The Devis and Demons

Durga slaying Mahisasura
Guler School, early 18th c.

Conclusion of the series, ‘Lila Pastimes with the Transcendental Demons’.

“The Mother Nature is, as She should naturally be, the most faithful mistress of Godhead and She becomes angry for the behavior of the Asura and thus assume the role of Daivamaya (generally known as the Mohakali, Durga, Bhadrakali etc.) and take at once Her grim trident and inflicts the weapon in the heart of the asura who is also Her son. The asura thus becomes subject to threefold miseries and this is done according to the plan of Godhead as the mother has to chastise the disobedient son in order to make him alright.

This process of chastisement is necessary for the benefit of both the asura and the daiva sons in order to stop disorder in the great plan of Godhead. As sons as the asura, however, surrenders unto Godhead as the obedient son and servitor of the plan of Godhead the asura is turned into a devata. The angry mode of Mother Nature at once subsides and she appears to such godly sons as the most affectionate Mother in the role of Yogamaya (commonly known as Laksmi, Sita and Radharani etc).”

Battles of the Visnu Avatars, Part 3

Hiranyakasipu

Lord Nrsimha Kills Hiranyakasipu

Lila pastimes with the transcendental demons.

“Hiranyakasipu wanted to receive a benediction from Lord Brahma so that in the future he would be able to conquer Lord Brahma’s abode. Similarly, another demon received a benediction from Lord Siva but later wanted to kill Lord Siva through that same benediction. Thus self-interested persons, by demoniac austerity, want to kill even their benedictors, whereas the Vaisnava wants to remain an ever-existing servant of the Lord and never to occupy the post of the Lord. Through sayujya-mukti, which is generally demanded by asuras, one merges into the existence of the Lord, but although one sometimes thus achieves the goal of the theory of monism, one falls down again to struggle in material existence.”

Srimad-Bhagavatam 7:3:1 Purport

Battles of the Visnu Avatars, Part 2

Kalki Avatara

Lila pastimes with the transcendental demons.

Kalki Avatar - Killer of Kali Yuga Demons

“Those who are demons, those who are sinful, nature’s law is to place him in such condition that he will become more and more a demon so that he will never be able to understand what is God. This is nature’s law. If you want to forget God, then God will put you in such a condition that you can never understand what is God. That is demonic life. That time is also coming. At the present moment, still a few men are interested, what is God. Arto artharti jijnasu jnani. But time is coming ahead when there will be no sense to understand God. That is the last stage of Kali-yuga, and at that time Kalki avatara, Kalki avatara will come. At that time there is no preaching of God consciousness, simply killing, simply killing. Kalki avatara with His sword will simply massacre. Then again Satya-yuga will come. Again golden age will come.”

Battles of the Visnu Avatars

Lord Nrsimhadeva slays Hiranyakasipu
Bhagavat Purana - Nurpur, Himachal Pradesh

Lila pastimes with the transcendental demons.

“The demigods, finding no other recourse, surrendered again to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Visnu, who then appeared and counteracted all the illusions presented by the jugglery of the demons. Heroes among the demons such as Kalanemi, Mali, Sumali and Malyavan fought the Supreme Personality of Godhead and were all killed by the Lord. The demigods were thus freed from all dangers.”

Srimad-Bhagavatam 8:10 Summary

“Let me therefore offer my respectful obeisances unto the incarnation of fish, who appeared in devastation, although Your Lordship is the cause of all causes. Let me offer my respectful obeisances unto the Hayagriva incarnation, who killed the two demons Madhu and Kaitabha; let me offer my respectful obeisances unto You, who appeared as the gigantic tortoise that held up the great mountain Mandara and who appeared as the boar that rescued the earth planet which had fallen into the water of the Garbhodaka. Let me offer my respectful obeisances unto Your Lordship, who appeared as Nrsimhadeva, who delivered all kinds of devotees from the fearful condition of atheistic atrocities.

Lord Indra’s Battles

Lord Indra Battling the Demons

Lila pastimes with the transcendental demons.

