This is an article series. Please read all previous articles before reading this article. The URLs for all previous articles are located in the www.special thoughts section.
Last week’s article elaborated on Upaasana of Ganapati, one of the Devata-s in level 18. Let’s continue with other Devata-s in the same level.
Vishvaksena:
As mentioned the previous two articles, Ganapati is Abhimaani Devata for Aakaasha and Shabda. We’ve all heard that when Shree Vedavyaasa dictated the epic Mahaabhaarata, Ganapati wrote it down. By default, our imbecile minds can only imagine Shree Vedavyaasa speaking the words and Ganapati writing them down on some palm leafs, cloth or some other media. However, having learnt that Ganapati is the Abhimaani Devata for Aakaasha and the Tanmaatra (the sense) associated with Aakaasha is Shabda. So, it is to be understood that the Shabda dictated by Shree Vedavyaasa was preserved by Ganapati as the Akashic record.
There is another Devata who, along with Ganapati, is also the Abhimaani Devata for Aakaasha and Shabda and he is referred to by the name Vishvaksena. While Ganapati preserved Mahabhaarata, which is one of the itihaasa-s, as Akashic record… Vishvaksena preserved yet another itihaasa namely Paancharaatra. If you have ever observed any Pooja/Homa performed by a Purohit who follows a specific Vaishnava philosophy, you may’ve noticed that they always do Pooja to Vishvaksena in the beginning and not Ganapati. This is because this particular Vaishnava philosophy follows the Paancharaatra Aagama and also rejects any/all Devata-s in the Shiva-Parivaara. Therefore, Ganapati being son of Shiva & Paarvati, is not invoked and Vishvaksena is invoked instead. However, this is not advisable because the intent of any Pooja/Homa is to express our gratitude to the Devata-s and earn their Anugraha (grace). We can’t hope to earn the grace of any Devata by ignoring or disrespecting any single one of them. Each Devata has many million times more Bhakti (reverence) towards all Devata-s above them and many million times more Vaatsalya (affection) towards all Devata-s below them. Therefore, ignoring/offending/disrespecting any one Devata has the potential to earn the resentment of all Devata-s both below and above that particular Devata.
For example, a certain joint family has a grandfather who is very wise and therefore very well respected. If an outsider enters the home and disrespects the grandfather, then the entire family will throw their resentment on the offender even though the grandfather himself may not say anything. Similarly, if the outsider enters the home and torments a child belonging to the family, then even the grandfather will throw his wrath. It works the same way with Devata-s too. They are like a family. We’ve already learnt that Ganapati and Skanda are sons of Shiva and Paarvati. And Paarvati is directly the Guru of Indra. Shiva, Naarada, the 4 Sana-s, Sapta Rushi-s are all sons of Brahma… and so on. Offending any one may invoke the resentment of all of them. And therefore, it’s best to error on the positive side and be respectful to all the Devata-s.
Having learnt that Ganapati and Vishvaksena are Abhimaani Devata-s for Aakaasha and Shabda, now we proceed to the Indriya that helps us hear the Shabda (sound), which is Karna (Ear).
As we know, there are 8 directions. Each of these directions have an Abhimaani Devata. Collectively, they are referred to as Dik Abhimaani Devata-s or Dik Paalaka Devata-s or simply Dik Devata-s (Dik = direction). And again, collectively, these Dik Devata-s are the Abhimaani Devata-s for our ears as well.
Kubera:
Another Devata in level 18 is Kubera. He is the Abhimaani Devata for the North direction. One might ask “Why should there be a Devata for any direction?”. Let’s think through this. There are 2 ways to look at it.
Firstly, Dik Devata-s maintain the functionality of our ears and therefore, we are able to hear various sounds around us. Not only do we hear the sound, but we also know about its volume, echo, reverb, sustain, pitch, pitch-bend and much more about its tonal quality, and also evaluate and understand what it means. We also know which direction the sound originated from. Just imagine what would happen if we did not come to know the tonal quality or direction of origination of the sound? This should give us ample reasons to be grateful to the Dik-Devata-s.
