Lord Vishnu sends the Apsaras
Heeyamaanam balam cha Indram Samprekshya Kamalaapati:
Sasarja manasaa kaanchinMaayaam loka vimohineem
Taam uvaacha tato maayaam deva devo janaardana:
Tvam hi sarvaani bhootaani mohayantee nijoujasaa
Vicharasava yathaa kaamam tvaam na jeshyati kaschana
Tvam tu sheeghramito gatvaa Bhandam Daityanaayakam
Mohayitvaa Chirenaiva vishayaanupa Bhakshyasi
Observing all this, Lord Vishnu finds that Indra is getting weaker. He summons Maayaa (The Goddess of Ilusion) and asks her to enchant Bhandaasura. The Lord granted her the help of the Apsaras (the celestial damsels) , and blessed her with the boons of success and luxurious life.
Maya, along with Vishwachi and other apsaras, came to a beautiful place on the banks of the lake, Manasarovar. She built a beautiful palace beneath a champaka tree and started singing with sweet melodious voice. It was known that Bhandaasura used to come to this place for evening strolls with his wives. When he arrived there that day, he was drawn towards the melodious voice, and on finding its source, he found Maayaa, similar to a lightening. He grew lustful seeing the beauty of Maayaa and fell in to the pit of desire. Bhandaasura's ministers also fell for the apsaras. After repeated requests by Bhandaasura, Maya agreed to become his wife, and similarly the apsaraas agreed to marry the other demon-ministers.
Thus having obtained the beautiful Mohini and other divine damsels like Vishwachi, unobtainable even by Ashwamedha and other great sacrifices, Bhandaasura and his ministers were supremely satisfied.
Immersed in the gratification of their senses, they soon forgot the Vedas and the worship of Lord Mahaadeva.
They even humiliated their guru Shukraachaarya, who tried to correct them. As though a mere second, the demons spent eight hundred years in corporeal gratification. Since the demons were enchanted by
Maayaa, Indra and the other celestials were saved from their torture.
Bhandaasura's Meeting with his council of Ministers
Bhandaasura called for a meeting of his ministers and counsellors and said
“Devas are our enemies by birth. As long as Manmatha was alive, their lineage continued without any problems. They also enjoyed many pleasures. Now, because of our luck, we have taken birth from the ashes of Manmatha. The gods are trying to resurrect Manmatha.We should not allow that to happen. Before they try anything like that, we should kill the Devas. But, if we go in our present form, we cannot win. Let us therefore assume the form of air (Vayu) and enter their bodies. After having so entered their bodies, let us dry up their body fluids, especially the semen. If semen dries up, the strength of other tissues and organs will automatically diminish. Then they will automatically be annihilated. Let us torment the beings of all the three worlds by entering their bodies in the form of air and by drying up their body fluids”.
Without wasting much time, Bhandaasura and his army of a thousand Akshouhinis assumed the invisible form of air and entered the heaven. First of all, they entered the minds of the Devas and dried up their mental faculties. Subsequently they entered the face of the celestials and robbed them of their beauty and made them ugly. All the women and men in the heaven became impotent and sterile. Not only that, their love for one another was also lost. They lost enthusiasm to do anything. Even the plants and animals suffered the same fate.
Vishukra, along with his troupes entered Bhooloka (earth) and meted out the same treatment to the beings there. People on the planet earth lost all emotions. They lost all happiness. No one had any respect for another. No one thought of helping the other. They lost interest in their activities. The situation was stone-like, devoid of any life and feelings. Vishanga, along with his troupes entered Rasaatala (one of the seven nether worlds). He created similar havoc there also.
In the Naga Loka (land of serpents) everyone became afflicted with grief for no apparent reason. Everyone started hating everyone else. Everyone became drained of energy and potency. Rasa, the fluid principle is the basis for the accomplishment of the four-fold aims of life (Purushaarthas). Rasa itself is the form of Paramaatman, the Almighty. From Rasa are created Shukla (sperm) and Shonita (ovum). These two are
collectively called as Veerya (the procreative Tatva). From Veerya comes Kanti (radiance), Utsaaha (enthusiasm), Ullaasa (happiness), Dharma (righteousness), Dayaa (compassion), Preeti (love), Buddhi (intellectual capabilities), Vikaasa (development), Paraakrama (valor) Shaastra Vijnana (scientific knowledge), Kalaa Asakti (interest in arts), Soundarya Drishti (proper concept of beauty) etc. In plants, the Rasa enhances the fire energy, which is hidden in them. Only when the fire energy is harnessed, the plants can branch out and bear flowers and fruits. Because of this fire principle, the dried logs catch fire easily and burn.
