(This is an excerpt from my book
“Four Eras of The Battling Gods & Mortals.” The book can be obtained from Amazon. The is
also available at Kitab Ghar, Gaiety, Shimla. The Amazon link is given below):
https://www.amazon.in/dp/9390758173?ref=myi_title_dp
Twelve Major Devasur
Sangram (Fights between Devatas and Daityas)
(It
is the righteousness that is victorious at the end, not the unrighteousness;
truth stands triumphant and not the falsehood; it is the forgiveness that wins
praises and not the anger.)
Vishnu,
Agni, Matasya, Kurm, Skand, Ling, Padam, Narsinh, Devibhagvat Mahapuran and
others throw some light on this Devasur Sangram. Itihas literature like Ramayan
and Mahabharat, also allude to these battles fought between Devatas and Asuras.
Though the fight between Devatas and Asuras never ceased, but altogether major twelve
battles were fought between Devatas and Asuras from time to time
said to be in the following chronological order:
1. Narsinh—Hiranyakashipu,
a very dominant Daitya, after defeating Devatas was enthroned as Indra. Devatas
were left with no choice except to reside in the inferior world of common
mortals while Hiranyakshipu enjoyed listening to his praises from Gandharvas.
His son Prahlad indulged in the praises and worshiping of Vishnu that he could
not withstand at all and tried all imaginable resources and tactics to kill
him. Finally at the rescue plea of Prahlad he was killed by Narsinh, half human
and half lion incarnation of Mahavishnu. Prahlad was enthroned in his place and
once again Indra and Devatas returned to Amravati.
Narsinh killed many thousands of Daityas before slaying Hiranyakashipu at the
time of sunset.
Narsinh
also killed Ambaryay, the Daitya king of Dandakaranya in a very fierce battle
by the north side of Godavari River.
2. Vaaman—Noticing
that Devatas have grown lethargic and weaker after winning over battles with
Asuras following
Samudramanthan, Shukracharya persuaded Bali to engage
the Devatas once again in a battle. Bali defeated Devatas completely in a
pitched battle.
As
the whole of heaven came under the sway of Bali, the Devatas began to leave the
country one by one. Everybody was happy and comfortable under the rule of Bali,
but the Devatas and Brahmans were denied the privileges they deserved. They
approached Vishnu and represented their grievances. Vishnu assured them that he
would take the incarnation of Vaaman and resolve the issues.
In
course of time the Asuras and their countries began to be weakened. Perceiving
the destructive indications king Bali approached Prahlad for guidance. Prahlad
spiritually foresaw that since Vishnu has entered the womb of Aditi for his
incarnation as Vaaman, the Asuras and their country would be subjected to
destruction. In an effort to revert this ominous forecast, Mahabali started
performing a Yagya on the bank of the river Narmada. Vaaman came to the place
of Yagya as a hermit boy and requested for only three steps measure of land as
offering to a Brahman. With first step Vaaman measured the whole of the Earth
and with the second step he took the whole of heaven. Then he asked Bali, where
he should place his third step. Mahabali said that he had only his body left as
his own, and that Vaaman might take it and complete the third step.
Vaaman
placed his foot on the head of Bali and blessed him. Bali was instructed to
rule Patal only, and give away the kingdom of world thus received to Indra.
3. Varaha—Hiranyaksh,
son of Kashyap from Diti, and younger brother of Hiranyakashipu, immersed the
land under sea. Due this havoc caused by him, written knowledge until that time
in the shape of Vedas was also lost.
It
seems that this event coincides with the great flood when the large portion of the
globe was immersed in overflowing seawater. He was killed fighting in the sea
by Varaha, an incarnation of Mahavishnu in the form of boar, The land was
refurbished once again out of the sea and Vedas were rescued.
4. Amritmathan—Once under the leadership of Bali Daityas
occupied the throne of Indra and the glory of Devlok began to decline. The
three worlds became dull and the performance of Yagya came to an end. For
helping out the situation thus created Devatas went to seek help of Vishnu. He
advised them to entice Daityas to agree to indulge in common effort for the
churning of the ocean of knowledge under the leadership of king Bali. Vishnu
promised that this is the only recourse to get back their lost glory and other
possessions.
Due
to contrivance of Vishnu the ocean of milk was churned by both Devatas and Asuras.
