Sukeshi

Many years ago, there was a king of the rakshasas (demons) named Vidyutkeshi. Vidutkeshi’s son was Sukeshi. Sukeshi had many good qualities and Shiva was so please with him that he granted Sukeshi a wonderful fortified city that could fly in the sky. As a result of possessing this city, no one could defeat Sukeshi and he became invincible.

Once Sukeshi went to a forest in the land of Magadha. The forest was full of hermitages populated by holy sages. Sukeshi paid his respects to the sages. He wanted some good advise from the sages.

The sages told him that one should always followed the path of dharma (righteousness). This meant performing yajnas, studying the Vedas and worshipping Vishnu. Of course, only so far as the gods were concerned. Dharma for the demons meant fighting and worshipping Shiva. The sages were supposed to be truthful and were to spend their time in meditation. As for humans, dharma meant that they should donate alms, perform religious ceremonies, avoid miserliness, express pity towards other living beings, be forgiving, practise non-violence, control the senses, and be respectful towards the gods.

The earth is divided into seven regions dvipas). Their names are Jambudvipa, Plakshadvipa, Shakadvipa and Pushkaradvipa. There are also seven oceans on earth and their names are Lavana, ikshu, Sura, Sarpi, Dadhi, Dugdha and Svaduda. (other Puranas mention Jala instead of Svauda.) The dictates of dharma differ from one dvipa to another.

There are several hells (naraka) in which sinners are made to fuffer. There are in fact, twenty-one such hell and their names are Rourava, Maharourava, Tamisra, Andhatamisra, Kalasutra, Taptakumbha, Kutashalmali, Karapatra, Shvabhojana, Sandamsha, Louhapinda, Karambhasikata, Kita-bhojana, Shonitapuyabhojana, Kshuragradhara, Nisita, Chakraka and Samshoshana.

Sukeshi asked the sages, “What are sins and when do sinners go the hell?”

The most important sins are criticising the gods, Vedas or brahmanas, being disrespectful towards the Puranas, hating one’s teacher (guru), and causing disturbance at yajnas. Other sinners are those who cause strife amongst friends, brothers and relatives. It is also a sin to cause unhappiness to other or to commit theft. Those who insult their parents or those who defraud others are also sinners, It is a sin to eat before the gods, guests and parents have been served. A sinner is one who touches one’s friend, wife, mother, elder brother, Father, sister or teacher with one’s feet. Those who destroy temples, wells or ponds are destined to suffer in hell. It is a sin to forsake one’s wife, sons, and servants in times of famine. You will surely go to hell if you kill a cow, or if you steal land.

Sukeshi asked, ”can you tell me a little more about Jambudvipa?”

Jambudvipa is divided in to nine regions (varsha). Llavaritavarsha is in the centre, Bhadrashvavarsha in the east, Hiranmayavarsha in the south-east, Bharatavarsha in the south Harivasha in the south-west Ketumalavarsha in the west, Champakavarsha in the north-west, Kuruvarsha in the north-east. Bharatvarsha itself is divided into nine regions whose names are Indradvipa, Kasheruna, Tamraparna, Gabhastimana, To the east of Bharatavarsha live the kiratas, to the west the yavanas, to the south the andhras, and to the north the turaskas.

The major mountain ranges of Bharatavarsha are Mahendra, Malaya, Sahya, Shuktimana, Riksha, Vindhya and Paripatra. The land is full of rivers

The dictates of dharma are laid down in the principles of varnashrama. There are four varnas (classes) and four ashramas (stages of life). The first ashrama is that of brahmacharya (celibate studenthood). One studies then in the house of one’s guru and serves the teacher well. Food of then to be obtained through begging. When the period of studying is over, the teacher has to be paid a fee (dakshina). It is the time to enter the second ashrama, that of garhasthya (householder stage). A householder has to make his living through occupations that ate prescribed for his class. His primary duties are to serve the gods and guests well. When sons and grandsons have been born and when the body shows signs of decay, it is time to enter the third ashrama of vanaprastha (forest-dwelling stage). Such a person spends his time in meditation, sleeps on the ground, keeps clothes. The final ashrama is that of sannyasa (hermithood).

The four varnas are brahmanas, kshatriyas, vaishyas and shudras. All four ashramas are not recommended for all four classes, Brahmanas should practice all four. Kshatriyas should avoid sannyasa and vaishyas should avoid both brahmacharya and sannyasa. Shudras should practice only garhasthya.

When Sukeshi returned to his kingdom, he instructed the rakshasas to practice dharma along the lines indicated by the sages. The demons were so energised through the practice of these righteous ways that their glory put the sun, the moon and the stars to shame, During the day, the city of the rekshasas shone like the sun and at night it shone like the moon. This was indeed a wonderous sight. People got confused between the city of the demons and the sun, or between the city and the moon. Night and day had no meaning, as the city blazed forth with light. Religious ceremonies started to be performed at night. Owls sauntered out during the day. There was a great deal of confusion.