Book Two: The Book of the Traveller of the Worlds

These cults spread to propagate falsehood under different names. Their way of life was cruel and intolerant of all that did not share their belief. Deception, hypocrisy, cruelty, intolerance was the very law of this world of falsehood.

Not only politics but even religion has come under the influence of evil that lives in the underbelly of creation. It has changed religion also into something dark and despicable.

Aswapati enters a domain of anarchy. There is no order, no rule, no harmony and each lives only for himself. Sri Aurobindo reveals to us in details what the world has become and can become under the influence of this darkness.

It was a world of treachery where even truth-speaking was used as a strategy by falsehood to further its own empire. It is when these dark worlds of falsehood and untruth influence human beings and take them in its strong grip that life here too becomes a hell.

Evil works in dubious and diabolic ways. It seldom comes declaring itself. Rather it often appears in the garb of good. Falsehood deceives us by imitating truth. We can see how quite a few religious teachers and even those who claim to be spiritual fall into this category. It reminds us of the need for caution and vigilance.

Aswapati now enters this land of deception where nothing is real or true and yet pretended to be so.

Falsehood draws its material from truth but gives it a twist thereby turning it into a lie. Its action is a distorting influence on things. Deception and terror is the law of life in this world. It is a world devoid of natural joy and good.

Aswapati begins his descent into the Night. At first he enters into a realm built by the waste and destruction of past forms that have served their utility and gone into oblivion. They survive only in their outer form even though the spirit has passed away.

There is a dark side of creation that often remains hidden in its underbelly. It emerges from time to time wearing various masks to pull the upward movement back. It is difficult to recognise the action of evil as it comes stealthily and whispers and lures the human heart turning all things downhill.

Something began to emerge out of the gulfs of Night, an evil influence crept silently to enter men’s heart. The powers of the Abyss deform and distort truth. They cast a spell as it were that perverts the will and throws doubts thereby dragging nature towards the home of Night.

Aswapati begins to go deeper into the dark mystery, the dark pole of creation, the Night that engulfs all things and seems to be the origin of all life.

Aswapati now wants to explore the dark underbelly of Life that denies it enduring progress and ties it down to the level of a beast with some rare uplifting moments. With this will to discover the very roots of evil, Aswapati now descends into darkness.