For example, when we hear the plates being kept on the dinner table, we recognize the sound and realize it is time for dinner. That sound doesn’t alarm us. But when the same plate falls on the ground, it makes a different sound at a different volume which we recognize, feel alerted and realize that something went wrong. So, you either ask “Is everything Ok?” or rush to check what went wrong and if any help is needed. And we run in the direction the sound originated from. All these happen because the Dik Devata-s have Abhimaana over the ears and give all the aforesaid knowledge to us about the various sounds that we hear regularly. The Dig–Devata whose presence is in our ears gives us the awareness about the sound originating from our north, is Kubera.
Secondly, life on earth is filled with various dangers lurking at us from all the directions. The Devata-s who protect us from all dangers lurking from all the 8 directions are, once again, the Dik-Devata-s. Not just us individuals, but the place we live in i.e., our home, our town, the state, and the country is protected from all 8 directions by the Dik-Devata-s.
Anyone who has watched videos of wild life in the African Serengeti will know how carnivorous predatory animals are constantly on the lookout for prey. Therefore, the herbivorous animals are constantly on the lookout for predators. And among all the sensory organs, which sensory organ alerts them about danger first? It’s their ears which gives them clues about the predator that’s lurking and the direction from which the predator is likely to attack. If the ears stop functioning, then the most important alarm system of the animal is lost.
So, in a way, when the ears stop functioning, it may be an indication that the Dik Devata-s are, kind of, giving up on protecting us from all the 8 directions. This is usually not a good sign, especially if this happens at a relatively young age, since this means that we are now vulnerable to attack from all directions. Protection from Devata-s is not an on-demand package that we can order around. It’s a privilege (Punya) that must be earnt. All of us have come to this world with some privilege (Punya) that has been earnt in the past and therefore, the Devata-s will protect us out of their compassion until the privilege runs out. Once the initial privilege runs out, then we may receive some Punya donated from some elderly, some well-wishers and so on. But these are like like a coupon or gift hamper, or like the “phone a friend” or “Ask the audience” type of lifelines. They too will run out soon and usually unbeknownst to us. Therefore, we need to keep replenishing the privilege (Punya) as had been explained in an earlier article titled “A simple formula for life”.
Our protection from Dik–Devata-s running out need not necessarily give any indications, such as loss of hearing. I’m reminded of an incident that happened many years ago in this town I live in. There is an expressway where the speed limit is 55 miles per hour (about 90 KMH). Some areas around the expressway are fairly wooded areas with many tall trees. One evening, many years ago, someone was driving on the expressway. Unbeknownst to him, a certain other person was practicing target shooting in the wooded area right next to the expressway. Somehow, that person missed his target… but that stray bullet flew, without hitting any other branches, leaves, twigs or anything else… continued on its path to the expressway and hit this person driving on the highway at over 55 MPH (90 KMH) and the driver died instantly. What are the chances of such a freak incident which turned fatal to that driver? Such incidents should make us value the protection we have from Dik–Devata-s.
In general, Devata-s handle some functionalities inside our body (the microcosm) and also handle some corresponding functionalities outside our body (the macrocosm). Dik–Devata-s ensure the functioning of our ears in our body (microcosm), and protect us from dangers that may harm us from all directions in the macrocosm. And the one who gives us the knowledge of sounds coming to us from our respective north… and protecting us from anything dangerous being hurled at us from our respective north, is Kubera. This should help us understand why we need to be grateful to Kubera in particular and all Dik Devata-s in general.
Kubera is also the Abhimaani of wealth. Wealth is like a resource that is easily exchangeable i.e., useful in purchase or barter. Unlike animals, we need so many resources when we come to this world in human body. A resource that is exchangeable for a certain commodity we need has always been a social necessity. Imagine a situation where you need some commodity… and you have a lot of resources too… but you do not have any exchangeable resource that can be used to purchase or barter for the items you need. The one who manages availability of such exchangeable resources in all our lives is Kubera.
Today we hear of many countries in the world which have so many resources, such as oil or minerals… but yet, they are so poor. Their currency is literally worthless. Their economy is in a horrible state. They do not seem to have any easy way to exchange their available resources to their basic necessities. This is what has led to immense poverty in those countries. Poverty leads to people taking to immoral ways to make their ends meet. Philosophically, it seems like they lack Kubera’s Anugraha (grace).
