How Magha became Sakra

“We always hear of a superhuman named Sakra. But who is he?" the pupil asked. The teacher was ready to answer.

"You know, Sakra is the god of gods."

"How did he get to that status?"

"Oh, that is an interesting question," said the teacher.

"The Buddha has answered this question long time ago in response to a question raised by a person named Mahali, belonging to the Lichchavi clan of princes."

"What was the Buddha's response?"

The Buddha said that there was a young man named Magha. He had the habit of giving alms to needy and desperate, saints and monks. He gave away most of his belongings to others selflessly. So they, who observed this habit, called him Puradada, which means he who gives. He would also face any event and overcome it, despite all barriers and instances. As he was ready to face any situation he was called sakta or the skilful person who would be ready to face a situation with inborn skills.

For example, he would mend roads enabling the people to walk. He would build houses and create monasteries. So he was also named Vasava. He also had the capacity to think of thousands of things in a moment. The person who could do thousands of things at one time is called Sahasakkha or the one with thousand eyes. This signified that he could also foresee thousand events. He also had a wife named Suja.

She was a helpful wife who supported his noble deeds. As such he was called Sujampathi which means the husband of Suja. He would do the best of activities to elevate the humans to a heavenly state. So he was called Devanaminda, the one who is similar to a heavenly being. He also had seven actions to perform as daily rituals."

Then the teacher explained what the seven actions are.

They are called Satvatapada or seven precepts. In the first instance he undertook the task of fulfilling the duties rendered by a son to parents by looking after them in the best possible manner. Then he would undertake the duty of looking after the elders and relatives. He never used harsh words instead he would always use soothing words when he conversed with people. He would never insult or humiliate another person under any circumstances. He believes in being a giver with good intentions.

So his hands were always clean. He was never a miser mentally and bodily and always used truthful words in his utterances. As soon as a lazy thought entered his mind he would see that it is dispelled. In this manner he was a superior person while being a human being. The heavenly bodies came to know about this superior nature of Magha. They felt that they were challenged. When the popularity of Magha widened, people from various quarters came to see him. He listened to them all and responded: "I am going to help you. Don't be afraid. If you are a good mannered person, I can always sacrifice myself on your behalf."

Whenever Magha came to know of a evil deed, he would rush there and eliminate it, enabling a better state of living conditions. Then those who obtained help from Magha used to say:

"May you be a god. May you be the god of gods."

"We need your blessings even after your death," they said.

Even while alive, Magha was regarded as a demigod. Most people used to revere him saying: 'You are our god. After rendering a noble service of humans, Magha died a peaceful death. But he was born in a celestial world. He was known by the others as the god with thousand eyes. As a god, he wanted to serve earthly beings. As such he was called Sakra or Sakka, which means 'capable and skilful. Other gods approached the new god as their leader, and entrusted the duties of looking after the earthly beings. He was given a throne made out of a rock. This was called shailasana or sailasana whenever an earthly being pleads with the god Sakra, the rocky seat would get warmed. This meant that somebody is in need of his help.

Then he would with his divine eye look at the earthly state.

"Oh my help is needed by someone," he would feel. As soon as he sees that someone is desperately in need of his help, he would disguise himself as an old man, and descend to the earthly spot.

He would make enquiries as to what had befallen. Having observed and determined to help the person in trouble he would sprinkle water or give some magical object to obtain a divine help in his name. As a matter of righteousness, he would not be bias on evil persons. He would only consider the good action. In this manner Magha who became Sakra, is the supreme divine judge, who used a divine vehicle to shuttle from the heaven to earth and back to heaven.

The student who listened to his teacher was satisfied.

"Now it is your chance," said the teacher, "go through tales where Sakra appears."