Vishnu assumed the form of Tortoise to support the weight of Mandrachal pravat
which acted as the churning rod. Vasuki serpent was utilised as the churning
rope. Many precious things emerged out of the sea which they got distributed
among themselves. Amrit was the most sought after thing to have for which there
ensued a struggle, but again due to contrivance of Vishnu Devatas got the major
portion of this elixir. In the following up battle thousands of Asuras were
killed. Indra once again became the chief of Devatas.
Indra defeated Prahlad once again getting back his capital at Amravati.
5. Tarakamay—Once Som
eloped Tara, the wife of Brihaspati but despite repeated requests from devguru Som
did not return her. He even ignored the advice of Brahma and Marudganas and
even Shiv. A terrible war ensued between Som and Shiv; Som, being supported by
Daityas, Asuras; and Shiv by his army of Bhuteshwaras, Siddhas, eighty-four
Ganas, Yakshraj Kuber with his huge army of Vetal, Yaksh, Nag and Kinners etc. Apprehensive
of terrible consequences, Brahma once again intervened and pleaded Som to
retreat and surrender Tara to devguru Brihaspati. Next year Tara gave birth to
a child whom Som claimed to be his. The child named Budh was handed over to Som.
This Budh laid the foundation of Chandervanshi clan of Kshatriyas. In
this Tarakamay battle Indra killed Virochan, the son of Prahlad.
6. Aadivak—Atri,
Vasisth and Vishwamitra were instrumental in
killing of Asuras and salvaging Devatas at numerous instances.
Mahavishnu who was the protector of Indra, came to
Shukracharya’s ashram and killed his mother Kavya. Seeing this impudence of
Mahavishnu, Bhrigu Mahrishi was enraged and cursed that he should be born many
times in human wombs. Mahavishnu had to take many incarnations including
Dattatreya as the son of Atri.
Dattatreya cursed Ravan, “Since the sanctified water has fallen on your head, a
vanar will pollute your head by treading on it.”
Ram killed thousands of Rakshasas in battle against Ravan.
Once
there was a fierce battle between Devatas and Asuras. Owing to the burst of
arrows from the Asuras, the Sun and Moon became dim and darkness spread
everywhere. The Devatas requested Atri Mahrishi to find a remedy for this.
Moved by their anguish, he suddenly transformed himself into the Sun and Moon.
The Moon gave light to the Devatas but Sun burnt up the Asuras by its intense
heat. Thus the Devatas were saved.
Enraged Asuras put Atri into the dark chamber of Shatdwar yantra (a machine of
torture with a hundred doors) to burn him down to ashes. He prayed to the Ashwani
Kumars to liberate and cure his burns.
It
was a period when Vasisth and Vishwamitra were in a state of mutual ill will.
King Kalmashpaad was going about in the forest on a hunting expedition when he
met Shakti, the eldest son of Vasisth. The King did not respect him properly
but ridiculed. Shakti transformed Kalmashpaad into a Rakshas by his curse but metamorphosed
Rakshas instead swallowed Shakti himself. Kalmashpaad ate all the hundred sons
of Vasisth. Prashar, son of Shakti, when he grew up, came to know that his
father Shakti was devoured by a Rakshas, avowed to annihilate the whole race of
Rakshasas. As his attempt to kill gained intensity and force Atri Muni arrived there
with certain other Mahrishis to dissuaded Parashar to give up anger and stop
the Yagya.
Once
Ravan asked Vasisth to teach him the Vedas and the other scriptures but Vasisth
did not comply with his request. Angrily Ravan made him captive, but was
rescued by Ikshvaku King Kuvlayashwa. The rescued Vasisth cursed Ravan that his
family will one day be exterminated by those born of the Suryavanshi dynasty.
Muchkund,
just to try the might of Kuber attacked him, but was badly defeated by the Asuras.
Vasisth helped Muchkund in defeating the Asura army of Kuber.
Muchkund was so tired of this Devasur Sangram that he only wanted to sleep
undisturbed in a cave, which later occasioned the sweltering of Kalyavan in
fire.
Vishwamitra
taught Ram and Lakshman all that he knew and made them proficient in wielding
all types of weapons. Through Ram he eliminated many of the Rakshasas who were
creating nuisance for them.
7. Tripur—Kamalaksh, Tarakaksh and
Vidyunmali, sons of Tarakasur, did severe penance and demanded a boon from
Brahma that they would never be killed by anybody in any of the three worlds.
Brahma told them to ask any boon other than that. Then after much pondering
they asked to have three cities that may travel about freely in the three
worlds; and if at all death is imminent, it should occur only when three
brothers are together, by single arrow shot by a child of seven days only.
Then
Brahma approached Maiy, architect of Asuras, to build three separate cities for
them, one with gold, second with silver and the third one with iron. Tarakaksh
took the golden one, Kamalaksh took the silver one and Vidyunmali took the iron
one. It is said that three cities were respectively placed in heaven, sky and
on land itself, but each city had the option to travel to any other place at
will.
On
request from Hari, son of Tarkasur, Maiy also built a lake wonderful in nature
filled with life rejuvenating nectar. If any Asura died, it was enough to put
him in the lake and the dead Asura would soon come to life with added strength
and vigour. Asuras became immortal; they started troubling Devatas and men
fearlessly with increased ferocity.
Devatas
approached Brahma and Vishnu to find a solution to this menace. Brahma told
them that Tarkasur may be killed by son of Shiv only, but since Shiv is not
married, they would have to first collectively convince Shiv to get married.
Time passed on and due to their prayers Parvati was born to king Himvan. Sometime
after marriage of Shiv and Parvati Kartikey was born, who killed Tarkasur.
Shiv
had to make grand preparations for a fight with three brothers and destroy
their impenetrable cities. He invoked the strength of Devatas, demigods, and
four Vedas, to make himself more powerful. Vishwakarma constructed a special
chariot for him to ride.
Riding
this chariot, when the three cities aligned together in the sky, Shiv split the
cities by his Trishul. Bad premonitions began to appear in Tripura. People
became lifeless in the cities. Soon an arrow from Shiv burnt down Tripur cities,
the three brothers, along with all the remaining Asuras.
8. Andhak—Andhak,
foster son of Hiranyaksh, tried to kidnap Parvati. Prahlad tried to convince
him that Parvati, in fact was his mother and that he was really a son of Shiv,
born as effect of darkness while Shiv was in meditation. Andhak was not
convinced. Then Prahlad explained to him the gravity of the sin of desiring
other people's wives. Even this had no effect on Andhak. Andhak sent his
accomplish Sambarasur to Shiv to ask for and bring Parvati to him. Shiv sent a
message to Andhak that if the latter would defeat him in the game of dice
Parvati would be sent to him. Andhak got enraged and rushed to Kailash for a
battle against Shiv.
Defeated
in the encounter, Andhak pleaded for pardon and admitted that Parvati was his
mother. He also prayed for blessings so that he gets rid of his evil
predispositions. Shiv granted him the prayers and offered him rank of
Ganeshatwa. During the battle Shiv killed all the Danavas, Asuras and Pisachas
with the help of Devatas, pitraganas and humans.
9. Vritravighatak—Indra had beheaded his priest Vishwaroop, who was the son of
Vishwakarma, because Vishwaroop used to surreptitiously offer part of the homa
sacrifice in the name of Asuras and simple mortals, to his dislike. Infuriated Vishwakarma
created another Daitya son named Vrit. He was so powerful that all the Asuras,
except king Bali, followed him accepting his supremacy.
At
this crucial time, when Indra hid himself in the underground water channels of
Mansarovar Lake after committing heinous crimes of killing a Brahman and
molesting the wife of Gautam, Nahush occupied his throne of Amravati. Devatas sought
the help of Dadhichi rishi and gained Vajrastra crafted out of his bones to
kill Vritrasur. Devatas killed Namuchi, one of his powerful Daitya allies.
Encouraged by his death, and helped by Devatas, mortals and Pitriganas,
Vritrasur was also killed by Indra in Halahal battle.
10. Jit/Dhatra/Dhvajpata—Viprachitti was the eldest of the sons
of Danu from Kashyap.
Sinhika, the sister of Hiranyakshipu and Hiranyaksh, and daughter of Kashyap
and Diti, was his wife.
Two sons named Rahu and Ketu were born to them. It was this Sinhika who
confronted and caught hold of Hanuman by his shadow and swallowed him, while
crossing over the sea in his journey towards Lanka.
He
stayed in the court and palace of Varun praising and glorifying him.
When Mahavishnu took the form of Vaaman and began to measure the three worlds,
Viprachitti with some Asuras surrounded and tried to confront him.
