1 00:00:06,880 --> 00:00:13,120 Stories from Upanishads and Purans retold by Urghiya Goswami 2 00:00:38,290 --> 00:00:42,130 Dear friends and listeners, In today's episode, I will continue 3 00:00:42,130 --> 00:00:47,120 with the story of Assi and Baka. For those of you who have not 4 00:00:47,120 --> 00:00:51,160 listened to Part 1 of the story, I would request that you listen 5 00:00:51,160 --> 00:00:53,320 to it before listening to this episode. 6 00:00:54,600 --> 00:00:58,640 I will include the links in the description and show notes for 7 00:00:58,640 --> 00:01:00,640 the friends who have already listened to it. 8 00:01:01,200 --> 00:01:04,760 A very short recap. In the last episode, we learnt 9 00:01:04,760 --> 00:01:09,160 about 3 accounts from Ramayan, Mahabharata and Rigved which 10 00:01:09,200 --> 00:01:12,960 established the antipathy between 2 great Brahma Rishis 11 00:01:13,680 --> 00:01:18,360 Vasistha and Vishwamitra. Emerging back after 12 long 12 00:01:18,360 --> 00:01:23,240 years of underwater tapasya, sage Vasistha learnt about the 13 00:01:23,240 --> 00:01:28,400 sufferings of King Harishchandra and inhuman taste conducted by 14 00:01:28,400 --> 00:01:32,720 Brahmarishi sage Vishwamitra. Seeing this king suffers so 15 00:01:32,720 --> 00:01:37,680 long, Rishi Vasistha couldn't control further and caused Rishi 16 00:01:37,680 --> 00:01:41,520 Vishwamitra to become a Baker or an Indian crane. 17 00:01:41,960 --> 00:01:45,760 Rishi Vishwamitra immediately learned about the curse and he 18 00:01:45,760 --> 00:01:50,320 reciprocated with another curse on Rishi Vashishta to become an 19 00:01:50,520 --> 00:01:54,840 ATI or bank miner. Both these Brahma Rishis were 20 00:01:54,840 --> 00:01:59,320 affected by each others curse and took birth as birds. 21 00:01:59,880 --> 00:02:05,160 Sheikh Vishwamitra took birth as a Baker or Indian crane and Sage 22 00:02:05,160 --> 00:02:09,400 Vashishta took birth as ATI or Bank miner. 23 00:02:09,880 --> 00:02:13,840 Although both Brahmarshis were born as birds, they retained 24 00:02:13,840 --> 00:02:18,320 their power and energy. They both were angry and fought 25 00:02:18,320 --> 00:02:21,120 with each other. Their sizes grew huge. 26 00:02:21,440 --> 00:02:26,400 Sage Vashista as ATI grew to a size of 2000 Yojanas whereas 27 00:02:26,640 --> 00:02:32,080 Sage Vishwamitra as Baka grew to a size of 3096 Yojanas. 28 00:02:32,880 --> 00:02:37,360 Friends, let me clarify the unit of Yojana before proceeding any 29 00:02:37,360 --> 00:02:40,560 further. This unit was used in ancient 30 00:02:40,560 --> 00:02:45,920 India as a unit of distance with a value that varied depending on 31 00:02:45,920 --> 00:02:51,720 that era, location and context. Example in cosmology versus land 32 00:02:51,800 --> 00:02:55,560 measurement. Generally 1 Yojana is considered 33 00:02:55,640 --> 00:03:00,440 between 8 to 10 miles or approximately 13 to 16 34 00:03:00,440 --> 00:03:05,080 kilometers long. So ATI being 2000 Yojana is huge 35 00:03:05,280 --> 00:03:14,040 means 2000 * 10 20,000 miles long, and baka being 3096 36 00:03:14,040 --> 00:03:23,560 yojanas huge 3096 * 10 that means 30,960 miles long. 37 00:03:24,480 --> 00:03:28,880 So you may visualize how huge these two birds were. 38 00:03:29,400 --> 00:03:33,960 However, yojanas in different times were measured differently. 39 00:03:34,720 --> 00:03:39,680 For instance, in Arthashastra, written around 4th century BCE, 40 00:03:40,080 --> 00:03:47,040 Yojana is defined AS4 gurutas or 8000 dhanus, which roughly 41 00:03:47,040 --> 00:03:55,320 translates to approximately 4.5 to 9 miles or 7 to 14.5 42 00:03:55,320 --> 00:03:59,080 kilometers. Ancient astronomers such as Arya 43 00:03:59,080 --> 00:04:04,720 Bhatt and the Surya Siddhanta generally measured Yojana as 5 44 00:04:04,720 --> 00:04:08,960 to 8 miles, approximately 8 to 13 kilometers. 45 00:04:09,720 --> 00:04:14,520 Now coming back to a story on ATI and Baka, these two giant 46 00:04:14,520 --> 00:04:16,600 birds started fighting with each other. 47 00:04:16,880 --> 00:04:20,519 They affect each other with their beaks, pushed each other 48 00:04:20,519 --> 00:04:23,160 with the giant wings, raising its neck. 49 00:04:23,400 --> 00:04:29,040 ATI stuck Baka with feet so fierce was there fight that with 50 00:04:29,040 --> 00:04:32,920 the flaps of the giant wings, the earth began to tremble. 