Results 1 to 7 of 7

Thread: Can a demon reach enlightenment?

  1. #1
    Join Date
    April 2006
    Location
    NY State
    Age
    66
    Posts
    552
    Rep Power
    99

    Can a demon reach enlightenment?

    Namaste,

    I was given permission to cross post this here, I thought perhaps some may shed some perspective on question raised ...


    I understand that in India, they have concept of
    demons also. There demons are a race of beings,
    who are not human. These demons can find and
    study with a true Guru and find enligntenment.
    Can you imagine a demon who is enligntened? In
    India, they can.


    Have any here heard of such?


    Love,
    ZN
    yaireva patanaM dravyaiH siddhistaireva choditA .
    shrI kauladarshane chApi bhairaveNa mahAtmanA .

    It is revealed in the sacred doctrine of Kula and by the great Bhairava, that the perfection is achieved by that very means by which fall occurs.

  2. #2

    Re: Can a demon reach enlightenment?

    Why not? It's possible. But obviously, it is very hard for a demon to gain enlightenment.

    In Buddhism, even those in the hell realms can accumulate merit and hear Dharma. After all, in Buddhism, the hell realms are but mind states.

    However, again, it is difficult for a demon in the hell realms to gain enlightment for obvious reasons.
    Om purnam adah, purnam idam, purnat purnam udacyate; purnasya purnam adaya purnam evavasisyate.
    Om Santih! Santih! Santih!

  3. #3

    Re: Can a demon reach enlightenment?

    Im interested in these demons, can you give me more information on them?

  4. #4
    Join Date
    January 2007
    Location
    duhkhalayam asasvatam
    Posts
    1,450
    Rep Power
    92

    Re: Can a demon reach enlightenment?

    pranam all

    i do not know what one's defination of a demon is.
    but in the Asura (Raksas) race there were born some great devotees of the Lord to give a few names, Prahlad maharaj, Bali maharaj, Vibhisan to name a few.
    even Kansa and other who Lord Hari Killed personaly, got libration for they were for ever engaged in remembering Krishna although as an enemy.

    Jai Shree Krishna
    Rig Veda list only 33 devas, they are all propitiated, worthy off our worship, all other names of gods are derivative from this 33 originals,
    Bhagvat Gita; Shree Krishna says Chapter 3.11 devan bhavayatanena te deva bhavayantu vah parasparam bhavayantah sreyah param avapsyatha Chapter 17.4 yajante sattvika devan yaksa-raksamsi rajasah pretan bhuta-ganams canye yajante tamasa janah
    The world disappears in him. He is the peaceful, the good, the one without a second.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    March 2006
    Posts
    640
    Rep Power
    109

    Re: Can a demon reach enlightenment?

    Namaste Y'all,

    In Hindu cosmology, various classes of beings (ganas) are mentioned. Some of them are demonic, some are not. They are said to inhabit the various worlds that exist along with our own.

    Here's a non-exhaustive list:

    Adityas – The Sun Gods or Solar Devas
    Angirasas – Rishis from Jupiter
    Apsaras – Semi-divine angelic-like female beings of the heavens and lower regions
    Ashvins – Divine youthful Physicians with flying chariots and the stars of Orion
    Asuras – A class of demonic entities like the Rakshasas, Daityas and Danavas
    **Atrins – Devouring asuras mentioned in Atharvaveda
    **Arayas – Class of disease-causing and grudge asuras mentioned in Atharvaveda
    **Kimidins – Class of disease-causing asura mentioned in Atharvaveda
    **Vigriva – Class of Crooked-necked asuras of Atharvaveda
    **Visikha – Class of Crestless asuras mentioned in the Atharvaveda
    Atharvans – Rishis associated with the Fire-God, thus of Planet Mars and stars of Orion
    Atris – Rishis from the Moon
    Bhrigus or Bhargavas – Rishis from Venus
    Bhutas – Invisible ghostly entities or elementals
    Charanas – Class of beings like the Gandharvas
    Danavas – Class if demonic entities, sons of Danu
    Daityas – Class of demonic entities, sons of Diti
    Dakas – Sky dancing semi-divine beings like the Yakshas and Guhyakas
    Devas – Celestial beings, or Gods as Shining Ones
    Ganas – Class of demonic entities, often ghoulish
    Gandharvas - Semi-divine angelic-like male beings of the heavens and lower regions
    Garudas – Class of large, sometimes half-human and half-bird species
    Guhyakas – Semi-divine and demonic class entities like the Yakshas
    Kalas – ‘Black ones’, class of beings like Yama and associated with death and judgement (MB).
    Kalakeyas – Class of demonic brings, mentioned along with the Nivatakvachas and Paulomas
    Kashyapas – Class of Rishis associated with the Sun and a star of the Big Dipper
    Kinnaras – Class of semi-divine beings like the Gandharvas, but with animal heads or bodies
    Kimpurushas – Class of semi-divine beings with half-horse and half humanoid bodies
    Krodhavasas – Class of demonic entities mentioned in Mahabharata
    Kruras – Wicked class of demonic entities born from Krura (Mahabharata)
    Manavas – Human beings that dwell on Earth Planet, descended from the Sun Lord
    Maruts – Class of higher beings as Shaivite Rishis. Associated with the Pleiades
    Nagas – Serpent class of demonic species. As humans they are Mongoloids in India and Asia
    Nirritis – Class of females asuras that cause havoc
    Nishadas – Dark-skinned, short and red-haired demons, also a Human species. Born from Vena
    Nivatakavachas – Demonic beings that have air-like armoury or clothing
    Pannagas – Group of serpentine beings like the Nagas
    Paulomas – Class of demonic entities mentioned in the texts
    Pisachas – Class of demonic entities. Associated with Nordic peoples / beings of the Himalayas
    Pitas – Class of bhutas that are departed souls of the cosmos
    Pramathas – Class of ghostly beings like the Bhutas
    Pretas – Class of demonic beings
    Rakshasas – A Class of demonic entities, often flesh-eaters. Sometimes they set up on Earth
    Ribhus – A class of Divine Craftsmen under Vishvakarma who built Palaces, Cities and Chariots
    Rishis – Divine Sages that move through the Cosmos, Planets and Lokas (dimensions)
    Rudras – Also called Bhairavas. More wrathful forms of the Maruts, of Milky Way and Orion
    Sadanvas – Class of demonic species mentioned in the Atharvaveda
    Sadhyas – Class of semi-divine beings like the Pitas
    Sapratishis – Seven Major Seers associated as rulers of the stars of the Big Dipper
    Siddhas – Class of beings with supernatural powers
    Uragas – Class of serpent beings like the Nagas
    Vanaras – Monkey-like beings that have civilisations like and resemble humans as Hanuman
    Vidyadharas – Class of beings like Gandharvas, but more demonic
    Vasus – Class of Devas that control the Elements and associated with Mars
    Vetalas – Class of demonic entities
    Vritras – Class of demonic Nagas mentioned in the Rig Veda who had powers of Maya (illusion)
    Yakshas – Class of Semi-divine entities
    Yatudhanas – Class of demonic sorcerer beings or black magicians of the demons, also known as Dasyus. They are like Rakshasas, and also shape-shifters, taking forms as humans, hoofed animals, dogs etc.
    The demons (usually termed Rakshasa, Danava, Daitya, or Asura) are usually considered sworn enemies of the Devas. They are not necessarily beings that live in hellish planes, some live on earth too . Some of them in the Puranas are great devotees and achieve enlightenment also, as mentioned by Ganesh Prasad above. Not all the demons are evil beings to begin with. Many become evil after they achieve great powers from their sadhanas, meditation, etc. and start threatening the Devas and the order of the world.

    OM Shanti,
    A.



  6. #6
    Join Date
    March 2006
    Posts
    640
    Rep Power
    109

    Re: Can a demon reach enlightenment?

    Quote Originally Posted by Yaruki View Post
    Im interested in these demons, can you give me more information on them?
    Namaste Yaruki,

    Check this page out: Wikipedia: Rakshasa

    A.



  7. #7
    Join Date
    March 2006
    Location
    mrityuloka
    Age
    52
    Posts
    3,729
    Rep Power
    337

    Re: Can a demon reach enlightenment?

    Actually some demons or asuras were quite powerful and great bakthas. E.g. Ravana, a great baktha of Lord Shiva. performed tapas for thousands of years to please Lord Shiva. Finally, got liberation by the Lord himself playing a nice part in his leela...
    satay

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 3 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 3 guests)

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •