We’re amidst a very interesting explanation given by Sage Naarada to King Akampana as to how the entire concept of “Destruction” commenced in this world. This story is being narrated by Sage Vyaasa to Yudishtra, who is currently in the Kurukshetra battlefield at the end of Day Thirteen, mourning the untimely demise of the highly-talented Abhimanyu. We’ve witnessed how Abhimanyu was brutally thrashed and murdered in a very “Adharmic” way by the Kaurava camp and as a result, Yudishtra is deeply pained. He contemplates of giving up the battle midway and is even on the verge of committing suicide upon seeing what’s happening around him. At this crucial juncture, Sage Vyaasa makes his way into the battlefield to meet Yudishtra and render him a few words of advice. Thus, he explains how Bhagawan Brahma gets extremely angry on how the world is progressing and without any destruction, the world is going to grapple with a huge population explosion. In this situation, Agni Bhagawan comes out of Bhagawan Brahma in the form of a huge ball of fire to destroy the entire world. However, Bhagawan Shiva stops this at the right time because the entire world was at the verge of getting destroyed. Bhagawan Shiva intervenes and takes over the responsibility of “Selective destruction”, which means that the destruction happens in a cycle and not at once. Thus, every living being in the world starts to have a definitive lifespan and at the end of it, destruction becomes inevitable. This ensures that everyone gets an opportunity to live in this world for a considerable period of time and then encounter death to leave a way for the next generation to take over.
Thus, as Bhagawan Shiva proposes this idea, Bhagawan Brahma understands the point clearly. Bhagawan Brahma realizes that there is no point in destroying a beautiful creation completely and thus “takes back” his anger within him. Doing this, Bhagawan Brahma explains to Bhagawan Shiva thus, “Oh Bhagawan Shiva! I’ve acted as per your request. From now onwards, destruction becomes your responsibility. You may destroy whomever you want at an appropriate time. However, the fire of destruction that I’ve taken back, should take birth as someone who can assist you. Thus, I’m creating someone called “Mrithyu Devata” who will be in a feminine and will be called the “Goddess of Death”!”
Saying thus, Bhagawan Brahma manifests the “Agni Bhagawan” from within his body and creates a woman out of it. From now, she is referred to as the “Mrithyu Devata” and Bhagawan Brahma advises her thus, “Oh Mrithyu Devata! From now on, there is going to be a new concept called “Maranam” (Death) in this world. You are the one who will be responsible for this to happen. It is your prerogative from now onwards to time every living being’s life on the earth. Once the time of life for the living being is over, it is your responsibility to destroy him / her!” As Bhagawan Brahma instructs Mrithyu Devata this way, she starts crying profusely! She replies to Bhagawan Brahma thus, “Oh Bhagawan! I thought for a moment that I was created for something good and auspicious in this world. However, you’re giving me such a bad responsibility! How will I destroy the happiness of a living being? How do you even want me to do it? Isn’t this unfair to me?”
As Mrithyu Devata asks thus, she sheds tears profusely. As she does so, Bhagawan Brahma carefully collects all the drops of her tears and declares thus, “Oh Mrithyu Devata! Please do not worry. There will be no blame on you for this destruction. It is not your fault. Please understand one thing clearly – If only creation keeps happening without destruction, how will the world hold all the living beings at a time? Thus, creation and destruction should be a cyclic process, which is what we are trying to design here. Hence, please remember one thing clearly – You will not be directly responsible for anybody’s death – The tears of yours that I’m holding in my hand are going to manifest into two types of “Vyaadhis” (Diseases) – “Mano-Vyaadhi” (Mental illness / diseases) and “Deha-Vyaadhi” (Physical diseases). Living beings in this world, including humans, are going to face death from either or both of these two categories of diseases. They are going to die of diseases and not because of you! So you do not need to worry about this at all! Your only responsibility is to ensure that the living beings are injected with these diseases at an appropriate time!”
Saying thus, Bhagawan Brahma consoles Mrithyu Devata and with this, we can now understand why we are suffering from several types of diseases in this world today! In turn, we can also understand how several diseases are fatal in nature and how people and other living beings die due to them! So for today, let us understand up to this point and we shall continue this discussion forward in the next episode as well! Stay tuned! 🙂
The Indian Dharma 