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== VRITRASURA( INTERNAL HUNGER) ==
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Vrtrasura(Samskrit : वृत्रासुरः) is the son of Tvashtra Prajapati.
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The Vritrasura’s episode described in Taitreya Samhita: In Taitreya Samhita 2.4.1 the story is mentioned in this way: Trashtra prajapathi had a son named Vishwarupa. Once the purohit of the devathas: Brihaspati, being angry, he left his priestly work and so the devathas invited Vishwarupa as their priest and Vishwarupa had some inclination towards the demons. Therefore without the devathas noticing, he would offer some of the oblations to the asuras, which was arranged by, devas. When Indra got to know about this, he was furious and killed Vishwarupa. When Trashtra got to know about this, he was very upset and performed a yajna to get a son who could kill Indra. But how could one do yajna without Indra. Trashtra perfomed yajna without inviting Indra. He did not invite him to drink Soma pana. Indra told Trashtra that he should invite him and Trashtra said since you have killed my son, I’ll not and he performed his yajna without Indra and Indra by force without the permission of Trashtra drank Soma pana during the conclusion of yajna. Being angry with Indra, Trashtra used left over Soma and invoked Havan-agni and took that left over soma and went to ahavana agni and then he blazed the fire and performed the homa and chanted sva indra chatru vardhasya”. While chanting this mantra there was some mistake in pronunciation and because of that mispronunciation, the entire meaning got changed. Instead of let there be a son who could kill indra”, it became, let there be a son who will be killed by Indra”. Instantly, Vritra was born. Indra by knowing that if the Yajna gets complete and if he stays there and devathas would be defeated by Vritra forever, Indra he disappeared from that place meanwhile Vritra started growing like the bow or the as the arrow leaves, he started growing to such an extent and started covering the entire universe.
 
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ishumatra mishumatra avardhatha sa vishwajana iman lokan avranoth lokan yadiman avranoth tadvra trasya vritratvam”
 
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that means Vrithra means one who getows or in circles. This meaning has come in Vedas. Indra seeing this got afraid. He was finding some means and ways to control Vritra. Meanwhile Vritra’s father, Trashtra became repentant and became fearful and he gave a special thunderbolt and made it powerful by invoking certain mantras and offered it to Indra.
 
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== Vritra Defeated and the Power of vajrayudha (thunderbolt) ==
 
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What is Vajrayudha? The Vedas itself answer this question: tapovysa vajra asit” that means tapasaya itself is the Vajrayudha or the thunderbolt. Indra couldn’t lift that weapon and prayed to Visnu and Visnu being pleased with Indra, he divided himself that into 3 parts: Vishnu tridha atmaanam”. It indicates the trivikrama tattva of the lord. One part of him he placed on earth, the other in devaloka and the third one in space. Indra entered into Vsnu who is part of prithvi and was able to lift vajrayudha and when he was coming to kill Vritra and Vritra became fearful. He said he will go out of the bhumidevi and said he would offer all his power to Indra and in this way the war continued in space and in heavenly planets. Indra defeated Vritra and Indra had a truce with Vritra and accepted his semen and offered to Vi snu and in conclusion, Vritra while making truce with indra, Vritrasura said allow me to enter into your body. tvame va pravishami” Indra asked him what will you do with me? Will you eat me? yanma pravishya kim ma bhunja itya bravith” that time Vritra said, not like that, I’ll become the fire in our belly jataragni and I’ll be favorable to you and for your pleasure to help you digest grain and will continue to render service to you tvameva indiya tava bhogaya tvam pravisheyam itya bravith”
 
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== Vritra in the body of Indra ==
 
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In this way when Vritra entered into the body of Indra he extended himself and stayed in the bodies of all living entities and he stays in the form of hunger and keeps on troubling them and in this way because Vritra is staying in the belly of human being, and that hunger itself is Vritraha. He is called: brathravya and those who understand this, they will conquer hunger certainly. That’s what Vedas offer benefits.
 
