Ego namely ahamkara is the worst enemy of man and is a big stumbling block in his spiritual progress. Our scriptures have given us plenty of instances of demons, kings and even sages succumbing to the play of ego and meeting with spiritual downfall and ignominy. It is very difficult to get over the feeling of "I" and "Mine" . Lord Krishna while describing the demonic qualities says in the Gita that those with such qualities take pride in themselves, do not show respect to great souls, are vainglorious about their wealth and false prestige and perform sacrifices in an unbecoming manner.

Aatmasambhaavitaah stabdhaa dhanamaanamadaanvitaah
Yajante naamayajnayste dambhenaavidhipoorvakam
(Gita 16/17 )

Our Upanishads narrate several stories for the upliftment of human beings and aiding their spiritual progress. One such story is told in the Kenopanishad recounting the results of ego.

The devas (celestials) were able to defeat the demons with the help of Brahman. But the celestials were not prepared to accept this fact and were proud that the success they achieved is due to their own prowess and merits.

Brahman wanted to teach them a lesson and once it appeared before them as an effulgent entity in the form a Yaksha. The devas could not recognize this Yaksha. They asked Agni ,the god of fire to find out who this strange phenomenon was. Agni also agreed and approached the Yaksha. The Yaksha enquired of Agni as to who he was. Agni replied that his name was Agni knower of every created thing (Jataveda). Being asked further by the Brahman as to what he was capable of, Agni replied that he could burn up everything on this earth. Upon this, Brahman placed a straw in front of Agni and asked him to burn it. But however much Agni tried with all his might, he could not burn the straw. Feeling ashamed at his incapacity, Agni returned to the devas and reported that he could not find out who the Yaksha was.

Then the devas asked the wind god, Vayu to go and find out who this Yaksha was. When Vayu went near the phenomenon, it asked him who he was . Vayu replied that his name was Vayu and also known as Matarishwa meaning thereby that he could travel through space. Upon this, the Yaksha asked Vayu what is his special capability. Vayu replied that he could lift and blow away everything on earth. The Yaksha as before placed a straw in front of Vayu and asked him to blow it away. Though Vayu tried with all his might , he could not even move the straw. He came back to the devas and told them that he was unable to find out who this strange figure was. Then the devas asked the venerable Indra himself to find out the truth about the Yaksha. He also agreed and when he hastened towards the Yaksha, it suddenly disappeared from his view. In that very place, he saw the resplendent goddess Uma, the daughter of the Himalayas. Indra asked her who the Yaksha was .To this, Uma replied that it was the Brahman who was responsible for the success of the devas in the war against the demons. Since Agni and Vayu were the first to investigate the Brahman, approaching it, they are spoken of as superior to the other devas and since Indra got enlightened from goddess Uma that the strange phenomenon was nothing but Brahman, he is acknowledged as superior to all other celestials.

If at the outset, this parable appears as a very simple story, the underlying truth and significance cannot be lost sight of. The senses are powerless to comprehend the Eternal Truth if they search for it as something outside. Without the grace of the Almighty, it is impossible to do or achieve anything. We are only instruments in the hands of God ( nimittamaatram bhava savyasaachin -Gita ). The above story stresses the Upanishadic dictum that the Ultimate Truth is different from what is known and beyond what is unknown. It is nothing but the knower himself.