|| karmaṇy evādhikāras te
mā phaleṣu kadācana
mā karma-phala-hetur bhūr
mā te sańgo 'stv akarmaṇi ||
mā phaleṣu kadācana
mā karma-phala-hetur bhūr
mā te sańgo 'stv akarmaṇi ||
Do your duty to the best of your
ability. Overcome your limitations. Concentrate on your convergences. Do not
highlight your divergences/differences. Shun lethargy. Overcome inertia. Be
positive. Never lose hope.
|| ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय नम: ||
|| Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya Namah ||
Om, Śrī Kṛṣṇa, O Vasudeva, O all-pervading Eternal Spirit, I
offer my respectful obeisance unto You.
I bow to the Lord who is Jagad-Guruh -
the Preceptor of the universe. I bow to the gurutamah: The greatest teacher and guide.
I bow in reverence
to the Universal Guruh, the primeval Guruh, and the Satguruh. I bow to Yogeshwara, the Lord of the Yogis.
[This seal depicts that Universal Guruh
- the Jagad-Guruh and Satguruh: the Supreme Parama-hamsah, the Yogi
(the Supreme Master, since all wisdom and knowledge emanates from Him.)
It is a square seal depicting a male deity with three faces, seated in yogic position on a throne, wearing bangles on both arms and an elaborate headdress. Five symbols of the Indus script appear on either side of the headdress, which is made of two outward projecting curved horns, with two upward projecting points. A single branch with three peepal leaves rises from the middle of the headdress.
Seven bangles are depicted on the left arm and six on the right, with the hands resting on the knees. The heels are pressed together and the feet project beyond the edge of the throne. The feet of the throne are carved with the hoof of a bovine as is seen on the bull and unicorn seals. The seal may not have been fired, but the stone is very hard. A grooved and perforated boss is present on the back of the seal.
The three faces = the three loka (Trilok) or the three worlds (tri-bhUvan). Hence the seated Yogi is none other than the Lord of the three worlds: the 'tribhUvaneshvar', the Trilok Sundar: Purushottam Satya (who is also the cosmic Satyam-Shivam-Sundaram) ~ Lord Narayan. The elaborate headdress is made of two outward projecting curved horns, with two upward projecting points: 'coz Narayan/Krishna is also the Supreme Bull (vrisha uttamam) or Lord of Dharma. He is Dharma (justice and duty, actions that benefit society) personified. [Dharma is generally symbolized in Sanaatan Dharmic thought by the bull, vrishabha. It does not refer to a bovine creature per se. *Do also refer to the Unicorn seal and the three-head-seal below.] Five symbols of the Indus script that appear on either side of the headdress: probably this was how Vishnu or Krsna was written in the Indus script (Hieroglyphs). The horned headdress has a branch with three prongs or peepal leaves emerging from the center. In the Srimad Bhagavad Gita (Chapter 10, Verse: 26), Shri Krishna describes the glory of the peepal tree thus:
|| aśvatthaḥ sarva-vṛkṣāṇāḿ || ~ among trees, I am the peepal (ashvattha)
It is a square seal depicting a male deity with three faces, seated in yogic position on a throne, wearing bangles on both arms and an elaborate headdress. Five symbols of the Indus script appear on either side of the headdress, which is made of two outward projecting curved horns, with two upward projecting points. A single branch with three peepal leaves rises from the middle of the headdress.
Seven bangles are depicted on the left arm and six on the right, with the hands resting on the knees. The heels are pressed together and the feet project beyond the edge of the throne. The feet of the throne are carved with the hoof of a bovine as is seen on the bull and unicorn seals. The seal may not have been fired, but the stone is very hard. A grooved and perforated boss is present on the back of the seal.
The three faces = the three loka (Trilok) or the three worlds (tri-bhUvan). Hence the seated Yogi is none other than the Lord of the three worlds: the 'tribhUvaneshvar', the Trilok Sundar: Purushottam Satya (who is also the cosmic Satyam-Shivam-Sundaram) ~ Lord Narayan. The elaborate headdress is made of two outward projecting curved horns, with two upward projecting points: 'coz Narayan/Krishna is also the Supreme Bull (vrisha uttamam) or Lord of Dharma. He is Dharma (justice and duty, actions that benefit society) personified. [Dharma is generally symbolized in Sanaatan Dharmic thought by the bull, vrishabha. It does not refer to a bovine creature per se. *Do also refer to the Unicorn seal and the three-head-seal below.] Five symbols of the Indus script that appear on either side of the headdress: probably this was how Vishnu or Krsna was written in the Indus script (Hieroglyphs). The horned headdress has a branch with three prongs or peepal leaves emerging from the center. In the Srimad Bhagavad Gita (Chapter 10, Verse: 26), Shri Krishna describes the glory of the peepal tree thus:
|| aśvatthaḥ sarva-vṛkṣāṇāḿ || ~ among trees, I am the peepal (ashvattha)
This Indus seal depicts Shri Vishnu/Krishna as the peepal tree. || aśvatthaḥ sarva-vṛkṣāṇāḿ || ~ among
trees, I am the peepal (ashvattha).
The peepal tree (the Bodhi tree/the 'tree of enlightenment') or the transpersonal World Tree is the personification of Shri Vishnu/Keshav/Narayan/Hari. The Bodhi tree, the Tree of Enlightenment, is also the symbol of (the 9th Vishnu) Shri Gautam Buddh's message in general (since he had overcome his human boundaries and become one with the world spirit.) The holy fig tree therefore, holds a very important place in Indian civilization (be it with respect to faith, medicinal and social point of views), and hence is worthy of worship. It is the tree of eternal life. The ashvattha symbolizes the continuity of life because the tree itself lives and grows for hundreds of years. The heart-shaped leaves on long, thin stems shimmer easily in a light breeze. This sacred tree stands for wisdom, knowledge, enlightenment, happiness, prosperity, peace, longevity and good luck. Every peepal tree is a reservoir of oxygen. People who stay near it have a plentiful supply of oxygen. This majestic tree gives ample shade to humans and animals alike. It is also home to a lot of birds and insects. The holy fig tree has medicinal properties as well.
The peepal tree (the Bodhi tree/the 'tree of enlightenment') or the transpersonal World Tree is the personification of Shri Vishnu/Keshav/Narayan/Hari. The Bodhi tree, the Tree of Enlightenment, is also the symbol of (the 9th Vishnu) Shri Gautam Buddh's message in general (since he had overcome his human boundaries and become one with the world spirit.) The holy fig tree therefore, holds a very important place in Indian civilization (be it with respect to faith, medicinal and social point of views), and hence is worthy of worship. It is the tree of eternal life. The ashvattha symbolizes the continuity of life because the tree itself lives and grows for hundreds of years. The heart-shaped leaves on long, thin stems shimmer easily in a light breeze. This sacred tree stands for wisdom, knowledge, enlightenment, happiness, prosperity, peace, longevity and good luck. Every peepal tree is a reservoir of oxygen. People who stay near it have a plentiful supply of oxygen. This majestic tree gives ample shade to humans and animals alike. It is also home to a lot of birds and insects. The holy fig tree has medicinal properties as well.
Ashvatha literally means, "Where horses stood" (ashva + tha). In Sanskrit, this tree is known as Ashvattha, Bodhivriksha and Plaksha. This tree represents the entire cosmos: 'Shva' in Sanskrit means tomorrow, 'a' indicates negation, and 'tha' means one that stands or remains. Hence, Ashvatha can indicate: "One which does not remain the same tomorrow", or the universe itself. The Ashvatha tree is quite remarkable because it grows both upwards as well as vice versa. The branches themselves morph into roots, so even if the original tree decays and perishes, its branches underneath are young and continue to enclose the parent. This eternal life of the Peepal tree has inspired many Indian philosophers; this tree has its own symbolic meaning of enlightenment and peace... all of which has enriched Sanaatan Dharma. In the Upanishads, the fruit of the peepal is thus used as an example to explain the difference between the body (i.e. the individual soul: the Jiva-aatma) and the soul (i.e. the supersoul: the Param-aatma). The body (the Jiva-aatma) is like the fruit which, being outside, feels and enjoys things, while the soul (the Param-aatma) is like the seed, which is inside and therefore witnesses things. Tree of Roots above; branches below; this Ashvattha is reputed to be imperishable; whose leaves are the Vedas; One who knows this is a knower of all the vedas. [Kathopanishad and the Srimad Bhagavad Gita.]
... And it was beneath this very tree that Shri Krishna
was resting when the vyadh/hunter (Jara) unknowingly hit him with his arrow
(mistaking him for a deer). On finding out (who he has hit), he begs and pleads
to be forgiven. But Krishna only smiles, blesses him and departs. ['Coz with His task
already accomplished, the mortal coil had to go... for Him to return to
Vaikunth-loka. And so, while Jara continued to grieve over the empty shell (the discarded
outer coil) Krishna reaches Vaikunth-loka in a matter of seconds.] Thus, the
midnight of 18th February 3102 (in the proleptic Julian calendar)
heralded the advent of Kaliyug. [Kali does not mean demon. Kali means bud. Only at the end of Kaliyug when the metaphoric bud/flower withers away will the 'Iron Age' of Kaliyug be at its peak.]
Probably the most common design on the Indus
seals is the swastika. It occurs in dozens of seals and is sometimes aligned
with various animals like the elephant. This symbol wards off negativities. It
represents the cosmic spinning vortex. The right-handed swastika symbol
originated in ancient India and is the symbol of the mighty River Sarasvati as
well as the Sindhu-Sarasvati Sabhyata/Civilization - one of the oldest civilizations of
the world [and who knows whether many many millenniums ago this land was the cradle of civilization or not.] In
Sanaatan Dharma, the swastika represents the Universe in our own spiral
galaxy in the forefinger of Shri Vishnu. This carries most significance in
establishing the creation of the Universe and the arms as 'kaalah' or time. [Also, the chakra/disc on Lord Narayan's forefinger probably indicates the galaxies; maybe all galaxies (including the Milky Way/Aakash Ganga) were disc-shaped in the beginning... and gradually opened up to assume a spiral form.]
[The mighty River Indus is Sindhu in Sanskrit.
In Old Persian... the 'S' for Sindhu becomes 'H' (due to lack of phonetics). Therefore: the Vedic Sapta Sindhavaḥ or Sapta Sindhu becomes Hapta HAndu (both terms meaning "seven rivers").
The ancient Persians called the people living around the river Indus and to the east of the River Indus as: Hindu.
Thus, 'Hindu' is derived from 'HAndu', which in turn is derived from 'Sindhu'.
Note: The 'Sapta Sindhu' refers to the rivers SarasvatI, Sutudri or Satadru or SuturI (Sutlej), VipASa (Beas), AsiknI/Ashkini/Chandrabhaga/Iskmati (Chenab), ParuSNI (Ravi), VitastA (Jhelum) and Sindhu (Indus). Among these, the SarasvatI and the Sindhu were the most sacred. The once-mighty River Indus, it is said, originates from the mouth of a lion (Senge Khabab or "Lion's Mouth") - a perennial spring - in Manas Sarovar, in Tibet. Thus, it is also called Sengge Tsangpo or Lion River. This river is a common lifeline, and symbolically binds the people of more than one nation. Few rivers in the world flow through as stunning a landscape as the Sindhu/River Indus. It flows through plains, villages, hamlets and towns, as well as by valleys, gorges and peaks of countless hues. As for the River Sarasvati, it contains the word "saras", indicating the Saras Crane. Therefore, this now lost river probably emerged from a mountain rock/snout that resembled the beak of a Saras Crane. PS: Both extremely erudite and mellifluous languages, the Old Persian-Sanskrit connection go back a long way. The Sanskrit 'Asva' (horse) is 'Asp' in Persian. The Sanskrit 'sthan' (meaning: land or place) is 'stan' in Persian. 'Namaz' is 'Namah' or 'Naman' in Sanskrit, and both mean the same: to pay obeisance, or to bow and pray. (The word nama ḥ does not indicate mere physical obeisance, but total surrender of oneself, taking refuge in the Almighty through body, mind and soul/spirit.)]
The term Swastika has been derived from the Sanskrit word "Svastika", which means well-being: "SU" means "good" or "auspicious," "ASTI" means "to be," and "KA" as a suffix. The swastika literally means, "to be good". Alternatively: "swa" is "higher self", "asti" meaning "being", and "ka" as a suffix, so the translation can be interpreted as: "being with higher self". Suasti thus means "well-being." The suffix -ka either forms a diminutive or intensifies the verbal meaning, and suastika might thus be translated literally as "that which is associated with well-being," corresponding to "lucky charm" or "thing that is auspicious." Thus swastika means any lucky or auspicious object, and in particular a mark made on persons and things to denote auspiciousness, good luck or well-being. Shri Vishnu is also known as svasti: One who is the source of all auspiciousness.
The most traditional form of the swastika's symbolization in Sanaatan Dharma is that the symbol represents the purusharthas (representative of the cosmic energy/spirit - the Purusha): dharma (that which makes a human a human), artha (wealth), kama (desire), and moksha (liberation). All four are needed for a full life. However, two (artha and kama) are limited and can only give limited joy. They are the two closed arms of the swastika. The other two are unlimited and are the open arms of the swastika.
Swastika is considered to be a mark of auspiciousness and good fortune. Red Swastika is the sign of Sanaatan Dharma; it depicts a cross with four arms of equal lengths. The end of each of the arms is bent at a right angle. At times, dots are also added between the arms. The right-facing swastika (Sanskrit: Svastika) in the decorative form, used to evoke sacred force. [Shri Ganesh has the Swastika on his palm. The swastika is at times considered a symbolic representation of Shri Ganesh (Vignesh or Vighna-Vinashak - the remover of obstacles) and is hence offered first offerings in every puja. The swastika is made with red vermilion (prepared with natural ingredients) during rituals.]
The Swastika is a symbol of good fortune in Buddhism. It represents the footprints and heart of Bhagavan Shri Gautam Buddh. Thus, it is considered to be very holy and extensively brought to use by Buddhists. In fact, in all the images of Shri Gautam Buddh, you'll find the Swastik imprinted on his chest, palms and feet. In Jainism, Swastika represents the Seventh Jina, more popularly known as the Tirthankara Suparsva. It is one of the most prominent auspicious symbols of the present era. In the cultural traditions of Svetambar Jains, Swastika is one of the main symbols of the ashta-mangalas. [The Rishabha Avatar is also the first 'Tirthankara'.]
[The mighty River Indus is Sindhu in Sanskrit.
In Old Persian... the 'S' for Sindhu becomes 'H' (due to lack of phonetics). Therefore: the Vedic Sapta Sindhavaḥ or Sapta Sindhu becomes Hapta HAndu (both terms meaning "seven rivers").
The ancient Persians called the people living around the river Indus and to the east of the River Indus as: Hindu.
Thus, 'Hindu' is derived from 'HAndu', which in turn is derived from 'Sindhu'.
Note: The 'Sapta Sindhu' refers to the rivers SarasvatI, Sutudri or Satadru or SuturI (Sutlej), VipASa (Beas), AsiknI/Ashkini/Chandrabhaga/Iskmati (Chenab), ParuSNI (Ravi), VitastA (Jhelum) and Sindhu (Indus). Among these, the SarasvatI and the Sindhu were the most sacred. The once-mighty River Indus, it is said, originates from the mouth of a lion (Senge Khabab or "Lion's Mouth") - a perennial spring - in Manas Sarovar, in Tibet. Thus, it is also called Sengge Tsangpo or Lion River. This river is a common lifeline, and symbolically binds the people of more than one nation. Few rivers in the world flow through as stunning a landscape as the Sindhu/River Indus. It flows through plains, villages, hamlets and towns, as well as by valleys, gorges and peaks of countless hues. As for the River Sarasvati, it contains the word "saras", indicating the Saras Crane. Therefore, this now lost river probably emerged from a mountain rock/snout that resembled the beak of a Saras Crane. PS: Both extremely erudite and mellifluous languages, the Old Persian-Sanskrit connection go back a long way. The Sanskrit 'Asva' (horse) is 'Asp' in Persian. The Sanskrit 'sthan' (meaning: land or place) is 'stan' in Persian. 'Namaz' is 'Namah' or 'Naman' in Sanskrit, and both mean the same: to pay obeisance, or to bow and pray. (The word nama ḥ does not indicate mere physical obeisance, but total surrender of oneself, taking refuge in the Almighty through body, mind and soul/spirit.)]
The term Swastika has been derived from the Sanskrit word "Svastika", which means well-being: "SU" means "good" or "auspicious," "ASTI" means "to be," and "KA" as a suffix. The swastika literally means, "to be good". Alternatively: "swa" is "higher self", "asti" meaning "being", and "ka" as a suffix, so the translation can be interpreted as: "being with higher self". Suasti thus means "well-being." The suffix -ka either forms a diminutive or intensifies the verbal meaning, and suastika might thus be translated literally as "that which is associated with well-being," corresponding to "lucky charm" or "thing that is auspicious." Thus swastika means any lucky or auspicious object, and in particular a mark made on persons and things to denote auspiciousness, good luck or well-being. Shri Vishnu is also known as svasti: One who is the source of all auspiciousness.
The most traditional form of the swastika's symbolization in Sanaatan Dharma is that the symbol represents the purusharthas (representative of the cosmic energy/spirit - the Purusha): dharma (that which makes a human a human), artha (wealth), kama (desire), and moksha (liberation). All four are needed for a full life. However, two (artha and kama) are limited and can only give limited joy. They are the two closed arms of the swastika. The other two are unlimited and are the open arms of the swastika.
Swastika is considered to be a mark of auspiciousness and good fortune. Red Swastika is the sign of Sanaatan Dharma; it depicts a cross with four arms of equal lengths. The end of each of the arms is bent at a right angle. At times, dots are also added between the arms. The right-facing swastika (Sanskrit: Svastika) in the decorative form, used to evoke sacred force. [Shri Ganesh has the Swastika on his palm. The swastika is at times considered a symbolic representation of Shri Ganesh (Vignesh or Vighna-Vinashak - the remover of obstacles) and is hence offered first offerings in every puja. The swastika is made with red vermilion (prepared with natural ingredients) during rituals.]
The Swastika is a symbol of good fortune in Buddhism. It represents the footprints and heart of Bhagavan Shri Gautam Buddh. Thus, it is considered to be very holy and extensively brought to use by Buddhists. In fact, in all the images of Shri Gautam Buddh, you'll find the Swastik imprinted on his chest, palms and feet. In Jainism, Swastika represents the Seventh Jina, more popularly known as the Tirthankara Suparsva. It is one of the most prominent auspicious symbols of the present era. In the cultural traditions of Svetambar Jains, Swastika is one of the main symbols of the ashta-mangalas. [The Rishabha Avatar is also the first 'Tirthankara'.]
Let me
not pray to be sheltered from dangers
but to be fearless in facing them.
Let me not beg for the stilling of my pain
but for the heart to conquer it.
Let me not look for allies in life's battlefield
but to my own strength.
Let me not crave in anxious fear to be saved
but hope for the patience to win my freedom.
Grant that I may not be a coward,
feeling Your mercy in my success alone;
But let me find the grasp of Your hand in my failure.
but to be fearless in facing them.
Let me not beg for the stilling of my pain
but for the heart to conquer it.
Let me not look for allies in life's battlefield
but to my own strength.
Let me not crave in anxious fear to be saved
but hope for the patience to win my freedom.
Grant that I may not be a coward,
feeling Your mercy in my success alone;
But let me find the grasp of Your hand in my failure.
~ Gurudev Rabindranath
Tagore [1916]
As per the
proleptic Julian calendar, Krishna's date of birth is July 21, 3228 BC. [Though
some accounts say: 3227 BC.]
The Nag was a serpent-worshiping
clan. Probably they displayed a serpent totem/insignia too. One of their
prominent king/chieftain, Vasuki, shielded the baby Krishna (from inclement
weather) during Vasudev's journey to Gokul. However, later translators misinterpreted
this... thereby turning Vasuki into a gigantic serpent. He was very much human!
Krishna (also:
Krishn, Krshn, Krsna) - the "all-attractive one" - was born under the Rohini nakshatra, in the month of
Bhadrapada, on the 8th day of the waning moon at midnight. Hence, the annual
commemoration of the birth of this magnificent avatar, Krishna Janmashtami (kṛṣṇa janmāṣṭami), also known as: Krishnashtami, Saatam
Aatham, Gokulashtami, Ashtami Rohini, Srikrishna Jayanti, Sree
Jayanti or sometimes merely as Janmashtami... is celebrated on the
eighth day (Ashtami) of the Krishna Paksha (dark fortnight) of the month of
Shraavan (August-September).
In 2013: Krishna Janmashtami falls on August 28. Today is August 28. Today is the birthday of Shri Krishna - the magnificent Maha Avatar, Lord Narayan's Purna avatar - one in whom divinity is manifested fully (as is also depicted in this Indus seal; the two unicorns represent Shri Hari Vishnu and Sri Krishn respectively. Do refer to the Unicorn Seal below to know more about the symbolism behind the unicorn.) The peepal tree (the Bodhi tree/the 'tree of enlightenment') or the transpersonal World Tree is the personification of Shri Vishnu/Keshav/Narayan/Hari: || aśvatthaḥ sarva-vṛkṣāṇāḿ || ~ among trees, I am the peepal (ashvattha).
|| krishnas tu bhagavan svayam ||
Shubho
Janmashtami.
Robi Thakur rightly said: "aamare
tumi ashesh korechho, amon-i leela tabo" (tr. Thou hast made me
endless, such is thy pleasure/leela).
On this joyous
occasion, May the Lord touch each of our hearts.
|| Tumi nirmalo karo mangalo kare, molino marmo muchhaaye,
Tabo punnyo-kiran diye jaak mor moho-kalima ghuchaye ||
Purify me with your virtues, wiping off the vices of our hearts,
Let your auspicious effulgence take away the darkness and greed of our souls.
Tabo punnyo-kiran diye jaak mor moho-kalima ghuchaye ||
Purify me with your virtues, wiping off the vices of our hearts,
Let your auspicious effulgence take away the darkness and greed of our souls.
A quote from Swami Vivekananda's speech (Welcome
Address - Chicago, Sept 11, 1893) - in response to the warm and cordial welcome
he received:
"As
the different streams having their sources in different places all mingle their
water in the sea, so, O Lord, the different paths which men take through
different tendencies, various though they appear, crooked or straight, all lead
to Thee."
No wonder then, that in the current
maha-yuga (the four-yug cycle: Krita/Sat/Satya Yug, Treta Yug, Dvapar Yug and
Kali Yug) the ninth avatar, Bhagavan Shri Gautam Buddh, is not exclusive to any
faith, while the 10th Maha Avatar (great incarnation), the Kalki-avatar,
too appears to be part of many faiths.
['Avatar' means: descent
and refers to a descent of the divine into earthly form. Avatar comes
from the Sanskrit avatirna: "manifest/descent from the Lord."]
A wonderful verse in the Srimad Bhagavad
Geeta says: "Whosoever comes to Me,
through whatsoever form, I reach him; all men are struggling through paths
which in the end lead to me."
|| Hari Om Tat Sat ||
The seen (manifested/vyaktah/Saakar Brahmn) and
the unseen (unmanifested/avyaktah/Niraakar Brahmn) are both one.
Lord Hari/Narayan is the Supreme
Being, the Kaal Purush. He is Shaashvata, He is Sanaatana - Eternal. He is Satyah, the Ultimate Truth. He is Lord of
Creation. He is the Supreme Creator [Brahmn, the motive power behind the mathematically precise universes.] He is the Supreme Absolute Truth [ParaBrahmn]
Thou art the sky, and thou
art the nest as well.
Glory be to Thee.
HA=
sky
RA= fire
I= energy
HARI = effulgent omnipresent omnipotent omniconscient cosmic energy. [Hari also means: green, The Lord of Nature. (As for Hari-Hara: "Hara" also means green.) He is Kshiteeshah: The Lord of the earth.]
RA= fire
I= energy
HARI = effulgent omnipresent omnipotent omniconscient cosmic energy. [Hari also means: green, The Lord of Nature. (As for Hari-Hara: "Hara" also means green.) He is Kshiteeshah: The Lord of the earth.]
OM
or AUM: Refers to the Supreme Infinite Spirit or Being, the Adi Purusha ~ Shri Hari Vishnu. OM represents the Shabda
Brahmn. It is the primeval sound - pranavah/Omkara/pranava naad, the sound of
the universe itself. The uttering of the sacred and mystical OM is
called Onkar or Omkar. It is the sound of the origination and dissolution of
the universe. The past, present, future and all that transcends time are all
included in this sound. Lord Narayan is the personification/manifestation (Omswaroop) of OM or
AUM. Thus, He is Hariom. He is Omprakash - light of OM, light of the world.
TAT
= that. Refers to the omnipresent, omnipotent, omniconscient Parabrahman
Parameshvarah. [Parabrahmn = Absolute. Parameshvarah = the Supreme Being, the Supreme Lord, the
Almighty Lord (prabhuh). Omniconscient (sarvajno) = possessing all wisdom.]
SAT=
truth. Parabrahmn is beyond truth and untruth. Yet what is fundamentally true
is Parabrahmn.
The
Kaal Purush is beyond time. The Kaal Purush is puraatanah: He who was even before time. [Kaal or Kaalah = Time. Purush/Purusha =
Cosmic Energy.]
The Almighty - the Viraat Purush, the Cosmic Being, or the Primordial Being... is the motive power behind the mathematically precise universes.
Every thing is consumed by time except the Viraat-Purush. He is eternal-uncreated. [Viraat = very big, unlimited, infinite. So much so that the human mind can never fully comprehend Him. He is Achintya, inscrutable, an enigma. And shall remain so, always. In His "Vishwaroop" (His Universal form) He incorporates everything that is a part of the entire universe, whether seen or unseen, animate or inanimate, tangible or intangible. The universes are therefore His 'body'. And, He is also the motive power and guiding spirit behind the mathematically precise universes.
In this Universal Form (Vishwaroop) of the Lord, Arjun could see the entire cosmos. Eternity manifests itself in endless ways on endless planes of existence and from head to toe Arjun saw the 'body' of Lord Krishna encompassing 14 different planetary dimensions. ~ Let us try to understand what the fourteen planetary systems or Lokas refer to... and what is their geographical and spatial arrangement. ~ Each Universe is shaped like an egg (Brahmand) and within it exist the three levels of Lokas (Urdha Lokas/Higher Planets/Abodes; Madhya Lokas/Middle Planets; and Adho-Lokas/Lower Realms). There are 14 planetary systems comprising the three Lokas and below them exist the 28 different Hells (Hellish Planets/Narak-Loka - where retribution is rendered by Dharmaraj Yamaraj and team... against sins/paap or prarabda karm (bad/negative karm) committed by various Beings.)] ~ There are fourteen Manu who are prominent within this universe, each overseeing a "manvantara" or "manuvantara". "Manu" is a title for the one who rules a manvantara. Each "Manu" is endowed with great knowledge and wisdom. A Manvantara is equal to seventy-one times the number of years contained in the four Yugas (Sat/Satya/Krita, Treta, Dvapar and Kaliyug), with some additional years: this is the duration of each Manu, the (attendant) divinities (Indra, etc), and the rest. (We have discussed the Manu-s in some detail - later in this post; please do look it up - to know more.) Note: The Adho-Lokas or Lower Realms (also known as Bilva-svarga) are not to be mistaken for the Hellish Planets/Narak-Loka. The former are inhabited by different beings; technologically much more advanced than us (earthlings and/or inhabitants of the Middle Planets/Madhya-Lokas); these being live longer, are great architects and are more materially opulent. However, these Adho-Lokas or Lower Realms are (very likely) lit up by artificial lighting, and not by the rays of the sun. Also, the inhabitants of these planets (known as Daityas, Danavas, Asuras and Nagas) are attached to extreme material enjoyment; they are spiritually very low (unlike the inhabitants of the Urdha Lokas/Higher Planets/Abodes [including Svarga-Loka] - who are higher spiritual beings.) [The inhabitants of the Urdha Lokas/Higher Planets/Abodes are extremely intelligent beings, far more advanced - technologically, spiritually as well as w.r.t intellect and knowledge than the beings inhabiting the other lokas. However, they are not to be confused for the human-species (manushya-jaati); they are not part of humanity we find on earth. Their appearance, height, strength, longevity, caliber, intelligence, intellect, perception, knowledge, and so on greatly differ from the rest.] ~ Through good Karma and right inclination (nishkam and spiritual), one can ascend to the Spiritually advanced Higher Planets/Urdhva-Lokas (including Svarga-Loka); through OKay-ish Karma, indulgence of senses and unbridled desires, one can descend to the Spiritually deprived but Materially advanced Lower Planets/Adho-Lokas (also known as Bilva-Svarga). And through really really really bad/ Prarabda Karma, one may have to suffer in one of the Hellish planets/Narak-Loka. (~ Materialistic does not imply actions alone; it signifies an attachment to things/aspects that are mundane and temporary (transient) and would definitely perish (e.g.) indulgent of the senses. Spiritual inclinations on the other hand, do not focus on temporary objects/aspects or sensory pleasures... but the "Truth" (dharma) and the eternal bliss/spiritual ecstasy (complete contentment) of "self-realization" ~ Sat-cit-ānanda. This (in turn) enables one to perform great deeds for the greater good... and thus [Spiritual inclinations] is considered superior.) ~ Besides earthlings/humans there are other advanced humans/beings/humanoids inhabiting the other Middle Planets/Madhya-Lokas; they could be a few maha-yug/four-yug cycle ahead of us, some of them probably have perpetual Treta Yug. If earthlings (or the inhabitants of the Middle Planets/Madhya-Lokas) or the inhabitants of the Adho-Lokas/Lower Realms become advanced in spiritual conditions - through right inclinations and good karma (i.e. through nishkam karm/selfless action - without expecting praise or glory, etc in return), they can advance to one of the higher Munilokas (Spiritually advanced planets inhabited by Higher spiritual and enlightened beings). But if they become attached to material enjoyment (indulgence of senses and unbridled desires, etc) - they will degrade into a lower position of a semi-divine being, a Human, or even to the Adho-Lokas/Lower Realms ~ again. And through really really really bad/Prarabda Karma, one may have to suffer in one of the Hellish planets/Narak-Loka. ~ Even if one is a 'Deva' or a 'Rishi' (both: Spiritually advanced Higher beings residing in different Urdhva Lokas/Higher Planets; Rishi = ray of light, illumination; it indicates an enlightened person with an illumined mind) - there is no guarantee that he or she won't be re-born (e.g.) as a Human or as an inhabitant of the Adho-Lokas or as an animal, etc - in his or her next birth. It all depends on one's karma. The only certain way to come out of this Samsara or the Never-ending Cycle of Birth, Death and Re-birth - is by performing copious amounts of good karma (nishkam/selfless karma/non-benefit/glory-seeking karma) ~ that would "wash off" any (carried over) Prarabda karm (bad, negative karma) - thereby giving the jiva-aatma (human or individual soul) a clean slate and/or a positive balance of good karm. Note: The Almighty does not put us through any kind of test. (He is not human; He is Aadinath - the Supreme Almighty, the Absolute; He is the Highest Being; He is Narayan - the benefactor of mankind/humanity (nara); He is a father-figure. We can associate with Him in many ways: as a friend/teacher/guru/guide/mentor/sibling/parent.) ~ Whatever happens, happens due to our karm only - whether good karm or Prarabda karm (bad, negative karm) - carried over from our past (positive or negative balance of karma). [It not only affects humanity, but also society and civilization as well.] 'Karm' or 'Karma' is not punishment; it is an opportunity to redeem oneself. (Good/positive) karm is essential to get rid of (bad/negative) karm. Hence, in order to get rid of Prarabda (bad, negative) Karm - whether done by us or by others - we have to perform good deeds (Sat Karm) in copious quantities. ... And as we go on performing good deeds indefinitely/continuously, sakama (selfish, glory-seeking) karm gets transformed into Nishkam (selfless) Karm. ~ In this way, Prarabda/bad/negative karm gets "washed off"... and is replaced by a positive (balance of) karm. ... By continuing on this path, a jiva-aatma (human soul or individual soul) can move upward - i.e. gain entry into the various Spiritually advanced Higher Planets... and finally into the eternal Vaikunth planets (the abode of the Almighty). ~ Or, it can achieve "Moksha" (liberation from the constant cycle of Life, Death and Re-birth) on the Earth-Realm itself, thereby gaining entry into the eternal Vaikunth planets: by performing an enormous amount of nishkam karm/deeds (non-glory-seeking karm) - in the selfless service of humanity... that (in turn) contributes towards a better society and civilization. ~ On a separate note, a large chunk of various ailments and disorders can be traced to health and hygiene issues, lifestyle issues, heredity, stress, environmental factors, chemical content, pollution, and so on. [Bhu-Loka or the Earth-Realm seems to be sort of a launch-pad from where one can reach the other worlds/lokas - based on one's Karma.]
I bow to the Kaal Purush who is beyond time and who presides over the all-destructive time. I bow to mahendrah: The lord of Indra. I bow to gabheeraatmaa: One who is too deep to be fathomed.
I bow to the Unicorn, the rarest of the rare (not to be found anywhere else). I bow to the purusattamah: The greatest of the great. I bow to anuttamah: Incomparably great.
The Almighty - the Viraat Purush, the Cosmic Being, or the Primordial Being... is the motive power behind the mathematically precise universes.
Every thing is consumed by time except the Viraat-Purush. He is eternal-uncreated. [Viraat = very big, unlimited, infinite. So much so that the human mind can never fully comprehend Him. He is Achintya, inscrutable, an enigma. And shall remain so, always. In His "Vishwaroop" (His Universal form) He incorporates everything that is a part of the entire universe, whether seen or unseen, animate or inanimate, tangible or intangible. The universes are therefore His 'body'. And, He is also the motive power and guiding spirit behind the mathematically precise universes.
In this Universal Form (Vishwaroop) of the Lord, Arjun could see the entire cosmos. Eternity manifests itself in endless ways on endless planes of existence and from head to toe Arjun saw the 'body' of Lord Krishna encompassing 14 different planetary dimensions. ~ Let us try to understand what the fourteen planetary systems or Lokas refer to... and what is their geographical and spatial arrangement. ~ Each Universe is shaped like an egg (Brahmand) and within it exist the three levels of Lokas (Urdha Lokas/Higher Planets/Abodes; Madhya Lokas/Middle Planets; and Adho-Lokas/Lower Realms). There are 14 planetary systems comprising the three Lokas and below them exist the 28 different Hells (Hellish Planets/Narak-Loka - where retribution is rendered by Dharmaraj Yamaraj and team... against sins/paap or prarabda karm (bad/negative karm) committed by various Beings.)] ~ There are fourteen Manu who are prominent within this universe, each overseeing a "manvantara" or "manuvantara". "Manu" is a title for the one who rules a manvantara. Each "Manu" is endowed with great knowledge and wisdom. A Manvantara is equal to seventy-one times the number of years contained in the four Yugas (Sat/Satya/Krita, Treta, Dvapar and Kaliyug), with some additional years: this is the duration of each Manu, the (attendant) divinities (Indra, etc), and the rest. (We have discussed the Manu-s in some detail - later in this post; please do look it up - to know more.) Note: The Adho-Lokas or Lower Realms (also known as Bilva-svarga) are not to be mistaken for the Hellish Planets/Narak-Loka. The former are inhabited by different beings; technologically much more advanced than us (earthlings and/or inhabitants of the Middle Planets/Madhya-Lokas); these being live longer, are great architects and are more materially opulent. However, these Adho-Lokas or Lower Realms are (very likely) lit up by artificial lighting, and not by the rays of the sun. Also, the inhabitants of these planets (known as Daityas, Danavas, Asuras and Nagas) are attached to extreme material enjoyment; they are spiritually very low (unlike the inhabitants of the Urdha Lokas/Higher Planets/Abodes [including Svarga-Loka] - who are higher spiritual beings.) [The inhabitants of the Urdha Lokas/Higher Planets/Abodes are extremely intelligent beings, far more advanced - technologically, spiritually as well as w.r.t intellect and knowledge than the beings inhabiting the other lokas. However, they are not to be confused for the human-species (manushya-jaati); they are not part of humanity we find on earth. Their appearance, height, strength, longevity, caliber, intelligence, intellect, perception, knowledge, and so on greatly differ from the rest.] ~ Through good Karma and right inclination (nishkam and spiritual), one can ascend to the Spiritually advanced Higher Planets/Urdhva-Lokas (including Svarga-Loka); through OKay-ish Karma, indulgence of senses and unbridled desires, one can descend to the Spiritually deprived but Materially advanced Lower Planets/Adho-Lokas (also known as Bilva-Svarga). And through really really really bad/ Prarabda Karma, one may have to suffer in one of the Hellish planets/Narak-Loka. (~ Materialistic does not imply actions alone; it signifies an attachment to things/aspects that are mundane and temporary (transient) and would definitely perish (e.g.) indulgent of the senses. Spiritual inclinations on the other hand, do not focus on temporary objects/aspects or sensory pleasures... but the "Truth" (dharma) and the eternal bliss/spiritual ecstasy (complete contentment) of "self-realization" ~ Sat-cit-ānanda. This (in turn) enables one to perform great deeds for the greater good... and thus [Spiritual inclinations] is considered superior.) ~ Besides earthlings/humans there are other advanced humans/beings/humanoids inhabiting the other Middle Planets/Madhya-Lokas; they could be a few maha-yug/four-yug cycle ahead of us, some of them probably have perpetual Treta Yug. If earthlings (or the inhabitants of the Middle Planets/Madhya-Lokas) or the inhabitants of the Adho-Lokas/Lower Realms become advanced in spiritual conditions - through right inclinations and good karma (i.e. through nishkam karm/selfless action - without expecting praise or glory, etc in return), they can advance to one of the higher Munilokas (Spiritually advanced planets inhabited by Higher spiritual and enlightened beings). But if they become attached to material enjoyment (indulgence of senses and unbridled desires, etc) - they will degrade into a lower position of a semi-divine being, a Human, or even to the Adho-Lokas/Lower Realms ~ again. And through really really really bad/Prarabda Karma, one may have to suffer in one of the Hellish planets/Narak-Loka. ~ Even if one is a 'Deva' or a 'Rishi' (both: Spiritually advanced Higher beings residing in different Urdhva Lokas/Higher Planets; Rishi = ray of light, illumination; it indicates an enlightened person with an illumined mind) - there is no guarantee that he or she won't be re-born (e.g.) as a Human or as an inhabitant of the Adho-Lokas or as an animal, etc - in his or her next birth. It all depends on one's karma. The only certain way to come out of this Samsara or the Never-ending Cycle of Birth, Death and Re-birth - is by performing copious amounts of good karma (nishkam/selfless karma/non-benefit/glory-seeking karma) ~ that would "wash off" any (carried over) Prarabda karm (bad, negative karma) - thereby giving the jiva-aatma (human or individual soul) a clean slate and/or a positive balance of good karm. Note: The Almighty does not put us through any kind of test. (He is not human; He is Aadinath - the Supreme Almighty, the Absolute; He is the Highest Being; He is Narayan - the benefactor of mankind/humanity (nara); He is a father-figure. We can associate with Him in many ways: as a friend/teacher/guru/guide/mentor/sibling/parent.) ~ Whatever happens, happens due to our karm only - whether good karm or Prarabda karm (bad, negative karm) - carried over from our past (positive or negative balance of karma). [It not only affects humanity, but also society and civilization as well.] 'Karm' or 'Karma' is not punishment; it is an opportunity to redeem oneself. (Good/positive) karm is essential to get rid of (bad/negative) karm. Hence, in order to get rid of Prarabda (bad, negative) Karm - whether done by us or by others - we have to perform good deeds (Sat Karm) in copious quantities. ... And as we go on performing good deeds indefinitely/continuously, sakama (selfish, glory-seeking) karm gets transformed into Nishkam (selfless) Karm. ~ In this way, Prarabda/bad/negative karm gets "washed off"... and is replaced by a positive (balance of) karm. ... By continuing on this path, a jiva-aatma (human soul or individual soul) can move upward - i.e. gain entry into the various Spiritually advanced Higher Planets... and finally into the eternal Vaikunth planets (the abode of the Almighty). ~ Or, it can achieve "Moksha" (liberation from the constant cycle of Life, Death and Re-birth) on the Earth-Realm itself, thereby gaining entry into the eternal Vaikunth planets: by performing an enormous amount of nishkam karm/deeds (non-glory-seeking karm) - in the selfless service of humanity... that (in turn) contributes towards a better society and civilization. ~ On a separate note, a large chunk of various ailments and disorders can be traced to health and hygiene issues, lifestyle issues, heredity, stress, environmental factors, chemical content, pollution, and so on. [Bhu-Loka or the Earth-Realm seems to be sort of a launch-pad from where one can reach the other worlds/lokas - based on one's Karma.]
I bow to the Kaal Purush who is beyond time and who presides over the all-destructive time. I bow to mahendrah: The lord of Indra. I bow to gabheeraatmaa: One who is too deep to be fathomed.
I bow to the Unicorn, the rarest of the rare (not to be found anywhere else). I bow to the purusattamah: The greatest of the great. I bow to anuttamah: Incomparably great.
I bow to the vishama, (unequaled); the atulah, (incomparable); the ekah (the one); the ekaatmaa: The one self. I bow to the One without a parallel. [Note: the Unicorn, depicted, as a one-horned horse
is imagery - to indicate rarity and peerlessness. It is not to be taken at face value. It does not refer to any creature, mythical or otherwise. There has never been a one-horned horse in reality. It is simply an imagery to (figuratively or symbolically) convey certain concepts.]
I bow to the Unicorn. I bow to the thousand-horned great bull with a hundred heads. I bow to Vrishaakritih - Dharma
(Vrisha) Himself. I bow to Vrishaparvaa, Dharmadhyaksha - Lord of Dharma. I bow to the illustrious God of gods who is also
called Vṛṣabha (the Great Bull). I bow to Vrisha Uttamam, the Supreme Bull
(Supreme Dharma). I bow to mahaavaraaho: The great boar. I bow to Kapih, the foremost of boars - eka
(one) shringa (horned) varaha. I pay my humble obeisance to Vrishakapi
- the one-horned Varaha, the Supreme form of Shri Vishnu.
[Note: The 'thousand-horned great bull with a hundred heads' does not refer to any animal or creature. It is a metaphor/symbol or imagery for Dharma (actions that benefit society/humanity). Krishna personifies dharma, and through his actions rejuvenates and re-establishes dharma. It takes a great deal of (unmatched) tenacity, strength, energy, drive, valiance and determination to do so. Hence the metaphor of the 'thousand-horned great bull with a hundred heads'. Dharma = justice; also, actions that benefit humanity/society. The one-horned boar: ekashringa varaha or unicorn boar also does not refer to any animal per se. It means, the rarest of the rare; not to be found anywhere else. Ekashringa Varaha or Unicorn Boar: One without a parallel. This Indus seal is the seal of Lord Krishna. Krishna is protector and preserver. He rescues/pulls society out of 'quicksand', or prevents its slide into 'quicksand'/quagmire, hence the metaphor of 'Ekashringa Varaha' or Unicorn Boar.]
[Note: The 'thousand-horned great bull with a hundred heads' does not refer to any animal or creature. It is a metaphor/symbol or imagery for Dharma (actions that benefit society/humanity). Krishna personifies dharma, and through his actions rejuvenates and re-establishes dharma. It takes a great deal of (unmatched) tenacity, strength, energy, drive, valiance and determination to do so. Hence the metaphor of the 'thousand-horned great bull with a hundred heads'. Dharma = justice; also, actions that benefit humanity/society. The one-horned boar: ekashringa varaha or unicorn boar also does not refer to any animal per se. It means, the rarest of the rare; not to be found anywhere else. Ekashringa Varaha or Unicorn Boar: One without a parallel. This Indus seal is the seal of Lord Krishna. Krishna is protector and preserver. He rescues/pulls society out of 'quicksand', or prevents its slide into 'quicksand'/quagmire, hence the metaphor of 'Ekashringa Varaha' or Unicorn Boar.]
I bow to the Grandest Master of all.
The great
poet and composer, Rajonikanto Sen, said:
|| Tumi aachho Bishwanatho ashimo rahoshyo majhe... nirabe,
ekaki ||
O
Lord of the Universe, You reside amidst endless cosmic mysteries... in absolute
quietude.
[Bishwanath = Lord of the Cosmos. Bishwa =
Universe, Cosmos; Nath = Lord, Master.]
|| Prabhuh, Bishwa-bipado-hanta, Tumi danrao rudhiya pantha
||
O My Lord, You are the benefactor of humanity; You are the dispeller of great calamity; You stand between.
O My Lord, You are the benefactor of humanity; You are the dispeller of great calamity; You stand between.
|| Tabo, charono nimne, utshabomoyi shyamo-dharini sharosa,
urdhe chaho agonito-moni-ronjito navo neelanchala
shaumyo-modhur-dibyangana shanto-kushalo-darosha ||
Beneath your feet lies the prosperous and bountiful earth
Behold the blue sky engraved with countless gems above
She is like a sweet and graceful angel
Robi Thakur said:
|| Anando-loke Mangal-aloke birajo Satya-Sundaro
Mohima Tabo udbhashito maha-gagono-majhe
Bishwa-jagoto monibhushano-beshtito-charone... ||
In Ananda-lok, amidst auspicious glow (Mangal-aloke) resides the
Satya-Sundar. Your majesty is manifest in the firmament complete. Creation's
jewels are strewn at your feet.
|| The world sings Your glory great
In fearless refuge at Your feet
You who are our treasure and wealth
You who enclose all of this earth ||
In fearless refuge at Your feet
You who are our treasure and wealth
You who enclose all of this earth ||
This prayerful
song (rendered by Indranil Sen) is on truth and beauty, on the bounties of
nature and the splendour that this universe is. Most of what the poet laureate
wrote is sublime and none, I repeat, none... can even begin to try to translate
what he so effortlessly expressed through this highly lyrical poem. Do listen:
Here is Kabiguru Rabindranath Tagore's dream of a free and
glorious India. Inspiring and timeless words, indeed:
|| Where the mind is without fear and
the head is held high
Where knowledge is free
Where the world has not been broken up into fragments
By narrow domestic walls
Where words come out from the depth of truth
Where tireless striving stretches its arms towards perfection
Where the clear stream of reason has not lost its way
Into the dreary desert sand of dead habit
Where the mind is led forward by thee
Into ever-widening thought and action
Into that heaven of freedom, my Father, let my country awake ||
Where knowledge is free
Where the world has not been broken up into fragments
By narrow domestic walls
Where words come out from the depth of truth
Where tireless striving stretches its arms towards perfection
Where the clear stream of reason has not lost its way
Into the dreary desert sand of dead habit
Where the mind is led forward by thee
Into ever-widening thought and action
Into that heaven of freedom, my Father, let my country awake ||
[Note: This poem (no. 35) is
from Tagore's Noble prize-winning literary work 'Gitanjali' (tr: An Offering of Songs). Git/Geet = Songs. Anjali = Offering.]
An audio-visual version of the above
poem read by Samuel Godfrey George:
One of the most beautiful of all the Rabindrasangeet/Tagore-songs, Aaguner Paroshmoni, happens to be one of my personal
favourites too. Rendered by the peerless Hemanta Mukhopadhyay. Do listen:
|| Aagun'eyr
Pawroshmoni chhnoyao praane
(Ey jibon punya kaw'ro) - 3
(Ey jibon punya kaw'ro) - 3
Ey jibon
punya kaw'ro dwahon-daane
Aagun'eyr pawroshmoni chhonyao praane
Aagun'eyr pawroshmoni chhonyao praane
(Aamaar
eyi dehokhaani tulay dhaw'ro
Tomaar oi debaaloy-e pradip kaw'ro) - 2
(Nishi din aalok shikhaa joluk gaane) - 2
Aagun'eyr pawroshmoni chhonyao praane
Tomaar oi debaaloy-e pradip kaw'ro) - 2
(Nishi din aalok shikhaa joluk gaane) - 2
Aagun'eyr pawroshmoni chhonyao praane
(Aandhareyr
gaaye gaaye pawrosh tawbo
Shaaraa raat photaak taaraa nawbo nawbo) - 2
Nawyoneyr drishti hote ghnuchbe kaalo
Jekhane poRbe setha'ye dey'khbe aalo
(Bya'tha mor uthbe jol'ey urd'dha'-paane) - 2
Shaaraa raat photaak taaraa nawbo nawbo) - 2
Nawyoneyr drishti hote ghnuchbe kaalo
Jekhane poRbe setha'ye dey'khbe aalo
(Bya'tha mor uthbe jol'ey urd'dha'-paane) - 2
Aaguner
poroshmoni chonwao prane
(Ey jibon punno koro) - 3
(Ey jibon punno koro) - 3
Ey jibon
punya kaw'ro dwahon-daane
Aagun'eyr Pawroshmoni chhnoyao praane ||
Aagun'eyr Pawroshmoni chhnoyao praane ||
[Note: The annotation given above... to make your
pronunciation as close to authentic Bangla as possible. Please follow
the romanized annotation with slight pauses at the apostrophes.]
Translation:
|| Touch
my heart with Your fire
And
purify it,
So it
can burn as a glorious offering to You.
Let me
be like a lamp in Your temple
And let
every song of mine pour out as its flame.
Whenever
there's a feeling of darkness within,
May I be
blessed to feel Your touch
And let
my mind sparkle forever with newer and newer thoughts
Just as
You light the stars one after another all through the night.
Let the
veil of darkness be lifted from my sight
And let
me see wondrous light wherever I gaze.
And
turn all my pain into a blazing intensity in all that I do... ||
[Paroshmoni is the philosopher's stone which when
touched... alchemically transmutes the baser nature to a divine one. It is
symbolic... though some believe it truly exists. Fire = auspicious effulgence, Light
Divine. Here
is another link
with English translation, though it is impossible to translate. Simply because:
Tagore's oeuvre is one of those things that cannot survive translation (into
English), however much one tries; anyone who has had the experience of soaking
in the magic of Tagore's lyrics... can and will vouch for this.]
I bow to archishmaan: The effulgent one. I bow to
the paramaatmaa: The Supersoul. I bow to Nara-Narayan. [Narah:
The guide. Narayan: The benefactor of humanity/mankind (not restricted to
humans alone, though).] I bow to amoghah: He whose acts are for a great purpose. I bow to hamsah:
The swan. He
with a large-hearted intelligence. I bow to ekah: The one. I bow to naikah: The many. I
bow to asankhyeyah: He who has countless names and forms. I bow to mangalam
param: The Supreme auspiciousness. I bow to shoorah-veerah:
The valiant. I bow to vikramee: The most daring. I bow to saattvikah:
One who is full of sattvic qualities. I bow to kartaa: The doer.
I bow to maargah: The path. I bow to neyah: The guide. I bow to aadidevah:
The first devah/deity [34 = 33+1, 'coz Shri Vishnu is the Supreme Creator, Brahmn.] I bow to mahaadevah: The great
devah/deity. I bow to deveshah: The Lord of all devas. I bow to adhaataa:
Above whom there is no other [34 = 33+1].
I bow to keshavah: One whose rays illumine the cosmos, and one who is himself the three: kah Brahma, ah Vishnu and Isa Shiva. I bow to vishvam: He who is the universe, the virat-purusha. I bow to Vishvaroopa: One whose body is the Universe. I bow to Vishvaatma: Soul of the Universe. I bow to vanamaalee: One who wears a garland of forest flowers. I bow to sragvee: He who always wears a garland of undecaying flowers. I bow to Mayur: The Lord Who Has A Peacock Feathered-Crest. I bow to shikhandee: He who wears a peacock feather.
I bow to keshavah: One whose rays illumine the cosmos, and one who is himself the three: kah Brahma, ah Vishnu and Isa Shiva. I bow to vishvam: He who is the universe, the virat-purusha. I bow to Vishvaroopa: One whose body is the Universe. I bow to Vishvaatma: Soul of the Universe. I bow to vanamaalee: One who wears a garland of forest flowers. I bow to sragvee: He who always wears a garland of undecaying flowers. I bow to Mayur: The Lord Who Has A Peacock Feathered-Crest. I bow to shikhandee: He who wears a peacock feather.
O Lord, You are the Mother, You are the
Father, You Are the Kinsman and You are the Friend. You Are My Wealth Of
Knowledge, Strength, Power And Valour. You Are My God Of Gods.
You are the boat and You are the boatman. You are the companion and You the support.
You are the boat and You are the boatman. You are the companion and You the support.
The
God who is in fire, who is in water, who interpenetrates the whole universe,
who is in herbs, who is in trees, to that God I bow down again and again.
Thou
art, O Lord, the Creator of this Universe. Thou art the Protector of this
world. Thou art in the grass and the rose. Thou art in the sun and the stars.
Salutations unto Thee, O Destroyer of the cycle of births and deaths!
Salutations unto Thee, O Bestower of Bliss and Immortality!
Salutations to Thee, the Supreme Lord! Thou art without beginning and end. Thou art the flower. Thou art the bee. Thou art woman. Thou art man. Thou art the sea. Thou art the waves. [The above seal very likely depicts the Ashta-Matrika or Ashta-Matara - Eight Divine Mothers: Brahmani (or Brāhmī), Vaishnavi, Maheshvari (also known as Raudri, Rudrani and Maheshi; was she a sister or cousin of Shambhu Nath/Shiva?), Indrani (also known as Aindri, Mahendri, Shakri, Shachi and Vajri), Kaumari (also known as Kumari and Karttikeyani), Varahi, Chamunda (also known as Chamundi) and Narasimhi.]
Thou
art Self-luminous. Thou art Self-effulgent (jyotih).
Thou art Light Divine. Thou art Light of knowledge. Thou
art the dispeller of darkness. Thou art the Supreme Guru. Thou art beyond the
reach of mind and speech. Thou art beyond any kind of limitation. Thou art the
Self of this universe.
Om
Santih! Santih! Santih!
Aum let there be peace within us, let there be peace in the
world, let there be peace in the universe.
Aaguner Paroshmoni by Indrani Sen and
Ambar Chakraborty (along with Srikanta Acharjo and Gauri Ghosh):
Purify me with your virtues, wiping off the
vices of our hearts,
Let your auspicious effulgence take away the darkness and greed of our souls.
[A humble endeavour: Notes on Shri Krishn, deciphering the Mahabharata, etc ~ do read the post in its entirety... to grasp its scope, et al.]
|| Mangalam Bhagavaan Vishnu Mangalam Garuda-Dhvaja
Mangalam Pundarikaaksho Mangalaayatano Harih || [Link] Pundarikaaksho = lotus-eyed; one whose eyes are shaped
like lotus petals. [Puṇḍarīka/Pundarika or Pankaja/Svetakamala/Dhavala (pronounced: DA wahl) kamala/Shubhra Kamala is "white/pure white lotus". Pure white signifies pristine, embodiment of pure knowledge. It also signifies tranquility.] Garuda-Dhvaja = the symbol or insignia of Lord Narayan.
Garuda = the divine bird, also: the king of birds. Here, "Garuda" refers to eagle or maybe falcon (may
not be similar to what we see on Earth.) Lord Narayan is also shown holding a lotus flower; it
is usually pink (pale red or red-pink) in colour. This is the supreme lotus, for the highest deity; Lord Narayan is "Anish" - Supreme; He is "Aadinath" - the Foremost, the Supreme, the Almighty, the Absolute. [The pink lotus (pale-red) is padma in Sanskrit. The rare blue
lotus is termed pushkara or indivara. It is also known as krishna kamal. This is a symbol of the victory of the spirit over the
senses, and signifies the wisdom of knowledge. The Neel-kamal - the blue water-lily (utpala) is also called krishna kamal. The blue
lotus (pushkara or indivara) and the blue water-lily
(utpala) are often confused despite the distinct
differences between the two plants. Many say: there is no blue lotus, no
such flower exists or ever has; that it is a botanical chimera. That:
lotuses can be white (pundarika, svetakamala, dhavala kamala, shubhra kamala, pankaja), pink (padma) or
pink-going-on-red (kokonada, kamala), but they are never blue. ... But
then, perhaps a long time ago the blue lotus was indeed blue; that there indeed
was a blue lotus (pushkara or indivara) - known to our ancients; maybe it was a rare flower. And maybe, due to
environmental factors, etc the blue lotus (pushkara or indivara) went into a Nirvikalpa
Samadhi to awaken to moksha. ~ And when this happened, our
forefathers began to consider the blue water-lily (utpala) as a replacement. (The
blue water-lily (utpala) is actually a delicate shade of indigo.) ~ Perhaps, a similar thing happened with the red lotus (kokonad, kamala)
too, who can say? Meaning: the actual red lotus may have faded away from the
face of the earth, and therefore, had to be replaced by the pink-going-on-red
variety.] Lord Narayan is "Rohit"
(Rohitah/Lohitah in Sanskrit ~ rosy-white.
Rosy-hued or reddish is Rohitah or Lohitah in Sanskrit.) Therefore, Lord
Narayan Himself is (the personification of) the Supreme Lotus (the pink or pale-red lotus). Various gods, such as Shri
Brahma (Chief Engineer/Scientist of the Cosmos), Sri Sri Lakshmi Devi (the consort of Lord Vishnu/Narayan, and the deity/symbol/bestower
of wealth, well-being, prosperity, generosity, auspiciousness and happiness) and Goddess Sarasvati (the consort of Lord Brahma, and the deity/symbol/bestower of knowledge, wisdom and enlightenment) are also depicted as 'sitting' on a
lotus flower: only the most enlightened and blessed (i.e. highly favoured or fortunate - by divine grace, or worthy
of deep reverence, veneration and worship) can 'sit' on a lotus flower.
[Goddess Lakshmi is shown sitting on a full-blown red lotus
(since red-colored Lotus symbolizes wealth and prosperity) holding lotus buds in two of Her hands and
benignly blessing all those who come to Her for succour. The fully-bloomed lotus She is seated on,
represents the seat of Divine Truth. The aura of joy surrounding Her depicts
mental and spiritual balance. Peace and prosperity always exist around Her. Gayatri Mantra for Goddess Lakshmi: || Om
Mahalakshmai Cha Vidmahe Vishnu Patnyai Cha Dhimahi Tanno Lakshmihi Prachodayat
|| ~ "Om. May we meditate on the Great Goddess Sri Lakshmi, the
consort of Sri Maha Vishnu. May that effulgent Maha Lakshmi Devi inspire and
illumine our mind and understanding." ~ The name "Lakshmi"
is derived from the Sanskrit elemental form "lakS," meaning to
observe or perceive. This is also synonymous with "lakSya," meaning
aim, goal or objective. Lakshmi is thus a Goddess who is regarded as the means
to achieving several goals, importantly, becoming prosperous. Goddess
Sarasvati, on the other hand, is shown sitting on a white lotus (Puṇḍarīka/Pundarika
or Shubhra Kamal). White signifies pure knowledge. Goddess Sarasvati is the embodiment/symbol of pure knowledge.] Goddess Parvati holds a lotus, and is sometimes
seen as standing on a lotus. [Her eighteen arms signify that she possesses
combined power of nine incarnations of Lord Vishnu that have appeared on the
earth at different times in the past. She preserves "dharma" by dispelling/destroying negative
aspects of human nature such as selfishness, jealousy, prejudice, hatred,
anger, and ego.] Suryadev/Lord Surya (not to be mistaken for the sun that rises in the east and sets in the west) is sometimes depicted sitting on a red lotus (kokonada, kamala).
[The red lotus signifies the original nature and purity of the heart (hrdya).] However, other higher entities/beings like Devaraj Indra, Dharmaraj Yamaraj, Pavandev, Chitragupt, et
al are not depicted 'sitting' on a lotus flower. ~ The roots of a lotus are in the mud, the stem grows up through the water, and the heavily scented flower lies pristine above
the water, basking in the sunlight. The lotus remains completely uncontaminated,
even though rooted in the dirtiest, muddiest waters. This pattern of growth signifies the progress
of the soul from the primeval mud of materialism, through the waters of experience, and into
the bright sunshine of enlightenment. Also, for those performing nishkam
karm/selfless service/actions... for a better society - it is 'lotus feet' and kara-puṣkara or 'lotus-palm'. [puṣkara = blue lotus; the blue lotus is completely up and out of the
(muddy) water.] The
spirit of such persons is
spotless, like the lotus in the muddy water that remains "detached" [does not
adhere to it.] ~ BG 11.12: || divi
surya-sahasrasya bhaved yugapad utthita yadi bhah sadrisi sa syad bhasas tasya
mahatmanah || ~ "If hundreds of
thousands of suns were to rise at once into the sky, their radiance might
resemble the effulgence of the Supreme One/Great Soul/Param-aatma." Alternatively: "If the radiance of a thousand suns were to suddenly burst forth in the sky, that would be like the light of the exalted one." ... The Gayatri/Savitr
Mantra is a prayer to that Jyotiḥ-mayaḥ/Tejasvi: possibly, Brahm-jyoti - the Divine effulgence
(also referred to as "Brahmn") - emanating from Goloka-Paravyoma (the spiritual abode of Shri Krishn). ~ It is the light that impersonalists perceive in
the Nirguna mode of the God/Almighty. (The Supreme Being/Almighty is the manifestation (saguna) of this Brahmn. He is also the manifestation of Om or Aum - the Pranava-naad.) The Gayatri/Savitr
Mantra is a prayer to the Jyotiḥ-mayaḥ/Tejasvi (effulgent Brahmn) as well as to the Sun (jyotiḥ, Sūrya,
Aaditya) ~ without whom there can be no life on the earth-plane. [Technically
speaking, what promotes life is the energy of the sun. The rays from the sun
not only support life, but the rays of the sun are indeed the source of life
itself.] Enhance the efficacy of the life principles, including one's body,
mind and soul. ~ Visualize the sun's rays streaming forth into your body, mind
and soul... and guiding you through the path of illumination (sūrya-dvāreṇa): || Aum Bhur Bhuvah Svaha Tat Savitur Varenyam Bhargo
Devasya Dhimahi Dhiyoyonah Prachodayat || ~ Pronounced: || OHM BUR BOO-VAH
SVA-HA TAHT SAH-VEE-TOOR VAHR-EHN-YUM BHAHR-GO DEH-VAHS-YAH DEE-MAH-HEE DEE-YOH
YOHN-AH PRAH-CHOD-DAH-YAHT || ~ OM. I
revere the Divine Self who illuminates the three worlds - physical, astral and
causal; I offer my prayers to that God who shines like the Sun. May He
enlighten our intellect. [Alternatively: "O Lord, You are the protector of life and of
breath, dispeller of miseries and bestower of happiness. You are the
creator and the most acceptable intelligence, possessing eternal
qualities. May Your qualities and Your inspiration pass to us."]
AUM (also known as OM): The syllable OM (written out as
AUM with each letter having its own significance) represents Brahmn, the
supreme creator (Srashtaa), as well as the
whole of creation. OM represents the Shabda
Brahmn. It is the primeval sound - pranavah/Omkara/pranava naad, the sound of
the universe itself. The uttering of the sacred and mystical OM is
called Onkar or Omkar. It is the sound of the origination and dissolution of
the universe. The past, present, future and all that transcends time are all
included in this sound. It represents that Jyotiḥ-mayaḥ/Tejasvi - Brahm-jyoti - the Divine effulgence
(also referred to as "Brahmn") - emanating from Goloka-Paravyoma (the spiritual abode of Shri Krishn). ~ It is the light that impersonalists perceive in
the Nirguna mode of the God/Almighty. Lord Narayan is the
personification/manifestation (Omswaroop) of OM or AUM. Thus, He is Hariom. He is Omprakash - light of OM, light of the world. Here are some of
the meanings embedded in this mantra:
Krishna, the wielder of 'Sudarshan Chakra'; Krishna, the
celestial flautist; Krishna, the primeval guru; Krishna, the Satguru; Krishna, the greatest guide; Krishna, one who has no leader (anaya); Krishna, leader of men (jahnuh); Krishna, the twinkle-eyed makkhan-chor (Navanitachora); Krishna, one who accomplishes great and noble tasks; Krishna, the
Giridhari - one who accomplishes Herculean tasks (against huge obstacles, hence the metaphor of 'Giridhari'. It is not literal.) Krishna, Ghanshyam - the "all absorbing one". [During
his lifetime, (it is said) he was the target of malicious attacks. Accusations,
abuse and insults were hurled at him; several small-minded people orchestrated
these. But Krishna never stooped low nor responded back in kind. Instead: He
simply absorbed them all - with his characteristic grace, and hence, is also
known as Ghanshyam - the all-absorbing one.] Krishna, of the bright shining
eyes (Ravilochan); Krishna, Kamalnayan - one with eyes shaped like lotus petals; Krishna, grayish to dusky blue (similar to the
colour of a newborn's skin immediately after birth); [Blue also stands for: meditation/introspection,
peace, tranquility, depth, stability, trust, loyalty, wisdom, confidence,
intelligence, patience, decision-making and truth/dharma: actions that benefit
society.] Krishna, Neelamber, velvet blue-hued - Supreme Neelkanth: One who absorbs "poison" or "toxin" (arising out of societal
churning) - thereby cleansing it sufficiently enough... for it to "heal", so
as to be able to function (in a positive manner). He thus lifts the cloud of negativity as well as the 'fog of
untruth and make-believe' (from our eyes, thoughts and hearts), clears past cobwebs... thus showing the way forward. Krishna, of the magnetic personality, good looks (Shrikant), matchless charm, charisma, brilliance, perception, energy, drive, patience, tenacity and valiance; Krishna, a master strategist, a great visionary; Krishna, whose brilliance (symbolically referred to
as 'Sudarshan Chakra') cuts through every vyuh; Krishna, whose 'Sudarshan
Chakra' pre-empts or negates the plans/designs/machinations of negative
entities. Krishna, a Reformer-Soldier-Statesman par excellence; Krishna, a class act: one who outwitted and outmanoeuvred
assorted negative entities... from a position of great weakness; Krishna, warrior extraordinaire against adharm
(Duryodhan, Dushshasana, Karna, Shakuni, Kansh, Jarasandha, et al and their machinations); Krishna, "bhuta-bhavya-bhavat-prabhu" - the Master of all things past, future and
present; Krishna, the possessor of Tritiya-Nayan (the metaphoric Third Eye); Krishna, who holds a mirror to society; Krishna,
a human who is unlike any other mere mortal; Krishna, a 'lila-avatar'; Krishna, a human who is not part
of the constant cycle of life and death; Krishna, Ekam Eva Advitiyam - The One. The Peerless; Krishna, Peetamber or Peetabasa (draped in the colour gold/golden-yellow - the colour of enlightenment, represented by the metaphoric/symbolic 'halo'); Krishna, wrapped in cool cyan - bluish green (utpalavarnah: like blue lotus, Indivara or krishnakamal).
[So, is Lord Narayan/Shri Hari Vishnu (or maybe His third form/aspect - Kṣīrodakaśāyī-Viṣṇu) bluish
green-hued? Thus making him the Cosmic Mayur? - My guess is as good as yours. [Is He blue-hued like the Robin? Or is He the most magnificent of all blues
~ the one adorning the plumage of the Indian Roller (Neelkanth)? ... But then,
since He is also known as "Rohit" (Rohitah/Lohitah in Sanskrit) ~ is he rosy-white? (Rosy-hued or reddish is Rohitah or Lohitah
in Sanskrit.) ~ Well, my guess is as good as yours.] Note: Apart
from the līlā incarnations (which includes the "Dasavatara"), there are
qualitative incarnations (guṇa-avatāras) such as Brahmā, Viṣṇu, and Śiva (or Rudra/Rudra-Śiva) who take
charge of the different modes of material nature. Therefore, all three - namely Brahmā,
Viṣṇu (also: Mahā-Viṣṇu or Kāraṇodakaśāyī Viṣṇu's third form/aspect -
Kṣīrodakaśāyī-Viṣṇu) and
Śiva, are incarnations of the Garbhodakaśāyī Viṣṇu (second puruṣa). Rudra means:
the dispeller of darkness and usherer of peace. He is called "the
archer" (Sanskrit: Śarva) and the arrow
is an essential attribute of Rudra. The word is derived from the Sanskrit root śarv, which means, "to negate" or
"to dispel". Hence, the name Śarva can be
interpreted as: "One who can dispel/drive away darkness". The names Dhanvin ("bowman") and Bāṇahasta
("archer", literally: "Armed with arrows in his hands"/ Bāṇa = arrow, hasta = hand) also refer to archery/the
archer. Rudra is described as armed with a bow and fast-flying arrows (baan/bāṇa). Rudra: also
means: one who makes everyone weep: "ru", to cry or to teach, "rud", to make a person weep,
and "dra" to flow. Hence Rudra is considered as a deity who teaches the supreme
knowledge to all and whose energy flows in everything. Shiva (Sanskrit śiva) means:
"the kindly/auspicious one". He is also the Lord of mercy and kindness.|| yo rudro agnau yo apsu ya
oṣadhīṣu yo rudro viśvā bhuvanā viveśa tasmai rudrāya namo astu || ~ Meaning:
To the Rudra who is fire, who is in water, who is in trees and plants, who has
entered into the entire Universe, to that Rudra let our salutations go.] The Paśupati seal (very likely) depicts Rudra-Śiva or Harirudra. ~ Shivah Gayatri Mantra: || Aum Panchvakraye
Vidmahe Mahadevaye Dheemahi Tanno Rudra Prachodayat || [The three eyes of Lord Shiva suggest: the Sun is
his right eye; the Moon is the left eye and fire (agni), the third eye. [The
"third eye" (very likely) indicates the Ajnea chakra
(Brow Chakra, the 6th chakra, the
third eye chakra ~ denoting spiritual guidance.) The word ajna
comes from the Sanskrit root which means 'to know, to obey and to follow'. Among
Indians, it is also known as the "divya chakshu" (the divine eye) or the
eye of knowledge. The third eye chakra is located in the brain, directly
behind the eyebrow center at the top of spinal chord i.e. at the medulla
oblongata. A two-petalled lotus symbolizes Ajna chakra. The left petal represents the moon or the ida nadi and the right petal represents the sun or the pingla nadi. Within the two-petalled lotus is a perfectly round
circle that symbolizes the "shoonya" or the void i.e. the state completely
devoid of ego/ahamkara. In this circle the symbol Om is written. 'Om' is the
mantra and the symbol of ajna chakra. Shivah is the destroyer and the restorer (simultaneously): He is the destroyer of ego/ahamkara, ignorance, etc; the great ascetic (hamsan, "yogi"; do read the fourth paragraph from last... to know more
about "yogi" and "detachment"), and the kind herdsman
(shepherd) of souls (jiva-atmas/human or individual souls.)] (Lord Vishnu is also known as "Shaarnga-dhanvaa":
One who aims His shaarnga bow, and "Chakree": Carrier of Sudarsana. ~ Do refer to paragraph # 18 ~ from the top, to know what
'Sudarshan Chakra' means/indicates.) Krishna, Shri Hari Vishnu's Purna avatar - one in whom divinity is manifested fully; Krishna, the eternal Mayur - regal, playful, dazzling (dynamic presence), captivating (Manohar), self-assured and a joy to
behold. Krishna, the Unicorn (metaphor/symbol for unmatched, peerless); Krishna, the 'thousand-horned
great bull with a hundred heads': Vrishaakritih - Dharma (Vrisha) Himself; Krishna, Vrishaparvaa, Dharmadhyaksha - the Lord of Dharma (not moralism or idealism, but actions that benefit society); Krishna, the illustrious God of gods who is also
called Vṛṣabha (the Great Bull); Krishna,
Vrisha Uttamam - the Supreme Bull (Supreme
Dharma). Krishna, mahaavaraaho: The great boar; Krishna, Kapih, the foremost of boars - eka (one) shringa (horned) varaha; Krishna, Vrishakapi
- the one-horned Varaha, the Supreme form of Shri Vishnu; Krishna, || aśvatthaḥ sarva-vṛkṣāṇāḿ
|| ~ among trees, I am the peepal (ashvattha); [*Please refer to the
Indus seals above - for all of these.] Krishna, a fine blend of the right values/ideals and principles as well as pragmatism; Krishna,
a repository of intelligence, wisdom and enlightenment; Krishna, who spent time
on earth in Dvapar. [So,
some five millenniums down the line... sitting in Kaliyug if one were to imagine him, then maybe: take a much taller Gregory Peck, neat and clean-shaven - especially the one from "Roman Holiday", (along with all of Peck's quiet strength, aura, demeanour, reassuring presence, et al - many times over), add all of Chanakya's brilliance, knowledge, single-minded determination, wisdom, vision, perception, sagacity, resiliency, magnanimity
and statesmanship - many times over, then add Cary Grant's charm - many times over, followed by several dashes of Steve McQueen and Ronald Colman, and finally, bucketfuls of Nicola Tesla (his vision, imagination and genius) and Steve Jobs (his finesse) besides (vast quantities of the confidence, acceleration, grit, drive, balance, zen, class, poise, energy, agility, never-say-die attitude, etc of) Usain Bolt, Viv Richards, Chris Gayle, Roger Federer (at his peak), Rafael Nadal and Djokovic. ... And still find that its not enough. That it's way, wayyy short.] Krishna, the 8th Vishnu; Krishna, who personifies dharma and karm; Krishna, the rejuvenator of dharma and karm (for the greater good); Krishna, a nation-builder par excellence; Krishna, a magnificent karm-yogi; Krishna, the other name for selfless/nishkam karm (not 'sacrifice', He is Vrishakapi - one-horned Varaha: He is protector and preserver. He rescues/pulls society out of 'quicksand', or prevents its slide into 'quicksand'/quagmire).
Krishna, who was born under unusual circumstances, who grew up... away from his parental home, was sent away to study at the age of 5 or 7, and who returned only to be instantly drawn into a whirlpool of intrigue (unleashed by the machinations of the tyrannical Jarasandha and Kansh). [Jain tradition recognizes Krishna as Vasudev and Jarasandh as the prati-Vasudev (possibly: anti-Krishna) - and this shows how important the rivalry between the two was.] Krishna, who appeared on the scene with his heroic abilities, superior intellect and tremendous political foresight (when the political situation of the country was most difficult); He, having been thrown into the situation, was quite clear in his objective. Krishna, of the Mahabharata and the Srimad Bhagavad Geeta - far removed from the flute-wielding romantic who figures in Jayadev's "Geet Gobind"; Krishna, whose consort is Rukmini. [Satyabhama is very likely the consort of the Krishna of Jayadev's "Geet Gobind". Due to the similarity in names, narratives have confluenced. Shri Krishna was part of Dvapar - an era when #1. The human species on earth was very small in number and #2. Within that too the male-female ratio was heavily skewed. So, if at all there were a large number of milkmaids, they would have been unnatural humans (genetically engineered, cloned) and humanoids. Umm, we all are very familiar with the Meerabai story, aren't we? But then she lived about five centuries ago and Krishna was part of Dvapar. However, if five or six centuries down the line someone were to retell the Mahabharata story yet again, can we rule out the possibility of both these narratives merging? Also: Krishna was sent to study at Maharshi Sandeepani and Garga Muni's ashram at the age of 5 or 7. Here he would have been put through a rigorous training regimen, spending his time reading a variety of subjects. (Ashrams or gurukul-s were situated in isolated/remote places and the students followed a strict/disciplined life.) So, it is quite unlikely that Krishn would have been able to spend his time, especially his teenage years, in the company of milkmaids (including Radha) or by playing with village boys (Sudama included). Also, Jambavan was part of Treta. So Krishna could not have married Jambavani in Dvapar. As for his supposed 16,108 'wives' or even 700,000 'wives' and 180,000 'sons', these cannot be taken at face value. These figures (very likely) came about courtesy the many cultic groups and movements that sprung up in Krishna's name, especially the 'Bhakti Movement'. Members of this movement considered themselves "married" to Shri Krishn. Yes, even the men. Also, the 'Bhakti Movement' being a reform movement, it is possible that many of these stories were woven in order to mainstream some marginalized groups, such as the 'tritiya prakriti', etc. A multitude of retelling, paintings, poems, songs, music, stage plays et al followed, and over time... bits and pieces of these have made their way into the narrative concerning Krishn. As for (his consort) Rukmini (or Rukmani), Krishna had heroically eloped with her (at her request)... to prevent an unwanted marriage with Shishupal, the crown prince of Chedi (a vassal country under the suzerainty of Emperor Jarasandh of Magadh). Since Rukmini's father (Bhismaka) too ruled over a vassal country (under the suzerainty of Magadh), her ambitious brother, Rukmi, proposed that she be married to his friend Shishupal. But having heard much about Krishn... Rukmini had her heart set on him. However, Rukmi did not want to earn the wrath of the ruthless Jarasandh and so, convinced Bhismaka as well. Frankly, the Krishna-Rukmini story reminds me of the great Scottish novelist and an amazingly popular poet, Sir Walter Scott's lovely poem: Lochinvar. [This poem, once memorized by every schoolchild in Britain and Ireland and many others across the globe, is from his long narrative epic poem, Marmion.] Note: Even our raags/ragas were classified as 'husband', 'wife' and even 'son'. Rāginī is a term for the "feminine" counterpart or "wife" to a rāga. The rāga-rāgini scheme from about the 14th century aligned 6 "male" rāgas with 6 "wives" (rāginis) and a number of sons (putras) and even 'daughters-in-law'... none of which should be taken literally or at face value. Plus, the way Krishna is depicted, his attire, etc... perhaps can be traced back to the 'Bhakti Movement'. Krishna has been an integral part of the many indigenous reform and renaissance movements that has happened over the last millennium or so. These were able to undo/change and/or dilute several of the unwanted aspects/social ills, etc that had seeped into society and Sanaatan Dharm... by creating awareness, thereby changing mindset, perceptions, etc via stage plays, open air theatres, poetry, couplets, story-telling, books, paintings/visual arts/iconography, songs and music [also rendered by wandering minstrels] and the like. Also: all these stories involving Krishn, Rukmini, Narad Muni, etc are (very likely) later additions... for the purpose of stage plays, verses, poetry, and so on. It is unlikely that anyone else would have known what transpired between Krishn and Rukmini (since either of them is unlikely to have invited any witness.) [And this is also applicable to Rukmini's letter (to Krishn). It is unlikely that either of them would have shared its contents with other people. So, the version we have now... is (very likely) the outcome of later-day writers' and translators' imagination.] Besides, Krishn, the 8th Vishnu, was in his human form, and therefore, would not only have behaved like one; he would also have expected to be treated like a human. Therefore, he is unlikely to have behaved like the Lord of Creation with Rukmini, especially. Though it is quite likely that being an intelligent and perceptive person, Rukmini, like Arjun, (and maybe even Draupadi), probably - at some point - understood that her husband (Krishn) was not an ordinary human. But this is something Krishn himself never went around declaring/announcing. [As for Arjun, he was (at some point) able to see beyond the veneer... created by Krishn himself. ... And that is how the Srimad Bhagavad Geeta came about. And that is how Krishn's real identity became known to one and all.] It is quite possible, though, that Krishn was surprised at Rukmini's choice (of a veritable wanderer with a nomadic lifestyle) for a husband... since he was an extremely busy person (with barely any time for himself... courtesy all the 'push' and 'pull' and 'cross currents'.) He was a live wire, and led an intense life. He led a tough life full of stress, numerous pressures and high-velocity... and there was a multitude of tasks to be accomplished under very difficult/challenging circumstances. Krishn is detached from Rukmini in the sense that he is not concerned or bothered about whether she was beautiful or not or whether she was highly intelligent or knowledgeable or not and the like. [Though, given her background, she would certainly have been erudite and knowledgeable in a wide variety of subjects, besides (very likely) having many and varied interests. Therefore, they would have been intellectually quite well-matched and compatible, besides being emotionally suited to one another in terms of temperament. And, from what we can gather... they would have also looked stunning together.] It is unlikely that Krishn would have expected her 'devotion' (he was human, not a deity.) He saw her as a person, and accepted her the way she was. Rukmini, on the other hand, comes across as an intelligent, perceptive and balanced person. She does not come across as immature, boastful, envious, demanding, imprudent, petty or arrogant, or as someone given to sulking, either. In short, one can say that she was (in every way) worthy of being the consort of someone like Krishn. They (probably) were, what we call, soul-mates. [In case she were to be envious/jealous of him, meaning if there were to be "samudra-manthan" between them, that would have been an additional burden on Krishn, a mental as well as an emotional burden, that too. And that kind of mind games would have affected him (and perhaps even hurt him) in a manner that nothing else could ever have (including all the machinations of Jarasandh, Duryodhan, Shishupal, etc etc put together.)] Perhaps she was his anchor. Perhaps... she was able to understand Krishn (and his life)... and (hence) could become his anchor. His patience, magnanimity and forgiveness can be gauged from the fact that he is none other than God himself (albeit, in the flesh). And He remembers who he is, what his purpose on earth is (as well as all his previous incarnations/avatars.) The 'toxin' directed at him does not rile him: BG Chapter 9, verse 11: || avajānanti māḿ mūḍhā mānuṣīḿ tanum āśritam paraḿ bhāvam ajānanto mama bhūta-maheśvaram || ~ "The ignorant deride Me when I descend in the human form. They do not know My transcendental nature as the Supreme Lord of all that be." Krishn is a karm yogi and totally "detached" (one has to understand him, his life, his purpose, the path he tread and his karm to get this). He is a complete yogi... and yet, he is also the most magnificent householder (he was non-monastic; he did not renounce "home life".) He also comes across as spartan, effortless and sorted. And given that he is "Sahasrasirsa" ("with thousand heads") ~ he would also have been able to adapt to any situation or event. Krishn is referred to as 'hamsan' or 'ascetic'/'yogi' and/or is compared to the 'lotus' ~ due to his selfless service to society and humanity (Loka-sangraha or Loka Kalyana.) ['Karm Yogi' is not to be equated with 'workaholic', though. Do read the fourth paragraph from last... to know more about "yogi" and "detachment". Krishn did all that he did ~ through the sheer dint of his karm alone; his commitment and passion towards achieving his objectives is remarkable. So imagine the extent of his intellectual acuity, as well as the magnitude of his tenacity and determination; he not only put in his time but also his heart into it. And he was neither perfunctory nor condescending.] Krishn's ability to look beyond the "clutter" - whether with events, situations or with people, and focus (keep his focus, that is) on the essential aspects, is remarkable; maybe this was due to his "yogi" nature and his ability to "detach" himself. As for his parents: Krishn had two sets of parents: (what we understand now as) 'biological parents' (Devaki-Vasudev) and 'foster parents' (Yashoda-Nand). He was away (from the former) as a newborn (since he had to be spirited away to a safer place), while from the latter he was separated at the age of 5 or 7 (when he was sent away to study.) He would have met/re-connected with both sets of parents only after completion of his studies... very likely in his mid-twenties. But then, would he have really been able to connect? Taking up responsibilities, yes; but would there have been an emotional connect (from either side)? ~ Well, my guess is as good as yours. Also, there were other people who were related to him (but he is unlikely to have known them either) - and some of them had aligned their interests with Jarasandh and Duryodhan. [The Krishna-Sudama stories are (very likely) later additions - to teach morals, etc or, maybe, some other narrative made its way into the main narrative... 'coz Krishn is unlikely to have spent much of his childhood and the whole of his teenage years in the company of village boys (do refer to paragraph #6 from the top... to get the drift.) But he is, in all probability, likely to have taken along his parents with him... when he moved to Dvarka.]
[Pic: Gulmohar ('Gul' means 'Flower' and 'Mohr' is 'stamp' or insignia. However:
"Gul" also means "Flower" and "Mor" means
"Peacock"... and this seems more appropriate in summing
up the physical appearance and beauty of this tree + flower. The latter is also
known as Krishnachura or Krusnachura (Bangla/Oriya: 'crown of
Krishna'). ~ And, as we know, Shamsundar Krishn is the personification of the king of seasons/Rituraj, spring.] ... Coming before us as personified spring is
Shyamsundar Krishn... full of colour, joy, and ecstasy and dressed as a daring dramatic
dancer. He is "all-attractive": at His charming best - with a mysterious or
magical power to attract, and hold us spellbound. He looks like the full moon surrounded by its entourage of stars. His
effulgent white turban appears especially splendid sitting obliquely on His
head. It is decorated with bunches of flowers, sprinkled with fragrant reddish
powder (pollen or "gulaal", or maybe even the flaming-red Gulmohar, also known as "Krishnachura" or 'crown of Krishna'), and surrounded by buzzing bumblebees shaking His peacock feather. His
curly dark blue hair is tied back, and He wears glittering yellow garments just
suitable for the spring season. A sachet of camphor is tucked in His
gem-studded belt. While listening to the vasanta raga, Krishn holds a flute in
His left hand and a ball of red powder (gulaal) in His right hand. Overjoyed at the
sight of Krishna, the forest creepers display ecstatic dance. The gentle
breezes from the Malayan Hills appear as a guru to teach the forest creepers
how to dance. The beautiful mango groves with their blossoming flowers appear
like exuberant laughter. It appears as if they are illuminating the mango grove
with pleasant effulgence. With their new leaves and fresh mango flowers they
exhibit various mudras (hand positions) to go along with the song of the birds...
that intoxicate everyone with their joyous singing. Bumblebees, cuckoos, and
other exotic birds hum and warble pleasingly. The creepers dance along
according to the instructions of the wind. The spring season arrives in the
form of a playful lion cub showing his teeth as the stamens of the flowers. The
southern breezes forced the chills of winter to depart. It appeared as if the
nostrils of personified time had now opened and started breathing in and out.
The juncture of winter and spring seemed like the period between boyhood and
adolescence. The tender creepers explode with new buds. The cuckoos sing a
sweet melody. Though the southern breezes had begun, they were weak due to
their lingering attachment to the Malaya Hills. It seemed the buds, birds, and
breezes simultaneously awaited the departure of the winter season. With their
gentle humming the bumblebees inquire repeatedly from all directions about the
location of spring. Moreover, immediately upon smelling the fragrance, the
cuckoos took shelter in the treetops to savour the fresh mango blossoms. The
forest welcomed the spring season with the sweet fragrances of fresh flowers.
With the disappearance of winter, the forest beamed with delight. The creepers
appeared to be smeared with rich aromas. Overwhelmed with joy, the birds sing
happily. The Malayan breezes moving here and there carried the sweet flavour of
fragrant flowers. With the chirping of intoxicated sparrows, even humans lose
their gravity and feel a new energy flowing through them. Delighted, they
submerge in an ocean of joy, as they smell the sweet aroma of the forest
flowers. There is gulaal, flying of colourful (and even innovatively designed)
kites, sumptuous feast and unlimited happiness during the Holi festival. A new
zeal of life can be seen coming in all around. Colorful flowers decorate this
earth. The bumblebees returning to their hives appear to be tied up together as
they move about with each other. Krishn, the ocean of elegance, appears like a
dramatic artist dressed in colorful garments. The camari deer prepared the
stage by sweeping the forest floor with their bushy tails. The honey nectar
dripping from the flowers moistened the rich soil. Wandering kasturi deer
scented the air with the heady fragrance of musk. Swarms of intoxicated bees
danced in mid-air and buzzed among the flowering creepers. On Vasant Pancami,
the first day of spring, Shyamsundar, whose joyfully sweet and sportive nature
spread in all directions, filled the horizon with the reflection of His
beautiful blue complexion. Whose mind participating in this flourishing festival
of spring will not elate? [Please note: All this is allegorical. The spring season is described... with Krishn as personified spring. Thus, He is Hari, the Lord of Nature. He is "Kshiteeshah": The Lord of the earth.] Here is the
delectable Tagorean composition Aji Dokhino Duar Khola (by Sounak
Chattopadhyay): Link.
[Vasant Panchami is celebrated on the fifth day of Shukla Paksha of Magh Masa
(month). It is the festival/celebration of the king of all seasons: Spring/Basant. This begins
from spring season and carries up to Panchami of Krishna Paksha of Falgun
month. This festival is especially considered significant for lovers of art and
education. The day of Vasant/Basant Panchami is considered to be the beginning of
life. Spring season is the season of rebirth and bloom. In this season, fields
of yellow mustard, charm everybody's heart. Wheat crop starts swaying like
gold. Colourful flowers starts blossoming. The day of Basant Panchami is (thus)
celebrated as the welcoming of colours and happiness. And on this day, apart
from Goddess Sarasvati (the goddess/deity/devi symbolizing
learning/knowledge, intelligence and wisdom), Lord Vishnu (the Lord of Creation) and Kamdev (the god/dev of love) is also worshiped. As for Gulmohar: "Gul" means "Flower" and "Mohr" means "stamp". But (Gul = flower) and "Mor" means "Peacock"... and this seems more appropriate in summing up the physical appearance and
beauty of this tree and flower.]
Krishna, who foiled Duryodhan's attempts to ascend the throne - 'coz if such a man and such a bunch were to reign, what would happen to society? Krishna, who successfully foiled Duryodhan and Dushshasana's shameful designs; Krishna, who despite not being present in Hastinapur, came to Draupadi's aid... at a time when even the likes of Dhritarashtra, Gandhari, Bheeshm Pitamah (grandsire), Dronacharya, et al stood silent - either due to narrow selfish reasons or so as not to displease Duryodhan. [Krishna was able to aid Draupadi through very advanced technology - despite not being physically present in Hastinapur at the time. The Krishna that appeared in the Hastinapur Court (and successfully foiled the shameful designs of Duryodhana and Dushyashana) - was his hologram. A highly advanced, realistic and human-like hologram or holographic image that not only looked like or resembled Krishna completely but was also able to perform a variety of tasks (including: inducing illusion and hypnosis, by gaining control over Dushyashana's senses or indriyas). Very likely: by gaining control over Dushyashana's mind and thoughts: advanced 'inception'. Result: Dushasana was led to believe that Draupadi's attire (it couldn't have been a saree, though) was an unending one; and so, he continued to 'unwrap layers and layers of it' (under hypnosis), and finally fell to the ground - exhausted.] Now, how did Krishn get to know what was unfolding in the Kuru Court (in Hastinapur)? The narrative says: Draupadi prayed to him, requesting assistance. This could be an allusion to "telepathy". Though we are aware of the concept of "telepathy", we are yet to figure it out fully. [Krishn and Draupadi were the best of friends, and so, Krishn may have shared the procedure with her.] Krishna, who promised Duryodhan his powerful 'Narayani Sena'; Krishna, who let Duryodhan rejoice - by agreeing not to pick up weaponry himself; Krishn, who thus was able to firmly remain on Arjun's side (as his 'charioteer', strategist and guide); Krishna, who quietly weakened Duryodhan (by weakening Karna - Duryodhan's greatest ally and 'instrument'). Karna was a Maharathi (great warrior). During the Pandava's 'vanvaas' (exile period or banishment) he helped Duryodhan become the ruler of a large kingdom, by conquering various lands. The kings of these lands either accepted Duryodhan's suzerainty and swore allegiance to him, or chose to die in the battlefield, defending their kingdoms. Karna is said to have thus subdued the kingdoms of Kamboja, Shaka, Kekaya (maybe beyond what Vrihadhakshatra ruled), Avantya, Gandhara (possibly: beyond the areas from where Gandhari hailed), Madraka (could be areas beyond Madra-raj Shalya's kingdom, from where Madri hailed), Trigarta, Tangana, Panchala (probably areas other than what came under Drupad's kingdom), Videha, Suhma, Vanga, Nishada, Kalinga, Vatsa, Ashmaka, Rishika and numerous others, including many forest tribes (vaanvasis and adivasis). [Karna was Kunti and Suryadev's son - begotten through advanced genetic engineering, probably far more advanced than the one used to 'create' Arjun - hence the metaphors of 'kavacha' and 'kundal'. It simply indicates that he was extremely difficult (almost impossible) to kill. But then, this 'kavacha' and 'kundal' would have been part of his physical (genetic) makeup, much like the proverbial 'second skin'... and not mere ear-rings and armour. *So, a lot more effort would have had to be expended to negate Karna's 'kavacha' and 'kundal'. In all likelihood, it would have involved highly advanced scientific procedure/technology. [As we can see, Krishna was extremely knowledgeable and a fine scientist (rather, technical wizard) himself.] Thus, the Karna-Kunti story - wherein a supposedly 'daanveer' Karna "donates" his 'kavacha' and 'kundal' is a result of later retelling - since the translators were unable to figure out the technology, etc... and so, improvised and re-wrote parts of the Mahabharata.] Kunti did not have to "abandon" Karna "for fear of being shamed." [In Dvapar, the male-female ratio was heavily skewed. Begetting progeny involved technology. And apart from Svayamvara, 'Gandharva-Vivah' too was prevalent. ['Gandharva Vivaha' was a short-term union (vivah) that did not require any rituals, though the consent of the female was essential. Now, it is possible that the concept of 'Gandharva-Vivah' came about due to the highly skewed male-female ratio, or, maybe, it was prevalent among certain groups of people... and later adopted by other groups.] Also, e.g. while Yudhisthir, Bheem and Arjun were known as "Pandav", they were addressed as "Kaunteya" (son of Kunti). For example, Krishna addresses Arjun as "Kaunteya" most of the time. Besides, all knew that Yamaraj, Pavandev and Indra were the respective fathers of Yudhisthir, Bheem and Arjun. Also, Kunti, Satyavati, et al wielded great influence. Thus, as we can see, there was no 'Lakshman Rekha' prescribed for women in Dvapar. That concept has come about thanks to Tulsidas and his Ramcharitmanas. Plus, it is very likely that concepts like 'widow' or 'widower' or even 'illegitimate child', etc was unknown.] So, there is no question of "abandoning" an infant Karna "for fear of being shamed." There was no need for Kunti to place the basket (supposedly containing the infant Karna) on the waters of the river Aswa (a tributary of the River Ganga) - as is popularly believed. Karna was an unnatural human (Kunti and Lord Indra's son) - born as a result of very advanced genetic engineering. In all likelihood, he would have been a radiant-and-remarkable-looking baby. And this may have induced someone to steal/kidnap him. But whosoever it was that kidnapped him, abandoned him later, since taking care of him may not have been an easy task - given that he was an unnatural human. Later, the childless couple - Adhirath and Radha found him, and brought him up as their own son. [Hence, Karna is also known as Radheya: son of Radha, though he was named Vasusena by his adoptive parents. Adhirath was a 'Suta' or 'Saarathi'. There were three kinds of warriors: Rathi, Maharathi and Saarathi (the latter, though highly skilled, did not pick up weapons.)]
Let's discuss Karna's 'Kavacha' and 'Kundal' and *what* is meant by Karna's 'chariot wheel sank deep into the ground': Karna = ears. 'Kundal', literally 'ear-ring' is perhaps derived from "kundalini" (kuṇḍalinī), meaning: "coiled". Sanskrit: kund = "to burn"; kunda = "to coil or to spiral". And is perhaps a reference to the 'circuits', i.e. the nerve tracts or nerve fibers.) [Kundalini = a concentrated field of intelligent, cosmic, invisible energy absolutely vital to life; beginning in the base of the spine when a human being begins to evolve as wisdom is earned. Kundalini has been described as liquid fire and liquid light. The ultimate outcome of kundalini is the union of Will (sakti-kundalini), Knowledge (prana-kundalini) and Action (para-kundalini). (And this should help us gauge what kind of kundalini/'serpent power' Krishn and Chanakya possessed, or for that matter Chandragupta Maurya and Vikramaditya possessed.) In literal terms, the 'samudra-manthan' or 'sagar-manthan' tale is (also) an allegorical description of what transpires during a kundalini awakening process. Kundalini is a latent energy that lies dormant in the spine. Upon awakening, it rises in a sensation akin to a slithering reptile, up the spinal column (Meru-danda, also represented by Mount Meru in the story).] And if we are to look at the human brain: the left hemisphere (side 1), the right hemisphere (side 2) and the area in the middle is (allegorically) occupied by a 'serpent'! Therefore, we can say, kundalini is 'serpent power'. Maybe, this power 'ignites' or 'illumines' the mind, in a manner of speaking, that is... which in turn results in an awesome amount of intelligence, foresight, perception, vision, sagacity, etc, that in turn results in great deeds. It is, however, possible that this power ('serpent power') was mistranslated to mean 'a serpent's crown jewel' or 'the priceless jewel found inside the head of serpents'.] As per the narrative, Karna's 'chariot wheel sank deep into the ground'... and he was, thus, unable to recollect the 'mantra' (appropriate incantations) for unleashing certain weaponry. Now this 'chariot wheel' is not literal. Wheel = cakra or chakra, and (so, very likely) refers to Karna's mind chakra or Manasa Chakra, which is connected with most of the head (especially the brain), is a combination of sensing and intellect. Maybe: only by 'deactivating' Karna's "Kundal"... could this unnatural human, ('son' of Lord Indra, a higher being, and Kunti... begotten through very advanced genetic engineering) be destroyed; otherwise nothing else could destroy him (as indicated by the "kavacha" - that was part of his genetic makeup.) Hence, Karna could not have donated either his "Kaavacha" or his "Kundaal". Ever. [Perhaps, later-day translators, unable to figure out/understand the technology aspects described in the narrative, improvised by bringing in Brahmin's 'curse', Parasurama's 'curse', Sutaputra, fate, et al. But then, there were three kinds of warriors: Rathi, Maharathi and Saarathi (the latter, though highly skilled, did not pick up weapons.) A renowned "kusalavya" of that era was: Ugrasrava, son of Lomarsana, known as Sauti to one and all. Sauti is derived from "Suta". Kusalavya: (roughly translates to) a wandering poet, custodian of our history and heritage... they were greatly respected. Even Sanjay was held in high esteem.] Therefore, Karna's 'chariot wheel sank deep into the ground' could mean #1. His mind went blank. In other words: his memory failed. He suffered a blackout. #2. That all of Karna's 'indriyas' gradually stopped functioning; he was benumbed, stupefied (the mind, senses, will, etc). Krishna, the tech wizard that he was, perhaps made this happen (via technology or via some sort of mind-control/'inception' brought about by a combination of technology and Krishna's tremendous will power). He was known to possess vast knowledge of Yog (and Yog is not confined to any one field, it is a vast ocean of knowledge encompassing varied areas.) Besides, it is said that he had not only gained mastery over his own senses (indriyas), but also over those of others. Apparently, (and perhaps realizing that his "kundal" had been 'deactivated') Karna invoked the Arya dharmic tenets of "fair play" and "chivalry"... maybe in a bid to buy time (to get himself treated or rather, to 'un-stupefy himself': to 'pull out his chariot wheel that had sunk deep into the ground', that is.) Krishna then (sarcastically) asked him whether he ever walked on the path of righteousness and followed "fair play" and/or displayed "chivalry". Also, what happened to his sense of "fair play" and "chivalry"... when six great and experienced warriors (Maharathi) murdered Abhimanyu (who too had requested for a fair chance... to fight one-on-one)? Krishn further reminded Karna about the latter's role during: the fraudulent game of dice (that cheated the Pandavas out of their right and banished them for 13 long years instead); his willing participation in the various machinations against the Pandavas; his conduct when Draupadi was insulted, and when Kunti was treated shabbily, etc. Krishna further said that his (Karna's) demand for a fair chance was disgusting, since as an ally and co-conspirator of Duryodhan, he was not only privy to but was also a willing partner in all of the latter's heinous plots and crimes. [However, it is unlikely that Arjun had to use any astra to bring about Karna's end.] Note: Karna had been unleashing powerful weaponry (one after the other) directed at Arjun. [These weaponry were considerably more powerful than the ones Arjun unleashed.] However, thanks to Krishna's deft maneuvering of the 'chariot', none of them could find their mark. [Now, this 'chariot' could not have been a horse-drawn one. It was (very likely) a compact mechanized vehicle that could also be maneuvered to increase or decrease in size, as indicated by: Krishna pressing the 'chariot' with his foot so that it sank five fingers deep into the ground. Thus, one astra (the serpent shaft) aimed at Arjun's neck could only graze his 'kiriti' (his head/crown or headgear/helmet?) instead. Arjun, thus, escaped with minor injuries to his head.] Karna had aimed the serpent shaft (astra) at Arjun's 'kundal' (his head or rather, behind his ears), but an alert Krishna maneuvered the 'chariot' just in time (by lowering its height by five fingers)... and so, Arjun escaped with minor injuries to his head (crown, kiriti). ... With Karna gone, Duryodhan was greatly weakened... so much so that the course of this greatest of 'Dharm-Yudh' (battle of principles) was clear to one and all.
Krishn, a larger-than-life figure; Krishn, extremely resilient - true steel, pure damascene steel (alchemy at its finest) and wrapped in silk and velvet; Krishn, bathed in the complexity of real-life struggle; Krishna, totally divested of His godhood/miraculous powers/mythical abilities... navigating through (a maze of) shifting power centers, politics, diplomacy, et al... armed with only his brilliance and charm: observing, evaluating, assessing, networking, negotiating - sometimes with a gentle force of persuasion, (maybe even throwing in some platitudes or praise, even extravagant praise perhaps, as and when required. It's all part of Dandaniti.) Krishna, who used his overpowering but human wisdom and intelligence in the struggle for supremacy, resulting finally in the re-establishment of good over assorted negativities and of right over wrong. The tremendous political acumen of Krishna is highlighted in the way he used all the four principles of Dandaniti to destroy the malignant power centers, create new alliances that emerged as counter balances to the existing power structure and used diplomacy to bolster what was right. He used his basic superior intelligence for this one purpose. It took some time. It also took some effort (obviously, 'coz there's no switch, there's no quick fix, there's no magic wand, and the odds were great). But in the final analysis, he emerged as the leader whose judgment and veracity could not be disputed. His political acumen combined with his sharp intellect, personal courage and physical prowess established him as a major force. Krishna, did He return as Chanakya (Vishnugupt)? We do not know. And though this land wielded considerable influence even then (w.r.t education, innovation, research, knowledge, medicine, metallurgy, alchemy, literature, art, technical know-how, trade, et al), it was highly fractured. So, one can only marvel at how a brilliant, stoic and intrepid young man - with unmatched resiliency, vulcanized via the most trying of circumstances (and who went to Takshasheela at the age of sixteen, but had no practical experience whatsoever in the treacherous world of kutniti and politics) was (gradually) able to outmaneuver an assortment of experienced and powerful (albeit negative) entities, (from a position of weakness, yet again) + checkmated the rampaging Yavana Alexander... to unite a fractured nation and lay the foundations of a glorious era. He rejuvenated Arya-dharm too. There is also a strong possibility that Chanakya infiltrated Alexander's army by getting Chandragupta recruited into it. The latter's humble origins made no difference to the great Master, who also fortified Chandragupta Maurya's empire and its surrounding areas. Chanakya, a fine karm-yogi, remained steadfast, his eyes firmly fixed on a higher goal, a goal much higher than himself, despite the many insults, personal trials, tremendous odds and extreme 'agni-pareeksha' (the metaphoric 'trial by fire'). He was not petty or small-minded either, and recognized/acknowledged talent/calibre even in his staunch adversaries, and thus, was magnanimous enough to hand over the baton to Amatya Rakshash [actually: Amatya Kartikeya. Rakshash comes from Rakshak, meaning protector. Amatya = minister.] Chanakya cleverly brought Rakshash (loyal adviser and principal minister to the despotic Dhana Nanda) back from exile, received him with a great deal of warmth, and extended all due courtesies - thereby voiding the feud/bad-blood between them and un-demonizing Amatya Rakshash publicly. So overwhelmed was Rakshash by Chanakya's gracious behaviour (towards him)... that he accepted the responsibilities (entrusted to him) - with a full heart. Thus, Amatya Rakshash became Samraat Chandragupta's principal adviser and minister. [And given that Chandragupta's reign is one of our finest eras... we can gauge how well he discharged his duties. Chanakya, a great human and visionary. Chanakya, a brilliant political scientist. Chanakya, a master economist. Chanakya, a fine nation-builder. Note: Chanakya is addressed by two honorifics: Pandit and Acharya. "Pandit" indicates a wise, learned and enlightened person. "Acharya" means: "He who instructs through his own behavior (acharan)". That is the mark of a true teacher/guru. During Chanakya's time there was no 'caste system' (since "caste" is derived from the Portuguese word "Casta," meaning: purity of descent. Even the Gupta Emperors had humble origins.) Therefore, in all likelihood, "Pandit" and "Acharya" were honorifics given to anyone who deserved. A "Brahman" was someone who dedicated his life to the pursuit and dissemination of knowledge. They (Rishis, Maharshis, Munis and Acharyas of yore) also undertook various research and experiments. Vishnugupt Chanakya himself was a fountainhead of knowledge encompassing widely different areas such as economics, politics (as in 'raaj-neeti', nation-building), statecraft... and even medicine.]
Krishn, "all-attractive" [Mohan]; Krishn, the magnificent; Krishn, the tremendously magnanimous; Krishn, a realist, a pragmatic doer, a go-getter... and not a mere idealistic dreamer. [He never said it cannot be done. Instead, he became the 'matsya-avatar' and went against the grain; he swam against the tide. And the planet, society and civilization benefited. The people benefited. Arya-Dharm was enriched. Sanaatan-Dharm was re-energized.] Krishn, who will return as Kalki, the 10th Vishnu (to set the stage for Krita/Sat/Satya Yug of the next cycle to manifest); Krishna, (who, as the 8th Vishnu) was part of the 3rd era, Dvapar Yug - when Aryavarta was still Aryavarta, where people could still be called noble-natured or Arya/Aryan (i.e. they still followed a pattern of life based on Arya-Dharm, Arya ethics/code of conduct or a noble way of life - though this had suddenly crumbled due to the activities of assorted negative entities like Jarasandh, Kansh, Shakuni, Duryodhan, et al and their allies). [This change had happened all of a sudden. Out of the blue. It was not gradual. Therefore, the kind of 'societal churning' it would have heralded too would have been great.] Krishna, (who, as the 8th Vishnu) was part of Dvapar... when indigenous peoples and entire civilizations had yet to be obliterated, when none indulged in un-Aryan activities like slave-taking, buying and selling of humans in markets, loot and plunder of resources, et al. In fact, enslavement was unheard of. Even the Sanskrit language has no equivalent for a slave. [Das/Dasi = attendant.] Dvapar was an era when by insulting Draupadi... Duryodhan and Dushshasana crossed a red line (i.e. they broke the prevalent tenets of Arya-dharm - Aryan ethics or code of conduct that people adhered to at the time.) Krishna, (who, as the 8th Vishnu) was part of a land and era/yug when vast quantities of highly destructive weaponry was a concern, when earthlings largely depended on advanced medical science/technology to beget progeny - due to an extremely skewed male-female ratio. Result? Unnatural humans - progeny of earthlings and entities of Higher planets/Urdhva-loka, 'born' due to highly advanced genetic engineering (including cloning), abounded the earth. For example: Arjun was Kunti and Lord Indra's son - begotten through advanced medical technology. Karna was Kunti and Lord Surya/Suryadev's son - again begotten through advanced genetic engineering, probably far more advanced than the one used to 'create' Arjun - hence the metaphors of 'kavacha' and 'kundal'. Bheem was (one of Indra's energy minister) Pavandev/Lord Pavan and Kunti's son, while Yudhisthira was Lord Indra's law and justice minister, Dharmaraj Yamaraj/Lord Yama and Kunti's son - yet again begotten through advanced medical technology. Nakula and Sahadeva were Madri's twin sons, courtesy the twin Ashvini Kumaras. They too were begotten through advanced medical technology/genetic engineering. [The Ashvins or Ashvini Kumars are the physicians of the Devas - entities/beings residing in the Higher planets/Urdhva-lokas. This Devaraj Indra, Suryadev, Dharmaraj Yamaraj, Pavandev and the Ashvins are not part of manav-jaati/human race/species.] While the Kauravas were born as a result of a 'test-tube' process, wherein even their gestation happened in pitcher-shaped incubators, outside their mother's womb. And given that Gandhari "gave birth to a hard piece of lifeless flesh" after "two years" of remaining "pregnant", one cannot rule out the involvement of stem cells and cloning technology either. Advanced 'Parthenogenesis' was a possibility as well. Draupadi was 'fire-born', meaning: she was of 'virgin-birth' - the result of a laboratory process... with no human involvement whatsoever; hence her gestation too happened in incubators, which acted as the surrogate womb. Ditto Dhristadyumna. [Note: 'Homa' = a technological procedure. 'Brahma' = a reference to whosoever possesses the know-how (or is the chief scientist). 'Brahma's boon' = a reference to knowledge transfer or a successful experiment. 'Yagna' = a metaphor used to indicate a laboratory or a technological process per se. 'Yagya-gaar' = the laboratory or place where the research/process is being conducted. (Gaar = room, here it indicates a laboratory where a technological process is underway.) 'Yagnakunda' = a metaphor to indicate the 'specifics' of any laboratory or technological process. That is: the 'instruments' or the 'method' used or employed in any laboratory or technological process. 'Agni' = a metaphor to indicate the 'outcome' of a laboratory/scientific/technological/or medical process.]
Devavrat aka Bheeshma Peetamah was 'Ganga-putra' - yet another metaphor for 'laboratory-born', 'pure-born', or of 'virgin-birth'. Thus he too was 'born' out of a laboratory process via highly advanced medical technology (that was way advanced than the one used to 'create' Draupadi). Devavrat was 'assembled' human - created after seven unsuccessful attempts - thus the metaphor of 'seven sons thrown into the Ganga'. This 'Ganga' refers to a lab; Maharaj Shantanu never had a consort/queen by that name. He fully understood the consequences of unnatural humans populating the earth, and hence was keen to have human progeny. Once he found 'matsya-kanya' Satyavati, they married. [Matsya-kanya: perhaps she belonged to a clan with a fish totem/insignia. There was a Matsya kingdom too. So, maybe she hailed from there.] Devavrat was the result of genetic material taken from multiple sources; therefore, he was very difficult (almost impossible) to kill, thus two metaphors: #1: 'ichchhya mrityu' and #2. 'shara-shajya' or 'bed of arrows' has been used (despite his years, and despite being grievously injured and in great pain, he was still alive.) [It is possible that Devavrat too understood the consequences of unnatural humans roaming the earth and its effect on civilization, and so, decided/undertook a stern vow (kathor vrat) - of not having progeny (i.e. replicating himself) - ever. This probably is the reason behind his other more famous name (sobriquet): Bheeshm or Bhishma (meaning, terrible - a reference to his vow, perhaps). There was no renunciation or sacrifice involved... to pave the way for Santanu-Satyavati's progeny to ascend the throne.] Ghatotkach too was 'laboratory-born'. [Ghatam indicates: laboratory. Utkoch or utkaca = reward, product, outcome, gift, present.] He was a highly advanced humanoid robot, very human-like in appearance (android - male), but with robot or machine-like strength, flexibility and assorted abilities. And so, he could increase in size and turn himself into a gigantic figure. [Maybe our ancients called such a humanoid, 'brahma-daitya' or 'brhma-daitya'. Brhma comes from 'Brh', which means: to grow. Daitya = gigantic-sized. And this (probably) got mistranslated to 'a brāhmaṇa ghost' or the ghosts of brahmans, living in the fig trees, the pipal (ficus religiosa), or the banyan (ficus indica), awaiting liberation (mukti) or reincarnarnation.] As for Dronacharya, Droṇa implies that he too was gestated in a droṇa (vessel) - an incubator that acted as the surrogate womb. Jarasandha (literally meaning "joined by Jara") too was a product of stem cell technology (gone wrong). Or he may have been a conjoined baby. Jara (or Barmata - an adivasi vyadh/doctor) either: #1. separated the underdeveloped-lifeless/stillborn twin (obviously via a surgical procedure) or #2. stitched up gaping wounds, perhaps even gangrene, or maybe 'completed' an 'incomplete' or ill-developed/underdeveloped human body - with the help of material/body parts taken from other sources (including the lifeless/stillborn twin). Thus Jarasandha lived. Even Dhritarashtra, Pandu and Vidur were 'born' due to advanced medical technology... courtesy Maharshi Vedavyas. Perhaps the technique was yet to be perfected; therefore, none of them were 'born' completely healthy. [For example: Dhritarashtra was visually challenged, while Pandu was anemic and probably had a weak heart/incurable heart ailment. And neither could procreate naturally. Hence Gandhari, Kunti and Madri had to take the help of advanced medical technology - in order to beget progeny. Even Draupadi's five sons (one by each of the Pandavas): Prativindhya, Sutasoma, Srutakirti, Satanika, and Srutakarma... are said to have been spitting images of their respective fathers - the 5 Pandavas. This again points towards cloning. Therefore, 'the Pandavas announcing to Kunti their arrival with excellent "alms", and a supposedly busy Kunti replying without turning to look at Draupadi (who was the supposed "alms" referred to) and advising/ordering the brothers to share the "alms" equally amongst the five of them'... is a later-day addition, courtesy translators, who, unable to understand technology, etc... improvised.]
[Pic: Horus, the Falcon-god or the Falcon-headed man.] | Many of
our so-called mythological stories dealt with celestial events involving stars,
planets, satellites, meteors and the like. Others narrated our 'pracheen
itihasa'. However, due to a similarity of names, it is possible that many of
these stories gradually came to be taken at face value. As a result: there has
been a confluence of narratives. ... And this has also obliterated a lot of information
and knowledge. Sadly. The word 'curse' (used in
our ancient texts) also cannot and should not be
taken at face value. This word appears in many of our texts essentially to
convey: severe chastisement, physical violence, punishment, banishment, extreme
humiliation, acute pain, illness, medical condition, unforeseen events, untimely demise, doing
away with primogeniture, etc. We need to choose carefully after examining the
narrative(s). Also: granted that people in the earlier eras (yug) were much
different from modern humans of the current era (Kali Yug)... and
so, their longevity too would have differed greatly. But that does not mean
that human beings lived for thousands of years. And so, all those mentions of "thousand years" cannot and must not be
taken at face value. "Thousand years"
essentially meant a fairly long duration, 'coz when we bless someone by saying:
'may you live for a thousand years' - it is not literal. Sanjay was able to view the goings-on in the battlefield
and simultaneously narrate the events to Dhritarashtra... thanks to television
(divya-drishti) - courtesy Veda Vyasa. However, since the word "drishti" has
been used, could it also have been an eye-wear/wearable gadget? Plus, what were all those
'chariots' like? Were they really horse-drawn ones as we think, or mechanized
vehicles (since we use the word 'horse-power' - though no horses are involved)?
We know ancient India was a hub of trade and had robust trading ties with other
lands. [Foraminiferal microfossils, (around 4500 years old
from the site of the Harappan settlement in Lothal), establishes that seawater
once flowed in Lothal and there also existed a dockyard.] In Dvapar too there were healthy trading activities, bustling ports, dockyards, harbours and
shipbuilding, (in fact, this land was renowned for building sturdy
long-lasting ships). Now whether there were indigenous horses (that became extinct somewhere down the line, since Tibet seems to have sturdy,
swift horses, that are also compact or small-built) - my guess is as good as
yours. [However, what can be said with certainty is this: that there never has been
a one-horned horse - the Unicorn, in reality. The Unicorn is imagery, to symbolically
convey certain concepts. *Do refer to the unicorn seal above.] I also came across
a bit about a Tibetan king joining forces with Chanakya and Chandragupta -
against Alexander. [Maybe, we'll have to study Tibetan history and texts to know more.]
Horses were imported from (what is now known as Central Asia) and ancient 'Arvasthan'
(the Arabian Peninsula. 'Arva' meaning, 'horse' in Sanskrit, probably gave rise
to the word 'Arab'. Arvasthan = the land of [fine quality] horses. PS: In ancient times there was no 'Central Asia', etc... 'Aryavarta'/land of Aryans or 'lands inhabited by the Arya people' stretched far and wide.) Also: one
wonders as to how Samraat Ashok built all those stupas (enshrining the relics of the Buddha) in China? There is also
an Ashoka Mountain and an Ashoka Temple there. So what was the map of his empire
like? Besides: "Aryan" is not a 'race', but a 'way of life' rooted in
noble principles. [People addressed each other as Arya, Arya-Putr, etc.] And
there has never been any 'Aryan Invasion' whatsoever. Various groups of these
noble-natured people (Aryan) migrated to other lands. [A deeper study of Vedic
hymns and Avestic passages might throw more light.] Post the drying up of the
River Sarasvati too, there has been an exodus westward - in search of greener
pastures (and these ancient Indus people in all likelihood carried their
culture, knowledge, heritage et al along with them - to newer lands.) But surely,
intermingling with other groups and cultures would have resulted in
'cross-pollination' and synergy of all kinds. For example: Perhaps, the Vedic funeral altar (Smashaanacit or Smashaanachita)
became the stepped pyramid - the great flat-topped Mastaba of Djoser, a
precursor to later pyramids. [From what we can gather, the ancient Indus people, probably, buried
their dead. In fact, if we are to study the many extinct groups, such as the
Mayans, we find burial chambers and traces of elaborate burial rituals.
Therefore, the funeral pyre probably came about much later (due to
considerations of space, resources, etc.) Or maybe, both rituals existed
simultaneously.] The Lion-Man (Nrsingh) probably became the 'Sphinx'. Perhaps Garuda gave way
to Horus - the Falcon-god or the Falcon-headed man. [Incidentally: Garud was
not an eagle or falcon per se, but a human belonging to the Suparnah clan (a group/clan with an eagle/golden eagle/bald-eagle totem or maybe a falcon totem/insignia and/or an eagle, golden eagle, bald eagle or falcon headgear/hairstyle (a la the Mohican) or mask). So imagine their physique and personality. They
would certainly have been supremely fit: lithe, taut and sinewy, a coiled
spring a la Bruce Lee (but much taller, of course. Though some groups may have
been compact.) In India, the noble-natured Brahminy Kite (Haliastur
Indus, Singapore Bald Eagle) is considered as the contemporary
representation of "Garuda". Though birds of an earlier era would have been very different.] Perhaps, Eknath (meaning: one God)
became Akhenaten (and even Echnaton, Akhenaton, Ikhnaton, and Khuenaten), while
Dasaratha ("of ten chariots") or Tvesaratha (having splendid chariots), became Tushratta. Maybe: Ramesses
II (referred to as Ramesses the Great), ancient Miṣr/Egypt's most
prolific ruler, often regarded as the greatest, most celebrated, and most
powerful pharaoh of the (ancient) Egyptian Empire, is named after Shri Ram. And perhaps 'Pharaoh' is a variation of 'Priyadarshi', meaning: pleasant-looking or 'blessed
by the Almighty'. [Akhenaten was one of the first few kings who
differentiated between his kingliness and the Godliness of Aten (The One).] Perhaps, Suryaman became Soloman. Maybe, Naram-Sin (also transcribed as: Narām-Sîn, Naram-Suen) is a variation of Narasimha or
Nrsingh (the "Lion-Man"). Naram-Sin assumed the imperial title, "Lugal Naram-Sîn, Šar kibrat
'arbaim" (meaning: "King Naram-Sin, king of the four quarters".) Perhaps this is a
variation of "Sarvabhauma" ("sovereign of the world") and "Cakravartin"
or Chakravarti ("monarch of all realms") - brought about by a change in phonetics. The Kassite dynasty in Mesopotamia preserved
some names: Shuriash, Maruttash, Inda-Bugash, (possibly Surya, Marut and
Indra-Bhaga respectively; 'Bhaga' probably being a variation of 'Bhagavan', meaning
effectively 'god', cfr. Bhag-wAn/Bhaga-wan, Slavic: Bog). ... Therefore, the language, phonetics, art, craft, culture, way
of life, knowledge et al ... even the human species itself, has constantly
evolved in every way imaginable. [One also finds step-pyramids in Mexico, El Salvadore, Guatemala and Peru
(attributed to the Inca and the Chimu people) and even the Canary Islands. Beside
ceremonial rituals, these pyramids were also associated with healing rituals,
purgatory (possibly 'Panchakarma' or the Therapy of Purification), besides other rituals (during various equinoxes and solstices)
involving the sun and the moon. Often they were built on a place where the
Earth energies were high - specific grid points following the measurements of ancient
Geometry (jyamiti: Jya in Sanskrit means earth, miti means
measurement.) Siddhanta is the study of arithmetic (Ganita), trigonometry
(TrikonaMiti), algebra (Beeja Ganita), geometry (Jyamiti or Gyamiti) and astronomy
(jyotiṣa or Khagol shastra: jyótis - "light, heavenly body") and its
application to astrology. How to compute the fundamental planetary positions
pertaining to Hora and Samhita is explained in Siddhanta. Vedic Astrology, Vedanga Jyotishya, aka ancient
Indian astrology has three branches called Siddhanta, Samhita, and Hora. The
word Hora originates from the Sanskrit word Ahoratri, which means day and
night. The Surya Siddhanta is one of the earliest doctrine or tradition (siddhanta)
in archeo-astronomy of ancient India. Bhaskaracharya II's Surya Siddhant discusses the force of
gravity, 500 years before Sir Isaac Newton. The Romaka Siddhanta (literally
"Doctrine of the Romans") is an Indian astronomical treatise, based
on the astronomical learning of Byzantine Rome. "We owe a lot to the
Indians, who taught us how to count, without which no worthwhile scientific
discovery could have been made." - Albert Einstein.] Thus, due to the passage of time and given
all the 'cross-pollination' etc, there has been a great deal of all-round
changes and synergy creation. Not that the people who stayed back (i.e. did not migrate to other
lands) stagnated. They too experienced ample amounts of cultural exchanges and opportunities
to intermingle with other groups (both indigenous and external) - and this gave
rise to newer aspects. And all these discussions, diverse viewpoints, exchange of opinion, etc
over generations and centuries - have given us our vast repository of ancient texts. [Maybe,
what began as the proverbial gush of a fountain or stream eons ago... gradually
branched out into numerous tributaries... all of which merged into the same
ocean. Thus, what is today known as 'Hinduism', contains many diverse and
variant beliefs such as Advaita (monism), Dvaita (dualism), theism
(āstika) and the like; there are diverse opinions about the seen (manifested/vyaktah/Saakar Brahmn) and the unseen (unmanifested/avyaktah/Niraakar
Brahmn)... besides an assortment of views on the origin, purpose,
and fate of the soul. So on and so forth. This egalitarianism, this pluralism, this all encompassingness, this ability to live in harmony with diverse
thoughts and viewpoints, has been our strength. It has been our greatest strength. Thus, Sanaatan Dharm is one with the World Spirit. Also, Sanaatan Dharm, a 'way of life', which essentially was all about living in harmony with nature, performing one's karm yog/action, pursuit of knowledge, becoming higher spiritual beings, connecting with the Higher Self or
seeking communion with the Universal Consciousness (Sat-cit-ānanda: eternal bliss of self-realization), etc... gradually learnt to
worship idols and build temples. Courtesy the Greeks, and perhaps also the
Buddhists.]
The original poem that Maharishi Krsnadvaipayana Vyasa (better
known as Veda Vyasa) composed... contained some 8,800 shloka and was known
simply as Jaya, since
it covered the history of the 'Dharm-Yudh' (battle of principles) between the
two factions of the Kuru family (and their respective allies). However, over a
period of time, Vyasa himself (is said to have) expanded it to a larger work
numbering 24,000 shloka, which he then renamed Bharata, for it was no
less than the history of the Bharata race (lineage, people) itself, and while
the 'Dharm-Yudh' (battle of principles) was the central matter, it was preceded
and afterceded by several other narrations as well. But
after the great retelling consuming twelve years of the 'yagna' (a 'scientific procedure' to correct 'Kaalsarpa Dosha' - a Biomagnetic genetic disorder, the Biomagnetic field being a subtle representation of the physical body, or maybe some other type of 'Sarpa Dosha'/'Nag Dosha') of Raja Janamajaya/Janamejaya, it has burgeoned to the mammoth
size of a hundred thousand shloka. In this epic form, the poem
is now known by one and all as the Maha-bharata - or the Great History
of the Bharatas. And it is by this name that Veda Vyasa has consented to have
it known, although he himself preferred the original title of Jaya (Victory). [Note: A genetic disorder is an illness caused by abnormalities in genes or chromosomes. If you observe the shape of DNA, it resembles two snakes coiled together (something we now refer to as: DNA coiled into the double helix structure as a ladder, a twisted rope ladder, or a spiral staircase). In ancient times, our Rishis/Munis (learned persons) visualized everything... and thus (euphemistically or maybe symbolically) referred to DNA as 'Sarpa', and any disorder in the DNA was hence termed as 'Sarpa Dosha'. Dosha = bio-energies found in our body.*Please refer to Draupadi's 'birth' process discussed above - to know more about what 'yagna', 'yagna-gar', agni', etc meant. Thus, a big chunk of the 'yagna' etc mentioned in our ancient texts is not to be taken at face value. It is merely a reference to one or the other scientific or medical procedure. From the narrative we can figure out what sort of procedure has been indicated. Also, do take a look at the logo of the Indian Medical Association.] Janmejaya's father (and Arjun's grandson), Parikshit, (derived from the word "Parikshan" - indicating
a 'test' or 'procedure', unnatural human?) is said to have ruled for sixty
years. With him too there is a 'sarpa' involved (though the story has largely
been mistranslated). This 'sarpa' is indicative of some genetic disorder... that cut
short his life. Probably Rishi Shameek and his son (Shringi) diagnosed this
disorder, but were unable to cure/eliminate it. Perhaps during the procedure itself or
while undergoing therapy the disorder aggravated and/or his body reacted negatively to the therapy/medication and thus, Parikshit died (as indicated by 'Takshak hiding himself within
an apple'.) Thereafter,
his son Janmejaya succeeded him... and promptly took remedial measures - to eliminate/correct
his own genetic anomaly/disorder ('Sarpa Dosha' or 'Kaalsarpa Dosha'). In all
likelihood, Janmejaya probably engaged a battery of renowned Maharshis, Rishis and Munis (to conduct
research and experiments... so as to find a remedy.) And this time - after twelve years' of continuous effort - they were successful.] (PS: All
of this is part of highly advanced science... it cannot be a mere figment of anyone's
imagination. ~ It is not possible to conjure up stories involving advanced biotechnology
and genetics! ... It
could not have been a twelve-year-long ritual per se, either. ~ 'Coz Sanaatan Dharma assimilated the concept of temples and worshipping of idols from the Greeks and (perhaps) even the
Buddhists; neither of whom
were contemporaries of Pareekshit or Janmejaya.)
Vyasa composed his Mahabharata in three years, aided by Lord Ganesh. [Now, this 'Lord Ganesh' is very likely a reference to the most intelligent, perceptive and wise person of his time, who also assisted Veda Vyasa in writing this epic 'maha-itihasa'. Shri Ganesh represents: great retention power or vast intelligence (as symbolized by the elephant head and elephant's memory). The elephant-head: represents calm disposition, intelligence, perceptiveness, knowledge and wisdom. The small eyes = concentration. The small mouth and the bent trunk (Vakra-Tunndda) = less noise, more efficiency (opposite of 'empty vessels makes the most noise'). The bent trunk indicates: one who is not given to boasting or talking unnecessarily; in other words: one who is not ignorant. The big elephant ears = great listening ability ('listening', not merely 'hearing').] Apart from its poetic qualities, because of its significance, the Mahabharata is also known as the Fifth Veda. Thus, it is at once equivalent to all the Vedas. This towering itihasa captivates with its grandeur, its majesty, its wisdom, its knowledge, its lessons and its wonder. [However, one only wishes that it had been spared all those retelling and re-writings. Or, at the very least, the original had somehow remained unaltered, and that all those retelling (over the millenniums) came with an appropriate rejoinder. Alas. Imagine the knowledge and information that has been obliterated forever. And for any history-loving epicurean it is a great loss, indeed.] There must be hundreds of versions, interpretations and retelling of the Mahabharata already in circulation (even some five millenniums down the line). Great authors, poets, actors and playwrights have mined it for material on which to base their own creative works: from Goethe to Andy and Larry Wachowski (The Matrix). So one can only wonder how many more preceded them. This immense trove of knowledge, wisdom, philosophy, literature, karm-yog, dharma, sacrifice and narration is timeless, (in the sense that) echoes of events and characters (from the Mahabharata) have been seen and found through the ages: great wars fought, the consequences of unleashing fearsome weaponry seen, untold miseries wrecked upon people and nations witnessed, families torn apart, palace intrigues and power games, maneuvers on the world chessboard, great strategists and evil geniuses, people and forces working tirelessly to ignite a war while some going to great lengths to avoid such misadventures, failings of great personalities and their consequences, the rise of unlikely heroes, various chakravyuh (encirclement) formed and broken, risk-takers, selfless people who have had the courage to give their all - for the common good (not unlike the exceptional warrior Abhimanyu, who, in spite of being fully aware of the consequences volunteered to enter the 'chakravyuh' - so as to deny Duryodhan+ the upper-hand... during the most crucial juncture in this greatest of 'Dharm-Yudh'/battle of principles. Hence he is considered as 'the bravest among the brave' and 'the epitome of bravery'.) So on and so forth. [Ahbimanyu single-handedly and valiantly fought against many, and was finally 'mortally wounded' by the combined attack of six warriors, including Dronacharya, Kripacharya, Karna and Ashvatthama. However, since he was an unnatural human, this 'mortally wounded' bit may have to be seen in that context.] Duryodhan relied heavily on Shakuni's cunning. So much so that the latter became an integral part of Hastinapur... as Duryodhan's principal adviser. [He was manipulative and exerted a great amount of control over Duryodhan.] The Pandavs had been cleverly exiled/banished by Duryodhan (on the advise of the wily Shakuni) for a period of 13 years (with the possibility of another 13-years of banishment looming in the horizon). Meanwhile, Duryodhan and his allies were consolidating their position (both within and outside of Hastinapur). Had they succeeded, imagine the scenario, the consequences... and its lingering effects. If we can visualize all of this... the sweep, the technology, the situation, the political scenario at the time, the many 'cross-currents', the vicious forces allied together, the ones who were in a dominant position (and their intentions), the stakes involved (i.e. what all was at stake), how complicated and difficult the situation was, the vision and foresight, the level of leadership, the steadfastness, the selflessness, the strategy, tactics, planning, diplomacy and patient negotiations involved, the ability to guide and find solutions, what was successfully averted, the dedication, grit, single-minded determination and 'karm-yog' that made it possible, et al - it will give us a clearer picture of this timeless inspirational figure Krishn, and his brilliance (figuratively referred to as 'Sudarshan Chakra'.) [Su = good, auspicious. Darshan = appearance. It refers to Krishna's charismatic presence, personality and handsome looks. [Sudarshanah: He whose meeting is auspicious.] Thus, Krishna himself is 'Sudarshan Chakra'. Chakra = wheel. The name is derived from the Sanskrit word for "wheel" or "turning". The word dharma-chakra, or the wheel of the Law, is often used to describe the teachings/message of Shri Gautam Buddh. In other words: his teachings/message is expressed as: "the turning of the wheel of the Law." Chakras are centers of Prāṇa, life force, or vital energy. Chakras correspond to vital points in the physical body i.e. major plexuses of arteries, veins and nerves. The 7 Chakras are the energy centers in our body in which energy flows through. However, the 'chakra' in 'Sudarshan Chakra' is a reference to the mind chakra or Manasa Chakra, which is connected with most of the head (especially the brain), is a combination of sensing and intellect. That's the ability to see and hear the world, to make sense of things, sort them out, and figure out how they all fit together. Possibly this is the intuition aspect of the (metaphoric/symbolic) third eye. The Manas ("Mind") Chakra, or Mind Lotus, is said to have six petals, which although normally white assume the colours of the senses when they operate (according to the Indian systems, in addition to the five physical senses, there is "mind" constitutes the sixth sense, which is not the same as Clairvoyance or "Sixth Sense"), and is black during sleep (unconsciousness). Note: The correct spelling is cakra, though pronounced with a ch. The word was also a metaphor for the sun, which "traverses the world like the triumphant chariot of a cakravartin." (ruler, also: 'monarch of all realms') and denotes the eternal cycle of time called the kalacakra, or wheel of time. A Chakravartin is a 'wheel-turning' king/chakravarti-raja, a wise and benevolent ruler, and an ideal king. Turning his 'chakra' (i.e. by using his wisdom, intellect and resources optimally), a 'wheel-turning' king advances without hindrance, overthrows his enemies, establishes peace, and rules with justice and benevolence.] 'India' comes from Megasthenes' 'Indica'. India is also: Bharatavarsha or Bharatadesam [meaning: Land/Bhoomi of the Bharatas or "cherished land". Bharatavarsha: the continent ('varsha'; Sanskrit) that is dedicated ('rata') to light, wisdom ('bha'). Yet another name is Jambudveepa or Jambadveepa. Jambu or Jamba = Indian blackberry. Maybe there was an abundance of this tree (obviously a much different version of what we have now)... and hence the name. Thus, Jambudveepa = island of the Jambu/Jambul/Indian blackberry trees. Or perhaps, ancient India was shaped like an Indian blackberry.]
Dvarka (also known as: Dvaravati, Dvaramati and Dwaraka)
was built after claiming 12 yojanas of land from the sea. The foundation of
boulders on which the city's walls were erected proves that the land was
reclaimed from the sea. The Mahabharata has references to such reclamation
activity at Dvaraka. Seven islands mentioned in it were also discovered
submerged in the sea. Dvarka was a well-planned and prosperous city with a modern and technologically advanced harbour
suitably designed to deal with the marine traffic of large ships entering the
port. It is referred to as 'Golden City' in the Srimad Bhagavad Geeta, the
Mahabharata, Harivamsha and other texts. [Therefore, one can only marvel at the level of urban
and rural civic amenities and infrastructure, besides, trading, employment,
education, healthcare, energy, water efficiency and so on.] One of the verses in the Bhagavada
says: 'The yellow glitter of the golden fort of the Dvaraka City in the sea
throwing yellow light all round looked as if the flames of *Vadavagni came out
tearing asunder the sea'. This indicates the immense majesty of this city; it
certainly would have been a sight to behold! But could it also mean that Dvarka was an energy
hub? Solar energy, for example? Maybe even wind energy (compact floating windmills or even portable ones)? Perhaps they tapped
'vajra' (vajr) or thunderbolt too? Or maybe the ocean floor? Probably even Bioenergy/biofuel/biodiesel (from algae having high
oil content? May not have been blue-green algae, but some other algae
that could produce high quality biofuels at low cost. Even biofuel produced
from grass, for that matter. One can only marvel at the biotechnology involved. As for 'The yellow glitter of the golden fort of the Dvaraka City in the sea
throwing yellow light all round...': Solar energy: not via solar panels, but through
'artificial leaves'. Maybe they learnt from nature and developed 'artificial
leaves' - devices that could employ sunlight to split water into its elements,
hydrogen and oxygen. The hydrogen thus produced could then be stored in fuel
cells and used for energy production. (The energy captured by leaves via the
process of photosynthesis is about 100 terawatts - about six times the annual
power consumption on our planet.) Maybe the artificial 'leaves' were placed in
water under sunlight, and connected to a fuel cell; maybe they developed
'artificial trees' too; and all this supplied enough electricity for
households, etc. (Perhaps, 'artificial leaf' can produce far more energy than a
natural leaf.) Probably they figured out that the process of
photosynthesis could be copied to produce hydrogen (by the action of sunlight
on a membrane prepared from say spinach protein or perhaps from lotus leaves. Or perhaps with the help of artificial/semi-man-made enzymes or tissue?) Maybe they developed glass windows (incorporated with
dye-sensitized solar cells in the material to produce the power.
Probably they invented a film (containing metal nano particles incorporated
into it in a composite matrix) that could be sprayed on window glasses, thereby
converting them instantly into solar panels. Perhaps they also invented paints
(with solar cells embedded within the paint) that could generate electricity.
(Maybe they used porphyrin and cobalt, or some other material, to
achieve this high efficiency, thereby mimicking the property of photosynthesis
used by plants. The cells probably had a greenish tint a la chlorophyll
(present in leaves and which converts solar energy.) [*Vadavagni is a form of Agni (fire) and is
depicted as a mare that breathes fire. Agni/fire is the foremost among purifiers. Agni
has been worshipped since time immemorial... throughout 'Aryavarta' ('Arya-lands' or 'land of
Aryas/Aryans'; in other words, 'land inhabited by Arya people' - noble-natured people who followed
a pattern of life based on noble/Arya tenets/principles. Not that there was
any do's and don'ts; Aryan-ness was simply their 'way of life'; they were inherently
noble-natured.) There are more hymns to Agni in the Rg Ved than to any other
God/dev. Agni is also one of the five elements ([maha]panchabhuta
or Pancha Bhuta). The others being: air
(vayu), water (jal), earth (prithvi) and aether (aakash, space).] Apparently, Krishna engaged Vishvakarmaa
to build the city of Dvarka, however, Visvakarma indicated that the task could
be accomplished only if Samudradeva, the lord of the sea, provided some land.
Thereafter Sri Krishna worshipped Samudradeva, who was pleased and gave them
land measuring 12 yojanas, following which Visvakarma built Dwaraka, a city in
gold (possibly indicative of a 'prosperous city'). Now this 'Vishvakarma'
is very likely a reference to the best architect of that era. [Perhaps,
'Vishvakarma' was a 'title' bestowed on the best architect in earlier
eras/yug.] And this 'Samudradev' is probably a reference to someone adept at
building structures on seas (samudra). Therefore, 'Sri Krishna worshipped
Samudradeva, who was pleased and gave them land measuring 12 yojanas,' means:
that Krishna engaged this great and renowned engineer (title/honorific: 'Samudradev') who knew
how to build structures on seas... and who then claimed 12 yoganas of land (from
the sea) to enable the architect/'Vishvakarma' to plan and build the city of Dvarka.
Therefore, Dvarka was not the result of seismic and volcanic activity at the
junction of several tectonic plates. [Or maybe it was a bit of both: man-made as well as natural causes.] So imagine the level of engineering and
architecture! Dvarka vanished under water, and there could be three reasons for this: #1. A tsunami; #2. The gradual movement of the sea; and #3. A massive earthquake.
Thus, Sri Krishn is Vrishaakritih (Dharma/Vrisha Himself). He is Dharma personified. ['Dharma' is not moralism. It is ethics: values/ideals and principles + actions that benefit people and society. There is never a vacuum; instead there are a myriad of 'push' and 'pull', 'cross currents' and a multitude of challenges. And yet, in spite of these, Krishna was able to perform deeds that helped people, society and civilization.] Thus, Krishn is kshemakrit: Doer of good. Thus, he is mahaamanaah: Great-minded. Thus, he is Dharmadhyaksha (Lord of Dharma). Thus, he is Vrisha Uttamam (Supreme Dharma). Thus, he is mahaavaraaho (the great boar). Thus, he personifies 'nishkam karm' (selfless action). Thus, he is also the finest 'karm-yogi'. Thus, he is 'Yug Purush', the Renaissance Man. Thus, he is eternal inspiration. Thus, he is Ajaya: The Conqueror of Life And Death. Thus, he is 'Bhagavan' (the 'Fortunate One' or the 'Blessed One'.) Thus, he is taarah: He who saves. Thus, he is mahaashringah: Great-horned (Matsya). Thus, he is Ekashringa Varaha, Unicorn Boar: One without a parallel. Thus, he is suhrit: Friend of all creatures. Thus, he is Jagadisha: Protector of All. Thus, he is Vrishakapi (one-horned Varaha) - the Supreme form of Lord Narayan/Shri Hari Vishnu. ... And thus, he is 'Ajatashatru' ("one without enemies") - in a manner of speaking, that is. || krishnas tu bhagavan svayam || ~ Perhaps 'coz: in him we find glimpses of all the Maha Avatars/great incarnations ~ the Dasavatara. And so, Sri Krishn is equivalent to the Dasavatara.
And thus, 'Karm Yog' is important. 'Karm' or
'Karma' is not punishment, but an opportunity to redeem oneself. (Good/positive)
karm is essential to get rid of (bad/negative) karm. For example: a thorn can be
removed only with the aid of a bigger thorn. Hence, in order to get rid of Prarabda
(negative, destructive) Karm - whether done by us or by others - we have to
perform good deeds (Sat Karm) in copious quantities. ... And as we go on doing/performing good deeds
indefinitely/continuously, sakama (selfish, benefit-seeking) karm gets
transformed into Nishkam (selfless) Karm. In this way, one (i.e. the
performer or the Sadhaka) becomes a true yogi (a Karm Yogi),
a real ascetic/sanyaasi (one who is detached like the lotus... which grows in
muddy water and yet remains Nirmal - untouched by it, or perhaps like the hamsah/swan...
whose feathers do not get damp despite remaining in contact with water. Krishn is also known as hamsah, the swan. [And
*this* should help us understand the concept of 'lotus feet' as well as the concept of Kara-puṣkara or 'lotus-palm'. Do also read paragraph #2 from the top - for better clarity.] Thus, the Sadhaka or performer (of
nishkam karm/selfless action or service) becomes a Muni or Jnani (a truly enlightened
person) and achieves Moksh/Nirvana (Jeevan Mukta;
non-materialistic). ... Therefore, the wheel (cakra, chakra) needs to rotate
or turn continuously, for the 'toxin' (negativities/negative aspects) to be absorbed (negated)...
and be replaced by 'dharma' (positive aspects/ethics.) [Note: When the mind is withdrawn from the objects and deep
reflection sets in, the objective consciousness is 'closed'; Savitarka Samadhi
commences. This is Samadhi with reasoning. The mind here is free from worldly
thoughts; negative thoughts cannot enter now. The mind is Sattvic. (It can be
called Chitta Suddhi.) When the mind is completely absorbed in one object of
meditation, it is termed Samadhi. Karm Yog is also a kind of meditation. It
destroys the ego or ahankara. And it requires complete self-sacrifice of
Nishkam Karm (selfless action/service). Such yogis are Nishkam Karm Yogis. ...
And only they can achieve Nirvikalpa Samadhi... to 'awaken' to Moksha (freedom).
The state of Nirvikalpa Samadhi leads to Jivanmukta (liberation). In
nirvikalpa samadhi there is infinite bliss. (Sat-cit-ānanda,
pronounced as: sach-chid-ānanda - one who has achieves eternal bliss of
self-realization. Sat describes an essence that is pure and
timeless; cit is consciousness; ānanda is absolute bliss or
spiritual ecstasy.) One not only feels bliss, but also actually grows
into that bliss. When one enters into nirvikalpa samadhi, one's heart is larger
than the universe itself. One 'sees' the universe as a tiny dot inside one's
vast heart. (Aham Brahmasmi.) Imagine that you are a crystal
bead. You reflect the light of every being in the universe, and your light is
reflected in them. "Aham Brahmasmi" ~ continue to envision yourself
as a beautiful jewel, reflecting and absorbing the light of the entire
universe. Rest in the silence and feel the expansiveness of your being... an
expression of the infinite field of intelligence and all possibilities. Becoming
one with the soul is possible only in the Nirvikalpa Samadhi state. (Should one
hold communion with Brahmn, devoid of mental fancies and modifications, then
the great bondage of the mind will cease, all doubts will vanish, all
pratibandha or vighna will disappear, and all (negative) Karmas will perish.)
One gains Realization of God and the Self... only after attaining the stage of
Nirvikalpa Samadh. (Jiva is/becomes identical with Brahmn/Param-aatma/Atman.)
Self-realization is to fully know and realize who you are. Before knowing God
(Brahmn), know yourself, if you understand yourself... only then is it possible
to understand God, Nature or Love. With the realization of the Atman (Supersoul,
Param-aatma) come universal compassion, love, and the awareness of the oneness
of all things (higher knowledge). ("Sarvam khalvidam brahma ~ All is Brahmn.
There is nothing but Brahmn.") This brings Ananda (inner joy or peace). Aham Brahmasmi (ah-HUM brah-MAHS-mee) ~ Brhadaranyaka Upanishad, 1.4.10 (of the Yajur Veda.) ~ (Aham = I, Brahmasmi = am
Brahmn. Meaning: I Am He/Brahmn.) (Fill the mind with Atman/Supersoul. Then the mind becomes
identified with Brahmn. As you think, so you become. Think you are Brahmn;
Brahmn you will become. ~ Your entire being, your karm, your thoughts... will
reflect that.) Other Mahavakyas ("The Great
Sayings" of the Upanishads - the foundational texts of Vedanta; though
there are many Mahavakyas, four of them, one from each of the four Vedas, are
often mentioned as "the Mahavakyas"): ·
prajñānam brahma: "Consciousness is Brahmn" (Aitareya Upanishad 3.3
of the Rig Veda) · ayam ātmā brahma: "This Self is
Brahmn" (Mandukya Upanishad 1.2 of the Atharva Veda) · tat
tvam asi: "Thou art That" (Chandogya Upanishad 6.8.7 of the Sama
Veda.) || (Aum) Asato mā sad gamaya Tamaso mā jyotir gamaya Mrtyormā amrtam
gamaya Aum śānti śānti śāntih || ~ (Brhadāranyaka
Upanisad 1.3.28) ~ "(Aum) From
ignorance, lead me unto truth (dharma, ethics, actions that benefit society) | From
darkness (the 'fog' of ignorance, delusion, 'sleep', and other negative aspects), lead me unto light (knowledge, hope, wisdom,
enlightenment) | From death, lead me unto immortality | Aum let there be peace within
ourselves, let there be peace in the world, let there be peace in the
universe." (Aum, also known as Om: The syllable Om - written out as Aum with
each letter having its own significance - represents Brahmn, the supreme
creator, as well as the whole of creation. It is also the primeval sound
(Pranava Naad), the sound of the universe itself. The uttering of the sacred and mystical Om is
called Onkar or Omkar. It is the sound of the origination and dissolution of
the universe. The past, present, future and all that transcends time are all
included in this sound. Lord Narayan is the personification/manifestation of Om or Aum.)]
The Srimad Bhagavad Geeta (roughly: 'The Song of the Blessed One' or 'The
Song of the Fortunate One'; Srimad is honorific; Geeta = Geet, Song; Bhagavat (a manifestation of the all-embracing God) = [roughly] maha-avatar) contains tremendous and cosmogonal philosophy in comparison with which our modern world and
its literature seem puny and trivial; so remote is its sublimity from our conceptions (~ to partially quote Henry David Thoreau). [When I read the Bhagavad-Gita and reflect about how God created this universe everything else seems so superfluous. ~ Albert Einstein. In order to approach a creation as sublime as the Bhagavad-Gita with
full understanding it is necessary to attune our soul to it. ~ Rudolph Steiner.] The verses can also be taken as a
conversation between a Jiva/Atma or individual soul (represented by Arjun) and
the Param-aatma/Supersoul (Sri Krishn). [Blessed = highly favoured or fortunate (by divine
grace); worthy of worship or veneration; worthy of deep reverence or respect.] Lord Narayan (Shri Hari Vishnu/Satya-Sundar) is "ArdhaNarishvar". He does not discriminate based on gender, etc. Instead, He symbolizes (in a generic sense, in a manner of speaking, that is) "Perfect Man" (Complete Man) and "Perfect
Woman" ~ the best (traits, qualities) of man and of woman. His avatars reflect this: some are male, others are female. Therefore, He
can be variously addressed as: Ishvar or Ishvari; Adi Purush or Adi Parashakti ['Purusha' and 'Shakti' = Cosmic Energy. Adi =
primal, primeval, primordial];
Narayan or Narayani; Nrsingh or Nrsinghi, Varaha or Varahi, Parameshvar or
Parameshvari; Jagadishvar or Jagadishvari, tribhUvaneshvar or tribhUvaneshvari, and so on - broadly speaking. Though, in all probability, His female avatars have to wade through and surmount greater odds and all sorts of barriers... on account of their gender, etc... given the 'societal
churn', stereotyping, prejudice, obscurantism and negative and regressive attitudes (that they [periodically] arrive to alter.) Not to speak of chauvinism, misogyny, small-mindedness, vilification, contempt, discrimination, maybe even
jealousy (and all the taunt, vitriol, resentment, and scorn arising out of envy... and maybe even some amount of objectification, who can say?) ~ the intensity of which depends on the era/yug. *However, the avatars' appeal is universal. (But now that language, culture and geography has evolved; newer concepts like "religion" - what we today understand by "religion", that is - has come about ~ in the last couple of millenniums or so; whether, going forward, the Almighty [and His many avatars] will abide by such man-made barriers and concepts or not ~ my guess is as good as yours.) ["ArdhaNarishvar" is a concept, a philosophy, it is not
literal; it does not mean "half-man
half-woman", and it does not mean 'tritiya prakriti' either. Besides, symbolically representing "Perfect Man" (Complete Man) and "Perfect
Woman" (Complete Woman) ~ the best (traits, qualities) of man and of woman, it also emphasizes that both are equal. And that, imbalance will not
help, one cannot do (is incomplete) without the other; therefore, one half of the 'body' is depicted as male, while the other half is depicted as female). Imbalance will result in humanity and civilization to stagnate, regress and wither
away. Also, the soul (whether Jiva/Atma - the individual
soul or Atman - the Supersoul) is energy; and energy has no gender or form.] ... The 8th Vishnu, the Krishna-avatar ~ is (the human manifestation of) "Perfect Man" (Complete Man). [He is neither overtly aggressive nor displays
machismo. His appeal was and remains universal. He is 'hamsan' (do read the fourth paragraph from the last - to get the drift). And he is the most magnificent householder (he was non-monastic; he did not renounce "home
life".) ~ He is "Perfect Man" (Complete Man) - not because of his gender, but on the strength of his 'karm': his commitment, fortitude, gumption, passion, talent, courage, dynamism (his energy and strong desire to make certain things [positive change/aspects] happen), charisma, far-sightedness, erudition, philosophy, magnanimity, wisdom, astuteness,
nishkam/selfless acts, intellectual acuity, alchemist nature and ability to inspire... all of which confluenced and contributed towards epoch-making karm. He was also a chivalrous "knight" (rather, a "Super-smart Knight"). Was he equine-faced?
~ We can only speculate. However, which of His avatars represent "Perfect Woman" ~ my guess is as good as yours.]
[*It is because of these inspirational female avatars that
generation of people (those who are part of Sanaatan Dharm or even what is today known as
"Hinduism") ~ have been relatively free from troglodytism, vis-à-vis women.
Being accustomed to watching programs, listening to and reading (from an early age) ~ stories and anecdotes of their exploits and keerti (great and awe-inspiring deeds), besides watching/observing female deities being prayed to, worshipped and
revered... by a large number of people (irrespective of gender and age) ~ have made it easier (for all manner of people, especially the vast multitude... who are not quite educated or even literate) ~ to, at least,
accept women in various leadership and strategic and tactical roles; to see women
step out of their homes and go about their business... and not find it unusual. Else, imagine the
level of obscurantism and troglodytism... that these would have generated... and (in turn) engulfed Hinduism. (No
amount of sermons or even legislation could or would have changed anything.)
[Also,
mere education is no guarantee for a progressive outlook. Cultural conditioning
is much deeper than that. ~ Changing well-entrenched perceptions, mindset, and so on is a truly herculean task.] The female avatars (our female deities) have played myriad roles: as saviours/rescuers; as
protectors, preservers, strategists and warriors; as teachers (through their own behaviour/acharan, or by sharing their
thoughts and vision with humanity at large); as bestowers of knowledge, wisdom,
enlightenment, wealth, well-being, prosperity and happiness, and even as diplomat (the
*Mohini-avatar; though her story has largely been misinterpreted. Krishn, a male, is also
known as "Mohan". Therefore, "Mohini" is simply the feminine of "Mohan"... and indicates a female.) On a separate note, it is unlikely that any of the female avatars would have actually worn a saree (just as it is unlikely that any of the male avatars actually wore a dhoti.) This bit is, therefore, a
result of contemporization ~ so that people, especially the vast multitude, can
relate to and thus, establish a connect. Else... the deities would appear to be strangers, even alien/foreign. Besides, there have been various reform movements, apart from numerous plays, dance-dramas, literature, verses, songs/bhajans, hymns, mantra-s, stuti-s, shloka-s, stotra-s, picture books, paintings, art, iconography... and so on. And all these have
allowed people to watch/see as well as to hear/listen and read ~ continuously (over
generations)... and thus, many positive things/aspects vis-à-vis women have
percolated. Hinduism is much the richer for it. Else, given our size, diversity and very complex demographics, one can well imagine how
hard it would have been and how challenging it would have been... to undo epic
levels of troglodytism ~ in case it were to engulf
Hinduism. That it hasn't, and we have managed to remain
relatively progressive... is courtesy the inspirational female avatars (and
deities) ~ besides Lord Narayan, of course. However, the female avatars are larger-than-life and karm yogi-s, but
not unreal; they are all very much human and relatable... and therein lay their appeal,
across eras/yugs and generations. Also, (now-a-days) ~ we get to see relatively hands-on fathers: strolling or shopping with his sound asleep or
wide awake baby ~ safely ensconced in a baby carrier, pushing prams, indulging
in baby talk, trying to calm his wailing baby, minding the kids, playing with
them, and so on. ... And the concept of 'paternity leave' is trickling in.]
Pic: an illustration of Kurma-avatar (2nd avatar of the Dasavatara): Sri Vishnu incarnated as a giant turtle (kurma) to save the
earth from destruction. He acted as a base to support Mount Mandar
(Meru) - with Vasuki wrapped around it - that was used as an axis for churning the ocean (kshira-sagar/ocean of milk - white foamy waters?). ~ What does 'Vishnu
as the Kurma-avatar held up Mt. Meru on his back' mean? BG 10.23: || meruh sikharinam aham || ~
and of mountains I am Meru." ~ Is Mt. Meru a real
mountain or an allegorical one? From what we can gather, it is not a physical 'mountain'. *And, is there some connection between Mt. Meru
(situated in the center of the earth) and Shambhala? Or with Jambudvipa? [But
then, what areas constituted "Jambudvipa"? ~ 'Coz it is unlikely that the
contours of modern India constituted ancient "Jambudvipa". ~ Just as Lord Ram's empire or
Raja Yayati's empire were not confined to the landmass that makes up modern
India.] Mt. Meru is
also believed to be the center of the cosmos. ~ So does Mt. Meru have something to
do with the cosmic architecture of the Material Universe (Material Nature/Prakriti)...
that could trigger "Pralaya" (cataclysmic events) or even worse? ... Shambhu Nath (Ruler/Protector/Guardian of Shambhala) and the (allegorical) Kurma Avatar - are they one and the same? ~ My guess is as good as yours. *The Hindu and Buddhist
alike regard Mount Meru as the location of (the fabled land of) Shambhala.
(Meru is said to be situated in the center of the earth.) It is the center of
the cosmos. Its summit is believed to align to the wheeling constellation of
Ursa Major (the Sapta Rishi Mandala or the Constellation of the Great Bear/sapta-riksha), the Seven Stars that circle the Pole (Dhruva Loka?) Therefore, Mt Meru and the fabled Buddhist
land of Shambhala are one and the same. ~ Maybe, Mt Meru is another name for
Shambhala. However, are Mt Meru and Mandar Parvat one and the same? Or is
Mandar Parvat a part of Mt Meru? ~ My guess is as good as yours. But then, since Mt Meru is not a physical 'mountain' (and so, is not visible to the mortal/unaided eye), Mandar Parvat (whether another name for Mt Meru or a part of Mt Meru) too cannot be a physical 'mountain'. So, is Shambhala and/or Jambudvipa the first landmass to emerge out of the "samudra-manthan" (?) - the churning of the Kshirasagar/Ocean of Milk (the churning
waters on the earth [and/or of Jambunad] - foamy-white in appearance, and thus the metaphor of
"Kshira".) ~ My guess is as good as yours. [For Shambhala
- do read paragraph #8 from the last - in the earlier portion/section. ~ Shambhala is also the place where the 10th Vishnu, the Kalki-avatar - the final avatara of the "Dasavatara" - is predicted to be born. Shambhala is also ruled over by Lord Maitreya (Maitreya Buddha/Buddha Maitreya, the future Buddha, the next Buddha-to-be after Gautama Buddha/Shakyamuni Buddha). ~ So (given that Lord Gautam Buddh is the 9th Vishnu)... is the Kalki-avatar and the Maitreya Buddha one and the same? ~ My guess is as good as yours. For Lord Maitreya
- do read paragraph #8 from the last - in the earlier portion/section.
+Avatar+rescues+the+Saptarishi+and+Manu+from+the+great+Deluge,+Mahajal+Pralaya.jpg)
Pic: An illustration of 'Matsya (fish) Avatar
rescues the Saptarishi and Manu from the great Deluge/Mahajal Pralaya'. [However, the Matsya Avatar does not indicate a fish, per se.] ~ Shambhala is also believed to have been the
ashram/abode of Vamana. Now, this may not be a reference to the Vamana-avatar
(the fifth avatar of the Dasavatara) since the events involving him and Bali
did on happen on the Earth. This "Vamana" (probably) is a reference to the seventh
and current Manu, Vaivasvata Manu. There are times when the Almighty chooses a
great human - as "Manu". This chosen one then becomes one of the
"Manu"; he is thereafter referred to as a specific
"Manu"... and participates in rescue and rehabilitation activities.
The seventh and current Manu, Vāmana as Vaivasvata Manu is one such human
"Manu". Born to Saranya and Vivasvat, his original name is Satyavrata. He saved humanity from the
(previous) great flood/deluge (Mahajal Pralay) - by building specially-designed
ships (nao)... as per the advise of the Matsya-Avatar. [Incidentally, a Sisumara/dolphin also represents the
Almighty. ~ And a dolphin is well-known for guiding ships through turbulent waters.] Now whether Vaivasvata
Manu is also referred to as "Noah" or not ~ my guess is as good as
yours. ~ Also, since Ikshvaku (son of Vaivasvata Manu) is the founder of the Ikshvaku [or Aikṣvāka]
dynasty/lineage - to which greats like Sagara, Dilīpa, Bhagiratha, Raghu and Shri Ram
belonged... the (previous) great flood/deluge (Mahajal Pralay)
could not have happened eons ago. It (very likely) happened sometime during the
Sat/Satya/Krita Yug of the current Maha-Yug (cycle of four yug) itself. ~ My guess
is as good as yours.]
[Note: This story is part of the "samudra-manthan" stories - the story of the churning of the Kshirasagar/Ocean of 'Milk' - the story of creation (as well as the story of the evolution of the Earth). The Kshirasagar/Ocean of 'Milk' can represent the churning waters on the earth (and/or of Jambunad) - foamy-white in appearance, and thus the metaphor of "Kshira" or Milk; it can also (metaphorically) represent Akash Ganga (Milky Way) and/or the Andromeda (... and [perhaps] that is how our solar system emerged/came about). ~ 'Deva' could indicate positive force/energy/charge (anode), while 'Asura' could indicate negative force/energy/charge (cathode). Their interplay gives rise to creation/Shrishti (the Material Universe/Prakriti/Nature, as well as the planets, habitability on planets [mountains, land], et al.) The 'Mohini-avatar' (can also) represent a stabilizing force and/or a catalyst. (In fact, Lord Narayan - in His various avatars - represents a stabilizing force, one that preserves and protects - for the good of humanity and the earth... when the imbalance [caused by various "churning"] becomes too great.) ~ "Samudra-manthan" (as a metaphor) can also have wide usage/application... and can even include societal churning, and so on. PS: Mount Meru, in Hindu mythology, is a magnificent and sacred mountain that stands in the centre of the universe and is the axis of the world. As the world axis, Mount Meru reaches down below the ground, into the nether regions, as far as it extends into the heavens. Mount Meru, also called Sumeru (Sanskrit) or Mahameru (the Great Meru/Mountain), is a sacred mountain in Hindu, Jain as well as Buddhist cosmology and is considered to be the center of all the physical, metaphysical and spiritual universes. The Suryasiddhanta mentions that Mt Meru lies in 'the middle of the Earth' ("Bhugol-madhya") in the land of the Jambunad (Jambudvip). [Suryasiddhānt, however, mentions a Mt Meru in the middle of Earth, besides a Sumeru and a Kumeru at both the Poles.] Another text mentions "Sumeruḥ Prithvī-madhye shrūyate drishyate na tu" ('Su-meru is heard to be in the middle of the Earth, but is not seen there'). ~ So, probably, Mt Meru cannot be seen with mortal/unaided eyes/it is not a physical 'mountain'. Mount Meru of Hindu traditions (has allegorical aspects, and) is described as 84,000 Yojan high (which is around 1,082,000 km (672,000 mi), or 85 times the Earth's diameter), and having the Sun along with all its planets in the Solar System revolve around it as one unit (~ this could also be allegorical, to indicate the importance of Mount Meru). [One Yojana can be taken to mean about 11.5 km (9 mi) though its magnitude seems to differ over time periods.] According to Jainism, Mount Meru is at the center of the middle world. The continent, known as Jambu Dwipā, surrounds it in the form of a circle and its diameter is 1,00,000 Yojāns. A ring formed ocean surrounds the Jambu Dwipā. It is an ocean of the salt (Lavanoda) and in its diameter is 2,00,000 Yojāns.]
Pic: an illustration of the Vamana-avatar (the dwarf-avatar of Lord Narayan, the fifth avatar of the Dasavatara): Was the beautiful continent of Africa (and perhaps even Australia) attached
to the Indian subcontinent - someway or the other? Otherwise, how come some islands flanking
the Indian sub-continent have humans that are very different in appearance, etc?
How did these islands come about? ~ However, the actual event involving the fifth avatar (the Vamana or dwarf-avatar) did not happen on Earth. It happened elsewhere in the cosmos - in
one of the Lower Realms/Adho-Lokas (and involved Maharaj Bali - the ruler of
Sutala, one of the Lower planets). [After Bali, an otherwise just and able king/administrator, succumbed to
arrogance and ego (that caused him to indulge in acts that brought grief/unhappiness to his people), the Lord Himself dispelled it. [The Almighty is not merely the Cosmic Ruler, He is also the Cosmic
Teacher.] Thereafter, Bali realized his
folly/error (arising out of his arrogance/hubris) and pledged to make amends.
The Lord then sent him to Pataala - the lowest of the Adho-Lokas/Lower Realms (not to be
confused for the Hellish Planets/Narak-Loka) to "wash off" his prarabda karma
(bad/negative karma). It is unlikely though that Bali would have retained his position of
king/administrator in Pataala, but he diligently performed his karm to "wash off" his prarabda karma. ~ At the
end of it, the Almighty addressed him as Maha Bali (the Great Bali) and blessed
him to be Indra (ruler of Svarga-Loka) of the next Manvantara. [Do refer to the
Vishwa-roop or Viraat-Roop in the earlier part of the post - to get the drift.] As we can see, the Almighty values competency and ethics. ... However, the allegorical version of this story - can
it be applicable to Earth? Did a celestial event (a meteorite strike, etc), or (perhaps) a major earthquake (or a combination of both?)... cause
a big chunk of the landmass to sink below the waters? ... And did this result in
the continent/landmass of what is now Africa (or a part of the African continent, at least) to
gradually drift away (from the Indian sub-continent) and get attached to some
other landmass? ... And was this also the reason for what is now the continent of Australia (and maybe even New Zealand) to (also) gradually drift away from the Indian sub-continent? ... And was this also the reason for a part of the current Indian landmass to get attached to another half of the Indian landmass - thus giving rise to various mountains, as well as the current geography, etc? ~ My guess is as good as yours. Also, were these small-sized humans (vamana humans, such as the Bushmen, the Yaksha, the Jarawa, the Sentinelese, the Great Andamanese, the Onge, the Australian aborigines, et al) - the earliest humans that evolved on earth from animal-like ancestors - as is (also) depicted/indicated by the fifth avatar of the Dasavatara - the Vamana-avatar? ~ My guess is as good as yours. [Do also read the next paragraph.]
Pic: Illustration - Dasavatara. ~ Maharshi Vashisht (one of the Sapta-Rishi and the chief preceptor or the royal guru to the Suryavanshi Ikshvaku [or Aikṣvāka] lineage in which Lord Ram appeared) shared with Shri Ram what was told to him by Sage Bhushunda. ~ That: in the beginning there was nothing; the Earth was extremely hot and covered by lava for thousands of years (11,000 years to be precise; however, this could be Human years [in which case it would be 11,000 years per se], or it could be Deva years [in which case, it would be much more than 11,000 years]. 1 human year = 1 Deva Ahoratra for God (1 day and 1 night) ... And that "Daityas" and "Danavas" (indicating 'gigantic creatures', possibly various dinosaurs) roamed the Earth. [As we can see meanings and nomenclature changes with time. "Daityas" and "Danavas" meant 'gigantic creatures'/wild animals at one time, while in another era/yug they were the names of Asura sub-clans.] ... Then, gradually, everything was covered by ice. It was extremely cold. There was no life. Slowly the ice melted. | ~ Therefore, (i.e. after a reasonable amount of the ice had melted)... did "samudra manthan" commence? ~ My guess is as good as yours. ~ Is Shambhala and/or Jambudvipa the first landmass to emerge out of the "samudra-manthan" (?) - the churning of the Kshirasagar/Ocean of 'Milk' (the churning waters on the earth [and/or of Jambunad] - foamy-white in appearance, and thus the metaphor of "Kshira" or Milk.) ~ My guess is as good as yours. And, once the turbulence/"churning" subsided (to a reasonable extent, at least) did the higher beings introduce 'life' on earth - in the form of various micro-organisms; which were then (gradually) followed by (the earliest) algae, plankton, fungi, snails, slugs, et al? And finally (the earliest) fish (matsya)... an indicator that life on the waters was flourishing, and so, the conditions were suitable for the appearance of land (landmass or sandy stretches) on Earth? ~ And that the Earth (landmass or sandy areas on Earth, that is) was now ready to host 'higher' creatures/living beings? ~ And therefore, was this followed by the introduction of (the earliest) amphibians (as is also depicted/indicated by the kurma or tortoise-avatar)? This (probably) was followed by (the earliest) ferns, and other smaller plants, shrubs... and finally trees? Thereafter, came (the earliest) animals and birds - as is also depicted/indicated by the third avatar - the Varaha-avatar (which, due to its strong and sharp teeth, would have been able to sort of (in a manner of speaking, that is) till the land/sandy stretches, (thus) paving the way for plants/trees, etc to grow well, besides creating suitable conditions for pollination to happen?) ~ My guess is as good as yours. ... And, once all of these acclimatized on Earth, did the higher beings (gradually) introduce various animal-like ancestors of the earliest humans/adivasis (as is also depicted/indicated by the fourth avatar - the Nrsingh-avatar) on Earth? ~ 'Coz Sanaatan Dharma does not talk about the human species emerging or evolving out of great apes. The extinct civilizations/groups/people also do not say so; besides, a huge/gigantic serpent features in many extinct cultures/groups. ~ However, it is quite possible that the first group of humans (vamana or small-sized humans + what is today understood as 'Mongoloid' tribes) evolved on Earth... from various animal-like ancestors; not 'animal' per se, but 'animal-like' - (progenitors of the earliest humans, but sort of 'resembling' ape-man, bear and even lion-like in (facial) appearance) - given the shape of their skull, jawline or teeth, or for that matter their dietary habits, gait, hirsuteness, eye-sight, verbal sounds, et al. ~ One possibility is that: this helped to determine the habitability of the Earth for future versions of humans - the ones that did not evolve on this planet (as is also depicted/indicated by the sixth avatar, the Parasurama-avatar). By the time the latter groups arrived (in batches - from other lokas/planets, maybe from other planets that are part of the Madhya Lokas/Middle planets - to which even our Earth belongs), the former groups would have evolved and become more human-like (gradually though, ever since they discovered fire and learned to cook raw meat, etc), albeit with a distinct culture, language, way of life, etc. And so, to the newer versions of humans, the former were, thus, known as "adi-vasi": adi = most ancient, original or earliest known, vasi = dwellers. [With the arrival of the new groups of humans, settlements came about, language and means of communication changed, dietary habits changed... and so on; thus, the evolution of society or a new 'way of life' took shape. Pastoral and agricultural activities (as denoted/indicated by the Balarama-avatar holding a plough) and other socio-economic functions came about. Barter system evolved, and so on.] But then, various groups of humans eventually intermixed... giving rise to newer groups/sub-species, languages, culture, cuisine, and so on.) ~ BG 10.6: || maharsayah sapta purve catvaro manavas tatha mad-bhava manasa jata yesham loka imah prajah || ~ "The seven great sages/enlightened beings (the Sapta-Rishi) and before them the four other great sages/enlightened beings (Sanaka, Sanandan, Sanatana and Sanat, collectively known as the four Kumaras or Sanat Kumaras) and the Manu-s (entities that arrive... during times of great calamity, distress and turbulence - pralaya - to guide and resettle mankind/humanity), come from Me, born from My mind (manasa, manasa-jata/brain-child), and all the living beings populating the various planets (loka) descend from them." ~ [Now, could this mean that the Sapta-Rishi (the seven enlightened beings/sages - not to be confused for 'ascetics') and the Manu-s are responsible (tasked with) introducing life on Earth... starting from the earliest micro-organism to the latest humans? ~ My guess is as good as yours.] ... The seven-rishis/enlightened beings (their combination differs according to different "Manvantara"/with each "Manavantara" overseen by one of the 14 Manu. Manvantara = Manav [human/human species; from "Manu" comes 'manushya' or 'manav'] + Antara [time gap]) are the most advanced spiritual guides for Humanity and have been present at all major time periods of our ancient history (pracheen itihasa). They undertook research, euphemistically known as 'yagna', etc. and shared their knowledge with deserving disciples. They were also preceptors or guru of prominent royal lineages ~ and besides conducting research, treating ailments, undertaking surgical procedures and imparting knowledge/education, they also provided advice and guidance. Probably they were also the ones who taught the Sanskrit language to humanity (especially to the humans of Jambudvipa). [It is unlikely though that there ever was a single language or even a single version of the Sanskrit language. (~ No language is monolithic.) Also, humans, whether they evolved on Earth (i.e. various adivasi groups) or arrived from other lokas/planets... would have, in all likelihood, come up with (i.e. developed) their own language and system of communication (in the case of the adivasi groups) or brought along their own language(s) and ways of communication with them (in the case of the later humans).] These sapta rishis (enlightened/learned beings) were not only men of great wisdom and knowledge, but also masters of Science, including advanced medical science, biotechnology and quantum physics. [~ And, this should also explain how Shri Ram and his siblings were born - via very advanced IVF procedure/therapy - where (perhaps) nothing was injected into the body, instead, it could be ingested! Clearly: 'modern science' is (as yet) unaware of such advanced medical science, which was known to our ancients in the second era or the Treta Yug itself - courtesy the Sapta-rishis. ~ Sri Ram and his siblings were (thus) the first set of unnatural humans on Earth: i.e. humans whose gestation happened in human womb but who were not conceived naturally. ... However, due to their noble nature and positive/great deeds - which benefited society and humanity - Sri Ram and his siblings were hailed. Thus, these humans (born out of very advanced IVF therapy) were accepted by society and humanity at large - in Treta. And this would have (also) benefited childless couples. ... The Lord Himself arrived - as (an IVF baby) - the 'Ram-avatar' (the 7th Vishnu) - to integrate the first set of unnatural humans (born as a result of scientific procedure/assistance: very advanced IVF procedure/therapy), as well as various adivasi groups (e.g. Hanuman-ji, Surgeeva, Angad, Jambavan, et al were adivasi) and other marginalized groups (such as the 'tritiya-prakriti') with the rest of society. [In fact, he proved that the adivasi-s and 'tritiya-prakriti' were not sub-humans, but full-fledged humans, albeit with a distinct 'way of life'. Thus, Treta accepted them as full-fledged humans. ~ Shri Ram and Shri Krishn belonged to different eras/yugs... and their purpose, karm and challenges were also different. However, like Shri Krishn, Shri Ram too led from the front, and by example; he established/reinvigorated dharma... leading to a just and inclusive society.*] ~ However, as the 8th Vishnu (the Krishn-avatar) - the Lord arrived (yet again)... to eliminate the other set of unnatural humans (cross between humans on Earth and other much Higher and advanced Beings) - born via highly advanced genetic engineering and cloning technology. ~ Thus, while Treta accepted humans born out of advanced IVF therapy/procedure, Dvapar rejected unnatural humans born out of advanced genetic engineering and cloning technology. ~ The Lord Himself arrived to make this happen.] ~ The Sapta-Rishi are (very likely) one notch higher than the Humans. They pursue the path of knowledge, innovation and research, rather they are dedicated to it; that is their intrinsic nature (pravritti) or talent (guna)... and hence they are "Brahmana", not to be confused for "Brahmin". (Their appearance and depiction is courtesy the imagination of various persons of later eras, and so, cannot be taken literally.)] As to how various extinct (or lost) flora and fauna make their re-appearance ~ my guess is as good as yours. [PS: The "Dasavatara has many strands.]
Pic: Illustration of Kumbhakarna, though 'he'
was not Raavan's younger "brother", but a gigantic humanoid-robot
equipped with a variety of weaponry. [*Note: Shri Ram's actions not only helped build a
better society but also gave him the required gravitas... once he ascended the
throne; he (probably) deferred the coronation - to bring about positive societal change,
Kaikeyi and Manthara aided him. (The trusted Manthara was needed, since Kaikeyi
- being a queen - would not have been able to do everything by herself; also,
there is a possibility that Shri Ram maintained contacts with Kaikeyi - to
keep himself up-to-date regarding the goings-on, etc.) His 14-years-long exile
was (very likely) a voluntary one; in his absence, (Kaikeyi's son) Bharat - younger to Ram
but older than (Sumitra's twins) Lakshman and Shatrughna - was an acceptable
alternative. (However, he may not have acquiesced on his own.) Raja Dasarath
was suffering from an assortment of old age-related ailments, and was (thus)
keen to arrange the coronation. Shri Ram, however, (probably) wanted to defer it, 'coz as
Raja Dasarath's son he would not have had the required gravitas (to bring about
social reform, to change perceptions, mindset, and so on); besides, kingly duties,
customs et al would have straitjacketed him. ~ He is hailed as "Maryada
Purushottam" - since he overcame numerous obstacles/impediments... and successfully
brought about positive societal change (by changing negative perceptions and, thereby, undoing numerous social ills that masqueraded
as 'accepted societal norms' or 'maryada'). Shri Ram's actions resulted in a just,
prosperous and inclusive society (euphemistically known as 'Ram Rajya').
~ However, (perhaps) for the purposes of stage plays, folk theatre, poetry et al (that
more often than not reflect the sign of the times) and due to mistranslations
and even improvisation (due to a lack of understanding of scientific terminology, technological aspects and the like - by a succession of later translators)... the 'pracheen
itihasa' known as "Ramayana" has taken several detours. ~ My guess is as good as yours. Also, there is a
strong possibility that (Raavan's consort/queen) Mandodari was Sita's real mother; apparently, both were
so alike that even Hanuman was confused. (Sheeradhwaj, title Raja 'Janak', was Sita's foster father, hence Sita is also known as Janki.) Jatayu was not a bird but a human belonging
to the Shakuna clan (a group/clan that displayed a vulture-totem or insignia, or maybe a bald eagle totem/insignia). Therefore,
Raavan could not have slashed his wings. Also, Sita could not have (lamented, cried and shouted for help theatrically - up in the air, who would listen?), then thrown down
her jewelry from an aircraft (vimana); none can open windows of a vimana up in
the sky, the aircraft would crash. The same is applicable w.r.t Ravana's (supposed) slashing of Jatayu's wings while the aircraft (his Pushpak Vimana) is up in the sky. ~ My guess is as good as yours. Plus, Raavan (unlike Duryodhan or Jarasandh) may not have been evil or a tyrant; maybe
he was collaborating (at least to some extent) with Shri Ram - to assist the
latter in his endeavours (given that his queen/consort Mandodari was very likely Sita's real mother). He also especially deputed Vibhishana's wife, Sarama, to look after Sita during the latter's period of "captivity" at Ashoka-Vatika. However, his son - Meghnaad (Indrajeet) - was overweeningly ambitious, and
(probably) misled him. Also, Raavan's quest for personal fame and glory too probably played a role. Besides, ego and anger were his major weaknesses (character and temperament flaws). [However, even after his ego had got the better of him, and despite all that Meghnaad was up to, it was none other than Vibhishana - who by then had come over to Ram's side - and who assured Ram... that Ravana will never let any harm come to Sita. (In fact, even after Vibhishana joining forces with Ram, his wife, Sarama, continued to stay in Lanka, and continued to look after Sita; Ravana never harmed or harassed her.) And this is not surprising. ~ It was a different era, when Arya-Dharma prevailed; Treta was regarded as the "Silver Age" - the Aryans followed certain ethics/tenets even when they fought wars. They never harmed the womenfolk, rather it was unthinkable for an Arya man to take revenge on even his staunchest rival... via the latter's womenfolk. It would not only have been most un-Aryan-like (ignoble), but would also have been considered as the heights of shame and cowardice. (~ Such behaviour was befitting Yavanas and Mlechchas. In fact, Alexander was considered as Yavana: people who were reasonably cultured, knowledgeable, great builders and architects, but who also indulged in certain un-Aryan-like activities.) ... Misbehaviour, abuse or violence against women (including raising one's hand on women) was considered as the lowest of the lowest of 'paap' (sin) that anyone could ever commit; even criminals considered it to be the lowest sin (paap) that would condemn them eternally (to the
most despicable/lowliest place of all [possibly the lowest of the Narak-Lokas], a place where killers of women are condemned to, a place
that even death-row criminals looked down upon). ~ A shocked Hanuman-ji said as much to Meghnaad... when the latter beat and beheaded a lifelike humanoid of Sita on the battlefield... in a bid to break the morale of the Van-nar Sena.] The same principle is applicable to the Lakshman-Surpanakha story; it too is (very likely) a later addition. 'Lakshman
Rekha' is courtesy Tulsidas and his Ramcharitmanas. [Tulsidas was also
instrumental in starting the folk event/folk theatre (village costume drama)
known as Ram-lila.] ~ The Ramayan has over 3,000 re-telling and/or versions,
not to mention the numerous poems and colloquial sayings based on it. [Each era/yug is distinct. Viewing them through
the prism of another will be misleading. 'Coz Sat/Satya/Krita Yug is 'Golden
Age'; Treta is 'Silver Age'; Dvapar is 'Copper Age' and Kaliyug is 'Iron Age';
at the end of Kaliyug the bud (kali) withers away - and thus, the 'Iron
Age' (negative aspects) of kaliyug is at its peak; it is then ghor Kaliyug. This period is
considered as the most degenerate/degraded of all ages/yugs.] ~ Indrajeet/Meghnaad resorting to 'illusion' indicates the usage of various technologies,
which the later translators were unable to figure out. Also, Meghnaad may have been a name that Ravan's son (eventually) came
to be identified with. [Megh = cloud; Naad = sound, roar.] So, it could be due
to his abilities as a pilot. Or it could be that his vimana/aircraft broke the
sound barrier (thus, Meghnaad). As for Meghnaad 'hiding behind a cloud' -
perhaps, his vimana left a trail of smoke that also acted as a camouflage. ~ Kumbhakarna was not Raavan's younger "brother", but a
gigantic humanoid-robot equipped with a variety of weaponry. [Possibly, a humanoid version of a much-advanced version of 'The Black Knight Unmanned Combat Vehicle' + 'MAARS Robot' (Modular Advanced Armed Robotic
System.) Kumbhakarna's 'mace' or 'spike' or 'hammer' may have been: a 30mm
cannon, AA12 Atchisson Assault Shotgun, PHASR Rifle, MB240 machine gun, 40mm
grenade launcher, a loudspeaker and eye dazzling laser, or bean bag guns,
smoke, and pepper spray... and much more. Also it was probably capable
of much 'smarter', potentially more sinister 'tricks'... and inflicted enormous damage in the battlefield.] ~ Maybe our ancients called such a humanoid-robot (Yantra), 'brahma-daitya' or
'brhma-daitya'. Brhma comes from 'Brh', which means: to grow. Daitya =
in this case: gigantic-sized. And this (probably) got mistranslated to 'a brāhmaṇa ghost' or
'the ghosts of brahmans, living in the fig trees, the pipal (ficus religiosa),
or the banyan (ficus indica), awaiting liberation (mukti) or reincarnation'. ~ Vibhishana was a staunch ally
of Shri Ram, though for several years now we have been burning his effigies with
gusto! ~ My guess is as good as yours.
Pic: Illustration - Shri Ram 'breaking the Shiva-dhanush', i.e. dismantling
the "Shiva-dhanush" or Pinaka - euphemism for the most destructive nuclear weapons - after an
all-round agreement/general consensus (though it is unlikely to have happened during Sita's Svayamvara). ~ PS: In Treta, one of the
major reasons for the Ramayana War... was to destroy dangerous weaponry (including
gigantic humanoid-robots like "Kumbhakarna" - that carried a variety of weapons)
~ to protect this planet and civilizations therein. Shri Ram (the Ram-avatar, the 7th Vishnu) also dismantled
the "Shiva-dhanush" or Pinaka - euphemism for the most destructive nuclear weapons - after an
all-round agreement/general consensus.] ~ Shri Ram and Rishi Valmiki are unlikely to have been contemporaries... and so, Siya-Ram's twins could not have been born in
Rishi Valmiki's ashram. Also, Ram did not subject Sita to any ritual (to
determine her "chastity"). ~ He abolished such customs... and improved the
status/position of women in society. "Agni Pareekshka" is not literal; it is
allegorical/metaphoric... and indicative of the challenges they both faced (and surmounted) - to bring
about "Ram Rajya". [~ The "agni-pareeksha" would have only made their resolve stronger.] Ram and Sita, along with Lakshman, Hanuman-ji, Angad and
others returned to Ayodhya aboard Raavan's fabulous Pushpak Vimana (aircraft) -
made available to them by Vibhishana. However, it is possible that Sita-ji departed much before Shri
Ram. Maybe some illness claimed her. Thereafter, Shri Ram attended all
ceremonies, etc along with a golden statue
of Sita-ji. He never re-married,
instead concentrating on bringing up their twins (Luv and Kush) and governing
his empire as a just ruler. He
is regarded as the jewel of the Suryavanshi (sun-flag/ Suryadhvaj/insignia-bearing) Ikshvaku clan (the Raghuvanshi lineage/Raghuvansh or Raghukula - after one of his illustrious ancestors, Raghu)... and the most beneficent ruler the land had ever
seen. ~ It is unlikely that Shri
Ram and his siblings took "jal-samadhi" or "salilasamadhi". The "Bhakti Movement" (probably) influenced it. ... 'Coz
several greats of the "Bhakti Movement" such as: Sri Chaitanyadev,
Guru Nanakdevji and Sant Kabir, even Sant Eknath and Trailanga Swami are
believed to have taken "jal-samadhi" or "salilasamadhi".
Therefore: this bit (Shri Ram and his siblings taking
jal-samadhi)... is of tributary nature. ~ My guess is as good as yours.] (PPS: From what we can gather, the Ram-avatar (the 7th
Vishnu), the Krishn-avatar (the 8th Vishnu) and the Kalkiḥ-avatar (the 10th Vishnu) are Purna
avatars, and therefore, the Almighty (jagat-patiḥ) Himself (albeit in the flesh, in His human form). ... While (Yajña, better known as) Svayambhuva Manu (the first "Manu") who (earlier) appeared as Raja Dasarath (Lord Ram's father - in Treta) and as Vasudev (Lord
Krshn's father - in Dvapar)... (is predicted to) finally appear as Vishnuyash/Vishnuyashas/Vishnuyash Sharma (Lord Kalkiḥ's father - at yuga-sandhyāyām/at the conjunction of two yugs [Kaliyug and Sat/Satya/Krita Yug of the next cycle; sandhyāyām = evening, twilight]). || bhavane vishnuyashasah kalkih pradurbhavishyati || ~ Lord Kalki will appear
(prādúr) in the home (bhavanê) of Vishnuyasha in the future (bhavishyati). And be born to Vishnuyasha (janitā viṣṇu-yaśaso). ~ The appearance
would be during: athāsau yuga-sandhyāyām: at the conjunction of two yugs
(Kaliyug and Sat/Satya/Krita Yug of the next cycle; sandhyāyām = evening,
twilight, dusk.) ~ At this time the 'Iron Age'/negative aspects of Kaliyug will be at its peak. In other words: ghor Kaliyug. ~ Now, Vishnuyash/Vishnuyashas could be a name per se, or it could be an allegorical name (to indicate affluence,
etc. It could also mean: devotee of Lord Vishnu/Narayan. Vishnuyash is described as Brahmanasya, i.e. he will be a Brahmana, implying erudition; he will also be the head of Shambhala village: shambhala-grama-mukhyasya.) [PS: Shambhala = Shambhu (Shiv) + Le (of). ~ So, is Shambhala the Tibetan version of Shivalaya? Therefore, is Shambhala and the land of Shambhu Nath one and the same? Is Shambhu Nath - the Ruler (Nath) as well as Guardian/Protector of Shambhala? And is "Shambhu Nath", the Kalki-avatar and Maitreya Buddha the same person? ~ My guess is as good as yours.] Note: Our ancient Brahmanas (learned persons) -
perhaps due to their interactions with Higher Beings - were aware of the
arrival of maha-avatars/great incarnations (~ the descent of the divine into
human/earthly form). Thus, (e.g.) Lord Ram (the 7th Vishnu) and Lord Krishna (the 8th Vishnu) are known as
"maha-avatar" (the Almighty Himself, albeit in the flesh) and their names are (thus) prefixed with the honorific "Bhagavan". [Lord Krishna is considered as the Cosmic
Person/Being in his totality of manifestation. He is not an Avatar of the
Cosmic Person/Being, but is considered as the Cosmic Person/Being Himself
(though, in the flesh). || krishnas tu bhagavan svayam || ~ He is the Cosmic
Teacher and Cosmic Ruler.] While Shri Gautama Buddh is called "Bhagavan" and the 9th Vishnu. The Kalki-avatar too is acknowledged as the 10th Vishnu and prefixed with the honorific "Bhagavan". [~ The Kalki-avatar is also referred to as jagat-patiḥ (implying: Lord of Creation/Sovereign of the Universe...
and therefore, the Almighty Himself.)] ~ This avatar is (also) regarded as the return of Shri Krishn in another form. However, since this avatar is believed to be a Sampoorna Avatar (complete, all-embracing avatar), whether He will (e.g.) also be Lord Maitreya
Buddha (the next Buddha-to-be after Gautama Buddha/Shakyamuni Buddha), or the Saoshyant of the Zoroastrians, or (for that matter) the second coming of Christ (... as per "Ekam Sat Vipraha Bahudha Vadanti" ~
Truth is one, but the wise know/call it as many | God is one, but we can
approach Him in many ways. ~ "Whosoever comes to Me, through whatsoever
form, I reach him; all men are struggling through paths which in the end lead
to me.") ~ my guess is as good as yours. ~ On the other hand, greats like Arjun, or (e.g.) other great emperors like Mandhata, Sagara, Dileepa, Dushyant, Bharat, Yayati, Bhagirath, Dasarath or even Ikshvaku and Raghu (after whom Lord Ram's lineage is named: Ikshvaku lineage or Raghuvansh/Raghukula) or for that matter Samraat Chandragupta Maurya, Samraat Aśoka,
Samraat Samudragupta or Samraat Vikramaditya (Chandragupta II) et al - despite
their glorious deeds/karm, and despite their illustrious reigns too acknowledged as "Golden
Age" - are not called "Bhagavan". ~ Instead, they are respected as great humans: karmveer and kirtimaan. ... The maha-avatars (on the other hand) are in a league of their own; their purpose (for being among humans) is different; they are Renaissance Men/Yug Purush: their actions (in the face of great adversities, challenges and impediments) bring about all-round positive change, and are (performed) for the greater good; they are nishkam "karm-yogis": they provide hope and guidance and (also) help bring about a change in (entrenched) mindset, conditioning, perception et al... so as to help build a better society. ~ None of which is transient. Especially when apathy, silence, a cavalier attitude or perfunctoriness (at best) is the general norm; also, attempting to bring about positive change as a pioneer (without the benefit of a precedence) is even harder. Through their steadfast effort/karm, the maha-avatars help reinvigorate the core principles/values/ethics (without which a society, nation and people will stagnate and degenerate/wither away). They dare to dream... and strive/toil endlessly
to bring it into existence, to bring to fruition what was envisaged for
posterity. ~ They 'turn the wheel' in the face of a great amount of negativities and despite a lot of 'toxin' and 'venom' spewed at them. And yet, they persevere; they go through the proverbial "agni-pareeksha" (with equanimity) for others, for the sake of humanity. They are inspirational; they are dispellers/'lifters' of 'dark clouds' (of hopelessness and pessimism), they are bringers of sunshine and joy; they are the finest nation-builders and statesmen. They are (thus) saviours (of a nation and a people - salvaging them from quagmire or preventing their descent into abyss/'quicksand'). They provide a road-map and show the way forward. 'Coz nation-building is a long-term process. ~ Due to their (nishkam) nature and temperament... they act as path-breakers and path-finders (trail-blazers)... (thereby) making it easier for others to walk on that trail/path. They perform very difficult tasks with ease... which (even) for great humans may not be achievable. They are passionate; they not only put in their
time but also their heart into it. They
inspire and transform human consciousness. Like an alchemist, they turn
base emotions of anger, irritation and rage into the gold of wisdom and
critical thinking, and through their inspiring words and deeds they transform
social inertia into hope and action. ... The universe is very vast; the earth and earthlings are but a mere
speck... and yet, the Almighty comes to help and guide. ~ Not as if to do earthlings a favour, but as dharma (a show of duty to the larger good). Therein lay the
grace and greatness of the divine. ["Bhagavan" is not a title that could be bestowed, and none of the above took on the honorific on their own. ~ Maha-avatars never proclaim/announce themselves as "Bhagavan" or maha-avatar. They are nishkam; they do not aspire for praise or glory or 'eternal life', and so on... despite tremendous achievements/accomplishments and contribution. That is the kind of equipoise/equanimity they possess. Instead, they simply (quietly and diligently) help humanity. ... And, once they perform/achieve/accomplish all that they had set out to do, they depart... (yet again) leaving their indelible mark upon the
sands of time... for us to follow and emulate.]
The
maha-avatars are Cosmic Teachers. They guide. They
arrive to revitalize/reinvigorate dharma and karm (for the larger good)... and (thus) act as catalysts.
They are also the
ones who pull humanity/society out of quagmire/'mud' and into the 'sunlight'. ~ They
make their appearance at very difficult/challenging times - when mankind/humanity finds itself totally handicapped and without a solution; when
the debilitating 'fog' of confusion, negativism and stagnation holds sway. Thus, their circumstances are never ideal; they also have
to contend with an assortment of (negative, petty, myopic and/or megalomaniac)
entities arrayed against them (~ they do not have the upper-hand, i.e. they are never
in a position of strength, vis-à-vis their adversaries. Though, they adapt -
depending on the challenges and circumstances). And yet, they show the way; in a manner of speaking, they wade/swim through the sea of troubles holding our hands and lead us to shore. ~ Krishn is all-knowing (not to be mistaken for 'know-all'); he is very
clear-eyed and with an exceptional grasp of events and their likely trajectory
(i.e. how they will play out/evolve) in the short/medium and long term. But
then, the rest (be they ordinary people or important personalities and
entities) weren't quite like him. Later on, even Arjun was overcome with feelings of weakness and confusion.
[Thus Krishn had to brush away the cobwebs in Arjun's
mind as well - though he neither commands nor intimidates Arjun. On the contrary, he remains tenacious and inspires tenacity; he
is (also) very patient, ghanshyam (soaking up 'toxin'/'venom' directed at him), persuasive, provides sustained support and advice, bides his time, slowly but surely (and smilingly) outmaneuvers the negative/malevolent entities (for the larger good); he is sorted and not full of himself, his fame/stature sits lightly upon his shoulders. He is the Cosmic
Teacher after all. ~ And, he is not called guide/sarathy, a great visionary, Master strategist and Soldier-Statesman par
excellence for nothing.] ~
He wasn't amongst humans to become emperor (samraat/Maharajadhiraj) himself, he is Chir-Sarathy (Eternal Charioteer/Perennial Guide); the reason he persevered
(became part of various 'manthan') could be to let out the 'toxin'/'venom'/halahala - so as to take the blinders off (others'
mind and thoughts) ~ to usher in a "new dawn"/positive change/incremental change organically... and to ensure its continuation organically. (~ By dispelling 'fog' of
confusion, delusion, 'filth'/'toxin' et al... he helped bring about clarity of thought/cognition and
introspection - organically.) ~ He was also amongst humans to help/guide in the
transition from Dvapar to Kaliyug. [Kali means 'bud'; it gradually opens to
become a fully-blooming 'flower'; it is only at the end of Kaliyug that the 'flower'
withers away to give rise to 'ghor Kaliyug' - when the 'Iron Age' (negative
aspects) of Kaliyug is at its peak.] ~ BG 10.34: ||
udbhavaś ca bhaviṣyatām || ~ "... and I am the generating
principle/cause/energy of all that is yet to be." (Alternatively:
"... and I am too the birth of all
that shall come into being") - is many-hued. ~ Krishn is not merely
the Cosmic Ruler; he is also the Cosmic Teacher. ~ He is (also) very real,
despite his godliness; he and his message is evergreen - relevant and relatable
- no matter the era/yug. He is tremendously inspirational... and yet, he is not a
mere mortal. He is no ordinary human. His descent in earthly/human form was for
a purpose. He lived amongst humans for a purpose. BG 7.26: || vedaham
samatitanivartamanani carjunabhavisyani ca bhutani mam tu veda na kascana || ~ "O Arjun, I know everything that
has happened in the past, all that is happening in the present, and all things
that are yet to come. I also know all living entities; but Me no one knows." [Hence Krishn was all-knowing. He also knew each soul (individual or human soul/jiva-atma).] ~ However, Shri Ram, on the
other hand, has (unfortunately and perhaps even unwittingly) been turned into a
straw-man (courtesy the multitude of re-telling, stage plays, folk theatre et
al). And, ever since concepts like "race" has come about, various narratives
have mired his name. Maybe this provided credibility and mileage. (But in a high-emotion-country what that has done is anybody's guess.) ~ While the
West turned a massive hero out of someone like Alexander!! ~ One wonders, what
they might have done if they were to have genuine heroes like Shri Ram and Shri
Krishn. [~ Once a dubious narrative is created, it takes several others to
sustain it. This not only creates undesirable (and corrosive) viewpoints and mindset, but also
blurs the fine line between fact and fiction, between reality and make-believe.
Thus lucidity, clearness of thought, loses its way into the dreary desert sand
of dead habit.] ... Umm, have Indians been their own worst
adversaries/antagonists... after the decline of the Gupta era? ~ Yes, colonization
did happen, and a whole bunch of our current ills can be blamed on it... but then,
three fingers point right back at us too. ~ My guess is as good as yours. [There is a possibility though that Ramesses
II (referred to as Ramesses the Great), ancient Miṣr/Egypt's most
prolific ruler, often regarded as the greatest, most celebrated, and most powerful
pharaoh of the (ancient) Egyptian Empire, is named after Shri Ram. Ramesses is anglicized. It could be a variant of Ram-Ashish (due to difference/change in phonetics.) (~ That
ancient Miṣr and ancient India shared a connection is quite evident. Do read
paragraph #15 of the previous portion/section - to get the drift.)]
Pic: Illustration of Apsara. ~ Contrary to popular belief, Apsaras were not celestial beings but
female Gandharvas. Saras = lake or water-body, besides being a reference to the
lake-bird - the Sarus Crane. [This lake-bird (Sanskrit: Sarasa) is
much-venerated in our culture and is also associated with Maharshi
Valmiki.] The Sarus Crane (also: Saras Crane) performs territorial and
courtship displays that include loud trumpeting, leaps and dance-like
movements. The female Gandharvas, as we know, were adept at performing arts,
and these may have included leaps and energetic dance-like movements (much like
Ballet and Flamenco) - to the accompaniment of gay music. ~ Hence, (probably)
over time, the female Gandharvas first came to be associated with the Saras
Crane, and then (gradually) began to be referred to as the "Ap-Saras"
(possibly: 'saras-like') - which later gave way to "Apsara". ~ They
were also regarded as possessors of great knowledge, be it in the fine arts,
performing arts, medicinal herbs, flowers, perfumes, and the like. Urvashi,
Menaka, Rambha, Tillottama were legendary Apsaras. ~ On a separate note: the
name "Flamenco" may have been derived from Flamingo. And the
Saras and Flamingo (of another era/yug) may have been related. It is worth
noting that the Flamingo is a mix of bright and lighter shades of pink, while
the Flamenco dancers wear red. [So did Ballet and Flamenco originate in
ancient India? ~ My guess is as good as yours.] ... However: one mustn't
confuse the Flamingo for the Sarus Crane and vice versa... on account of their
long-legs and brightly coloured plumage. They are otherwise quite different. ~ The
Gandharvas (probably) were an offshoot/sub-clan of the Sura/Deva people.
The name Gandharva is of Sanskrit origin, and is very likely derived
from the Sanskrit word gandha, meaning perfume, odour or smell.
These people were renowned for their great knowledge of flowers, aromatic
herbs, plants and birds. Hence "Gandharva" is a reference to the
spices and aromatic herbs that they [~ possibly the inhabitants of ancient
Northwest South Asia and surrounding areas, including Bakthria and maybe also (some
of) the people who use the Kharoṣṭhī script - though the current geography has
undergone some changes due to the elements, etc] traded and with which they
anointed themselves. They were also well-versed in music and dance besides
being expert players of a variety of musical instruments.
Pic: Illustration of Vibhishana-Mandodari marriage. ~ Ravana was born to the (learned Brahmana) sage/Rishi
Vishrava (or Vesamuni), and his wife, the Daitya princess Kaikesi. [Danava, Rakshasa and Daitya were 'Asura' sub-clans. The
human 'Deva' people were not "demi-god", and 'Asura' were not
"demon". Such connotations have come about... thanks to
mistranslation.] His
queen/consort Mandodari was the daughter of
Mayasura (the King of the Asuras - possibly, the overall sovereign of all Asura
sub-clans) and the apsara Hema. [Apsara: female Gandharva, an offshoot of the Deva
clan/people.] After
Raavan's funeral, Shri Ram advised Vibhishana to marry Mandodari (Raavan's
queen/consort, and [very likely] Sita's real mother*). Thereafter, he arranged for
Vibhishana's coronation... before returning to Ayodhya (in Ravana's Pushpak
Vimana made available to him by Vibhishana; this return to Ayodhya - after 14
years - is celebrated/commemorated through "Deepavali". However, whether this
commemoration is continuing since Treta or is due to Tulsidas and his
Ram-lila ~ my guess is as good as yours.) Siya-Ram and Lakshman,
Vibhishana, Van-nar-raj Sugreeva (besides Hanuman-ji and Angad), Riksharaj
Jambavan, Vyadh chief/Nishada-raj Guhaka et al became personal friends and firm
allies. ... However, Hanuman-ji could not have set fire to Lanka with his tail -
he was not a monkey; he was human. This bit too (probably) is a result of later
dramatics, folk theatre et al. Also, indulging in plunder and pillage was most
un-Aryan-like (ignoble); it is unlikely that Shri Ram, one of the finest of Aryans, ever
indulged in such activities. Also, Vibhishana succeeded Ravana. What would he
have governed over then? Besides, Shri Ram and Vibhishana were personal friends and
allies. [*In the current era (Kaliyug) Samraat Vikramaditya/Chandragupta
II, son of Samraat Samudragupta, married Dhruva Devi (his elder brother
Ramgupta's queen/consort). ... The cowardly Ramgupta's reign lasted for five years.
When the Mlechcha Saka king (Rudrasimha III) asked him to surrender his
queen/consort (Dhruva Devi) - in return for peace... Ramgupta readily acquiesced.
[Imagine the ignominy this land would have been under - for all times to come?!] ~ However, all that was averted by the intervention of his younger brother (the then
Yuvaraj) Chandragupta - who (in the guise of a woman) mounted a surprise attack
on the Sakas, slew the Mlechcha Saka king and returned victorious. [~ It is
said that Ramgupta was deposed and killed by Chandragupta. However, given the
turn of events... that may not have been necessary. Ramgupta probably took his
own life. After all, what face did he have in front of his queen/consort and
people (after proving to be a total wimp)? Especially since he was neither known for his
intellectual acuity nor achievement(s). And, from what we can gather, Dhruva
Devi was way out of his league. ~ My guess is as good as yours.] ~ Thereupon, Yuvaraj
Chandragupta married Dhruva Devi, ascended the throne... and became known as Maharajadhiraj Chandragupta II. ~ He assumed the title of "Vikramaditya" -
after thwarting the imperialistic machinations and ambitions of the Sakas, and
drove them out of wide swathes of land, (probably almost the whole of modern
Asia). He also erected the Garuda Stambh (in honour
of Lord Narayan/Vishnu; Lord Narayan is Garuda-Dhvaja, it is His symbol
or insignia) to commemorate this event. ~ Vikramaditya established peace
and prosperity under his wise, benevolent and enlightened rule - one of the finest of our 'Golden
Ages'. [Vikram means: one who is wise, diligent, brave and strong as well as
victorious. The Sanskrit word -kram is a root word meaning 'step or
stride', so the name Vikram can be understood to mean Vishnu's stride in
itself, or as a name which reflects the qualities of Vishnu's stride. [Vishnuh: Long-striding (as with vigour).] In Vedic
scripture, Vishnu's stride is said to be over the Earth, the Sky, and the
all-pervading omnipresent essence of the Universe/Cosmos. Hence Shri Vishnu is
also known as Trivikram. Aaditya = the Sun (also indicates Brahm-Jyoti and Lord Narayan's scintillating effulgence). Therefore, Vikramaditya roughly
translates as: the radiance of Vikram.] ~ Maybe the
cosmic trinity (Trimurti: Satyam-Shivam-Sundaram) was bifurcated (underwent a bifurcation)... after the
decline of the Gupta era (with the possible accompanyment of various texts/literature). ~ My
guess is as good as yours. Vikramaditya and Dhruva Devi's son, Kumaragupta I (Mahendraditya), too was an able ruler. [However, Emperor Chandragupta II Vikramaditya and the
Vikramaditya of the Vikram-Vetal stories are not same.]
Pic: Chandragupta II Gold Dinar; 7.75g; Archer type coin. ~ The Garuda Stambh put up by Vikramaditya bears
an inscription, which states that it was erected as a flagstaff in honour of
Shri Vishnu, and in the memory of Chandragupta II (Vikramaditya). The pillar
also highlights ancient India's achievements in metallurgy. ~ Vikramaditya was not merely an emperor, or rather Maharajadhiraj
(king of kings) and Chakravartin, but also (perhaps) regarded himself
as 'representative' of Lord Narayan/Vishnu. ~ No wonder: under his statesmanship
the Gupta Empire achieved its zenith, science, mathematics, astronomy, metallurgy, art,
architecture, literature, poetry and sculpture flourished, and the cultural
development of ancient India reached its climax. [Chaturanga (Sanskrit: caturaṅga)
- an ancient Indian strategy game, (and the common ancestor of the board games
chess, shogi, makruk, xiangqi and janggi) too was developed during the Gupta era
(around the 6th century AD). In the 7th century, it was adopted as shatranj
in Sassanid Persia, which in turn was the form of chess brought to
late-medieval Europe. Caturaṅga and shatranj - once
again indicates the Avestan Persian-Sanskrit
connection.] ~ The above coin of
Chandragupta II Vikramaditya is a celebration of the exquisite and sublime
skills of the artist who designed the die for this coin which
demonstrates why the Gupta Period is called the golden age of Indian history. This
time period saw all round development. The above coin is a tribute
to the skills and artistry of the die engraver than the image that
the coin itself bears. The die cutter has managed to achieve the following
objectives simultaneously: The features of the emperor are portrayed as
extremely youthful: 'Chir-Yauvana' or Eternal Youth is an elixir that mankind/humanity,
and more so the Ruler, has sought since time immemorial. This coin shows how
the die cutter wishes the Maharajadhiraj to be remembered amongst his subjects
and for posterity as a handsome youthful emperor. The body of the emperor is
lithe, supple, muscular and well-proportioned. This complements and brings
out the relative youthfulness of the emperor. The message to be conveyed
by this coin: 'Hail the Emperor, Glory be to Him, our benevolent Maharajadhiraj,
our Protector, the Strong and Valiant Chandragupta'. ~ The emperor exudes
an aura of energy, vigour and vitality even as he stands in the
'dvibhanga' pose (head and torso inclined to the right with lower limbs in
opposite direction, a common feature applied in Indian sculptor and classical
dance, especially Odissi). The emperor appears calm, composed and serene. This
is a delicate balance that has admirably been achieved by the die cutter. The emperor
holding a Bow in his left arm while drawing an Arrow from his right hand
only accentuates the powerful image of the emperor as a young,
energetic protector who is well disposed and endowed with the strength (and capacity) to
overcome any detractors. While the soft features of the emperor together with his
slender frame is non-intimidating. ~ He is a benevolent emperor. The swaying 'mudra' or
pose of the standing emperor is a feature of Gupta coins to reflect/indicate
that the emperor is higher than a mere mortal... as a man's body is imperfect
being straight, rigid and stiff. The graceful sway is achieved by giving a
curve or twist at the neck (head) and waist (out thrust hips), the 'Dvibhanga'
pose, or the neck, waist and knee, the 'Tribhanga' pose. [The idols/images of Shri Ram,
Shri Krishna, Shri Vishnu et al are also depicted in the above 'mudra'/pose.] ~ On the
reverse is the image of the Goddess Sri Sri Lakshmi. She holds a flower (lotus) by a
short stalk in her upraised left arm, a 'pasa' or lasso in her right hand and
sits in the yogic 'Padmasana' posture atop a Lotus. It must be remembered
that these symbols on the coin are a depiction of the iconographic
manifestation of our ancient philosophy. The Lotus flower blooms amidst the muck
and filth of muddy swamps and marshes and symbolizes a person's ability to
rise, similar to the Lotus flower, from the dark depths of ignorance and
gain happiness (and contentment) with the beauty and radiance of spiritual knowledge (also:
self-realization). The open flowers of the Lotus that blossoms and spreads out
signifies the Sun, an essential life-nourishing source as well as the light
that destroys/dispels ignorance and illuminates wisdom. (~
However, this philosophy is applicable to ordinary mortals/humans; not to the Almighty.
The Almighty Himself is the Supreme Lotus - the Cosmic Ruler and Cosmic Teacher
(as maha-avatars). Our ancients understood this concept very well. [~ They did
not exaggerate. But given their vaulting imagination, they could capture and convey our 'pracheen
itihasa' in a manner that even a child could easily understand. History became interesting and wondrous... and was (thus) effortlessly passed on to the next/future
generation(s). It also inculcated a spirit of curiosity and scholarship (a habit of reading). It was akin to solving riddles and puzzles. ~ However, later
interpreters were unable to comprehend the technological aspects, etc, and so,
improvised... merely succeeding in capturing and reflecting the sign of the times.] ~ The 'pasa' (noose or
lasso) signifies an attachment to worldly matters (selfish desires like praise, glory, etc) as well as the capability of God to capture negativities and (blind) ignorance. ~ Though we do not have
any details of the die engravers name in the historical records... but given the
finesse and fine style achieved in executing the portrayal of the emperor on
the coin, he must have been a person held in high esteem for his die engraving
skills. All in all, this coin is a great masterpiece of the Gupta miniature art
on a Gold Coin of the great Maharajadhiraj Chandragupta II Vikramaditya... simply because of the
beautiful rendition of the emperor's features, posture and the message
it seeks to convey. ~ Which brings to mind, even Shri Ram and Shri Krishn are never
depicted as aged or even middle-aged. They are always shown as extremely youthful (evergreen),
handsome and energetic. ... Maybe, that is how various artists et al wished to depict them. Maybe, that is the message that various artists/visualizers
and sculptors (through the ages) sought to convey. Maybe, that is how they
wished Shri Ram and Shri Krishn to be remembered (by the people and for
posterity). ~ And this also brings to mind, that one doesn't quite recollect
having seen an idol or image of the Buddha as an aged person (or even a middle-aged
one). ~ So, maybe, the same thought/sentiment are applicable in his case as well.
Pic: Illustration of Hanuman-ji. ~ Manthara
was a "Vamani", implying a small-sized human (maybe, Yakshi); she may not have been a "kubja" -
a hunchback woman... that is (in all likelihood) courtesy later dramatists; she
was also Kaikeyi's governess and very trusted. Hanuman-ji 'tearing open his chest' to show
Siya-Ram resides in his heart = tattoo or body art. Hanuman-ji was not a monkey, nor
Riksharaj Jambavan a bear, per se. Perhaps Hanuman-ji (as well as
Van-nar-raj Sugreev and Angad) belonged to an adivasi group that evolved from
animal-like ancestors resembling ape-man (not per se, but 'van-nar' or
'van-manush'; man with ape nature), due to the shape of their skull, jawline, teeth, etc. ~ While
Riksharaj Jambavan (the king/chief of the Riksha-s) - an adivasi group that
[probably] evolved from animal-like ancestors resembling bears (due to
the shape of their skull, jawline, teeth, hirsuteness, etc.) ~ "Riksha"
(Sanskrit: Ṛkṣa) is
Sanskrit for bear, while the animal-like ancestors (of certain adivasi groups) that resembled ape-man (not per se, rather: man with ape nature) were probably known as
'van-nar', or 'van-manush'. ... With time (post the decline of the Gupta era,
that is), "Van-nar" became "Vanar" (perhaps due to a change of phonetics and meaning) and came to be equated with monkey. ~ My
guess is as good as yours. ["Greeva" or "Griva" as well as "Hanu" indicate jaw
in Sanskrit. ... Perhaps Sugreeva was the most handsome person in his
group/clan, and was (therefore) called/christened Sugreeva. (Su = good,
handsome).] In Sanaatan Dharmic tradition, the Sapta Rishi Mandala
or the Constellation of the Great Bear/Ursa Major (sapta-riksha) is the abode of the
seven Rishi (Sapta-Rishi) - the
Great Well Wisher of the Universe, also connecting humans and Gods [Higher
Beings; devas, demi-gods, etc]; now, whether Ṛkṣa (originally) gave rise to the
word "rishi" (ṛṣI) or not ~ my guess is as good as yours. ~ Also, Hanumanji was a
highly-skilled pilot and flew a variety of aircraft (vimana). This (very likely) has been
mistranslated as 'Hanuman-ji carried Ram and Lakshman on his shoulders'.
['Pavan-putra': Airman; maybe he was one of the best pilots of his time... and
was (thus) referred to as or given the title of "Pavan-putra".] ~ My guess
is as good as yours. [The writers, dramatists, poets, translators et al of
the post Gupta period not only not understand the scientific and technological
aspects mentioned in the 'pracheen itihasa/ancient history' known as
the "Ramayana", they were perhaps (also) unaware of the veritable treasure-trove of
information, science, technology, knowledge, know-how, wisdom, history, philosophy,
literature et al they were attempting to translate. And so, went about
improvising... and ended up editing the main narrative itself - to suit the sign of the times, (and maybe even) to suit the props and histrionic abilities of the actors and artists, and so on. ~ If
only they had kept the original work as is... and authored their (own) versions
with an appropriate rejoinder. But... alas. ~ Especially since Sanaatan Dharma and Vigjnana have always gone hand in hand, both have been integral to each other. Vigjnana - in the Indian thought/system - was never boring or cut-and-dried narrative. For our ancients
science did not signify a mechanistic analysis of facts, but rather a broader
interpretation, a wider perception of the universe. Having their wisdom firmly
rooted to the teachings of the ancient Upanishads and the Vedas, they conceived
Nature not merely as a physical phenomenon, but a living spirit, which could
help man to realize the essential Truth of Life. ... The
combination of our ancient, enlightened wisdom, guidance, philosophy, art,
literature, etc paired with science, research and innovation... is what brought seekers
of knowledge (students and learned persons alike) from distant lands. They went
away enriched... carrying with them a piece of ancient India. Thus, Indian
thought and knowledge illumined the minds of denizens of far-off lands. ~ It
was the route to/of ancient India's preeminence. It helped establish
'Yoga' or 'Sanjog' (to connect) - cutting across distance and diversities. As a
result, trade flourished. While labour-intensive activities... that not only
generated employment and revenue, but also nurtured creativity (concentration and application of mind), was aplenty. Besides, our ancient Brahmanas (learned persons) were not averse to synergy and
cross-pollination. Hence they studied the works of the ancient Greeks and the Romans...
and then wrote and shared their own comments, treatises and views on them.
Thus, there was no stagnation or intellectual regimentation (leading to
intellectual degeneration and decay ~ a veritable 'quicksand'... emerging from
which is a mammoth task). ~ As they say: a rolling stone gathers no moss. ... The true power/potential of "Yoga" and "Sanjog" - is immense; it can bring forth kundalini energy... that bland and tepid stuff/jargon like "low hanging fruit", "soft power" et al can never generate/realise/unleash ~ my guess is as good as yours.]
However,
what made all of this possible was the enlightened thinking and 'way of life' -
followed by our ancients. At the core of which lay the Cakravartin,
for purposes of comprehension, let's say: the 'Cakravartin
system of governance/administration'. A Cakravartin
was not merely an emperor ruling over his vast empire and basking in his own
glory. ~ The Indian Cakravartin, on the
contrary, was the anchor; head and shoulders above the rest, someone who kept
the macro picture in mind; visionary (far-sighted), charismatic, energetic,
sagacious, erudite, wise, of even temperament, unselfish (not petty-minded, non-parochial, not given to myopia or vainglory or vanity/false pride),
persuasive, with excellent diplomatic and inter-personal skills, and so on;
someone who did not (attempt to) impose his thinking or ideas on the rest;
someone who knew when to be magnanimous. There was no "polity-based" system, though.
'Coz ancient India (no matter by what name this land was called) was no
stranger to our mind-boggling diversity (as well as very complex demographics).
However, a Cakravartin knew how to turn all
of that into strength, and therefore, an advantage. A Cakravartin
was (thus) a unifier, a binding force/factor; a leader, a ruler, an administrator, a
teacher, a catalyst, a reformer and a well-wisher of the people; one who could take
diversities (of all kinds) along. His empire was not a monolith, but rather a
confederation (with maximum internal autonomy). There were kings and chieftains
(janapadin) governing their own big and small
regions/kingdoms/territories (janapadas and mahajanapadas), and yet, they all
functioned under the all-embracing "umbrella" (and wise reassuring presence) of the Cakravartin.
It was not a "polity-based" system, but a symbiotic one, a synergy-creating
one. ~ He was the proverbial banyan tree beneath which all others sheltered.
[They did not merely defend the territories/empire from external aggression - together, but enjoyed maximum internal autonomy as well. ~ Yet again, a win-win. In a way, we can say, collectivism/democracy at
its best... under the "wisdom tree" (guiding spirit/Chakravartin). There was
co-dependence, and therefore, co-operation and collaboration; this ensured peace; they progressed
and prospered together.] ... And, as we
know, ancient India was marked by all-round progress and preeminence. ~ Not that there were no military conquests.
There were. But there was no colonization, exploitation, slave-taking,
plundering et al a la (e.g.) Alexander... who left a trail of devastation
in his wake. ~ A conquered nation and people were not treated shabbily; their
'way of life' etc were not overhauled; the women-folk, elderly people and children were not mistreated; livestock/animals, plants/trees were not harmed, water-bodies were not polluted - 'coz all of these were against Arya Dharma. Instead, a conquered nation and people were
provided with better governance/administration... than what they experienced
before (rather there was no discrimination). This helped to generate goodwill - for both to understand each other
better, to communicate, to (thus) to integrate and to continue to create
synergy. It resulted in cross-pollination. Perhaps (for purposes of
comprehension), we can say: it led to a win-win. [Thus, examples were also set,
and lessons effortlessly passed on to the next/future generation(s) ~ the
quiet 'turning of the wheel'.] ~ Ancient India had a
long-lived civilization and culture. Collaboration is the key to success in any
venture... and this explains the multifarious achievements of the ancient
Indians. ... The economy was robust and trade flourished (both overland
trade and sea-borne trade... in raw materials, manufactured goods and objects).
In fact, Indian trade history
is remarkable. Indian trade benefited and so did the world. ~ And all because:
ancient India had realized that at the end of the day, maximizing use of one's
own resources is what makes all the difference. ... The
wisdom behind the 'Chakravartin system of governance/administration' is this:
diverse nations/cultures/peoples were able to celebrate and share their ideals
and aspirations... leading to harmony, wholeness and integrity. [A veritable rainbow.] As a result: they
were (largely) able to rise above their petty identities, narrow self-interests, and
prejudices/disputes; they were (thus) also able to identify with their
commonalities. ~ This balanced and holistic worldview was a prerequisite for a
sustainable and resilient future. This was the big vision... integrating the multifaceted nature of their co-existence with collaboration. ~ It needed collective effort: coexistence and
cooperation. Recognizing and/or accepting intricacies (composite culture/diversities)
required forbearance and understanding. It needed energetic engagement with diversity - an achievement,
'coz mere diversity without real (organic) relationship would have
yielded schisms/misunderstandings; the 'Chakravartin system of governance/administration'
(instead) sought understanding across lines
of difference, thus their ignorance of one another was minimized.
They could hold their deepest differences not in isolation, but in relationship
to one another: through constructive dialogue (both speaking and listening) and engagement,
give and take, mutual respect, and so on... and this process (very likely) revealed both common
understandings and real differences; however, given their guiding/management
principles and qualitative approach/attitude/disposition, they could surge over or submerge these
differences... leading to an organic confederation (of composite
cultures/peoples/nations) that defended together and shared/created
together. They were (perhaps) able to reflect upon and assimilate the spirit of oneness. Coercion or craftiness/cunning (as opposed to diplomacy, patience,
give and take and tactfulness) may not have achieved this level/quality of
cohesion and endurance between superdiversities; instead, it may have widened and/or given rise to all manner of asymmetries and (ultimately)
become a nemesis (ruinous or self-defeating). A quick note on Samraat Ashoka: Our history
books say Ashoka killed 99 of his brothers. ~ Umm, not sure whether we should take
this figure at face-value. Only Duryodhan was known to have 99 brothers. ... So,
was this a result of some later dramatization (for purposes of stage plays,
folk theatre, wandering theatre, and so on)? ~ My guess is as good as yours.