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vritraha pravishath udaram vy vritaha shuth khalu vai manushyasya brathravyo ya ya evam vedahanthi kshudam brathavyam”
 
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In this way because accepting 3 times, the valor of Vritra through Indra, Vsnu is called Tridatu. Sruthi itself defines this. Also the special ingredient called purodasa” which is offered to Indra and Vsnu, therefore also it is called trudatu uktahaa vith tridathu”.In this episode, the main cause of Indra’s valor is Visnu himself. It is openly described. Keno Upanishad explains that the parakrama or valor of all the devathas, the bhagvatha himself is responsible for it. We can recollect this. Mostly all the victories of Indra, Indra’s valor, Indra’s glorification all these suktas are basically glorifying the lord who is residing in the devathas. The Vedas are glorifying paramatma or bhagavan who is the inner dwelling soul of Indra. That’s how it should be taken, and for this there is ample evidence indrasya yajna yajja satha” In the Vsnu Sukta, part of Rk Samhita Sri Sayana Acarya he gives Taitreya Samhita as the example: the Rk Bhaga is 1.22.19
 
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== Some Explanation or Esoteric Meaning ==
 
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There are many points here to be observed Vritra was not killed here but he was given a place in every living entity: hunger. There is an important and a very interesting understanding here. There is a concept of eternal reality here. Therefore the disturbance to the living entity is an eternal experience in this world, symbolically, hunger is the sign of dissatisfaction. Gita explains Kama esa krodha esa rajo guna samudbava mahasano mahapapma viddhy enam iha vairinam” 3.37
 
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The hunger which is in the form of kama and krodha: lust and anger is insatiable hunger. In the 16th chapter of Bhagavad Gita it is explained: Kamam asritha duspuram” and duspurena analenaca” repeatedly the kama is compared to the inexhaustible fire. Those who are very much hungry it is said that there is a ghost sitting in them. It’s a village way of saying. Here Vritra is such ghost who is in the belly  . Such ghost had affected Indra. This is explained in the Ramayana shudda chaiva sahasrakham brahma hatya samavishat” Bala Kanda 14.15. The above episode is explained in Tairteya , that since then all the living entities are affected by Vritra and entered into their belly. Therefore the devathas are closely connected to human beings and there is even a chance that they could be affected by Vritra. At the same time, whatever benefits the devathas got, the humans also got benefitted indirectly. 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
 
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yenāvṛtā ime lokās tapasā tvāṣṭra-mūrtinā sa vai vṛtra iti proktaḥ pāpaḥ parama-dāruṇaḥ”
 
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one 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.
 
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== Mesmerizing description by one English poet ==
 
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One of the English poets: T.S. Elliot he gives significant meaning of this in his poem called Waste Land. That story is the story of Vritra’s death. The human being if his life becomes like a desert, like a desert forest and if you want to turn that into green pasturing ground, then how is it possible? How will it rain? The Niruktakara says tatko vritha medha ithi” Vritra is described  as clouds which are not pouring rains, the English poet depicts it. One of the slanderous persons who write against Vedas he is Gricewald.
 
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He writes (and that we have taken in Veda Sanskriti in part 1) …….Vritra manipulates lightening, thunder, mist, darkness and hail…..His mother is Danu: drip, a name of the rain cloud which sprinkles only few drops. ‘She of the drip’ is the mother of a demon brood. Of which Vrtra means a false thunderstorm with little or no rain. While Indra means thunderstorm followed by abundant rain……”
 
