"Indra, King of Svarga!"
"You have forgotten your duties as the King of Svarga! I curse you and the entire Devloka!"
"Wealth, honor, luxury, divine power—everything you take pride in will be stripped away. You will also lose your reign over the three realms!"
The shocking roar reverberated through Svarga.
Boom! Dark clouds rolled in, and thunder rumbled ominously, like a massive serpent thrashing in a flood, foreshadowing the terror of the curse.
Indra jolted awake, rubbing the sleep from his eyes, his face etched with fatigue," I had that nightmare again!"
He surveyed the dim, deserted Svarga. The temple stood in ruins, its once-golden pillars now dull and rotting. The bright golden lanterns had turned into tarnished copper lamps. Even the glorious divine armor that adorned his body had rusted into tattered scrap metal.
All this was a result of Sage Durvasa's curse!
"Why am I so unfortunate?" he lamented. "I traveled through time in Indian mythology, and despite everything, I ended up as Indra, the King of Svarga."
"Indra... the unluckiest Deva!"
Indra rested his chin in one hand, sitting on a throne now reduced to a straw blanket, overwhelmed by melancholy.
In Indian mythology, Brahma is the creator of the universe, Vishnu is the preserver of Dharma in the world, and Shiva is the destroyer of the universe at the end of time. Together, they represent a cycle of reincarnation, eternal time, and Dharma, forming the Trimurti.
Indra and the other devas are descendants of Kashyapa, a son born from Brahma's mind and one of the Saptarishis.
The current depletion of Svarga is due to Sage Durvasa, an incarnation of Shiva, the God of Destruction. He is a great sage who possesses immense asceticism and spiritual power. The incident began when Shiva gifted the sage a garland of flowers, symbolizing good fortune.
Shiva instructed Durvasa that he could bestow the garland upon the most heroic god. Believing that Indra, the king of the Devas, deserved this honor, Durvasa traveled to Svarga, ready to present the garland to him.
However, upon arriving, Sage Durvasa found Svarga immersed in music and celebrations, with all the Devas indulging in their joy while relaxed on their Divine duties. This sight immediately ignited Durvasa's anger.
Furious, he sought out Indra.
When Indra saw Sage Durvasa approaching, he ordered his mount, the majestic white elephant Airavata, to catch the garland. Unfortunately, Airavata missed the catch, and the garland fell to the ground. In a further mishap, the elephant's foot slipped, and he accidentally stepped on the garland, crushing it beneath his massive weight.
This disrespectful treatment of the divine offering enraged Sage Durvasa even more. His eyes flashed with fury as he glared at Indra, who could feel the weight of the sage's anger bearing down upon him.
"How dare you treat my gift with such contempt!" Durvasa thundered, his voice echoing like a storm. "You will regret this insolence!"
Before Indra could respond, the sage raised his hand and pronounced a powerful curse: "You shall lose your divine power and the respect of the other Devas! Your throne will be threatened, and your reign will be challenged by those who once bowed before you!"
Indra's heart sank at the sage's words. He realized that this was not merely a slight; it was a dire warning that could change the course of his rule over Svarga. As Durvasa stormed away, Indra could only watch helplessly, knowing that the curse would soon take effect and bring chaos to the heavens.
As a result of this curse, the Devas became weak and vulnerable, leading to their eventual struggles against Asurasas. Indra's divine power gradually diminished.
"The curse of Sage Durvasa is too powerful; the strength of all the Devas has been greatly reduced," he lamented. "I fear the asuras will attack Svarga soon! We must find a way to defend ourselves!"
Indra frowned in deep thought. Finally, he raised himself, stood up from the throne that had turned to stone, and slowly walked out of the palace.
Barroo—
A low, mournful cry echoed through the air. Airavata, the three-headed, six-tusked white elephant, stepped forward. He knew, lowered his head, and extended his trunk to Indra's feet, inviting him to climb onto his back.
"My poor little elephant! I forgot that you too were cursed by Sage Durvasa and can no longer fly. Later, I will take you to the human world, and I will ride you again!" Indra said, patting Airavata's trunk with a sigh.
He lamented having a mount that couldn't fly, fearing he might fall from Svarga! Airavata shook his trunk, his eyes glistening with tears, and nodded in agreement.
Indra then gazed far into the distance, across the endless expanse of Svarga, and set off toward the abode of the Sun. He had decided to seek out Surya, the sun god—his brother!
When Brahma created the world, he first gave birth to the four Kumaras, the Saptarishi (Seven Sages), Swayambhuva Manu, and Shatarupa from his mind. The daughter of Swayambhuva Manu and Shatarupa married Prajapati Daksha and bore him fifty daughters.