“Both the demigods and the demons are expert in activities involving the material energy, but the demigods are devotees of the Lord, whereas the demons are just the opposite. The demigods and demons churned the ocean of milk to get nectar from it, but the demons, not being devotees of the Lord, could derive no profit. After feeding nectar to the demigods, Lord Visnu returned to His abode on the back of Garuda, but the demons, being most aggrieved, again declared war against the demigods. Bali Maharaja, the son of Virocana, became the commander in chief of the demons.

Lord Shiva’s Pastimes with Demons

Lord Siva Creates the Demon Virabhadra
Bhaktivedanta Book Trust.

Lila pastimes with the transcendental demons.

Siva Creates the Demon Virabhadra

“Thus Lord Siva, being extremely angry, pressed his lips with his teeth and immediately snatched from his head a strand of hair which blazed like electricity or fire. He stood up at once, laughing like a madman, and dashed the hair to the ground.

A fearful black demon as high as the sky and as bright as three suns combined was thereby created, his teeth very fearful and the hairs on his head like burning fire. He had thousands of arms, equipped with various weapons, and he was garlanded with the heads of men.

When that gigantic demon asked with folded hands, “What shall I do, my lord?” Lord Siva, who is known as Bhutanatha, directly ordered, “Because you are born from my body, you are the chief of all my associates. Therefore, kill Daksa and his soldiers at the sacrifice.”

Lord Shiva’s Battles with Demons

Lord Siva Destroys Tripura with a Single Arrow

Lila pastimes with the transcendental demons.

Tripurasuras

There was an asura named Tara whose son was Taraka. Tarakasuara went to a place named Madhuvana and began to perform very difficult tapasya. He gazed at the sun and stood there with his arms raised. He stood on one leg and only on the toes of his feet. A hundred years passed. For those hundred years, Taraka drank only water and had no food to eat. For the next hundreds, he gave up water also and lived only on air. A hundred years were spent in performing tapasya inside water, another hundred years on earth and a hundred years more inside fire. For a hundred years he performed tapasya upside down, standing on his hands. And for yet another hundred years, he hung upside down from the branches of a tree.

The meditation was so difficult that Lord Brahma was pleased. He appeared before Tarakasura and said, I am pleased with your tapasya. What boon do you want? If you are pleased, replied Tarakasura, grant me two boons. The first boon should be that no one created by you should be as strong as me. The second boon should be that I should be killed only by Shiva’s son. Shiva at that point in time had no sons. Sati had died and although she had been reborn as Parvati, she had not yet married Shiva. Brahma granted Tarakasura the two boons.

Lord Ramacandra’s Pastimes with the Demons

Lord Rama and Ravana at War

Lila pastimes with the transcendental demons.

A Brief Summary of Lord Ramachandra’s Pastimes

The son of Raghu was Aja, the son of Aja was Dasaratha, and the son of Dasaratha was Lord Ramachandra, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. When the Lord descended into this world in His full quadruple expansion as Lord Ramachandra, Lakshmana, Bharata and Satrughna - great sages like Valmiki who were actually in knowledge of the Absolute Truth described His transcendental pastimes.

Balarama’s Pastimes with the Demons, Part 2

Lord Balarama and Rukmi Playing Chess

Lila pastimes with the transcendental demons.

Rukmi and the King of Kalinga

“The King of Kalinga was a friend of Rukmi’s and he gave him ill advice to play with Balarama and thus defeat Him in a bet. Amongst the ksatriya kings, betting and gambling in chess was not uncommon. If someone challenged a friend to play on the chessboard, the friend could not deny the challenge. Sri Balaramaji was not a very expert chess player, and this was known to the King of Kalinga. So Rukmi was advised to retaliate against the family members of Krsna by challenging Balarama to play chess. Although not a very expert chess player, Sri Balaramaji was very enthusiastic in sporting activities. He accepted the challenge of Rukmi and sat down to play. Betting was with gold coins, and Balarama first of all challenged with one hundred coins, then 1,000 coins, then 10,000 coins. Each time, Balarama lost, and Rukmi became victorious.”