Also, in the Indian system the succession plan was well-defined. It was based
on primogeniture, unless the ruler/king/emperor chose otherwise (with due
reasons, of course). Now, coming to the Kalinga War: it was a hilly and
heavily-forested area. Would such a terrain have accommodated such a vast
population, as is indicated by the supposed casualty (and PoW) figures... which apparently
turned (Chanda)Ashoka into "Dharmashoka"? ~ Especially since words like "Chandal" is itself a later nomenclature (of later periods)... when (the usurper known as) "Brahminical faith"
came about. Therefore, was this too a result of later plays, dramatics, etc or maybe
'manthan' between various groups? ~ My guess is as good as yours. Also, one wonders as to how Samraat Ashok built all those
stupas (enshrining the relics of the Buddha) in China? There is also an Ashoka
Mountain and an Ashoka Temple there. So what was the contour of his empire? ~
And, why is it that modern history books are silent on this... though they go on and on
about the rest? Why do modern history books glorify Alexander? [~ Umm, does it
help to create an image of supremacy, sort of to colonize the mind? ~ My guess is as good as yours.] And, why
has Parvateshvar (Raja Paurava or Porus - to the Greeks) been ignored? ~ My
guess is as good as yours. Alexander's career more or less came to a halt
after his brief encounter with this king of the Indus region, Raja
Parvateshvar (Porus). (The Greeks however, had some success ruling as kings
in northwestern cities such as the one in Takshasheela.) [On a separate note, Paurava/Porus very likely was part of the
Puruvansh or Puru lineage to which the Pandavas and the Kauravas belonged.]
About Ashoka embracing Buddhism: Umm, first
of all, who coined the term "Buddhism"? When did it come about? ~ 'Coz in
Ashoka's time "Buddhism" is unlikely to have existed. It might have been
"Boudhya Dharma" at best. But then, Boudhya = of Buddha or of Gautam Buddh, or as
guided by the Buddha (the Enlightened One). While "Dharma" (Pali: Dhamma) implies: noble
actions, or actions that lead to the greater good, or help build a better
society. It does not imply "religion" (as is understood today). Besides, the Maurya clan is believed to have been an offshoot of the Shakya clan to which Shri Gautam Buddh belonged. Also,
Bhagavan Shri Gautam Buddh was the 9th Vishnu - and therefore, a maha-avatar of Lord Narayan. Sanaatan Dharm has numerous viewpoints and paths. Dasavatara is part of
Sanaatan Dharma. Plus, from whatever we can gather, Gautama Buddh belonged to the
Shakya clan (which is believed to be a tributary of the Ikshvaku clan - to
which Shri Ram, the 7th Vishnu, belonged). ~ Even if we were to
consider the Gupta emperors, we find they erected the Garuda Stambh (in honour
of Lord Narayan/Vishnu) - to commemorate the successfull thwarting of the imperialistic
ambitions of the Sakas (after driving them out of wide swathes of land, probably
almost the whole of modern Asia). Lord Narayan is Garuda-Dhvaja; it is
His symbol or insignia. ~ Vishnu, Narayan and Gautama Buddh are not different.
Vishnu is another name for Lord Narayan; Gautama Buddh is one of His many
avatars (descent in earthly/human form). ... Probably, the Gupta emperors were (also) the ones who
installed what is today known as the "Shiv Ling" - to depict the cosmic phenomenon of "creation" and "dissolution". (Please
refer to paragraph #7 from the last in the previous portion/section - to get the drift). However, with the
passage of time - possibly after the decline of the Gupta era - due to various
interpolations, extrapolations, mistranslations and so on, it may have come to
be understood/regarded as the "Shiv Ling". ~ Therefore, maybe, the
cosmic trinity (Trimurti: Satyam-Shivam-Sundaram) may not have been bifurcated (underwent a bifurcation)...
until after the decline of the Gupta era. ~ My guess is as good as yours.
Pic: Illustration of Shri Ram, the fine Chakravartin. [However, since the humans of Treta would have been quite different from
modern humans - we can only speculate about their appearance, height, features, strength,
caliber, longevity, intelligence, attire, worldview, and so on. ~ Therefore, none can quite say/depict (with certainty) how Lord Ram actually looked like... 'coz none has ever seen him in Kaliyug.] ... In ancient India, barring few hiccups,
the 'Cakravartin system of
governance/administration' has pretty much held good (~ until the decline of
the Gupta period, that is). Therefore, the earlier Cakravartins
(very likely) also concentrated (i.e. invested time and effort) in building a
framework/architecture/roadmap - through consensus. And, perhaps, this
architecture/roadmap was not tied to them (meaning, it was irrespective of any
personality, name, and so on). Maybe, it was based on a long-term understanding
of issues and events (and the like), besides, on the future needs of the
various lands/regions and people (that came under their all-embracing "umbrella"). Therefore, even when there were some hiccups...
it generally held good. Maybe, such a consensus-based
framework/architecture/roadmap/system was required to manage/govern diverse cultures
and people, with relative seamlessness. Maybe, it (also) aided in a relatively
smooth change of guard/transfer of power/succession/transition (in any part of
the empire)... and (thus) ensured continuity and peace with minimal turbulence.
Also, each emperor/ruler/king/chieftain may not have possessed the same caliber
as the one preceding them. So (perhaps) having a consensus-based
framework/architecture/roadmap/system made sense. ~ It (probably also) helped
to unify while maintaining the cultural diversities et al. ... And this (perhaps) also
enabled the Cakravartin to concentrate (invest time
and effort) on other important aspects, such as all-round progress, trade,
innovation, and so on... instead of having to firefight all the time or expend
all his time and energies in dispute-resolution/crisis-management. ~ Shri Ram was a fine
Chakravartin. [However, his empire was not confined within the contours of
modern India. ~ Though with the passage of time, the geography and
landscape/topography on Earth too would not have remained unchanged, courtesy
man-made events, natural calamities, corrosive action of the waters et al.] Shri
Krishna too, though not a samraat (emperor) himself, was a fine Chakravartin,
given his actions, foresight and guidance. | Sita was
not the sad, weepy, tragic figure that she is made out to be. She was extremely
erudite, intelligent and (also) knew how to 'lift the Shiva-dhanush' (i.e. how
to dismantle the 'Shiva-dhanush' or Pinaka) - a euphemistic reference to the
most destructive nuclear weapons (perhaps far more destructive than what we find today). There can be no doubt that Ram and Sita were
very compatible; that they were soul-mates. Shri Ram was not the stunned-looking, expressionless entity that
instantly come to mind... courtesy various depictions. ~ He is described as tall,
strong and handsome. [However, since the humans of Treta would have been quite
different from modern humans - we can only speculate about their appearance,
height, strength, caliber, longevity, attire, worldview, and so on.] Shri Ram is also said
to have been 'vishalaksha' or big-eyed and puṣkara-locanaḥ
- 'lotus-eyed' (i.e. one whose eyes are shaped like lotus petals). However, since his eyes are compared to the Blue Lotus (pushkara or indivara),
could it be that he was (shimmering) blue-eyed? ~ My guess is as good as yours. Shri Krishn is also puṣkara-locanaḥ, puṣkara-akṣaḥ,
puṣkara-īkṣaṇah ~ 'lotus-eyed'. Therefore, there seems to be some
physical similarities (as well as similarities in character and temperament: wisdom, intelligence, statesmanship, thought-leaders, transformational figures-reformers-change-agents-catalysts-facilitators, sheer presence (iridescent presence), erudition, tenacity, fortitude, far-sightedness, pro-activeness, people skills, patience, valiance, and so on)
between Shri Ram and Shri Krishn. ~ Brilliance,
effortless charm, dynamism, character, and heart. Strong stuff. Also, there seem to be a quiet, delightful and endearing simplicity about
them. Besides, neither were overtly aggressive nor displayed machismo. ~ They did not have to try too hard. Both were pleasant and effortless; alpha male with princely
qualities. In other words: a Complete Man. ~ And both were committed to their respective consorts, Sita and
Rukmani (~ when, e.g. Dasarath had three queens.) Ram is very different from Dasarath (he also
ascended the throne... but not as Dasarath's heir), while Krishn and Vasudev too are
worlds apart (~ and Krishn is completely independent of Vasudev. In fact, his advent on the scene coincided with the most difficult time for the country; his dethroned
family did not help matters for him; his dethroned grandfather [the old Ugrasena] or his
father [Vasudev] could not have given him a leg-up or lent him a helping hand either. Also, the fact
that influential members of his clan/family had aligned their interests
with Jarasandh and Kansh, coupled with the latter's machinations... made the going very hard for him. He was thus baptized by fire, so to speak. ~ It was not a fairy-tale or cakewalk. However, all that did not turn him into a negative person; he was not pessimistic or sullen. He remained cheerful, resilient and invigorating. Besides, he was steely-nerved and politically astute, and possessed plenty of guile and gumption/intestinal fortitude. Also, his understanding/reading/assessment of events/situations was prescient;
his timing was perfect.) ~ Shri Ram is integral to the Ramayana ('The Exertions of Shri Ram') and the face of the Suryavanshi/Sun-flag-bearing Raghukula/Raghuvansh (his clan, lineage), while Shri Krishn is at the heart of the Mahabharata ('The Great History of the Bharatas') and the face of the Chandravanshi/Moon-flag-bearing Yaduvansh. ~ Neither is susceptible to flattery; neither is boring, wooden or intimidating; their (immense/colossal) fame/stature/achievements/contribution
sit lightly upon their shoulders, and they do not impose their godliness
either. They don't flaunt it. That way, Sita and Rukmani, one can say, had the
best of both worlds. ~ The reassurance/dependability, stability, emotional support/maturity, good humour and decency of
a 'good guy' and the mischievous gentle rakishness/rakish charm (light/good-natured banter)/playfulness (not to be confused for abusive, violent or boorish behaviour; for purposes of comprehension let's say a happy mix of Gregory Peck and Cary Grant) coupled with a hint of
intrigue of a 'bad boy'. [~ Good looks in a man are fine, but that would only
give him a passing, artistic glance of appreciation. If he has an intelligent
creative mind, a sparkling, amiably mischievous sense of humour and wit, combined with
genuine warmth and kindness... that's when he would overturn the female mind. ... And, this (perhaps) also explains the trove of poetry involving Krishn.] ~ Both Ram and Krishn are mind-enchanting
and exhilarating/enlivening (Krishn especially; he is magnetic); in fact, one
would (even) be tempted to describe Krishn's effortless cool/charm and incredible charisma as mojo. ... Though
Ram may not have been much different; after all both were one and the same -
only the eras/yug differed, (and their actions/karm is linked to the challenges
of the respective era/yug); the kind of guidance/reform/positive
change (social and structural - big picture as well as micro level)/incremental change for sustained nation-building/introspection/transformation et al that was needed, the maze of complexities and 'cross-currents', the kind of humans there were/the nature of humanity in a specific
era/yug (i.e. the quality of head and heart they possess, and so on - 'coz attitude and outlook as well as the 'way of life' too differs; also, e.g. the humans of Kaliyug cannot be compared to those of Dvapar or Treta: cognitive abilities fall, perception level is
enveloped by a 'fog' of ignorance, apathy, delusion, and so on; Arya Dharma is
at its lowest; hence, the end of Kaliyug is (also) called the most
degenerate of all ages/yugs); besides, the kind of guidance that had to be given, the navigation through tortuous paths/events - so as to pull
humanity/society out of quagmire, and so on. None of which is transient. [Instant change/transformation is fantasy; for organic transformation, it's the long haul. ~ Statesmanship
leads to nation-building... but nation-building cannot be materialized through magic
wand, utopian idealism or self-righteousness; it requires (a cogent, collective and constant cycle of) karm yog: sweat, determination,
tenacity/perseverance/endurance/forbearance, mettle, patience, harmony, a broader vision, far-sightedness (micro level +
the larger picture), greatheartedness and hard work.] ~ Even great or accomplished humans would not have been able to do what they did. For example: Bhagirath may have been able to clear the terrain and (thereby) bring out the hidden River Ganga... and (thus) bring her waters to the whole of this land - solving the drinking water needs etc of the populace. But he may not have been able to change deeply-entrenched mindset and perceptions w.r.t. humans (e.g. adi-vasi and 'tritiya prakriti') - who were not considered as humans (hence, e.g. Hanuman-ji is depicted with a tail) - and mainstream them... 'coz no amount of legislation (or even royal decree) would have achieved this; - people tend to form their prejudices or perceptions by what they see and hear around them, they imbibe; and so, Bhagirath might (also) not have been able to generate acceptance for humans born via advanced IVF procedure, or guide and navigate through tortuous events a la Krishn.) BG 4.5: śrī-bhagavān
uvāca (Sri Bhagavan said): || bahūni me
vyatītāni janmāni tava cārjuna tāny ahaḿ veda sarvāṇi na tvaḿ vettha
parantapa || ~ "O Arjun, many are the lives I have passed through and thou
too. But I know them all, whilst thou knowest not." | BG 7.26: || vedaham
samatitanivartamanani carjunabhavisyani ca bhutani mam tu veda na kascana || ~ "O Arjun, I know everything that
has happened in the past, all that is happening in the present, and all things
that are yet to come. I also know all living entities; but Me no one knows." ~
Hence Krishn was all-knowing. He also knew each soul (individual or human soul/jiva-atma). [~ Frankly, Krishn is such a sparkling, mesmerizing, riveting personage... no matter how much we write about him, it's still not enough. He's not transient/ephemeral; he's not shallow,
he's not superficial, he's not cavalier. He 'turns the wheel of dharma and karm' (which would have stagnated); he 'absorbs'/soaks up 'toxin'/halahala (to 'cleanse'/to 'burn' human pettiness: to correct the course; to renew/re-energize; to help humanity ~ so that human society can function and progress). ~ However,
wherever there is the
union of purity and depth it produces the colour blue. Meghavarnam. The
water of the seas and the sky - both are blue-hued. ~ And, since the Almighty combines both purity and depth or boundlessness... He
too is (allegorically) 'blue-hued'. [It's
a concept... to indicate His divine attribute/divinity.]
~ Krishn is a most extraordinary figure: a leader, a hero, a legend, an enlightening personage, a guiding force, a karm-yogi, a transformational/renaissance figure, God in the flesh (the 8th Vishnu, svayam Bhagavan; the human manifestation [sagun swaroop] of Lord Vishnu/Narayan, His Purna Avatar)... and yet, an everyman; he's a Soldier-Statesman par excellence (soldier against despondency, pessimism, confusion, hopelessness, decay and so on). He was up against tremendous odds; sermons would have had no effect on the likes of Shakuni, Duryodhan et al. ~ The challenges at the end of Dvapar were manifold, and very different from those of Treta; humanity was different, ethical and social conditions were not the same either. Decay, indifference/impassiveness, inertia et al held sway. ~ Krishn's was the highest dharmic mission; and by his very appearance (karm + guidance), he reinvigorated/re-energized the principles of dharma (duty/action, even selfless action, for the benefit of humanity, for the greater good - to build a better society: dharma-samsthapanarthaya); he also urged (advised) humanity to introspection and action (karm) - to duty. [Dharma is not quite ethics or duty, it also means a constructive 'way of life'.] Krishn advised humanity to shake-off inertia and embrace karm yog. [There is no magic wand; thus, he also led by example and instructed through his own behaviour (acharan) - the mark of a true teacher/guru/mentor (but then, besides being the Cosmic Ruler He is also the Cosmic Teacher); this aspect/dynamism remains constant, be it the Ramayana ('The Exertions of Shri Ram'/ Shri Ram was a Reformer-Prince and Cakravartin) or the Mahabharata ('The Great History of the Bharatas'/ Shri Krishn was a Soldier-Statesman, but a Cakravartin by dint of his actions; his actions were for a higher cause - Loka-kalyana or Loka-sangraha: the greater/collective good. As a pathfinder his focus, tenacity and determination remains unwavering; he keeps the goals/objectives above himself.) ... Maybe, 'coz there is no alternative to karm yog (collective action/duty/responsibility, even selfless action/service to humanity/society) - to create/build [and sustain] a better society/civilization. This is his message/advise/mantra. ~ One needs to contemplate and deliberate deeply - to understand his purpose, his karm and his message/advise. Only then will it percolate.] ~ Instead of being active participants in their own destiny, humanity cannot become idlers and mere spectators/bystanders. ~ That will lead to a gradual all-round degeneration/degradation. This is the core of his message. (Thus, there is an organic interplay between finite and Infinite.) ~ Krishn is the Perennial Guide (Chir-Saarathy) - the (allegorical/metaphoric) shepherd to his flock. ~ There is no magic wand, no quick-fix, no instant solution; humanity will have to sort out their own issues - through collective effort, there is no one "out there" (a messiah figure) who will come and do it. They (avatars/empowered entities, maha-avatars/great incarnations and Purna Avatar/one in whom divinity is manifested fully) will guide and show the way - yes, however, there is no alternative to karm yog. ~ This has been the message of the Krishn-avatar (the 8th Vishnu). And this has also been the message of the Buddh-avatar (the 9th Vishnu/ Shri Gautam Buddh/Siddhartha was a Sage-Prince and the 'Enlightened One'). ~ Krishn also 'closed' Dvapar... and navigated through complex/tortuous paths/events to bring about the transition from Dvapar to Kaliyug... which commenced from midnight of 18 February in 3102 BC in the proleptic Julian calendar. [This is because he departed on this date. The period after his departure marks the beginning of Kaliyug. (Lord Narayan/Harih/Vishnu is the motive power and guiding force behind the mathematically precise universe. So, one can only wonder at the precision with which His maha-avatars work.) ~ Kali means bud. Thus, he was also a stabilizing force (a preserver) and a revitalizing force (Renaissance Man). ~ Only at the end of Kaliyug - when the metaphoric bud/flower withers away, will the 'Iron Age' (negative aspects of Kaliyug) be at its peak (i.e. ghor kaliyug): cognitive abilities fall, perception level is enveloped by a 'fog' of ignorance, apathy/indifference, delusion, stagnation, and so on; hence, it (the end of Kaliyug, that is) is (also) called the most degenerate of all ages/yugs). ~ A cycle of four yugs (Chatur-Yug) - whose lengths follow a ratio of 4:3:2:1 is also known as a 'Maha Yug' ~ Sat/Satya/Krita [Golden Age], Treta [Silver Age], Dvapar [Copper Age] and Kaliyug (Kali means bud/flower, but the end of Kaliyug is termed as 'Iron Age'/ghor Kaliyug). Thus, Kaliyug is the shortest of all eras/ages/yugs.]
Both Ram and Krishn (very likely) were fair-complexioned; Krishn is probably reddish-hued or crimson (Lohith/Rohitah or Rohit); coral lips (maybe deep-pink or the colour of red-coral); eyes shaped like lotus petals (maybe, big-eyed); head bedecked with peacock feathers (that would very likely be the headgear or crown); a chiseled appearance and a fascinating face (a reference to his good looks); a mischievous enthralling captivating smile. ~ What we can conclude is this: that Krishna was a figure of immense good looks, grace and splendor. [His features probably were a result of the delicate blending of the martian, saturnine, venusian and lunar characteristics. In other words: due to the dominance of the influences of the Moon and Venus, with Saturn and Mars.] Krishn is also known as: the master/lord of the senses. ~ He had not only gained mastery over his own senses (indriyas), but also over those of others. No wonder he is magnetic, riveting. ~ He is Trikalagya as well: a "bhuta-bhavya-bhavat-prabhu" or "The Master of all things that exist in the past, future, and present". ~ Possessor of the metaphoric Tritiya-Nayan: the Third-Eye. [As for Lohitah/Rohitah/Rohit: Red is the warmest and the most energetic colour in the spectrum. It stands for: energy, speed, strength, valour and purity. Purity means: doing what is right (~ leading to the larger good). Hence, Red is the symbol for a 'soldier' who strives for a better society. Rohit is also one of Shri Vishnu's many names. Krishn is svayam bhagavan, the human manifestation (sagun swaroop) of Lord Vishnu/Narayan.] ~ Peet or golden-yellow: Krishn is "Peetamber" - draped in the colour gold. It is also another name for Lord Vishnu/Narayan. "Peet" is golden-yellow and "amber" is sky. Hence, Peetamber also indicates the brilliant and glittering sky as well as enlightenment (as in: an illumined mind). Shri Ram is also known as Peetavasane (one who wears yellow attire signifying purity and wisdom. Here 'purity' means: doing what is right [~ leading to the larger good]). While the colour Blue also stands for: meditation/introspection, peace, tranquility, depth, stability, trust, loyalty, wisdom, confidence, intelligence, patience, decision-making and truth/dharma. | ~ However, post the decline of the Gupta era, Prabhakara Vardhana (of the Vardhana dynasty) and his sons (Rajya Vardhana and Harsha Vardhana) tried to consolidate the smaller and fragmented monarchies, independent kingdoms and feudatory states. Harsha Vardhana proved to be a distinguished ruler, (though not quite a Chakravartin)... but after him his empire disintegrated rapidly. [Though it is said he ascended the throne at the age of 16, however, given that the concept of time in Indian thought is very interesting, and involves planetary alignment, the cycle of lunar asterisms, and various other systems... a time gap between two consecutive years is imperative/cannot be ruled out.] ~ The absence of a Chakravartin was akin to a rudderless ship; also, it resulted in 'too many cooks spoil the broth'. [~ A Chakravartin, on the other hand, was way different w.r.t stature, character, calibre, vision and worldview vis-a-vis any influential/powerful big, medium or small satrap.] ... All sorts of 'manthan' commenced - for power, influence and other selfish and petty motives. The years were marked by a lack of intellectual stimulation, stagnation... and (eventual) decay. India lost her preeminence in all aspects and areas. This land was no longer the seat of innovation and learning. ~ Also, the feeling of oneness and internal unity despite the immense diversity (gradually) unraveled... fissures, schisms and fault-lines appeared/developed/came about; Arya Dharma and the social fabric woven around it too came apart; in the absence of a nucleus (a shared roadmap, vision) and a guiding and binding force/factor (a Chakravartin) - India went adrift. ~ The decline of Takshasheela marked the decline in Indian education, thought and structure. Fewer and fewer knowledge-seekers, students and travelers made the trip to India. [Now whether all of this - cumulatively - led to rote-learning or not ~ my guess is as good as yours.] ~ Earlier, the world looked to India for answers. The post-Gupta era India floundered... and (at best) looked elsewhere. Alas. ~ Bharatavarsha, "cherished land": the continent ('varsha'; Sanskrit) that is dedicated ('rata') to light, wisdom ('bha'). ["Bharat" did not mean rural India/hinterland.] ~ Also, ancient India was not confined to the contours of modern India. ... So, imagine the calibre and stature of the Chakravartin.
Sanaatan Dharma is the name of a timeless/eternal and enlightened 'way of life' that is one with the World
Spirit. Sanaatan Dharma was all about living in
harmony with nature; worshipping the five elements of nature (PanchaBhuta or PanchaMahaBhuta or MahaPanchaBhuta) viz fire (agni), air (vayu), water (jal), earth (prththvi) and space/aether (aakash); performing
one's karm yog/action (for the benefit of society/humanity); pursuit of
knowledge; becoming higher spiritual beings - connecting with the Higher Self
or seeking communion with the Universal Consciousness/Brahmn/Param-aatma, thus achieving 'Self-Realization' and Sat-cit-ānanda: eternal bliss (spiritual ecstasy,
contentment) of self-realization, and so on. ~ Gradually, Sanaatan Dharma assimilated the
concept of temples and worship of idols, courtesy the Greeks, and (perhaps)
also the Buddhists. ~ Among the five elements of nature (PanchaBhuta
or PanchaMahaBhuta or MahaPanchaBhuta) viz fire (agni), air
(vayu), water (jal), earth (prthvi) and space/aether (aakash)... Agni (fire) has been the most worshipped. Agni
also symbolically
represents the spiritual fire of life and the processes of transformation. It is the foremost amongst purifiers. There are more hymns to
Agni(dev) in the Rg Ved than to any other God/dev (here 'dev' indicates PanchaBhuta/the five elements of nature). Agni has been worshipped since time
immemorial... throughout 'Aryavarta' ('Arya-lands' or 'land of Arya people/Aryans';
in other words, 'land inhabited by Arya people' - noble-natured people who
followed a pattern of life based on noble/Arya tenets/values/principles. ~ Not
that there was any do's and don'ts; Aryan-ness was simply their 'way of life';
they were inherently noble-natured.) ~ Agni Gayatri Mantra: || AUM
Maha jwalaya Vidhmahe Agni devaya Dheemahe Thanno Agni Prachodayath || ~ AUM,
Let me meditate on the great flame, O God of fire, give me higher intellect,
And let the Fire God illuminate my mind. || AUM Vaiswanaraya Vidhmahe Laaleelaya
Dheemahe Thanno Agni Prachodayath || ~ AUM, Let me meditate on the flame that
digests/purifies, O merger of all, give me higher intellect, And let the Fire
God (the foremost amongst the five elements of nature/PanchaBhuta) illuminate
my mind. (Please
also refer to paragraph #7 from the last in the previous portion/section - to know
more about Agni). [Fire = auspicious effulgence, Light Divine. ~
Do read "Aaguner Paroshmoni" (one of the most beautiful
Rabindrasangeet/Tagore-songs - mentioned earlier in this post) to get the full
significance of why fire (agni) symbolically represents the spiritual fire of
life and the processes of transformation, and why it is also considered as the
foremost amongst purifiers. ~ Paroshmoni is the philosopher's stone which when
touched... alchemically transmutes the baser nature to a divine one.] ~ Also, Agni does not indicate/signify "tyag" per
se; Agni is the greatest of purifiers and the foremost amongst the five
elements of nature - PanchaBhuta (also: PanchaMahaBhuta or MahaPanchaBhuta). ~
Agni signifies "tyag" in the sense (to indicate) one has conquered
oneself; in other words: one has conquered/overcome the negativities residing in
one's heart and mind. And thus, one has no desire for praise or glory; one's
heart is larger than the universe itself and so, one's actions and thoughts are
for the greater good and not glory seeking. It indicates that one has become a
Siddha (i.e. attained the eternal bliss of self-realization). ~ On a separate note: "Hindu" is not the name of any "religion" or a set of religious beliefs whatsoever... but was simply a label for a specific landmass; at best the word simply implied someone associated
with (or dwelling in) the geographical area the boundaries of which were roughly
covered by the Sarasvati-Sindhu Rivers and their tributaries. ~ "Hindu" is simply
the variant of Sindhu (the mighty River Indus, perhaps
the largest of all rivers in the world after the Nile - Sanskrit: Nilah or Neel). ... The word "Hindu" came about courtesy the ancient Persians (another class of Aryans), who - due to a lack of appropriate phonetics (in their language) - called the people living around the River Indus, besides on the east of the River Indus (Sindhu) as "Hindu". ~ In Old Persian... the 'S'
for Sindhu becomes 'H' (due to a lack of phonetics). Therefore: the Vedic Sapta
Sindhavaḥ or Sapta Sindhu became Hapta HAndu. ~ Thus, 'Hindu' is derived from the
Persian 'HAndu', which in turn is derived from 'Sindhu'. [Do
look up the early part of this post - to get the drift.] ~ The people living around the River Indus, and on the east of the River Indus (Sindhu) followed a pattern of life that was distinct. Thus, "Hindu Dharma" is another name for "Arya Dharma". [Arya = noble; based on noble values, principles, and so on. Dharma = path or 'way of life'; Arya Dharma = a pattern of life based on noble tenets/values/principles... that resulted and/or contributed towards the greater good and therefore, a better society.] ~ Bharatavarsha, "cherished land": the continent ('varsha';
Sanskrit) that is dedicated ('rata') to light, wisdom ('bha'). ~ Bharatavarsha or Bharatadesha was another name for Aryavarsha or Aryavarta (land of Arya people). ~ However, ancient Bharatavarsha may not have been confined to the contours of modern India.
Genesis of the name "India": In ancient times, the entire Indus river system (along with its seven tributaries - Sutudri or Satadru or SuturI (Sutlej), VipASa (Beas), AsiknI/Chandrabhaga (Chenab), ParuSNI (Ravi), VitastA (Jhelum) and the now-extinct River SarasvatI) and the area it covered, was called "Sapta Sindhu" (the Vedic Sapta Sindhavaḥ) i.e. the land of seven rivers ("Sindhu" means river, stream or ocean in Sanskrit). The word "Sindhu" not only referred to the river system and adjoining area but also became the label to denote the culture that had developed along its valleys. [The "Indus Valley Civilization" should more accurately be called the Sarasvati-Sindhu Civilization considering the landmass where it developed).] ~ Thus, courtesy the ancient Persians... to the world beyond, the area around the Sarasvati-Sindhu rivers and its culture came to be known as the area of "Hindus" (thus the name "Hindustan" which literally means the land of "Hindus". (Stan = land or place in Persian. Similar to Sthan in Sanskrit. ~ The similarity between "Stan" and "Sthan" is again due to the ancient Avestan Persian-Sanskrit connection which go back a long way.) ~ This nomenclature stuck and became particularly prevalent after the arrival of the Mughals. The Mughals (based on the earlier Persian terminology) used the term "Hindu" to refer to the original inhabitants of the land and this label became the way to distinguish the indigenous/ancient culture from theirs. ~ When the Greeks first reached the river plains of the Punjab, they borrowed the name of the region (Hindu) from the Persians and simply modified it to "Indós". "Indós" later morphed into "Indus" in Latin - by which name the river is still known in the West. [The ancient Greeks referred to the ancient Indians as Indói, the people of the Indus.] The Romans began to call the whole landmass after this river and thus the name "India" came to stay ~ which has been the form used by Europeans over the ages. ~ Thus the word "India" is derived from the Indus River.
[On a separate note: the "Sindhu" in our national anthem could be a reference to the River Indus. This song is dedicated/addressed to that "Bharata Bhagya-Vidhata" (Creator; dispenser; supporter of India's Destiny) ... who has (in Tagore's own words) from age after age held steadfast the reins of India's chariot through rise and fall, through the straight path and the curved. That Lord of Destiny, that Reader of the Collective Mind of India, that Perennial Guide ... is none other than the eternal charioteer (chir-saarathy): "Jana-Gana-Mana-Adhinayaka" (ruler/leader/captain of the minds of all people). ~ The complete five stanza of "Jana-Gana-Mana Adhinayaka..." composed/penned by the Universal Bard: link.]
[Note on Tagore: Rabindranath Tagore (aka Robi Thakur), the Nobel laureate poet, writer, and philosopher was one of the finest ambassadors of Indian/Eastern thought to the rest of the world. (Invitations came from all directions, and so... besides India, he toured Europe, the US, Canada, South America and Asia extensively. His travels also took him to Egypt. While in Japan he wrote: "The Japanese do not waste their energy in useless screaming and quarreling, and because there is no waste of energy it is not found wanting when required. This calmness and fortitude of body and mind is part of their national self-realization.") Tagore is also the first-ever Asian to be awarded with the Nobel Prize. ~ He is called "Bishwa-Kabi", which means the poet of the world and is sometimes also called "Kabiguru", which means the guru of poets. His genius enriched whatever it touched. ~ Gurudev was a versatile genius, a multifaceted personality: a social reformer, a thought-leader, a teacher/educator, a renaissance poet, a novelist, a playwright/dramatist, an essayist, an artist, a choreographer of dance dramas, a critic, a lyricist/music composer, a prolific painter and above all, a great humanitarian and philosopher. [His vast canon also included travelogues, sketches and doodles... and over 2000 songs.] ~ In 1909 Tagore began penning Gitanjali. In 1912, he journeyed to Europe for the second time. On way to London he translated some of his poems/songs from Gitanjali into English. He met William Rothenstein, a noted British painter and critic, (known for his lithographic portraits), in London. [Tagore had been introduced to Rothenstein in Calcutta (in 1910) during a gathering at Abanindranath Tagore's (Aban Thakur's) home.] ~ "Here was poetry of a new order which seemed to me on a level with that of the great mystics. Andrew Bradley, to whom I showed them, agreed: 'It looks as though we have at last found a great poet among us again,' he wrote." ... Needless to say, Rothenstein was impressed by the poems, made copies and gave to Yeats and other English poets. He also arranged a reading in his house where Yeats read Tagore's poems in front of a distinguished audience comprising of Ezra Pound, May Sinclair, and Ernest Rhys etc. ~ Meanwhile, the India Society of London published Gitanjali ('An Offering of Songs') containing 103 translated poems of Tagore. Yeats wrote the introduction for this book and Rothenstein did a pencil sketch for the cover page. The book created a sensation in the English literary world. The serenity of Tagore's "Geetanjali" amazed European scholars. (Many of his poems are actually songs, and inseparable from their music.) ~ Tagore was touring America then... speaking at Rochester, Boston, and Harvard University. Ezra Pound's Poetry Magazine (published from Chicago) published the first English poem of Tagore. Six of his poems from Gitanjali appeared in Poetry Magazine in its December 1912 issue. Tagore returned to Calcutta... and on 13th November of 1913 Indians learned that the Nobel Prize for literature has been awarded to Tagore (for Gitanjali) "because of his profoundly sensitive, fresh and beautiful verse, by which, with consummate skill, he has made his poetic thought, expressed in his own English words, a part of the literature of the West." [In response Tagore conveyed his "... grateful appreciation of the breadth of understanding which has brought the distant near, and has made a stranger a brother."] ~ He was not often to escape the tumult and peace was to be his but at rare moments. ... Henceforth Tagore was to become a world-figure. ... Tagore's dignity and handsome presence, the ease of his manners and his quiet wisdom made a marked impression on all who met him. The young poets came to sit at Tagore's feet; Ezra Pound the most assiduously. Among others whom Tagore met were G. Bernard Shaw, H.G. Wells, Galsworthy, Andrew Bradley, Thomas Sturge Moore, and Robert Bridges. According to Rothenstein: "It was pleasant to see homage paid so readily to an Indian; nothing of the kind had happened before." ~ W.B. Yeats described him, "Tagore was the product of a whole people, a whole civilization, immeasurably strange to us, and seems to have been taken up into this imagination; and yet we are not moved because of its strangeness, but because we have met our own image, as though we had walked in or heard perhaps for the first time in literature, our voice as in a dream". Tagore also met and interacted with Robert Frost, Helen Keller and Dr Karel Hujer (Astronomer). He and Werner Heisenberg, the discoverer of the famous Uncertainty Principle of quantum physics, had long conversations about science and Indian philosophy. ~ Not only Yeats and Ezra Pound and T. S. Eliot, not only Bernard Shaw and Bertrand Russel and Albert Einstein, but scores of other writers and intellectuals, and millions of more common folk, were touched in due course by this melodious Eastern sage (personality). [Sage personality should not be construed as renunciation; it was not his way. He delighted amongst all the hustle and bustle of life.]
Pic: Albert
Einstein and Rabindranath Tagore at Einstein's Berlin home. | One
was an Indian polymath and Nobel laureate with white flowing beard, piercing
eyes (and intelligent and cerebral looks). The other was the world famous
scientist, with frizzy hair and unkempt appearance. ~ When
Rabindranath Tagore and Albert Einstein met in New York, it was a media
sensation. They were two celebrities. It was wisdom from the east meeting
philosopher of the west. They were staged together as icons by the media even
earlier. ~ They first met in Berlin in 1926 and several times later in 1930.
The first meeting that year, at Einstein's summer home in the vicinity of
Potsdam, resulted in The New York Times headline, "Einstein and Tagore Plumb
the Truth: Scientist and Poet Exchange Thoughts on the possibility of
its Existence without relation to Humanity." The piece described Tagore as "the poet with the head of a thinker"
and Einstein as "the thinker with the head of a poet." Their brief meeting in
late 1930 in New York, when Einstein was en route to Caltech, bore the photo
caption: "A Mathematician and a Mystic meet in Manhattan." ~ Considering these events,
it's not hard to imagine just how famous Tagore was in the West. ... With his
works impressing the likes of William Butler Yeats and Ezra Pound, Tagore
lectured to packed audiences around the world. ... However, tackling heady
topics like free will versus determinism, the two titans stood poles apart
philosophically. Einstein believed the world had a reality independent of the
human mind. Tagore countered, saying, "This world is a human world." For him,
the world depended upon human consciousness for its reality. ~ However, the
issue they discussed is one of the most stimulating, intellectually-riveting
conversations in history: [Tagore:
You have been busy, hunting down with mathematics, the two ancient entities,
time and space, while I have been lecturing in this country on the eternal
world of man, the universe of reality.] - Tagore
and Einstein and When
Einstein Met Tagore.
This difference in their philosophy, thinking and outlook probably stemmed from the fact that for Tagore science did not signify a mechanistic analysis of facts, but rather a broader interpretation, a wider perception of the universe. Tagore (and even Acharya Jagadish Chandra Bose) conceived Nature not merely as a physical phenomenon, but a living spirit, which could help man/humanity to realize the essential Truth of Life. ~ Tagore showed a keen interest in scientific knowledge and discoveries. ... To both Tagore and Bose, there never existed any rigid distinction between science and poetry or more broadly between science and literature. Critiquing the typical Western attitude of making excessive specialization in the field of learning, they sought to locate an underlying unity in all branches of knowledge, to find a 'comprehensiveness of truth', which is the core of Eastern philosophy.
The Tagorean magic touches our core - the heart as well as the mind. It touches our very soul. There is forever the primordial in him. It is life he celebrates; that the universe is a pattern of ever-widening ripples and experience is the insistent falling of the rain on monsoon nights. In his songs there emerges all the brilliance of the universe as it goes through a dawning somewhere deep within time and space. ... And so you hear the gentle tones of tumi daak diyechho kon shhakaley / keu ta jaane na: link. ~ Here is rup tomar bani: link; Mor Bina Othe: link; : link (it expresses a sense of deep "wonder" in the universe); ; Aloker ei jharna dharaye dhuiye dao: link; Mor bhabonare ki haowaye matalo: link1/ link2; Anando-loke Mangal-aloke: link. ~ Tagore's portrayal and celebration of a higher power embedded in the fabric of the universe and responsible for its continuing existence and operation is very fascinating, indeed. According to him: 'aamare tumi ashesh korechho, amon-i leela tabo...' (tr. Thou hast made me endless, such is thy pleasure/leela. ~ Though 'pleasure' is not an equivalent translation of the word 'leela' - essentially the interplay between finite and Infinite; between created and Uncreated; between evanescent and Eternal). Robi Thakur was a "Sadhaka"; his songs were his "Sadhana" ~ not in the sense of limiting him, but lifting him up to meet the Super-personal Man/the universal human spirit. He also said: 'gaaner bheetor diye jakhon dekhi bhuban-khani takhon taare chini...' [~ He acknowledged (as only he could) that he begins to comprehend the Cosmic Person/Super-personal Man/the universal human spirit (which he believed lay behind everything in the universe/cosmos - visible and invisible); that he begins to understand His serenity, divinity, creativity, vision, insight, guidance, tranquility, compassion, greatness, magnanimity, boundlessness... and so on - through his songs. ~ He is convinced that there is an organic relationship between finite and Infinite.] ~ As you recite his poetry or sing his songs, you remain aware of certain inalienable truths. And they are pretty simple ones as well. The universal bard speaks to you through the turnings in the seasons. In your turn, you speak to him; absorb his sentiments as it were. The result is a harmonious whole. ... And harmony, balance and integrity are what Gurudev has consistently focused on. ~ Think of Jagorane Jaay Bibhabori (link) or sheemar majhe ashim tumi / bajao apon shur (Within the finites, you the Infinite play your own tune - link). ~ It is a song that takes you closer to Creation, indeed imbues you with thoughts of the ties that bind you to your Creator. [~ Do also read the Tagore-Einstein conversation/discussion to understand this wonderful Tagore-song (Rabindra-sangeet).] ~ In Tagore, it is the gentle and the tranquil that flows through the leaves of the trees. The poetry is the breeze. | Tagore was a passionate Indian, but his nationalism transcends into universalism; his philosophy of humanism is enriched with the tranquil touch of internationalism ~ where one may find a unique blending of the best of the East and that of the West. He was an Indian by birth but a world citizen by his perception. India in Tagore's vision is the pilgrimage (pilgrim centre) of world humanity as she is the great synthesizer and unifier in the midst of manifold differences through centuries. ... His poetry with its message of harmony, universalism and humanism is an eternal light-house to mankind.
Tagore was forward-looking. He believed in the synergism between spirituality and reason; he was spiritual as well as a genuine science enthusiast; he was not a mystic (despite his appearance - white flowing beard and attire). He also had a voracious mind - he possessed an extraordinary depth of knowledge and could hold his own on a variety of topics. [It's a common misconception that science and arts are two mutually exclusive spheres and one cannot excel in both. Tagore proved it wrong, as did Einstein with his interest in music and literature.] ~ A widely-traveled man... Tagore was a curious and keen observer of socio-political life in the numerous countries he visited. He was a citizen of the world. ~ He believed in an intellectual union of world cultures; his vision was to take on a more holistic attitude towards understanding the dynamic spirit of his time (and beyond). He was critical of the excesses and exploitation of colonial rule; however, he also distrusted "narrow domestic walls" and hollow arguments ("the dreary desert sand of dead habit")... and recognized the importance of what India could learn - from other nations/cultures. ~ Tagore emphasized on education - knowledge and intellectual curiosity (as opposed to rote-learning). "These solidly complete Universities over which our country is brooding, are like hard boiled eggs from which you cannot expect chickens to come out." ~ His luminous/timeless oeuvre (which is notoriously difficult to translate... without letting go of much of its enigma/subtlety/nuance and flavour) cannot be pigeonholed. His thoughts/philosophy/viewpoint appears to be disarmingly simple... although it is simultaneously simple and infinitely complex to understand. The more one reads, re-reads and re-re-reads, the more one discovers, re-discovers and re-re-discovers. ~ But then, discovering and even rediscovering legends and towering figures hardly comes with an expiry date (it is part of "ever-widening thought...").]
A masculine river is called "Nad", a feminine one "Nadi". However, of all the Vedic rivers, the Sindhu is both masculine and feminine. Incidentally, the Sarasvati is (also) called "she with seven sisters" (saptasvasā), indicating a group of eight rivers, probably the (missing river is) KubhA. ~ Rivers, such as the Sapta Sindhu ("seven rivers"), play a prominent part in the hymns of the Rig Veda. Perhaps it was around these rivers that the Rigveda (and maybe, much of the other Vedas/Book of Knowledge or Book of Enlightenment was written. Veda comes from the root 'Vid' which means, "to know").] The Saptarishi (from saptarṣI) or the seven-enlightened/learned beings are regarded in the Vedas as the progenitors of the Vedic way of life. [The Sapta Rishi are the Hierarchy working under the guidance of the Highest Creative Intelligence, God/the Almighty/Lord Narayan; they are (also) the Great Well Wisher of the Universe, connecting humans and Gods (Higher Beings; devas, demi-gods, etc.)] ~ The Big Dipper asterism is also called Saptarshi. Astronomically, the Saptarishis' abode is recognized in the form of the Big Dipper or Ursa Major constellation and it always revolves around the Dhruv-Loka or Pole Star. ... The summit of Mt Meru (in Shambhala) is believed to align to the wheeling constellation of Ursa Major (the Sapta Rishi Mandala or the Constellation of the Great Bear/sapta-riksha), the Seven Stars that circle the Pole (Dhruva Loka?)
~ On a separate note, our ancients possessed astonishing imagination. They
even described celestial events (involving stars, constellations, and so on)
through stories, paintings and verses - making them sound like real humans,
animals, etc. [Maybe the stories involving Shiva and Mohini or the birth of
Kartik or the birth of Anjaneya (Hanuman-ji) for that matter are three such examples.
Therefore, taking them literally or at face value will be misleading.] In fact, the
ancient Romans and Greeks too were well-known for similar narrative styles and
techniques. [~ Lord Narayan/Vishnu/Hari is not an earthly entity, though he has numerous manifestations. And, from what we can gather, Shambhu Nath/Sankara is very likely one of his many human manifestations. ~ Lord Krishn/Hari-Krishna is depicted extensively in the Indus seals... indicating that not only were the ancient Indus people familiar with him but also worshipped him.]
~ See the similarity between the Indus seal
illustration of Mother Goddess standing on an elephant and fighting tigers (above) and
the sky map (in pic). In the sky map constellation Ophiuchus forms the body of mother
Goddess and Hercules forms the head. The constellation Sagittarius forms the
elephant. One notable point here is that Jyotisha Vedanga states that the
"elephant tusk" is the symbol of Sagittarius constellation (Serial
no-20 in Jyotisha Vedanga Table). Further Scorpius constellation is shown as
associated with Indra as per the detail available in Jyotisha Vedanga (Serial
no-18 in the Jyotisha Vedanga table). ~ Further the tail of Scorpius
constellation has been given the symbol of "Elephant goad". All these
pointers indicate that the Ophiuchus constellation was one of the prime
constellations in Indus valley period as well as the Vedic period. Note that
mother goddess standing on elephant has been gradually transformed into male
God/deva (Indra) over a period of time. ~ Another important point to be noted here
is that the "wheel" shown above the head of mother goddess is the
Draco (Dragon) constellation with pole star in the centre of the wheel. ~ Very
likely, these constellations helped those ancient people (including sailors) in
determining the direction during nighttime or while at sea. Maybe the
constellations were akin to a magnetic compass.
[Pic: Seals and sealing. Long
rectangular seals and a terracotta sealing (bottom) with Indus script. ~ The top
seal has seven signs of Indus script. The back of this seal is convex and it is
perforated from the side. The central sign may represent a house or place of worship and
is a symbol that is often repeated on seals with horned deities seated in yogic
position.] | For building houses, baked bricks were used
extensively at Chanhudaro and Mohenjo-daro. Several constructions were
identified as workshops or industrial quarters and some of the buildings of
Chanhudaro might have been warehouses. Evidence of shell working was found at
Chanhudaro and bangles and ladles were made at this site. Harappan seals were
made generally in bigger towns like Harappa, Mohenjadaro and Chanhudaro that
were involved with administrative network. Copper knives, spears, razors,
tools, axes, vessels and dishes were found, inspiring this site to be nicknamed
as "Sheffield of India" by Earnest Mackay. Copper fishhooks were also
recovered from this site. Terracotta cart model, small terracotta bird (which when
blown acts as a whistle), plates, dishes were found. Indus Seals were also found at
Chanhudaro (which is considered as one of the centres where Seals were manufactured).
The scale of craft production at Chanhudaro seems much greater than that at
Mohenjedaro, perhaps taking up half of town for this activity. An impressive
workshop, recognized as Bead Making Factory, was found at Chanhudaro, which
included a furnace. Shell bangles, beads of many materials, steatite seals and
metal works were manufactured at Chanhudaro. Sesame, which is a native of South
Africa, is known from a number of Harappan sites, including Chanhudaro, probably
grown for oil. Peas were also grown at Chanhudaro. Cotton cloth traces preserved
on silver or bronze objects were known from Chanhudaro, Harappa and Rakhigarhi (in Haryana).
Objects of Iron were reported from Chanhudaro, Ahar (Rajastan, India) and
Mundigak and this gains importance as it has been claimed that Iron was
produced in 3rd Millennium in South Asia Region.
[Pic: Burial of adult man, Harappa. ~ The body may have been wrapped in a shroud, and
was then placed inside a wooden coffin, which was entombed in a rectangular pit
surrounded with burial offerings in pottery vessels. The man was buried wearing
a long necklace of 340 graduated steatite beads and three separate pendant
beads made of natural stone and three gold beads. A single copper bead was
found at his waist. The most prominent pendant bead is made of a rare
variety of onyx with natural eye designs in alternating shades of red, white,
tan and green. Gold beads were placed at each end to frame this important
ornament. The other two stone beads were made of banded jasper and turquoise,
with a single gold bead at one end of the turquoise bead. ~ The Indus people buried their dead in wooden
coffins along with many pottery vessels, that were probably filled
with food for the afterlife. Most individuals, both male and female were buried
with some simple ornaments, such as shell or copper bangles and agate beads.
Elaborate ornaments of gold, silver and precious stones were never included in
the burials and must have been inherited by the living relatives.] | Indus experts homed in on the Rg Veda. Many of
its hymns mention a sacred river called Sarasvati, describing it as the
foremost of rivers, big as the ocean, rising in the mountains and flowing between
the Yamuna and Sutlej (Sutudri or Satadru or SuturI) before entering the sea. But in later Vedic hymns it is no
longer described as mighty. In the '70s, when Braj Basi Lal, a former ASI
director-general, began excavating Kalibangan, a site in the desert sands of
Rajasthan, he was amazed to find evidence of a field of crossed furrows dated
to around 2900 BC, preserved by a strange quirk of nature. Looking around he
found that farmers in the region used a similar ploughing technique even after
5,000 years. The ancient houses had tandoors (earthen ovens) similar to ones
found in kitchens in the villages in the area. As Lal says, "It was as if
the present was the past and that despite the passage of time not much had
changed." ~ Extensive study of skeletal remains in the region showed that
the people were in good health and, more importantly, there was a diverse mix
of population just as at the present. ~ The conclusion: we had unity in diversity even then! [... That the Indus was indeed the nucleus of the civilization's
growth is fairly certain. However, given the vastness of the Indus civilization,
the first casualty is the earlier notion of Harappan homogeneity. It is clear
that there was tremendous regional diversity just as we have in modern India.] ... And that this assemblage of people was originally
from the subcontinent itself, they did not come as migrant hordes from Central
Asia. [So, was the Indus Valley Civilization or the Sindhu-Sarasvati Sabhyata
the oldest civilization in the world? ~ My guess is as good as yours. ... Was the Shivalik... enclosing an area that starts almost from the Indus and ends close to
the Brahmaputra too part of where it all began? ~ Where civilization began. Where much of creation
began. Who can say? ... Shivalik means 'tresses of Shiva'; perhaps our ancients
named this range after the dreadlocks of Sankara/Shambhu Nath. ~ Who can say?] ...
New evidence from several sites show a remarkable continuity of culture over a
period of 2,000 to 3,000 years before the Indus Valley peaked. Dholavira, for
instance, shows the existence of small farming and pastoral villages on the
same site before it was transformed into a bustling metropolis. [Besides, the same kind of burnt brick appears to have been used
in the construction of buildings in cities that were several hundred miles
apart. The weights and measures also show a very considerable regularity,
suggesting that these disparate cities spread out across vast swathes of land shared a
common culture. ~ Although there is a general unity in style and
symbol over this vast area, there are specific regional styles too. The manufacture
of symbols is also slightly different for each region. The unified character of
this culture continued for almost 700 years, after which there is evidence for
a gradual trend towards regional styles (ca.
5000-2600 B.C).] The Harappans took the great leap from
self-contained agricultural societies to a trade-oriented, luxury-conscious,
sophisticated, urban civilization that gave the world the concept of town
planning. Analyzing the evidence from various sites archeologists found that
between 2600 BC and 2500 BC, the Harappans experienced a century of cathartic
changes. A tremendous jump in human ability is evident. [This
transformation could not have been sudden, it probably happened gradually - organically - over a period of 100-200
years. ~ So what or who caused it?] The beginnings of village farming communities
and pastoral camps were reported as early as 7000 to 5000 BC. But developed
farming communities, which grew wheat and barley, emerged around 4300 BC. ~ So much for the assiduously-built fiction
about 'Aryan blitzkrieg' - that (supposedly) wiped out a glorious civilization,
plunging India into the dark ages for over a thousand years.
[Pic: "Priest King". ~ Fillet or ribbon headband with circular inlay ornament
on the forehead and similar but smaller ornament on the right upper arm. The
two ends of the fillet fall along the back and though the hair is carefully
combed towards the back of the head, no bun is present. The flat back of the
head may have held a separately carved bun as is traditional on the other
seated figures, or it could have held a more elaborate horn and plumed
headdress. Two holes beneath the highly stylized ears
suggest that a necklace or other head ornament was attached to the sculpture.
The left shoulder is covered with a cloak decorated with trefoil, double circle
and single circle designs that were originally filled with red pigment. Drill
holes in the center of each circle indicate they were made with a specialized
drill and then touched up with a chisel. Eyes are deeply incised and may have
held inlay. A short-combed beard frames the face, (the upper-lip is neatly shaved). ~ Soft limestone was used to carve small
sculptures of deities or important people.] ~ P.S: But then,
how did the term/nomenclature "Priest King"
come about? Was it to indicate "Rajarshi" [Raja + Rishi]? ~ A non-extravagant just and benevolent
ruler, a well-wisher of the people (Hitesh)? Or did it indicate "Purohith" -
someone (a ruler/king/chief) who
worked for the good (hith) of the entire "pur" or "pura" (region/place);
someone
who endeavoured for its all-round progress. [... And, did this word
"purohith" later
give rise to "priest"... with a change of meaning, of course? ~ My guess is as
good as yours.]
~ There appears to be a completely organic process of growth that threw up the Harappan culture, as we know it. [On pottery on many of the smaller sites graffiti similar to some figures on the script begin to appear. And at Dholavira (in Gujarat) and at Banawali in Haryana, the distinction between the citadel and the lower city is beginning to evolve. There is, however, a huge jump in scale in such activity in those critical 100 years.] Dholavira, for instance, shows the existence of small farming and pastoral villages on the same site before it was transformed into a bustling metropolis. The beginnings of village farming communities and pastoral camps were reported as early as 7000 to 5000 BC. But developed farming communities, which grew wheat and barley, emerged around 4300 BC. In a site called Mehrgarh near the Bolan river in Balochistan province, there are signs of agricultural surplus with the establishment of community storage silos. In Kunal in Haryana, archaeologists found what are known as proto Indus seals. In Harappa as in most Indus sites, the distinct gridiron pattern for streets appear, a scientific system of drainage that linked up to even the smallest house in the lower city is established, precise weights and measures (including decimal system) begin to circulate, and the writing system evolves. As well as the bullock-cart technology that the Indus people had perfected. Archaeologists say the Indus people couldn't have copied their town-planning from Egypt and Mesopotamia because in those civilizations the roads meandered like village streets. Nor was the writing similar to Sumer's cuneiform or the Egyptian hieroglyphics. The Harappans had their own distinctive style. Lal explains the dramatic change as a result of centuries of growth reaching a critical mass that caused an unparalleled urban explosion. Trade, he believes, was the driving force of the revolution/metamorphosis. ~ It all was indeed an expression of the ancient Indian genius.
Pic: Swastika design on seal from Mehrgarh.
Pic: Huge Mehrgarh Polychrome Figural Vessel, Indus Valley. c. 2500 BC.
Pic: Mehrgarh Bichrome Figural Pot, Indus Valley, c. 3rd
millennium BC. ~ The pot painted with a register of numerous small ibex above
large bulls within vegetation and linear bands. Some lime deposits attesting
authenticity.
Pic: Mehrgarh Bichrome Oil Lamp, Indus Valley, c. 3rd millennium BC. ~ Of four-pinch square form, the pot painted with geometric designs on the outer rim. Some lime and soot deposits attesting authenticity.
Pic: Indus Valley Civilization 'Lipped' Oil Lamp: Ceramic, 37.67 grams, 68.68 mm rim.
