The
story of Yaksha and Devas
The
chapter 3 starts with the story of Yaksha and Devas which is continued
in chapter 4 as well. This seems to be
addressed to a student who is adhama adhikari. Adhama adhikari is one who has neither
a sharp intellect nor a refined mind but has shraddha in sastras and
guru upadesa, unlike an anadhikari
who is devoid of shraddha in sastras
and guru upadesa. So there
is the risk of adhama adhikari understanding the teaching wrongly and
assuming that wrong understanding as correct understanding, viparitha grahanam. So to make the teaching simple, the teacher
explains through a story and also instructs him on connected upasanas to
make the mind more subtle, so that the subtle mind can grasp the teaching
easily and correctly. Let us see the story in this blog.
Once
in their fight with Asuras, Devas
scored a big victory. While celebrating
their victory they forgot it is not only their efforts, but Iswara anugraha as
well, that earned them their victory.
They became arrogant, blinded by their victory and started
bragging about their roles in the victory.
Brahman saw this and did not want the Devas to go the way of the Asuras consumed by their self-conceit. So in his compassion He decided to remind them
that whatever powers they have, these powers flow from Him only and cure them
of their pride. So he appeared before them in the horizon as a Yaksha.
Seeing the bright luminous figure, Devas
were intrigued as well a bit afraid as to who this Yaksha will be. So they deputed Agni
to go and find who the Yaksha is.
As
the Agni approached the Yaksha, the Yaksha asked him who he was.
Agni was miffed that he had to
explain who he was to the stranger. So
he replied pompously that he is Agni,
the all-knowing. Yaksha did not appear impressed and asked him what power he
has. Agni
boastfully declared that he can burn to ashes anything on earth. Yaksha
then placed a small dry blade of grass before Agni and asked him to show his power by burning it. Agni tried
with all his might and failed. The grass
did not warm up even by a degree; let alone being turned to ashes. So crestfallen Agni returned to the Devas
and confessed his inability to find out Yaksha’s
identity. Then the Devas deputed Vayu to go
and find out who the Yaksha is.
As
before, even as Vayu approached the Yaksha, the Yaksha asked him who he was.
Vayu was also annoyed that he
had to explain himself first without knowing who the other person was. So he replied boastfully that he is Vayu, the one who traverses the
sky. Yaksha did not appear impressed now also and asked him the same
question as to what power he has. Vayu proudly declared that he can blow
away anything on earth. Yaksha then placed the same small dry
blade of grass before Vayu and asked
him to exhibit his power by blowing it off.
Vayu attacked the blade of
grass with all his force, to demonstrate his strength but the small blade of
grass stayed put where it was not even moving a fraction of a centimeter. Defeated in his attempt to dislodge the blade
of grass, Vayu retreated and reported
his failure to find out the identity of Yaksha. Then Devas
requested their lord, Indra, to find
out who the Yaksha is.
Indra agreed
and went. But even as he approached the Yaksha, Yaksha disappeared. Indra
felt humiliated that he was not even given an opportunity to explain. But he did not retreat. With all humility he waited and pondered
where he had gone wrong. And in the very
place where the Yaksha stood, Uma Devi appeared in all her
splendor. Indra respectfully
asked Uma Devi who the Yaksha was. To his enquiry Uma Devi then explained that it was none other than Brahman, whose blessings alone have
earned them their victory, and He appeared before them out of compassion to
cure them of their vanity. Indra returned
to the Devas and conveyed to them what he learnt from Uma Devi. Indra was glorified as he got the
knowledge of Brahman, from Uma Devi who is none other than Mother
Sruthi. Agni and Vayu also
shared this glory as they were privileged to approach Brahman and talk
to Him.
This
story explains allegorically what was given as Upadesa earlier. Verses five to nine of the first chapter of
this Upanishad had presented Brahman as that which neither the
sense-organs nor the mind can reveal, but which reveals all the sense-organs
and the mind. Agni,
the presiding deity for speech, and Vayu, the presiding deity for touch,
represent the Indriyas and Indra, lord of Devas represents
the mind, controller of sense-organs, and Indriyas are also referred to
by the term Devas. So the Indriyas
and mind cannot know Brahman, even though Brahman is a part
of all the experiences. Uma Devi
stands here for Brahma Vidya Guru. When the mind becomes subtle and refined, a BrahmaVidya
Guru, can guide such a mind to the knowledge of Brahman. We can also draw other lessons from this
story.
1) Whatever
be our glories and achievements, they are only by the Grace of Iswara.
2) They
should not make us arrogant and boastful of our prowess.
3) Where
arrogance fails humility succeeds.
4) Seeking
with humility leads to a guru whose guidance is necessary for BrahmaVidya.
5) Without
guru’s guidance, it is not possible to know Brahman.
6) Indra,
Agni and Vayu became glorious, because of
their knowledge of Brahman. So
that is the parama Purushartha
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