Balarama’s Pastimes with the Demons

Krsna and Balarama Fighting Demons

Lila pastimes with the transcendental demons.

“So here Krsna Caitanya and Nityananda, Their identification is Lord Krsna and Balarama. Now, in the Krsna incarnation, these two brothers were engaged as cowherd boys and friends of the gopis, sons of mother Yasoda and Nanda Maharaja. That is actual life in Vrndavana. Krsna and Balarama, They are village cowherds boy. That is the early age history of Krsna-Balarama. And Their another business, when They went to Mathura They killed Kamsa and the wrestlers, and then again, when They went to Dvaraka, They had to fight with so many demons. But Their childhood life, up to sixteenth year, They were in Vrndavana, happy life, simply love. That is paritranaya sadhunam.

Sadhus, devotees, they are always anxious to see Krsna, Balarama and Their associates. They are always very much aggrieved on account of separation. To give them rejuvenation of life, Krsna-Balarama play Their childhood days in Vrndavana. And out of Vrndavana, beginning from Mathura up to Dvaraka and other places, the business was vinasaya ca duskrtam: killing. So They have got two businesses, one for pacifying the devotees, and the other is to kill the demons. Of course, Krsna and Balarama, They are Absolute Truth. There is no difference between killing and loving. They… Absolute. Those who were killed, you know, they were also delivered from this material bondage.” (Srila Prabhupada Lecture on Caitanya-caritamrta, 03-26-75, Mayapur)

Krsna’s Demon Pastimes in Dwaraka, Part 3

Krsna Fights the Seven Bulls

Lila pastimes with the transcendental demons.

The Seven Bulls

“The king of Kosala province was called Nagnajit. He was very pious and was a follower of the Vedic ritualistic ceremonies. His most beautiful daughter was named Satya. Sometimes Satya was called Nagnajiti, for she was the daughter of King Nagnajit. King Nagnajit wanted to give the hand of his daughter to any prince who could defeat seven very strong, stalwart bulls maintained by him. No one in the princely order could defeat the seven bulls, and therefore no one could claim the hand of Satya.

The seven bulls were very strong, and they could hardly bear even the smell of any prince. Many princes approached this kingdom and tried to subdue these bulls, but instead of controlling them, they themselves were defeated. This news was spread all over the country, and when Krsna heard that the girl Satya could be achieved only by defeating the seven bulls, He prepared Himself to go to the kingdom of Kosala. With many soldiers, He approached that part of the country, known as Ayodhya, making a regular state visit. When it was known to the King of Kosala that Krsna had come to ask the hand of his daughter, he became very pleased. With great respect and pomp, he welcomed Krsna to the kingdom.

Krsna Book, Chapter 58

“By subduing seven bulls whose noses were not pierced, the Lord achieved the hand of Princess Nagnijiti in the open competition to select her bridegroom. Although the Lord was victorious, His competitors asked the hand of the princess, and thus there was a fight. Well equipped with weapons, the Lord killed or wounded all of them, but He was not hurt Himself.”

Srimad-Bhagavatam 3:3:4

Krsna’s Demon Pastimes in Dwaraka, Part 2

Krishna kills King Salva

Lila pastimes with the transcendental demons.

King Salva

“Lord Krsna began to think that while He was arriving in Hastinapura with Balarama after the killing of Sisupala, Sisupala’s men must have attacked Dvaraka. On reaching Dvaraka, Lord Krsna saw that the whole city was greatly endangered. He placed Balaramaji in a strategic position for the protection of the city, and He Himself asked His charioteer Daruka to prepare to start. He said, “Daruka, please immediately take Me to where Salva is staying. You may know that this Salva is a very powerful, mysterious man. Don’t fear him in the least.” As soon as he got his orders from Lord Krsna, Daruka had Him seated on the chariot and drove very quickly toward Salva.

Krsna’s Demon Pastimes in Dwaraka

Krishna with His Sudarsana Cakra

Lila pastimes with the transcendental demons.

