T
he myth teaches us that the people live in Heaven are belived to
be "Devas" and the people in the hell (the world beneath or pathala) are "Asuras".
Devas are divine personality while the Asuras are demons. Let me take you to those ages.
"Ramba" and "Karamba" were the sons of "Dhanu". Once both Ramba and Karamba undertook
severe penance. Karamba had immersed himself up to neck-deep in water and Ramba in blazing
fire to propitiate Lord Agni (the Lord of Fire). "Devendra", the king of Devas has foreseen
the danger of his throne. He assumed himself as a crocodile, and killed Karamba while in
deep meditation. Ramba after realizing his brother’s fate got frightened and prepared to
commit suicide. Lord Agni couldn’t resist himself at this juncture of his disciple who has
strong belief in him preparing for suicide as a cause of what Devendra had done to Karamba.
Therefore, Lord Agni appeared before Ramba and asked him what boon he wanted.
Ramba requested for a son who would not be killed by Devas, Asuras or men. The boon is
granted.
On his way back home, Ramba met a beautiful female buffalo. One should
also remember that all Asuras were believed to have buffalo head. The male buffalo (male
Asura) is called Mahishan" and the female buffalo (female Asura) is called "Mahishi".
He has fallen in love with her at first sight and decided to take her home. They had to
halt a night in a jungle during their trip back home. At midnight while Mahishan (Ramba) was
making love with the Mahishi, another wild male buffalo got intervened and killed Ramba.
The grief-stricken she-buffalo also had given up her life by jumping into the funeral fire
of Ramba. It is fact in the myth that once a boon is given, under any circumstances the boon
has to materialize. Therefore a baby boy is born from the funeral fire of Ramba and the
she-buffalo. The boy is later named as "Mahishasura".
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