In
this war Indra killed Viprachitti and his followers who became invisible by
maya after the felling of the dhvaj (flag staff), and in the course of
celebrating their victory Devatas defeated Sand and Amark, the two purohit of Daityas,
at the Yagya Avbhrith (Bathing at the close of the Yagya).
In
Agni Puran, Jit battle is said to be that in which Shrihari took avtar of
Parshuram, gained victory over Shalav Daitya, and killed wicked Kshatriyas.
Jamadagni
was killed by Kartvirya Arjun despite getting due attention from him at his
ashram. Angered upon this, Parshuram avowed to destroy all the Haihaya and
Kshatriyas. He first went to Brahma according to the advice of Bhrigu but
Brahma guided him to seek the help of Shiv saying that without the help of Shiv
he would not be able to fulfil his vow. Only Shiv could give him the Pashupat
weapon by which he could fulfil his desire. Shiv gave him a weapon Farsha, an
axe and Pashupatashtra through which he exterminated Kshatriyas in twenty one
major wars. Parshuram also killed Shalav Daitya and helped Devatas in their endeavors.
11. Halahal—At the
request of Vishnu Shiv killed Halahal Daitya, who was the
embodiement of a deadly poison, and thus he dispelled the fear of Devatas.
Vritrasur was also killed by Indra in Halahal battle.
12. Ghor Kolahal—In Devasur Sangram Vishnu killed Kolahal Daitya
and thus protected Devatas. Indra killed rest of the Daityas and Asuras.
Most
of these battles were fought in the time of Asura purohit Shand and Amark,
both sons of Shukracharya.
Muchukund
was a witness and participant to these wars. He fought with Tarkasur whom Kartikey killed.
Muchukund was sleeping in a cave to shed off his tiredness after his
participation in Devasur Sangram. He was given a boon that who so ever will
disturb his sleep will be burnt down to ashes by his mere glance. Kaalyavan
invaded Mathura revengefully, but through a well planned trick of Shri Krishan,
Kaalyavan was burnt down to ashes by the glance of Muchukund. Muchukund was
foretold by Gargya rishi about the birth of Shri Krishan in Dwapar Yug.
Sampati,
the elder brother of Jatayu, was a witness to the places where Vaaman had
placed his foot to measure the three worlds in three strides. He had seen the
event of Samudramanthan going on and had seen Devasur Sangram also.
Jambvant went round the earth twenty one times when Vaaman
avtar measured the whole cosmos in three strides. Obeying the orders of
Devatas, he collected all the medicinal plants and herbs growing on earth, to
be used for churning of ocean. In those days he had extreme valor.
He helped Indra in Devasur Sangram and secured many benedictions.
Dashrath also participated in some Devasur Sangram in which
Kaikayee helped him save his life. Dashrath was being badly wounded by the
arrows of enemies.
Agni Puran, Gita Press Gorakhpur, Adhyay 276, Shlok 10-12.
Matasya
Puran, Adhyay 47, Shlok 42-45.
Matasya Puran,
Adhyay 47, Shlok 48-49.
Puranic Encyclopedia, Vettam Mani, see Dattatreya.
Mahabharat,
Anushashan Parv, Adhyay 156.
Rig Ved, Mandal
1, Sukt 51, Shlok 3; Sukt 112, Shlok 7; Sukt 116, Shlok 8.
Mahabharat, Adi
Parv, Adhyay 181.
Kamb Ramayan,
Yudh Kand. Ref. Puranic Encyclopedia, Vettam Mani, see Vasistha.
Mahabharat,
Shanti Parv, Adhyay 74.
Matasya Puran,
Adhyay 129-140.
Padam Puran, Shristhi Khand, Adhyay
32-34.
Mahabahrat, Karn Parv, Adhyay
33-34.
Shiv Puran, Rudra Sanhita, Yudh
Khand, Adhyay 1-4.
Mahabharat, Adi
Parv, Adhyay 65, Shlok 25.
Mahabharat, Sabha
Parv, Adhyay 9, Shlok 12.
Mahabharat, Sabha
Parv, Dakshinatya Path, Adhyay 38.
Mahabharat,
Shanti Parv, Adhyay 47, Shlok 11; Shalya Parv, Adhyay 31, Shlok 12.
Matsaya Puran, Adhyay 47, Shlok 52.
