Demon Vritasur and His Teachings

Vritasur was born as the son of Twasta. Vritasur, in his previous birth as Chitraketu, a gandarva, was cursed by Goddess Parvathi to be born as a demon.

Vritrasura was born as a demon and grew up dangerous day by day. The whole world was shocked by his statute. Indra and other gods approached Mahavishnu for help.

Mahavishnu directed them to Sage Dadichi through him alone Vrithasur can be defeated. Sage Dadichi, through his austerity, had earned a boon that his bones would be as strong as vajra (diamond). 

Upon sacrificing his body, Vajrayuda (a divine weapon ) is made using his ashes. Viswakarma, architect of gods, facilitated in making this weapon to Indra.

Dadichi was a highly respected sage and had command over Atarvaveda.

Devas, on recommendation of MahaVishnu, made a unique but pressing request to Sage Dadichi to sacrifice his life so that ashes of his body be made a weapon called Vajrayuda and that alone would kill Vritasur. 

Dadichi was neither surprised nor shocked but felt happy that his body was getting used for a greater purpose. However, he examines Devas and questions them:

1. Are you not aware of the bondness towards the body for human beings, animals, or any living thing?

2. Are you not aware of the fear, sorrow, and sufferings when the soul departs from the body?

Mind, sense organs will stop working, and all the attention will be on the soul leaving the body.

Sage Dadichi explains why this suffering happens to the body

The soul over a period of time develops immense love towards the body. For those who desire to live, this relationship is much deeper.

Every soul tries to protect its body in every possible way. Hence, how can you expect me to give up my body. Even if Mahavishnu asks, none will give up their body.

Devas say:

Yes, what you say is true. None wish to give up their body/life. We are asking you alone as you can give up everything. You are noble, have done good deeds, and have earned a good name.

World is selfish. People/living beings are not bothered about other's suffering. For example, Lion does not bother to kill its victim to satisfy its hunger. It doesn't bother the pain the victim undergoes.

Dharma says one who is capable will not deny to offer help. We are asking for help from you, not for us alone. It is for the good of all. Demon Vrithasur has swallowed all our weapons and caused threats and fear to the world.

Dadichi says:

I do not have any desire on my body. My desire is only on the soul. You can take away my body immediately and make use of it in the way you want.

One day, this body will have to leave me howsoever I protect it. We need it to use the body for Dharma, to earn a good name and for Bhoota daya.

Even non-fruit bearing trees in the forest is useful by providing shelter to those who lost their way.

Dharma can change during different stages of life. But there is one dharma which is permanent - if anyone is in sorrow, others should be considerate. Also, if one is happy, others too should feel happy and not be jealous.

On any day, this body has to fall. It is better to give it for a good cause than being fed to Wolf or Fox.

Saying so, he gave up the body using his yogic powers. All his sense organs were made to halt, his mind fixed on Almighty, and he dropped his body.

With no time wasted, Indra asked Vishwakarma (architect of gods) to make Vajrayuda out of the ashes of Dadichi's body. Equipped the divine weapon Indra waged war with Vrithasur and was able to kill him.

How did Dadichi get this divinity?

Dadichi had acquired immense power due to austerity. He had taught Viswarupa ‘Narayana Astra ‘ This knowledge was passed from Viswarupa to Lord Indra.

Source : Bhagavatha Mahapurana 

Lord Indra Shares Brahmahatya Sin

  Indra Shares Bramahatya Sin

Indra acquired Brahmahatya sin by killing Vishwarupa, son of Twasta. To get rid of this burden, it was suggested that the brahmahatya sin be divided into parts and assigned to the earth, water, trees, and women.

The earth accepted a quarter of the sin along with a boon that a hollow dug into it would be filled by itself in due course. The external sign of the sin accepted is seen on earth as desert (barren soil, which is prohibited for all sacred rites).

The trees accepted a quarter along with a boon that their chopped-off parts would grow again in due course. The accepted sin is seen in the form of non edible gum.

The women (early and middle-aged) took a quarter along with a boon that females alone beget children through sexual union. The period of menstruation is its fallout.

The water absorbed a quarter with a boon of absorption (increase in quantity). The fallout of the sin is seen in the form of impurity (foam/ filth) it carries during the rainy season.