  
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Many points here are acceptable. But Vritra being considered  as cloud who doesn’t pour rains is not only story, but importantly has significant symbolic idea, or else  the study of Veda and the understanding will not be complete.  Falling in the ditch trapped by the Christian missionary, our own people (Indians) should understand as they are missing the point on English poet has understood it depicted the picture aptly which puts us in shame:
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Vedas describe a continuous battle between  Asuras (demons) and the Suras (devas). There is no other personality who is given more importance than Vrtra in the Vedas and there is no other symbolic story as is Vrtrasura vadha (killing of Vrtra). 
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. Ganga was sunken, and the limp leaves
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== व्युत्पत्तिः || Etymology ==
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waited for rain, while the black clouds
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From origin perspective Vrtra is Tvaashtra, the son of Tvashtra. However, Vrtra has been defined by Yaska maharshi as follows  <blockquote>तत्को वृत्रः। मेघ इति नैरुक्ताः । त्वाष्ट्रोऽसुर इत्यैतिहासिकाः । अपां च ज्योतिषश्च मिश्रीभावकर्मणो वर्षकर्म जायते । तत्रोपमार्थेन युद्धवर्णा भवन्ति । (Nirukta 2.16)<ref>[http://vedicreserve.mum.edu/nirukta/nirukta.pdf Nirukta]</ref></blockquote><blockquote>tatkō vr̥traḥ। mēgha iti nairuktāḥ । tvāṣṭrō'sura ityaitihāsikāḥ । apāṁ ca jyōtiṣaśca miśrībhāvakarmaṇō varṣakarma jāyatē । tatrōpamārthēna yuddhavarṇā bhavanti । (Nirukta 2.16)</blockquote>Meaning : Nirukta defines Vrtra  as the cloud, which is a water body. A combination of water and lightning (electricity) gives rise to the process of rain and this process is used as a simili to describe a war. 
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gathered far distant, over Himavanta.
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The jungle crouched, humped in silence.
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The Taittiriya samhita describes Vrtra  as follows  <blockquote>....इषुमात्रमिषुमात्रव्विँष्वङ्ङवर्धत स इमाल्लोँकानवृणोद्यदिमाल्लोँकानवृणोत्तद्वृत्रस्य वृत्रत्वन्तस्मादिन्द्रोऽबिभेदपि.... (Arsheya system 4.5.36.2 and Saraswat System 1.2.4.12.2)<ref name=":0">Krishna Yajurveda Samhita ([http://parankusa.org/KrYajurBrowse.aspx Taittiriya Samhita]) </ref><ref name=":1">[http://sanskritlibrary.org/download/krishna_yajur_ved.html Krishna Yajurveda Samhita]</ref> </blockquote>Meaning : Vrtra  is the one who grows circularly, who goes in circles and occupies the worlds.  
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Then spoke the thunder.”
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== वृत्रस्य पूर्वजन्म || Vrtra's Previous Birth ==
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== The message by the Cloud DA” ==
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Chitraketu ruled over Soorasena kingdom. Chitraketu and his wife Kritadyuti were childless. Seeing their sorrow Angirasa maharshi informs them that a son would be born to them. However, the envy of Chitraketu's other wives led them to poison the child and kill him at birth. Angirasa and Narada tried to revive the child but the soul replies that he was the son to a large number of parents, in various births, and requested to be enlightened as to which of those parents he was to live with. Understanding the situation, Narada leaves after imparting adhyatmik wisdom to Chitraketu and his wife. Both of them then immerse themselves in the adhyatmik path and attain the form of Gandharvas. Once in the land of Vidyadharas, Chitraketu was travelling in the aerial space in the vehicle given by SriMahavishnu. When flying over the Mountain Kailasa, the abode of Shiva and Parvati, Chitraketu laughs at the sight of Parvati being seated in the lap of Shiva. He accuses Shiva, being enlightened is embracing his consort, Parvati, when present in the view of Siddhas and saintly people as an ordinary human being. This anecdote is mentioned in Puranic Encyclopedia<ref>Vettam. Mani, (1975). ''[https://archive.org/details/puranicencyclopa00maniuoft Puranic encyclopaedia : A comprehensive dictionary with special reference to the epic and Puranic literature.]'' Delhi:Motilal Banasidass.</ref> given in Bhagavata Purana in 6th Skanda as follows    <blockquote>जटाधीस्तीव्रतपा ब्रह्मवादिसभापतिः अङ्कीकृत्य स्रियं चास्ते गतह्रीः प्राकृते यथा || (Bhag. Pura. 6.17.7)<ref>[https://vedpuran.files.wordpress.com/2011/10/vishnu-puran.pdf Shrimad Bhagavata Puranam] </ref></blockquote><blockquote>प्रायशः प्राकृताश्चापि स्रियं रहसि बिभ्रति । अयं महाव्रतधरो बिभ्रर्ति सदसि स्रियम् || (Bhag. Pura. 6.17.8)</blockquote>Enraged by his laughter, Parvati curses Chitraketu to be born as an asura.  <blockquote>नायमर्हति वैकुण्ठ पादमूलोपसर्पणम् सम्भावितमतिः स्तब्धः साधुभिः पर्युपासितम् (Bhag. Pura. 6. 7.15)</blockquote><blockquote>अतः पापीयसीं योनिमासुरीं याहि दु्र्मते यथेह भूयो न कर्ता पुत्र किल्बिषम् </blockquote><blockquote>जज्ञे त्वष्टुर्दक्षिणाद्नौ दानवीं योनिमाश्रितः वृत्र इत्यभिविख्यातो ज्ञानविज्ञानसंयुतः (Bhag. Pura. 6.17.38)</blockquote>Thus Chitraketu was born as Vrtrasura in his next birth. 
