Draft:Jalandhara

JALANDHARA

Jalandhara is a prominent figure in Hindu mythology. He is often regarded as a powerful demon (asura) who was born from the divine energy of Lord Shiva. His story is primarily found in ancient texts like the Skanda Purana, Shiva Purana, and other Puranic literature, narrating his rise to power, battles with the gods, and eventual downfall.

The name "Jalandhara" is derived from two Sanskrit words: "jala" (जल), meaning "water," and "dhara" (धार), meaning "holding" or "bearer." Therefore, the name "Jalandhara" can be interpreted to mean "he who holds water" or "the one who holds back water."

The name reflects the episode in the myth where Jalandhara, as a newborn, caused water (tears) to flow from Lord Brahma's eyes, further emphasizing his association with water.

Birth and Early Life

Jalandhara's origin is uniquely tied to Lord Shiva. According to Shiva Purana, the demon Jalandhara was born from the fiery energy emanating from Śiva’s third eye, which was cast into the ocean.

This energy became a strong newborn baby where the Sindhu River meets the ocean. The baby's cries were so loud they shook the whole universe, scaring the gods and sages. To find out what was causing this disturbance, Lord Brahma and the gods went down to the ocean and found the child. The ocean deity didn't know where the child had come from, so he asked Brahmā to perform the necessary rituals. The child grabbed Lord Brahma by the neck, which caused Lord Brahma some discomfort. Lord Brahma then named the child Jalandhara, "one who held water in the eyes."

Lord Brahma predicted that Jalandhara would grow into a powerful warrior who would be unbeatable in battle and strong enough to defeat Lord Vishnu. However, only Rudra (Shiva) could eventually defeat him. Jalandhara was destined to rule over the demons and gain great fame before returning to the ocean.

Lord Brahma made Jalandhara the king of the demons, and the ocean deity arranged for his marriage to Vrinda (also known as Tulasi), the daughter of Kalanemi, a powerful demon king closely associated with Ravana.

Supported by the demons who had been hiding, Jalandhara rose to power and prepared to challenge the gods. He ruled with the wisdom of great sages, and his birth and rise marked the start of a new era of conflict between the gods and demons.

Rise to Power

Jalandhara grew up to be a mighty warrior known for his strength, knowledge of scriptures, and invincibility in battle. He became the king of demons and married Vrinda (also known as Tulasi), the daughter of the demon king Kalanemi. Vrinda was a pious and devoted wife whose chastity played a significant role in Jalandhara's strength and invincibility.

Jalandhara, the son of the ocean and husband of Vrinda, learns from Shukra about the deceitful actions of the devas during the ocean's churning. These actions led to Rahu's beheading and the theft of the ocean's treasures. Angered by this, Jalandhara sends his messenger, Ghasmara, to Indra, demanding that the stolen items be returned. Indra refuses, so Jalandhara gathers his large asura army, including Shumbha and Nishumbha, to attack the gods.

A fierce battle follows, with both sides suffering heavy losses. Even though the sage Angiras revives the devas using divine herbs, Jalandhara, following Shukra's advice, removes the mountain Dronadri from the battlefield, stopping the Devas from bringing their fallen back to life. Overpowered by Jalandhara's strength, the gods, including Indra, flee in fear, abandoning their domains to the victorious Daityas, who take control of the celestial realms.

Conflict with the Gods

The gods, led by Indra, are terrified by the approaching demon king Jalandhara and flee to Vaikuntha, seeking refuge with Lord Vishnu. They praise Vishnu by recounting his incarnations and plead for help because Jalandhara has driven them from their celestial realms. Moved by their situation, Vishnu reassures the gods and prepares to battle Jalandhara. However, he promises Devi Lakshmi, his consort and Jalandhara’s sister, that he will not kill Jalandhara because of their family bond and Jalandhara's divine origin. Mounted on Garuda, Vishnu joins the gods in battle, leading to a fierce and terrifying conflict between the gods and the Daityas, with both sides using powerful weapons and forces.

The gods, overwhelmed by fear, initially flee the battlefield, but Vishnu, mounted on Garuda and armed with powerful weapons, engages Jalandhara in a brutal and intense fight. Despite using his divine weapons, Vishnu finds Jalandhara, an exceptionally strong opponent who withstands and counters every attack.

Impressed by Jalandhara's bravery and unbreakable spirit, Vishnu offers him a boon. Jalandhara, taking advantage of this, requests Vishnu to live with him and his sister in his city, which Vishnu reluctantly agrees to. As a result, Jalandhara, now with Vishnu by his side, gains control over the three worlds, ruling justly and ensuring the happiness and prosperity of all his subjects. Under his rule, the Daityas thrive, and the gods are subservient, leading to a period of peace and contentment in the universe.