Circa 2600-1900 BC. ~ Elliptical bowls are a characteristic artifact from the
Indus Valley civilization, from sites such as Mohenjo-Daro and Harappa. These oil
lamps are provided with a lip to receive a wick. The fabric is very fine
terracotta with few micaceous inclusions, with a creamy-tan slip to reduce the porosity.
Pic: Libation vessels. ~ Libation vessels made of the conch shell (marine shell) Turbinella
pyrum. One of these is decorated with vermilion filled incised lines. A single
spiraling design is carved around the apex and a double incised line frames the
edge of the orifice. This type of vessel was used in later times for ritual
libations and for administering sacred water or medicine to patients.
Pic: Indus Terracotta Bowl. Circa: 3500 BC to 2500 BC.
Pic: Indus Terracotta Vessel. Circa: 3500 BC to 2500 BC.
[Pic: Painted burial pottery from Harappa. ~ The two
larger vessels were found in the same burial. The other smaller vessels were
found in an earlier burial and represent an older style of pottery. ~ Tall jar with concave neck and flaring rim: The
rounded base was originally supported in a ring stand. The black painted
geometric designs are arranged in panels with a red slip as background. After
initial firing, the entire painted design was obliterated with a red slip and
fired again at a low temperature that turned the exterior layer of the slip red
through oxidation, but the inner layer remained gray. This overslip was not
well bonded to the previously slipped surface and was partially eroded when first
discovered. After initial conservation and documentation, one half of the
overslip was removed to reveal the original painted design. The lid and ring
stand with this vessel were also covered with an overslip. This tall jar was
located at the foot of the burial pit for burial.] | The excavation of Lothal, an Indus port-town
located off the Gujarat coast, created waves. It shattered notions that the
Indus was a landlocked civilization, conservative and isolated, and as a result
sank without a trace. Excavations (by Rao) uncovered a dock 700 ft long - even
bigger than the one currently at Visakhapatnam. It took an estimated million
bricks to build it. Next to the dockyard were massive granaries and specialized
factories for bead-making. Hundreds of seals were found, some showing Persian
Gulf origin, indicating that Lothal was a major port of exit and entry. ~ Indus
seals were found both in Iraq, where the ancient Sumer civilization flourished,
and in the Persian Gulf. ... The Sumers (Sumerians) apparently called India
"Meluha", and their inscriptions talk of how they purchased beads of
various kinds, timber, copper, gold and ivory crafts from India. It was evident
that the goods were upmarket and purchased by the Sumer royalty. Indus sailors
appear to have discovered the trade winds long before Hippolus, and their
maritime interests were vast. "Harappan traders were among the most
enterprising," says Jagat Pati Joshi, another former ASI director-general,
who discovered Dholavira. Gold, for instance, was carted from distant
Karnataka, and then hammered into delightful chains to be exported to Sumer. A lapis lazuli bead factory discovered in distant
Shortugai in Afghanistan is believed to have been a major supplier to Harappan
traders. [Lapis lazuli has been mined in the Badakhshan province
of Afghanistan for the last 6,500 years, and trade in the stone is ancient
enough for lapis jewelry to have been found at Predynastic Egyptian sites, and
lapis beads at neolithic burials in Mehrgarh, the Caucasus, and even as far as
Mauritania.] ~ Like modern-day Indian businessmen, the Harappans had a huge
domestic market to cater to. The climate around that time was conducive for
growing a variety of crops in the region. Harappans are credited with being the
earliest growers of rice and cotton. The agricultural surpluses ensured craft
specialization. And, at its peak, the Indus was dotted with over 300 cities of
varying sizes, supported by hundreds of towns and villages, which supported a
cottage industry. Quality standards seem to have been strictly observed,
resulting in uniformity of arts and craft. And the flourishing trade was an
energizer that powered Indus' phenomenal growth in the middle of the third
millennium BC. It brought prosperity that saw the cities provide their citizens
with the finest of drainage systems and reservoirs to supply water. And helped
them evolve into one of the greatest civilizations ever. [~ What
does seem clear is that the important sites were commercial centers. They are
on rivers or near the coast. Various specialized manufacturing facilities
suggest that they were heavily involved in trade with each other and far
outside the region.]
[Pic: Various Indus seals. (Many of the seals have narrative scenes that appear to
represent deities and ceremonies. Some were ornamental, some for administrative and trading purposes. Maybe some of the seals were also made to commemorate festivities, important
events (even celestial events), history, and personages; while a few of them [probably] served
to keep dates (Indus calendar, perhaps?) | [Dholavira (on the salty marshes of the Rann of Kutch in
Gujarat) was a well-planned city with
broad roads, a city centre, a town with residential houses, and open spaces and
stadiums for markets and fairs. It is one of the two largest settlements in
India and the fourth or fifth largest in the subcontinent. Dholavira enjoys the
unique distinction of yielding an inscription of ten large signs of the
Harappan script: indeed the oldest sign-board of the world. A variety of
funerary structures is yet another feature of exceeding importance throwing new
light on the socio-cultural beliefs, thereby indicating the presence of
composite ethnic groups in the Indus population of Dholavira. [Archaeologist Ravindra Singh Bisht says:
"Exploring Dholavira is like opening a complete book on the Indus. We now
have answers to some of the most enduring riddles about the civilization."
For starters, Indus town planners are not as "monotonous" and
"regimented" as archaeologists had us believe. In Dholavira they
display a surprising exuberance that expresses itself in elaborate stone
gateways with rounded columns apart from giant reservoirs for water. ~ While experts regard Dholavira as the most exciting
Indus find in recent times, archaeologists have excavated or are in the process
of digging up 90 other sites both in India and Pakistan that are throwing up
remarkable clues about this great prehistoric civilization. ~ It is both a
revelation and a revolution. What they have been uncovering is turning accepted
notions on the Indus on their heads.] ~ Lothal (Gujarati
for "mound of the dead"), on the other hand, was a flourishing city, connected
to the sea at the Gulf of Cambay and there was active trade with Egypt,
Mesopotamia and Persia. One can find ruins of neatly laid-out residential
blocks, a township, a marketplace, and roads, public baths, drains and wells.
Thousands of objects that reflect the daily life of the people have been
excavated such as toys, utensils, beads, pottery, seals, weights and measures.
[A possible fire altar indicates that the
Harrapans may have worshipped Agni. The ruins of a fire-altar suggest
that the people of Lothal worshipped Agni along with the sea god.] The people of Lothal made significant and often unique contributions to human
civilization in the Indus era, in the fields of city planning, art,
architecture, science, engineering and culture. Their work in metallurgy,
seals, beads and jewelry was the basis of their prosperity. A coastal route
existed linking sites such as Lothal and Dholavira to Sutkagan Dor on the
Makran coast. Lothal's dock - the world's earliest known, connected the city to
an ancient course of the Sabarmati river on the trade route between Harappan
cities and the peninsula of Saurashtra when the surrounding Kutch desert of
today was a part of the Arabian Sea. It was a vital and thriving trade centre
in ancient times, with its trade of beads, gems and valuable ornaments reaching
the far corners of West Asia and Africa. The techniques and tools they
pioneered for bead-making and in metallurgy have stood the test of time for
over 4000 years. ~ Archaeological
finds from the excavations testify to trade with ancient Egypt and Mespotamia.
The hydraulic knowledge of the ancient Harappans can be judged by the fact that
boats could dock at Lothal in the 1850's. In 1942 timber was brought from
Baruch to nearby Sagarwala. It is said that then the dockyard could hold 30
ships of 60 tons each or 60 ships of 30 tons each. This would be comparable to
the modern docks at Vishakapatnam. ~ A fascinating fact is the existence of two more cities
underwater in the sea nearby, which are as elaborate and advanced. ... The
planned urban city of Mehrgarh, one of the oldest structured
settlements ever known was discovered and excavations begun by a French team
led by Jean-François Jarrige and Catherine Jarrige; the site was excavated
continuously between 1974 and 1986. Mehrgarh was equipped with water supply,
sanitation, markets, and shops. The most unique discovery is the first known
origin of dental surgery and related medicinal activities exercised in the
Mehrgarh area. [Dental caries (or cavities) are the result of sugars and
starches in the food we eat. Hunter-gatherers, who rely on animal protein, do
not generally have cavities.] It is also one of the earliest sites with
evidence of farming (wheat, barley, maize and dates) and herding (cattle, sheep
and goats) in south Asia. The artisans were very skilled particularly in
sculpture and jewelry-making, as well as in metal-casting. The oldest ceramic
figurines in South Asia were found at Mehrgarh. It was also some sort of a
centre for manufacturing various figurines and pottery; there are evidences of
well-equipped workshops. An abundance of ornaments and jewelry have been found.
Figurines of bronze and terracotta: women and animals, baskets, tools, beads,
bracelets, pendants and necklaces too have been discovered. Most of the jewelry
found are made of precious stones such as lapis lazuli, carnelian, agate, turquoise, shells
and pearls. [Maybe the lapis lazuli and copper came from the mountains of Afghanistan;
agate and carnelian from Gujarat; and shellfish and pearls from the southern
coast of Pakistan on the Arabian Peninsula.]
Pic: Early
Indus Valley tabular disk beads. Period: Indus Valley Culture - most probably
3300-2800 BC. ~ If you look at the Indus beads below, you will
see that they all still have marks of pecking even though they have been after
polished on a grinding stone.
Pic: Photo from an excavation find from Bhirrana (a
Harappan site in Fatehabad district in Haryana) where you can see the same disk
beads.
[Pic: the potsherd with the engraving.] Also: In a rare discovery, the Archaeological Survey
of India has found at Bhirrana, a red potsherd with an engraving that resembles
the Indus 'Dancing Girl,' the iconic bronze figurine of Mohenjo-daro. While the
bronze was discovered in the early 1920s, the ASI discovered the potsherd with
the engraving during excavations in 2004-05. A few hundred kilometres separate
Mohenjo-daro and Bhirrana. The potsherd, discovered by a team led by L.S. Rao,
Superintending Archaeologist, Excavation Branch, ASI, Nagpur, belonged to the
Mature Harappan period. Mr. Rao called it the "only one of its kind" because
"no parallel to the Dancing Girl, in bronze or any other medium, was known"
until the latest find. He goes on to say, "... the delineation [of the lines in
the potsherd] is so true to the stance, including the disposition of the hands,
of the bronze that it appears that the craftsman of Bhirrana had first-hand
knowledge of the former." ~ Mr. Rao called Bhirrana an "exemplary" and
"paradigmatic" site that stood out on two more grounds. For the first time in
the post-Independence period, artifacts called Hakra ware, belonging to the
pre-early Harappan period, were found as independent, stratified deposits at
Bhirrana. This and other discoveries established the presence of an unbroken
cultural sequence at Bhirrana: from the Hakra ware culture and its evolution
into early Harappan, early Mature Harappan and Mature Harappan until the site was
abandoned. ~ The discoveries of these periods include underground dwelling
pits; house-complexes on streets; a fortification wall; bichrome pottery;
terracotta cups; arrowheads, fish-hooks and bangles, all in copper; incised
copper celts; terracotta toy-carts and animal figurines; and beads of
semi-precious stones. Seals made of steatite of the Mature Harappan period were
found. They have animal figures such as a unicorn, a deer with wavy antlers, a
bull with outsized horns, and an animal with three heads - of a deer, a unicorn
and a bull. The seals also have typical Harappan legends on them. All these
were found during excavations in 2003-04, 2004-05 and 2005-06.
[Pic: Indus Dancing Girl. ~ One of the rarest artifacts world-over, a unique blend
of antiqueness and art indexing the lifestyle, taste and cultural excellence of
a people in such remote past as about five millenniums from now, the tiny bronze-cast,
the statue of a young lady now unanimously called 'Indus dancing girl',
represents a stylistically poised female figure performing a dance. Though a
small work of art, it is impressive and surpasses in plasticity the heavily ornate terracotta figurines. ... The statue is suggestive of two major breaks-through,
one, that the Indus artists knew metal blending and casting and perhaps other
technical aspects of metallurgy, and two, that a well-developed society of Indus
people had innovated dance and other performing arts (maybe also dramatics, plays, verses and even story-telling) as modes of entertainment.]
~ Dancing, painting, sculpture, and music (there is
evidence of drums and of stringed instruments) were all part of their culture.
Possibly drama and puppet shows/puppetry too, judging from a number of masks. | Pic: Miniature mask from Mohenjo-daro. ~ The peaceful face
is made from a mold and thumb impressions from pressing the clay are visible on
the back. The mouth is somber and the long almond-shaped eyes are open. The
short horns arch from the top of the forehead and two long ears lay against the
horns. Two holes on either side allow the mask to be attached to a puppet and/or used as a decorative piece.
Pic: A board
game, a probable ancestor of the game of chess, has been unearthed at Lothal, Gujarat. [~ Chaturanga (Sanskrit: caturaṅga)
- an ancient Indian strategy game, (and the common ancestor of the board games
chess, shogi, makruk, xiangqi and janggi) was developed during the Gupta era (around
the 6th century AD). In the 7th century, it was adopted as shatranj in
Sassanid Persia, which in turn was the form of chess brought to late-medieval
Europe. Caturaṅga and shatranj
- the tonal similarity is due to the Avestan Persian-Sanskrit connection.]
Pic: Dice (or maybe some other board game, such as a precursor to ludo) from
before 2000 BC, made from stone and used in games by Indus people.
A wide
variety of toys have been discovered... fashioned with exquisite care. ~ This
culture seemed to have a love of children.
~ The Harappans were expert craftsmen. They excelled at stone-carving, complex weaving and carpet-making, inlaid woodwork and decorative architecture. They engraved with remarkable artistry their famous seals, mostly in steatite (or soapstone); those seals, over 3,000 of which have been found, seem to have served various purposes: some commercial, to identify consignments to be shipped, some for administrative purposes, some for internal trade, and some ritual or spiritual (maybe to invoke deities); some for commemorative purposes, maybe. Statues are not abundant, but refined, whether in stone, bronze or terracotta. They carved ivory and worked shells into ornaments, bowls and ladles; they cast copper (which they mined themselves in Baluchistan and Rajasthan) and bronze for all types of tools, domestic objects and statues (such as the famous Indus "dancing girl"); they also worked silver and gold with great skill, specially for ornaments. They made beads of carnelian, agate, amethyst, turquoise, lapis lazuli, etc.; they manufactured bangles out of shells, glazed faience and terracotta. ... And, of course, they baked pottery in large quantity - to the delight of archaeologists and history buffs alike, since the different shapes, styles, and painted motifs are among the best guides in the evolution of any civilization. ~ Especially since most objects made of cloth, wood, reed, palm leaves etc., usually vanish without a trace, especially in hot climates.
~ "Hariyuppa" or "Hariyupiyah" mentioned in the Rg Veda, is taken to mean Harappa. [~ And as we know, Hari indicates Lord Vishnu/Narayan.] ~ Also, is Mohenjo-daro (meaning: "Mound of the Dead") and/or the whole of Indus Valley Civilization the original Meluha (very likely meaning: the 'Radiant City') - courtesy the ancient Sumerians? ~ My guess is as good as yours. [In Sumerian language, 'alu' means city. 'Melu' means 'bright'. 'Melam' means 'radiance' or 'Nimbus'. Therefore, 'Meluha' would mean: the 'Radiant city'.] ~ Did "Persia" evolve from "Parshva" (meaning: 'next door', 'neighbouring' or 'nearby')? Did the ancient Indus people call the people of the first/neighbouring port by the Sanskrit word "Parshva"? Did the ancient Persians in turn (also) refer to the ancient Indus people and/or those living east of what is now Mohenjo-daro as "Prachya" or "Poorvi" (meaning: 'Eastern' or 'of/from the East' or Eastern Country)? ~ My guess is as good as yours. ~ But then, that would have been so fitting. ... "Poorvi" would mean the dawn of civilization. It would have also meant: from the East where the sun rises! | ... On a separate note, what constituted Praesii? Were Praesii and Pataliputra one and the same? But then, Praesii is said to have been very prosperous... the capital being Palibothra, a very large and wealthy city, after which the people themselves were known as Palibothri. Apparently, Palibothra was located (from the north-west) before the Ganges-Yamuna confluence. ... But Pataliputra or modern Patna lies southeast of the confluence. So was Praesii (of the Greeks) Prachya, which in Sanskrit means Eastern country? ~ Megasthenes' Palibothra may not have been located in Eastern India. So, what areas did he refer to by the city of Palibothra, the country of Praesii and the river Erannoboas? [~ Did he indicate the Sindhu Pulindakas by any chance?] ... Megasthenes was reasonably familiar with the places he visited in (ancient) India. Apparently, "The Indus skirts the frontiers of Praesii". ~ But then, which River Indus is being referred to? Was it the river Indus or some other minor river of the same name? ~ According to Classical accounts the river Jomanes flows through Palibothra into the Ganges between the towns of Methora (Mathura) and Carisobaras. Therefore, was Palibothra, the Prasii/Praesii capital... situated near Mathura? ~ Palibothra may not have been Pataliputra. So was there an ancient kingdom in the Madhyadesa region that tallied with Megasthenes' description of Palibothra? Was the country of Prabhadraka, Prabhadra or Palibhadra/Paribhadra, (part of Madhyadesa from the Mahabharata times) same as Megasthenes' Palibothra? ~ There is also reference to a king called Chandraketu (as the head of the Prabhadraka Kshatriyas). Now was this Chandraketu the Sandrokottas of the Greek accounts? ~ In which case, the Bhadraka kingdom or Paribhadra and its people, the Paribhadrakas or Palibhadrakas would be the Palibothra and the Palibothris (respectively) of Megasthenes' accounts. So Palibothra could well be Paribhadra instead of Pataliputra. [But who then was Sandrokyptos? Who was Sasicottus? And who was Xandramas?] ~ Magadha (the Prachya, "Easterners," Greek, Prasioi) had attained a dominating position; it probably consisted of eastern U.P., Bihar, possibly Jharkhand, Bengal, Assam and Orissa. ~ However, were there two Prachya/Prachyadesa, just like there was two Kambojas (actually three, if we consider Kambuja Desa or modern Cambodia)? ~ My guess is as good as yours. | Megasthenes' Herakles was not the classical Greek deity per se. ~ During his travels (as the ambassador of the Seleucids) during the reign of Samraat Chandragupta Maurya of the Maurya Empire/Dynasty... Megasthenes came upon an Indian deity, a fascinating figure... and equated him with the classical Greek divinity, Herakles. This Herakles was none other than Krishn or Hari-Krishna. Megasthenes also described an Indian clan called Sourasenoi, who especially worshipped 'Herakles' in their land, and this land had two cities, Methora and Kleisobora, and a navigable river, the Jobares. ... As was common in the ancient period, the Greeks sometimes described foreign deities/gods in terms of their own divinities, and there is little doubt that the Sourasenoi refers to the Shurasenas or Shurasena Yadus, a branch of the Yadu clan/kula (the ancient clan/lineage of Harikula or Harivansh) to which Krishn belonged; Herakles to Krishna, or Hari-Krishna; Mehtora to Mathura; Kleisobora to Krishnapura, meaning "the city of Krishna"; and the Jobares to the River Yamuna. ~ Quintus Curtius also mentions that when Alexander confronted Porus (Puru or Raja Paurava/Parvateshvar)... Porus' soldiers were carrying an image of 'Herakles' in their vanguard. ~ The all-conquering Alexander's career pretty much came to a halt... after his brief encounter with this mighty king of the Indus region. [The Greeks however had some success ruling as kings in northwestern cities such as the one in Takshasheela... the decline of which marked the decline in Indian education, thought and structure.] Subsequent events heralded the advent of the Chanakya-Chandragupta duo. [~ Thus, the so-called Macedonian empire in the east lasted less than ten years after the invasion.] ~ However, what about Sarakene? And, who really were the Sarakenoi or Saraceni? Did this word evolve from Late Latin Saracēnus or from Late Greek Sarakēnos? Or, did it have anything to do with the Shurasenas/ Shurasena Yadus (i.e. Megasthenes' Sourasenoi)? Were they an offshoot? Did the name Shurasena (or Sourasenoi for that matter) undergo some variation due to change in phonetics? ... And, since they were opponents of the Roman Empire, did the Romans characterize them as 'barbarians'? ~ My guess is as good as yours.
[Pic: The
Pashupati Seal. ~ This seal depicts a yogi, probably Lord Shiva (Sankara/Shambhu
Nath/Rudra-Siva?) ... A pair of bull horns crowns his head. [The bull or Vrisha in the Sanatan Dharmic thought represents "Dharma", justice as well as actions that benefit society and humanity.] A rhino, a buffalo, an
elephant and a tiger surround him. Under his throne are two deer. ~ This seal
shows that Shiva was worshipped and he was considered as the Lord of animals
(Pashupati).]
[Pic: Indus script/glyphs.] However, since the above seal depicts a three-faced figure
wearing bullhorns, let's take another look at the seal. The yogi pose: Vishnu-Krishna is also known as the Supreme mystic. (The other Indus "Yogi Seal" has been discussed earlier in this post.) ~ The three faces could be indicative of the cosmic "Satyam-Shivam-Sundaram":
Lord Narayan/Hari/Vishnu. ~ Also, Vishnu-Krishna (as Vrishakapi or Vrisha Uttamam i.e. Supreme
Bull/Dharma) is associated with Vrisha (the Bull); the bull or Vrisha is associated
with "Dharma" - justice as well as actions for the larger good, in Sanaatan
Dharmic thought. [Please read the earlier portion of this post - for more
details on Vrisha, etc.] ... The bullhorns indicate an important personage (maybe signifying puruṣa-uttama: greatest of all beings, or maybe, Vrisha-Uttamam - Supreme Dharma). The Indus seals show script/figures/glyphs
of fish, tortoise, wheel/chakra, Swastika, peacock, eagle, arrow, conch-shell, peepal/aśvatthaḥ tree, peepal leaves, and "V" shaped
alphabets/glyphs. ~ All of which are associated with Lord
Narayan/Vishnu/Harih. Besides, Hariyuppa (or "Hariyupiyah") is indicative of "Hari"
(i.e. Lord Narayan/Vishnu). ~ Therefore, could Hariyuppa (or "Hariyupiyah") be the ancient Indus
peoples' version of Haripura ("the city of Hari")? "Pur" or "pura" indicates place/city as well as fort,
and the Indus cities were well fortified. ~ My guess is as good as yours.
... So, could this seal, popularly known as the "Pasupati Seal", actually be a
depiction of Lord Narayan/Vishnu/Hari - the patron figure/personage/deity of the ancient
Indus people (and, by extension, of the Indus Civilization)? ~ My guess is as
good as yours. [Lord Narayan/Vishnu/Hari is the supreme power/authority of
the universe/cosmos. He is also known as Shivah, meaning kindness/compassionate, auspiciousness and eternally pure. He is also addressed as maheśvaram (the Supreme Lord), as aadidevah (The first devah/being); as mahaadevah (The greatest devah/being); as deveshah/Sarveshvara (The Lord of all devas); as Mahendrah (The Lord of Indra), as adhaataa (Above whom there is no other), and so on. [He is also kartaa:
The doer, maargah: The path, and neyah: The guide.] ~ He has ten principal avatars or incarnations - to
protect and preserve the universe/humanity from negativities/utter destruction
(be they entities or be they negativism/negative actions/'darkness of the mind'). ~ Dashavatara
refers to the ten principal avatars of Lord Narayan/Vishnu (as per his promised
'dharma-samsthapanarthaya sambhavami yuge yuge' ~ To
guide and to re-establish/revitalize/rejuvenate/re-invigorate the principles of
"dharma" and "karm" - for the benefit of mankind/humanity - for a better
society and civilization, I manifest Myself yuge-yuge, yug/age/era after yug/age/era). [~ Whenever and wherever society/humanity/civilization
is in turmoil (in the midst of chaos/'churn') - so much so that humanity is 'paralyzed', unable to find
a solution/direction, or is in free-fall... hurtling towards an abyss/'quicksand'...
Lord Vishnu/Narayan incarnates to stem the free-fall/destruction/chaos/'churn',
and to gradually change the (negative/destructive) course of events (no instant
change, though); to guide (He is
Chir-saarathy/Eternal Charioteer after all), to show the way forward... to pull humanity/society
out of 'mud'/quagmire and into the 'sunlight'. ~ To re-establish the concepts
of "karma" (karm yog), and "dharma" (duty/action/responsibility, even selfless action/service - for the
larger good/for the benefit of humanity ~ so as to build a better society/civilization). ~ It is
a commitment He has made with humanity. ~ BG IV-7:
|| yada yada hi dharmasya glanir bhavati bharata abhyutthanam adharmasya
tadatmanam srjamy aham || ~ Whenever and wherever there is an
alarming
decline or discrepancy in dharma/dharmic principles (for the greater
good and/or for society/civilization to flourish well); or when such
an alarming decline is perceived or becomes a bane; O Bharata
(addressing Arjun,
who hailed from the Puru-vansh/Bharat-vansh/lineage/clan), only then, I, manifest
Myself. (~ 'Avatar' means: descent, and refers to a descent
of the divine into earthly form. Avatar comes from the Sanskrit avatirna:
"manifest/descent from the Lord.")]
... The Indus seals indicate fish (matsya, the 1st avatar), tortoise (kurma, the 2nd avatar) and Krishn (the 8th
avatar), besides other symbols associated with Vishnu-Krishna (such as: peepal
tree, peepal leaves, crocodile, chakra, peacock, eagle, conch-shell, arrow, Swastika, the unicorn/eka-shringa or one-horned (could the ekashringa/unicorn be the Vedic Asva Varaha/Varaha Asva? Could it also be indicative of the Varaha-avatar, the 3rd avatar?),
the three-headed
composite animal figure/the seal of Dvarka, etc). ~ Therefore, this
figure
depicted in what is now known as the "Pasupati Seal" could well be
"Hari" (Lord of Nature, Dispeller [Haran] of Troubles/Sankat,
Path-finder) - the patron/personage/presiding
figure/deity of the ancient Indus people (... and, by extension, of the
Indus
Civilization). ~ My guess is as good as yours. ~ Also, both the yogi
figures (depicted in the "Yogi Seal" and the "Pasupati Seal"
respectively) - are they indicative of Lord Narayan/Vishnu/Hari as Hari-Hara or Hari-Rudra? ~ BG 10.23: || rudranam
sankaras casmi || ~ "Of all the Rudras I
am Sankara" [Lord Siva]; therefore, Hari-Hara and Hari-Rudra may not have been two different personages/entities... but Hari as Hara/Rudra. ~ [If only the
script/glyphs could be deciphered...]
Pic: Seals from Harappa. ~ The 1st seal (very likely) depicts a Vedic fire-altar - indicating that the Harrapans worshipped Agni. Agni is auspicious effulgence, Light Divine. BG 10.23 || vasūnāḿ pāvakaś cāsmi || ~ of the Vasus I am fire [Agni] ... Agni, the foremost of
purifiers transforms that which is subtle to gross and also transforms the
gross to subtle. ... Agni also symbolically
represents the spiritual fire of life and the processes of transformation. [Paroshmoni is the philosopher's stone which when
touched... alchemically transmutes the baser nature to a divine one. ~ Krishna possessed such an alchemic nature.] ~ Agni does not indicate/signify "tyag" per se; Agni is
the greatest of purifiers and the foremost amongst the five elements of nature: PanchaBhuta (also, PanchaMahaBhuta or MahaPanchaBhuta); the others being: air (vayu), water (jal), earth
(prthvi) and aether (aakash, space). ~ Agni signifies "tyag" in the sense (to indicate) one has
conquered oneself; in other words: that one has conquered/overcome the
negativities residing in one's heart and mind. ~ And thereby become a Siddha - one whose heart is larger than the universe itself: one who has
achieved the eternal bliss/contentment/spiritual ecstasy of
"self-realization" ~ Sat-cit-ānanda. [Agni, in a way, signifies renewal... and Krishn was Yug Purush, Renaissance Man.] ~ The 2nd seal (very likely) depicts eagle/Garuda. Garuda (maybe an eagle-shaped vimana) is the vehicle of Lord Narayan/Vishnu/Harih. Besides, Lord Narayan is Garuda-Dhvaja, it is His symbol
or insignia.
Lord Shiva (Sankara/Shambhu Nath/Rudra-Siva?) and his consort Devi Parvati in their syncretic form - as Ardhanarishvara. [PS: The depiction of
Shiva/Sankara/Shambhu Nath is (largely) allegorical/symbolic. As for: whether he really had anything
to do with shmashāna, etc (since the ancient Indus people seem to have buried their dead)... or it came to be associated with him later ~
courtesy the many cultic movements; whether it had anything to do with great
yogis like Gorakhnath-ji or not; whether different narratives have confluenced
or not? ~ My guess is as good as yours. E.g. maybe, Shambhu Nath was also known
as Bhoota/Bhuta Nath [Lord/Guardian/Protector of Mankind/Beings - he was a very
important figure; also, since the human body is made of the five elements of
nature/PanchaBhuta] ~ but then, somewhere down the line the word 'bhuta/bhoota'
probably underwent a change of meaning, 'coz 'Panchabhuta' or
'Mahapanchabhuta/PanchaMahabhuta' refers to the five elements of nature, viz fire (agni), air (vayu), water (jal), earth (prthvi) and
space/aether (aakash); 'bhoot' as in 'spirits' is
very likely a much recent association ~ my guess is as good as yours. ~ Therefore,
aspects like ash smearing, chillum smoking, etc is (probably) courtesy the many
cults that sprang up in his name - in the last millennium or so. ~ My guess is as good as yours.]
Notes on Meluhha: Meluhha (Meluḫḫa) refers to one of ancient Sumer's
(Sumerian Civilization) prominent trading partners; the word can be found in
many Sumerian and Akkadian texts. [Akkadian may be a variant of Ikshvaku - son of (the current Manu) Vaivasvata Manu/Satyavrat/'Noah' and the
progenitor of the Ikshvaku lineage... to which Shri Ram belonged. ~ It could
either indicate the extent of Shri Ram's empire (i.e. the Ikshvaku empire), or
that members of the Ikshvaku clan/lineage spread far and wide... encompassing distant
lands, cultures and 'way of life'. Especially after the last great
flood/'Mahajal Pralaya'.] Sumerian texts repeatedly refer to three important
centers with which they traded: Magan, Dilmun, and Meluhha. ~ Magan is usually
identified with Oman, though some identify it with Egypt. Dilmun was a trade
distribution center for goods originating in the region of modern-day Bahrain.
[~ Dilmun or Telmun was a Persian Gulf civilization that traded with
Mesopotamian civilizations, the current scholarly consensus is that Dilmun
encompassed Bahrain, Failaka, Kuwait and the adjacent eastern Arabia coast in
the Persian Gulf. ... But then, Dilmun is said to lie "in the east where the
sun rises," a situation that does not apply to the eastern Arabian
littoral, Failaka or Bahrain, all of which lie south of Sumer and Eridu. ... So
was the Dilmun Civilization an offshoot of the Indus Valley Civilization? ~ My guess is as good as yours. (Umm, if we can understand the Yayati story
and how his five heirs were settled, i.e. how his kingdom was divided amongst his five sons... this puzzle could become much clearer. ~ Raja
Yayati, as we know, did away with primogeniture, and crowned his youngest-born,
Puru, as the heir to his "older" kingdom. Thereafter, Puru started the "Puruvansh" (also
known as the "Bharatvansh"); thus his heirs came to be known as the "Bharatas". ~ While his other four sons - Yadu, Turvasu, Druhyu and Anu - were settled in the
"newer" areas... that Raja Yayati brought under his rule/control - during his
"borrowed youth" ~ i.e. post his successful high-level/advanced stem cell therapy.) ~
It is also noted that Gilgamesh had to pass through Mount Mashu to reach Dilmun
in the Epic of Gilgamesh. Some believe Mount Mashu was one of two
("twin") mountains that held up the sky at the eastern and western
extremities of the world. ~ So could this Mount Mashu be a reference/variant of
Mt. Meru? ~ My guess is as good as yours. ... Dilmun, sometimes described
as "the place where the sun rises" and "the Land of the
Living", is the scene of some versions of the Sumerian creation myth, and
the place where the deified Sumerian hero of the flood, Utnapishtim (Ziusudra),
was taken by the gods to live forever. Thorkild Jacobsen's translation of the
Eridu Genesis calls it "Mount Dilmun" which he locates as a
"faraway, half-mythical place". Dilmun is also described in the epic
story of Enki and Ninhursag as the site at which the Creation occurred. ~ Umm,
all this does lead one to equate Dilmun and/or Mt Mashu with Mt Meru (Mandar Paravat). ~ Do
look up the earlier part of this section - for more details on Mt. Meru, the
Kurma Avatar, Shambhala, Samudra-manthan et al.]
Pic: Tiger lady: Tiger Goddess? ~ Devi Kushmanda? Devi
Chandraghanta? Devi Katyayani? Devi Vaishnavi (now Mata Vaishno
Devi)? Or, is it Devi Parvati?
[Pic: Besides this seal, numerous pottery figurines of
Mother Goddesses have also been found. Nature worship must have been an integral part
of their rituals... as revealed in the seals. ~ This seal depicts a horned
goddess (standing in the arch of a peepal tree), with bangles on both arms; a devotee is kneeling before her. An
animal, most likely a large ram, is facing her. Seven figures, wearing long dresses
and bangles on their arms, are moving in a procession before her. ~ Very likely,
the seven figures represent the "Sapta Matrikas" or the seven divine Mothers.
The central female figure (in which case) will be Devi Parvati (consort of
Sankara/Shiva/Shambhu Nath?) ~ Together, they constitute the "Asta Matrikas" or the eight divine
Mothers. Some Indus glyphs are also seen.] | ~ The location of Meluhha, however, is hotly debated.
... A number of scholars suggest that "Meluhha" was the Sumerian name for western
India or the Indus valley civilization. Some derive Meluhha from earlier
Sumerian documents with the earlier variant "Me-lah-ha", which they identify
with Met-akam "high abode" or "high country". While others read an archaic
form of Meluhha as an old Aryan/Sanskrit word ("solar beam"), and compare it,
in particular, with the name of the mountain Meru (mentioned in old Indian
texts). Earlier texts (c.2200 BC) seem to indicate that Meluhha is to the east,
suggesting either the Indus valley or India. There is plenty of archaeological
evidence for the trade between Mesopotamia and the Indus Valley. [There is
extensive presence of Harappan seals and cubical weight measures in
Mesopotamian urban sites.] Impressions of clay seals from the Indus Valley city
of Harappa were evidently used to seal bundles of merchandise, as clay seal
impressions with cord or sack marks on the reverse side testify. A number of
these Indus Valley seals have turned up at Ur and other Mesopotamian sites.
"Persian Gulf" types of circular stamped rather than rolled seals, also known
from Dilmun, that appear at Lothal in Gujarat, India, and Faylahkah, as well as
in Mesopotamia, are convincing corroboration of the long-distance sea trade. ~
Mesopotamian trade documents, lists of goods, and official inscriptions
mentioning Meluhha supplement Harappan seals and archaeological finds. Literary
references to Meluhhan trade date from the Akkadian, the Third Dynasty of Ur,
and Isin-Larsa Periods (ca 2350-1800 BCE), but the trade probably started
in the Early Dynastic Period (c. 2600 BC). Some Meluhhan vessels may have
sailed directly to Mesopotamian ports, although by the Isin-Larsa Period,
Dilmun, which was located "en route" to Meluhha, monopolized the trade.
Alternatively:
Archaeologically there may have been two capital cities in the Indus Valley:
Meluhhu (Archaeological site: Mohenjo-Daro), and the capital of the upper Indus
region: Dilmun (Archaeological site: Harappa). ~ Most seals used in export by
the Indus Valley were round and the seals used within the Indus Valley were
square. The round export seals show up all over Mesopotamia centuries before
the national seals started circulation (2500 BCE) within the Indus valley. One
of those round seals found at Ur predates expected dates of the Harappan
culture. Indus Valley as Meluhha was a major trader with Mesopotamia in the
Agade period (2300 BCE). ~ Meluhha was mentioned in the early Sanskrit writings
as Melukha or Melukhkha, commentary stated they spoke the same
language... thus (some of) Sanskrit's substrate languages are proto-versions of
our many languages; these languages had to have effected the major language
thru time. ~ Maybe, the northern state/region of the Indus was somewhat different
to the south with respect to trade, goods and services (meaning: perhaps the
Sapta Sindhava region was somewhat distinct from Melukha.) Perhaps the
upper Indus region was known to Mesopotamia as Dilmun ('the land of paradise'
to the Mesopotamians). The paradise story matches with the Indus culture, it
being most modern nation on Earth at the time. [~ However, it is the Arabian Sea that opened the
doors for journey beyond to the Arabian world through the Gulf and Red Sea
right into the ancient civilization of Mesopotamia and Egypt. It is possible that this sea
voyage gave to the Indus Land its earliest name of "Meluhha"... because the
Indus people were characterized as Malahha (Sailor or sea-men; sea-faring traders from Indian shores) in the Babylonian records. (So the word Meluhha might have meant "sailor country".).... At its peak the Indus Valley Culture is
estimated to have encompassed 1.5 million sq km. This area, larger than Western Europe, was glued together through water-ways.
The Indus people commanded a large fleet of ships making it possible to flourish in the vast
river plains and adjacent regions. ~ The ports in what is now Balochistan and Sindh (and Lothal, in Gujarat)
also saw extensive trade with African ports in Ethiopia, Somalia, Zanzibar,
Kenya and Tanzania. Archaeologists have found the remnants of
a "Meluhhan" village in ancient Mesopotamia (present-day Iraq). Perhaps
extensive excavations and research would lead to more definite information on
these (ancient) traders, who established temporary settlements as
encampments at certain points on their regular routes.]
Notes on the 'decline' or withering of the Indus Civilization: Indus Valley to history buffs, school students, history
classes on the Indus Valley civilization have always been simplistic. Even
dull. Most history textbooks talk of how the civilization appeared like a
meteor on ancient India's landscape, shone brilliantly for a while... and then
was snuffed out either by 'marauding Aryans' or sudden floods. ~ It's dead
boring, really. It's soporific - guaranteed cure for insomnia. Egyptian
mummies somehow seem to evoke more interest than the town-planning feats of the
Indus engineers. One wonders why there has been no study and/or discussion as
to just how stone-age farming communities took a giant leap forward and
transformed themselves into sophisticated urbanites living in cities so well
designed that Indians have never been able to replicate the achievement even 5,000
years later? ... Wonder why (instead) do we continue to believe the poppycock about 'Aryan
blitzkrieg'? ~ Umm, well... as they say: history is never boring, the teacher is. Or
rather the books are.
Pic: Some of the main sites of the Harappan civilization. Note the concentration along the dry bed of the
Sarasvati. | Archaeologists have an exasperating tradition of
labeling their discoveries after the name of the site on which it is first
found. Since Harappa and Mohenjo-daro were the first to be excavated in the
1920s, Sir John Marshall, who headed the team of explorers, called it the Indus
civilization because it flourished in the valley of that river. Marshall's
announcement wowed the world and pushed India's known history back by about
2,000 years. At the time of Independence there was no real need to change the
epithet as barely a dozen Indus sites had been explored. ~ That the Indus was
indeed the nucleus of the civilization's growth is fairly certain. However, it
is also apparent that the civilization did not just centre on the Indus Valley;
instead, it covered wide swathes of land on either side of the Indus. ~
Archaeologists are known to stumble, but the kind of knocking that the 'Aryan
invasion theory' has taken has few parallels. When the British archaeologist
(Wheeler) discovered a dozen skeletons in Mohenjo-daro, he propounded a theory
about the final massacre by 'marauding invaders' that put an end to the Indus
civilization. When an Indian scholar told him of Hariyuppa (or "Hariyupiyah") being mentioned in the Rg Veda,
he took it to mean Harappa. ~ And since a fort was known as pur, and
Indra (possibly a 'title' for the king/ruler/chief of the ancient 'Deva'
people) was known as Purandhara or destroyer of forts, it all fitted
neatly. After all, weren't the Indus cities among the most fortified? [~ But then, our ancient texts, including the Vedas, cannot be taken as is. Large portions of them are in camouflaged language and/or is allegorical/metaphorical. Taking them literally will be misleading. Sometimes celestial events involving stars, planets, meteors, comets, constellations et al are described, while at other times natural events are talked about. E.g. 'cows coming out of mountains' is very likely a reference to 'Gomukh'; taking it at face value will be utterly misleading. ~ Even large parts of the 'Shiv-Sati' story (very likely) describes some cosmic event; 'Shiva wandering about in the
cosmos with Sati's lifeless body on his shoulders' - is an imaginative
description (in the style of story-telling) of some cosmic event. ... Maybe pieces of meteors and/or other celestial debris rained down on earth... and this (gradually) gave rise to our 'Shakti Peeths'. (Though a few of the 'Shakti Peeths', such as the one at Hinglaj, probably is in honour of some or the other great woman. Or [maybe] both. Celestial debris + a great human.) ~ The Shiva (of the 'Shiva-Sati' story) and the Sankara/Shambhu Nath of 'Shiva-Parvati' may not be the same person. [~ Probably, the Shiva of the Shiva-Sati story predates the Shiva/Sankara/Shambhu Nath of the Shiva-Parvati story; maybe, the former was an ancestor of the latter.] However, with time, both the stories/narratives have converged and even fused together (perhaps due to a similarity in names). Did mistranslation and/or misinterpretation happen too (thus obliteration and/or altering valuable information and 'pracheen itihasa')? ~ My guess is as good as yours. ~ Perhaps, there could be 'Asta-Matrikas' and other
female deities; but having multiple Shiva(s) would have been confusing; and so,
when Sanaatan Dharma assimilated temples and worship of idols... the various
Shiva-s were fused into a single figure. ~ My guess is as good as yours.] ~ Yet the
past 50/60 years, and more so the last decade or two has shown just how wrong
Wheeler was. The last massacre theory was his imagination running riot. Far
from being snuffed out, there was a brilliant resurgence of Indus culture
further south for a while. Gregory Possehl (professor of anthropology at the
University of Pennsylvania in the US and an expert on the Indus civilization)
and who made a recent study, found that in 2000 BC in Pakistan's Sindh district
the sites were down from 86 to 6 and in Cholistan, 174 to 41. But in India the
sites in Haryana, Punjab and Rajasthan exploded from 218 to 853. Possehl asks:
"How can this be construed as an eclipse? We are looking at a highly
mobile people." [Perhaps climate change and/or change in rainfall pattern
forced the ancient Indus people to migrate to other areas... in search of livelihood/greener
pastures. And this would have also given rise to cultural exchanges and
(therefore) synergy creation with other people. ~ Culture constantly evolves, it is never
stagnant; stagnation would mean cultural Rhizopus - "the end".]
Climate change was a key ingredient in the (gradual) collapse
and/or diversification and/or fragmentation/shrinkage of the great Indus or Harappan
Civilization (beginning) almost 4000 years ago. ~ There is clear indication that the rainfall pattern,
which had initially brought fertility to the land, had become adverse in the Sindh region.
And given the instability of the Himalayan region, there may have been a
massive earthquake that possibly changed the course of rivers such as the
Sarasvati and (thus) affected many Indus cities. ~ The Indus people then
migrated eastward. Braj Basi Lal, a former ASI director-general, talks of steep
decline in trade because of problems in Sumer that resulted in a Great
Depression and turned many urban centres into ghost cities. Archaeologist
Ravindra Singh Bisht concurs with Lal but goes a step further. He says that
after the quake hit the heart of the civilization, the Indus people migrated
east which acted like a sort of bypass to their woes. And like a dying candle,
it shone brilliantly again but briefly before being snuffed out. Dholavira,
Banawali, Mehrgarh, Harappa - in fact, all the major cities show that as the
cities declined, encroachments on streets that were unseen at its peak began to
occur with alarming regularity. Houses became increasingly shoddy in construction. The city was dying. There was a breakdown in sanitation and cities
like their modern-day counterparts in India simply ran themselves aground. They
were replaced by massive squatter colonies and an explosion of rural sites as
people, disillusioned with cities, went back to farming communities. A giant
step backward. [~ Yet it wasn't as if all came to naught as was earlier
believed. Some of the writings survived in the pottery (and seals and tablets) of the following ages.
The weight and decimal system too lived on. And so did the bullock-cart
technology that the Indus people had perfected. Even some of their farming
techniques. Besides, all the ruins of course... for us to wonder and marvel.]
[Pic: Indus Terracotta Vessel. Circa: 3500 BC to 2500 BC.]
Alternatively: It could also be that faced with multiple challenges arising out of over expansion, over-exploitation of nature and unplanned urbanization... disproportionate to essentials like water-supply and sanitation (besides a sharp decline in trade... that would have also affected employment, purchasing power, collective prosperity et al) the ancient Indus people, in their collective wisdom, decided to alter the course of their 'way of life'... and (thus) went back to living in harmony with nature. ~ And this probably helped them breath new life into the once-glorious civilization. [... Therefore, it may be somewhat misleading to say that the civilization appeared like a meteor on ancient India's landscape, shone brilliantly for a while... then declined, and was finally snuffed out. ~ Instead, the Indus people simply adjusted to the changes and challenges (both natural and man-made)... and so, the civilization lived on. Rather flourished in its own way.]
So although earlier scholars thought that the Indus civilization disappeared around 1700 B.C., recent excavations indicate that the civilization gradually became fragmented into smaller regional cultures referred to as Late or post-Harappan cultures. The ruling classes and merchants of the major urban centers were no longer able to control the trade networks that served to integrate such a vast geographical area. The use of standardized weights, writing and seals became unnecessary as their social and political control gradually disappeared. The decline of the major urban centers and the fragmentation of the Indus culture can be attributed in part to changing river systems (due to climate change and change in rainfall pattern) that disrupted the agricultural and economic system. As the river dried up the Indus people migrated to the central Indus valley, the Ganga-Yamuna Valley or the fertile plains of Gujarat in western India. The Indus river itself began to change its course, resulting in destructive floods. Certain distinguishing hallmarks of the Indus civilization disappeared. Others, such as writing and weights, or aspects of Indus craft technology, art, agriculture and possibly social organization, continued among the Late and post-Harappan cultures. These cultural traditions eventually became incorporated in the new urban civilization that arose during the Early Historical period, around 600 B.C.
Whether the artefacts are called Hakra ware; whether the civilization is divided into pre-Harappan stage or mature-Harappan phase, pre- or early Indus cultures, Neolithic-age or Chalcolithic age, and so on... it is all for academic purposes. ~ It does not indicate different culture(s) or people; it simply indicates the gradual progress of the civilization through various stages/phases from simple pastoral communities to a bustling metropolis and trading powerhouse. ~ The greatness of the Sindhu-Sarasvati civilization can (thus) be attributed to ancient Indian genius. Apart from its striking cultural continuity with subsequent (diversification, fragmentation, assimilation and) developments of Indian civilization, which makes up a total thread of (at least) 9,000 years (since much of the excavation is yet to happen), the ancient Indus people exhibited the following traits: an enterprising spirit, a knowledge-based and forward-looking culture, a remarkable adaptability to changing conditions, a spiritual content, and, most importantly, a capacity for a broader view, without which such a vast area could not have had such a cultural affinity (and all-round progress and trade) free from major hiccups.
Evolution of the fluvial landscape: Landscape dynamics as the crucial link between climate change and people. ~ By 3900 years ago, their rivers drying, the Harappans had an escape route to the east toward the Ganges basin, where monsoon rains remained reliable. We can envision that this eastern shift involved a change to more localized forms of economy: smaller communities supported by local rain-fed farming and dwindling streams. This may have produced smaller surpluses, and would not have supported large cities, but would have been reliable. But then, such a system was not quite favourable for the sustenance of the Indus civilization as it was known (i.e. to maintain the well-knit 'high summer' phase of the Indus civilization, which had been built on bumper crop surpluses along the Indus and the Sarasvati rivers in the earlier wetter era). This dispersal of population meant that there was no longer a concentration of workforce to support urbanism. Thus cities collapsed, but smaller agricultural communities were sustainable and flourished. Many of the urban arts, such as writing, faded away (and evolved), but agriculture continued and perhaps diversified. [~ Maybe, due to the change in rainfall pattern/monsoon coupled with a warming world (climate change) catastrophic floods (due to rising sea levels) turned much of the ancient Indus irrigation system, designed for a tamer river, obsolete.]
~ Should the Indus Valley civilization be renamed the Sarasvati Valley civilization? Or would Sindhu-Sarasvati civilization be more appropriate? ~ Well, my guess is as good as yours.
Krishn means "the all-attractive One". || brahmaṇyo devakī-putraḥ || ~ "The son of Devakī,
Kṛṣṇa, is the Supreme/Primeval Being." || eko vai nārāyaṇa āsīn na brahmā
na īśāno nāpo nāgni-samau neme dyāv-āpṛthivī na nakṣatrāṇi na sūryaḥ || ~
"In the beginning of the creation there was only the Supreme/Primeval Being
Nārāyaṇa. There was no Brahmā, no Śiva, no water, no fire, no moon, no stars
in the sky, no sun." || nārāyaṇaḥ paro devas tasmāj jātaś caturmukhaḥ tasmād
rudro 'bhavad devaḥ sa ca sarva-jñatāḿ gataḥ || ~ "Nārāyaṇa is the
Supreme/Primeval Being, and from Him Brahmā was born, from whom Śiva was born."
~ Meaning: Lord Narayana created Lord Brahma who in turn created Lord Siva (this Lord Siva very likely is the better-half of the
higher being named Parvati.) ~ Thus, Lord Narayan is also called Brahmn and Srashtaa:
Supreme Creator and Lord of Creation. He is also Prapitaamahah: The
father of the 'father of beings' (Brahma) - one who instructs Lord Brahma.
~ He is therefore Satyam-Shivam-Sundaaram/ Purushottam
Satya/ Satya-Sundar (Truth/Dharma-Auspiciousness-Beauty/Goodness).
~ Lord Kṛṣṇa is the source of all generations, and He is called the Cause
of everything. He says: || ahaḿ sarvasya prabhavo mattaḥ sarvaḿ pravartate
|| ~ "I am the source of all spiritual and material worlds. Everything emanates
from Me." [In other words: Because everything emanates from Him, He is the
original source of all.] ~ And thus, He is ekah: The one; naikah: The many; asankhyeyah:
He who has countless names and forms; saksih: All-witnessing Lord; aadidevah: The first devah/being; mahaadevah:
The greatest devah/being; deveshah/Sarveshvara: The Lord of all devas; Mahendrah: The Lord of Indra; Vishwakarma: Creator of the Universe. ~ He is also puruṣa-uttama:
greatest of all beings; bhūta-bhāvana: origin of everything; bhūta-īśa:
Lord of everything; deva-deva: Lord of all demigods, higher beings; Lokadhyaksha/Trivikrama: Lord of all the three Lokas/Trilok/Tribhuvan (Urdhva-loka, Madhya-loka and Adho-loka; also: land, water and space/sky); Harih: The Lord of Nature; Jagannatha: Lord of the Universe; Jagat-pate/Jagat-patih: Lord
of the entire Universe/Cosmos. ~ And so, He is adhaataa:
Above whom there is no other. He is also kartaa: The doer, maargah:
The path, and neyah: The guide.
BG 10.11: || teṣām evānukampārtham aham ajñāna-jaḿ tamaḥ nāśayāmy ātma-bhāva-stho jñāna-dīpena bhāsvatā || ~ I, who dwell within their inner psyche as consciousness, destroy the darkness born of ignorance by the shining lamp of transcendental knowledge as an act of compassion for them.
(BG 10.16) Arjun says/asks: || vaktum arhasy aśeṣeṇa divyā hy ātma-vibhūtayaḥ yābhir vibhūtibhir lokān imāḿs tvaḿ vyāpya tiṣṭhasi || ~ "Please tell me in detail of Your divine opulence/manifestations by which You pervade all these worlds/planets." (BG 10.17): || kathaḿ vidyām ahaḿ yogiḿs tvāḿ sadā paricintayan keṣu keṣu ca bhāveṣu cintyo 'si bhagavan mayā || ~ "O Kṛṣṇa, O supreme mystic, how shall I constantly think of You, and how shall I know You? In what various forms are You to be remembered, O Supreme One?"
[Pic: Illustration of the Vishwaroop or Viraat-roop.] Everything is a manifestation of the Absolute: (śrī-bhagavān
uvāca) The Supreme Lord said: O Arjun, now I shall explain to you My prominent
divine manifestations, because My manifestations are endless. (10.19) ~ I am the
Supersoul/Atman, O Arjun, seated in the hearts of all living entities. I am the
beginning, the middle and the end of all beings (aham ātmā guḍākeśa
sarva-bhūtāśaya-sthitaḥ aham ādiś ca madhyaḿ ca bhūtānām anta eva ca. ~ 10.20)
Of the Ādityas I am Viṣṇu (the sustainer), of all luminous objects/jyotiṣām I am
the radiant sun, of the Maruts I am Marīci, and among the stars I am the moon (ādityānām
ahaḿ viṣṇur jyotiṣāḿ ravir aḿśumān marīcir marutām asmi nakṣatrāṇām
ahaḿ śaśī. ~ 10.21) I am the Vedas, I am the celestial rulers (Devas) (or rather,
of the demigods/celestial Devas I am Indra, the ruler of the Heavenly Planets/Svarga-loka);
of the senses I am the mind; and in living beings I am the living force/consciousness. (~ "Consciousness" and
"conscience" are two different things; "consciousness" is awareness, sentience -
the ability to feel, perceive, comprehend or to experience. It is necessary for cognition. Else a human will remain in a vegetative state.] (vedānāḿ sāma-vedo 'smi devānām asmi vāsavaḥ indriyāṇāḿ
manaś cāsmi bhūtānām asmi cetanā. ~ 10.22) Of all the Rudras I am Shankara/Lord Śiva
(Shambhu Nath?) [And, is that why "Virupaksha" - one with oblique eyes - is used for both Vishnu and Shiva? Also, is that why "Harihara" and "Harirudra" has come about? Besides, was the human Devi Parvati (also known as
Ambika or Durga) the consort of this Shambhu Nath? ~ Lakshmi and Sarasvati -
their daughters? Kartik - their son? ~ My guess is as good as yours], of the Yakṣas (small-sized humans) and Rākṣasas (an Asura sub-clan) I am Kuvera,
of the Vasus I am fire [Agni], and of mountains I am Meru (meruḥ
śikhariṇām - if Mt Mandar is part of Mt Meru, then 'meruḥ
śikhariṇām' would indicate both) ~ (rudrāṇāḿ
śańkaraś cāsmi vitteśo yakṣa-rakṣasām vasūnāḿ pāvakaś cāsmi meruḥ
śikhariṇām aham. ~ 10.23) Of preceptors, O Son of Pṛthā (Kunti), know Me to be the
chief, Bṛhaspati. Of generals I am Skandaḥ, and of bodies of water I am the
ocean (purodhasāḿ ca mukhyaḿ māḿ viddhi pārtha bṛhaspatim senānīnām
ahaḿ skandaḥ sarasām asmi sāgaraḥ. ~ 10.24) [Kārtikeya means, 'son of
Kartik'; though, with time, both Kartik and Skandah have come to be regarded as
one and the same.) | Of the great sages I am Bhṛgu; of vibrations I am the
transcendental AUM. Of sacrifices I am the chanting of the holy names [japa],
and of immovable things I am the Himālayas (maharṣīṇāḿ bhṛgur ahaḿ
girām asmy ekam akṣaram yajñānāḿ japa-yajño 'smi sthāvarāṇāḿ himālayaḥ.