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But the clouds did not pour rain, but the clouds made thundering sound and in that sound, there are three words it resounded and suddenly there was silence. And those 3 words were: da, datta, dayathvam, damyaat. Here the English poet has taken a story from Vedas and very timely has interwoven it. This is from Brihadaranyaka Upanishad 5.3. The famous story of Prajapathi”s instruction: one time devas, manushas, asuras, they came to prajapathi’s gurukul and to receive knowledge, they practiced brahmacarya. When they finished studies and as they were heading to their homes, they requested Prajapthi to give them secret education. At that time prajapathi gave them only one alphabet as da”. All the 3 understood it differently. Devathas understood as damyatha: control your senses. Human beings understood as datta: give charity. And the asuras they heard: dayatvam: become compassionate. (Devathas are very proud of their senses. Therefore dama or sense control is important. Humans are naturally selfish they are told to give charity and asuras are naturally cruel and they are told to be compassionate. These are the important qualities. That’s how the story is narrated. Whoever doesn’t have these specific qualities are given instructions to develop those qualities. )According to the study of (manas shastra) psychology and when all the three got proper understanding of what Prajapthi gave them, he gave blessings and he sent them back. Since then whenever there is rain, that time megha or the cloud gives this message: dha da da dame, dana daya: control, charity, compassion.  
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tadedeva vesha daivi vak anuvadathi stahan itnu da da da iti damaiti danya datta iti”
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== वृत्रासुरजननम् || Vrtrasura Jananam ==
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Therefore if megha or cloud has to give rain, then humans need to have dana, daya and dama control, charity and compassion. Otherwise there will be drought and this is the message of Vritra and is very meaningful. How it is that Dadichi maharshi’s skull or spine is the symbol of commitment and dedication? Indra makes thunderbolt from this and down pours. He kills Vritra. Here also there is an indication of loka sangraha: Benefitting the people. Therefore this English poet in his poetry explained dattha dayathvam danyatha shanthihi shantih shanthi” in this way he concludes his poem. It is not said that it rained, but the shanthi pata the concluding verses itself give such feeling. Therefore wherever there are such qualities there are rains and such understanding and is not forgotten by poet. Therefore the story between Indra and Vritra, there is an important principle of Veda and is hidden and this is well known to everybody and at least now, we Bharatiyas should try to understand.
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त्वष्ट्रा॥ Tvashtra angered by Indra's killing of his son विश्वरूप || Vishwaroopa (also called Trisiras), initiates an आभिचारिकं यागं || aabhaicharikam yagam (a yagam performed to cause harm to an intended person) to procure a son to kill Indra (Devi Bhagavatam (Skanda 6)). However, due to the mispronunciation of the swara of mantra "इन्द्रशत्रुर्वर्धस्व", the entire meaning of the mantra was altered (Devi Bhagavatam, Skanda 6) . Instead of "let there be a son who could kill Indra" it meant "let there be a son who will be killed by Indra". Thus, was born Vrtrasura, who eventually was killed by Indra. Rig veda mantras dedicated to Indra's might and valor in killing Vrtra  are plenty in number.
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== सप्तसिन्धवः || Saptasindhus  ==
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Vrtrasura is also associated with other asuric activities such as blocking the flow of water. Rig Veda describes the following about Vrtrasura and his blocking the Sapta sindhu's (the seven rivers).  <blockquote>अतृप्णुवन्तं वियतमबुध्यमबुध्यमानं सुषुपाणमिन्द्र | सप्त प्रति प्रवत आशयानमहिं वज्रेण वि रिणा अपर्वन् || (Rig. Veda. 4.19.3)<ref>Rig Veda Samhita ([http://vedicheritage.gov.in/samhitas/rigveda/shakala-samhita/rigveda-shakala-samhita-mandal-04-sukta-019/ Mandala 4, Sukta 19])</ref></blockquote><blockquote>atr̥pṇuvantaṁ viyatamabudhyamabudhyamānaṁ suṣupāṇamindra | sapta prati pravata āśayānamahiṁ vajrēṇa vi riṇā aparvan || (Rig. Veda. 4.19.3)</blockquote>Meaning : Vrtra  having an insatiable bulky body, is very powerful, personification of ignorance, and deep in slumber. Serpent like he sleeps in a way that the sapta sindus can’t flow. Such Vrtra  is killed by Indra with his thunderbolt, on the day of full moon.