The Vedas have declared that beings can experience happiness only if Rasa is present. Rasa is nothing but Prana (vital energy).
Having known all these secrets, Bhandaasura devised the plan of entering the bodies of all beings in the form of air and drying them up. Thus, the universe became Rasaheena (devoid of Rasa). Especially due to the absence of Shringara, creative cycle was almost brought to a standstill. This lead to an untimely Kama Pralaya.
Bhandaasura's failed effort
One day while Indra was seated on a magnificent throne, surrounded by all the celestials, Rishi Narada arrived there. Indra prostrated before that great Rishi, who shone like the sacrificial fire and said, “O revered saint! You are the knower of all Dharmas. You know the past and the present. Your arrival here today is indeed a blessing to me. Your arrival is an indication of the auspicious turn of events, about to occur in the near future. I would like to hear nectarine words from you and overcome all my grief”.
Then sage Narada said, “O Lord of the Devas! Now Bhandaasura is enchanted by Vishnu Maya. But if he
ever overcomes her effect, he shall burn the three worlds like a great sacrificial fire. By your valor, weapons and illusionary powers, it is not possible to win over him. This task cannot be accomplished even in crores of Kalpas, without worshipping Paraashakti. Therefore, before your enemy further progresses, take to the worship of Sridevi. Satisfied by your worship, she will ensure your welfare”.
Indra then paid suitable respects to the sage along with the other celestials. He then came to the base of mount Himalaya to perform penance. He reached a place on the banks of river Ganga, which was filled with trees that flowered in all seasons. Accompanied by all the Devas, he began the great worship of Paraashakti. From that day, that place came to be known as 'Indraprastha' and became famous as having the capacity to grant all desires. As per the instructions of sage Narada, the celestials continued to perform the great worship of Paraashakti, by means of Japa, meditation and severe penance. In this manner, ten thousand years passed as though it were just ten days.
Guru Shukracharya observed that the demons were all enchanted by Vishnu Maya. He went to Bhandaasura and said, “O great king! Having sought refuge in you, the demons are able to roam in all the three worlds as per their will, without any fear. However, Vishnu is always interested in killing you demons because of your race. It is he, who has created Maya to enchant you. Indra is trying to find a loophole to win over you. He is now busy performing a penance to please Paraashakti. If the divine Mother is pleased with his penance, he will surely be victorious. Hence, you get rid of this Maya immediately,go to the Himalayas along with your ministers and cause obstacles to the penance of the Devas”.
Thus alarmed by his guru, Bhandaasura immediately got up from his couch and narrated the entire matter to his ministers. Shrutavarma, a minister of Bhandaasura, analyzed the situation and said, “O brave king, Lord Parameshwara had granted you sixty thousand years of kingship. Now, much more than sixty thousand years have already passed. It is impossible to go against the period fixed by Parameshwara. It is best to enjoy both happiness and grief in their pre-designated periods”.
Later another minister named Bhimakarma said, “O Lord! Whether powerful or not, it is never wise to ignore the enemy. If you destroy the penance that is being performed by Indra and the other celestials, you will certainly emerge victorious. Any way, according to Sri Mahadeva's boon, half of the enemy's strength is yours. So you will always be victorious”.
Bhandaasura agreed with Bhimakarma and came to the foothill of Himalayas, along with his army. Sridevi observed the evil intention of Bhandaasura and created an illusionary fortress (wall) to prevent him from causing harm to the Devas. Bhandaasura, both surprised and angry at the sight of the powerful fortress, immediately used 'Daanavastra' (the weapon of the deomns) to destroy the fortress. Immediately, the fortress reappeared in the same place. Now Bhandaasura used 'Vayavyastra' (the weapon of Air) to destroy the barrier. However, every time he destroyed it, the great barrier reappeared and challenged him with its presence. Eventually, the helpless demon had to return to his capital.
Meanwhile the Devas, unable to find Sridevi and horrified at the sight of Bhandaasura's army, ran away in fright, forgetting their worship.
Bibliography: Advaita Brahmavidya Pratishthana, Bangalore: Copy of Lalitopakhyana
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