 3: Austerity, Garuda’s Fury Brahma’s old brows furrowed slightly, showing a look of concern.

“Indra is now in ascetic ditation, Vishnu must be getting anxious!”

“Why is that?”

The Saraswati Goddess cocked her head, a trace of confusion flashing in her bright eyes.

Vishnu is one of the Three Aspects Deities, the Protector God, even if the Heavenly Emperor undergoes ascetic ditation, it shouldn’t have anything to do with Vishnu.

Brahma shook his head, winked at his wife, with a glint of wisdom in his eyes.

“Don’t forget the curse of the Raggedy Immortal!”

Brahma said.

Following Brahma’s hint, Saraswati, the Goddess of Wisdom, imdiately understood the trick.

She, in Brahmaloka, looked towards the Milk Sea below the Three Realms.

Indeed, the serpent bed that carried the world, by Vishnu’s side, had already lost a figure.

“I understand now, his wife Goddess Lakshmi is the Goddess of Wealth, the auspicious Apsara, the Raggedy Immortal cursed the gods to lose wealth and luxury, and as the symbol of wealth, Goddess Lakshmi also disappeared from Vishnu’s side.”

The Saraswati Goddess, holding a phoenix-headed lute, suddenly realized.

Brahma nodded.

“The Three Aspects Deities cannot descend at will, otherwise it would cause world fluctuations, which goes against the duty of the Protector God.

There must be a certain cause and effect before he can take action.

This requires the Heavenly Emperor Indra and the gods to request his presence, but now the Heavenly Emperor is in ascetic ditation…”

“Vishnu must be feeling troubled!”

Brahma said, his lips curving slightly.

“My Lord, why do I feel like you’re taking pleasure in others’ misfortune?”

The Saraswati Goddess’s beautiful eyes moved slightly as she turned to look at Brahma, smiling gently.

“I’m not, I didn’t, you’re mistaken!”

Brahma turned away, his eyes darting around, evading, as he muttered.

…

Above the endless Milk Sea.

This is the ocean of all things, the source of everything, the foundation of the world, all Three Realms are above the Milk Sea.

The Thousand-headed Serpent King Shesha coiled into a spiral, its imnse body stretching for millions of miles, endless, serving as the serpent bed, supporting Protector God Vishnu.

At this mont, the anxious Thousand-headed Serpent King Shesha flicked its tongues, its tail creating towering waves in a fluster, all thousand heads turning towards their Supre Lord Vishnu.

“Lord, why has the Lady Master suddenly vanished?”

Shesha asked.

“Don’t worry!”

Vishnu lay on the massive serpent, smiling faintly.

He wasn’t in a hurry!

Not at all!

He naturally knew the Goddess of Wealth was affected by the curse, sinking into the Milk Sea, but since the curse was cast via the Power of Asceticism, he could not forcefully break it.

The plan for now was to restore the divine powers of the gods.

As the Protector God, he naturally had a way to restore the divine powers of the gods, and he even had the plan all figured out, rehearsing it several tis in his mind.

That was to churn the Milk Sea!

Due to the Immortal’s curse, nurous treasures returned to the Milk Sea, he would call upon the gods, allowing them to churn the Milk Sea and bring out the many treasures turned from divine power.

The Heavenly Emperor Indra is in ascetic ditation and won’t co to seek him?

No need to hurry!

He knew Indra all too well, arrogant and self-righteous, fragile inside despite a harsh exterior.

But what’s most important is that he’s accustod to luxury and can’t handle hardship.

When Indra can no longer bear the ascetic ditation, he will naturally co to seek him, and all he needs to do is wait.

Vishnu smiled, propped his chin with one hand, and slowly closed his eyes, lying on his side to sleep.

Seeing that their Lord Vishnu was not in a hurry, Shesha felt sowhat reassured.

“The Lord has his own determinations; perhaps this is the Lord’s ‘Leela’!”

Leela is the play.

All things in the world are in the hands of the Three Aspects Deity; maybe the Lady Master’s disappearance is just the Lord’s Leela, just a bit of fun from being reunited after a long separation.

Thinking this, Shesha’s previously restless tail also cald down in the Milk Sea.

…

Ah, ho~

Vishnu slowly yawned, his star-like eyes gradually opening, gazing at the vast Milk Sea.

“Shesha!”

“How many years have I slept?”

Vishnu asked.

“Lord, you have slumbered for five hundred years!”

Shesha bowed its serpent head, responding.

For divine beings, ti is the least valuable commodity—five hundred years is but the duration of a nap.

However…

“Five hundred years…” Vishnu blinked, muttering to himself, then asked, “Did Indra not co?”

“No!”

The thousand heads of Shesha swayed as he honestly responded.

“…”

“This is bad, Indra really didn’t co!”

Vishnu was startled, his eyes narrowed slightly, and he imdiately looked towards the Heavenly Realm.

The Heavenly Realm had beco even more run-down!

The once pure and holy air of the Heavenly Realm was about to completely turn into that of the Mortal Realm, dilapidated beyond repair.

The gods had beco even weaker!

Vishnu looked towards the Heavenly Emperor’s Temple, only to see a magnificent force of the Power of Asceticism bursting forth, turning into azure lightning that flickered uncertainly, exuding a grand vitality and a vigorous scene of everything flourishing.

“He is really in ditation!”

Vishnu was stunned for a mont, then frowned.

For ditative practices typically lasted hundreds or thousands of years, so even spanned tens of thousands of years.

If his wife, Goddess Lakshmi, wished to return, wouldn’t that be indefinitely postponed!

Vishnu slightly furrowed his brow, after contemplating for a mont his frown relaxed, for he had co up with a solution.

If he just told Indra that he had a way to restore the divine power of the gods, Indra would definitely bring all the gods scurrying over to him, and then Goddess Lakshmi could return.

“Garuda!”

Vishnu spoke softly, calling out the na of his devotee.

Garuda!

Garuda!

Garuda!

The faint voice echoed over the Milk Sea, reverberating layer upon layer, reaching into the Three Realms, traversing billions of miles without bounds.

Garuda!

The Golden-winged Bird!

He was also the son of the Kashyapa Immortal and, at the sa ti, a faithful devotee of Vishnu!

“The Supre Lord is calling !”

A flash of brilliance appeared in Garuda’s eyes.

He flapped his wings, stirring up rolling gales, dark winds filling the sky as if nightfall had descended, sweeping over the Milk Sea.

Whoosh!

Massive wings blotted out the sun, and as Garuda soared above the Milk Sea, he left behind thick shadows, among the endless waves below, he beheld his Supre Lord Vishnu.

“Praise be to Lord Vishnu!”

Garuda clasped his hands together, bowed slightly, and then lifted his head to reverently gaze upon his Lord.

Ha-Ha!

Vishnu’s face bore a smile as he sat upon the serpent bed, fondly watching his devotee.

He wasn’t like Brahma, whose devotees were all Asuras who, after completing their ascetic practices, ceased to pay him any heed.

Millions of devotees, half of whom believed in him.

“Garuda, by my decree, go to the Heavenly Realm and tell the gods that I have a way to lift their curse, and instruct them to co see in the Milk Sea,” Vishnu murmured.

Garuda, imrsed in the joy of seeing his Lord, was not even aware that the Lady Master Goddess Lakshmi had disappeared.

Upon hearing Lord Vishnu’s command, he paused before hurriedly replying.

“I shall heed the command of the Supre Lord!”

Garuda said.

As the Golden-winged Bird, his speed was incredibly fast, traversing the Three Realms as if frolicking amid the branches with utter ease.

Soon enough, with a single spread of his wings, he arrived at the Heavenly Realm.

Whoosh!

Garuda transford, taking the shape of a divine being with wings on his back.

His hair was disheveled, a golden halo graced his forehead, containing his black hair at the back of his head, exposing his heroic countenance, and his golden armor glimred brilliantly.

Garuda stared at the Heavenly Realm, wondering if he had taken a wrong turn and arrived at so village in the Mortal Realm.

What were once drifting, light clouds had turned into rotting muck, and the luxurious palaces were gone, replaced by shabby straw huts that seed like they could be blown away with a re waft of his wings.

The forrly handso faces of the Gandharvas serving the gods were now covered in dirt, their skin coarse and sallow.

“How did the fine Heavenly Realm turn into this!”

“It’s all Indra’s fault!”

Garuda ca to his senses, clenching his fists in anger, his face betrayed his furious anger.

Angry!

Garuda was furious!