# Fire and Sacrifice **See also:** [[artwork/themes/temples|Temples and Altars]] | [[artwork/themes/meditation|Meditation and Yoga]] **67 images** --- <h3>Siva Blesses Vrkasura</h3> ![[0223_KB2-63.jpg]] *As the demon Vṛkāsura prepared to cut off his own head, Lord Śiva became very compassionate and appeared from the sacrificial fire to save him.* <h3>Siva and the Eleven Rudras</h3> ![[0224_SB5-68.jpg]] <h3>The Virat-rupa</h3> ![[0033_SB-2_1_9.jpg]] <h3>Sati Immolates Herself</h3> ![[0037_SB-4-1-4.jpg]] *EN SB 4.1 1972: Satī became completely cleansed of all taints of sin and quit her body in a blazing fire by meditation on the fiery elements.* <h3>King Nabhi's Sacrifice Fulfilled</h3> ![[0037_SB-5-1-3.jpg]] <h3>The Pracetas Burn the Trees</h3> ![[0040_SB-6-1-4.jpg]] *When the ten Pracetās emerged from the sea, where they had been performing austerities, they saw that the entire surface of the earth was covered with trees. The Pracetās became very angry at the trees and, desiring to burn them to ashes, generated fire and wind from their mouths. Then Soma, the moon god, appeared before the Pracetās to appease their anger.* <h3>Vrtrasura Appears From the Sacrificial Fire</h3> ![[0042_SB-6-2-3.jpg]] *EN SB 6.2 1975: "The shower of various weapons and arrows released by the demons to kill the soldiers of the demigods did not reach them because the demigods, acting quickly, cut the weapons into thousands of pieces in the sky. As their weapons and mantras decreased, the demons began showering mountain peaks, trees and stones upon the demigod soldiers, but the demigods were so powerful and expert that they nullified all these weapons by breaking them to pieces in the sky as before. When the soldiers of the demons, commanded by Vṛtrāsura, saw that the soldiers of King lndra were quite well, having not been injured at all by their volleys of weapons, not even by the trees, stones and mountain peaks, the demons were very much afraid. Leaving aside their leader even in the very beginning of the fight, they decided to flee because all their prowess had been taken away by the enemy."* <h3>Pariksit Born</h3> ![[0045_SB-1-2-13.jpg]] *King Yudhiṣṭhira, very much satisfied by the birth of Maharaja Parīkṣit, had the purificatory birth ceremony performed.* <h3>Lord Siva Destroys the Aerial Cities</h3> ![[0045_SB-7-3-3.jpg]] <h3>The Nine Yogendras</h3> ![[0055_SB-11-1-5.jpg]] <h3>The Snake-Bird Bites Pariksit</h3> ![[0058_SB-12-1-6.jpg]] *EN SB 12 1988: The snake-bird Takṣaka came forward and bit King Parīkṣit, injecting him with a venom so powerful that it burned his body to ashes.* <h3>0059/SB 12-1-7</h3> ![[0059_SB-12-1-7.jpg]] *EN SB 12 1988: To avenge the death of his father, Mahārāja Janamejaya had brāhmaṇas perform a mighty sacrifice in which he offered all the snakes in the world into the sacrificial fire.* <h3>Sinners Tortured</h3> ![[0060_SB-3-9-7.jpg]] *EN SB 3.2 1987: After judgment, the sinner is at once engaged in the torturous punishment he is destined to suffer—either being forced to watch his own disembowelment while being burned alive, or being thrown off a cliff, or being torn asunder by elephants, or being forced to eat others’ flesh and have his own eaten, etc.* <h3>Dhrtarastra Leaves His Body</h3> ![[0061_SB-1-3-2.jpg]] *EN SB 1 1987: King Dhṛtarāṣṭra burned his body to ashes in a fire he himself generated through mystic power. Then his chaste wife, Gāndhārī, entered the fire with rapt attention.* <h3>Universal Devastation</h3> ![[0063_SB-3-2-3.jpg]] *EN SB 12 1988: At the time of cosmic annihilation, a great fire flares up from the mouth of Lord Saṅkarṣaṇa, burning everything throughout the universe and then scorching the lifeless cosmic shell.* <h3>The Separated Material Energies</h3> ![[0064_BG-25.jpg]] *7.4–5: “Earth, water, fire, air, ether, mind, intelligence, and false ego – all together these eight constitute My separated material energies. Besides these, O mighty-armed Arjuna, there is another, superior energy of Mine, which comprises the living entities who are exploiting the resources of this material, inferior nature.” The soul and the Supersoul are present in the heart of the body made of material energy. The subtle body of mind, intelligence, and false ego are represented by the red dot on the figure’s forehead. The material elements of earth, water, fire, air, and ether are what the figure’s body is made of.