~ 10.25) Of all trees I am the (asvatthah) fig tree (it can mean: banyan tree as
well as the Peepal/aśvatthaḥ, or maybe both), and of the celestial sages/Devarshis I am Nārada.
Of the Gandharvas I am Citraratha, and among perfected beings (Siddhas) I am
the sage (Muni) Kapila (aśvatthaḥ sarva-vṛkṣāṇāḿ devarṣīṇāḿ ca
nāradaḥ gandharvāṇāḿ citrarathaḥ siddhānāḿ kapilo muniḥ. ~ 10.26) Of
horses know Me to be Uccaiḥśravā (the snow-white and seven-headed flying horse, considered the best of horses and king of horses), produced/created during the churning of the ocean
for nectar/amṛit (i.e. during early stages of creation of the universe. ~ Maybe, it is a swift and powerful flying vehicle that has given rise to the phrase 'horse-power', and not a horse per se. But does it also mean Krishn had equine features?) Of
lordly elephants I am Airāvata, and among men/humanity I am the monarch (Cakravartin) (uccaiḥśravasam
aśvānāḿ viddhi mām amṛtodbhavam airāvataḿ gajendrāṇāḿ narāṇāḿ ca
narādhipam. ~ 10.27) Of weapons I am the thunderbolt; among cows I am the surabhi
(a metaphor for prosperity, and not a bovine creature per se). Of
causes for procreation I am Kandarpa (or Cupid), the god of love, and of
serpents I am Vāsuki (āyudhānām ahaḿ vajraḿ dhenūnām asmi kāmadhuk prajanaś
cāsmi kandarpaḥ sarpāṇām asmi vāsukiḥ. ~ 10.28) Of the many-hooded great
serpents I am Ananta, and among the aquatics I am Varuṇa (Varundev: controller
of the waters; also, for purposes of comprehension, let's say: Devaraj Indra's minister for water resources - for the entire universe). Of departed ancestors I am Aryamā, and among the dispensers of retribution
(for negative/Prarabda karma) I am Yama, the lord of divine Justice/final,
eternal judgment (anantaś cāsmi nāgānāḿ varuṇo yādasām aham pitṝṇām
aryamā cāsmi yamaḥ saḿyamatām aham. ~ 10.29) [Note: there is a vast 'ocean' (the 'ocean of Garbha') present at
the bottom of the universe. This 'ocean' is very likely a combination of cosmic
dust, energy and gas, even gas hydrates formed under conditions of high
pressures and low temperatures, etc... and maybe, even a great amount of
suction force. Its appearance is in the form of 'concentric circles or
bands'... though none of it is visible to the unaided eye. During
"Prakritik Maha Pralaya" ~ at the end of Brahma's Lifetime/Life-span
(this is when Prakriti/Material Nature [except the eternal Vaikunth planets] is
completely dissolved) - Prakriti/Material Nature 'dissolves' into this 'ocean
of Garbha'. ~ This 'ocean of Garbha' is metaphorically indicated as the endless
serpent 'Adi-Sesha' or 'Ananta-Sesha'. (Ananta = infinity, endless, eternal.
Sesha = zero, shunya.) "Prakritik Maha Pralaya" (dissolution) occurs
when 'Ananta' becomes 'Sesha', infinity becomes zero and Yog-maya (the ever
changing and evolving/ 'illusory' [mayamayi or transient] Prakriti/Material
Universe/Nature) becomes Yog-nidra (the big sleep). Therefore, in a manner of
speaking, it is said that when Adishesa 'uncoils', time (kaal, kaalah) moves forward
and creation takes place. When Adisesha/ Śeṣanāga 'coils back', the universe
ceases to exist. ("Shesha" in Sanskrit texts, especially those
relating to mathematical calculation, also implies the "remainder" -
that which remains when all else ceases to exist.) ~ So, very likely, what is
today known as the "Shiv Ling" was actually a depiction of this above
phenomenon: of "creation" and "dissolution". (~ Maybe the Gupta emperors installed it... to depict the cosmic
phenomenon of "creation" and "dissolution". However,
with the passage of time - possibly after the decline of the Gupta era - due to
various interpolations, extrapolations, mistranslations and so on, it has now
come to be understood/regarded as the "Shiv Ling". ... And so, the original depiction has
not only undergone several changes, but a lot of knowledge has
also been obliterated along with it. Plus, we have no way of knowing what it was
originally called either. Alas.)]
Among the Daityas (an Asura sub-clan) I am Prahlāda, among subduers I am time (kālaḥ), among beasts/animals I am the lion, and among birds I am Garuḍa (Lord Narayan’s insignia, as well as His vehicle/vahan - probably the name of His flying vehicle; it also indicates eagle or maybe falcon) (prahlādaś cāsmi daityānāḿ kālaḥ kalayatām aham mṛgāṇāḿ ca mṛgendro 'haḿ vainateyaś ca pakṣiṇām. ~ 10.30) I am the wind among the purifiers, and Shri Ram among the warriors (warrior = reformer, for a better and inclusive society). I am the crocodile among the fishes (can also mean aquatic creatures); and of flowing waters/rivers I am the River Ganga (pavanaḥ pavatām asmi rāmaḥ śastra-bhṛtām aham jhaṣāṇāḿ makaraś cāsmi srotasām asmi jāhnavī. ~ 10.31) I am the beginning, the middle, and the end of all creation, O Arjun. Among spiritual knowledge I am knowledge of the supreme Self. I am logic of the logician (sargāṇām ādir antaś ca madhyaḿ caivāham arjuna adhyātma-vidyā vidyānāḿ vādaḥ pravadatām aham. ~ 10.32) Of letters I am the letter A (the sound 'A' is the foremost of the sounds. All the alphabets begin with the letter 'A', thus is number 1. Before number one it can only be zero (shunya). Zero (shunya) is the potential Creation, the Cosmic Egg, which would manifest in due course of time, and Fire (Brahm-jyotih?) is the basis for such manifestation. All the planes of existence are the result of the work of Agni. Agni - the foremost of purifiers - transforms that which is subtle to gross and also transforms the gross to subtle. In the beginning it is from subtle to gross and later from gross to subtle. The evolution and involution is the work of Agni. ~ The whole creation-related work commences from Him and He is the one who emerges from the unknown to the known as the Cosmic Bang. The dynamism in us is also Fire. The Kundalini 'Fire' causes enlightenment of the brain cells. But enflaming the Kundalini 'Fire' requires service to the fellow beings, to the society (selfless/non-benefit-seeking/nishkam service/action... that contributes towards a better society.) One has to dedicate oneself to nishkam karm... without which the Kundalini 'Fire' is not ignited. Agni: exists as Cosmic Fire, Solar Fire and as Frictional Fire. The Kundalini Fire is Frictional Fire, when it is below the diaphragm. When it is above the diaphragm, it is already Solar Fire, and when it reaches the brain, it is Electric Fire (brilliant white). As one progresses regularly (in nishkam karm), the brilliance of the 'Golden disc' grows. Just as the morning Sun who is Golden in colour grows to brilliant white, the 'Golden disc/chakra' visualized at the eyebrow centre rises to Ajnea center/chakra and shines forth like a diamond disc/chakra. This is the final state of the Kundalini 'Fire'. When this 'chakra' opens, it is deemed as the opening of the Third Eye. ~ On a separate note: Agni also symbolically represents the spiritual fire of life and the processes of transformation. It is the foremost amongst purifiers. Agni does not indicate/signify "tyag" per se; Agni is the greatest of purifiers and the foremost amongst the five elements of nature - PanchaBhuta (also: PanchaMahaBhuta or MahaPanchaBhuta). ~ Agni signifies "tyag" in the sense (to indicate) one has conquered oneself; in other words: that one has conquered/overcome the negativities residing in one's heart and mind. And thereby, become a Siddha), and among compound words I am the dual compound. I am also inexhaustible time, and of creators I am Brahmā (akṣarāṇām a-kāro 'smi dvandvaḥ sāmāsikasya ca aham evākṣayaḥ kālo dhātāhaḿ viśvato-mukhaḥ. ~ 10.33) I am all-consuming time, and I am the generating principle/cause/energy of all that is yet to be." (Alternatively: "I am all-consuming time, and I am too the birth of all that shall come into being.") Among women I am glorious deeds (kīrtiḥ), radiance (śrīr), fine speech/persuasion (vāk), memory/clarity of thought/discernment (smṛtir), intelligence (medhā), resilience/steadfastness (dhṛtiḥ) and patience/forgiveness/high-mindedness/magnanimity/nobility of spirit (kṣamā). (mṛtyuḥ sarva-haraś cāham udbhavaś ca bhaviṣyatām kīrtiḥ śrīr vāk ca nārīṇāḿ smṛtir medhā dhṛtiḥ kṣamā. ~ 10.34) I am Brihatsaam among the Vedic hymns. I am Gāyatrī mantra among the Vedic mantras. Of months I am Mārgaśīrṣa [November-December], and of seasons I am spring (maybe that's why Shyamsundar Krishn is the personification of spring). (bṛhat-sāma tathā sāmnāḿ gāyatrī chandasām aham māsānāḿ mārga-śīrṣo 'ham ṛtūnāḿ kusumākaraḥ. ~ 10.35) I am gamble of the guileful, splendor of the splendid, victory of the victorious, enterprise of the enterprising/resolute, and strength of the strong/determined. (dyūtaḿ chalayatām asmi tejas tejasvinām aham jayo 'smi vyavasāyo 'smi sattvaḿ sattvavatām aham. ~ 10.36) Among the Vrishnis I am Vaasudev (of Dvarka), Arjun among the Paandavs, Vyaas among the sages, and Ushanaa among the poets/great thinkers. (vṛṣṇīnāḿ vāsudevo 'smi pāṇḍavānāḿ dhanañjayaḥ munīnām apy ahaḿ vyāsaḥ kavīnām uśanā kaviḥ. ~ 10.37) I am the power/sagacity of rulers, the statesmanship of the seekers of victory; I am silence among the secrets, and the Self-knowledge of the knowledgeable (i.e. of the wise I am the wisdom). (daṇḍo damayatām asmi nītir asmi jigīṣatām maunaḿ caivāsmi guhyānāḿ jñānaḿ jñānavatām aham. ~ 10.38) Furthermore, O Arjuna, I am the origin of all beings (the cause of all creations). There is nothing, animate or inanimate, that can exist without Me. (yac cāpi sarva-bhūtānāḿ bījaḿ tad aham arjuna na tad asti vinā yat syān mayā bhūtaḿ carācaram. ~ 10.39)
The manifest creation is a very small fraction of the Absolute: There is no end of My divine manifestations, O Arjun. What I have spoken to you is but a mere indication of My infinite manifestations. (nānto 'sti mama divyānāḿ vibhūtīnāḿ parantapa eṣa tūddeśataḥ prokto vibhūter vistaro mayā. ~ 10.40) Know that whatever is endowed with glory, brilliance, and power - spring from but a spark of My splendor. (yad yad vibhūtimat sattvaḿ śrīmad ūrjitam eva vā tat tad evāvagaccha tvaḿ mama tejo-'ḿśa-sambhavam. ~ 10.41) But what need is there, O Arjun, for all this detailed knowledge? I continually support the entire universe by a small fraction of My divine power (YogMaya). (atha vā bahunaitena kiḿ jñātena tavārjuna viṣṭabhyāham idaḿ kṛtsnam ekāḿśena sthito jagat. ~ 10.42)
Pic: an illustration of the "Vishwa-roop" or "Viraat-roop" (the "Universal Form" of the Cosmic Person/Being). However, Lord Narayan is not manushya/human. Plus, no illustration can ever bring out the true form/appearance/essence of the maheśvaram - the "Vishwa-roop" or "Viraat-roop". ~ Noone (in the current era/yug: Kaliyug) has ever seen it... and so, have to rely on one's (human) imagination. ~ The 'venom' or 'toxin' directed at him does not rile him: BG 9.11: || avajānanti māḿ mūḍhā
mānuṣīḿ tanum āśritam paraḿ bhāvam ajānanto mama bhūta-maheśvaram || ~
"The ignorant deride Me when I descend in the human form. They do not know
(are unaware of) My transcendental nature (appearance) as the Supreme Lord (maheśvaram) of all
that be." ~ That transcendental appearance/form so bewildered and astonished someone like Arjun
(son of Kunti and Lord Indra, ruler of demi-gods, and a Deva - a much Higher Being than Humans - begotten through advanced genetic engineering), making his hair stand on end (tataḥ
sa vismayāviṣṭo hṛṣṭa-romā dhanañjayaḥ); a transcendental form/appearance
that was so glowing (dīptimantam) that Arjun found it difficult to see (despite having been granted the 'sight'/equipped by Krishn) ~ because of its
glaring effulgence, spreading on all sides, like blazing fire or the
immeasurable radiance of the sun (tejo-rāśiḿ sarvato dīptimantam paśyāmi tvāḿ
durnirīkṣyaḿ samantād dīptānalārka-dyutim aprameyam). ~ Arjun said: ||
tejobhir āpūrya jagat samagraḿ bhāsas tavogrāḥ pratapanti viṣṇo || ~
Covering the entire universe with Your effulgence, You are manifest with
terrible, scorching rays. || ākhyāhi me ko bhavān ugra-rūpo namo 'stu te
deva-vara prasīda || ~ O Lord of lords, so fierce of form, please tell me who
You are. I offer my obeisance unto You; please be gracious to me. | śrī-bhagavān
uvāca (Sri Bhagavan said): || kālo 'smi loka-kṣaya-kṛt pravṛddho || ~ "Time I am, (kālo 'smi), the destroyer of all/the shatterer of worlds."
... Krishna, Eternal Enigma:
adept at captivating... in the endless meshes of His music (emanating from His
flute, even His metaphoric flute), so much so that people tended to see
and understand what he wanted them to see and understand, about him. [And this helped him to mislead the mind or thinking of
others (especially those of unwanted entities.) It also allowed him to effectively create and maintain a façade, a smooth
façade, enigma even: one that enabled him to concentrate on what he had set out to do/achieve... instead of wasting his time and energy beset with unwanted stuff. And this is important, since his arrival/descent on earth is to achieve a series of tasks (and that too within a specific period of time). He was an outsider, an interloper. By 'masking' himself (i.e. by creating a veneer, to sort of armour himself up for the long and arduous journey
ahead), he could offset and/or circumvent/bypass (at least to a large extent) issues like, credibility challenges
(due to his youth and clean slate status vis-à-vis all the grandees he
interacted with - both within and outside of Hastinapur), his (dethroned and) far less influential family and clan (than the Kuru or the Puru clan,
for example) and the like. He was also not operating from a position of strength (in fact, far from it), nor did he have the kind of clout enjoyed by various other entities and
personalities. Besides, there was numerous 'cross-currents'. So imagine his selling skills. He was a consummate
marketer and diplomat. Yes, he was well-educated and erudite... but so were many others. And his eruditeness did not shield him from all the 'toxin' and 'venom' spewed at him; it did not make his circumstances ideal nor his journey any easier. And he did not have the luxury of a carefree life either. Nor did he have any practical experience (whatsoever) in
the treacherous world of kutniti and politics... and yet, found himself instantly drawn
into a whirlpool of intrigue (unleashed by the machinations of the tyrannical
Jarasandha and Kansh) - at a young age. [Therefore, he led a life full of stress, numerous pressures and high-velocity from an early age.] Krishn was thus vulcanized via the most
trying of circumstances... and appeared on the scene with his heroic abilities,
superior intellect and tremendous political foresight ~ when the political
situation of the land was most difficult. But then, Krishna possessed great foresight, astuteness, commitment and vision
coupled with a strong mind and an equally strong spine. ('Coz a weak spine
cannot support a strong mind and vice versa.) [A couple of sermons or even a series of sermons would not have impacted the likes of Jarasandh, Duryodhan, Shakuni, etc, etc. Attempting such a thing would have been the heights of idealism/naivety... and delusional. What would have been the course of the Mahabharata then? Thus, this 'duality' or dualism is not 'prarabda (negative) karm'. It is "dharma" (justice and principles) ~ Krishna's
actions benefited society (Loka-sangraha/Loka-kalyana). ~ It helped build a better society. It is the best example of the
concept of: 'lotus feet' and kara-puṣkara or 'lotus-palm'. In the greatest battlefield of ethics, ideas and principles... in that great 'manthan' he remained steadfast yet "detached" - like a swan/hamsah ~ whose
feathers do not get damp despite remaining in water, due to his yogi/hamsan
nature. (Do read the
fourth paragraph from the last and the second paragraph from the top... to know more about "yogi",
"detachment" and kara-puṣkara or 'lotus-palm'.) The concept of "dharma" is neither straight and
narrow nor black and white. ~ Asato mā sad gamaya | From ignorance/untruth, lead me unto truth (dharma, ethics, actions
that benefit society) | Tamaso
mā jyotir gamaya ~ From darkness (the 'fog' of regressive aspects, ignorance, 'sleep' [stagnation, decline/decay], delusion and pessimism), lead me
unto light (knowledge, hope, wisdom, enlightenment ~ that help build/create a better society and civilization.)] Bathed in the complexity of real-life struggle, totally divested of His miraculous powers and abilities... Krishn navigated through (a maze of) shifting power centers, intrigues, smokescreen, parochialism, 'cross-currents', politics, diplomacy, and so on... armed with only his brilliance, his clear-sightedness/acumen and his charm. What a maestro! However, he does not come across as 'rigid
rigid'. That would be folly. That would not be strategic. Instead, he comes
across as 'savvy flexible'... a tactic sometimes necessary in dealing with inimical forces/entities (... especially if the latter were to wield great power
and influence.)] Note: In the world of diplomacy
there is no such thing as 'promises' or permanent friendship/alliances - without mutual commonalities. Both the quality and the quantity of mutual
commonalities may advance positive alliance. It is crucial to tactfully employ alliance-building strategies. Nothing is cast-iron otherwise. (Events and
situations are dynamic and ever-changing.) There are issues and interests,
there is give-and-take; people and groups (even adversaries and unknown
entities... who may not have the same level of resources, power and clout) sit
across the table/meet with each other, interact and discuss
(issues, concerns and points) - over a period of time - to align their
interests, to identify commonalities and areas of convergence ~ to finally come
to an acceptable agreement/convergence of interests/views or a reasonably win-win
situation. [There would be no progress otherwise; it would result in a perpetual stalemate, and letting go of opportunities... and ultimately the converse of 'a stitch in time saves nine'. How then would a people and nation move into the direction they want to go?] In such a world/scenario... being 'rigid-rigid' is folly. Instead, one needs to
be 'savvy-flexible': visionary/far-sighted, sagacious (discerning enough to
read situations/events... and how they will play out in the future); be able to
see/keep the big (macro) picture in mind. An understanding of issues/events/situations and
how they will play out in the short/mid-term and long-term is crucial. ~ Krishn
was a diplomat, a nation-builder, a catalyst, and statesman-par-excellence (do also read this post in its entirety - to get the drift); one who was among humans for a purpose; one who also thought about the
future of humanity and civilizational progress... and this reflects in his many
endeavours. (He was also the one who steered the transition from one era/yug to another.) He was a maestro; his sharpness, foresight and courage coupled with his gumption, ability
to stay the course, savvy-flexibility and alchemic nature made things happen (despite great adversities, and despite him not being in a position of strength vis-à-vis his adversaries, etc.) He was also a Yug Purush, Renaissance Man. [It is pointless to even say
that Krishn (the 8th Vishnu) made 'promises' to the likes of Duryodhan. His work is according to the Cosmic Plan. He
"awakens" - by bringing out both the positive and the negative ~ so as to
dispel confusion... to usher in clarity, introspection and
transformation... leading to corrective action/course correction. (And, he does it in a manner that is understandable/graspable by the humans of that/specific era/yug, 'coz comprehension, cognitive levels et al do not remain homogeneous across eras/ages/yugs. Nor do the human-species remain the same.) His 'promises'
to the likes of Duryodhan are part of his '...dharma-samsthapanarthaya sambhavami yuge-yuge' (To
guide and to re-establish/revitalize/rejuvenate/reinvigorate the principles of
"dharma" and "karm" ~ for the benefit of mankind/humanity ~ for a better
society and civilization, I manifest Myself millennium after
millennium.) Duryodhan et al were neither known for their ethics or integrity nor were their objectives noble. So, if they were to prevail... what would have happened to society/civilization? ~ Instead, Krishn protected and preserved
humanity/mankind and the earth. How would things/events have turned out otherwise? ~ Although a 'leela-avatar', He is not an Avatar of the Cosmic Person/Being,
but is considered as the Cosmic Person/Being Himself (albeit, in the flesh). ||
krishnas tu bhagavan svayam || He is the Cosmic Teacher and Cosmic Ruler. He is keshavah: One whose rays
illumine the cosmos (Brahm-jyoti), and one who is himself the three: kah Brahma, ah
Vishnu and Isa Shiva. ~ Even though in His human form, His purpose is different and his message is universal. ... Anyone who attributes human values to God (the 'leela-avatars' included) - has failed to realize the true Leelas behind those episodes. Such a person or persons have (thus) been unable to grasp/comprehend/understand the lesson(s) imparted by the Cosmic Being... and is therefore, 'asleep' ('fog', stagnation of the mind). PS: In Treta, one of the
major reasons for the Ramayana War... was to destroy dangerous weaponry (including
gigantic humanoid-robots like "Kumbhakarna" - that carried a variety of weapons)
~ to protect this planet and civilizations therein. Shri Ram (the Ram-avatar) also dismantled
the "Shiv-dhanush" or Pinaka - euphemism for the most destructive nuclear weapons - after an
all-round agreement/general consensus. ~ In Dvapar, one of the major purposes of the Dharm-Yudh (battle of ideas, ethics and principles) was to rid the
planet of extremely destructive weaponry and unnatural humans (highly evolved
humanoids) - to allow the planet, humanity and civilization to "heal"... so as to progress
naturally and peacefully.] | As they say: It takes courage to answer a call, It
takes courage to give your all. It takes courage to risk your name, It takes
courage to be true. It takes courage to dare what no other would share, to be
standing alone, one whom no one will own, To be ready to stake, for another
man's sake, it takes courage to be true... Krishn remains an enigma. He is deep blue. We admire the blue pre-dawn hours. The waters of
the ocean look blue from afar. But if you go near and take it in your palms,
you will no longer find it blue; it will be very clear, transparent. The oceans
continue to remain an enigma. ... Sri Krishn too is just like the deep blue
waters of the ocean: Achintya (inscrutable, enigmatic). Thus, he is often shown as having
a dark-blue complexion: not just blue, but a deep blue, like the velvet blue/indigo that sometimes can be seen in a dark sky, like
a blue that one may have at times seen from the deck of a ship thousands of
miles from shore on the Pacific Ocean or perhaps on the Atlantic Ocean. ... And whenever there is
something of unfathomable depth, it appears to be deep blue. ... Sri Krishn is like a deep and mighty river
flowing through the history of our nation. The
Mahabharata would have been very different without him. He was the fulcrum. I mean, what would
the Pandavas have done without Krishn by their side? This transcendent man started
out (as a mere boy) with tremendous disadvantage, found himself in the middle of events and
circumstances so nebulous (that perhaps even its creators may not have fully understood). And yet, he worked tirelessly, ushered in/facilitated positive change, reformed,
engaged, removed numerous roadblocks and obstacles, absorbed 'venom', cleared away the 'cobwebs' and 'toxin', 'healed', provided guidance, traced
the trajectory, put in place a framework... set the ball rolling, so to speak. So
much so that even some five millenniums down the line... his life and times, his
work/ contributions, his vision, his indomitable spirit, his philosophy and advice
remain as fresh and as relevant as ever. They are timeless and seminal, and
will remain so ~ forever. He was approachable, not snobbish or aloof - though he may not have suffered fools gladly; and,
he was neither a quitter nor impractical and unrealistic. He was not fond of
stagnation, and did not let a political vacuum to follow important events, e.g. he did not let a 'vacuum'
to aftercede Jarasandh. He was not someone
who lives in a world of fantasy, nor was his ideas and thoughts un-doable or
unattainable. Instead, he was a doer, a catalyst, a
phenomenon, and a force of nature. He was a pathfinder, a trailblazer... with a
tremendous ability to absorb 'toxin' and withstand 'venom'. This way: he also
made the job easier for others. His presence, achievements and actions (all that he did, that is) in various 'manthan-s' brings about positive change, besides serving as a catalyst for
other positivities and possibilities... ultimately, leading to a better society. Krishn also instructed (and inspired) through his
own behavior (acharan) ~ the mark of a true teacher/guru. ~ Mrtyormā amrtam gamaya | From
death, lead me unto immortality. ~ In His human form, Krishn did all that he did ~ through the sheer
dint of his karm alone; his commitment and passion towards achieving his
objectives is remarkable. So imagine the kind of vision he possessed, as well
as the magnitude of his tenacity and determination; he not only put in his time
but also his heart into it; and he was neither perfunctory nor condescending. He urges us into introspection; he guides and
mentors, and yet, his focus remains unwavering; he keeps the goals and
objectives above himself. [The goals and objectives: to reinvigorate the
principles of "dharma" and "karm" ~ to help and guide humanity so as to create a better society.] He is without a doubt a supersonic genius of epic proportions.
Super-Genius Reformer-Statesman. Soldier-Statesman par excellence (soldier against regression, pessimism, negativies and obscurantism, that is). Genius-est artist of all time. A genuine
trailblazer. ... And, "Giridhari" ~ doer/achiever of Herculean/superhuman tasks (as well as the dispeller ["lifter"] of [the
allegorical 'dark clouds' of] pessimism, despondency, confusion, hopelessness,
decay, et al ~ the harbinger of sunshine.) He led by example, and instructed through his
own behaviour (acharan). He stands out in a crowd; he is a leader, a hero, a legend; God in the flesh... and yet, an everyman. His message (to humanity) is nuanced/subtle. One needs to contemplate and deliberate deeply ~ to understand his life and purpose, so as to be able to fathom his karm, his message and his advise (to humanity). Only then will it percolate. And only then can the 'chrysalis
metamorphose into a butterfly'. [Society and civilization consists of people;
only when they change for the better (i.e. when they change their attitude/outlook and mindset for the better, when they shake off their slothfulness, obscurantism, apathy and so on)... negative aspects/'darkness' is dispelled. S/He comes to 'turn the wheel' (which would have
stagnated, perhaps even coated with layers and layers of dust and grime/filth)... but
the wheel needs to keep turning. There is no
magic-wand of any kind whatsoever. And therefore, there is no alternative to karm yog. He isn't a grouch; in fact, he is a li'l mischievous, slightly playful... and yet he has a strong presence, is extremely
on the ball, and exudes gravitas without breaking a sweat. [His intensity is balanced by his enthusiasm and
energy. Smouldering looks (think Rafael Nadal). Dark hair, and dark smouldering eyes (think Gregory Peck and Roger Federer). He is animated, unassuming and a brilliant polymath. His mind: vast and voraciously curious (~ extraordinary virtuosity). His
demeanour: pleasant. His appearance: mesmerizing smile, naughty yet innocent looks - possibly
chiseled and with big, captivating eyes. ~ He is a study in versatility - he has uncountable
sides to his personality that just makes the whole package even more
intriguing/enigmatic. ... Thoughtful, capable, and fascinating; steely willpower,
a quiet kind of confidence: the physical presence, charisma and confidence of
the Alpha male; but also unselfish, unpretentious, affable and genuine ~ an
unassuming Alpha male with princely qualities.] Krishn, if we can understand him and his
message, is no proponent of (any manner of) 'magic-wand theory'. His mantra is
karm yog, and karm yog alone ~ action, dedicated/diligent action, even selfless action/service; the 'wheel needs to keep turning'.] The journey is immensely enriching; therefore, the
journey is no less important than the destination... just as our business is
with the action (karm) only, never with its fruits (result, outcome). And there is no instant results either. And so, pessimism is not an option; wallowing in self-pity, despondency and
negativism/negativist mentality must be eschewed. [As
you think, so you become. Think you are Brahmn; Brahmn you will become. ~ Your
entire being, your karm, your thoughts... will reflect that.] Death is inevitable for all; a corpse is not
even referred to by name: it just becomes a 'body' - a 'corpse' ~ for everyone. Thus,
karm yog is essential for achieving 'eternal life' on Earth ~ Mrtyormā
amrtam gamaya | From death, lead me unto immortality. And so, a great amount of karm (nishkam karm or selfless action/service
- that contribute towards a better society) needs to be performed diligently and unselfishly... to attain 'moksha' ~ liberation from the material existence (the constant cycle of life,
death and re-birth). || Om
Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya Namah ||
Notes
on Nishkam karm (selfless action); Jeevan Mukt (state of inner detachment); karm yogi
(the man of action); the concept of caraṇa-ambujam/caraṇa-ambhojam or 'lotus feet' and
Kara-puṣkara or 'lotus-palm'; Turyaga (the state of a
Muni/Jnani/Yogi - a truly enlightened being); Sat-cit-ānanda (spiritual ecstasy
or the state of eternal bliss - of the mind and soul); Self-realization or Param-aatma
realization - communion with Brahmn/the Universal Consciousness), etc: Nishkama karma is the dynamic power of duty exalted by inner detachment
(Jeevan Mukt). It is freedom in
action, not freedom from
action. As such, it is an expression of deepest dharma (dharmic consciousness).
It is a Cause far greater than our individual selves. It is one of Life. It is
one of Right and Truth - of our fundamental
being. It is through disciplined karm that the individual comes to
realize his or her true nature
as well as his or her true
purpose. [In other words: only by performing good
deeds indefinitely/continuously, sakama (selfish, glory-seeking) karm gets
transformed into nishkam (selfless) karm.] ... It is then that one transcends
the dualism of hope and despondency, gain and loss, joy and sorrow, hate and
personal desire. It is then that one's heart becomes larger than the universe
itself. ~ Wisdom is firmly set. Material desire (for praise, or glory or thoughts
of achieving 'eternal life' or moksha etc) is replaced by the desire of the soul and the
realization of this inner self - one's true
being - as part of a greater Whole, which is the proper goal of all one's
striving. BG 6.3: || For
the wise who seeks to attain yoga Karma-yoga is said to be the means; For the
one who has attained yoga, Equanimity becomes the means || [Yoga or Yog does not mean complicated
physical manoeuvers/exercises; instead, it is the science of achieving complete harmony ~
of the body, mind and spirit. It results in sanjog (connection between all three). It calms the mind, brings about (inner) detachment and bliss/spiritual
ecstasy, and generates synergy; in short: it activates kundalini.] BG 6.4: || A
person is said to have attained yogic perfection When there is no desire for
sense gratification (desire for personal glory, praise, etc), Or attachment to the fruits of work (result/outcome), And has renounced all
personal selfish motives (desire for 'eternal life' or 'moksha', etc) || BG 6.7: || For
one who has conquered the mind, the Universal Consciousness/Brahmn/Supreme Self
(Param-aatma) is already reached, for s/he has attained tranquility. To such a
person happiness and distress, heat and cold, praise and humiliation are all the
same || Those who are endowed with the knowledge of selfless action - renouncing all motives of personal glory etc - perform their
actions without attachment to their consequences (fruits). They are not carried
away by success or depressed by lack of quick results, but enjoy mental
equanimity. Nothing can affect their resolve. Thus, they have achieved
sovereign control of the mind and through it that inner freedom, which provides for unity of
thought, word and deed - which is the hallmark of Aryan consciousness ('Arya
Dharma'). The advantage that flows from the performance of selfless action may be summarized
quite briefly. No longer is one subject to the senses or to that which lies without.
Rather, the imperative of dharma as detached (freedom from attachment) duty now
reveals its own intrinsic values of dignity, purity and sublimity. It must be
emphasized that selfless action
does not suggest unconcern for a given goal or purpose. Indeed, implicit in the
very concept is the idea of a cause,
or purpose, beyond the interests of the individual (a cause much higher than
oneself - for the greater good/Loka Kalyana or Loka-sangraha), which provides
the necessary field for action. And there can be no higher cause than Loka
Kalyana or Loka-sangraha (the greater good - for a better society and
civilization). ~ Krishn was a most extraordinary figure. He led by example, and instructed through his own behaviour
(acharan). His was
the highest dharmic mission; and by his very appearance, he not only
reinvigorated the principles of dharma (dharma-samsthapanarthaya),
he also urged (advised) humanity to action (karm) - to duty. To karm yog. ~ Work for a greater cause, but work in
detachment ('Jeevan Mukt'). Try not to feel upset if you are unsuccessful (i.e.
do not achieve instant results). Try not to feel pride if you are successful.
If people insult/disparage you, be indifferent/stoic. If they praise you, don't feel exalted.
Feel indifferent. Cultivate equanimity and equipoise. That is intrinsic to karm
yog. ~ Struggle (continuous effort) does not necessarily guarantee (instant) success;
but without it, no positive change is possible. And the call to struggle is
called - duty. The higher cause (for Loka
Kalyana or Loka-sangraha - the greater good) and the struggle
(continuous effort) alone should inspire our thoughts and actions.
The struggle, however, is one of protraction
extending over decades and generations. It cannot be sustained by ephemeral
passions or the whims of the moment, but only by focused and unrelenting resolve which is unaffected by the
vagaries of success and setback. Therefore, it is important to cultivate the
yoga of struggle (karm yog; equanimity and equipoise). ~ BG 2.15: || yam hi na
vyathayanty ete purusam purusarsabha sama-duhkha-sukham dhiram so 'mrtatvaya kalpate || ~ "O noble one [Arjun], that person of wise judgment equipoise
in happiness and distress, and is steady in both, is certainly eligible for 'eternal
life' (could also mean moksha/liberation)." | ~ Through the practice of selfless action, we achieve
equanimity and efficiency. It
is this efficiency of all those working in concert for the common cause which
is the prerequisite for positive societal change. By choosing to become
instruments of this higher cause (for Loka
Kalyana or Loka-sangraha - the greater good) and struggle (continuous effort) ~ one becomes part of a higher
destiny. Therefore, (Krishn's advise is): do your duty. Let your life become
one with the Cause of the greater whole. That, and that alone. That is nishkam
karm and karm yog. ~ If everyone concerned were to embrace the higher cause (leading
to the greater good - a better society/world/civilization) and act upon it with
dedication and consistency, the struggle
(continuous effort) could certainly be mastered, no matter the
odds. It requires staying-power (dharmic stamina and steadfastness). One cannot
grow weary and give up, without committing themselves unreservedly to the
struggle (cause, continuous effort). Instead of being active participants in
their own destiny, humanity cannot become idlers and spectators. The higher Cause
is impossible and hopeless for the weak-minded (in his or her own subjective judgment); it is not
objectively hopeless or impossible for those worthy of it. For the former, this
lame attitude is the (result of) expectation of quick, easy, painless results.
If a certain outcome is not realized within a set period of time, they tend to despair,
and (therefore) give up... and the whole enterprise is abandoned. Forgotten
completely are earlier protestations of concern about the condition of the
world/society/civilization and the need for a better one. Ironically, it is
this very focus on fixed (quick, tangible) results, rather than on fulfillment
of duty (steadfast karm/effort with inner detachment), which obscures the vision and blinds one to
those possibilities which might otherwise open up as a by-product of correct thinking and
acting, and thus lead to that very change they all seek. Amidst all the talk of
the need for positive change (positive societal change), this fixation on (instant)
outcome quickly leads to frustration and despair when success is not easily and
readily achieved. But this attitude - this mental posture - is wrong and
self-defeating. It is therefore prudent to shun such an attitude/outlook, and detach oneself. [i.e. cultivate equanimity and equipoise - for inner detachment. This would give
freedom in action, not freedom from action.] ~ The ancient Aryans called
it nishkâma karma - action
without attachment (to karmphal/outcome), action without personal desire (for quick/instant
results, for personal glory, etc). It is selfless endeavor, efficient (and
continuous) action without fear or doubt, and may be defined as the performance
of one's duty without desire for the fruits of one's action(s). [Here there is no regard for personal glory of
any kind. One might say that it is simply a matter of doing the dharmic thing (for a better society/civilization) - not for the results or outcome, not out of desire for personal glory or praise. Nothing more, nothing less.] Put
another way, selfless action
is disciplined action directed toward a goal greater than one's own personal
whims and interests; a higher cause - for the greater good (Loka Kalyana or
Loka-sangraha). It is about becoming part of a higher destiny. The man of
action (karm yogi) does not withdraw and turn inward, but cheerfully embraces
struggle and toil as the ideal in life. For him or her, selflessness consists
of the renunciation of personal desire (a carefree life, etc), not of action itself. Restraint and
discipline of the senses (inner detachment/Jeevan Mukt) must, accordingly, not be seen as
selfish ends in themselves, enabling one to escape from the rigours of life.
Rather - along with action itself - they are to be considered a means by which one is able to discharge
one's duty in the service of a higher cause (~ such a one is a hamsan, yogi or karm
yogi). [And *this* should also help us to understand the concept of caraṇa-ambujam/caraṇa-ambhojam or 'lotus feet' as well as the concept of
Kara-puṣkara or 'lotus-palm'. ... And why the spirit of
such persons is spotless, like the lotus in the muddy water that remains
"detached" (does not adhere to it.) Or like the hamsah/swan...
whose feathers do not get damp despite remaining in contact with water. ~ Thus
the lotus flower and the hamsah/swan are embodiments of (inner) "detachment"
(Jeevan Mukt)... and exemplify a true "yogi", a real ascetic/hamsan or sanyaasi
(Jeevan Mukt: one who is detached like the lotus... which grows in muddy water
and yet remains Nirmal - untouched by it.) ~ It is the mark of an enlightened,
higher soul (mahatmanah).] Thus, selfless action
does not suppress the senses, but merely sublimates them - spiritualizes them - for a higher
purpose. [~ For the individual Aryan karm yogi there could be no
promise of success. That, by definition, would rob him or her of the opportunity for
the heroic deed (performed for the greater good or as part of a greater cause).
Without selfless action
and the dharmic freedom (inner detachment) it bestows, however, no Aryan victory (to bring about
positive change within oneself and/or in society) could be achieved.]
There
are two components to the concept of selfless
action: selflessness,
or (inner) detachment (Jeevan Mukt), and action.
While, on the one hand, it calls for non-desire (from personal glory or praise,
etc) and selflessness, it also calls for action - for doing. The first component, (inner) detachment, is simply the removal of the
mind from all extraneous distraction and the devoted, disciplined,
single-minded concentration toward a higher spiritual and dharmic purpose. Selfless action insists on the
exclusion of all personal inclination and desire (for instant results, glory,
praise, a carefree life, etc) - all consideration of pleasure or pain, success or failure (lack
of quick results) - from the dharmic equation. The sole focus of its
concern is the objective values of loyalty
and diligent purposefulness in
the service of a higher cause. Indeed, genuine dharmic life consists in giving
up egoistic (ahamkara, negative pride or vainglorious) instincts and embracing such values. The
converse of selfishness, of course, is selfishness,
or personal attachment (for praise, glory, etc). Because of its attachment,
action so undertaken tends to be flighty and fickle. And because it
cannot be sustained, it cannot offer the prospect of victory in a protracted
struggle (i.e. the desired positive societal change). When the mind is attached
to objects of the senses and to that which lies without, mental focus and
rational stability are impaired, as is concentration and steadfastness. As a
result, such attachment (of the senses, or for quick results, personal glory,
etc) leads to inconstancy and lack of direction. But when the mind is withdrawn from sense-objects
and given dharmic direction (inner detachment, steadfast karm/effort with equanimity and equipoise), this
fleeting flux of desires vanishes and dharmic fixity is established. [i.e. sakama (selfish, glory-seeking) karm gets transformed into nishkam (selfless) karm.] Acquiring such disciplined mental disposition is an
essential prerequisite for the development of an attitude that alone will
enable one to practice selfless action.
'Coz no longer will
they be subservient (under the influence) to the senses but have attained that
sovereignty, which we may describe as consciousness of the soul. The mind -
having acquired an attitude of concentration and equipoise - is thus
balanced, and (therefore) is now free to establish its sovereignty and dharmic authority.
[i.e. The mind is Sattvic, immune from worldly
thoughts.] ~ It is the state of Turyaga. [Note: Turyaga is
the state of a Muni/Jnani/"yogi" - a truly enlightened being; it
leads to (inner) "detachment" (Jeevan Mukta) ~ allowing one to enter
into nirvikalpa samadhi to 'awaken' to "Moksha" (liberation). Such a
person can do seemingly impossible tasks with ease - the allegorical
'Giridhari' ~ also the dispeller ("lifter") of (the metaphoric 'dark and heavy clouds' of) pessimism, despondency, confusion, hopelessness, decay,
et al... the harbinger of joy and hope and the bringer of sunshine. Such a person is also "Siddha" - one whose heart is
larger than the universe itself: one who has achieved the eternal
bliss/spiritual ecstasy of "self-realization" ~ Sat-cit-ānanda.
BG 2.72: || esa brahmi sthitih paartha nainam prapya vimuhyati sthitvasyam anta-kale 'pi brahma-nirvanam rcchati || ~ "O Paartha [O Son of Prtha/Kunti], having gained the realization of the Ultimate Truth (Ultimate Consciousness/Self-realization), one is never again deluded and even at the end of one's life, being situated in this state, liberation from the material existence (moksha) and attainment of the Ultimate Consciousness (Brahmn) is assured." | ~ When the mind is withdrawn from the sense objects and deep reflection sets in, the objective consciousness is 'closed'; Savitarka Samadhi commences. This is Samadhi with reasoning. The mind here is free from worldly thoughts; negative thoughts (or thoughts about personal glory, etc) cannot enter now. The mind is Sattvic. (It can be called Chitta Suddhi.) When the mind is completely absorbed in one object of meditation, it is termed Samadhi. Karm Yog is also a kind of meditation. It destroys the ego (negative pride, ahankara, vainglory). And, it requires complete self-sacrifice of Nishkam Karm Yog (selfless action/service). Such yogis are Nishkam Karm Yogis. ... And only they can achieve Nirvikalpa Samadhi to 'awaken' to Moksha (liberation). [Shri Krishn was not given to vainglory. Instead, he was a nishkam karm yogi, a true "yogi" and Jnani, a Param-hamsah (Supreme Swan).] The state of Nirvikalpa Samadhi leads to (inner) detachment/Jeevan Mukt. In nirvikalpa samadhi there is infinite bliss. (Sat-cit-ānanda, pronounced as: sach-chid-ānanda - one who has achieved eternal bliss of self-realization. Sat describes an essence that is pure and timeless; cit is consciousness; ānanda is absolute bliss or spiritual ecstasy.) One not only feels bliss, but also actually grows into that bliss (of the body, mind and spirit/soul). [Yoga or yog does not indicate some complicated physical manoeuvers; instead, it is the science of achieving complete harmony ~ of the body, mind and spirit. It calms the mind, leads to inner detachment and (therefore) bliss/spiritual ecstasy... and generates synergy; in short: it activates kundalini. (Probably, "yog" or "yoga" has given rise to "sanjog"/"sanyog", to connect. ~ When the mind is Sattvic (free from worldly thoughts, or thoughts of personal glory, etc) and is completely absorbed in one object of meditation, it is termed Samadhi. Meditation (dhyan) is also Yoga or Yog; it not only helps in achieving complete harmony of the body, mind and spirit, but also helps in connecting with the energies of the cosmos. It activates and unleashes the power of kundalini... that in turn illumines or 'ignites' the mind.] ~ BG 10.20: || aham atma gudakesha sarva-bhutasaya-sthitah aham adis ca madhyam ca bhutanam anta eva ca || ~ "I am the Supreme Spirit (Supersoul/Atman), O Arjun, seated in the hearts of all living entities. I am the beginning, the middle and the end of all beings." | ~ When one enters into nirvikalpa samadhi, one's heart is larger than the universe itself. One 'sees' the universe as a tiny dot inside one's vast heart. (Aham Brahmasmi ~ I am He/Brahmn: one (the jiva) achieves communion with the Universal Consciousness.) ~ One reflects the light of every being in the universe, and one's light is reflected in them. One can feel the expansiveness of one's being... an expression of the infinite field of intelligence and all possibilities. ~ Becoming one with the soul is possible only in the Nirvikalpa Samadhi state. (Should one hold communion with Brahmn [the Universal Consciousness], devoid of mental fancies/attachments and modifications, then the great bondage of the mind will cease, all doubts will vanish, all pratibandha or vighna [impediments of the mind and spirit] will disappear, and all [negative] karmas will perish.) ~ It is then [i.e. only after attaining the stage of Nirvikalpa Samadhi] that one gains Realization of God and the Self [i.e. Self-realization or Param-aatma realization.] ~ It is then that Jiva [the human soul or individual soul] becomes identical with Brahmn [the Param-aatma or Supersoul (Atman) or the Universal Consciousness.] ~ Self-realization (or Param-aatma realization) is to fully know and realize who you are. Before knowing God/Universal Consciousness (Brahmn), know yourself. If you understand yourself... only then is it possible to understand God (Universal Consciousness/Brahmn), Nature or Love. With the realization of the Universal Consciousness (Atman/Supersoul/Param-aatma/Brahmn) come universal compassion, love, and the awareness of the oneness of all things (higher knowledge).]
Let your auspicious effulgence take away the darkness and greed of our souls.
[A humble endeavour: Notes on Shri Krishn, deciphering the Mahabharata, etc ~ do read the post in its entirety... to grasp its scope, et al.]
BG 11.5: sri-bhagavan uvaca (Sri Bhagavan said): || pasya
me paartha rupani sataso 'tha sahasrasah nana-vidhani divyani nana-varnakrtini
ca || ~ "Behold, O Paartha [O son of Prtha],
by hundreds and thousands, My different forms: celestial, varied in colours and
shapes." [Prtha = Kunti's real name.] | Lord Krishna is considered as the Cosmic Person/Being
in his totality of manifestation. He is not an Avatar of the Cosmic Person/Being,
but is considered as the Cosmic Person/Being Himself (albeit, in the flesh). || krishnas tu bhagavan svayam || He is the Cosmic Teacher and Cosmic Ruler. He is
the sum-total of all the Cosmic, Solar and Planetary Devas. He is the Yogi of
the Yogis. The Deva of the Devas. He is the Synthesis of the universe. | ... There is noone on this planet that can really
depict how our Gods actually look like. There is none who can authenticate the
actual appearance of God (Satyam-Sivam-Sundaram: Satyam = Eternal/Truth/Dharma; Sivam = Auspiciousness; Sundaram = Goodness/Principles). In the last few hundred generations, nobody has
actually seen Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva; therefore, nobody can vouch for their
exact appearances. [And, the same is applicable to the Dasavatara. E.g. noone knows how Krishn actually looked like.] The visual depictions/idols or images of our gods are
(therefore) based on imagination (very likely that of more than one person.)
However, these images and idols incorporate postures, symbolism and
metaphorical understanding ~ to communicate and define the entire functioning
of the universe/cosmos. [None of which is to be taken literally; they are all allegorical and full of symbolism.] Also, Sanaatan Dharma does not promote fear toward God (therefore, the human-like images are serene-faced and reassuring).
There is no concept of 'fear of god'. ~ And though we are very familiar with Brahma,
Vishnu and Shiva, not all of the Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva (mentioned in our
ancient texts and scriptures) are entities. Some of them are just metaphors
for one or the other cosmic force (even sub-force or energy.) For example, Lord Shiva's physical form itself
(with which we all are very familiar)... is just imagery (not to be taken literally) for a (namesake) force
of the universe. [Also, cosmic turbulence is euphemistically called 'tandav'
or 'tandav nritya'. Its physical depiction - the Nataraj form of the cosmic 'Shiva-force' - alludes to
this.] Besides, there have also been keertiman humans by the
name of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva (possibly, more than one set of Brahma, Vishnu
and Shiva ~ following the last great flood/Mahajal Pralaya.) Lakshmi, Sarasvati
and Parvati are higher cosmic entities/beings, while their human namesakes have achieved amaratva/'eternal life' (and are thus, 'mrityunjay') on the strength of their karm. And while there was a Kaali on
earth, elsewhere in the cosmos 'Kaali' is the name of a cosmic force (rather a sub-force)... that
keeps the cosmic 'Shiva-force' inert. However, due to the passage of time...
multiple narratives have converged and fused into one. There were human Varuna and Indra (very likely a 'title' for the chief/king of the 'Asura' and 'Deva' clans respectively); probably a somewhat monolithic clan that later branched into two. One of these
'Indra' defeated Varuna. Eons later... Meghnaad defeated another 'Indra' ~ and took
on the title of 'Indrajeet'. [For great kings and emperors... to assume a title was
common in earlier eras/yugs. In the current yug, Samraat Chandragupta II had
assumed the title of "Vikramaditya" ~ after thwarting
the imperialistic designs/machinations and ambitions of the Sakas, and driving them out of
wide swathes of land, (probably almost the whole of modern Asia). He then established peace and prosperity under his wise, benevolent
and enlightened rule.] However, by Krishn's time... there was no human Varuna
or Indra. ['Deva' does not mean "demi-god", and 'Asura' does not mean "demon". Such connotations have come about... thanks to mistranslation.] 'Danava', 'Rakshasa' and 'Daitya' were 'Asura'
sub-clans, while 'Gandharva' and maybe the 'Suparnah' (falcon or golden eagle
emblem/insignia/totem-bearing clan) and the 'Shakuna' (vulture
emblem/insignia/totem-bearing clan) were 'Deva' sub-clans. Garuda was a
prominent 'Suparnah': probably a 'title' for the leader or chief. As for the 'Shakuna' clan:
think of Jatayu and Sampati, they were not birds per se. Also, Shakuntala was
cared for and brought up by the Shakuna people. (Shakuntala: one
who grew up under the care of the Shakuna; the 'shakun' in Shakuntala is not 'vulture' per
se. Tala = under the care of.) [Note: It is possible that the 'Danava', 'Rakshasa' and 'Daitya' were
considerably taller than the others, and so, this could have been a
distinguishing feature. (However, there has never been a homogeneous set of humans on earth.) The humans of the earlier eras would have (in
all likelihood) differed in height, longevity, appearance and other physical characteristics, etc...
compared to modern humans. Even the adivasis (descendents of the first set of
humans that evolved on earth; do also read paragraph #6 ~ from the last) of the earlier eras/yugs would have been different from their modern
counterparts. Also, somewhere down the line, whether various adivasi clans came
to be regarded as 'Danava', 'Rakshasa' and 'Daitya' or not ~ my guess is as good as yours. Plus, various ancient humans/groups have become extinct... whether they were replaced by others ~ my guess is as good as yours. Also, the
earth has been witness to numerous events and has undergone enormous amounts of
changes over the past several million or billions of years. And this would also
include the great deluge (Mahajal Pralaya) and other forms of "Pralaya"
(cataclysmic events). However, the last great deluge/flood (Mahajal Pralaya) cannot be millions of years old. Therefore, how many types of flora, fauna and humans
have inhabited or walked on this earth ~ my guess is as good as yours. Besides, (e.g.) perhaps, once upon a time the Antarctic was habitable. [So
the topography there as well as the Antarctic ice will surely contain millions
of years of our climate history, etc.] Also, due to these Pralayas (cataclysmic
events) and Mahajal Pralaya (great flood) we do not quite know how the
terrain/topography, geography, flora and fauna, et al of the world looked
like (in earlier eras/yugs) or has evolved. As to how various extinct (or lost) flora and fauna
make their re-appearance ~ my guess is as good as yours. So, will the blue lotus
(pushkara or indivara) and/or the red lotus (kokonada, kamala) re-appear - once
mankind/humanity reaches the 'Golden Age' (Sat/Satya/Krita Yug)? - My guess is as good
as yours.] Note: After the decline of the Gupta era, the various
translations and interpretations (of the earlier texts) as well as the many new
texts that emerged... not only missed out on the symbolic, metaphorical and
allegorical aspects of Sanaatan Dharma, the post-Gupta era translators also
could not quite figure out the many scientific and technological verses
(involving advanced medical science, biotechnology and quantum physics - that were an integral
part of the earlier eras, texts and scriptures; some of which were even related
to celestial events involving stars, planets, etc.) Not only did the later
translators lack the necessary vocabulary, the Sanskrit language too did not
remain stagnant; so there were changes in phonetics, meanings and so on. ...
And these (very likely) also impacted the later translations and
interpretations (besides newer works that were based on these post-Gupta era
translations). Similar-sounding names and nomenclature too may have given rise to confusion. Plus, many events/aspects have been taken literally, while
several narratives have fused into one. ~ 'Yagna' or 'Yagna-kund' indicated research, scientific procedures, etc... and not fire-ritual per se. New
concepts (such as propitiation) came about - thanks to the ritual-heavy
"Brahminical faith"; however, prarabda karm (bad, negative karm) cannot be
"washed off" and (thereby gradually) a positive balance of karm gained -
through propitiation, rituals, and so on; there is no alternative to karm yog. Also,
the Cosmic Being/Cosmic Ruler as well as the Cosmic Plan has nothing to do with
propitiation, and the like. That apart, there have been innumerable retelling, interpolations, extrapolations, re-writings,
simplification, and over-simplification even... for the purposes of stage plays,
songs, poetry, and so on. ~ The post-Gupta period
(unfortunately) was not marked by a scientific temperament/achievements or by intellectual
stimulation, unlike the Gupta era and before*. ... So objectivity or objective
narration may have become a casualty to emotions and the sign of the
times. ~ My guess is as good as yours. [*Bharatavarsha, "cherished land": the
continent ('varsha'; Sanskrit) that is dedicated ('rata') to light, wisdom
('bha').]
