The story of Daksha

Daksha, the ‘creator’

The story of Daksha as in Mahabharata is very brief. What is given below is the more popular version based on other epics.

Daksha was one of the sons of Brahma born during the initial time of creation, who was deputed by the creator of the world for the proliferation of life on earth (Prajapati). He, accordingly, procreated a large number of children in several wives. The first batch, of five thousand sons, was known by the name of Haryasva (haryaSva).

There is an interesting story on the Haryasvas. They, being obedient children, started searching for suitable places to settle down and set up families of their own. The fun loving sage, Narada, wanted to play mischief on them. He asked them to find out the length and breadth of the entire land before deciding on the best place to live in. It is said that the innocent Haryasvas took the sage’s words seriously and were soon lost wandering, searching for the end of the spherical earth.

Without being able to trace the whereabouts of his first batch of sons, Daksha produced another batch of one thousand and named them Sabalaasva (SabalaaSva). They were, in a similar fashion, lead astray by Narada.

A curse on Narada

It is said that Daksha soon learnt about the trick played by Narada on his children. He was infuriated by the frolics of the sage and cursed him. “May you also be on the move always! If you remain at a place for long, may your head burst up into pieces instantly !’ Sage Narada was pained when he realized that what was meant to be a practical joke had landed him up in serious trouble. If he could not remain at a place, how was he to meditate on his favourite god, Vishnu, and attain salvation? Vishnu, it is said, came to his rescue. Thenceforth, the merit of meditation, of those who chanted Mantras without counting (without concentration), would go to sage Narada! That was how Narada started accumulating merits and qualify for Moksha (salvation).

Sati, the daughter of Daksha

The main story of Daksha is built around his daughters. He produced several of them. The twenty seven ‘stars’ (constellations or Nakshatras named aswini, bharaNi, etc.) were said to be his daughters married to the moon.

One of his daughters born later was called Sati. She had made up her mind on Lord Siva from her early childhood days. But, Daksha was dead against the idea and tried to reason out with his ‘immature’ daughter.

Siva’s ways

Siva was reputed to be dressed with leopard skin and had serpents entwined all over his limbs. He had matted hair and used to smear his body with ashes. Dressed in such a fashion the Lord went from place to place begging for alms. How could he be a prospective son in law for Daksha who was like an emperor of the world? But, Sati was adamant. Other gods also stood by her saying that Siva, in spite of his appearances, was the Lord of the entire universe. Finally, Daksha gave in.

The quarrel

Soon after the marriage of his daughter Daksha wanted to pay her a visit. The time was noon and the Lord was having his afternoon siesta. Hence, it is said that the keepers of Siva’s abode (said to be mount Kailas in the Himalayas) did not want to disturb their master at the untimely hour. Daksha felt humiliated. He took it that Siva did that on purpose. From that day Daksha declared Siva to be his worst enemy.

The sacrificial ritual

Daksha wanted to perform a sacrificial ritual (yajna) soon after that. His main purpose was to settle score with his arch enemy who was none other than his son in law. He made elaborate arrangements for a pompous ceremony and invited all who counted for the function, but, not his son in law. Daksha also proclaimed that he would not allocate any portion of the offerings to Siva, though he was entitled to, along with other divinities of his status.

Sati came to know about the event and was in two minds. How could she miss such a grand affair in her father’s house where all her brothers and sisters would gather? But, she was not invited. Would it be right to go uninvited? Then, she thought, did she need an invitation to her own house? She decided to speak to her husband first.

Siva knew what was in the mind of his wife. He tried to discourage Sati with reasons. If she was dishonoured in front of other guests by Daksha, would she be able to tolerate that?

Sati was not able to counter the arguments of her husband. Yet, she was bent on attending the ceremony in her father’s house, with or without invitation.

The tragedy

Sati went, finally, without getting the consent of her husband. But, she hoped that everything would turn out for the better. After all, she was going to her father.

As expected, the palatial house of Dakhsa was decorated colourfully for the grand ritual. All the important personalities on earth and in heaven, except for Siva, were present there. Sati was in high excitement.

But, that was unfortunately, short lived. The moment Daksha spotted her, he started ridiculing her. Why did she come? Who had invited her? Daksha, then, started putting down Siva for all his queer ways and for sending his wife for a ceremony where the two were not invited.

Sati tried to pacify her father with her own reasoning. But, that only made Daksha even more furious. He started rebuking Siva for insulting him when he tried to pay him a visit last.

That was too much for Sati. She could have ignored insults on her. But, belittling her lord in front of the celebrities! Unable to take the insults any more, Sati jumped into the sacrificial fire when every one stood watching in utter disbelief.

The fury of Siva

Siva soon learnt about what happened. He was furious beyond measure. It is said that he created two ferocious deities, Veerabhadra and Bhadrakali, and ordered them to destroy all they found at the sacrificial venue of Daksha. They were warned not to harm sages and Brahmins.

Accordingly, the two went about their business in all earnestness creating panic at the sacrificial place of Daksha. He, himself, was killed in the process. The whole place was ransacked. That was how the sacrificial ritual of Daksha ended up in great tragedy.

Epilogue

It is said that Sati was reborn as Parvati, as the daughter of the mountain Himalaya. Her meditation on Siva and her eventual marriage with the Lord have inspired several works of art and literature. The most famous among them is the epic poem of Kalidasa, on the birth of Subrahmanya (Kumara or Skanda) to the divine pair, under that name, ‘Kumara sambhavam’. We have briefly mentioned this earlier elsewhere.

The Killing of Vritra

Vritra was a demon (Asura). The story about Indra, the king of god, killing him is very popular in the ancient Indian epics. It is so old that we can find mention of it even in the Vedas. The story is basically too simple to arouse any interest. Its importance is primarily because of its antiquity and the fact it is told again and again.

There are different versions of the story. In one version Vritra was the son of sage Kasyapa and in the other, of sage Twashta (twashTa). In all versions his mother was a demon.

There is reference to this story at least on three different occasions in Mahabharata. The first was in the chapter of ‘Pilgrimage (Teerthayatra Parvam)’ of the ‘Book of Forest Life (Vanaparvam)’. The second is in the chapter of ‘Army Deployment (Senodyoga Parvam)’ of the ‘Book of war preparations (Udyogaparvam)’. And finally, in the chapter of ‘Steps towards Salvation (Moksha dharma anuSasana parvam) of the Book of Peace (Saanti parvam)’

Vritra joins the demons

Vritra, though of mixed birth, had his affinity with demons, his mother being one of them. So, it is said that he went about fighting against the gods and destroying the sacrificial rituals in which offerings were made to them.

In the popular version, the demon meditated on Brahma and won a powerful boon. By that he could not be killed, during the day or at night, by any weapon made of metal.

A weapon made of bones

The gods under the leadership of Indra fought several battles against Vritra. The demon was so powerful and the boon he got so potent that he remained invincible. It was Brahma who suggested to Indra that a special weapon, Vajra (literally meaning a diamond or the thunderbolt), be made with human bones. He further said that a sage by name Dadheeci (dadheeci) was spending his days in deep meditation with the singular aim of attaining salvation. He would gladly give his bones for the purpose. (Not clear why the bones of a living person were required).

When Indra approached the sage he was only too happy to give up his life for a noble cause. That was how the powerful Vajra was made of the bones of sage Dadheeci.

The encounter

Vishnu gave the idea to Indra that the king of gods should attack the demon at dusk, to avoid both the day and night times. Indra did accordingly. The weapon made of bones, which was not metallic, and the time of the setting sun found the loop holes in the boon the demon had obtained. Indra dispatched the powerful Vajra against Vritra and brought his head down for the relief of all gods.

The sin that inflicted Indra

It is said that by killing Vritra who was the son of a Brahmin Indra was vulnerable to the sin called Brahmahatya. Indra got so frightened that he hid himself inside the stalk of the lotus flower on which Brahma usually sat. Nothing would make him to come out of his place of hiding. The whole world suffered as a result, he being the king of gods. So, Brahma pleaded with four elements found in the nature, like fire and water, to equally share the sin and thereby rid Indra of the malady. The elements of nature agreed to accept the sin on condition that those who pollute nature get a share of it. For example, one who pollutes water gets a small share. Brahma, thus, could rid Indra of the sin of killing Vritra.

The three interpretations

Many of the stories found in the epics and Vedas are interpreted at three different levels: the physical or the worldly level (aadhibhautikam), the heavenly or the divine level (aadhi daivikam) and the spiritual or the intellectual level (aadhyaatmikam). This is possible, because the root of the words Indra and Vritra permits different interpretations.

At the physical level Vritra is the cloud and Indra the rainmaker. The Vajra, the weapon of Indra, was the lightning or the thunder. The rainbow is called the bow of Indra (Indradhanus). The killing of Vritra is simply the rain bursting out of the cloud.

At the divine level the god, Indra, kills the demon called Vritra as the story is normally told.

At the spiritual level, Vritra means darkness, caused by ignorance. Indra is enlightenment. Enlightenment removes the cover of ignorance that engulfs human mind. There is one school of thought that upholds this interpretation of the story in the context of the Vedas.