Dantavakra and Vidurath

“Narada Muni continued: O best of the Pandavas, your two cousins Sisupala and Dantavakra, the sons of your maternal aunt, were formerly associates of Lord Visnu, but because they were cursed by brahmanas, they fell from Vaikuntha to this material world.

Purport: Sisupala and Dantavakra were not ordinary demons, but were formerly personal associates of Lord Visnu. They apparently fell to this material world, but actually they came to assist the Supreme Personality of Godhead by nourishing His pastimes within this world.”

Srimad-Bhagavatam 7:1:33

Krsna’s Demon Pastimes in Mathura

Krsna Slays Kuvalayapida

Lila pastimes with the transcendental demons.

Kuvalayapida

“After taking Their baths and finishing all other morning duties, Krsna and Balarama could hear the beating of the kettledrums in the wrestling camp. They immediately prepared Themselves to proceed to the spot to see the fun. When Krsna and Balarama reached the gate of the wrestling camp, They saw a big elephant of the name Kuvalayapida being tended by a caretaker riding on its head. The caretaker was deliberately blocking Their entrance by keeping the elephant in front of the gateway. Krsna could understand the purpose of the caretaker, and He prepared Himself by tightening His dress before combating the elephant. He began to address the caretaker in a very grave voice, as resounding as a cloud: “You miscreant caretaker, give way and let Me pass through the gate. If you block My way, I shall send you and your elephant to the house of death personified.”

Krsna’s Pastimes with the Demon Kamsa

Kamsa Summons Demons, Greets a Mendicant, 17th c.

Lila pastimes with the transcendental demons.

“Kamsa was an enemy of Krsna’s. From the very beginning of Krsna’s birth, he planned in so many ways to kill Him, and because he was always unsuccessful, he was always thinking of Krsna. Thus while working, while eating and while sleeping, he was always Krsna conscious in every respect, but that Krsna consciousness was not favorable, and therefore in spite of his always thinking of Krsna twenty-four hours a day, he was considered a demon, and Krsna at last killed him.

Of course anyone who is killed by Krsna attains salvation immediately, but that is not the aim of the pure devotee. The pure devotee does not even want salvation. He does not want to be transferred even to the highest planet, Goloka Vrndavana. His only objective is to serve Krsna wherever he may be.

Bhagavad-Gita 11:55

“Kamsa was made aware of his previous birth by the grace of Narada. He learned that in his previous birth he was a demon of the name Kalanemi and that he was killed by Visnu. Having taken his birth in the Bhoja family, he decided to become the deadly enemy of the Yadu dynasty; Krsna was going to take birth in that family, and Kamsa was very much afraid that he would be killed by Krsna, just as he was killed in his last birth.

He first of all imprisoned his father Ugrasena because he was the chief king among the Yadu, Bhoja, and Andhaka dynasties, and he also occupied the kingdom of Surasena, Vasudeva’s father. He declared himself the king of all such places.

Krsna Book, Chapter 1

Krsna’s Later Pastimes with Demons

Krsna Battles Vyomasura

Lila pastimes with the transcendental demons.

We’ll now begin to explore Krsna’s pastimes with the demons after His departure from Vrindavan, beginning in Mathura where he killed Kamsa, Kuvalayapida, Pancajana and the Washerman, and where he mercifully did not kill Kalyavana. In Dwarka, the Lord killed the demons Narakasura, King Salva, King Sisupala, Viduratha and Dantavakra, the Paundraka and Kasi Kings, and the Sudaksina fire demon. He also killed or wounded the seven bulls, cut off the arms of Banasura, and killed the Mura demon.

Krsna’s Kaisora Pastimes with Demons

Krsna Battles Vyomasura

Lila pastimes with the transcendental demons.

“Later that morning Krsna went to play with His cowherd boyfriends on the top of the Govardhana Hill. They were imitating the play of thieves and police. Some of the boys became police constables, and some became thieves, and some took the role of lambs.