Daksha's eldest daughter, Sati, his second daughter, Aditi, and his third daughter, Diti, were all married to the same man—Kashyapa Sage, one of the seven great sages. Aditi gave birth to the Devas, also known as Adityas, while Diti gave birth to many Asuras and demons, referred to as the Daityas.
Indra and Surya were the sons of Kashyapa and Aditi. Indra's divine power had greatly diminished. Fortunately, all the Devas were in Svarga. He managed to reach the Sun Temple before his strength was entirely depleted.
The Sun Temple's brilliance once shone the brightest in Svarga, with gates that sparkled like jewels; now, however, it lay in darkness, resembling a house made of stone.
Many Gandharvas, who served as attendant Devas, sat under the eaves of the palace like beggars. Their once resplendent garments, woven with threads of gold and adorned with jewels, had become tattered and faded, reflecting their dire state. The vibrant colors that once symbolized their divine essence were now dulled, and their attire hung loosely on their frames, a stark contrast to their previous glory.
As the curse tightened its grip on Svarga, the Gandharvas lost their ability to play divine music. The ethereal melodies that once filled the heavens with joy and harmony were silenced, leaving a haunting emptiness in their wake. Without their music, the atmosphere grew heavy, and the celestial celebrations turned somber.
Indra took a glance around before stepping into the Sun Temple.
"Indra, you are here!"
Indra looked up to see a figure as dark as coal seated on a stone throne. He was tall, with a face as shadowy as the depths of a charred pot. His features were barely discernible, and he no longer bore the handsome visage of his former self.
It was Surya, the Sun God! This was a sign of a solar eclipse.
Whenever a significant change occurs in the universe, the glorious form of Surya, the Sun God, darkens and transforms into a small sunspot. Indra was not surprised by this; however...
He frowned slightly as he gazed at Surya, who sat motionless.
"Even though I am no longer the King of Svarga, I am still your brother. Why do you remain silent and refuse to speak?" Indra asked.
Surya was silent for a moment before replying, "I can't walk or even stand up."
Indra was momentarily speechless. It seemed absurd; this being, who illuminated the world every day, rode his sun chariot and flew through Svarga, claimed he could not walk. That simply couldn't be true.
"I'm still bound to drive the sun chariot. It's exhausting! What do you want from me?!" Surya complained.
Indra's expression grew serious. "The Devas have been cursed, and their powers have been greatly diminished. They are weak. The Asuras may soon attack Svarga!"
Both the Asuras and the Devas were descendants of Kashyapa. However, the Asuras dwelled in desolate lands, Patal, and had always resented the Devas for living in the prosperous Svarga. Now that the Devas were weakened, the Asuras would undoubtedly seize the opportunity to launch an invasion.
Surya's expression shifted, and panic swept across his dark face. "What should we do?" he exclaimed. "We don't even have the strength to raise our weapons! If the Asuras attack us, our entire army could be wiped out!"
Indra raised an eyebrow, contemplating their dire situation. He had little desire to resume the role of King of Svarga. Above all, he didn't want to become a prisoner. The thought of being slaughtered by the Asuras was unbearable!
The famous churning of the Cosmic Ocean (Samudra Manthan) in Indian Puranas had not yet begun, and the nectar of immortality, Amrita, had not yet fallen into the hands of the Devas. Those who had not tasted the Amrita would not achieve immortality. Dying now would truly mean death!
"I have a solution!" Indra declared, a flicker of determination crossing his face. He raised his hand and pointed at Surya, deep in thought. "Let us perform penance! We can train rigorously together!"
Surya nodded in agreement. "Hard penance could be the answer!"
In this world, suffering was abundant. If the Devas and Asuras endured more than their share of hardship, they would earn great merits, awakening powerful forces of penance. Such power could shake the very foundations of the world and lead to profound change even in the destiny of the world.
The Devas must bless the ascetics and grant them immense power to temper the force of asceticism and maintain the balance of the world. This type of boon stems from the fundamental laws of existence and can surpass even the power of the blessing of the one who is granting the boon itself.
At that moment, Indra raised his hand and pointed toward the Brahma world. "From now on, I, Indra, will perform penance in honor of Brahma, The Creator. I will refrain from drinking alcohol, sitting on a throne, wearing ornate divine robes, living in opulent temples, squandering wealth, being ostentatious, or riding a mount!"
"If I do not covet status, I will willingly relinquish the position of King of Svarga to anyone who asks for it," Indra declared solemnly.
Surya suddenly stood up, his eyes wide with shock. "You're serious?! This is the position of King of Svarga, and you're willing to undergo such rigorous training? Have you forgotten once spoken words can never be taken back!"
Indra couldn't help but feel a sense of joy. King of Svarga! Not even the bravest man will dare to claim that title! Because anybody in the universe who wants to prove that he is strongest comes to Svarga to claim his head.
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