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'''Esoteric Meaning :''' Here the birth and killing of Vrtra represent an eternal principle that happens in this world. Water is the main life force that keeps things green, without water nothing survives, drought occurs. Similarly in the personality of human beings, if the flow of life or the sapta sindus stop, then there is a drought of adhyatmik existence & elevation. Every aspect of human beings, the emotions, intellectual capacity, friendship, values or relationships are affected by the lack of adhyatmik elevation which is a drought-like situation. Anything which stagnates brings about decay and destruction.<ref name=":2" />
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In this way the flow of ruthu or season has to continue which is the nature of this world. One who is on the ruju marga (path of righteousness) seeks to go with the flow of adhyatmik elevation and to lie down and sleep against this flow of water is the important activity of Vrtrasura. [[Panis (पणिकाः)|Panis]] steal adhyatmik knowledge, but Vrtra is the one who stops the flow of life. He is the one who lays down obstacles for those who seek to achieve higher realms of life and that gives him happiness.<ref name=":2" />
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This relationship of Vrtrasura as one who seeks to impede water flow is given in the following Rig Veda mantras<blockquote>समुद्रज्येष्ठाः सलिलस्य मध्यात्पुनाना यन्त्यनिविशमानाः | इन्द्रो या वज्री वृषभो रराद ता आपो देवीरिहमामवन्तु || (Rig. Veda. 7.49.1)<ref>Rig Veda Samhita ([http://vedicheritage.gov.in/samhitas/rigveda/shakala-samhita-2/rigveda-shakala-samhita-mandal-07-sukta-049/ Mandala 7, Sukta 49])</ref></blockquote><blockquote>samudrajyēṣṭhāḥ salilasya madhyātpunānā yantyaniviśamānāḥ | indrō yā vajrī vr̥ṣabhō rarāda tā āpō dēvīrihamāmavantu || (Rig. Veda. 7.49.1)</blockquote>Meaning : The river waters flow continuously, purifying the entire existence on their way to reach the chief of waters, the Ocean. Oh Indra! the one who wields the Vajra (Vajraayudha) free the waters, (as you are the) one who freed the cows.  Protect me just as you freed the rivers (by removing the impediment of Vrtra) and freed the cows (by removing the impediment of Vala and [[Panis (पणिकाः)|Panis]]).  
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== वृ॒त्रः क्षु॒त्खलु॒ || Vrtra is Hunger<ref name=":2">Narayanacharya, K. S. (2011). ''Veda Samskrita Parichaya''. Hubli:​Sahitya Prakashana​.</ref>  ==
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Tvashtra prajapathi first had a son named Vishwarupa. Once the devaguru, Brihaspati, being angry, left his priestly work and so the devatas invited Vishwarupa to conduct their activities as their priest. Vishwarupa, (whose mother belonged to Asuras) was favorable to the asuras and without the devatas knowledge, he offered havishya (oblations) to the asuras which rightfully belonged to devatas.  When Indra came to know about this, he was furious and killed Vishwarupa. Hearing this,Tvashtra was very angry and performed a yajna to get a son who could kill Indra.
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While chanting the mantras due to wrong pronunciation the purport changed. Instead of "let there be a son who could kill indra", it became "let there be a son who will be killed by Indra". Instantly, Vrtra was born and he grew over the expanse of the universe in circular fashion. Indra with the blessing of Mahavishnu then defeated Vrtra who entered into a truce with Indra.<blockquote>इ॒दमस्मि॒ तत्ते॒ प्र दास्या॒मीति॒ त्वी (३) इत्य॑ब्रवीत्स॒न्धान्तु सं द॑धावहै॒ त्वामे॒व प्र वि॑शा॒नीति॒ यन्माम्प्र॑वि॒शेः किम्मा॑ भुञ्ज्या॒ इत्य॑ब्रवी॒त्त्वामे॒वेन्धी॑य॒ तव॒ भोगा॑य॒ त्वाम्प्र वि॑शेय॒मित्य॑ब्रवी॒त्तव्वृँ॒त्रः प्रावि॑शदु॒दरं॒ वै वृ॒त्रः ख्षुत्खलु॒ वै म॑नु॒ष्य॑स्य॒ भ्रातृ॑व्यो॒ यः [41] (Tait. Samh. Arsheya system 4.5.36.6 and Saraswat System 1.2.4.12.6)<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /></blockquote>Summary : Vrtrasura said allow me to enter into your body. Indra asked him what will you do with me? Will you eat me? Vrtra replied that he will become the fire in the stomach, as hunger (jataragni) in human beings.
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In this way Vrtra entered into the body of Indra and the living entities and continues to stay in the form of hunger. He is called as भ्रातृ॑व्यो॒ brathravya (those who understand conquer hunger.  
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'''Esoteric Meaning''' : It should be noted that Vrtra was though killed in historic perspective, was not killed but was given a place in every living entity as hunger. Therefore the disturbance to the living entity is an eternal experience in this world, symbolically, hunger is the sign of dissatisfaction. Similarly, hunger is not just limited to physical hunger but is connected to insatiable wants and desires. Lust and anger are insatiable hungers.<ref name=":2" />
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== References ==
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<references />
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[[Category:Asuras]]