* <h3>Lust Covering the Consciousness</h3> ![[0072_BG-14.jpg]] *3.38: “As fire is covered by smoke, as a mirror is covered by dust, or as the embryo is covered by the womb, the living entity is similarly covered by different degrees of this lust.”* <h3>Diti Begs Kasyapa for a Child</h3> ![[0073_SB-3-2-6.jpg]] *EN SB 3.1 1987: While the sage Kaśyapa was meditating in trance, his wife, Diti, afflicted by sex desire, begged him for sexual intercourse.* <h3>The Universal Form</h3> ![[0082_SB-2-1-9.jpg]] *The universal form of the Lord is the complete whole of everything that be. This form, adorned with various crowns, clubs, discs, spears, and other weapons, is difficult to look at because of its glaring, fiery effulgence, immeasurable like the sun. Many, many other forms expand without limit from this universal body of the Lord, which spreads throughout the sky and the planets and all space in between. His arms are the resting place for the great demigods and other leaders, such as Lord Brahmā, Śiva, Sūrya, and Candra. Indeed, all varieties of living entities, including the birds, beasts, trees, and everything that be, are all covered by the universal form of the Lord at all times, although He is transcendental to all of them, eternally existing as the Supersoul in a form not exceeding nine inches.* <h3>Krsna Swallows the Forest Fire</h3> ![[0111_KB1-30--pg135.jpg]] *Kṛṣṇa, the supreme mystic, immediately swallowed up all the flames of the fire.* <h3>Dhruva Defeats the Illusions of the Yaksas</h3> ![[0119_SB-4-2-4.jpg]] *EN SB 4.1 1987: Dhruva heard threatening thunder and saw flashing lightning and severe rainfall. He also saw many lions, tigers, and made elephants, as well as enormous serpents vomiting forth fire and coming to devour him.* <h3>Krsna and Balarama Jump From the Mountain</h3> ![[0139_KB1-55--pg348.jpg]] *"Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma jumped from the top of the mountain."* <h3>Krsna and Balarama Leap From Mount Pravarsana</h3> ![[0140_KB1-37.jpg]] *EN KB 2018 one-vol: Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma led Jarāsandha and his army a great distance. They then climbed Mount Pravarṣaṇa, which was always covered by clouds. Jarāsandha assumed that the two brothers were afraid of his military power and had hidden Themselves at the top of the mountain. Failing to locate Them, he decided to trap and kill Them by setting fires around the peak. As the fire spread, Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma jumped to the ground and escaped.* <h3>Krsna Swallows a Forest Fire</h3> ![[0145_KB1-24.jpg]] *After Kāliya was defeated and banished, night was falling and the inhabitants of Vṛndāvana decided to sleep on the riverbank. In the middle of the night, they suddenly found themselves surrounded by a raging forest fire. The unlimited Lord Kṛṣṇa saved His townspeople by swallowing the fire.* <h3>Balarama Drags Hastinapura</h3> ![[0146_KBC-3--p91.jpg]] *Intending to cast all of Hastināpura into the Ganges, Lord Balarāma angrily dug up the city with the tip of his plow and began dragging it toward the river.* <h3>0158/QK 3</h3> ![[0158_QK-3.jpg]] *Foolish Duryodhana, maddened by greed for the throne, tried in many ways to destroy his imagined rivals, the Pāṇḍavas. Queen Kuntī recalls how he had tried to entice her sons to meet their death on the pretext of a friendly invitation for them to visit the new provincial palace at Vāraṇāvata. Duryodhana's wicked friends had intentionally constructed this building out of combustible shellac and were planning to burn it down in the middle of the night with their enemies inside. but the saintly uncle of Duryodhana, Mahātmā Vidura, gave forewarning to the Pāṇḍavas and Kuntī that they were likely to meet with danger there. Heeding his advice they excavated a hidden tunnel beneath the palace. On the night secretly designated for the massacre, he sent them the following cryptic message: "Fire can burn a man's body, but not his eternal soul." Thus advised, the brothers and mother managed to escape in time. They thereupon went into hiding to avoid further attacks from their envious cousin.* <h3>The Self-immolation of Goddess Sati</h3> ![[0166_UP--4.jpg]] <h3>Mucukunda Incinerates Kalayavana</h3> ![[0167_KB1-57--p336.jpg]] *"Kālayavana burnt to ashes within a moment."