Spirituality as understood by angels and demons

This is an interesting story from the Upanishads which illustrates the search for spirituality and what the angels and demons saw as spiritual.

Before proceeding, a brief introduction of the principal characters would be useful. Brahma is the Creator of the Universe and He created both Angels or Gods and demons. The angels were righteous and were ruled by Indra. The demons were wicked and were ruled by Vimochana. Both the groups wanted supremacy and had fought several wars with no clear winner. Once they heard a loud voice and that was Brahma and he said that He would tell the right person a secret, knowing which the person would be all powerful and happy forever. Now, both the demons and angels wanted to know this secret. They nominated their respective kings to go to Brahma and get the secret. Indra and Vimochana land as Brahma’s place and request for knowledge.

Brahma asks them to serve in his place for some years and after several years, calls them and tells them, “That which you see in the water is the most powerful thing and is immortal”. Both of them rush to the water and see themselves and conclude, “Wow, this body is the most powerful and immortal.” Both start on their journey glad that they know the secret. Vimochana goes to the demons, tells them that the body is supreme and they should do everything to make the body glow. All focus should be on the body. So the demons rejoice and start focusing on the body. They apply scents on their bodies, apply various colors and deck themselves with jewels, flowers and do everything to make their bodies look good. They take to drinking to make the body excited. So the focus of the demons is the body. Lest we forget, let’s look into ourselves and see what has been our focus!!!

On the other hand, Indra as he was traveling back thought about the body. He wondered how this body which ages and is prone to death and disease can be immortal. He shook his head and headed back to Brahma and said that he does not believe the body is immortal and requests the real immortal secret. Brahma tells him to again serve him for several years. Indra does that and at the end of it Brahma says, “What you see in your dream is immortal and all powerful.” Indra looks satisfied and starts back. As he travels back he thinks to himself. How can a dream be all powerful and immortal? A dream ends. So, how can it be immortal? Even in a dream, I experience fear, anger etc. So, the dream cannot be the secret. So he goes back and tells Brahma that he wants to know the real secret. Brahma again asks him to serve for several years and then says, “The thing that you experience in deep sleep is that which is all powerful and immortal.” Indra again mulls over this and thinks for himself. In deep sleep, there is nothing but ignorance of reality. So, how can this be immortal and all powerful? Again he goes back to Brahma. Brahma after several years now reveals the Truth, which all my readers already know. The real thing that is immortal and all powerful is the Brahman or Pure Truth or Absolute Self.

Since the Brahman is the only Reality and there is nothing else, there is no question of fear. When there is no one else, whom to fear? So, once I realize that I am Brahman, I am all powerful, knowledgeable and immortal. So Indra thought about it and was convinced. He went back and told it to the angels or gods, who imbibed this knowledge and became really immortal whereas the demons with their love for the body became weak and followed the body into disease and death.

As readers may be aware, 3 of my books on spirituality are available on Amazon.com.

I invite readers of my blog to try any of the books and give me feedback so that I can make changes in the next edition.


1. My Humble Understanding  Of Spirituality


My Humble Understanding Of Spirituality

2. Attain Infinite Bliss

Attain Infinite Bliss - A Spiritual Guide

3. The Spirit Of Spirituality

The Spirit Of Spirituality