A painful betrayal at the hands of a friend, a severed head in the desert, and an age-old vow—did the vengeance of the sage vulture finally end with the death of Tausi, or with a greater judgment? The origin of Rishiraj Vulture, the painful story of his previous birth, and the entire mythological history of Shiva devotion related to two historic issues (Issues 258 and 278) of Tulsi Comics’ superhero series are presented here.
Who was Rishiraj Vulture and why is his story different from everyone else’s?
Rishiraj Vulture, in the Tausi universe, comes across as a highly complex, ethical, vindictive, and ultimately just character. He is not just an ordinary enemy, but a symbol of religion, duty, friendship, deceit, destiny, and self-realization. His life is divided into two main chapters:
- Period of Previous Birth: ‘Rishiraj’, the closest childhood friend, moral advisor, and chief commander of the cruel robber king Tausi of Sarangadesh.
- Period of Rebirth: ‘Rishiraj Vulture’, who was born in the form of a bird and received the boon to kill Divyastra and Tausi due to his severe penance to Lord Shiva.
When Rishiraj was Tausi’s most trusted friend and commander
1. How did friendship lay the foundation for the destruction of Kaushambi?
In his previous birth, Rishiraj was a great warrior, skilled strategist, and loyal commander. When the plundering king Tausi of Sarangadesh used to raid different princely states, Rishiraj ensured Tausi’s victory in every war with his infallible war strategies.
When Tausi’s army attacked the city of Kaushambi, King Kalingaraj fought bravely, but Kaushambi could not withstand Rishiraj’s war strategy. Tausi and Rishiraj looted the immense treasure of Kaushambi and completely destroyed the city. After this, Tausi’s army remained camped in the ‘Desert of Sonagarhi’ (which was later called the ‘Desert of Tejgarhi’) for ten years. There was only one well in this desert, and it was slowly drying up. The wise Rishiraj advised Tausi that the soldiers were tired of the constant wars and that the kings of Sarangadesh were uniting against him, so he should now return to his kingdom.
2. Such a secret of Putlibai’s treasure that changed everything
Tausi rejected Rishiraj’s wise advice and insisted on looting the treasury of ‘Putlibai’ (Empress Putlibai), the richest and most powerful ruler of Sarangadesh. Rishiraj warned Tausi that Empress Putlibai was as beautiful as she was a clever commander, and that it was almost impossible to break the spell protecting her treasure.
Faced with Tausi’s insistence, Rishiraj himself reached Putli State disguised as a spy and horse trainer. With his sharp intelligence, he won the trust of Empress Putlibai and attained the position of commander. Rishiraj then made a strategic move:
• Tausi had the outer settlements of Putli State attacked.
• He convinced the Empress that it was necessary to send the treasure to Kaushambi for its protection.
• Blindfolding the Empress, he led her to the secret enchanted treasury. With the help of the Tilsam guards, the treasure chests were taken out and transported directly to Tausi’s camp in the Sonagarhi Desert through a secret route instead of the original one.
A betrayal that changed Rishiraj’s fate forever
How did Tausi and Rishiraj fall into a trap?
When Tausi launched the final attack on Putli State, the Red Army was defeated, and Tausi captured the Empress and brought her to the desert. Rishiraj placed the treasure chests before the Empress.
But Empress Putlibai had already begun to suspect Rishiraj. She had removed the real treasure from the enchanted treasury and filled the chests with fake pebbles and stones. The Empress then cruelly said to Tausi:
“Tausi! If you want to make me your queen and obtain the real treasure, then separate the head of this deceitful Rishiraj from his body and cut it in such a way that it falls into my Putli State!“
Death at the hands of a friend and revenge across many births
Rishiraj tried hard to convince Tausi that the Empress was deceiving him, but Tausi, blinded by lust and greed for wealth, decided to murder his most loyal childhood friend.
In his final moments, Rishiraj looked at Tausi with blood-filled eyes and made a terrible vow:
“Rajan! I will end you in this very desert, where you repaid my loyalty with death! No matter how many births I must take or how much penance I must perform!“
Tausi beheaded Rishiraj with a single stroke of his sword. Soon afterward, Empress Putlibai committed suicide. Tausi gained neither the treasure nor Putlibai, but instead carried the unforgivable sin of betraying his closest friend.
