Why Lord Shiva Crushed Ignorance but Did Not Kill It

Within the sacred ideological consciousness of Sanatana Dharma and the vast literature of Vedic philosophy, the form of Lord Shiva as Nataraja and the narrative of his crushing the demon Apasmara is an extremely supernatural and awe inspiring science. The ultimate objective of all astrological configurations and high spiritual practices of the zodiac wheel is also to realize that supreme truth which is unalterable by controlling this very demon of ignorance. Have you ever noticed that when the internal insecurity or ignorance of a human being gets exposed before everyone, his anger increases with the most rapid velocity. This does not happen when someone insults you ordinarily but it occurs when someone silently challenges the false identity or false knowledge constructed by you. Thousands of years ago, a similar episode transpired within the highly mysterious environment of the Daruk forest. Blinded by the pride of their sharp intellect and austerities, some great sages became convinced that they no longer required divine wisdom or any type of spiritual development. Then this animate inanimate universe provided the answer to their massive ego in an extremely unexpected and supernatural form. Lord Vishnu manifested as the highly enchanting Mohini, while Lord Shiva appeared there as a dimembered beggar named Bhikshatana. Whatever took place in that forest altered the definition of human ego and ignorance forever.

To properly comprehend the deep philosophical secrets, astrological elements and the principles of karma hidden within this sacred episode, it is necessary to observe the core dimensions of this supernatural sequence of events of the Daruk forest. The table below presents a clear analysis of the primary spiritual elements of this grand pastime and their subtle internal impacts.

Core Components of the Grand Pastime	Subtle Spiritual Form	Astrological and Soul Connection
Beggar Bhikshatana Form	Complete void and supreme detachment	Harsh renunciation and material dissolution of Lord Shani
Enchanting Mohini Form	Illusion, attraction and mundane beauty	Worldly pleasure and expansion of delusion generated by Venus
Demon Apasmara	Ignorance, hallucination and spiritual darkness	Most intense illusory influence of Rahu and destruction of intellect
Sacred Foot of Nataraja	Consciousness keeping ignorance under control	Awakening of wisdom and path of liberation through Ketu
Sound of Damru and Fire	Cycle of creation and destruction of the universe	Intellectual velocity of Mercury and spiritual brilliance of Surya

When the Massive Knowledge of Sages Was Blinded by Their Own Ego

The sages residing in the Daruk forest were scholars of the Vedas, possessed sharp intellect and were endowed with great powers of austerity. however as the cycle of time moved forward, their sacred knowledge gradually transformed into an extremely subtle and deep ego. They became completely convinced that they already knew every truth of this universe and now they no longer required any devotion, humility or God himself. From this very point commenced their true spiritual downfall. When knowledge loses humility and openness, that knowledge assumes the direct form of ego. They became completely imprisoned within the narrow cage of their own intellectual superiority.

This ancient narrative functions like an extremely accurate mirror for modern society today because modern man also commits the very large blunder of mistake information for true wisdom. The moment the desire to learn ends within a human being, at that very moment his internal insecurity silently begins to hide behind his false confidence and pride.

Subtle Spiritual Reason for the Simultaneous Manifestation of Mohini and Bhikshatana

To shatter this deep hallucination and the veil of ignorance of the sages, the universe flowed two completely opposite and powerful energies simultaneously into the Daruk forest. Lord Vishnu assumed the form of direct Mohini, who was the direct symbol of extremely intense mundane attraction, beauty and physical desires. On the other hand, Lord Shiva manifested as a beggar named Bhikshatana, who possessed nothing to offer physically and who was the direct form of complete void and supreme detachment. Mohini represented every single object that this world desires to enjoy and acquire through its senses, while Bhikshatana was the conductor of that internal emptiness and peace which is entirely beyond the bondages of the world.

The sages present there became instantly enchanted upon witnessing the beauty of Mohini but they faced the greatest mental agony and unrest when they observed that their own wives were naturally drawn toward that supreme peace and silence of Bhikshatana. That supernatural moment unveiled a very large bitter truth before everyone that the internal peace of the soul is always far more magnetic and powerful than any material wealth, opulence or false intellectual pride.

When the Internal Insecurity of Sages Transformed Into Fierce Anger and Violence

Those sages of the Daruk forest were not angry at all when they themselves were forgetting their decorum by getting caught in the web of the mundane attraction of Mohini. Their fierce anger erupted only when they observed that their wives were choosing an authority that was completely outside their narrow control and jurisdiction. This is in fact the most dangerous and destructive nature of human insecurity. It remains hidden in some dark corner of the mind until some comparison or adverse circumstance awakens it. Observing their wives getting attracted toward that calm and grave energy of Bhikshatana, those sages began to burn completely in the fire of jealousy and malice.

Instead of looking within themselves and raising questions on their own ego, they took an extremely self destructive decision to attack the very source of that supreme peace. Their accumulated knowledge of years was completely suppressed and destroyed under their fierce anger and pride. This holy moment of history completely reflects modern life today because man even today becomes most violent and aggressive when his false identity, his significance or his intellectual superiority senses any kind of threat.