Latest revision as of 22:30, 12 March 2020

Vrtrasura(Samskrit : वृत्रासुरः) is the son of Tvashtra Prajapati.

Vedas describe a continuous battle between  Asuras (demons) and the Suras (devas). There is no other personality who is given more importance than Vrtra in the Vedas and there is no other symbolic story as is Vrtrasura vadha (killing of Vrtra).

व्युत्पत्तिः || Etymology

From origin perspective Vrtra is Tvaashtra, the son of Tvashtra. However, Vrtra has been defined by Yaska maharshi as follows

तत्को वृत्रः। मेघ इति नैरुक्ताः । त्वाष्ट्रोऽसुर इत्यैतिहासिकाः । अपां च ज्योतिषश्च मिश्रीभावकर्मणो वर्षकर्म जायते । तत्रोपमार्थेन युद्धवर्णा भवन्ति । (Nirukta 2.16)[1]

tatkō vr̥traḥ। mēgha iti nairuktāḥ । tvāṣṭrō'sura ityaitihāsikāḥ । apāṁ ca jyōtiṣaśca miśrībhāvakarmaṇō varṣakarma jāyatē । tatrōpamārthēna yuddhavarṇā bhavanti । (Nirukta 2.16)

Meaning : Nirukta defines Vrtra as the cloud, which is a water body. A combination of water and lightning (electricity) gives rise to the process of rain and this process is used as a simili to describe a war.  The Taittiriya samhita describes Vrtra as follows 

....इषुमात्रमिषुमात्रव्विँष्वङ्ङवर्धत स इमाल्लोँकानवृणोद्यदिमाल्लोँकानवृणोत्तद्वृत्रस्य वृत्रत्वन्तस्मादिन्द्रोऽबिभेदपि.... (Arsheya system 4.5.36.2 and Saraswat System 1.2.4.12.2)[2][3]

Meaning : Vrtra is the one who grows circularly, who goes in circles and occupies the worlds.  

वृत्रस्य पूर्वजन्म || Vrtra's Previous Birth

Chitraketu ruled over Soorasena kingdom. Chitraketu and his wife Kritadyuti were childless. Seeing their sorrow Angirasa maharshi informs them that a son would be born to them. However, the envy of Chitraketu's other wives led them to poison the child and kill him at birth. Angirasa and Narada tried to revive the child but the soul replies that he was the son to a large number of parents, in various births, and requested to be enlightened as to which of those parents he was to live with. Understanding the situation, Narada leaves after imparting adhyatmik wisdom to Chitraketu and his wife. Both of them then immerse themselves in the adhyatmik path and attain the form of Gandharvas. Once in the land of Vidyadharas, Chitraketu was travelling in the aerial space in the vehicle given by SriMahavishnu. When flying over the Mountain Kailasa, the abode of Shiva and Parvati, Chitraketu laughs at the sight of Parvati being seated in the lap of Shiva. He accuses Shiva, being enlightened is embracing his consort, Parvati, when present in the view of Siddhas and saintly people as an ordinary human being. This anecdote is mentioned in Puranic Encyclopedia[4] given in Bhagavata Purana in 6th Skanda as follows

