Tarakaksha

Who Tarakaksha is

Tarakaksha was the eldest of the three sons of Tarakasura. With his brothers Kamalaksha and Vidyunmali he obtained from Brahma three flying cities, built by the architect Maya — of gold in heaven, of silver in the sky and of iron on the earth — which could be destroyed only by a single arrow, once in a thousand years, when the three aligned. Tarakaksha ruled the golden city until Shiva, as Tripurantaka, loosed that one arrow and burned all three.

“Three cities, never in one line. Strike one and the others survive.”

How Tarakaksha plays chess

One of three: coordinates with distant pieces, strongest when they stay apart.

The Classicist: Sound, balanced chess: develops, castles and takes what the position offers.

Opening repertoire: Ruy Lopez, Archangel · Bogo-Indian Defence · English, Symmetrical Four Knights

Defeat Tarakaksha in a full game from the normal starting position to earn the achievement The Golden City Falls and open the way to the next guardian.

Sources

• Mahabharata, Karna Parva
• Shiva Purana, Rudra Samhita

Placement on the path reflects chess difficulty only — a game-design choice, not a ranking of anyone's spiritual standing.