Though Indra successfully got rid of Brahmahatya sin, he was again affected by it when he killed Vritasur, who was born solely to kill him. 

Indra took the fallout of this sin by himself. It was unbearable for him and had to hide in a lotus stalk in Manas Sarowar. He stayed there for one thousand years. Upon performing ashwamedha yagna, he was able to regain his past glory.

Source: Bhagavatha Mahapurana

Lord Indra's Brahmahatya Sin

Srimad Bhagavatam - Indra's Brahmahatya Sin 

Once in the Court of Indra, gods and semi-gods were entertaining Indra. For a moment, rajoguna (representing ego) overtook Indra's senses.

Just then revered Guru Brihaspati came to the Court, but Indra ignored him. Brihaspati felt humiliated and left the court silently.

Quickly realizing his mistake, Indra went in search of his preceptor to seek pardon. Bruhaspati, knowing Indra's mind, disappeared using his yogic power and could not be found anywhere.

With no preceptor, devas were in deep trouble and lost their strength. Seizing this opportunity, demons with the help of Shukracharya, attacked the devas and were successful in driving out devas from devaloka.

Devas sought Brahma's help to overcome the situation. Brahma expressed his disappointment over Devas’ behaviour towards their preceptor. He said disrespecting one's guru is disastrous. None can save from this sin.

Brahma asked Devas to approach highly revered Sage Vishwarupa, son of Twasta, to be their preceptor. Having no other option, the devas approached Viswarupa. Though younger in age, devas accepted him because he possessed superior knowledge. 

Viswarupa taught devas ‘Narayana astra’ (a protective divine mantra reciting it in a prescribed manner acts as an armour against enemies). Using it, Devas were able to win over the demons and regain the lordship of 3 worlds.

Viswarupa had 3 heads. He was partaking Soma (a juice obtained from yajna) using first mouth, Sura (local wine) with second, and regular food using the third mouth. Viswarupa's father belongs to Devas's lineage, while his mother is from demon lineage. Viswarupa, hence, was not indifferent to demons. 

Being an official priest of Devas, he duly offered a soma drink to Devas. Without anyone's knowledge, he offered the same to demons as well. Demons, thereby, were becoming stronger. This treacherous act of Viswarupa was made known to Indra.

Indra, for the good of all, immediately killed Vishwarupa. By killing his preceptor, Indra earned brahmahatya sin. 

The head by which Vishwarupa drank Soma became Kapinjala Bird (Barli Siplae hakki/ Francolin), that by which he drank wine became Kalvinka (sparrow) and that by which he ate food was converted into Patridge.

Indra accepted wholeheartedly the sin of killing a Brahmana. At the end of the year, he shared it with the earth, water, trees, and women.

Source: Bhagavatha Mahapurana

King Janamejaya Performs Sarpa Yaga (2)

 King Janamejaya Performs Sarpa Yaga (2)

Sage Jagadkaru Seeks Alms

The Sage Jagadkaru said,” Is there anyone who is willing to give me a bride in kanyadhan”. Shortly, Vasuki, the serpent head, met the Sage and agreed to offer his sister, Jagadkaru, in kanyadhan to him. As all his conditions were met, the Sage agreed to marry Jagadkaru, sister of Vasuki. A son, Aastika, was born to them out of wedlock. Aastika was well versed in Vedas and was revered. 

Aastika Maharishi Makes a Request

Aastika Maharishi went to King Janamejaya’s Sarpa Yaga and was welcomed by the King with honours. The King politely asked him the purpose of his visit. When Serpent King Takshaka was about to fall into the Homa kund, Aastika Maharishi stopped him from falling. 

Maharishi said to King Janamejaya, “I request you to stop this Yaga in order to protect the remaining snakes belonging to my mother’s relatives”. The king agreed, and thus, snake species were protected.

Serpent Adishesha’s Frustration

Adishesha was the first born serpent of Kadru. When Kadru made an unrighteous demand upon her progeny, Adishesha got frustrated and went away, severing ties with his mother and siblings. He undertook strenuous tapas. Brahma was pleased by the tapas of Adishesha and asked him to seek a boon. 

Lord Brahma Consoles Adishesha 

Adishesha says, "I am not interested in seeking boon, but I am concerned with the adharmic activity of my mother, Kadru, and infighting among his siblings”. 

Brahma consoles him and says King Janamejaya's Sarpa yaga is destined, and none can stop it. Further, Brahma said to Adishesha later Aastika Maharshi would help stop the sarpa yaga, and all dharmic serpents would be protected. 

Brahma assigned Adishesha the job of holding the earth stable on his head, a task that none other could do. 

Serpent Vasuki’s Concern

Vasuki, the second son of Kadru, was worried about King Janamejaya’s Yaga and was devising ways to protect snakes from extinction. Some snakes suggested killing King Janamejaya, but such a suggestion was not accepted. Thenceforth snakes decided to seek advice from Father Sage Kashyapa.

Serpent Ellapatru Narrates Secretive Dialogue Between Devatas and Brahma 

Just then one serpent by name Ellapatru said, “When this curse was pronounced, I was young and sleeping on Mother Kadru's lap. I heard a secretive dialogue between Devatas and Lord Brahma. Devatas asked Brahma how come a mother be so cruel towards her own sons. 

Brahma said, “The curse on serpents would in time prove good as their reproduction rate is very high. Snakes by their very nature are aggressive, and hence, their excessive population is not good for the welfare of humanity. When time comes Astika Maharishi would help stop the sarpa yaga, and enable survival of dharmic snakes.

Brahma said, “Aastika Maharishi would be born as the son of Sage Jagadkaru. Sage Jagadkaru would fulfill his ancestors' wish for progeny, he would marry a girl bearing the same name. Vasuki would give his sister Jagadkaru in marriage to Sage Jagadkaru”.

Vasuki Awaits Sage Jagadkaru's Call For Bride

Vasuki was relieved of his undue worries and thenceforth asked the serpents to ascertain the whereabouts of Sage Jagadkaru. He told the snakes to wait until the Sage sought help to find a bride and keep him informed about developments. In course of time the Sage Jagadkaru loudly called for a bride as a gift, and Vasuki was duly informed. Vasuki approached Sage Jagadkaru and agreed to give his sister in marriage to him.  

Snakes blessed Aastika Maharishi and said, “Those who read, hear or narrate your story would be protected from fear of snakes.

Extracts From Mahabharatha - Adi Parva 

King Janamejaya Performs Sarpa Yaga (1)

 King Janamejaya Performs Sarpa Yaga -1

King Janamejaya is the son of King Parikshit, grandson of Abhimanyu and the great-grandson of Arjuna. King Parikshit was killed by Serpent King Takshaka in order to take revenge on Arjuna*, who was responsible for killing his tribe in Kandava Vana Firing. 

Uttanka Conducts the Yaga

King Janamejaya was not keen to avenge Takshaka, but Uttanka, the disciple of Sage Gouthama, instigated the King Janamejaya to punish Takshaka as both were victims. Since Uttanka couldn’t do it alone, he sought the help of the king. 

(Takshaka once tricked Uttanka when he was about to fulfill the wish of his Guru's wife). Uttanka agreed to perform Sarpa Yaga for the King, and in the process, serpents fell one after the other into the Homa kunda. Takshaka sought Indra's help, but Indra couldn't do much. 

Aruna Curses His Mother, Vinata

Kadru is the mother of 1000 powerful serpents. She had a sister, Vinata, and both were married to Sage Kashyapa. Vinata sought from her husband a boon that she be the mother of two eagles who must be more powerful than Kadru's sons.

Kadru’s 1000 eggs hatched, and serpents were born. Intolerant Vinata broke open one of her eggs, and to her dismay, a half born eagle, Aruna was born. 

Aruna curses his mother for his plight and said she would become a slave on whom she was jealous. He went to suryamandal and served as charioteer to Sun God. 

He also warned Vinata not to break open the second egg as the son born out of it would help her get rid of slavery. Garuda was born after 500 years and helped her get rid of slavery.  

Vinata is Tricked 

Once Kadru and Vinata went for a walk near the sea shore and saw Ucchishrava, a pure white divine horse. Both appreciated its beauty and colour. Kadru hatched a plan and wilfully declared the horse’s tail is black. Vinata disagreed with Sister and the casual talk between Sisters turned into a contest. 

