What is the story of the gods disappearing from the Earth?

Question

The Agnihotra is a twice-daily Vedic Yagna that is required to be performed by all Dvijas. (It's not as commonly practiced nowadays, because it can be substituted with Naivedyam, which constitutes a Pranagnihotra; see Yamunacharya's Agama Pramanya for more details.) In any case, this chapter of the Shatapatha Brahmana of the Yajur Veda lists a bunch of reasons for why one should or should not approach the fires of the Agnihotra, before ultimately concluding that one should. Here's one such reason:

atʰa yásmānnòpatíṣṭʰeta |
ubʰáye ha vā́ idamágre sahā̀surdevā́śca manuṣyā̀śca tadyáddʰa sma manuṣyā̀ṇāṃ na bʰávati táddʰa sma devā́nyācanta idaṃ vaí no nā̀stīdáṃ no 'stvíti te tásyā evá yāñcyā́yai dvéṣeṇa devā́stiróbʰūtā néddʰinásāni neddveṣyó 'sānī́ti tásmānnópatiṣṭʰeta ||

Then as to why he should not approach them. Now in the beginning both the gods and men were together here. And whatever did not belong to the men, for that they importuned the gods, saying, 'This is not ours: let it be ours!' Being indignant at this importunity, the gods then disappeared. Hence (it may be argued) one should not approach (the fires), fearing lest he should offend them, lest he should become hateful to them.

My question is, what is the story of the gods disappearing from the Earth because humans asked them for too many things? When (e.g. in what Yuga) did this take place?

I suppose this could explain why there are lots of references in Hindu scriptures to the gods residing on Earth, and also why the gods are said for reside in Lokas other than Devaloka. For instance, this question this describes how Amaravati is a city of the gods at the foot of Mount Meru in Bhuloka, and yet Amaravati is also the capital of Devaloka. It's possible that the gods used to live in the Bhuloka Amaravati, and then left and went to Devaloka due to being offended by human beings. Also, Hindu scripture frequently says that the land of the Uttarakurus on the Northern side of the Himalayas is a land inhabited by gods, so perhaps that is where the gods lived before leaving the Earth.

Does anyone know any other scriptures that describe this story?

Answer 1

Partly answering the question - refer to chapters 5 to 7 of Adi Parva (Paulomo Parva) of Mahabharata. In these chapters the story of Maharishi Brighu cursing Agni and an angry Agni vanishing from the universe and the return of Agni is told.

Without quoting the Sanskrit verses the story briefly is "Maharishi Brighu's wife Pulomaa was pregnant carrying Maharishi Chyavana in her womb. One day when Brighu was away from his hermitage a danava (asura) also by name of Puloma came. He was smitten by Pulomaa and asked her who she was. On learning of her parentage, he said she belonged to him and wanted her to come with him, but she demurred saying she was Brighu's wife.

The background is that when Pulomaa was a child, one day she threw a tantrum and was crying bitterly. Her father told her to be quiet or he would give her away to a danava. Puloma danava who was nearby heard this. However, later Pulomaa was wed to Maharishi Brighu. Puloma Danava asked the ever burning Agnihotra fire to tell truthfully whether Pulomaa was his bethroed or not.

The fire god replied that this indeed was so, however Pulomaa's father had not handed over his daughter to him, instead in the presence of Agni as per vedic rituals given Pulomaa in wedding to Maharishi Brighu. On hearing this, Puloma danava took the form of a wild boar and picking up Pulomaa escaped. As Pulomaa started crying and lamenting, the child in her womb heard her cries and came out and dropped to the ground. Smouldering like fire and bright as the sun , when Puloma danava saw the child he was stunned and in a few minutes was burnt to ashes.

With her son Chyavana, Pulomaa returned to the hermitage where an anxious Brighu enquired what had happened and a weeping Pulomaa told the entire story. Brighu asked her, who had let out her secret and she pointed to Agni. Enraged, Brighu cursed Agni "Become Sarva Bakshi" i.e. swallow everything.

Agni retorted: "Learned brahmin, I too have the power to curse you, but I respect Brahmins and refrain from doing so. since you have cursed me become sarvabakshi, I will withdraw from this world. agni withdrew and everywhere the fires went out.

Without fires the sages and brahmins could not offer Agnihotra, and accordingly the devas and Pitrs were denied of their sustenance. So they went to devaloka, but could not find Agni. All approached Brahma and narated their woe. Brahma requested Agni and entreated him to return. He also said, you will perform your duties of providing sustenance to the Devas and Pitrs. You will not be fully Sarvabakshi. at the sme time Mahrishi Brighu's curse cannot be in vain and so you will be Sarvabakshi only of raw flesh and corpses.

Therefore O Hutashana, for the thoughtless words of one individual, please do not deprive us of our sustenance. Please return to earth and let humans perform Agnihotra and other fire offerings. Thus mollified Agni returned to earth."

As to when this instance occured, no mention is made in Mahabharat, but the reference to 'Puranemakhilam' reers to the earliest periods and hence would be Krita Yuga of most probably Padma Kalpa.

This is the most widespread story of a Deva leaving the earth. Agni did not leave the earth because human beings asked too much of him, the cuse was something else.

Going through the vast literature of the epics, itihaasa and puranas, one would definitely come across other stories of Devas leaving the earth and maybe returning later. I pause for the present.

Answer 2

The content of FOURTH BRÂHMANA in Satapatha Brahmana should not be understood in too literal sense, but in SPIRITUAL sense only.

The following are from the same Fourth Brahmana (2:3:4).

4. Now in the beginning both the gods and men were together here. And whatever did not belong to the men, for that they importuned the gods, saying, 'This is not ours: let it be ours!' Being indignant at this importunity, the gods then disappeared. Hence (it may be argued) one should not approach (the fires), fearing lest he should offend them, lest he should become hateful to them.

5. Then as to why he should nevertheless approach (the fires). The sacrifice, assuredly, belongs to the gods, and the prayer for blessing to the sacrificer. Now the (Agnihotra) libation, doubtless, is the same as the sacrifice; and what he does 1 in now approaching (the fires), that indeed is the sacrificer's prayer for blessing.

6. And again, why he should not approach (the fires). Whosoever follows either a Brâhman or Kshatriya, praising him, thinking, 'He will give me gifts, he will build me a house,' to him, if he strives to please him both in speech and deed, that (master of his) will think himself bound to give gifts. Whosoever, on the other hand, says, 'What art thou to me, that givest me nothing?' him that (master) is likely to hate, to become disgusted with. Hence one should not approach (the fire); for by kindling and offering in it, he already supplicates it, and he should not therefore approach (and importune it again).

7. And again, why he should nevertheless approach (the fires). He alone that asks finds a giver; and the master, moreover, knows nothing of his dependent. But when the latter says, 'I am thy dependent: support me!' then he does know him, and feels himself bound to support him. Let him therefore approach (the fires). This then is the whole (argument) as to why one should approach (the fires).

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Actually, there was no disappearance of Gods here.

Appearing of Gods does indicate the manifestation of our own achievement of SELF REALISATION, or dawning of WISDOM, due to loosing attachment towards materialistic tendencies.

Our attachment to materialistic nature and greediness in amassing wealth, will take us away from our SPIRITUAL aspiration, which indicates disappearance of Gods.

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2:3:4:7 gives clue here.

Do not cling the materialistic things and do not ask for what you consider as required.

Surrender to the Almighty. What is the best for one will be provided by the Almighty.