Indian Mythology: The Heavenly Emperor Won't Go to Work Today - Chapter 1

“Heavenly Emperor Indra!”

“You offended the Trimurti, I curse you and all the gods!”

“Wealth, honor, luxury, divine power—everything you pride yourself on will leave you, and you will lose your rule over the three realms!”

The earth-shattering roar shook the heavens.

Boom!

Black clouds roiled, thunder rumbled like a serpent thrashing in a flood, foretelling the terror of this curse’s power.

Swish!

Indra opened his eyes, waking up in shock from a nightmare, showing a look of exhaustion.

“Another nightmare!”

He scanned the dim, desolate temple. The temple was in ruins, the once golden giant pillars had turned into rotten wooden columns, the splendid lanterns had become tarnished bronze lamps, and even his once radiant divine armor had turned into tattered rags.

All of this was due to the curse of a sage!

“How did I get so unlucky!”

“Reincarnated into Indian mythology, and of all beings, I became Heavenly Emperor Indra.”

Indra propped his chin with one hand, sitting on the throne that had turned into a straw mat, feeling melancholic.

In Indian mythology:

Brahma creates the world, Vishnu maintains the world, Shiva destroys the world, and the three form a cycle of life and death, constituting the Trimurti.

Indra and the other gods are descendants of Brahma.

The Sage, Durvasa, is a devotee of Shiva, possessing powerful cursing abilities.

The origin of the matter was that Shiva had given the Durvasa a garland.

The garland symbolized auspiciousness.

Shiva told Durvasa to give the garland to the most courageous deity. Durvasa felt that Indra was deserving of this title and went to the heavens to present the garland to Indra.

However, upon arriving, he found the heavens in a state of decay, with the gods indulging in pleasures, which immediately angered Durvasa.

Furious, Durvasa confronted Indra.

Indra had his mount, the white elephant, receive the garland.

Unfortunately, the white elephant missed the garland, causing it to fall to the ground. Then, the elephant accidentally stepped on it twice.

Durvasa was enraged and cast a curse on the spot.

He cursed the gods to lose their wealth and power!

As Indra’s divine power waned, it was at this moment that he traversed time and space, merging with his current self.

“Durvasa’s curse is too strong. Now all the gods have greatly diminished powers.”

“The Asuras will probably attack the heavens!”

“I need to think of a solution!”

Indra frowned in thought.

Finally, he pushed himself up from the straw-covered throne and slowly walked out of the palace.

Moo~

A low elephant cry echoed.

The three-headed, six-tusked white elephant, Airavata, approached, lowered itself, and stretched out its trunk towards Indra’s feet, indicating for him to mount its back.

“My poor little elephant!”

“You forgot that you too were cursed by the Sage and can no longer fly. I’ll take you to the mortal world later, and then I’ll ride you!”

Indra patted Airavata’s trunk and sighed.

A mount that couldn’t fly was useless.

He was afraid of falling from the heavens!

Airavata shook its trunk, its eyes filled with tears, nodding sadly.

Indra then gazed into the distance, his eyes piercing the endless distance towards the far reaches of the heavens, and flew towards the Sun Temple.

He decided to seek out Surya, the sun god!

His good brother!

When Brahma created the world, he first birthed six sages from his heart, then produced Daksha and Virini. Daksha and Virini had fifty daughters.

Daksha’s eldest daughter, Diti, second daughter, Danu, and third daughter, Aditi, all married the same person.

That person was the sage Kashyapa, one of the six sages.

Diti and Danu bore many Asuras; Aditi bore many gods.

Indra and Surya are the sons of Kashyapa and Aditi.

Whoosh!

Although Indra’s power was greatly reduced, fortunately, all the gods were in the heavens. Before his divine power was exhausted, he finally arrived at the Sun Temple.

The Sun Temple shone the brightest in the heavens, its brilliance particularly dazzling, but now it was dark, like a house made of coal.

Many Gandharvas (demi-gods), who served as attendants, sat like beggars under the eaves of the palace.

Indra glanced around and stepped into the Sun Temple.

“Indra, you have come!”

Indra looked up to see a figure as black as coal sitting on a stone throne. The figure was tall, with a face as dark as the bottom of a pot, making his features indistinguishable, no longer showing his former handsome appearance.

It was Surya, the Sun God!

Yes!

This was the phenomenon of a solar eclipse.

When the cosmos undergoes anomalies, the radiant body of Surya turns black, becoming a small dark spot.

Indra was not surprised by this.

However…

Indra looked at the seated Surya, frowning slightly.

“Even if I’m not the Heavenly Emperor, I am still your brother. You don’t even stand up to speak.” Indra said.

Surya was silent for a moment before replying.

“I’ve forgotten how to walk.”

Hearing this, Indra was momentarily speechless. It made sense; this guy worked every day, spreading light to the world by riding the Sun Chariot, even flying in the heavens.

Walking was impossible for him; he couldn’t walk in this lifetime.

“I’m still in this state and I have to drive the chariot. I’m so tired. What do you want?” Surya complained.

“The gods are cursed now, our divine power is greatly diminished, and we’re weak. The Asuras might attack the heavens!” Indra said gravely.

Asuras and gods are both sons of the sage Kashyapa.

But the Asuras live in barren lands and have always been discontented that the gods live in the prosperous heavens. Now that the gods are weakened, the Asuras are sure to strike, leading their armies to invade the heavens.

Surya’s expression changed, his dark face suddenly filled with panic.

“What should we do? We don’t even have the strength to lift our weapons. If the Asuras attack, we’ll be completely defeated!” Surya said in a panic.

Indra’s brow furrowed slightly.

He had no particular desire for the position of Heavenly Emperor.

He just didn’t want to become a prisoner, especially if the Asuras might kill him!

The famous churning of the ocean in Indian mythology hadn’t started yet, and the elixir of immortality (Amrit) hadn’t fallen into the hands of the gods. Without drinking the elixir, the gods weren’t immortal.

If they died now, it would be a true death!

“I have a solution!”

Indra’s face tightened, and he raised his hand, pointing at Surya, thinking deeply. “I should undergo Tapasya; let’s mutually help each other!” (T/N: Tapasya – ascetic practice/meditation)

“Tapasya, that might work!”

Surya nodded in agreement.

In this world, suffering is finite.

If a god or an Asura experiences suffering far beyond the fixed amount, it generates great merit, giving rise to powerful ascetic energy. This energy is potent enough to shake the world, causing disruptions.

Heaven must bless the ascetic, endowing them with great power to calm this ascetic energy and maintain the world’s balance.

This blessing comes from the laws of the world, and it can even surpass the power of the gods themselves.

At this moment, Indra raised his hand, pointing towards the realm of Brahma.

“From now on, I, Indra, will undergo Tapasya before the Sun God Surya. I, Indra, will not drink alcohol, will not sit on the throne, will not wear luxurious divine clothing, will not live in a splendid palace, will not squander wealth, will not flaunt luxury, and will not ride a mount!”

“I will not covet status. Whoever wants the position of Heavenly Emperor, I will give it to them.”

Indra said solemnly.

Surya suddenly stood up, eyes wide in shock as he stared at Indra.

“Are you crazy? You are the Heavenly Emperor, the King of Gods, yet you forsake everything?!”

Surya exclaimed, struggling to prop himself up.

Indra couldn’t help but chuckle.

Heavenly Emperor?

I don’t want this job!