Jalandhara's Desire for Parvati and Shiva's Wrath

In this story, the demon king Jalandhara becomes obsessed with Devi Parvati after hearing about her unmatched beauty from the sage Nārada. Convinced that Devi Pārvatī is a jewel worthy only of a king like himself, Jalandhara sends his messenger, Rahu, to deliver an arrogant demand to Lord Shiva. Jalandhara insists that Shiva should hand over Devi Parvati to him.

When Rahu delivers this bold message, it angers Lord Shiva deeply. From the center of Lord Shiva's forehead, a fierce being named Kirtimukha ("Face of Glory") emerges. This creature has a lion's face, blazing eyes, and wild hair, which terrifies Rahu. Afraid for his life, Rahu begs Shiva for mercy. Showing compassion, Shiva spares Rahu and commands the fierce being not to harm him.

Battle with Lord Shiva

After Rahu recounts his encounter with Lord Shiva, Jalandhara, filled with rage, orders his vast demon army, led by generals such as Kalanemi, Shumbha, and Nishumbha, to prepare for battle against the gods. Having sought refuge with Shiva on Mount Kailasa, the gods plead for protection, explaining that even Vishnu could not defeat Jalandhara due to his divine origins. Shiva reassures the gods and prepares his Gaṇas (attendants) for battle. A fierce conflict ensues on the slopes of Kailasa. The sage Bhrigu revives the fallen demons using the Sanjivani mantra. In response, Shiva unleashes the terrifying Kritya, who devours demons and captures Bhrigu, causing the demon army to falter. Despite this setback, the demon generals rally their forces and launch a renewed assault, but the Gaṇas, inspired by their leaders and Shiva's blessings, fight back fiercely, pushing the demons into a chaotic and intense battle.

Assuming a fierce form, Lord Shiva enters the battlefield to confront Jalandhara and his demon army. A fierce battle ensues, with Jalandhara and his demon generals attacking Lord Shiva and his Gaṇas. Despite their efforts, the demons are overwhelmed by Shiva's power. Realizing that he cannot defeat Lord Shiva through conventional means, Jalandhara resorts to powerful illusions, creating a captivating display that temporarily bewilders Lord Shiva.

Jalandhara tries to deceive Devi Parvati

During this moment of distraction, Jalandhara tries to deceive Goddess Parvati by appearing in the guise of Lord Shiva. However, Devi Parvati sees through the illusion, and Jalandhara's strength weakens when he encounters her true form. Parvati asked Lord Vishnu to break the purity of Vrinda (Tulsi), the wife of the demon king Jalandhara, as this was the only way to weaken Jalandhara and lead to his defeat. Parvati understood that Vrinda's unwavering devotion was the source of Jalandhara's strength and invincibility. To weaken Jalandhara and bring about his defeat, Devi Parvati requested Vishnu to create an illusion that would break Vrinda's devotion, thereby removing the divine protection that safeguarded Jalandhara.

Using his powers of illusion, Lord Vishnu assumed the form of Vrinda's husband, the demon king Jalandhara, and appeared before her. Believing she was with her true husband, Vrinda unknowingly broke her vow of chastity. This act dissolved the divine protection that had made Jalandhara invincible, ultimately leading to his defeat by Lord Shiva. When Vrinda realized this, she was filled with sorrow and anger. Vrinda then entered a fire and attained liberation, her soul merging with Lord Shiva.

Defeat and Death

After overcoming illusions, Lord Shiva confronts the demon king. Despite the demon king's efforts, Lord Shiva remains unaffected and eventually uses the Sudarshana discus made from the ocean to behead the demon king, ending the battle.

After Jalandhara's defeat, peace returns to the universe, and the gods resume their duties in the celestial realms. The natural order is restored, and everything flourishes once again. Sages and celestial beings praise Lord Shiva for his supreme power and protection, recognizing that righteousness and devotion were key to the victory over Jalandhara.

Legacy

The story of Jalandhara highlights the balance between power, righteousness, and devotion in Hindu mythology. Jalandhara's rise and fall demonstrate the dangers of pride and the consequences of misusing divine energy. Vrinda’s unwavering devotion symbolizes purity, protection, and the complexity of moral choices, as Vishnu must break her chastity to restore cosmic balance. Parvati's wisdom and Shiva's power ultimately ensure that righteousness prevails. This tale teaches that true strength lies in following dharma and that those who stray from it, no matter how powerful, are destined to face downfall.

References

1. Shiva Purana: Vyasa, "Shiva Purana" (Sanatkumara Samhita), Chapters 14-26. Available at: Wisdom Library
2. ChatGPT is used to translate the Sanskrit text and summarize the relevant chapters from the Shiva Purana.