The energy flows from the North to the South. Even the magnetic flux of the earth flows from North to the South. North is the location of Kubera (Abhimaani for wealth) and South is the direction of Yama (Abhimaani for Dharma). Thus, symbolically, wealth & resources must be used for Dharmic purposes. When that doesn’t happen, the resources and wealth flow will stop. This leads to surge of Adharma. In a very sharp coincidence to the time of writing this article… recently, in a very harsh turn of events, one such poor country was attacked by another much more powerful country which is located to this poor country’s North (direction of Kubera). The poor country’s President was captured, arrested, taken out of the country and… I’m sure you know the current turn of events. While I claim no expertise in geopolitics, observations pertaining to incidents such as the above should help us evaluate our understanding of Vedic Philosophy and recalibrate ourselves.
And… this past Friday (which is the day most Hindus do Pooja to Maataa Mahaalakshmi) and as these philosophical thoughts about Kubera, Abhimaani for wealth, are flowing through me, my annual review was scheduled at work and I was awarded the biggest raise in my entire professional career. Is this an evaluation of my humble offering about Kubera? I’ll let you evaluate that.
A common thing we all do regularly when we go to a temple or at the conclusion of any Pooja is something referred to as Pradakshinaa Namaskaara. One of the thoughts to be kept in mind while doing Pradakshinaa Namaskaara is that it is our opportunity to express our gratitude to the 8 Dik-Paalaka Devata-s for protecting us from countless dangers that could get hurled at us.
Ashvini Devata-s:
Among the Pancha Bhoota-s (the 5 primordial elements), Aakaasha is the subtlest. The Tanmaatra (sense) associated with it is Shabda (sound). The Indriya (sensory organ) which perceives Shabda is Karna (ears). And the Abhimaani Devata-s for ears are the 8 Dik Paalaka Devata-s. From the subtlest element, we now go to the grossest of the Pancha Bhoota-s i.e., Pruthvi. The Tanmaatra associated with Pruthvi is Gandha. The Indriya which perceives Gandha is Naasika (nose). And the Abhimaani Devata-s for the nose are the Ashvini Devata-s. They too are in level 18 and are twins. Symbolically, this seems to manifest in our body as 2 nostrils in almost all species.
Animals have a far superior sense of smell than us humans. They know a LOT just by smell. We all know about how canine units are maintained by military and police forces. Animals recognize the territories by the scent markings of other animals. It’s popularly known that sharks can smell a drop of blood in as much water as an Olympic sized pool. A mother animal can recognize its calf in a herd of tens of thousands of other animals in the African Serengeti. All these traits are attributable to the Ashvini Devata-s.
Let’s consider some simple observations. The smell of Ghee offered in Homa/Havan is Saatvik. The way it makes a devout and reverent person feel is different from how you feel smelling cologne, which is Raajasik and may even be arousing. And both of the above are different from smell of human excrete or the rotting carcass of an animal which is Taamasik. This is basic observation that all humans are familiar with. Similarly, with observation, we can know from personal experience about the Saatvik component in the atmosphere at any place. With some training and guidance, we can also learn what Shree Krishna has stated about the 3 types of foods in Bhagavad-Gita. The aroma of food prepared with Saatvik vegetables and ingredients is not the same as that of Raajasik and Taamasik ingredients. All these traits are through the grace of the Ashvini Devata-s.
Long time ago during a visit to Bharat, on my way back from Mysuru to my home town Bengaluru, I had observed how there were so many buildings in areas which were quite rural and appeared green not too long ago. Those areas appeared like concrete jungles now. But I had noticed that I could still sense Saatvik component in the atmosphere despite extensive construction. I mentioned about it to my Guru once and had asked him “How is it that the atmosphere still feels Saatvik despite emergence of concrete jungles?”. His response was “It is in the soil”. With that response, he confirmed to me that my observation was valid. The Saatvik nature of a particular place is actually in the earth and it is experienceable through our nose. And the Devata-s whose grace will help us know about it are the Ashvini Devata-s.
The individual names of the Ashvini Devata twins are Naasatya and Dasra. During the time of Mahaabhaarata, they took the Avataara as Nakula and Sahadeva, the twin sons of Paandu and Maadri. Ashvini Devata-s are also the divine doctors.
Next week, we’ll elaborate on the remainder of Devata Gana in the level 18. (Unedited copy. Reproduced as sent by the author.)
