The Downward Climb To Ascend

Muni Ujjwal was running for his life as the mad crowd was dashing at him with all sorts weapons available at hand. There were angry because the Muni drunk with his power of siddhis, promised to fulfill the desires and wishes of the villagers on this full moon night. He promised to produce gold coins, emeralds, diamonds, and rubies at will, destroy the enemies or summon the desired women and what not. 

On that fateful night, Muni sat in meditation before the crowd of the anticipating villagers who were in full awe of his celestial powers. When the Muni summoned his Ishtadeva, he appeared and got angry with the Muni, he categorically declined to fulfill any of his ego driven and selfish demands. He deserted him for good saying that there is no reason why he should shower benevolence on someone who has fallen down from his ascended level.

Seeing his absolute failure, reverence quickly turned into rage. Villagers chased him with murderous intent. Scared for his life, Muni entered the dark forest that the villagers diligently avoided in the night for the fear of wild animals. He ran panting for breath with moonlight as his only guide in the darkness. He reached a clearing where he found Rishi Agatsya. 

Rishi Agatysa was submerged deep in his mediation. Radiant golden light surrounded him. He was emanating celestial light from his body. Muni begged Rishi for mercy; slowly the sage opened his eyes and said, ‘Muni, I agree to help you ascend to your spiritual realm again but you will have to follow my path.’ Muni readily agreed. Rishi then asked him again to think again before agreeing to his conditions. Muni knew too well that he has fallen and this Rishi was his only salvation.

Rishi Agatsya finally said that the path to the Divine that I will show you is bit tricky. It takes you one step upward and two steps downward. Therefore any progress you make, you will have to descend two realms lower. 

The Muni had no choice but to follow as was told. Subsequently as he meditated, he would ascend and then descend two realms lower. Taking lifetimes after lifetime, from the realm of angels, he was pushed back in to humans, then semi humans and then into the lower forms of life but he persisted with nothing but faith. 

Descending further, he entered the demon realm and so on into the darker realms till he reached the very bottom that is the Patala Loka where he took birth as the serpent king, Sheshnaga. 

Because of his noble deeds and spiritual efforts, Sheshnaga was later called upon by none other than Vishnu himself to work as his protector. From the depth of darkness, Muni catapulted to the realm of God, the Divine Lord himself. 

All he knew was that in order to resurrect he needs to have complete faith in his guiding guru Rishi Agatsya. That unshakable faith, even in the darkest realm gave him the courage to remember the Divine and eventually he found himself in the abode of the God again.