Rishi Kashyapa (कश्यप) and Aditi’s children are called the Aditya-s. They and the other demigods are the Deva-s (देव) who protect Dharma (righteousness). The synonym of Deva is Sura whose rivals are the Asura-s (असुर). Asura-s are the opponents of Dharma.
Dwapara yuga was going to end soon, and Kaliyuga (the dreaded age of quarrels) was approaching. When Kaliyuga would arrive, there would be a decline in human values and memory skills. That would make the Veda-s difficult to understand and pass on to the next generations. Pleased with Rishi Parashara’s tapasya, God Vishnu had agreed to become his son. Parashara’s son with Satyavati was Vyasa, that eminent sage who would organize the Vedic scriptures.
There were other forces of destiny at play. One of the 8 demigods Vasu-s (वसु) was Dyu. On his wife’s demand, Dyu stole the divine cow from Rishi Vasishtha’s ashrama with the help of his 7 brothers. Vasishtha found out and cursed Dyu to spend a long life on Earth and that too without the company of a life partner. He cursed the other 7 brothers to have a short lifespan on Earth. Dyu had reincarnated as Bheeshma, the son of Ganga.
Who were the Asura-s during Mahabharata?
Many Asura-s began to reincarnate on planet Earth as they were destined to dominate Earth during Kaliyuga.
Asura-s include:
- Daitya-s (दैत्य), the descendants of Rishi Kashyapa and his wife Diti
- Danava-s (दानव) from the union of Rishi Kashyapa and his wife Danu
- Rakshasa-s (राक्षस), the giant cannibals
The Daitya-s who were reborn on Earth included:
- Kalanemi became well-known in the world as the brutal Kansa of Mathura
- Hamsa came as Kuru dynasty’s Dhritarashtra
- Prahlada’s brother Samhlada was Madra’s mighty King Shalya
- Prahlada’s disciple was Gandhara’s King Subala. His son Shakuni was symbolic of Dwapara yuga
- Shibi’s rebirth was as Kimpurusha’s King Druma
The following Danava-s took rebirth on Earth:
- Viprachitti became Magadha’s King Jarasandha
- Swarbhanu was Mathura’s monarch Ugrasena
- Vrishaparva reincarnated on Earth as Ayodhya’s King Dirghapragnya
- Ajaka, younger brother of Vrishaparva came on Earth as King Shalwa
- Dirghajihva became famous as Kashi’s king
- Hayagreeva was reborn in the royal family of Videha
From the Krodhavasa clan of Rakshasa-s came:
- Ekalavya, leader of the Nishada-s (tribals)
- Rukmi of Vidarbha
- Ugratirtha of Kalinga
- Kings of Madraka, Suvira, Karusha, and Bahlika
The following Asura-s were reborn on Earth:
- Jarasandha’s father Brihadratha was Sukshma
- Vashkala was reborn as King Bhagadatta (भगदत्त, bhagadatta) of Pragjyotisha
- Suryasura became King Darada
- Krodhavardhana was King Dandadhara
- Kaleya Asura-s took rebirth as a Nishada king and Jarasandha’s son Jayatsena
- Balasura came as a Pandyan king
- 95 Asura-s including Ayahsira, Ashwasira, Aysanku, Gaganamurdhan, Vegavat, and others were born as the Kaikeya-s. These brothers would always fight on the side of adharma (unrighteousness)
Apart from these wicked Asura-s, 2 significant characters from the epic Ramayana followed. Rakshasa-s Ravana and Kumbhakarna were reborn on Earth as Chedi’s King Shishupala and Karusha’s King Dantavakra.
These many reincarnated Rakshasa-s, Daitya-s, Danava-s, and Asura-s still had demonic powers. As per their inherent nature, they committed atrocities on the people of all varna-s on Earth.
How did the Deva-s respond?
Bhoomidevi (Mother Earth) was tired of carrying the burden of these sinful monarchs. She complained to the demigods for a solution. They approached God Brahma who went into meditation. After a while, he informed the assembly that Paramatma (the Supreme Soul) would appear on planet Earth with his 1/6th potency to lessen her burden. Accordingly, Krishna would take birth on Earth from Devaki and Vasudeva. The noble couple were the reincarnations of Aditi and Rishi Kashyapa. God Brahma informed the demigods to also take birth on Earth for help. Thus, Deva-s would be reborn on Earth to take an integral part in the Mahabharata war. The centre of action was the kingdom of Hastinapura.
