॥ ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय ॥
Saturday, 14 January 2023 VII.03 - Hiranyakashipu does severe penance to get boons from Brahma.
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The asura king Hiraṇyakashipu wanted to be unconquerable, ageless and beyond withering of the body. He wanted supernormal siddhis. He wanted to be the sole emperor of the entire universe, including Brahmaloka.
Standing on his toes pressed hard on the ground, hands raised, eyes fixed firmly downward, he began his penance on Mandara mountain. When from his hair and head there emanated an unbearably bright sun-like radiance, the gods were afraid and crept back into their homes. Fire and smoke emanated from his head and spread throughout the sky, encompassing the upper and lower planets, which became extremely hot. The waters were agitated, the earth shook and astral bodies fell down. The gods rushed to Brahma and pleaded that he save them by making Hiranyakashipu cease his violent Tapas.
They said Hranyakasihpu calculated thus: "Since I am as the Atma eternal and time is eternal, I shall endeavour for such austerity, mystic power and trance for many, many births, and thus I shall occupy the same post occupied by Lord Brahma. I shall destroy the cycle of good and bad Karma. I shall overturn all the established practices within this world. Even Dhruvaloka will be eliminated at the end of the millennium. I shall prefer to remain in the position of Brahma.”
Lord Brahma, accompanied by Bhrigu, Daksha and other great sages, immediately started for the place where Hiranyakashipu was performing his penances and austerities. From his aerial vehicle of the swan, Brahma could not see the asura who was covered by an anthill and bamboo shoots. The ants had gnawed away at his skin, flesh and bones.
Then, by locating the source of global warming, Brahma and his team identified and approached Hiranyakashipu.
Brahma said: "Oh, Hiranyakashipu, son of Sage Kashyapa, you have achieved your goal by this astounding Tapas! I will give you a boon. You may now ask from me whatever you desire, and I shall try to fulfil your wish. In spite of being eaten and bitten by all kinds of worms and ants, you are keeping your life air circulating within your bones. Certainly, this is wonderful. Neither Bhrigu here nor anyone else did such severe penance before and no one will do so in the future too. You didn't even drink water for one hundred celestial years!"
Saying this, Lord Brahma, the original being of this universe, who is extremely powerful, sprinkled transcendental, infallible, spiritual water from his kamandalu upon Hiranyakashipu’s body, which had been eaten away by ants and moths. Hiranyakashipu now rose up, endowed with a full body with limbs so strong that they could bear the striking of a thunderbolt. With physical strength and a bodily lustre resembling molten gold, he emerged from the anthill a completely young man, just as fire springs from fuel wood. Gloating in joy, he immediately fell flat with his head on the ground and began to express his obligation to the lord. He began praying in a humble mood, with folded hands and a faltering voice,
व्यक्तं विभो स्थूलमिदं शरीरं येनेन्द्रियप्राणमनोगुणांस्त्वम् ।
भुङ्क्षे स्थितो धामनि पारमेष्ठ्ये अव्यक्त आत्मा पुरुष: पुराण: ॥
अनन्ताव्यक्तरूपेण येनेदमखिलं ततम् । चिदचिच्छक्तियुक्ताय तस्मै भगवते नम: ॥
यदि दास्यस्यभिमतान् वरान्मे वरदोत्तम । भूतेभ्यस्त्वद्विसृष्टेभ्यो मृत्युर्मा भून्मम प्रभो ॥
नान्तर्बहिर्दिवा नक्तमन्यस्मादपि चायुधै: । न भूमौ नाम्बरे मृत्युर्न नरैर्न मृगैरपि ॥
व्यसुभिर्वासुमद्भिर्वा सुरासुरमहोरगै: । अप्रतिद्वन्द्वतां युद्धे ऐकपत्यं च देहिनाम् ॥
सर्वेषां लोकपालानां महिमानं यथात्मन: । तपोयोगप्रभावाणां यन्न रिष्यति कर्हिचित् ॥
T: "Oh Lord! Manifest through all this gross creation as your body, emlivening it with your breath, you enjoy this creation being situated everywhere but yet transcendental in your abode as the soul of man! Your infinite being pervades all creation, as sentient and insentient beings."
"Your grace and mercy to confer boons on me is overwhelming."
(He is trying to say, make me deathless! But read what he actually asks. He doesn't ask for deathlessness!)
"Let no earthly beings ever succeed in killing me. Also no one else, denizens of heaven or the netherworld. No weapons shall kill me. not on earth, not in the sky. No animals shall kill me. Just like yourself, I should become indestructible from inanimate lifeless objects, living creatures, gods, demons and serpents, enemies of any kind in battle, being the supreme victor over all beings. I should be the supreme lord of all gods and guardians of the world. Nobody through powers of Yoga or Tapas shall be ever able to kill me."
