The Circumstances That Led To Their Birth

Have you ever wondered what the various characters like Hiranyaksha, Hiranyakashyipu, Ravana and so on did in their previous births to be such sinners in that life? 💭 And what's more conflicting with their sins is the fact that they died in the hands of the supreme lord - thus guarenteed mukti (salvation).🤷🏻‍♀️🤷🏻‍♂️

Well, there sure is a story that explains this and here's how it goes...

Jaya and Vijaya - the dwarapalas of Vaikuntha were on guard. It was a late evening and Vishnu was resting on Adi Sesha with Lakshmi (his consort) by his side. At that time, the four kumaras - Sanaka, Sanandana, Sanatana and Sanatkumara (famously appearing as four children) requested audience with Vishnu.

But Jaya and Vijaya, unaware of their identity, informed them that the lord was in his resting hours and refused them entry. This angered the kumaras and so they cursed Jaya and Vijaya to be born as mortals and be stripped off their immortality and divinity. 
Vishnu and Lakshmi realized the happenings and rushed to the spot. Realizing their folly, Jaya and Vijaya begged Vishnu to save them from the curse which was denied by him since he himself could not fiddle with anyone's curse, especially his devotees'. Instead, he gave them 2 options.
- either be born his devotee for 14 births.
(or)
- be born his enemy for 3 births.

Finding the second option to be a faster route to reach Vaikuntha, near the lord, Jaya and Vijaya chose to be born as Vishnu's enemy for 3 births respectively i.e., Hiranyaksha and Hiranyakashyipu in Satya Yuga (killed by Varaha and Narasimha respectively), Ravana and Kumbhakarna in Treta Yuga (killed by Rama) and Shishupala and Dantavakra in Dwapara Yuga (killed by Krishna). 

Moreover, it can also be noticed that their power decreases by every subsequent birth. They are born as Asuras in Satya Yuga, Rakshasas in Treta Yuga and just huge sinners in Dwapara Yuga.