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| काम एष क्रोध एष रजोगुणसमुद्भवः । महाशनो महापाप्मा विद्ध्येनमिह वैरिणम् ॥ (Bhag. Gita. 3.37) | | काम एष क्रोध एष रजोगुणसमुद्भवः । महाशनो महापाप्मा विद्ध्येनमिह वैरिणम् ॥ (Bhag. Gita. 3.37) |
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− | Kaama and Krodha arise from Rajoguna. | + | Meaning : Bhagavan explains 'Kaama (Desire) and Krodha (wrath or anger) arise from Rajoguna. They are all-consuming, all-polluting, know that they are one's greatest enemy.' Here Bhagavan explains about the sins and delusions. |
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| In the 16th chapter of Bhagavad Gita it is explained: | | In the 16th chapter of Bhagavad Gita it is explained: |
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| काममाश्रित्य दुष्पूरं दम्भमानमदान्विताः । मोहाद्गृहीत्वासद्ग्राहान्प्रवर्तन्तेऽशुचिव्रताः ॥ (Bhag. Gita. 16.10) | | काममाश्रित्य दुष्पूरं दम्भमानमदान्विताः । मोहाद्गृहीत्वासद्ग्राहान्प्रवर्तन्तेऽशुचिव्रताः ॥ (Bhag. Gita. 16.10) |
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− | Contained with insatiable desire, intoxicated with pride, and deceitful, these ignorant ones (people) gripped with illusionary false goals pursue impure activities. | + | Meaning : Contained with insatiable desire, intoxicated with pride, and deceitful, these ignorant ones (people) gripped with illusionary false goals pursue impure sinful activities. |
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− | Kama is compared to the inexhaustible fire. Those afflicted with the hunger of Kama and Krodha it is said that they are afflicted by ghost. Vritra is such a ghost constantly inhabiting the human being.
| + | Kaama is thus compared to the inexhaustible fire. Those afflicted with the hunger of Kama and Krodha it is said are afflicted by ghost. Vritra is such a ghost constantly inhabiting the mind and soul of the human being. He is the eternal enemy (with kama, krodha) and personification of sins. |
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− | In this way Vritra is called vranothervan vartathervan, vardadervan on who walks by creating circles, who is always existing, who always grows. In that sense, he is the eternal enemy: kama, krodha and personification of sins. That is how Vedas define. But those who still doubt, can read the verse from Srimad Bhagavatham 6.9.18 yenāvṛtā ime lokās tapasā tvāṣṭra-mūrtinā sa vai vṛtra iti proktaḥ pāpaḥ parama-dāruṇaḥone who is in dark form or form of ignorance, darkness, from that Trastra covers the 3 planets, personification of sin, the most destructive power is called Vritraha.
| + | == Discussion == |
− | == Soma and Agni in Vrita’s face == | + | Many Rig Veda mantras depict that Vritra was killed and in a few other mantras it is said that a truce between indra and Vrtra was established, thus Vrttra exists in the form of hunger. In this perspective, the battle between Indra and Vritra is eternal, thus Vritra did not die completely. |
− | Let’s describe more the killing of Vritra. Taitreya Samhita 2.5.2 explains, Trashtra prajapathi wanted a son who would kill Indra but because of some change in pronunciation, Vritra was born to be killed by Indra. This we discussed previously. One who was growing like a big sized bow, his own father supported his killing. Indra took the shelter of Prajapathi. He took blessings from him and after making the most powerful thunderbolt, he came to fight Vritra and when Vritra was facing Indra, there were 2 devaths: Agni and Soma. They prayed: Oh Indra please do not kill him because he is our residence. For this Indra said, you are mine and you should give up your different facets and come to me and I kill everyone. Everyone was offering havirbhava and yajna havribhaa was offered. Instead of thanking him they asked for some share in yajnas and Indra, he offered ekadasaka pala havirbhava on the day of paurnamasa by visualizing in the yajna. Then they couldn’t come out of the jaws, they prayed oh Indra, we have been caught in the jaws of Vritrasura, we cannot save ourselves and then Indra because of his sankalpa: resolve, he created a fever which was very cold in nature. Vritra being sick due to the fever and very exhausted and yawned very loudly and Agni and Soma suddenly they came out, suddenly Vritra’s prana and apana they gave up on him. Here Vritra’s life air is considered as pranovau dakshopanaha krituhu he is called daksha and the apana is called krituhu. daksha is expert in work. Krutu: deha samarthya. Therefore those who have lost the power of action and lack of physical strength, he is considered as dead like Vritra. Whenever performing yajna and if there is disturbance in any part of the body and if yawning happens it is called mayi daksho krito this mantra should be chanted. But one who understand this secret he doesn’t experience sheeta jvara-- cold fever. In this way Agni and Soma went inside the body of Vritra and came out. When Vritra was not willing to be killed, Indra came to kill him.
| + | Rk Samhita 7.19.5. |
− | == In the clutches of Vritra, Dyava and Prithvi ==
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− | At that time Dyava and Prithvi they stopped him and explained, don’t kill him because he has covered the entire planetary system from bhumi to dyu loka. If you kill him, it’s like killing us as he took our shelter. And Indra did not agree. That time dyava and prithvi asked for benediction. Dyava requested that he should always stay with the stars and bhumi devi said I should stay with reptiles, birds, animals, lata, gulma, rivers, mountains and so many colorful items should be always available. Indra agreed to their proposals and killed Vritra on a full moon light. Vritra vadhi happens on full moon. Therefore full moon light is called vartaagni. That means the darkness which is covered that enemy has to be killed. That’s the import.
