Lord Shiva, the neutral god, granted boons to both Devas and Asuras alike, becoming a celebrated figure across the South. The Asuras revered him as their favorite god, with his influence extending even to Sri Lanka, where five temples were dedicated to him. Ravana, the great king of Lanka, proudly called himself the son of Shiva, bearing the name Kashyappa, connecting himself to Shiva’s divine lineage.
When the Devas struggled against the Asuras, they appealed to Shiva for help. In response, Shiva sent his son, Murugan, as their commander. Murugan, with divine strength and strategy, led the Devasena army to victory over the Asuras, restoring balance and granting the Devas control over the northern lands.
The Devas and Asuras
Long ago, there was a great conflict between the Devas and Asuras. The Asuras, fierce and cunning, managed to occupy the whole land. The world fell into chaos under their control. But then, Murugan, the fearless commander of the Devasena army, descended to resolve the conflict. With divine strength and strategy, Murugan killed the demons, restoring balance between the Devas and Asuras. The Devas were granted the northern lands, and peace was temporarily restored.
However, Lord Shiva's neutrality could not be overlooked. To maintain cosmic balance, Shiva, though favored by the Asuras for his impartiality, swallowed poison to protect the world. His sacrifice embodied the eternal struggle between good and evil.
This mythological purana story, this cycle of conflict and restoration, is observed to repeat itself through time.
The Nagas and Yaksas
Another great conflict arose between the Nagas and Yaksas. The Nagas, with their cunning and strength, occupied the whole land, much like the Asuras before them. The world descended into turmoil once again.
Buddha descended to bring peace. Through compassion and non-violence, he resolved the conflict and restored harmony. Yet, as in previous cycles, Buddha’s message was met with resistance. Power-hungry forces poisoned and betrayed him. Despite this, Buddha was later worshipped by the very people who participated in his demise.
Following this betrayal, Bodhi Dharma attempted to carry forward Buddha’s legacy. He aimed to break the cycle of greed and violence, only to meet the same fate. Betrayed and poisoned, Bodhi Dharma became yet another figure whose wisdom was silenced by power. Ironically, those who opposed his message would later revere him, building temples in his name while continuing the same harmful patterns.
The Invasion of Lanka
History repeated itself once again. Ram, also referred to as Karna in some stories, led an invasion into Lanka, supported by the lineage of Kuhan. Ram waged war against Ravana, the ruler of Lanka, and defeated him. Ram claimed the land, but much like the Nagas and Asuras, the cycle of occupation continued.
Ram and Karna are often seen as the same figure in different stories, both representing a form of righteousness. Despite their efforts, the pattern of conquest and occupation persisted, illustrating the repetition of history’s battles for dominance.
The Pandavas and Kauravas
The Pandavas and Kauravas clashed in yet another cycle of justice. With Krishna as their guide, the Pandavas sought to reclaim their kingdom and restore Dharma. In their quest for justice, the Pandavas killed Radshakan, the king of the Nagas, to occupy the land.
Even though they were champions of righteousness, the Pandavas, like others before them, succumbed to the temptations of power. Their actions reflected the unending cycle of conquest and occupation, proving that even those with noble intentions fall into history’s repeating patterns.
The British Invasion
In more recent times, the British arrived in Lanka and repeated the familiar cycle of conquest. They united the entire land under their rule, killing Sangiliyan, the last king of Jaffna, in the process. Much like the Nagas' role in ancient conflicts, the British aligned with the Sinhalese, planting the seeds for future tensions.
The British, embodying the rat gene, sought domination over Lanka, continuing the historical pattern of betrayal and greed. Their conquest further entrenched the divisions between the Sinhalese and Tamils, setting the stage for modern conflicts.
The eternal game of cat and rat continues, with new actors repeating the lessons of the past. While Dharma may return through divine figures and wise teachers, the struggle against greed and betrayal never truly ends. The same cat and rat story can be understood in Shaivism through Lord Shiva’s first and second sons. The first gene, the rat, represents conquest and power, while the second gene, derived from the monkey, is Kumaran (Muruga), the protector of justice and Dharma.
The mango fight between Shiva’s two sons, Ganesha and Muruga, reflects this eternal rivalry. When tasked with proving who was the worthier son for the divine fruit, Muruga, symbolizing action and speed, traveled the world, while Ganesha, embodying wisdom, circled his parents. The mango symbolizes Lanka itself, and the two divisions in the Sanskrit Om represent the borders established during the ancient conflict between the Devas and Asuras. This conflict defined the separation of the dark Asura people, ultimately dividing the continents into Africa, Australia, and Lanka. Though the continents are now divided, the conflicts persist, echoing through the ages.
The Alliance with China
After the British left, Lanka aligned with China, adding a new chapter to the repeating cycle of the cat and rat game. Greed and power resurfaced in this geopolitical alliance, echoing the themes of conquest and control.
Soon after this alliance, the world was struck by the Corona virus, which symbolized another chapter in the ongoing cycle of destruction. The virus, a manifestation of the consequences of unchecked greed and negligence, devastated humanity, reminding the world that the forces of chaos and order remain in perpetual conflict.
