Clash of Egos

In our last blog, "Consequences of Disrespect," we witnessed a dramatic turn of events in the celestial realm. Indra, the King of the heavenly gods, let his arrogance and pride swell to dangerous heights, leading him to disrespect his revered Guru, Brihaspati. King Indra's arrogance led to a significant consequence—Brihaspati abandoned Indra.

The demons, sensing Indra's vulnerability, attacked the heavenly kingdom. The skies darkened, and a fierce battle erupted; the once-mighty King Indra was outmatched. The ultimate irony played out as King Indra was cast out from his divine abode. Now, in this blog, we will reveal how King Indra was able to reclaim his heavenly abode and lost glory.

Guru Vishvaroop

On the advice of Lord Brahma, King Indra summoned the courage to approach sage Vishvaroop, who had unparalleled wisdom and power. King Indra pleaded with Vishvaroop to become the Guru of the celestial beings.

Ascetic Vishvaroop faced an agonising decision - "Should I become the Guru of the devatas?" After deep contemplation, he accepted the request of King Indra to become the Guru of the celestial beings, out of profound respect for them.

The Tide Turns

Sage Vishvaroop bestowed upon Indra the sacred knowledge of the Narayan Kavach, a potent prayer that sang the glories of Lord Vishnu.

As the words of this powerful invocation echoed through the heavens, King Indra felt a surge of divine energy and descended into the battlefield where the asuras awaited.

King Indra, being protected by the Narayan Kavach, unleashed a fury like never before. With each verse of the prayer resonating in his heart, he became an unstoppable force, turning the tide of battle. In a breathtaking finale, the asuras fell one by one before him, their shadows vanishing into the ether. King Indra won the battle and reclaimed his heavenly abode, which rightfully belonged to him. 

A Seed of Conflict

Sage Vishvaroop, born to a noble devata father and a compassionate asura mother, inherited a unique perspective that set him apart. His mother, with her deep-rooted affection for the asura lineage, instilled in him a sense of empathy that transcended the ancient feud between the two realms.

Under the glow of the sacred fire, sage Vishvaroop performed his rituals with utmost reverence. Yet, intriguingly, each time he poured his oblations, he secretly set aside a share of the offerings for the asuras, honouring his mother’s heritage.

Whispers of his secret offerings reached the ears of King Indra. Consumed by fury, Indra stormed down from his celestial throne and confronted sage Vishvaroop.

In a moment of reckless wrath and without pondering the dire consequences, King Indra struck sage Vishvaroop down. 

A Grave Sin

The moment was cataclysmic. As sage Vishvaroop lay lifeless, a shroud of silence fell over the cosmos. King Indra had slain a Brahmin, a grave sin that could not go unpunished. Tormented by guilt and the weight of his actions, King Indra resolved to undertake a year-long penance, seeking redemption for the life he had so recklessly extinguished.

Vritasur arises

Sage Tvasht, the father of Vishvaroop, was furious with King Indra and wanted revenge for his son’s murder. He performed a yagya that would give him a son who would slay King Indra.

From the yagya fire, a terrible demon arose who was as large as a mountain and whose gigantic body enveloped the world. He was a figure shrouded in darkness, emanating an intensity that resembled a stormy sky at twilight. His hair, a striking copper red, matched the fiery glow of his eyes, radiant and fierce like the sun at its zenith. He wielded a trident in his hand, a symbol of his formidable power. The mere sight of him sent people fleeing in sheer terror, overwhelmed by the fear his presence invoked. His form, his voice, and his thunderous roar struck dread into the hearts of those who encountered him. This was Vritrasur.

The Might of Vritrasur

When the devatas attacked Vritrasur, they were defeated and called out to Lord Vishnu for protection. When the Lord appeared, he advised Indra to approach Sage Dadheechi and request him to give up his body, which had become extremely strong through the powers of austere penance.

When Sage Dadheechi found out about this request from the devatas, he willingly gave up his body. Vishvakarma fashioned the bones from Sage Dadheechi’s body to form the vajra, thunderbolt. Upon acquiring the thunderbolt, King Indra felt very strong and confident.

The Final Showdown

The devatas clashed fiercely with the mighty Vritrasur. King Indra, wielding the powerful vajra bestowed upon them by the grace of Lord Vishnu, unleashed his wrath. The battlefield raged with intense combat. After a fierce fight that pushed both sides to their limits, King Indra ultimately triumphed, striking down Vritrasur. The last breath escaped Vritrasur’s lips.  

With a radiant burst of light, Vritrasur’s soul exited from his body. It soared upwards, leaving behind the remnants of his earthly form, and in an awe-inspiring moment, it merged with the divine presence of Lord Vishnu.

To be continued.............

Summary

King Indra's arrogance led to his Guru abandoning him, which ultimately resulted in his defeat by the demons. Seeking to regain his position, King Indra acquired the powerful Narayan Kavach from the sage Vishvaroop and successfully battled his adversaries. However, King Indra later impulsively killed Vishvaroop, incurring a grave sin and the wrath of the sage's father. This led to the creation of the formidable demon Vritrasur, who initially overpowered the celestial beings. Ultimately, Indra, with the aid of a special weapon crafted from the bones of Sage Dadheechi, vanquished Vritrasur, restoring order.

Let's Reflect

How do you react to the abuse of power?