Mahakala, Vibhishan, and the Seven Immortals

Q: “Guruji, I read that in the war with Banasura, Lord Krishna defeated Lord Shiva as well. Is that true?”

Guruji: “Actually Shiva-ji told Krishna to use jambhastra on Him so he that couldn’t help Banasura. And Lord Krishna didn’t kill Banasura, only defeated him and cut all of his 1000 arms but 4. It’s interesting what happened to Banasura. After the battle, Nandi suggested him to dance for Shiva. So in this amputated state he did Tandava for Shiva! After that Shiva-ji made him Mahakala. Mahakala is Banasura only. It might have been a test for him, to see if he could still perform in this condition. The description of the dance is wonderful! He danced his eyebrows, produced different sounds, and all this while fully covered in blood! You’ll find this story in Shiva Purana, Harivansha Purana, as well as Mahabharata.

“I have read about two Mahakalas: Banasura who even Shri Ved Vyas has referred to with great respect in Mahabharata, calling him Sriman Mahakala. One more Mahakala is a brahmin named Mante in Skanda Purana, who became Mahakala with his penance.

“Ved Vyas has also said that Sukracharya and Brahaspati (Jupiter) are one and the same.”

Guruji: “You know why Hanuman-ji contacted Vibhishan when he went to Lanka? Vibhishan was chanting ‘Rama Rama..’, so Hanuman-ji immediately knew that he would get his brothers killed (laughs). Obviously, if somebody’s chanting the name of their brother’s enemy then clearly they are looking to get their brother killed. He eventually became the king of Lanka, and took his sister-in-law, Mandodari, as his wife. That means his intentions were always bad. If he had not done so, and had not taken his elder brother’s wife whom he should have respected like his mother….

“Vibhishan is also immortal. Maybe Shiva-ji made him immortal to set an example that a brother should not be like this. He’s a antithesis of how a brother should be.

“All traits are represented by the seven immortals. A son should be like Ashwatthama, who left no stone unturned to avenge his father. A donor should be like King Bali, who gave away the three worlds! A man of knowledge should be like Vyas-ji who classified the vedas and created the puranas. A brother shouldn’t be like Vibhishan who got his own family killed and dared to take his mother-like sister-in-law as his wife. An uncle should be like Kripacharya, who had the secret of immortality and who supported his nephew and made him immortal as well. A devotee and a hero should be like Hanuman-ji, who went beyond possible to fulfill his duty. Kartum – what is possible, akartum – what is impossible to do, and anyatha kartum – if there’s anything beyond possible and impossible, he did all three. And a guru should be like Parashuram, who established discipline as well as an immortal tradition, with stalwarts like Drona, Ashwatthama, in his lineage.

“The next hierarchy of gods is going to be permanent. Hanuman-ji is the new Brahma. Wow we are entering actual Sat yuga. Also, Vibhishan is under Hanuman-ji’s control so all the rakshasas are under control. It might have been part of the deal with Vibhishan, ‘whatever you are doing at home with your sister-in-law, don’t create any disturbances in the creation’ (laughs).”

[20110108-2] Recorded: Dec 24, 2003