Kadru Curses Her Sons

Kadru made a dishonest request to her sons to coil around the divine horse in order to win the contest. The snakes declined their mother's demand and in turn were cursed by Kadru - to become sacrificial victims during King Janamejaya’s Sarpa Yaga. To escape the consequences of the curse, one lone snake by name Karkotaka agreed to fulfill her wish. 

The next day, when Kadru and Vinata met at the prescribed time, the horse’s tail appeared black, and Vinata became slave to Kadru. Vinata faced lots of humiliation from her sister.

Sage Jagadkaru Meets His Ancestors

Sage Jagadkaru was a great tapasvi and remained brahmachari. He had no permanent place to live. His tapas were so powerful that he could see pitrudevatas in person. 

Once, to quench his thirst the Sage was in search of a well and on finding one looked deep within the well for water. Instead, he saw pitrudevas hanging upside down from tree roots. He questioned them about their identity. They said they were his ancestors and explained their predicament - owing to the want of progeny they were unable to move to heaven. 

Sage Jagadkaru Agrees to Marry

The Sage understood their plight and agreed to marry in order to beget a son. However, he put in some unique conditions for marrying. The sage sought for a bride who possessed good character, a matching name as his, said that he would take up tapas once a son is born, and also demanded that the bride should be given as part of Kanyadhan. Pitrudevatas agreed to his terms and agreed to facilitate the process.

Cont'd.,

Extracts From Mahabharatha - Adi Parva 

*Arjuna was protected by Srikrishna, and his son Abhimanyu was killed in the battlefield, and hence, Takshaka targeted Parikshit.

King Bali’s Sacrifice and Devotion

  Srimad Bhagavatam  - King Bali's Sacrifice and Devotion 

Lord Vamana received from King Bali 3 paces of land by stepping one foot on earth, the second foot on the sky, and the third on King Bali's head. 

He threw King Bali to Sutala loka tightly bound with the cords of Varuna (the gods of water). 

The demon King Bali, least affected, lives there even to this day. He was endowed with enormous wealth and supreme devotion.  Indra had the illusory pleasures of sense and affluence alone.   

Bali’s felt Indra is surely not clever in attaining the objective of his life, though he has celebrated  Brahaspati as his preceptor (guru).  He has asked me through Lord Vamana the sovereignty of three worlds and on no account the service to that Lord.  

 After all, this sovereignty will remain only until the end of a Manvantara (period of around 71 rounds of 4 yugas). This period moves out in a fraction of the second.

     

My grandfather, Prahlada, asked for His service alone and not the throne of his father, Hiranyakashipu. The Lord himself offered kingdom and protection, yet my grandfather declined it. Having followed his footsteps, how can I think of anything else other than service to Him.  

Lord Srihari knew Bali's devotion. He protects him in Sutala loka by staying at his doorstep holding a mace in His hand. Hence, Lord Srihar is known as Gadhadari.  

Once, ten headed Ravana desirous of conquering 3 worlds reached Sutala. The Lord, in invisible form, kicked Ravana using his toes a hundred million yojanas to safeguard King Bali.

Source:  Bhagavatha Mahapurana 

Lord Vamana Sends King Bali To Sutaloka

 Srimad Bhagavatam  - King Bali's Wish  and Yoga Nidra Of Srihari

Chaturmasa of 4 months begins from Ashada Amavatsya.  Vishnu gets into yoga nidra. As agreed, he stays with Raja Bali in Patal lok.

Lord Srihari, as Vamana ( Brahmana boy) seeks Raja Bali land equivalent to 3 steps for which Bali accepts it.

Srihari keeps his first foot on earth, second on the sky, and asks Bali where to keep his 3rd foot. Bali recognizes him as Shrihari and offers his head. In reciprocation, Bali is made king of Pataloka, and the next yug, he will be made Indra, the king of Gods.

Srihari asks Bali  to seek a wish of his choice. Bali cleverly asks Srihari to stay with him forever in patal lok.

This wish of Bali was not agreeable to Lakshmi devi.  She proposes that Srihari will stay in Patal lok for 4 months in a year.  Bali accepts, and in reciprocation, Lakshmi accepts him as his brother.

Chaturmasa is associated with Srihari's stay in Patal Lok.

Srihari wakes up on Prabodini or Dev Udani Ekadashi (Nov  month). On the next day he weds tulasi (uthaana dwadashi).

Source: Bhagavatha Mahapurana