Thread by @sacredbharat_

Subject: The Arrogance and Fall of Bhasmasura – A Lesson in Misusing Divine Boons

There was once a selfish demon who began worshipping Lord Shiva not out of devotion, but to fulfill his own selfish desires. Every day he would offer funeral ashes to Shiva, and from this ritual, he came to be known as Bhasmasura.

Lord Shiva, the ever-compassionate and easily pleased Ashutosh, appeared before him, unaware or rather, unconcerned by the demon’s evil intentions, and said, “Ask for any boon.”

The demon asked for a dangerous power: “May anyone on whose head I place my hand be instantly reduced to ashes.”
Shiva granted the boon with a “Tathastu.”

Drunk with power, Bhasmasura soon turned on his own benefactor. He approached Shiva and declared that he would test the boon on Him first. Shiva tried to dissuade him, but the demon, filled with pride and lust (especially towards Goddess Parvati), refused to listen.

Though Shiva could have destroyed him or withdrawn the boon, He chose not to—so as not to break His own word. Instead, He pretended to flee.

This act of betrayal became intolerable for Lord Vishnu, who is one with Shiva. Yet, respecting Shiva’s boon, Vishnu didn’t use direct force. He took the form of the beautiful Mohini and appeared before Bhasmasura.

Captivated by Mohini, the demon started imitating her dance moves. Mohini cleverly placed her hand on her head, and the mesmerized demon did the same. The moment he did, flames erupted from his body, and he was instantly reduced to ashes.

Thus, the name Bhasmasura became meaningful and the fate of betraying Bhole Bhandari became a timeless warning.

Moral: Divine blessings, when misused with arrogance and ill-intent, become the cause of one’s own destruction.