* <h3>Hanuman Burns Lanka</h3> ![[0169_UP--42.jpg]] <h3>Arci and Prthu</h3> ![[0175_UP--109.jpg]] <h3>The Pracetas Burn the Trees</h3> ![[0176_UP--104.jpg]] <h3>Lord Rama Slays Ravana</h3> ![[0198_UP--280.jpg]] <h3>Prthu Levels the Earth for Agriculture</h3> ![[0224_SB4-69.jpg]] <h3>Lord Rsabha Enters the Forest Fire</h3> ![[0230_SB5-84.jpg]] <h3>Art 0072/0072/BG-58</h3> ![[0072_BG-58.jpg]] <h3>Art 0146/0146/KBC 3 p23</h3> ![[0146_KBC-3--p23.jpg]] <h3>Art 0176/0176/UP 97</h3> ![[0176_UP--97.jpg]] <h3>Art 0200/0200/UP 256</h3> ![[0200_UP--256.jpg]] <h3>Nanda Maharaja Saved from the Python</h3> ![[Art-0209_KB1-94.jpg]] <h3>Art 0218/Art 0218/SB4 48</h3> ![[Art-0218_SB4-48.jpg]] <h3>Malayadhvaja Goes to the Forest, Followed by His Wife</h3> ![[Art-0222_SB4-57.jpg]] <h3>Art 0233/0233/SB5 90</h3> ![[0233_SB5-90.jpg]] <h3>Agnideva Returns Sita to Rama</h3> ![[Mad-4-3.jpg]] <h3>Amsuman Finds the Sacrificial Horse</h3> ![[0026_SB-9_1_7.jpg]] *Among the remains of his uncles, Aṁśumān saw Lord Kapila sitting by the lost sacrificial horse. Then Aṁśumān folded his hands and prayed to the Lord with great attention.* <h3>Lord Visnu Appears at Daksa's Sacrifice</h3> ![[0036_SB-4-1-(FC).jpg]] *As soon as Dakṣa had offered clarified butter and chanted mantras from the Yajur Veda, Lord Viṣṇu appeared in the sacrificial arena, riding upon the back of Garuḍa.* <h3>Krsna Kills Sisupala</h3> ![[0044_SB-7-1-1.jpg]] <h3>The Dhanur-yajna</h3> ![[0054_SB-10-7-8.jpg]] *Kaṁsa arranged for a sacrifice called Dhanur-yajña, and so had placed a large bow near the sacrificial altar. The bow was wonderful and resembled a rainbow. It was protected by a number of guards, who warned Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma not to go near it. But Kṛṣṇa ignored the warning and took the large bow in His left hand. �������������������������* <h3>The Demigods Shower Blessings</h3> ![[0065_BG--13.jpg]] *3.12: “In charge of the various necessities of life, the demigods, being satisfied by the performance of /yajña/ [sacrifice], will supply all necessities to you.”* <h3>Krsna, the Goal of Life</h3> ![[0068_SB-1-1-10.jpg]] *Śrī Kṛṣṇa is the supreme goal of life.* <h3>The First Janmastami</h3> ![[0093_KB1-4-pg.38.jpg]] *The joyous vibrations at Kṛṣṇa's birth ceremony could be heard in all the pasturing grounds and houses.* <h3>The Wives of the Yajnic Brahmanas</h3> ![[0106_KB1-36-pg.160.jpg]] *The wives of the brāhmaṇas saw the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and He entered within their hearts through their eyes.* <h3>Virabhadra Beheads Daksa</h3> ![[0163_UP--26.jpg]] <h3>Daksa Surrenders to Siva</h3> ![[0165_UP--9.jpg]] <h3>Lord Siva Instructs His Wife, Sati</h3> ![[0166_UP--3.jpg]] <h3>Daksa Insults Lord Siva</h3> ![[0174_UP--95.jpg]] <h3>Sisupala Beheaded</h3> ![[0176_UP--102.jpg]] *As Śiśupāla hurled insults at the kings about to attack him, Lord Kṛṣṇa took up His razor-sharp disc and instantly severed the demon's head.* <h3>Art 0144/0144/SB 4-3-3</h3> ![[0144_SB-4-3-3.jpg]] <h3>Art 0193/0193/UP 296</h3> ![[0193_UP--296.jpg]] <h3>Lord Indra Steals Prthu's Sacrificial Horse</h3> ![[Art-0217_SB4-53.jpg]] <h3>Art 0220/Art 0220/SB9 1</h3> ![[Art-0220_SB9-1.jpg]] <h3>SB8/2/6</h3> ![[SB8_2_6.jpg]] *At the sacrifice called Viśvajit, Prahlāda Mahārāja gave Bali a garland of flowers that would never fade, and Śukrācārya gave him a conchshell.* <h3>Vamana's Third Step</h3> ![[0034_SB-2_2_6.jpg]] *Bali Mahārāja was very glad to receive the Lord's remaining step on his head.* <h3>Krsna Honored at the Rajasuya Sacrifice</h3> ![[0059_SB-1-2-10.jpg]] *EN SB 1 1987: Lord Kṛṣṇa was the cynosure of all eyes at the magnificent Rājasūya sacrifice held by Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira after the Battle of Kurukṣetra.* <h3>Virabhadra Attacks Daksa's Yajna</h3> ![[0170_UP--70.jpg]] <h3>Aditi Receives Lord Visnu's Darsana</h3> ![[SB-8_3_1.jpg]] *After Aditi had performed the Payovrata ceremony, the Supreme Lord appeared before her, overwhelming her with ecstasy.* <h3>Markandeya Rsi Tempted by Cupid</h3> ![[0059_SB-12-2-2.jpg]] *EN SB 12 1988: Despite all the temptations arranged by Cupid, Mārkaṇḍeya Ṛṣi remained fixed in meditation, defeating Cupid and his associates by burning them with his mystic potency.* <h3>Mucukunda Incinerates Kalayavana</h3> ![[0164_SB-10_3_4.jpg]] --- ## Copyright Notice All artwork on this page is © The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International, Inc. 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