51 00:04:33,160 --> 00:04:38,040 The ground began to crack open, huge tornado like wind columns 52 00:04:38,040 --> 00:04:42,920 develop, the mountains began to tremble and eventually collapse, 53 00:04:42,920 --> 00:04:46,280 causing destructive landslides everywhere. 54 00:04:46,880 --> 00:04:51,400 This chaos resulted in oceans releasing water, causing floods 55 00:04:51,400 --> 00:04:54,520 everywhere. It was a massacre everywhere, 56 00:04:55,520 --> 00:05:00,040 horrifying scenes of devastation and destruction all over. 57 00:05:00,320 --> 00:05:05,040 The Angry Birds kept on fighting and fighting, hitting each other 58 00:05:05,040 --> 00:05:09,400 with powerful blows, causing more and more damage and 59 00:05:09,400 --> 00:05:14,080 destruction. Eventually the earth gave up and 60 00:05:14,280 --> 00:05:20,000 began to lean to one side and started to sing towards Patalu 61 00:05:21,440 --> 00:05:24,800 friends again. As far as Sanatan scriptures, 62 00:05:25,000 --> 00:05:29,640 the universe is generally described of having 14 realms or 63 00:05:29,640 --> 00:05:35,160 lokas, 7 heavens or upper worlds and seven nether worlds or lower 64 00:05:35,160 --> 00:05:40,480 world or pathas, then followed by 8 naraks or Hells as 65 00:05:40,640 --> 00:05:45,160 described in Markande Puran. However, Please note that in 66 00:05:45,160 --> 00:05:48,600 Gadot Puran, 28 Hells are described. 67 00:05:48,960 --> 00:05:52,200 Since this episode is dedicated to Mark and the Puran, I will 68 00:05:52,200 --> 00:05:53,880 stick to the information from it. 69 00:05:54,400 --> 00:05:59,720 The seven upper worlds are Satya Lo or Brahmalo, Tapalo, Jana 70 00:05:59,720 --> 00:06:03,240 Lok. Mahar Lok swarga Lok Hoover. 71 00:06:03,240 --> 00:06:06,200 Lok and Bhulo, that is the Earth. 72 00:06:06,800 --> 00:06:11,080 The seven lower worlds, or Pathas, are Atala. 73 00:06:11,080 --> 00:06:17,840 Lok vitala Lok sutala Lok tala tala Lok mahatala Lok rasatala 74 00:06:17,840 --> 00:06:22,680 Lok. Patalalok or Nagalok, types of 75 00:06:22,680 --> 00:06:27,880 Narak or hell as per Markandapuran are Rorova, 76 00:06:28,440 --> 00:06:35,160 Niraya, Maha Rorova, Thomas Nikrintana, A Pratishtha, Asif, 77 00:06:35,160 --> 00:06:40,400 Patravana and Papakumba. Now coming back to the story, as 78 00:06:40,400 --> 00:06:44,400 the earth started to sink towards Patal, all life forms 79 00:06:44,400 --> 00:06:46,720 headed for colossal destructions. 80 00:06:46,960 --> 00:06:50,520 Mountains started breaking apart, water from the ocean 81 00:06:50,520 --> 00:06:54,840 started gushing into the land. Earth itself started to crack 82 00:06:54,880 --> 00:06:58,960 and quake. It was heading towards a gargade 83 00:06:58,960 --> 00:07:03,320 to an annihilation of the earth and all life forms. 84 00:07:04,080 --> 00:07:07,880 All terrified living beings started to run helter skelter, 85 00:07:08,080 --> 00:07:12,160 nowhere to go or to hide. After witnessing such 86 00:07:12,160 --> 00:07:16,920 eradication of life forms from the earth, all gods and demigods 87 00:07:16,920 --> 00:07:20,960 consulted Lord Brahmadev. Prajapati. 88 00:07:20,960 --> 00:07:26,200 Lord Brahmadev appeared in front of the angry and fighting birds. 89 00:07:26,680 --> 00:07:30,960 Angry and losing all his patience, Prajapati commanded 90 00:07:31,160 --> 00:07:33,920 two birds to stop fighting immediately. 91 00:07:34,760 --> 00:07:39,280 He wrote, Seize your fight birds and let the words regain its 92 00:07:39,280 --> 00:07:42,840 composure. Although the birds heard Lord 93 00:07:42,840 --> 00:07:47,480 Brahma commanding them to stop the fight, they did not pay any 94 00:07:47,480 --> 00:07:50,320 heed to it. They kept on fighting and 95 00:07:50,320 --> 00:07:53,920 destroying the earth. Saying that these birds had not 96 00:07:53,920 --> 00:07:58,280 listened to his warning, he neutralized each others curses 97 00:07:58,480 --> 00:08:01,680 and changed them back into Brahmarishis. 98 00:08:02,680 --> 00:08:06,840 When they regained their bodies as Brahmarishis, Pragyapathi 99 00:08:06,840 --> 00:08:11,400 spoke to them. O great sage Vashishta and sage 100 00:08:11,400 --> 00:08:17,880 Vishwamitra, stop fighting. All this chaos and destruction 101 00:08:17,880 --> 00:08:20,760 happened due to your Tamas sentiments. 