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− | == The teja of the devathas from Vritra’s body brought by the Cows ==
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− | Then after Indra addressed Agni and Soma, he said that just like in the past you should bring havya in the yajna for us. They said, since we are stuck in the jaws of Vritra, we have lost our teja--brightness. Till we get it back, we can’t get your oblation or havishya. That time the devathas sent the gomatha to bring the teja. Because it is said gauravau sarvasya mitramiti cow is a friend of everybody, the cow agreed upon this and asked for a benediction: If she could bring the teja from the body of Vritra then what ever comes from her: the milk, ghee in that let there be the power of devathas and Indra agreed upon this and in this way the teja of Agnis in the ghee and soma’s teja in the milk and in the other ingredients, the power of devathas is hidden. This is explained by Sruthi very interestingly.
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− | Some more Explanation: In the above description there are certain very interesting points that we should focus on. Even the devathas are stuck in the jaws of Vritrasura . There is a warning here. It shows if Vritra is allowed to grow then the consequences are negative. This is the import of the story.
| + | In many places Vritra has been described that out of 100 places, 99 were killed and one survived. This is described in one place: Rk Samhita 1.83.14 that means the aspect of Vritra is still there. Sometime the Vritra is described as Vritre as a she-demon. That means the sinful energy can come in any gender. From other perspective, the Rishis who have mercy of God, are able to control Vritra who is there in different form within the Rishis, according to time, place and circumstances. Therefore Vritra’s death has to happen with certain rules and limitations. That means for one person, he may be dead but for other person, he is surviving still. This is how this story has to be understood from a symbolical and deeper perspective. |
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− | Second important principle of Vritra’s behavior is that he destroys the splendor of those light which lights of the universe. He destroys our faith, confidence, devotion, physical strength and affection/attraction to right path, our focus, our medha shakti etc., whatever is powerful and splendorous, to destroy them that is the goal of Vritra. Even after Vrtra’s death, the impact on Agni and Soma was very powerful. One can understand how strong Vritra is? Therefore only for the cow (that means the power of the devathas that was lost) it was possible to bring back the power of Agni and Soma. So we can understand that all the power of devathas is hidden in gavya: cows. There is no limit how much one can speak about the greatness of Cow. In reality and also symbolically we have discussed the greatness of cow. We need to understand this more deeply.
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− | Indra created cold fever, to release Agni and Soma from the clutches of Vrtra. There is a significant point here. It appears that diseases or roga come to minimize the power of demons. By the power of the devatas, and also by the power of Visnu, Vrithra was killed.
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− | There is no contradiction to say some places Vritra was killed and in other places he had truce between indra and Vrtra decided to stay in the belly of Indra in the form of hunger. In one perspective, the battle between indra and Vritra is eternal. Therefore in that sense Vritra did not die completely. Therefore it is said he entered into Indra. Out of 100 forts, Indra destroyed 99 and 1 survived. This is what Vedas say, Rk Samhita 7.19.5. In many places Vritra has been described that out of 100 places, 99 were killed and one survived. This is described in one place: Rk Samhita 1.83.14 that means the aspect of Vritra is still there. Sometime the Vritra is described as Vritre as a she-demon. That means the sinful energy can come in any gender. From other perspective, the Rishis who have mercy of God, are able to control Vritra who is there in different form within the Rishis, according to time, place and circumstances. Therefore Vritra’s death has to happen with certain rules and limitations. That means for one person, he may be dead but for other person, he is surviving still. This is how this story has to be understood from a symbolical and deeper perspective.
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| References | | References |
| # For Krishna Yajurveda Samhita (Taittiriya Samhita): http://parankusa.org/KrYajurBrowse.aspx and http://sanskritlibrary.org/download/krishna_yajur_ved.html | | # For Krishna Yajurveda Samhita (Taittiriya Samhita): http://parankusa.org/KrYajurBrowse.aspx and http://sanskritlibrary.org/download/krishna_yajur_ved.html |
| # For Bhagavadgita Slokas : https://sanskritdocuments.org/doc_giitaa/bhagvadnew.html?lang=sa | | # For Bhagavadgita Slokas : https://sanskritdocuments.org/doc_giitaa/bhagvadnew.html?lang=sa |