जटाधीस्तीव्रतपा ब्रह्मवादिसभापतिः अङ्कीकृत्य स्रियं चास्ते गतह्रीः प्राकृते यथा || (Bhag. Pura. 6.17.7)[5]

प्रायशः प्राकृताश्चापि स्रियं रहसि बिभ्रति । अयं महाव्रतधरो बिभ्रर्ति सदसि स्रियम् || (Bhag. Pura. 6.17.8)

Enraged by his laughter, Parvati curses Chitraketu to be born as an asura.

नायमर्हति वैकुण्ठ पादमूलोपसर्पणम् सम्भावितमतिः स्तब्धः साधुभिः पर्युपासितम् (Bhag. Pura. 6. 7.15)

अतः पापीयसीं योनिमासुरीं याहि दु्र्मते यथेह भूयो न कर्ता पुत्र किल्बिषम्

जज्ञे त्वष्टुर्दक्षिणाद्नौ दानवीं योनिमाश्रितः वृत्र इत्यभिविख्यातो ज्ञानविज्ञानसंयुतः (Bhag. Pura. 6.17.38)

Thus Chitraketu was born as Vrtrasura in his next birth.

वृत्रासुरजननम् || Vrtrasura Jananam

त्वष्ट्रा॥ Tvashtra angered by Indra's killing of his son विश्वरूप || Vishwaroopa (also called Trisiras), initiates an आभिचारिकं यागं || aabhaicharikam yagam (a yagam performed to cause harm to an intended person) to procure a son to kill Indra (Devi Bhagavatam (Skanda 6)). However, due to the mispronunciation of the swara of mantra "इन्द्रशत्रुर्वर्धस्व", the entire meaning of the mantra was altered (Devi Bhagavatam, Skanda 6) . Instead of "let there be a son who could kill Indra" it meant "let there be a son who will be killed by Indra". Thus, was born Vrtrasura, who eventually was killed by Indra. Rig veda mantras dedicated to Indra's might and valor in killing Vrtra are plenty in number.

सप्तसिन्धवः || Saptasindhus

Vrtrasura is also associated with other asuric activities such as blocking the flow of water. Rig Veda describes the following about Vrtrasura and his blocking the Sapta sindhu's (the seven rivers).

अतृप्णुवन्तं वियतमबुध्यमबुध्यमानं सुषुपाणमिन्द्र | सप्त प्रति प्रवत आशयानमहिं वज्रेण वि रिणा अपर्वन् || (Rig. Veda. 4.19.3)[6]

atr̥pṇuvantaṁ viyatamabudhyamabudhyamānaṁ suṣupāṇamindra | sapta prati pravata āśayānamahiṁ vajrēṇa vi riṇā aparvan || (Rig. Veda. 4.19.3)

Meaning : Vrtra having an insatiable bulky body, is very powerful, personification of ignorance, and deep in slumber. Serpent like he sleeps in a way that the sapta sindus can’t flow. Such Vrtra is killed by Indra with his thunderbolt, on the day of full moon.

Esoteric Meaning : Here the birth and killing of Vrtra represent an eternal principle that happens in this world. Water is the main life force that keeps things green, without water nothing survives, drought occurs. Similarly in the personality of human beings, if the flow of life or the sapta sindus stop, then there is a drought of adhyatmik existence & elevation. Every aspect of human beings, the emotions, intellectual capacity, friendship, values or relationships are affected by the lack of adhyatmik elevation which is a drought-like situation. Anything which stagnates brings about decay and destruction.[7]

In this way the flow of ruthu or season has to continue which is the nature of this world. One who is on the ruju marga (path of righteousness) seeks to go with the flow of adhyatmik elevation and to lie down and sleep against this flow of water is the important activity of Vrtrasura. Panis steal adhyatmik knowledge, but Vrtra is the one who stops the flow of life. He is the one who lays down obstacles for those who seek to achieve higher realms of life and that gives him happiness.[7]