Every Tantric Attack of the Sages Became an Ornament of the Divine Power of Shiva

Becoming completely blinded by the emotions of anger and revenge, those sages resorted to severe sorcery, black magic and negative tantric rituals to annihilate Bhikshatana completely. From the altar of the yajna, they first manifested an extremely terrifying illusory tiger so that it could instantly slay the beggar. however Lord Shiva, remaining extremely calm, separated the skin of that tiger with a single ordinary nail of his finger and gladly wore it as his garment. Following this, they sent an extremely venomous and terrifying serpent but Shiva very affectionately made it a sacred ornament of his neck.

• Ultimately, those sages combined all their demoniac tendencies and ignorance to generate an extremely terrifying and gigantic demon whose name was Apasmara.
• This demon was the direct symbol of direct hallucination, ignorance and spiritual darkness.
• Even amidst all these terrifying attacks, direct Sadashiva remained completely fearless, firm and calm.
• Every single blow that was dealt with the purpose of destroying him became a beautiful and sacred ornament of his divine form.

This wonderful symbolism imparts the great education to the entire animate inanimate world that the soul which is completely awake spiritually is never influenced by external negativities but transforms them into its internal strength.

That Supernatural Moment When the Beggar Bhikshatana Manifested as Direct Nataraja

As the demon Apasmara manifested roaring on the battlefield, a deep and awe inspiring silence spread across the entire Daruk forest. At that very moment, that dismembered beggar Bhikshatana revealed his true cosmic form and he became established there as the direct cosmic dancer Nataraja. His tied matted hair opened completely into the skyways from which the entire universe is constructed, the streams of the holy river Ganga burst forth from his locks, constellations and stars began to twinkle all around and all directions became illuminated with his divine energy. Lord Shiva raised his right foot and placed it with extreme ease upon the back of that demon Apasmara.

The most subtle point worthy of attention here is that Shiva did not slay that demon, the symbol of ignorance but merely pressed him under his foot to bring him completely under his control. This is the deepest and true spiritual message of this supernatural saga. For the operation of this creation, the existence of ignorance is equally mandatory because this very ignorance keeps the curiosity to learn something new and humility alive within a human being. If ignorance is completely eliminated from the world, the spiritual development of man will stop. The danger commences when this ignorance rises above the awareness and wisdom of man to rule over his mind. That divine dance of Nataraja was in fact a direct demonstration of a supreme cosmic balance between creation, preservation, destruction, wisdom and spiritual awakening.

Practical Life Lesson Hidden Within This Divine Form of Nataraja for Modern Man

This Nataraja form of Lord Shiva is not merely a beautiful idol of some ancient mythological narrative but it is an extremely practical medium to solve the anomalies of our daily life. In this current era of Kali Yuga, the continuously appearing problems, failures, internal insecurity and unexpected changes in the life of man break him completely from within, making him a victim of anger or depression.

however this sacred dance of Nataraja teaches us that no matter how great a clamor or terrifying storm stands in life, man must never become static out of fear or anger. Conversely, he must continuously flow with this beautiful rhythm of life while keeping his internal ego and ignorance completely under his own control. If one hand of Nataraja holds the fire of destruction, the other hand holds the Damru drum of creation, while his raised right hand assures the entire world in the Abhaya mudra that do not fear. This message of his is extremely simple yet powerful that when man stops fighting the circumstances of life and begins to flow with the will of direct God, his internal transformation gets accomplished with extreme ease even amidst terrifying turmoil and clamor.

FAQ

Why did Lord Shiva not slay the demon Apasmara and only pressed him?
The demon Apasmara is the direct symbol of ignorance. According to the law of creation, the existence of ignorance is necessary because it keeps the desire to acquire knowledge and humility alive within man. therefore instead of killing him, Shiva only controlled him.

What significance is attributed to this episode of crushing Apasmara in the science of astrology?
According to astrology, Apasmara represents that most intense negative influence of Rahu which confuses the intellect of man. Adoring Nataraja completely pacifies all types of mental illusions and defects generated by Rahu and Ketu in a horoscope.

What is the primary psychological message of this narrative of the Daruk forest?
The primary psychological message of this narrative is that when the knowledge of man turns into ego, he becomes blind. When man resorts to anger to hide his internal insecurity, he prepares the path for his own downfall.

What inspiration does the Abhaya mudra of Nataraja provide to a human being?
The Abhaya mudra of Nataraja provides the inspiration that no matter how critical circumstances, sorrow or changes appear in life, if your mind is connected with the consciousness of God, you do not need to be frightened by any negative energy of the world.

What astrological connection exists between the Shami tree and this pastime of Shiva?
The Shami tree is considered a symbol of Lord Shani in astrology, who is the cleanser of rigid discipline and the cycle of actions. This pastime of Shiva also imparts the supreme education to remain calm by purifying our internal vices in the fire of austerity.