My Pet Tiger

I was gifted a Tiger on my last birthday.
It's the stuff real things are made of.... scares the piss out of children.

I'd dreamed of owning a life-size Tiger model for the longest time. And this one looks so real that anyone peeping into my house from the entrance retracts his nutcase immediately. Allows us inmates to sleep in peace - ghode bech ke!. Like Lord Shiva does, meditating peacefully on his tiger hyde in frozen Kailasa.

I was searching for more references on tigers in Indian Mythology. There's one indication in Sant Dnyaneshwar's story. Read on.....

Dnyaneshwar was a child saint born to parents Vitthal and Rukmini. This was around 13th century AD. Indian social laws required each person to undergo four stages in life : Brahmacharyashram (Celibacy & Learning Phase), Gruhasthashram (Householder Phase), Vanaprasthashram (Exile Phase) and Sanyaasashram (Renunciation). One needed to completely fulfill their responsibilities of one phase before graduating to the next. Only someone who had vowed eternal celibacy would be allowed Sanyaasashram without undergoing the intermediate stages.

Vitthal lied about his marital status to his Guru while accepting sanyaas (exile). When his Guru found out the truth, Vitthal was ostracized from the Brahmin community as punishment. Thereon, four children were born to the couple who ultimately committed suicide hoping that their children would be accepted back into the community after their death. However that did not happen. The children had to fight a bitter battle with the erstwhile custodians of social conscience. They had to resort to begging for survival. Amidst all this struggle, the eldest son Nivrutti got inducted into the Nath tradition of Yogic studies. Nivrutti tutored his younger brother Dnyaneshwar in the science of Kundalini Yoga. With this, all four siblings followed the yogic path of life

Tales of these miracle children spread far and wide and ultimately reached Changdev, an accomplished yogi of those times. To test the caliber of the young ones, Changdev sent them a blank chit of paper as message. The children laughed at the blank message and replied with 65 verses summarizing Vedanta scribbled on the same piece of paper. Changdev's ego was challenged as he couldn't comprehend the verses. In vengeance, he set off to meet the children to intimidate them with his yogic prowess. For his visit, he chose to ride a tiger and used a poisonous cobra as his whip. As he entered the village, Changdev was followed by a huge procession raising his ego even further.

On the other hand, when Dnyaneshwar and his siblings were informed of Changdev's arrival, the kids were enjoying their daytime play. Dnyaneshwar gently patted the wall they were seated on and the wall began flying like an aeroplane. With their spiritual energy, the children had made an immobile wall take flight and serve as their vehicle. Changdev's pride crashed at the sight of such unparalleled power. He became their disciple thereon....

This makes me think of all the aircraft technologies mentioned in mythology.... 

We'll talk about that............. in the next post.

. 

 .

Arjun - The Warrior Prince

Recently I saw a much-awaited animation of recent times :  Arjun - The Warrior Prince.

Exceptional Movie! And if it makes a purist like me say this, it surely must have been an epic for the average masses who don't delve much into the details of Mythology. The movie was strong in all its departments - Script, Direction, Editing, Animation, Sound Effects, Music Score, Dialogue Delivery, Song Rendition, Art Direction, Costume Design - and all that remains. Perhaps Bollywood movies that boast of budgets 500 times that of Arjun could take a leaf or two from its success. The film was running until its fourth week - a rare precedent for an indigenous animated film.

Arjun used 3D simulation for its background whereas all characters in the movie remained 2-dimensional. And they used their scissors wisely... clipping off gross episodes from the Mahabharata that're not suitable for sensitive audience. Except connoisseurs of Animation, this film was most likely to be watched by young children. The scene where Yudhisthir stakes his wife to gamble, the Draupadi vastra-haran episode.... or the point where Kunti asks her sons to 'share' Draupadi.... these trivia have been totally eliminated, projecting Panchali as Arjuna's wife alone all along.

However it's the narration that takes the cake. The thrills and suspense come unexpected.

Then again, they've taken cinematic liberty to alter major segments of the original Mahabharata. Here, Krishna supposedly instructs Arjuna of Bhagavad Gita much prior to the war. Shakuni is portrayed like a caricature as ever. And Panchal King's challenge for his daughter's Swayamwar is tailored too. But no one's complaining. Because this gives the film an opportunity to explore events of the Mahabharata from an artist's viewpoint. Once Arjun takes his dive into the bubbled turquoise waters, he not only hits the fishes' eye with his valour, he leaves the audience equally breathless!

.

Dhritarashtra

While I'm on the topic of India Against Corruption, I'm reminded of one more incident.

Facebook was a major coordination center for India's second Freedom Struggle. The revolution began with a few LIKES and went on to amass unprecedented citizen support to the anti-corruption movement.  Neither the ruling party - the Congress - nor the opposition - BJP - were forthcoming in their support to implementing a strict Jan-Lokpal Bill and a strong Citizen's Charter. Evidently, they all faced stakes in  the outcome. Back then, one would see enthusiastic people create their own creative versions of the political situation at that time. Just about anyone and everyone whipped their creative milk over a satirical poster or status update.

