Asura ≠ Demon | Sanskrit Non-Translatables

Demon is very commonly used to translate the Sanskrit word ‘asura’. Demon is considered in the biblical tradition as the personification of evil. Demons are the ones who support all that is sinful and vile in this world and cause all its sufferings. Hinduism does not have concepts like demon, devil or Satan. Asura is used to denote someone who takes pleasure only in enjoying the materialistic life. Although asuras generally possess many vices, this is not an inviolable rule and there are instances where even an asura has displayed extraordinary virtues. In this video Babaji and Rajiv take a close look at the concept of ‘asura’ in Hinduism. This will help us to recognize the differences between ‘asura’ and ‘demon’.

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[narveenaryaputri]

This is excellent . Thank you. I really appreciate your series on these non-translables . it is a movement of Imperialism that coined words from the Imperialist culture to superimpose onto the culture they wished to dominate.
This is very, very good that you are revealing this, and correcting the wrong. Thank you, Rajivji.

[ska]

_Lets be honest with ourselves, we all are mostly Ashuras in our way of life._

[pandit-jee-bihar]

Asura is a state of being.

Someone with certain characteristics or traits are considered as Asura.

Such characteristic can be:

1) Doing things which are not supposed to be done
2) Doing it at a time or place which is prohibited

[abhilash]

If the father is the same, they are not cousins, they are half siblings. Otherwise Rama and Lakshmana would be cousins.

[ananya]

In 15th Chapter, the Blessed Lord said - manah shashthani indrayani prakriti sthani karshati
In Advaita also we say, God has become this world and everyone
In Ramayana also it is said, that without his will a leaf also doesn't move
So, these Sura, Asura are both expressions of the Supreme Blessed Lord
So, is Rajiv Ji, so are you, So am I. Soham asmi. So am I.

[jitennandha]

2:12 "so they are cousins..." this statement is incorrect. Father of both the Asura and Deva's is Kashyap Muni, they have the same father, so they are Half Brothers. They are also cousins if you see ONLY the maternal side, however, as they have the same Father they are actually half brothers. Excellent interview & have great respect for you work.

[haribhansingh]

A child whose mother as well as father both were brahmins, even then he is known to be a daitya=asura. Should i understand that our scriptures emphasised varnashram system based not on his birth but something else including on one's karmas.

[anjanarao]

Shri Babaji explained such profound concepts with such ease. I appreciate his knowledge and thank Shri Rajeev for making his knowledge accessible to us

[thinkglobaleatlocal]

The YOLO part was brilliant 😅. Rajiv ji was taken aback for a moment. Overall, wonderful explanations and extremely intellectual and knowledgable series.

[woundedindia]

श्री राजीव मल्होत्रा एवं सह-प्रबुद्धजन को सादर प्रणाम,

🇮🇳🇮🇳देव दीपावली की हार्दिक शुभकामनायें!!🇮🇳🇮🇳

[joyoftraditionaltales]

Insightful....sometimes even as an ardent hindu, we aren't aware of such precious knowledge .Thx for sharing.

[mridushijain]

I guess we all can be called Asuras in this modern world.

[WorldEyes]

It’s beautiful as whole story teaches to reflect within and not without, showing we are the one who create good or bad. the demonic representation seems to be the spiritual description of ones own qualities hence you start searching the wrong within. Vedic knowledge is empowering and self reflective for the listener. Empowering: as it teaches you not to fear world out but to fear of own wrong qualities and better them.

[nautiyogi]

Bhai, waah YOLO. Adhbut. Swami ji knows both modern suras and asuras.

[akshatdubey]

Demons are always evils but a Asur cannot always be evil

[kishanh]

Read the book and understood the mistranslated meaning also the corrected meaning. Thankyou shri Satyanarayana dasa babaji and shri rajiv Malhotra.

[nautiyogi]

The depth of my ancestors and my kin. Preeminent!

[akhandbharat]

ज्ञान वर्धक चर्चा ।
आप दोनों महात्माओं को सादर प्रणाम ।

[bhargavtalreja]

Story which is being told at 5:10 is in chandogya Upanishad adhyay 8 khand 7 and 8

[sankalp]

Yolo as opposite of yagna 😂 babaji has a great sense of humor