While they were thus enjoying their childhood pastimes, a demon known by the name of Vyomasura, “the demon who flies in the sky,” appeared on the scene. He was the son of another great demon named Maya. These demons can perform wonderful magic. Vyomasura took the part of a cowherd boy playing as a thief and stole many boys who were playing the parts of lambs. One after another he took away almost all the boys and put them in the caves of the mountain and sealed the mouths of the caves with stones. Krsna could understand the trick the demon was playing; therefore He caught hold of him exactly as a lion catches hold of a lamb.

Krsna’s Pauganda Pastimes with Demons, Pt. 2

Krsna Punishing the Kaliya Snake

Lila pastimes with the transcendental demons.

Kaliyadamana

“Within the river Yamuna there was a great lake, and in that lake the black serpent Kaliya used to live. Because of his poison, the whole area was so contaminated that it emanated a poisonous vapor twenty-four hours a day. If a bird happened to even pass over the spot, he would immediately fall down in the water and die.

Due to the poisonous effect of the Yamuna’s vapors, the trees and grass near the bank of the Yamuna had all dried up. Lord Krsna saw the effect of the great serpent’s poison: the whole river that ran before Vrndavana was now deadly.

Krsna, who advented Himself just to kill all undesirable elements in the world, immediately climbed up in a big kadamba tree on the bank of the Yamuna. The kadamba is a round yellow flower, generally seen only in the Vrndavana area. After climbing to the top of the tree, He tightened His belt cloth and, flapping His arms just like a wrestler, jumped in the midst of the poisonous lake. The kadamba tree from which Krsna had jumped was the only tree there which was not dead. Some commentators say that due to touching the lotus feet of Krsna, the tree became immediately alive. In some other Puranas it is stated that Garuda, the eternal carrier of Visnu, knew that Krsna would take this action in the future, so he put some nectar on this tree to preserve it. When Lord Krsna jumped into the water, the river overflooded its banks, as if something very large had fallen into it. This exhibition of Krsna’s strength is not at all uncommon, because He is the reservoir of all strength.

Krsna’s Pauganda Pastimes with Demons

Krsna Battles the Aghasura Demon

Lila pastimes with the transcendental demons.

“One day Krsna wanted to enjoy a picnic lunch within the forest, and therefore He went out early into the forest with the other cowherd boys, accompanied by their respective groups of calves. While they were enjoying their picnic, Aghasura, the younger brother of Putana and Bakasura, appeared there, desiring to kill Krsna and His companions. The demon, who had been sent by Kamsa, assumed the form of a python, expanding himself to a length of eight miles and the height of a mountain, his mouth seeming to extend from the surface of the earth to the heavenly planets. Having assumed this feature, Aghasura lay on the road. Krsna’s friends, the cowherd boys, thought that the demon’s form was one of the beautiful spots of Vrndavana. Thus they wanted to enter within the mouth of this gigantic python. The gigantic figure of the python became a subject for their sporting pleasure, and they began to laugh, confident that even if this figure were dangerous, Krsna was there to protect them. In this way, they proceeded toward the mouth of the gigantic figure.

Krsna’s Vrindavan Pastimes with Demons

Krsna Kills the Kesi Demon

Lila pastimes with the transcendental demons.

“Krsna’s age is considered in three periods: from His appearance day to the end of His fifth year is called kaumara, from the beginning of the sixth year up to the end of the tenth year is called pauganda, and from the eleventh to the end of the fifteenth year is called kaisora. After the beginning of the sixteenth year, Krsna is called a yauvana, or a youth, and this continues with no change.

As far as Krsna’s transcendental pastimes are concerned, they are mostly executed during the kaumara, pauganda and kaisora periods. His affectionate pastimes with His parents are executed during His kaumara age. His friendship with the cowherd boys is exhibited during the pauganda period. And His friendship with the gopis is exhibited during the age of kaisora. Krsna’s pastimes at Vrndavana are finished by the end of His fifteenth year, and then He is transferred to Mathura and Dvaraka, where all other pastimes are performed.”

Nectar of Devotion, Chapter 26