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Tripura Samhara

This occurs in the Karna Parva of the Mahabharata. In times of yore, there was a war
between the Devas and the Asuras. The Asuras were defeated in the battle. The three sons of the
Asura, Taraka, wanted to take revenge on the Devas. They performed rigorous penance and
obtained a boon from Brahma, the creator. By virtue of this boon, they could not be conquered by
any one save somebody who could destroy their three castles by a single arrow.

They made three castles, one of gold in heaven, the second silver in air, and the third of iron
on earth. They began to oppress the gods and the Rishis. Thereupon, all the gods made a complaint
to Brahma. Brahma replied that no one save Mahadeva who knows Yoga and Sankhya, through
particular penance, could vanquish these Asuras. All the gods approached Mahadeva and provided
Him with a chariot out of all forms of the universe. They also supplied Him with a bow and arrow,
the constituent parts of which were Vishnu, Soma and Agni. They requested Mahadeva to discharge
the arrow against the three castles. Brahma became the charioteer. Mahadeva discharged the arrow
against the three castles. The three castles fell down in the twinkling of an eye. Then all the gods
eulogised Mahadeva and departed to heaven.
Mahadeva said to the gods that He Himself could not destroy the Asuras, as they were very
strong, but that they themselves would be able to vanquish with the help of half His strength. The
gods replied that they could not bear half His strength and that He should take up the task with the
help of half their strength. Mahadeva agreed to this. He became stronger than all the gods. Hence He
was called Mahadeva or the great God.