Aghasura and Kamsa

The death of Vatsasura deeply traumatised Aghasura. He was devastated by it, especially since his sister, Putana, was already a victim of Vrindavan’s miracle, so everyone said. 

His heart raged for revenge. He wanted to go to Vrindavan as soon as he heard of Vatsasura’s death. But he knew he couldn’t do anything without Kamsa’s approval. And he also knew he would be called sooner or later. So he waited, grieving alone for the deaths of his two siblings, nurturing revenge.

Expectedly, in a few days, Kamsa sent word for him. Aghasura rushed to his king’s palace only to be aghast at the gaunt face of the powerful Vrishni king. The dread in Kamsa’s eyes transferred to Aghasura, and he realised the power of that “miracle” child. Maybe the magic was not just rumours. Otherwise, how could he explain the horrible transformation of the near-invincible Kamsa?

Aghasura bowed low, avoiding his king’s eyes. “What is your command, Lord?”

“Finish off that child! How could he do what he does? Kill so many strong demons with magical power, too? But remember, it is all right if you don’t succeed the first time. Just try to find out more about him. What are his weaknesses? How can we bring him down? Be very, very careful.”

Aghasura’s voice shook. “My Lord, he has killed my sister and brother. My heart, mind, and soul are yearning for revenge. I will annihilate him, I promise you.”

Kamsa’s face seemed to uplift a wee bit at Aghasura’s impassioned speech, who continued, “I’m a python, a humongous one at that, capable of growing up to eight miles long, and devouring an entire village. The only way my heart will find peace is if I devour that child and all of his friends.”

Aghasura in Vrindavan

Aghasura opened his mouth so wide that it looked like the mouth of an ancient cave. His teeth looked like mountain ridges, while the flicking tongues resembled a circuitous,ever-changing path round a steep mountain. 

 Kanha was busy herding the cattle a little distance away, and a group of his friends found this strange cave opening. They stood nearby and stared at it, fascinating anticipation and fear in equal measure writ large on their faces.

Kinkini, one of Kanha’s friends, said, “Wow! How did we miss this cave for so many years? We should get inside and explore it.”

Bhadrasena replied, “I think we should be careful. This cave looks out of place, and it definitely was not here when we last visited this area. It could be one of those demons that seem to find their way to Kanha. Let us wait for him to come. He will know what to do.”

Some of the children agreed with Bhadrasena, while some mischievous ones wanted to go inside the cave and explore it. 

Kinkini said, “Even if this was a dangerous being, we have Kanha on our side. Didn’t all those demons die at his hands?”

“What our elders are saying about him must be true. He must be some divine being born amidst us to protect and look after us,” another friend interjected, their conversation meandering to their wonderful friend, as it often did. 

“Yes! Yes! I feel so safe when he is around,” chorused many of the children, nodding their heads in happiness, thinking of the fun times they have been having since the day of Kanha’s birth. It was as if Vrindavan was miraculously turned from being a simple village to a famous and prosperous place overnight. 

Bhadrasena said, “Exactly my thoughts. We are always safe with Kanha. Even if this thing was something terrible, he will save us. Let us explore it now.”

Bhadrasena walked in, and the others couldn’t resist following him. They went deep into the cave-like mouth and were consumed by the gigantic serpent. The children all fell unconscious, thanks to the poisonous breath of the python. 

In a short while, Kanha, searching for his lost friends, came there and found the cave. He immediately realisedit was a demon in disguise. As usual, he smiled, the twinkle in his eyes filling Aghasura with a strange sense of peace, as if he were entering a safe haven. 

Aghasura and His Memories

At that instant, he remembered himself as Agha, son of Sankhacuda, in a different time, a different birth. He was an exceptionally handsome young man, so much so that everyone who met him fell in love with him. He received only praise for his excellent body, sharp features, clear skin, and rippling muscles. 

Parents wanted a son like him, young women wanted a husband like him, and friends wanted to be like him. All the attention he received for his amazing looks made him vain and arrogant. He believed he was a superior being, a privileged man, and that he was above all. He could do no wrong. 

One day, while walking along the meandering cliffs of the Malaya mountains in the southern part of Bharatvarsha, Agha noticed a man with such a crooked body that he looked ghastly. He had fallen to the ground and was struggling to get his crooked limbs a firm grounding so that he could lift himself up.

Instead of helping the man, Agha started laughing at him, the mockery clearly evident in his voice as he said, “How can someone be so twisted and ugly?”

The man with the crooked body was no ordinary man. He was Ashtavakra Muni, the learned sage whose command over Advaita Vedanta was legendary. His work, the Ashtavakra Gita, was a philosophical masterpiece, packed with wisdom and knowledge.

Hearing the mocking voice of Agha, the sage, in a fit of painful anger, cursed him, “Your vanity is disgusting. You are so caught up in your good looks that you forget physical appearance is the most transient thing in the human world. May you be born as one of the ugliest snakes in your next birth.”

Hearing the curse was like receiving a tight slap that woke Agha from a deep slumber. He realised how arrogant and vain he had been until now. He recalled how many times he had made fun of people he believed were less handsome than he was. Regret for his arrogance and vanity hit him like a thunderbolt from the bright blue sky.

He rushed forward, helped the sage up, and then fell at his feet seeking forgiveness, the tears of regret wetting Ashtavakra Muni’s feet, whose anger calmed down at the genuine feelings of guilt and regret. 

He touched Agha’s shoulders and said, “None of us can escape our karmic consequences. So I cannot reverse the curse. However, I can promise you that while you are in your ugliest and worst form as a fearful python in the Dwapara Yuga, you will be released from the curse by none other than the handsomest man who ever walked on this earth. When you try to swallow that man, his divinity will release you from this curse. Until then, go and live out your karmic consequences.”

Aghasura and Kanha

Today, as his eyes met with the twinkling ones of the young boy who so confidently walked into his mouth to save his friends, he recognised the divinity Sage Ashtavakra had promised. Now, he realised why he felt so much at peace when he saw Kanha. Aghasura’s urge to avenge the deaths of his brother, Vatsasura, and his sister, Putana, evaporated into nothingness because he knew they were not killed but redeemed from horrendous curses, just like how he would be in a few moments.

Kanha walked into the cave-like mouth of Aghasura and stood in the middle. With his hands on his hips, Kanha began growing in size. As the boy grew, Aghasura opened his mouth wider and wider until such time, when he couldn’t. At this stage, when Kanha’s head touched the roof of Aghasura’s mouth, it burst open, allowing for his released soul to soar up to the heavens even as his physical body lay dead in the forest. 

After the death of Aghasura, Kanha’s friends were revived and came out unharmed, hugging and thanking their divine friend for the timely rescue.

Author’s Note:

The story of Aghasura is found in Bhagavata Purana while his backstory as Agha, son of Shankacuda, can be found in Garga Samhita. Images created using Google Gemini

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