May 13- Sargas 45 and 46 of Balakanda.
We read today of the story of gods and demons churning the ocean, and Diti's penance to destroy Indra and his rearguard action to save himself.
Whenever I read these gods' and demons' stories, I remind myself that these are a paradigm for the eternal conflict between righteousness and might. Good and evil qualities are in all of us. Gods have predominantly good tendencies. But they are not infallible. Demons basically pursue the philosophy of "Might is Right". They get boons and conquer the worlds, only to lose their power and are defeated by godly forces that combine right intentions with might.
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गता भगवती रात्रिः श्रोतव्यं परमं श्रुतम् ।
तराम सरितां श्रेष्ठां पुण्यां त्रिपथगां नदीम् ॥
नौरेषा हि सुखास्तीर्णा ऋषीणां पुण्यकर्मणाम्।
भगवन्तमिह प्राप्तं ज्ञात्वा त्वरितमागता ॥
Sri Rama addressed sage Vishwamitra next morning: "The divine night has passed after we heard the glorious story of Ganga you have so kindly told us. It is our good fortune now to cross this sacred river who flows in the three worlds.
Holy Sir, the sages living on the opposite bank have respectfully sent us a very well-furnished boat for the crossing, out of ready reverence for you, sage Vishwamitra. "
***
Vishwamitra's entourage with Sri Rama and Lakshmana comfortably crosses the Ganga in that special boat. As they land, they behold a wonderful city named Vishala. Sri Rama is full of questions about the city's history.
The sage smilingly escorts Sri Rama and Lakshmana to the city and begins his story.
***
पूर्वं कृतयुगे राम दितेः पुत्रा महाबलाः ।
अदितेश्च महाभाग वीर्यवन्तः सुधार्मिकाः ॥
ततस्तेषां नरव्याघ्र बुद्धिरासीन्महात्मनाम् ।
अमरा अजराश्चैव कथं स्याम निरामयाः ॥
The sage began, "O Rama, long ago, the sons of Diti (referred to as demons) were extremely powerful. Their cousins, sons of Aditi (gods) were also valorous, but in addition, righteous and with good virtues.
" O tiger among men, at that time a thought came to both their minds. How to become deathless, ageless, and free from disease? "
ततो निश्चित्य मथनं योक्त्रं कृत्वा च वासुकीम्।
मन्थानं मन्दरं कृत्वा ममन्थुरमितौजसः ॥
They decided to churn the milky ocean and obtain Amrutha (elixir). They used the celestial serpent Vasuki as the rope, the Mandara mountain as the churning rod, and took both ends between gods and demons and began churning the milky ocean.
***
उत्पाताग्निसंकाशं हालाहलमहाविषम् ।
तेन दग्धं जगत्सर्वं सदेवासुरमानुषम् ॥
After a thousand years of churning, the serpent Vasuki spewed a terrible poison that reduced even rocks to ashes. The poison Halahala rose like volcanic fire and began burning down the entire world, with gods, demons and men.
उवाचैनं स्मितं कृत्वा रुद्रं शूलभृतं हरिः।
दैवतैर्मथ्यमाने तु यत्पूर्वं समुपस्थितम् ॥
तत्वदीयं सुरश्रेष्ठ सुराणामग्रतो हि यत् ।
अग्रपूजामिमां मत्वा गृहाणेदं विषं प्रभो ॥
How to deal with Halahala? Vishnu (Hari) who was present, told them not to worry. Smilingly he approached Shiva, who was holding the trident, and said, "You have seen how the gods have been churning the ocean. Now its first result has come. You are the god of gods and should receive the first offering. Please accept this poison as that offering."
Any good reader of Indian scriptures knows that God, or Ishwara, appears as Vishnu and Shiva contextually and they are essentially the same Godhead.
Shiva obliges, and consumes the poison with relish as if it is elixir! His grace granted and gods' request fulfilled, he leaves the gods and demons to continue the churning.
The churning is halted again when the Mandara mountain used as the churning rod slips down to the netherworld. The gods again appeal to Vishnu to save them. He assumes the form of the mighty Kurma (turtle) and lifts up the mountain. He also appears at Mandara's peak and stabilises it with his hand. He also joins in another form the gods to continue the churning.
Afterwards, many great things emerge from the churning. First comes god Dhanvantari, with his array of Ayurvedic herbs. Then celestial damsels with their retinue. Since they come out of the ocean they are called Apsaras (ap-sara). Then Vaaruni, daughter of the god of the seas. She is graciously accepted into their fold by the gods. Then Airavata and Ucchaishravas - the divine elephant and horse. Finally, the Amrutha or elixir.
Imemdiately a fierce war breaks out between the gods and demons. They slaughter each other. Meanwhile quietly Vishnu comes as Mohini and steals away the pot of elixir. The demons attack him in full force. But they are pummelled into defeat by him.
Finally the gods led by Indra manage to kill off all the sons of Diti.
***
This makes Diti crave to avenge the death of her sons. She appeals to her sage husband Kashyapa that she must have a boon from him to beget a son who will destroy Indra. That son should be a man of extreme valour and sagely wisdom.
Sage Kashyapa blesses her, so shall it be, however she has to perform a penance with absolutely no loss of purity for a thousand years.
She undertakes such a penance. Indra, knowing fully well that her penance is to beget a son who will eliminate him, still goes to her and serves her with extreme devotion and care. She knows it is Indra and yet is pleased by his service. She discloses to him, "you know, its 990 years now since I began this penance. Only ten years remain for me to get a son, destined to destroy you. He will be your younger brother (Indra is the son of Aditi and Diti is her sister and both are married to Kashyapa). You both can rule the three worlds with your combined glory. "
Then something happens. Diti sleeps off one afternoon and places her feet where her head should have been. Taking a nap midday and sleeping the wrong way - this is grave enough an offence to reduce the purity of her penance and bring her exertions to nought.
Indra at once sees his opportunity and enters into her womb and rends the foetus into seven parts with his diamantine weapon.
Diti wakes up, realises the irretrievable lapse in her penance and what Indra has done. She pleads with him to leave the seven pieces of the foetus alone and not kill the life in them.
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॥ श्रीरामजयम् ॥
