“Dhoomraksha: The Invisible Devourer”

The human sage struck stones together and lit a fire. To please the fire, he prayed: “O Agni, grant us prosperity and victory over our enemies.” He chanted: “Agnaye Swaha. Idam Agnaye Idam Na Mama.”

Suddenly, from the sacrificial fire emerged a smoky, bodiless figure. Standing with folded hands, it said, “I am Dhoomraksha, son of Agni. Smoke is my food. Fulfilling human desires is my sacred duty.”

The sage asked for honey from a beehive. Dhoomraksha created smoke; the bees flew away. The sage coughed, but tasted the sweet honey. Dhoomraksha stood again, awaiting the next command.

Time passed. Arjuna ordered Dhoomraksha to burn down the Khandava forest. With the help of fire, Dhoomraksha devoured the forest’s creatures and plants. As life struggled, some forest dwellers fled and surrendered to Arjuna. They became the world’s first displaced people. On the ashes of Khandava, Indraprastha was built. Today, cities like Mumbai and Noida etc.  stand—thanks to Dhoomraksha.

Fulfilling every human desire, Dhoomraksha kept consuming smoke and grew so vast that his bodiless form now covers the entire Earth.

Yesterday evening, I stood on the terrace. I saw Dhoomraksha. I said, “Because of you, I have asthma.”

He calmly replied, “Master, I grew from your desires. Without smoke, cars, buildings, and air conditioners cannot exist. The smoke spreads, and you must bear its consequences.”

I fell silent. Went to my room. Turned on the AC. But sleep eluded me.

Finally, a thought struck me—during a ritual, we say “Idam Na Mama” (this is not mine), but in truth, we ask for everything for ourselves. From this contradiction, Dhoomraksha is born.

Perhaps, in fulfilling humanity’s endless desires, one day Dhoomraksha will consume humanity itself.