One such poster that went viral in those days mocked Manmohan Singh for being a redundant administrator. The situation was straight out of Chanakya ---- History seemed to be replicating itself. Those who have seen the television series on Doordarshan.... or have studied a book on Kautilya or Alexander the Great would know!

On my part, I couldn't help equate our PM's character with that of King Dhritarashtra of the epic Mahabharata. Dhritarashtra was blind since birth and hence had to lose throne to his younger brother Pandu. After Pandu's premature death, Dhritarashtra once again got the opportunity to rule Hastinapur kingdom -- this time, he was deemed caretaker of the throne until a more suitable King was found. This left Dhritarashtra with much insecurity. He wished to hold on as a Ruler of the State despite all his practical limitations. Forced to choose a Crown Prince for Hastinapur, he mutely supported his own son Duryodhan, despite the fact that he wasn't virtuous enough to execute judicial duties. Duryodhan's crowing was in fact, an indirect means for the blind King to remain in power over the state. This deprived Pandu's five sons of their moral right to be the heirs... as they were more heroic and righteous than any of Dhritarashtra's progenies. Dhritarashtra's lust for the crown ultimately led way for Mahabharata - the greatest war for Dharma ever fought in history.

I discussed this view with my sister who promptly posted it as a status update on Facebook. A comparison was put up between Manmohan Singh and King Dhritarashtra. Our PM is an academician who has pursued Politics until a very ripe old age. He has earned Money, experienced Power, been on the most coveted seats of the nation for more than his share of years now. What more could a man wish for in life? Yet this gentleman chooses to turn a blind eye towards the corruption of his associates and supports them by staying mute all along. The man who is clean himself, should have resigned from his post and adopted Satsang (righteous company) instead in his sunset years. But his lust for the Prime Minister's seat continues.... and he's willing to adapt to Anything to remain there. There ends the comparison.

Soon after this post went online, dozens of "Likes" and Comments came cascading. Almost everybody agreed to the equation, except a few smarty pants who began comparing Mahabharata character-to-character to the current situation. "So, our PM is Dhritarashtra, then who is Sonia? And who are Arjuna and Krishna?" Before me or my sister could intervene to salvage the situation, we had a barrage of suggestions and arguments about who's who of Mahabharata in the present scenario. A war had just begun on my sister's profile page. I'm sure Aamrapali must have been very very sorry for having translated my thoughts onto her Facebook wall.

This is a familiar scene for me by now. I have lectured on Indian Mythology to so many groups. I still have to figure out a way to handle wise men who 'know' more about Mahabharata than Ved Vyas and Lord Ganesha together would. The purpose of our ancient sacred texts is to learn from their example and correct our way of life. Mahabharata - the epic- portrays characters of every shade that we could possibly see in our own lives. Our stories are similar, the situations we fall in and out of are also similar to the script of Mahabharata. And the script has stood the test of Time for millenia. As they say, TRUTH never changes. But the whole purpose of narration is wasted if the listener concentrates on exact tally.

So... NO, Sonia Gandhi isn't Bheeshma however much she guards the Gandhi throne, Arvind Kejriwal isn't Krishna and Anna Hazare isn't Arjuna..... By any means, I do not intend to convey so at least. And I can raise a war of words to defend my stand. But somewhere deep inside, I also know that all this is so normal. It happened before, and it is happening again, and yet again. And then I smile in understanding....

Wherever there's a Dhritarashtra...... Mahabharata is imminent.

.

Grihastas Vs Brahmins

 

I am subscribed to SMS updates on India Against Corruption. Something went amiss after the initial euphoria last year. With millions rallying the streets of India to support veteran activist Anna Hazare, today not even a fraction of that figure might be attending the group's regular meetings. I know, for I am one of those guilty. I read the messages, update myself on the on-goings and then resign to my daily schedule. That doesn't mean I have ceased to support the cause. I pay my taxes every year and bluntly refuse to pay a bribe, Always. Yet I wait in anonymity for another mass uprising to take place so that I can lend my support to it. Cowardice? Not really.

There would be some of us who would go about their everyday jobs and businesses to earn money. And this is not a selfish act. The working class earns from doing some service to the nation.. for Nothing useless has ever delivered money. With whatever transactions they carry out every day, they provide their land with some much-needed services, infrastructure and/or money. From farmers to traders to architects to engineers to sweepers to accountants to models to actors to artists to waiters... they're all serving their nation. Ancient texts define this category as the 'Grihasta' - the house-holder.

And then there exists a minority that gains its name, fame and livelihood through social activism.... by studying the laws themselves and then enlightening the working class about them. In ancient days, these would be called Brahman. Then too, the structure of society was similar. A large chunk of countrymen would lead normal family lives, working hard to earn their daily bread and honey. This left them with no time to pursue spiritual search. So this function to balance was assigned to the Brahmans. The Brahmans were yogis, priests and scientists who would make extensive research on the subjects of 'Astitva' (Existence) and 'Dharma' (Righteousness) and then hand-over their learning to the masses. In return for this knowledge, they were protected, nurtured and fed by the Grihastas.

As long as today's Brahmans don't get corrupted by the power of mass support, alike their ancient counterparts, I will support them like a true hot-blooded Kshatriya (warrior) should.

.