Hiranyaksha was a
very powerful Asura who had terrorized Devas and Manavas. He had pulled the
earth from its orbit and had hidden her at the bottom of cosmic ocean known as
Akashganga. While Hiranyaksha was dragging Bhoodevi to Ocean a child with
qualities of Asura, was born and was known as Bhauma (Son of Bhoodevi).
Vishnu who in form of
Varah Avtar rescued Bhoodevi, after killing Hiranyaksha, divined that Bhauma
will harm the mankind and wanted to kill the child but Bhoodevi requested Lord
Vishnu to spare and grant him great power & long life. She also promised
Vishnu that she will take care of his proper upbringing. So Vishnu gave boon to
Bhauma of long life and Power of indispensability and Cursed Bhoodevi that only
she can become cause of Bhauma’s death.
Bhauma grew up into a
very intelligent and pious young man under watchful eyes of Bhoodevi. Bhauma
ruled Kingdom of Pragjyotishapura. Another mighty Asura called Banraj or Bana
came in contact of Bhauma and both joined hands and decided to pledge a war
against Devas. Soon enough Bhauma was
strongly influenced by evil nature of Bana and started torturing, terrorising
and harassing his subjects and Devas earning him the name Narak.
Naraka raided the
three worlds plundering the wealth. During his war with Indra he took captive 16,108
gram devis and brought them to his kingdom. He even assaulted Goddess Mother
Aditi (Mother of Devas & Sister of Bhoodevi) and forcibly took her
earrings. He also took Indra’s Umbrella or Parasol.
Indra after this
humiliation approached Vishnu’s avtar, on earth, Krishna for help. Krishna
decided to take help of his wife Satyabhama, who was a skilled charioteer.
Satyabhama in her earlier life was Chandrasena wife of Mahiravan, she was
secretly in love with Ram, and had saved Ram’s life. Ram had given her a boon
that he will marry her in his next life, where Krishna marries Satyabhama.
A fierce battle
ensued between Krishna and Narak. Krishna used all the imaginable weapons but
could not defeat Narak. Narak finally threw a lance at Krishna which wounded
him. Seeing Krishna wounded Satyabhama flew in rage and threw the same lance at
Narak killing him instantly. For Satyabhama was, reincarnation of Bhoodevi,
destined to kill Narak.
Krishna killed the cruel
General of Naraka called Mura earning him the Title Murari. He also defeated
Banasur but on intervention Lord Shiva spared his life.
Krishna then freed
16,108 Gram Devis and in order to restore their dignity married them. This
16108 gram devis protect villages from 16108 misfortunes and diseases. In India
you will find every village having a temple dedicated to village goddess on the
border of village.
Indra’s Parasol and
Goddess Mothers earrings were retrieved and handed over to them. The kingdom of
Narak was then brought under his Son Bhagdatta’s rule on request of Satyabhama
who once again let her emotions rule over the logic. In Mahabharat war, Bhagdatta,
who fought on side of kauravas, was killed by Arjuna after he unleashed
deadliest of the missile if not for Lord Krishna this missile would have
destroyed the mankind.
What made Narak and
Bana to behave the way did? Bana was son of generous Asura king Bali. Both of
them thought their respective fathers were treated unfairly by Devas. They
considered themselves as victims rather than victimizers.
The Story of Narkasur
teaches us to be selective of the company we keep; bad influence can bring
about one’s downfall. Symbolically the story signifies that wellbeing of
society must prevail over our personal feelings and bonds. One should not
behave like Bhoodevi who secured boons for her son but did not prevent him from
practicing the evil.
Is Narakchaturdashi a
message for our current political leaders that rather than linage, worthiness
should be the criteria to lead a political party and to rule a Country?
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