Similar to the story of Pittukku Mann Sumantha Shiva, where Shiva's pain was felt by everyone, Dharma in the modern world was fed with the poison of greed and reflected through the Corona virus, affecting humanity on a global scale. Just as Murugan, Buddha, and Krishna were poisoned or betrayed in their efforts to bring peace and justice, the pain from Shiva’s burden echoed through the world, reminding humanity of the consequences of unchecked greed and selfishness.
The Language Conflict
The conflict eventually shifted into a language conflict between Sinhala and Tamil. This time, Karna/Ram, representing the dev gene, returned to back the Asuras. The battle between two divisions of the Devas reignited. The Sinhala language itself became a conspiracy of the Devas, created to defeat the Asuras. If we focus solely on language, Tamil and Dharma could fail. Despite its origins, the southern Asura party adopted Sinhala as their mother tongue, and challenging it could only deepen the divide. Therefore, it is indecent to talk about language in this Dharma context.
The Worship of Gods and Repeated Cycles
Despite the constant cycles of conflict and betrayal, the people of Lanka continued to worship Murugan, Buddha, and Krishna. Temples and viharas were built in their names, yet the worshippers often overlooked the teachings of peace and non-violence these deities stood for.
The irony lies in the fact that those who participated in the betrayals of Buddha and Bodhi Dharma later built monuments to honor them. These great figures, poisoned and betrayed in their lifetimes, became objects of reverence in the very societies that had contributed to their downfall.
Divine Responsibilities and Followers
Divine figures like Rama and Ganesha prioritize serving those who surrender completely to them. Their protection and guidance are often focused on their devotees, not universally, due to limited resources. This suggests a senior-junior or guru-disciple relationship where the mantle of responsibility is passed down to dedicated followers. As the new followers take over, they carry forward the duties and legacy of their predecessors.
However, despite being worshipped as the first god in Shaivism, Ganesha did not save or protect Shaivism and the Dharma of his followers. This failure to protect their faith caused deep concern among those who revered him, leaving them feeling abandoned.
God’s Presence in Thirupathi
Periods may differ.
Boundaries may differ.
Gods may differ.
But Dharma never changes.
To Thirupathi, to prove His presence, Muruga Perumal came. Buddha Perumal came. Venkata Perumal came. Boundaries may differ, but the essence of Dharma remains unchanged.
"The fulfillment we achieve in our life is what becomes the ultimate liberation." Though God has no form, He reveals His presence through time. These are the playful acts of time and fate, echoing the endless repetition of Dharma’s voice.
Conclusion
Across time, from the Devas and Asuras to the Nagas and Yaksas, from the Pandavas and Kauravas to the British and modern alliances with China, the same patterns of occupation, conflict, and betrayal persist. Dharma rises through figures like Krishna, Murugan, Buddha, and Bodhi Dharma, but the rats of greed and deception always survive, prompting justice—the cat—to chase them. Buddha may be considered an avatar of Vishnu, but Ram may not be, as Ram only saved his devotees, aligning more with the dev gene connected to conquest and power rather than universal Dharma. This makes Ram’s role more aligned with those driven by power rather than the balance of righteousness.
The eternal game of cat and rat continues, with new actors repeating the lessons of the past. While Dharma may return through divine figures and wise teachers, the struggle against greed and betrayal never truly ends. The same cat and rat story can be understood in Shaivism through Lord Shiva’s first and second sons. The first gene, the rat, represents conquest and power, while the second gene, derived from the monkey, is Kumaran (Muruga), the protector of justice and Dharma.
The mango fight between Shiva’s two sons, Ganesha and Muruga, reflects this eternal rivalry. When tasked with proving who was the worthier son for the divine fruit, Muruga, symbolizing action and speed, traveled the world, while Ganesha, embodying wisdom, circled his parents. The mango symbolizes Lanka itself, and the two divisions in the Sanskrit Om represent the borders established during the ancient conflict between the Devas and Asuras. This conflict defined the separation of the dark Asura people, ultimately dividing the continents into Africa, Australia, and Lanka. Though the continents are now divided, the conflicts persist, echoing through the ages.
But here’s the thing—That’s okay. You’re a cat.
When Murugan came and solved the Devas and Asuras’ problems, was he a cat?
When Buddha resolved the Nagas and Yaksas’ conflict, was he a cat?
When Krishna helped the Pandavas defeat the Kauravas, was he a cat?
Good cats.
So then, if Rama came as the rat, why did you let him in?
[At this point, I must apologize for teasing about a gene, especially when discussing someone who is worshiped as a god. It was not my intention to disrespect anyone’s beliefs.]
No matter how many ages pass, the voice of Dharma will return. After all the wars and deaths, justice will return. So next time, be mindful. Build another Buddha temple to remember it. But karma will make you forget, and then you’ll just do it all over again. As the ancient astrologers say, it’s destined to repeat.
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