Due to Rishi Mandavya’s curse, Yamaraja was reborn on Earth as Vidura. The wise Vidura became the Prime Minister of Hastinapura.
Vidura’s elder brother Pandu married Princess Kunti, a reincarnation of Goddess Siddhi. He also married Princess Madri, a reincarnation of Goddess Dhriti.
Kunti was the mother of Karna (through Surya, the solar demigod), and Yudhishthira (through Yamaraja, the demigod of justice). She became pregnant with Bhima through Vayu (wind demigod).
Vidura’s eldest brother Dhritarashtra had married Princess Gandhari, a reincarnation of Goddess Mati. Gandhari had become pregnant but did not deliver even after 2 years of pregnancy. At that time, she heard that Kunti had already given birth to a splendorous son (Yudhishthira). The eldest son had the right to the throne. Out of frustration, Gandhari forced the foetus out which was a hard mass of cells. When she was about to throw the iron-like ball away, Rishi Vyasa came there and scolded her for not having faith in his words which were always truthful. He had earlier blessed Gandhari to become a mother of 100 sons.
The learned sage then sprinkled cold water over the cell form which started dividing into many parts. Gandhari had a desire for an amiable daughter. Vyasa read her thoughts, and divided the cells into 101 parts and kept them in 101 kumbha-s (earthen pots) filled with ghee. He asked them to be opened only after 2 years.
Later, on the same day as Bhima’s birthdate, Gandhari’s eldest son Duryodhana was born. Duryodhana was the reincarnation of the wicked Asura Kali (कलि) himself. Asura Kali is the obvious opposite of Goddess Kali (काली, pronounced as Kaalee). Asura Kali was destined to dominate in Kaliyuga.
There were many bad omens during Duryodhana’s birth. Vidura advised Dhritarashtra to abandon the child otherwise there would be a calamity in the family. But he refused out of paternal affection.
Within another month, Duryodhana’s 99 brothers and his sister Duhshala were born from their respective kumbha-s. All brothers of Duryodhana had descended from Kaikasi-Rakshasa-s. Kaikasi, Ravana’s mother, was a hybrid descendant of a Rakshasa and a Pishachini.
Kunti then birthed Arjuna through Indra (king of the Deva-s). Madri gave birth to Nakula and Sahadeva with the blessings of the Ashwini Kumara twins.
The other important characters
Kripacharya was a reincarnation of the Rudra demigods. Drona was the earthly part-incarnation of Rishi Brihaspati. Drona married Kripa’s sister Kripi, and begot Ashwatthama (अश्वत्थामा). He was born from an ansha (part) of God Shiva (शिव), Yamaraja (यमराज), Kaamadeva, and Krodha.
The Panchala’s King Drupada (द्रुपद) who was born from the Maruta-s (the storm demigods). Drupada had taken a vow to finish his fierce rival Drona. He performed a yagnya (fire ritual) with the help of accomplished priests Yaja and Upayaja. Dhrishtadyumna (धृष्टद्युम्न) emerged from the yagnya with armour and weapons. He was born from a part of Agni (the fire demigod). An akashvani (a celestial voice) predicted that he would kill Drona.
The noble King Virata (विराट), a reincarnation of the Maruta-s (the storm demigods), ruled Matsya.
Yadava noblemen like Saatyaki (सात्यकि) and Kritavarma (कृतवर्मा) were reborn from the Maruta-s (the storm demigods). These 2 royals were to play an integral role in the Mahabharata War.
Draupadi’s 5 sons with her 5 husbands were the reincarnations of the celestials Vishwadeva-s. In ancient times, the Vishwadeva-s had expressed concern over Rishi Vishwamitra’s stern tests of King Harishachandra. The angered sage cursed them to reincarnate on Earth.
The son of Subhadra and Arjuna was Abhimanyu who was a reincarnation of Varchas. Chandra (the moon demigod) was so attached to his son Varchas that he requested separation from his son only for a short time. He also wanted him to be held as one of the bravest warriors of all time. The gods agreed for him to live for a mere 16 eventful years on planet Earth. Hence, Abhimanyu was to live for a short while.
Thus, many celestials were reborn on Earth to rout the Asura-s and restore Dharma.
This article is an excerpt from the book ‘Mahabharata: A World War’ by Gaurang Damani. The book is available at Padhega India and other online stores.
This article first appeared on the Hindu Post website.