How did Rishiraj become a vulture after death?
Vulture form, severe penance, and Lord Shiva’s divine boon
Due to the hatred from his previous birth and his accumulated karma, Rishiraj’s soul was reborn in the form of a vulture. Even after taking the form of a bird, the memories of his previous birth and the fire of revenge continued to burn within him.
Rishiraj Vulture performed rigorous penance to Lord Ashutosh (Mahadev) for many years while standing on one leg in the caves and deserted regions of the Himalayas. Even fierce storms, severe cold, and scorching heat could not distract him.
When Lord Shiva appeared, he said that Tausi was no longer the cruel robber of his previous birth, but a great warrior who protected justice on Earth and in the underworld. Yet, seeing Rishiraj’s unwavering penance and determination, Lord Shankar granted him these special boons and conditions:
- Right to kill Tausi: Tausi’s death would be possible only at the hands of Rishiraj Vulture.
- Location: The killing could take place only in the ‘Desert of Tejgarhi’, where Rishiraj had been murdered in his previous birth.
- Rule of righteous war: Rishiraj would not attack secretly; he had to openly warn Tausi one month before the battle.
- Divine Human Form: Whenever Rishiraj chanted the Mahamantra to kill Tausi, his vulture form would automatically transform into the giant, divinely armed human form of his previous birth.
How was Tausi brought to the Desert of Tejgarhi?
Rishiraj Vulture inspired King Turksen of Kalpadesh and the Willing Mongoose to perform the ‘Ashwamedha Yagya’ to bring Tausi to the Desert of Tejgarhi. When Tausi stopped the horse of the Yagya, the Desert of Tejgarhi was chosen as the battlefield.
Rishiraj Vulture entered Tausi’s palace by breaking through the roof and openly declared, “Exactly one month from now, Tausi will be killed in the Desert of Tejgarhi!” Nagbaba (Tausi’s guru) tried to delay fate by sending Tausi into water samadhi, but destiny only led him to the battlefield.
Why did Rishiraj save Tausi’s life despite being his enemy?
During the battle in the Desert of Tejgarhi, Turksen and the Willing Mongoose dishonestly formed a battle formation and committed injustice. But Rishiraj Vulture was not one to support unrighteousness. He wanted only his personal righteous battle. When the enemies broke the rules and surrounded Tausi from all sides, Rishiraj Vulture himself protected Tausi by spreading dense fog and breaking the entire formation. He said to the enemies, “You are all mere pawns. Tausi is my prey!“
On the other hand, when the Willing Mongoose (in Python form) and Turksen’s army launched a deadly attack on Rishiraj, Tausi transformed into a bird, caused torrential rain from the sky, and secretly saved Rishiraj’s life with his arrows.
How did the fire of revenge turn into forgiveness and respect?
When the appointed time arrived, Rishiraj Vulture took Tausi to the very place where he had been beheaded in his previous birth. As soon as he chanted the mantra of Shiva’s boon, Rishiraj appeared in his true giant human form and raised his sword. But Tausi bowed his head with folded hands without lifting any weapon and said:
“Rishiraj! I will not fight you. I committed a grave injustice against you in your previous life. I gladly surrender my head to atone for my sins.“
At that very moment, Nagbaba appeared and revealed the truth to Rishiraj:
- Despite having the opportunity to delay the time of the boon by remaining in water samadhi, Tausi presented himself before you.
- When the Willing Mongoose had captured Rishiraj in the form of a python, Tausi secretly saved his life by risking his own.
- Tausi is no longer a robber, but the greatest messenger of justice on Earth and in the underworld.
Rishiraj was moved to tears after witnessing Tausi’s greatness, genuine remorse, and self-sacrifice. The sword slipped from his hand. Rishiraj said emotionally:
“Tausi! Today, the fire of my revenge has bowed before the greatness of the very man against whom I spent many lifetimes seeking vengeance. You are truly an angel of righteousness and justice. I am proud to grant you immunity!“
At Nagbaba’s request, Rishiraj Vulture promised, “Whenever Tausi or this world calls upon me for any righteous cause, I will surely be there to help.” Saying this, he disappeared into the sky.
