The Kena Upanishad records an episode in which the devas (Vedic gods, headed by Indra) were taught a great lesson by Brahman, the Supreme . They had once scored a victory over the asuras (demons) and they thought it was by their own prowess that they won.
In order to relieve them of this conceit, Brahman appeared yaksha (spirit) before them.
He placed a blade of grass before Agni
(the fire-god) and asked him to burn it.
Agni (who could burn down anything
whatever on earth) could not burn even
that blade of grass. This was because in
the presence of the yaksha (and, as willed
by him) Agni lost his powers (momentarily).
Similarly Vayu (the wind-god) was
immobilised and could not blow off even
a blade of grass (placed before him by
the yaksha). The devas were non-plussed
at this strange happening and did not
even know who the yaksha was.
At this juncture , Uma (Shakti), daughter of Himavat, appeared before them as
a most beautiful lady, and said,
“This is Brahman, to be sure , and in the victory of Brahman , indeed do you glory thus”.
Thus the truth was convincingly
demonstrated by Brahman in the form
of the yaksha that all powers in the world,
including that of the devas were derived
solely from Him (Brahman) .
Brahman was higher than all the gods.
It was the real source of victory for the devas and defeat for the asuras.
The Sruti(Taittiriya Upanishad, Section II.) makes it clear that Brahman is the ultimate source of all power and all action in the world :
For fear of It (Brahman) the wind blows,
for fear of It the Sun rises,
for fear of It Agni, Indra , and Death, the
fifth, run (to do their allotted work).
✅ Mountain Path. EDITORIAL (Excerpt)
JAYANTHI ISSUE DECEMBER 1996
Vol 33 , Nos.3 & 4
InnerRealisation 