Devas versus Asuras: Retelling of Upanishads

Brihadaranyaka means "huge wilderness", and was taught in the woods. The Brihadaranyaka Upanishad is widely recognized for its philosophical statements and is ascribed to Yajnavalkya. It looks at reality as being ineffable and its nature to be infinite. It is a very lengthy work with various parts. This series covers a few important themes.

Asuras and Devas in constant struggle. Image Source: Wikimedia Commons

The Devas and the Asuras were the two factions of god's world. The Devas were less in number, but the Asuras outnumbered them. They competed with one another for control of these realms. The Devas decided, “Now let us surpass the Asuras through chanting Om.”

Thus, they decided to visit the senses.

They started with speech.

“Chant om for us,” they said to the organ of speech. The organ of speech responded, 'All right,' and sang Om for them. As they sang, the Devas relished the enjoyment that flows from speech. The Devas were very overjoyed that the chanting was being recited by the speech, and that they were going to have more energy, and shall overcome the Asuras. The Asuras realized that the Devas would surpass them by this. They charged it with malice and struck it down. The evil of speech was speaking of improper things.

They next proceeded to the nose.

"Chant om for us," they asked. "All right," answered the nose and began to chant on their behalf. The Devas relished the sensation of inhaling fragrant aromas. The Asuras were well aware that the Devas would easily overtake them as a result of this maneuver and swarmed it with evil. That evil is what we come across when one smells improper things.

They went to the eye.

"Chant om for us," they whispered to the eye. “All right,” answered the eye, and they chanted for them as well. The Devas had their eyes on the pleasure that comes through the eyes. The Asuras knew that through this the Devas would surpass them. They charged it and struck it with evil. That evil is what we come across when we see improper things.

They went to the ear.

Then they said to the ear, “Chant om for us.” “All right,” said the ear and chanted for them. The good that comes of the ear, is secured for the Devas by chanting. The Asuras knew that through this chanter the Devas would surpass them. They charged it and struck it with evil. That evil is what we come across when we hear improper things.

They went to the mind.

Then they said to the mind, “Chant om for us.” “All right,” said the mind and chanted for them. The good that comes of the mind, was secured for the Devas. The Asuras knew that through this the Devas would surpass them. They charged it and struck it with evil. That evil is what we come across when one thinks improper things. And through this, the Asuras touched other deities and struck them with evil, too.

The Devas had no way of escape. "Everywhere the Asuras are attacking us, from all sides. We cannot even chant the Mantra; they are spoiling everything."

Finally, they said to this vital force in the mouth, “Please, chant om for us.” “All right,” said the vital force and chanted for them. The Asura's knew that through this chant the Devas would surpass them. They charged it and wanted to strike it with evil. But as a clod of earth, striking against a rock, is shattered, so were they shattered, flung in all directions, and perished. The Devas became victorious, and the Asuras were crushed. But the other senses had been badly inflicted by the attack of the Asuras.

The vital force introduced himself as Ayasya, for it is the essence of the members of the body. He who knows this vital force becomes his true self, and the envious asuras are crushed. He is also called Dur, because death is far from it. Death is far from one who knows this. Dur took away the evil inflicted by the asuras upon the Devas, and carried it to where the world ended and left it there. Therefore, one should not approach a person of that region, nor go to that region beyond the border, lest one imbibe that evil, death. This deity after taking away death, the evil of these Devas, next carried them beyond death.

Next, it helped the organs and took them beyond death. It carried the organ of speech, first. When the organ of speech got rid of death, it became fire. That fire, having transcended death, shines beyond death’s reach. Then it carried the nose. When it got rid of death, it became air. That air, having transcended death, blows beyond its reach. Then it carried the eye. When the eye got rid of death, it became the sun. That sun, having transcended death, shines beyond its reach. Then it carried the ear. When the ear got rid of death, it became the world and having transcended death, remained beyond its reach. Then it carried the mind. When the mind got rid of death, it became the moon. That moon, having transcended death, shines beyond its reach. So does this deity carry one who knows this beyond death, where they become beyond the reach of Asuras.

The Devas and Asuras, the gods and devils, respectively, represent the integrating and disintegrating forces. According to folklore, the gods and demons are always engaged in a struggle. The narrative isn't only a depiction of the vital force's supernatural abilities. It is a declaration of the inherent capabilities of everything that we possess. Our subtle body contains several principles, including the life force, which is the most potent principle; if appropriately located.