Invocation

The story goes that Brahman obtained a victory for the devas. Though the victory was due to Brahman, the devas became elated by it and thought: “This victory is due only to us; this glory belongs only to us.”

Brahman came to know this, their vanity. He verily appeared before them, but they did not understand who that Yaksha – demi-god – was.

They addressed Agni: “Oh Jataveda, please find out who this Yaksha is.” “Yes,” said Agni.

Agni hastened to the Yaksha. The Yaksha asked him who he was. Agni replied: “I am verily Agni; I am also known as Jataveda” – near-omniscient.

“What energy do you possess, you of such fame?” asked the Yaksha. “I can burn everything – whatever there is on this earth,” replied Agni.

The Yaksha placed a straw before him and said: “Burn this.” Agni approached it with all speed; he was, however, unable to burn it. So he withdrew from there and returned to the gods saying, “I could not ascertain who this Yaksha was.”

Then they addressed Vayu: “Oh Vayu, please ascertain this, who this Yaksha is.” “Yes,” said Vayu.

Vayu hastened to the Yaksha. The Yaksha asked him who he was. Vayu replied, “I am verily Vayu. I am also known as Matarisva” – carrier of the atmosphere.

“What energy do you possess, you of such fame?” asked the Yaksha. “I can verily blow away everything – whatever there is on this earth,” replied Vayu.

The Yaksha placed a straw before him and said, “Blow this away.” Vayu approached it with all speed; he was, however, unable to blow it away. So he withdrew from there and returned to the gods saying: “I could not ascertain who this Yaksha was.”

Then the gods addressed Indra: “Oh Maghavan – rejoicing one – please ascertain who this Yaksha is.” “Yes,” said Indra, and hastened to the Yaksha. But the Yaksha disappeared from his view.

And in that very spot he beheld a woman, the wondrously effulgent Uma, the daughter of the snow-clad mountain, Himavat. And of her he asked: “Who could this Yaksha be?”

In deep silence there is no ego. It exists only when you are disturbed. It is part of disease. When you are deeply silent, you are, but there is no feeling of the “I.” It cannot exist in silence. When you are totally calm and quiet, the “I” is not there. But the more disturbed you are, the more you will have the feeling of the ego.