102 00:08:21,120 --> 00:08:26,160 This conflict between the two has resulted in impediments to 103 00:08:26,160 --> 00:08:28,880 your austerities. So give up your fight. 104 00:08:29,480 --> 00:08:35,039 It is the Brahman who is supremely strong and ubiquitous. 105 00:08:35,400 --> 00:08:39,080 When they heard Lord Brahmadev's address, they finally were 106 00:08:39,120 --> 00:08:43,720 ashamed of their misdeeds. Pardoning each other, both the 107 00:08:43,720 --> 00:08:46,520 sages efficiently embraced each other. 108 00:08:47,400 --> 00:08:51,240 All gods and demigods showered flowers from the heavens. 109 00:08:51,520 --> 00:08:55,000 Witnessing the truths between the two Brahmarishis, Lord 110 00:08:55,000 --> 00:09:00,360 Brahmadev returned to Brahmalog. Both Brahmarishis went back to 111 00:09:00,360 --> 00:09:03,160 their respective ashrams and hermitages. 112 00:09:05,040 --> 00:09:08,720 Saying this, the birds of wisdom stopped their tale of Raja 113 00:09:08,720 --> 00:09:13,960 Harishchandra and ASI and Baka. Then after a pause, they 114 00:09:13,960 --> 00:09:17,240 chopped. If the mortals listened to the 115 00:09:17,240 --> 00:09:22,120 stories of the clash between ASI and Baka and account of Raja 116 00:09:22,120 --> 00:09:27,560 Harishchandra, then the scenes of the reciter and the listener 117 00:09:27,560 --> 00:09:31,600 will be destroyed and they will not face any impediments in 118 00:09:31,600 --> 00:09:35,080 their task. Rishi Jaimini enriched with the 119 00:09:35,080 --> 00:09:37,560 great tale of Raja Harishchandran. 120 00:09:37,560 --> 00:09:41,880 Also the account of ASI and Bakar continued to listen to 121 00:09:41,920 --> 00:09:46,040 other accounts from Markande Puran from the Birds of Wisdom. 122 00:09:47,000 --> 00:09:51,960 Friends, before I end to this episode, I would like to discuss 123 00:09:51,960 --> 00:09:55,680 a thought with you all. The Count of ASEAN Baka 124 00:09:55,680 --> 00:09:59,560 described the destruction of Earth when the mountains fell, 125 00:09:59,560 --> 00:10:03,800 the water from the oceans rose, the earthquake and cracked open. 126 00:10:04,280 --> 00:10:07,400 All life forms were in the brink of extinction. 127 00:10:07,920 --> 00:10:12,320 This account raises the thought that if this was the time when 128 00:10:12,320 --> 00:10:16,600 dinosaurs were eradicated from the face of the Earth during the 129 00:10:16,600 --> 00:10:22,240 Mesozoic era, we find references to pterosaurs which were not 130 00:10:22,240 --> 00:10:25,240 technically birds but were flying reptiles. 131 00:10:25,480 --> 00:10:30,440 Some of the Pterosaurus were Quitsulko Atlas had Zik of 132 00:10:30,440 --> 00:10:36,400 Turkis and Pteranodon, some true avilians or birds present during 133 00:10:36,400 --> 00:10:42,040 those times where Archaeopteryx, Gurgaon, Tuvis, Hesperornis. 134 00:10:42,640 --> 00:10:45,920 Let's ponder and continue this exploration further in the 135 00:10:45,920 --> 00:10:48,360 future. In the next few episodes, we 136 00:10:48,360 --> 00:10:52,320 will listen to some of the stories related to Lord Datre in 137 00:10:52,320 --> 00:10:55,000 Markande Puran. These stories were narrated by a 138 00:10:55,000 --> 00:10:58,960 boy named Sumati from the Bhargava lineage to his father. 139 00:10:59,360 --> 00:11:03,560 As for your reference who are not familiar with Lord Datre, he 140 00:11:03,560 --> 00:11:07,480 is considered to be an avatar and a combined form of the three 141 00:11:07,480 --> 00:11:12,400 Murtis or Lord Brahma, Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiv and as the 142 00:11:12,400 --> 00:11:15,800 manifestation of Parabrahma, the Supreme Being. 143 00:11:30,360 --> 00:11:33,760 Stories from Upanishad and Purans are available both as 144 00:11:33,760 --> 00:11:37,280 video and audio podcast formats on various platforms. 145 00:11:37,360 --> 00:11:40,320 The video format is only available on YouTube. 146 00:11:40,560 --> 00:11:44,880 In my channel Stories from Upanishad and Purans, you can 147 00:11:44,880 --> 00:11:49,560 listen to the audio podcast in almost all popular podcast 148 00:11:49,560 --> 00:11:51,920 platform. I'll put in the links to the 149 00:11:51,920 --> 00:11:54,640 various platforms in the show notes below.