This relationship of Vrtrasura as one who seeks to impede water flow is given in the following Rig Veda mantras

समुद्रज्येष्ठाः सलिलस्य मध्यात्पुनाना यन्त्यनिविशमानाः | इन्द्रो या वज्री वृषभो रराद ता आपो देवीरिहमामवन्तु || (Rig. Veda. 7.49.1)[8]

samudrajyēṣṭhāḥ salilasya madhyātpunānā yantyaniviśamānāḥ | indrō yā vajrī vr̥ṣabhō rarāda tā āpō dēvīrihamāmavantu || (Rig. Veda. 7.49.1)

Meaning : The river waters flow continuously, purifying the entire existence on their way to reach the chief of waters, the Ocean. Oh Indra! the one who wields the Vajra (Vajraayudha) free the waters, (as you are the) one who freed the cows. Protect me just as you freed the rivers (by removing the impediment of Vrtra) and freed the cows (by removing the impediment of Vala and Panis).

वृ॒त्रः क्षु॒त्खलु॒ || Vrtra is Hunger[7]

Tvashtra prajapathi first had a son named Vishwarupa. Once the devaguru, Brihaspati, being angry, left his priestly work and so the devatas invited Vishwarupa to conduct their activities as their priest. Vishwarupa, (whose mother belonged to Asuras) was favorable to the asuras and without the devatas knowledge, he offered havishya (oblations) to the asuras which rightfully belonged to devatas. When Indra came to know about this, he was furious and killed Vishwarupa. Hearing this,Tvashtra was very angry and performed a yajna to get a son who could kill Indra.

While chanting the mantras due to wrong pronunciation the purport changed. Instead of "let there be a son who could kill indra", it became "let there be a son who will be killed by Indra". Instantly, Vrtra was born and he grew over the expanse of the universe in circular fashion. Indra with the blessing of Mahavishnu then defeated Vrtra who entered into a truce with Indra.

इ॒दमस्मि॒ तत्ते॒ प्र दास्या॒मीति॒ त्वी (३) इत्य॑ब्रवीत्स॒न्धान्तु सं द॑धावहै॒ त्वामे॒व प्र वि॑शा॒नीति॒ यन्माम्प्र॑वि॒शेः किम्मा॑ भुञ्ज्या॒ इत्य॑ब्रवी॒त्त्वामे॒वेन्धी॑य॒ तव॒ भोगा॑य॒ त्वाम्प्र वि॑शेय॒मित्य॑ब्रवी॒त्तव्वृँ॒त्रः प्रावि॑शदु॒दरं॒ वै वृ॒त्रः ख्षुत्खलु॒ वै म॑नु॒ष्य॑स्य॒ भ्रातृ॑व्यो॒ यः [41] (Tait. Samh. Arsheya system 4.5.36.6 and Saraswat System 1.2.4.12.6)[2][3]

Summary : Vrtrasura said allow me to enter into your body. Indra asked him what will you do with me? Will you eat me? Vrtra replied that he will become the fire in the stomach, as hunger (jataragni) in human beings.

In this way Vrtra entered into the body of Indra and the living entities and continues to stay in the form of hunger. He is called as भ्रातृ॑व्यो॒ brathravya (those who understand conquer hunger.  

Esoteric Meaning : It should be noted that Vrtra was though killed in historic perspective, was not killed but was given a place in every living entity as hunger. Therefore the disturbance to the living entity is an eternal experience in this world, symbolically, hunger is the sign of dissatisfaction. Similarly, hunger is not just limited to physical hunger but is connected to insatiable wants and desires. Lust and anger are insatiable hungers.[7]

References

  1. ↑ Nirukta
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Krishna Yajurveda Samhita (Taittiriya Samhita)
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Krishna Yajurveda Samhita
  4. ↑ Vettam. Mani, (1975). Puranic encyclopaedia : A comprehensive dictionary with special reference to the epic and Puranic literature. Delhi:Motilal Banasidass.
  5. ↑ Shrimad Bhagavata Puranam
  6. ↑ Rig Veda Samhita (Mandala 4, Sukta 19)
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 Narayanacharya, K. S. (2011). Veda Samskrita Parichaya. Hubli:​Sahitya Prakashana​.
  8. ↑ Rig Veda Samhita (Mandala 7, Sukta 49)
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