Bhur
|
(earth) / Pranaswaroop
|
Bhuvah
|
(atmosphere) / Dukh Nashak
|
Swaha
|
(heavens) / Sukh Swaroop
|
Tat
|
(that)
|
Savitur
|
(of the source) / Tejasvi
|
Varenyam
|
(to be held sacred) / Shresht
|
Bhargo
|
(light) / Paap-nashak
|
Devasya
|
(of the effulgent) / Divyo ko
|
Dhimahi
|
(we meditate on) / Dharan karen
|
Dhiyo
|
(that illumined intelligence,
wisdom) / Buddhi ko
|
Yo
|
(which) / Jo
|
Nah
|
(us) / Hamari
|
Prachodayat
|
(inspires) / Prerit kare
|
There are a few "miracles" associated with
Krishna's birth. Let's consider. The guards "magically" falling
asleep and the prison gates opening and closing "miraculously" -
these can be attributed to the many acts of kindness displayed by the palace,
kitchen and jail staff. Krishna's mother (Devaki) was the daughter of the
deposed king, Ugrasena, and she (along with Vasudev) was suffering at the hands
of her own brother Kansh. Hence, we cannot rule out the presence of
sympathetic people within the rank and file - even during Kansh's reign, [since Kansh's powerful minister Akrura himself was sympathetic towards Krishna (in
later years).] Therefore: the food may have been spiked (to make some of the
guards on duty to fall into a deep slumber) while the other guards (who were
sympathetic towards Krishna's parents) opened the prison gates, thus enabling
Vasudev to take the baby Krishna to a safer place. Once he returned, these
guards simply locked the prison gates. Also: the Nag was a serpent-worshiping
clan. Probably they displayed a serpent totem/insignia too. One of their
prominent king/chieftain, Vasuki, shielded the baby Krishna (from inclement
weather) during Vasudev's journey. However, later translators misinterpreted
this... thereby turning Vasuki into a gigantic serpent. He was very much human! The 'daiva-vaani' (divine announcement - that
the 8th child of Devaki-Vasudev would be Kansh's nemesis) probably
is #1. a reference (and interpretation) of Kansh's dream - by his royal astrologer, or #2. a reference to
the latter's prediction. Kansh was a megalomaniac and tyrant
(who was also under the influence of the despotic Jarasandha), so it is entirely possible that he
physically battered Devaki's babies, or it could also be that he denied them (and her) all
forms of medical assistance (during and after the deliveries). Either way, all
the babies died soon after birth. [Whatever little help the staff may have
extended... wouldn't have been enough.] However, the 7th child,
Balarama, was transferred from Devaki's womb to Rohini's womb (via embryo
transfer. Here 'Rohini' is a reference to an incubator - that acted as a surrogate
womb, just like 'Ganga' is a reference/metaphor for a lab). This 'embryo
transfer' (probably) happened due to the combined efforts of certain members
of the staff (who were sympathetic to Devaki and Vasudev) and other influential figures (like Kansh's minister, Akrura.) As for Yogmaya or Vishnu-maya (supposedly the "daughter"
of King Nand, and a replacement for the newborn Krishna) - probably "she" was a
life-like baby doll (with an internal structure, which allowed for
life-like movement and positioning or posing.) Maybe the word "maya" has, therefore, been used (perhaps, to
indicate "illusion", i.e. something that induced the "illusion" of a real/human
baby. Or in other words: something that simulated the
characteristics of a human baby.) As for Subhadra, supposedly Krishna's "half-sister" (who was "born" of
Rohini)... well, 'Rohini' is (a
reference to) an incubator - that acted
as a surrogate womb. So, one isn't quite sure
what is meant by "half-sister", except that later-day translators have yet again not
understood technology... and, therefore, interpolated. [However, whether Subhadra (and the Arjun-Subhadra
story) is courtesy later interpolations or not - my guess is as good as yours.]
Krishna, who was born under unusual circumstances, who grew up... away from his parental home, was sent away to study at the age of 5 or 7, and who returned only to be instantly drawn into a whirlpool of intrigue (unleashed by the machinations of the tyrannical Jarasandha and Kansh). [Jain tradition recognizes Krishna as Vasudev and Jarasandh as the prati-Vasudev (possibly: anti-Krishna) - and this shows how important the rivalry between the two was.] Krishna, who appeared on the scene with his heroic abilities, superior intellect and tremendous political foresight (when the political situation of the country was most difficult); He, having been thrown into the situation, was quite clear in his objective. Krishna, of the Mahabharata and the Srimad Bhagavad Geeta - far removed from the flute-wielding romantic who figures in Jayadev's "Geet Gobind"; Krishna, whose consort is Rukmini. [Satyabhama is very likely the consort of the Krishna of Jayadev's "Geet Gobind". Due to the similarity in names, narratives have confluenced. Shri Krishna was part of Dvapar - an era when #1. The human species on earth was very small in number and #2. Within that too the male-female ratio was heavily skewed. So, if at all there were a large number of milkmaids, they would have been unnatural humans (genetically engineered, cloned) and humanoids. Umm, we all are very familiar with the Meerabai story, aren't we? But then she lived about five centuries ago and Krishna was part of Dvapar. However, if five or six centuries down the line someone were to retell the Mahabharata story yet again, can we rule out the possibility of both these narratives merging? Also: Krishna was sent to study at Maharshi Sandeepani and Garga Muni's ashram at the age of 5 or 7. Here he would have been put through a rigorous training regimen, spending his time reading a variety of subjects. (Ashrams or gurukul-s were situated in isolated/remote places and the students followed a strict/disciplined life.) So, it is quite unlikely that Krishn would have been able to spend his time, especially his teenage years, in the company of milkmaids (including Radha) or by playing with village boys (Sudama included). Also, Jambavan was part of Treta. So Krishna could not have married Jambavani in Dvapar. As for his supposed 16,108 'wives' or even 700,000 'wives' and 180,000 'sons', these cannot be taken at face value. These figures (very likely) came about courtesy the many cultic groups and movements that sprung up in Krishna's name, especially the 'Bhakti Movement'. Members of this movement considered themselves "married" to Shri Krishn. Yes, even the men. Also, the 'Bhakti Movement' being a reform movement, it is possible that many of these stories were woven in order to mainstream some marginalized groups, such as the 'tritiya prakriti', etc. A multitude of retelling, paintings, poems, songs, music, stage plays et al followed, and over time... bits and pieces of these have made their way into the narrative concerning Krishn. As for (his consort) Rukmini (or Rukmani), Krishna had heroically eloped with her (at her request)... to prevent an unwanted marriage with Shishupal, the crown prince of Chedi (a vassal country under the suzerainty of Emperor Jarasandh of Magadh). Since Rukmini's father (Bhismaka) too ruled over a vassal country (under the suzerainty of Magadh), her ambitious brother, Rukmi, proposed that she be married to his friend Shishupal. But having heard much about Krishn... Rukmini had her heart set on him. However, Rukmi did not want to earn the wrath of the ruthless Jarasandh and so, convinced Bhismaka as well. Frankly, the Krishna-Rukmini story reminds me of the great Scottish novelist and an amazingly popular poet, Sir Walter Scott's lovely poem: Lochinvar. [This poem, once memorized by every schoolchild in Britain and Ireland and many others across the globe, is from his long narrative epic poem, Marmion.] Note: Even our raags/ragas were classified as 'husband', 'wife' and even 'son'. Rāginī is a term for the "feminine" counterpart or "wife" to a rāga. The rāga-rāgini scheme from about the 14th century aligned 6 "male" rāgas with 6 "wives" (rāginis) and a number of sons (putras) and even 'daughters-in-law'... none of which should be taken literally or at face value. Plus, the way Krishna is depicted, his attire, etc... perhaps can be traced back to the 'Bhakti Movement'. Krishna has been an integral part of the many indigenous reform and renaissance movements that has happened over the last millennium or so. These were able to undo/change and/or dilute several of the unwanted aspects/social ills, etc that had seeped into society and Sanaatan Dharm... by creating awareness, thereby changing mindset, perceptions, etc via stage plays, open air theatres, poetry, couplets, story-telling, books, paintings/visual arts/iconography, songs and music [also rendered by wandering minstrels] and the like. Also: all these stories involving Krishn, Rukmini, Narad Muni, etc are (very likely) later additions... for the purpose of stage plays, verses, poetry, and so on. It is unlikely that anyone else would have known what transpired between Krishn and Rukmini (since either of them is unlikely to have invited any witness.) [And this is also applicable to Rukmini's letter (to Krishn). It is unlikely that either of them would have shared its contents with other people. So, the version we have now... is (very likely) the outcome of later-day writers' and translators' imagination.] Besides, Krishn, the 8th Vishnu, was in his human form, and therefore, would not only have behaved like one; he would also have expected to be treated like a human. Therefore, he is unlikely to have behaved like the Lord of Creation with Rukmini, especially. Though it is quite likely that being an intelligent and perceptive person, Rukmini, like Arjun, (and maybe even Draupadi), probably - at some point - understood that her husband (Krishn) was not an ordinary human. But this is something Krishn himself never went around declaring/announcing. [As for Arjun, he was (at some point) able to see beyond the veneer... created by Krishn himself. ... And that is how the Srimad Bhagavad Geeta came about. And that is how Krishn's real identity became known to one and all.] It is quite possible, though, that Krishn was surprised at Rukmini's choice (of a veritable wanderer with a nomadic lifestyle) for a husband... since he was an extremely busy person (with barely any time for himself... courtesy all the 'push' and 'pull' and 'cross currents'.) He was a live wire, and led an intense life. He led a tough life full of stress, numerous pressures and high-velocity... and there was a multitude of tasks to be accomplished under very difficult/challenging circumstances. Krishn is detached from Rukmini in the sense that he is not concerned or bothered about whether she was beautiful or not or whether she was highly intelligent or knowledgeable or not and the like. [Though, given her background, she would certainly have been erudite and knowledgeable in a wide variety of subjects, besides (very likely) having many and varied interests. Therefore, they would have been intellectually quite well-matched and compatible, besides being emotionally suited to one another in terms of temperament. And, from what we can gather... they would have also looked stunning together.] It is unlikely that Krishn would have expected her 'devotion' (he was human, not a deity.) He saw her as a person, and accepted her the way she was. Rukmini, on the other hand, comes across as an intelligent, perceptive and balanced person. She does not come across as immature, boastful, envious, demanding, imprudent, petty or arrogant, or as someone given to sulking, either. In short, one can say that she was (in every way) worthy of being the consort of someone like Krishn. They (probably) were, what we call, soul-mates. [In case she were to be envious/jealous of him, meaning if there were to be "samudra-manthan" between them, that would have been an additional burden on Krishn, a mental as well as an emotional burden, that too. And that kind of mind games would have affected him (and perhaps even hurt him) in a manner that nothing else could ever have (including all the machinations of Jarasandh, Duryodhan, Shishupal, etc etc put together.)] Perhaps she was his anchor. Perhaps... she was able to understand Krishn (and his life)... and (hence) could become his anchor. His patience, magnanimity and forgiveness can be gauged from the fact that he is none other than God himself (albeit, in the flesh). And He remembers who he is, what his purpose on earth is (as well as all his previous incarnations/avatars.) The 'toxin' directed at him does not rile him: BG Chapter 9, verse 11: || avajānanti māḿ mūḍhā mānuṣīḿ tanum āśritam paraḿ bhāvam ajānanto mama bhūta-maheśvaram || ~ "The ignorant deride Me when I descend in the human form. They do not know My transcendental nature as the Supreme Lord of all that be." Krishn is a karm yogi and totally "detached" (one has to understand him, his life, his purpose, the path he tread and his karm to get this). He is a complete yogi... and yet, he is also the most magnificent householder (he was non-monastic; he did not renounce "home life".) He also comes across as spartan, effortless and sorted. And given that he is "Sahasrasirsa" ("with thousand heads") ~ he would also have been able to adapt to any situation or event. Krishn is referred to as 'hamsan' or 'ascetic'/'yogi' and/or is compared to the 'lotus' ~ due to his selfless service to society and humanity (Loka-sangraha or Loka Kalyana.) ['Karm Yogi' is not to be equated with 'workaholic', though. Do read the fourth paragraph from last... to know more about "yogi" and "detachment". Krishn did all that he did ~ through the sheer dint of his karm alone; his commitment and passion towards achieving his objectives is remarkable. So imagine the extent of his intellectual acuity, as well as the magnitude of his tenacity and determination; he not only put in his time but also his heart into it. And he was neither perfunctory nor condescending.] Krishn's ability to look beyond the "clutter" - whether with events, situations or with people, and focus (keep his focus, that is) on the essential aspects, is remarkable; maybe this was due to his "yogi" nature and his ability to "detach" himself. As for his parents: Krishn had two sets of parents: (what we understand now as) 'biological parents' (Devaki-Vasudev) and 'foster parents' (Yashoda-Nand). He was away (from the former) as a newborn (since he had to be spirited away to a safer place), while from the latter he was separated at the age of 5 or 7 (when he was sent away to study.) He would have met/re-connected with both sets of parents only after completion of his studies... very likely in his mid-twenties. But then, would he have really been able to connect? Taking up responsibilities, yes; but would there have been an emotional connect (from either side)? ~ Well, my guess is as good as yours. Also, there were other people who were related to him (but he is unlikely to have known them either) - and some of them had aligned their interests with Jarasandh and Duryodhan. [The Krishna-Sudama stories are (very likely) later additions - to teach morals, etc or, maybe, some other narrative made its way into the main narrative... 'coz Krishn is unlikely to have spent much of his childhood and the whole of his teenage years in the company of village boys (do refer to paragraph #6 from the top... to get the drift.) But he is, in all probability, likely to have taken along his parents with him... when he moved to Dvarka.]
Krishna, who foiled Duryodhan's attempts to ascend the throne - 'coz if such a man and such a bunch were to reign, what would happen to society? Krishna, who successfully foiled Duryodhan and Dushshasana's shameful designs; Krishna, who despite not being present in Hastinapur, came to Draupadi's aid... at a time when even the likes of Dhritarashtra, Gandhari, Bheeshm Pitamah (grandsire), Dronacharya, et al stood silent - either due to narrow selfish reasons or so as not to displease Duryodhan. [Krishna was able to aid Draupadi through very advanced technology - despite not being physically present in Hastinapur at the time. The Krishna that appeared in the Hastinapur Court (and successfully foiled the shameful designs of Duryodhana and Dushyashana) - was his hologram. A highly advanced, realistic and human-like hologram or holographic image that not only looked like or resembled Krishna completely but was also able to perform a variety of tasks (including: inducing illusion and hypnosis, by gaining control over Dushyashana's senses or indriyas). Very likely: by gaining control over Dushyashana's mind and thoughts: advanced 'inception'. Result: Dushasana was led to believe that Draupadi's attire (it couldn't have been a saree, though) was an unending one; and so, he continued to 'unwrap layers and layers of it' (under hypnosis), and finally fell to the ground - exhausted.] Now, how did Krishn get to know what was unfolding in the Kuru Court (in Hastinapur)? The narrative says: Draupadi prayed to him, requesting assistance. This could be an allusion to "telepathy". Though we are aware of the concept of "telepathy", we are yet to figure it out fully. [Krishn and Draupadi were the best of friends, and so, Krishn may have shared the procedure with her.] Krishna, who promised Duryodhan his powerful 'Narayani Sena'; Krishna, who let Duryodhan rejoice - by agreeing not to pick up weaponry himself; Krishn, who thus was able to firmly remain on Arjun's side (as his 'charioteer', strategist and guide); Krishna, who quietly weakened Duryodhan (by weakening Karna - Duryodhan's greatest ally and 'instrument'). Karna was a Maharathi (great warrior). During the Pandava's 'vanvaas' (exile period or banishment) he helped Duryodhan become the ruler of a large kingdom, by conquering various lands. The kings of these lands either accepted Duryodhan's suzerainty and swore allegiance to him, or chose to die in the battlefield, defending their kingdoms. Karna is said to have thus subdued the kingdoms of Kamboja, Shaka, Kekaya (maybe beyond what Vrihadhakshatra ruled), Avantya, Gandhara (possibly: beyond the areas from where Gandhari hailed), Madraka (could be areas beyond Madra-raj Shalya's kingdom, from where Madri hailed), Trigarta, Tangana, Panchala (probably areas other than what came under Drupad's kingdom), Videha, Suhma, Vanga, Nishada, Kalinga, Vatsa, Ashmaka, Rishika and numerous others, including many forest tribes (vaanvasis and adivasis). [Karna was Kunti and Suryadev's son - begotten through advanced genetic engineering, probably far more advanced than the one used to 'create' Arjun - hence the metaphors of 'kavacha' and 'kundal'. It simply indicates that he was extremely difficult (almost impossible) to kill. But then, this 'kavacha' and 'kundal' would have been part of his physical (genetic) makeup, much like the proverbial 'second skin'... and not mere ear-rings and armour. *So, a lot more effort would have had to be expended to negate Karna's 'kavacha' and 'kundal'. In all likelihood, it would have involved highly advanced scientific procedure/technology. [As we can see, Krishna was extremely knowledgeable and a fine scientist (rather, technical wizard) himself.] Thus, the Karna-Kunti story - wherein a supposedly 'daanveer' Karna "donates" his 'kavacha' and 'kundal' is a result of later retelling - since the translators were unable to figure out the technology, etc... and so, improvised and re-wrote parts of the Mahabharata.] Kunti did not have to "abandon" Karna "for fear of being shamed." [In Dvapar, the male-female ratio was heavily skewed. Begetting progeny involved technology. And apart from Svayamvara, 'Gandharva-Vivah' too was prevalent. ['Gandharva Vivaha' was a short-term union (vivah) that did not require any rituals, though the consent of the female was essential. Now, it is possible that the concept of 'Gandharva-Vivah' came about due to the highly skewed male-female ratio, or, maybe, it was prevalent among certain groups of people... and later adopted by other groups.] Also, e.g. while Yudhisthir, Bheem and Arjun were known as "Pandav", they were addressed as "Kaunteya" (son of Kunti). For example, Krishna addresses Arjun as "Kaunteya" most of the time. Besides, all knew that Yamaraj, Pavandev and Indra were the respective fathers of Yudhisthir, Bheem and Arjun. Also, Kunti, Satyavati, et al wielded great influence. Thus, as we can see, there was no 'Lakshman Rekha' prescribed for women in Dvapar. That concept has come about thanks to Tulsidas and his Ramcharitmanas. Plus, it is very likely that concepts like 'widow' or 'widower' or even 'illegitimate child', etc was unknown.] So, there is no question of "abandoning" an infant Karna "for fear of being shamed." There was no need for Kunti to place the basket (supposedly containing the infant Karna) on the waters of the river Aswa (a tributary of the River Ganga) - as is popularly believed. Karna was an unnatural human (Kunti and Lord Indra's son) - born as a result of very advanced genetic engineering. In all likelihood, he would have been a radiant-and-remarkable-looking baby. And this may have induced someone to steal/kidnap him. But whosoever it was that kidnapped him, abandoned him later, since taking care of him may not have been an easy task - given that he was an unnatural human. Later, the childless couple - Adhirath and Radha found him, and brought him up as their own son. [Hence, Karna is also known as Radheya: son of Radha, though he was named Vasusena by his adoptive parents. Adhirath was a 'Suta' or 'Saarathi'. There were three kinds of warriors: Rathi, Maharathi and Saarathi (the latter, though highly skilled, did not pick up weapons.)]
Let's discuss Karna's 'Kavacha' and 'Kundal' and *what* is meant by Karna's 'chariot wheel sank deep into the ground': Karna = ears. 'Kundal', literally 'ear-ring' is perhaps derived from "kundalini" (kuṇḍalinī), meaning: "coiled". Sanskrit: kund = "to burn"; kunda = "to coil or to spiral". And is perhaps a reference to the 'circuits', i.e. the nerve tracts or nerve fibers.) [Kundalini = a concentrated field of intelligent, cosmic, invisible energy absolutely vital to life; beginning in the base of the spine when a human being begins to evolve as wisdom is earned. Kundalini has been described as liquid fire and liquid light. The ultimate outcome of kundalini is the union of Will (sakti-kundalini), Knowledge (prana-kundalini) and Action (para-kundalini). (And this should help us gauge what kind of kundalini/'serpent power' Krishn and Chanakya possessed, or for that matter Chandragupta Maurya and Vikramaditya possessed.) In literal terms, the 'samudra-manthan' or 'sagar-manthan' tale is (also) an allegorical description of what transpires during a kundalini awakening process. Kundalini is a latent energy that lies dormant in the spine. Upon awakening, it rises in a sensation akin to a slithering reptile, up the spinal column (Meru-danda, also represented by Mount Meru in the story).] And if we are to look at the human brain: the left hemisphere (side 1), the right hemisphere (side 2) and the area in the middle is (allegorically) occupied by a 'serpent'! Therefore, we can say, kundalini is 'serpent power'. Maybe, this power 'ignites' or 'illumines' the mind, in a manner of speaking, that is... which in turn results in an awesome amount of intelligence, foresight, perception, vision, sagacity, etc, that in turn results in great deeds. It is, however, possible that this power ('serpent power') was mistranslated to mean 'a serpent's crown jewel' or 'the priceless jewel found inside the head of serpents'.] As per the narrative, Karna's 'chariot wheel sank deep into the ground'... and he was, thus, unable to recollect the 'mantra' (appropriate incantations) for unleashing certain weaponry. Now this 'chariot wheel' is not literal. Wheel = cakra or chakra, and (so, very likely) refers to Karna's mind chakra or Manasa Chakra, which is connected with most of the head (especially the brain), is a combination of sensing and intellect. Maybe: only by 'deactivating' Karna's "Kundal"... could this unnatural human, ('son' of Lord Indra, a higher being, and Kunti... begotten through very advanced genetic engineering) be destroyed; otherwise nothing else could destroy him (as indicated by the "kavacha" - that was part of his genetic makeup.) Hence, Karna could not have donated either his "Kaavacha" or his "Kundaal". Ever. [Perhaps, later-day translators, unable to figure out/understand the technology aspects described in the narrative, improvised by bringing in Brahmin's 'curse', Parasurama's 'curse', Sutaputra, fate, et al. But then, there were three kinds of warriors: Rathi, Maharathi and Saarathi (the latter, though highly skilled, did not pick up weapons.) A renowned "kusalavya" of that era was: Ugrasrava, son of Lomarsana, known as Sauti to one and all. Sauti is derived from "Suta". Kusalavya: (roughly translates to) a wandering poet, custodian of our history and heritage... they were greatly respected. Even Sanjay was held in high esteem.] Therefore, Karna's 'chariot wheel sank deep into the ground' could mean #1. His mind went blank. In other words: his memory failed. He suffered a blackout. #2. That all of Karna's 'indriyas' gradually stopped functioning; he was benumbed, stupefied (the mind, senses, will, etc). Krishna, the tech wizard that he was, perhaps made this happen (via technology or via some sort of mind-control/'inception' brought about by a combination of technology and Krishna's tremendous will power). He was known to possess vast knowledge of Yog (and Yog is not confined to any one field, it is a vast ocean of knowledge encompassing varied areas.) Besides, it is said that he had not only gained mastery over his own senses (indriyas), but also over those of others. Apparently, (and perhaps realizing that his "kundal" had been 'deactivated') Karna invoked the Arya dharmic tenets of "fair play" and "chivalry"... maybe in a bid to buy time (to get himself treated or rather, to 'un-stupefy himself': to 'pull out his chariot wheel that had sunk deep into the ground', that is.) Krishna then (sarcastically) asked him whether he ever walked on the path of righteousness and followed "fair play" and/or displayed "chivalry". Also, what happened to his sense of "fair play" and "chivalry"... when six great and experienced warriors (Maharathi) murdered Abhimanyu (who too had requested for a fair chance... to fight one-on-one)? Krishn further reminded Karna about the latter's role during: the fraudulent game of dice (that cheated the Pandavas out of their right and banished them for 13 long years instead); his willing participation in the various machinations against the Pandavas; his conduct when Draupadi was insulted, and when Kunti was treated shabbily, etc. Krishna further said that his (Karna's) demand for a fair chance was disgusting, since as an ally and co-conspirator of Duryodhan, he was not only privy to but was also a willing partner in all of the latter's heinous plots and crimes. [However, it is unlikely that Arjun had to use any astra to bring about Karna's end.] Note: Karna had been unleashing powerful weaponry (one after the other) directed at Arjun. [These weaponry were considerably more powerful than the ones Arjun unleashed.] However, thanks to Krishna's deft maneuvering of the 'chariot', none of them could find their mark. [Now, this 'chariot' could not have been a horse-drawn one. It was (very likely) a compact mechanized vehicle that could also be maneuvered to increase or decrease in size, as indicated by: Krishna pressing the 'chariot' with his foot so that it sank five fingers deep into the ground. Thus, one astra (the serpent shaft) aimed at Arjun's neck could only graze his 'kiriti' (his head/crown or headgear/helmet?) instead. Arjun, thus, escaped with minor injuries to his head.] Karna had aimed the serpent shaft (astra) at Arjun's 'kundal' (his head or rather, behind his ears), but an alert Krishna maneuvered the 'chariot' just in time (by lowering its height by five fingers)... and so, Arjun escaped with minor injuries to his head (crown, kiriti). ... With Karna gone, Duryodhan was greatly weakened... so much so that the course of this greatest of 'Dharm-Yudh' (battle of principles) was clear to one and all.
Krishn, a larger-than-life figure; Krishn, extremely resilient - true steel, pure damascene steel (alchemy at its finest) and wrapped in silk and velvet; Krishn, bathed in the complexity of real-life struggle; Krishna, totally divested of His godhood/miraculous powers/mythical abilities... navigating through (a maze of) shifting power centers, politics, diplomacy, et al... armed with only his brilliance and charm: observing, evaluating, assessing, networking, negotiating - sometimes with a gentle force of persuasion, (maybe even throwing in some platitudes or praise, even extravagant praise perhaps, as and when required. It's all part of Dandaniti.) Krishna, who used his overpowering but human wisdom and intelligence in the struggle for supremacy, resulting finally in the re-establishment of good over assorted negativities and of right over wrong. The tremendous political acumen of Krishna is highlighted in the way he used all the four principles of Dandaniti to destroy the malignant power centers, create new alliances that emerged as counter balances to the existing power structure and used diplomacy to bolster what was right. He used his basic superior intelligence for this one purpose. It took some time. It also took some effort (obviously, 'coz there's no switch, there's no quick fix, there's no magic wand, and the odds were great). But in the final analysis, he emerged as the leader whose judgment and veracity could not be disputed. His political acumen combined with his sharp intellect, personal courage and physical prowess established him as a major force. Krishna, did He return as Chanakya (Vishnugupt)? We do not know. And though this land wielded considerable influence even then (w.r.t education, innovation, research, knowledge, medicine, metallurgy, alchemy, literature, art, technical know-how, trade, et al), it was highly fractured. So, one can only marvel at how a brilliant, stoic and intrepid young man - with unmatched resiliency, vulcanized via the most trying of circumstances (and who went to Takshasheela at the age of sixteen, but had no practical experience whatsoever in the treacherous world of kutniti and politics) was (gradually) able to outmaneuver an assortment of experienced and powerful (albeit negative) entities, (from a position of weakness, yet again) + checkmated the rampaging Yavana Alexander... to unite a fractured nation and lay the foundations of a glorious era. He rejuvenated Arya-dharm too. There is also a strong possibility that Chanakya infiltrated Alexander's army by getting Chandragupta recruited into it. The latter's humble origins made no difference to the great Master, who also fortified Chandragupta Maurya's empire and its surrounding areas. Chanakya, a fine karm-yogi, remained steadfast, his eyes firmly fixed on a higher goal, a goal much higher than himself, despite the many insults, personal trials, tremendous odds and extreme 'agni-pareeksha' (the metaphoric 'trial by fire'). He was not petty or small-minded either, and recognized/acknowledged talent/calibre even in his staunch adversaries, and thus, was magnanimous enough to hand over the baton to Amatya Rakshash [actually: Amatya Kartikeya. Rakshash comes from Rakshak, meaning protector. Amatya = minister.] Chanakya cleverly brought Rakshash (loyal adviser and principal minister to the despotic Dhana Nanda) back from exile, received him with a great deal of warmth, and extended all due courtesies - thereby voiding the feud/bad-blood between them and un-demonizing Amatya Rakshash publicly. So overwhelmed was Rakshash by Chanakya's gracious behaviour (towards him)... that he accepted the responsibilities (entrusted to him) - with a full heart. Thus, Amatya Rakshash became Samraat Chandragupta's principal adviser and minister. [And given that Chandragupta's reign is one of our finest eras... we can gauge how well he discharged his duties. Chanakya, a great human and visionary. Chanakya, a brilliant political scientist. Chanakya, a master economist. Chanakya, a fine nation-builder. Note: Chanakya is addressed by two honorifics: Pandit and Acharya. "Pandit" indicates a wise, learned and enlightened person. "Acharya" means: "He who instructs through his own behavior (acharan)". That is the mark of a true teacher/guru. During Chanakya's time there was no 'caste system' (since "caste" is derived from the Portuguese word "Casta," meaning: purity of descent. Even the Gupta Emperors had humble origins.) Therefore, in all likelihood, "Pandit" and "Acharya" were honorifics given to anyone who deserved. A "Brahman" was someone who dedicated his life to the pursuit and dissemination of knowledge. They (Rishis, Maharshis, Munis and Acharyas of yore) also undertook various research and experiments. Vishnugupt Chanakya himself was a fountainhead of knowledge encompassing widely different areas such as economics, politics (as in 'raaj-neeti', nation-building), statecraft... and even medicine.]
Krishn, "all-attractive" [Mohan]; Krishn, the magnificent; Krishn, the tremendously magnanimous; Krishn, a realist, a pragmatic doer, a go-getter... and not a mere idealistic dreamer. [He never said it cannot be done. Instead, he became the 'matsya-avatar' and went against the grain; he swam against the tide. And the planet, society and civilization benefited. The people benefited. Arya-Dharm was enriched. Sanaatan-Dharm was re-energized.] Krishn, who will return as Kalki, the 10th Vishnu (to set the stage for Krita/Sat/Satya Yug of the next cycle to manifest); Krishna, (who, as the 8th Vishnu) was part of the 3rd era, Dvapar Yug - when Aryavarta was still Aryavarta, where people could still be called noble-natured or Arya/Aryan (i.e. they still followed a pattern of life based on Arya-Dharm, Arya ethics/code of conduct or a noble way of life - though this had suddenly crumbled due to the activities of assorted negative entities like Jarasandh, Kansh, Shakuni, Duryodhan, et al and their allies). [This change had happened all of a sudden. Out of the blue. It was not gradual. Therefore, the kind of 'societal churning' it would have heralded too would have been great.] Krishna, (who, as the 8th Vishnu) was part of Dvapar... when indigenous peoples and entire civilizations had yet to be obliterated, when none indulged in un-Aryan activities like slave-taking, buying and selling of humans in markets, loot and plunder of resources, et al. In fact, enslavement was unheard of. Even the Sanskrit language has no equivalent for a slave. [Das/Dasi = attendant.] Dvapar was an era when by insulting Draupadi... Duryodhan and Dushshasana crossed a red line (i.e. they broke the prevalent tenets of Arya-dharm - Aryan ethics or code of conduct that people adhered to at the time.) Krishna, (who, as the 8th Vishnu) was part of a land and era/yug when vast quantities of highly destructive weaponry was a concern, when earthlings largely depended on advanced medical science/technology to beget progeny - due to an extremely skewed male-female ratio. Result? Unnatural humans - progeny of earthlings and entities of Higher planets/Urdhva-loka, 'born' due to highly advanced genetic engineering (including cloning), abounded the earth. For example: Arjun was Kunti and Lord Indra's son - begotten through advanced medical technology. Karna was Kunti and Lord Surya/Suryadev's son - again begotten through advanced genetic engineering, probably far more advanced than the one used to 'create' Arjun - hence the metaphors of 'kavacha' and 'kundal'. Bheem was (one of Indra's energy minister) Pavandev/Lord Pavan and Kunti's son, while Yudhisthira was Lord Indra's law and justice minister, Dharmaraj Yamaraj/Lord Yama and Kunti's son - yet again begotten through advanced medical technology. Nakula and Sahadeva were Madri's twin sons, courtesy the twin Ashvini Kumaras. They too were begotten through advanced medical technology/genetic engineering. [The Ashvins or Ashvini Kumars are the physicians of the Devas - entities/beings residing in the Higher planets/Urdhva-lokas. This Devaraj Indra, Suryadev, Dharmaraj Yamaraj, Pavandev and the Ashvins are not part of manav-jaati/human race/species.] While the Kauravas were born as a result of a 'test-tube' process, wherein even their gestation happened in pitcher-shaped incubators, outside their mother's womb. And given that Gandhari "gave birth to a hard piece of lifeless flesh" after "two years" of remaining "pregnant", one cannot rule out the involvement of stem cells and cloning technology either. Advanced 'Parthenogenesis' was a possibility as well. Draupadi was 'fire-born', meaning: she was of 'virgin-birth' - the result of a laboratory process... with no human involvement whatsoever; hence her gestation too happened in incubators, which acted as the surrogate womb. Ditto Dhristadyumna. [Note: 'Homa' = a technological procedure. 'Brahma' = a reference to whosoever possesses the know-how (or is the chief scientist). 'Brahma's boon' = a reference to knowledge transfer or a successful experiment. 'Yagna' = a metaphor used to indicate a laboratory or a technological process per se. 'Yagya-gaar' = the laboratory or place where the research/process is being conducted. (Gaar = room, here it indicates a laboratory where a technological process is underway.) 'Yagnakunda' = a metaphor to indicate the 'specifics' of any laboratory or technological process. That is: the 'instruments' or the 'method' used or employed in any laboratory or technological process. 'Agni' = a metaphor to indicate the 'outcome' of a laboratory/scientific/technological/or medical process.]
Devavrat aka Bheeshma Peetamah was 'Ganga-putra' - yet another metaphor for 'laboratory-born', 'pure-born', or of 'virgin-birth'. Thus he too was 'born' out of a laboratory process via highly advanced medical technology (that was way advanced than the one used to 'create' Draupadi). Devavrat was 'assembled' human - created after seven unsuccessful attempts - thus the metaphor of 'seven sons thrown into the Ganga'. This 'Ganga' refers to a lab; Maharaj Shantanu never had a consort/queen by that name. He fully understood the consequences of unnatural humans populating the earth, and hence was keen to have human progeny. Once he found 'matsya-kanya' Satyavati, they married. [Matsya-kanya: perhaps she belonged to a clan with a fish totem/insignia. There was a Matsya kingdom too. So, maybe she hailed from there.] Devavrat was the result of genetic material taken from multiple sources; therefore, he was very difficult (almost impossible) to kill, thus two metaphors: #1: 'ichchhya mrityu' and #2. 'shara-shajya' or 'bed of arrows' has been used (despite his years, and despite being grievously injured and in great pain, he was still alive.) [It is possible that Devavrat too understood the consequences of unnatural humans roaming the earth and its effect on civilization, and so, decided/undertook a stern vow (kathor vrat) - of not having progeny (i.e. replicating himself) - ever. This probably is the reason behind his other more famous name (sobriquet): Bheeshm or Bhishma (meaning, terrible - a reference to his vow, perhaps). There was no renunciation or sacrifice involved... to pave the way for Santanu-Satyavati's progeny to ascend the throne.] Ghatotkach too was 'laboratory-born'. [Ghatam indicates: laboratory. Utkoch or utkaca = reward, product, outcome, gift, present.] He was a highly advanced humanoid robot, very human-like in appearance (android - male), but with robot or machine-like strength, flexibility and assorted abilities. And so, he could increase in size and turn himself into a gigantic figure. [Maybe our ancients called such a humanoid, 'brahma-daitya' or 'brhma-daitya'. Brhma comes from 'Brh', which means: to grow. Daitya = gigantic-sized. And this (probably) got mistranslated to 'a brāhmaṇa ghost' or the ghosts of brahmans, living in the fig trees, the pipal (ficus religiosa), or the banyan (ficus indica), awaiting liberation (mukti) or reincarnarnation.] As for Dronacharya, Droṇa implies that he too was gestated in a droṇa (vessel) - an incubator that acted as the surrogate womb. Jarasandha (literally meaning "joined by Jara") too was a product of stem cell technology (gone wrong). Or he may have been a conjoined baby. Jara (or Barmata - an adivasi vyadh/doctor) either: #1. separated the underdeveloped-lifeless/stillborn twin (obviously via a surgical procedure) or #2. stitched up gaping wounds, perhaps even gangrene, or maybe 'completed' an 'incomplete' or ill-developed/underdeveloped human body - with the help of material/body parts taken from other sources (including the lifeless/stillborn twin). Thus Jarasandha lived. Even Dhritarashtra, Pandu and Vidur were 'born' due to advanced medical technology... courtesy Maharshi Vedavyas. Perhaps the technique was yet to be perfected; therefore, none of them were 'born' completely healthy. [For example: Dhritarashtra was visually challenged, while Pandu was anemic and probably had a weak heart/incurable heart ailment. And neither could procreate naturally. Hence Gandhari, Kunti and Madri had to take the help of advanced medical technology - in order to beget progeny. Even Draupadi's five sons (one by each of the Pandavas): Prativindhya, Sutasoma, Srutakirti, Satanika, and Srutakarma... are said to have been spitting images of their respective fathers - the 5 Pandavas. This again points towards cloning. Therefore, 'the Pandavas announcing to Kunti their arrival with excellent "alms", and a supposedly busy Kunti replying without turning to look at Draupadi (who was the supposed "alms" referred to) and advising/ordering the brothers to share the "alms" equally amongst the five of them'... is a later-day addition, courtesy translators, who, unable to understand technology, etc... improvised.]
So, imagine, how different this planet was and how different the humans were. Therefore, every era/yug is very unlike the other.
Nothing remains the same: flora, fauna, terrain, processes, systems, technology, society,
challenges, et al... so much so that even the human race-species/manav-jaati are vastly different. Krishna, (as the 8th Vishnu) put a halt to all experiments directed at
creating unnatural humans; Krishna, (as the 8th Vishnu) thus saved this planet from destruction, protected the human race-species/manav-jaati on earth from annihilation, helped stabilize civilization on earth, helped the human race-species/manav-jaati and civilization on earth to progress naturally and peacefully, and thus restored the gender balance as well. Krishna, who saved this land from large-scale destruction (courtesy
Saalva's nuclear weapons - some 8/10 or maybe
12k years ago - saw his beloved city of Dvarka destroyed in the
process); Krishna, (as the 8th Vishnu) once
again rebuilt Dvarka by claiming land from the sea. [And if we are to examine the Indus seals... we can then see for
ourselves how much embedded he is to the Sindhu-Sarasvati Sabhyata (Indus
Valley Civilization). If only the Indus script/hieroglyphs had been deciphered...] Krishna, who founded the city of Pataliputra - 138
generations before the reign of Samraat Chandragupta Maurya. [The despotic Nandas' reign ended after their
defeat at the hands of the Chanakya-Chandragupta combination. Maurya comes from 'Moriya'
or 'Mura'. [Pali: Mora.] The Moriya/Mura clan probably was a clan with a peacock
totem/insignia or even headgear, and hence, was called Moriya or Mura ('of the peacock'). It is
derived from 'Mor' meaning, peacock. With time Moriya/Mura became 'Maurya'. The
Moriya were peacock-feather gatherers and Chandragupta's mother hailed from
this clan. There is also some indication that she was the chief attendant (dasi) of
the despotic Dhana Nanda (with the latter siring Chandragupta)... and this makes
Chandragupta a 'dasi-putra'. (Though some versions state that he belonged to a minor clan - the Moriya or Mura, and that his father was the chief of a
forest area called Pippatavana/Pippalivana.) It is also believed that the Mura/Moriya clan was
an offshoot of the Shakya clan - to which Prince Siddharth/Bhagavan Shri Gautam
Buddh, the 9th Vishnu, belonged.] [Note: Gautam Buddh, as we know, traveled widely. He did not
isolate himself in some remote corner; instead, he remained within society, engaged with the people (answered their queries, cleared their many doubts
and confusions) and thus, disseminated his message of peace, karma and dharma
(dhamma - in Pali). Apart from being a fine teacher (guru) and guide, he was also a reformer. Now whether he left his family - in wake of his quest for the 'truth' (dharma/dhamma, the right path, ethics or actions that benefit society) or
met them whenever he could (i.e. whenever he could make time from all the traveling,
sermons, meditation, et al) - my guess is as good as yours.] Krishna, (who, as the 8th Vishnu), had
highly capable entities like Bheem and Arjun to assist Him (in Dvapar); Krishna
(who, as the 8th Vishnu) was part of a great land, one whose influence was
immense; Krishna (who, as the 8th Vishnu) was part of a land/world
where processes, systems
and people were greatly different, where dharma, karm, noble principles, et al had not yet
fallen below the minimum level; Krishna (who, as the 8th
Vishnu) was part of Dvapar - a wholly different yug altogether... whence the 'Iron Age' of Kaliyug was yet to manifest. Krishna,
who will return as Kalki, the 10th Vishnu, when the 'Iron Age' of
Kaliyug will be at its peak; Krishna, who, as the Kalki-avatar/Lord Kalki... will thus be a one-man army (with none of the stature of Arjun or Bheem... or even Chandragupta Maurya to assist him this time);
Krishna, who will return as the Kalki-avatar to a vastly different societal/world
situation + manifold challenges (in Kaliyug). Krishna, of the enchanting smile - not a condescending smile, but a smile of
reassurance; Krishna, who cannot be emulated. Ever. ['Coz none can even come close, let alone match a Maha
Avatar (great incarnation).] Krishna, eternal inspiration; Krishna, of the remarkable clarity of thought and action; Krishna, one without ego or arrogance (ahankara), one never given
to vainglory or boastful behavior; Krishna, an exceptional transcendental figure, one who truly mesmerizes; Krishna, a symbol of mystique, music, love (also in the wide or broad sense, that's why He is the finest karm-yogi),
devotion and culture (as in, a cultured person: erudite, enlightened,
witty, refined, polite and conscientious, not ignorant or narrow-minded); Krishna, the satyam-sivam-sundaram; Krishna, the indescribable,
indefinable - a rock-star of the ineffable; Krishna, the Shyamsundar; Krishna, a God that
unifies people.
The
Mahabharata (to my mind, at least) is a completely different story. Its scale, sweep and grandeur are
extremely overwhelming. It is part of our ancient history (pracheen itihasa) and has
undergone numerous retelling over the years (centuries, millenniums, perhaps).
Precisely how many retelling? We can only wonder and speculate. None of the
current versions indicate anything about the geography or even how different the terrain/topography was, the difference in sea/ocean levels, what the flora and fauna was like; what kind of society prevailed in Dvapar or for
that matter what kind of processes, systems, architecture, infrastructure, town planning,
vimanas, modes of transportation, communication equipments, et al was part of Dvapar - an era which saw extremely
advanced technology, an era when earthlings interacted with entities/beings from
the Urdhva-lokas (Higher Planets). Also: what happened to all those equipments,
etc? Was some of it destroyed? Were much of them carried away by these higher beings
(to clear the earth)? Was
all that knowledge lost, scattered and altered (with the passage of time) - due
to the waves of exodus that happened post the drying up of the River Sarasvati? [The Mahabharata also talks about the River Sarasvati as a river in decline.] Besides, we do not get any clue regarding the human species of Dvapar: their physical appearance, height, structure, strength, capabilities,
caliber, dietary habits, attire et al. Plus, there was a fantastic array of aerial vehicles and vimanas; there was interplanetary (not restricted to our solar
system alone), inter-galactic and possibly, inter-universal space travel too. A Vimana could be made to
become invisible - by 'Goodha', a mechanism that harnessed the powers, Yaasaa,
Viyaasaa, Prayaasaa in the 8th atmospheric layer covering the earth, to attract
the dark content of the solar ray, and then using it to hide the Vimana from
the enemy. [This probably is a much much much-advanced
version of the ADAPTIV Invisibility cloak that makes tanks disappear. ADAPTIV
functions over infrared and other electronic frequencies. While it can blend
the coated vehicle into the background, making it seem to be invisible, it can
also shape the returning signal to appear like something else. A tank, for
example, can be made to look like a car. The Mahabharata also mentions 'illusionary weapons'.] ... And to think that all this and much much more were
known to our ancestors in greatly advanced versions!! There is also mention of three
flying cities - known as 'Tripura'. [Is it a reference to artificial
planets/space stations or artificial satellites (not the weather-report-gathering ones,
though)? Or could it have been a far more advanced version of the International
Space Station? - My guess is as good as yours.] Apparently: Shiva 'destroyed
these cities by torching them out of the skies'. It probably means: they were eventually destroyed due to cosmic turbulence (euphemistically known as: 'tandav nritya').
From our pracheen itihasa what we can gather is this: that the
people of ancient times not only possessed the most vaulting imaginations but
also very, very advanced technology - that to us seem like 'magic'. They
had much more sophisticated technology at their disposal than most of us moderns
(given our linear view of history) - are willing to give them credit for.
Vyasa composed his Mahabharata in three years, aided by Lord Ganesh. [Now, this 'Lord Ganesh' is very likely a reference to the most intelligent, perceptive and wise person of his time, who also assisted Veda Vyasa in writing this epic 'maha-itihasa'. Shri Ganesh represents: great retention power or vast intelligence (as symbolized by the elephant head and elephant's memory). The elephant-head: represents calm disposition, intelligence, perceptiveness, knowledge and wisdom. The small eyes = concentration. The small mouth and the bent trunk (Vakra-Tunndda) = less noise, more efficiency (opposite of 'empty vessels makes the most noise'). The bent trunk indicates: one who is not given to boasting or talking unnecessarily; in other words: one who is not ignorant. The big elephant ears = great listening ability ('listening', not merely 'hearing').] Apart from its poetic qualities, because of its significance, the Mahabharata is also known as the Fifth Veda. Thus, it is at once equivalent to all the Vedas. This towering itihasa captivates with its grandeur, its majesty, its wisdom, its knowledge, its lessons and its wonder. [However, one only wishes that it had been spared all those retelling and re-writings. Or, at the very least, the original had somehow remained unaltered, and that all those retelling (over the millenniums) came with an appropriate rejoinder. Alas. Imagine the knowledge and information that has been obliterated forever. And for any history-loving epicurean it is a great loss, indeed.] There must be hundreds of versions, interpretations and retelling of the Mahabharata already in circulation (even some five millenniums down the line). Great authors, poets, actors and playwrights have mined it for material on which to base their own creative works: from Goethe to Andy and Larry Wachowski (The Matrix). So one can only wonder how many more preceded them. This immense trove of knowledge, wisdom, philosophy, literature, karm-yog, dharma, sacrifice and narration is timeless, (in the sense that) echoes of events and characters (from the Mahabharata) have been seen and found through the ages: great wars fought, the consequences of unleashing fearsome weaponry seen, untold miseries wrecked upon people and nations witnessed, families torn apart, palace intrigues and power games, maneuvers on the world chessboard, great strategists and evil geniuses, people and forces working tirelessly to ignite a war while some going to great lengths to avoid such misadventures, failings of great personalities and their consequences, the rise of unlikely heroes, various chakravyuh (encirclement) formed and broken, risk-takers, selfless people who have had the courage to give their all - for the common good (not unlike the exceptional warrior Abhimanyu, who, in spite of being fully aware of the consequences volunteered to enter the 'chakravyuh' - so as to deny Duryodhan+ the upper-hand... during the most crucial juncture in this greatest of 'Dharm-Yudh'/battle of principles. Hence he is considered as 'the bravest among the brave' and 'the epitome of bravery'.) So on and so forth. [Ahbimanyu single-handedly and valiantly fought against many, and was finally 'mortally wounded' by the combined attack of six warriors, including Dronacharya, Kripacharya, Karna and Ashvatthama. However, since he was an unnatural human, this 'mortally wounded' bit may have to be seen in that context.] Duryodhan relied heavily on Shakuni's cunning. So much so that the latter became an integral part of Hastinapur... as Duryodhan's principal adviser. [He was manipulative and exerted a great amount of control over Duryodhan.] The Pandavs had been cleverly exiled/banished by Duryodhan (on the advise of the wily Shakuni) for a period of 13 years (with the possibility of another 13-years of banishment looming in the horizon). Meanwhile, Duryodhan and his allies were consolidating their position (both within and outside of Hastinapur). Had they succeeded, imagine the scenario, the consequences... and its lingering effects. If we can visualize all of this... the sweep, the technology, the situation, the political scenario at the time, the many 'cross-currents', the vicious forces allied together, the ones who were in a dominant position (and their intentions), the stakes involved (i.e. what all was at stake), how complicated and difficult the situation was, the vision and foresight, the level of leadership, the steadfastness, the selflessness, the strategy, tactics, planning, diplomacy and patient negotiations involved, the ability to guide and find solutions, what was successfully averted, the dedication, grit, single-minded determination and 'karm-yog' that made it possible, et al - it will give us a clearer picture of this timeless inspirational figure Krishn, and his brilliance (figuratively referred to as 'Sudarshan Chakra'.) [Su = good, auspicious. Darshan = appearance. It refers to Krishna's charismatic presence, personality and handsome looks. [Sudarshanah: He whose meeting is auspicious.] Thus, Krishna himself is 'Sudarshan Chakra'. Chakra = wheel. The name is derived from the Sanskrit word for "wheel" or "turning". The word dharma-chakra, or the wheel of the Law, is often used to describe the teachings/message of Shri Gautam Buddh. In other words: his teachings/message is expressed as: "the turning of the wheel of the Law." Chakras are centers of Prāṇa, life force, or vital energy. Chakras correspond to vital points in the physical body i.e. major plexuses of arteries, veins and nerves. The 7 Chakras are the energy centers in our body in which energy flows through. However, the 'chakra' in 'Sudarshan Chakra' is a reference to the mind chakra or Manasa Chakra, which is connected with most of the head (especially the brain), is a combination of sensing and intellect. That's the ability to see and hear the world, to make sense of things, sort them out, and figure out how they all fit together. Possibly this is the intuition aspect of the (metaphoric/symbolic) third eye. The Manas ("Mind") Chakra, or Mind Lotus, is said to have six petals, which although normally white assume the colours of the senses when they operate (according to the Indian systems, in addition to the five physical senses, there is "mind" constitutes the sixth sense, which is not the same as Clairvoyance or "Sixth Sense"), and is black during sleep (unconsciousness). Note: The correct spelling is cakra, though pronounced with a ch. The word was also a metaphor for the sun, which "traverses the world like the triumphant chariot of a cakravartin." (ruler, also: 'monarch of all realms') and denotes the eternal cycle of time called the kalacakra, or wheel of time. A Chakravartin is a 'wheel-turning' king/chakravarti-raja, a wise and benevolent ruler, and an ideal king. Turning his 'chakra' (i.e. by using his wisdom, intellect and resources optimally), a 'wheel-turning' king advances without hindrance, overthrows his enemies, establishes peace, and rules with justice and benevolence.] 'India' comes from Megasthenes' 'Indica'. India is also: Bharatavarsha or Bharatadesam [meaning: Land/Bhoomi of the Bharatas or "cherished land". Bharatavarsha: the continent ('varsha'; Sanskrit) that is dedicated ('rata') to light, wisdom ('bha'). Yet another name is Jambudveepa or Jambadveepa. Jambu or Jamba = Indian blackberry. Maybe there was an abundance of this tree (obviously a much different version of what we have now)... and hence the name. Thus, Jambudveepa = island of the Jambu/Jambul/Indian blackberry trees. Or perhaps, ancient India was shaped like an Indian blackberry.]
Was
it a tsunami? Was it an earthquake? Or was it due to the rise in sea levels, brought about by various
climatic factors? Well, studies show that sea level was 100 meters below the
present sea level 15,000 years BP (before present), rose steadily and was 60-70
metres below present sea level 10,000 years BP (before present). In the next
1500 years it reached to 40 metres below present sea level, came at par with
the present sea level around 7000 years BP, then rose by five metres in the
next 1000 years. Thereafter, there was a gradual fall and sea level came down
to 20-30 metres below present sea level about 3500 years BP. Again levels rose
to above 5 metres present sea level about 1000 years BP. In the last 1000
years, the sea level has come down to the present position and is now
stationary, but may rise in future. As per science constructions can be made on a
land reclaimed from sea. However, when sea level rises, these settlements are
first to get submerged. Dvarka, (therefore, probably) submerged due to rise in
sea level. However, since there are evidences that a tsunami hit the western
coast of India about 8000 years before present (BP), we cannot discount the
possibility that a tsunami may have drowned the ancient city of Dvarka. This is how the Mahabharata describes it: 'The sea,
which had been beating against the shore, suddenly broke the boundary that was
imposed on it by nature. The sea rushed into the City of Dvarka. It coursed
through the streets of the beautiful city. The sea covered up everything in the
city. I saw the beautiful buildings becoming submerged one by one. In a matter
of a few moments it was all over. The sea had now become as placid as a lake.
There was no trace of the city. Dwaraka became just a name, just a memory'.
Therefore, a deluge may have been the reason for Dvarka to vanish under water. But
there is also evidence of at least three large killer earthquakes about 1500,
3000 and 5000 years BP (before present) respectively. Geomorphologic evidences
also show that the Northwestern part of the Indian landmass was seismically
active during the last 10,000 years. These killer quakes are likely to have
caused the shifting of the rivers and sea level fluctuation (and maybe even
resulted in the sinking of the legendary city of Dvarka.) Apparently
Krishna alerted the people of Dvarka - that once he departs there would be no
one to save Dvarka; that the sea would claim Dvarka... and so, advised the denizens to leave for safer places. [The sea engulfed Dvarka after Lord Krishna's
disappearance. And what we can gather is this: that Arjun took them to
safety. (Perhaps, as per Krishna's instructions.) But here too, the narrative is
filled with later-day inflections and interpolations. PS: There have been several Dvarka... and all of them
submerged due to one or the other reason. Modern-day Dvarka is (apparently) the
7th such city to be built in the area.]
Krishna's ability to read a situation, judge it correctly and then plan accordingly; his perception and discerning, his ability to observe, assess and evaluate any situation, force or entity... is amply demonstrated by his treatment of Duryodhan (plus allies) as well as his treatment of Jarasandh (and allies). These entities were wayyy powerful and influential than him. They wielded far greater clout vis-à-vis him. In fact, there is no comparison in these matters between Krishna and Duryodhan (plus allies), and Krishna and Jarasandh (plus allies). Besides, certain members of Krishna's own clan and family were assisting Jarasandh. For example: His maternal uncle Kansh, and his cousin Shishupal (who was also abusive to Krishn, in public), had allied themselves with the imperialistic ambitions of the nefarious Jarasandha (the powerful ruler of Magadh.) Kansh had even let himself be manipulated by (his friend) Jarasandh... and dethroned (and imprisoned) his own father, the aged Ugrasena (besides imprisoning Krishn's parents, Devaki and Vasudev). Even Kritavarma sided with Duryodhan and the Kauravas, while Balaram chose to remain neutral. [Krishna, of course, chided him for that.] Jarasandh (with a much bigger army, allies, resources et al) fought Krishna 18 times. And yet, the latter was able to stave them off. This, no doubt, would have frustrated Jarasandh. Thereafter, Krishn shifted to Dvarka (a city he built by claiming land from the sea, and a veritable island) - to avert destruction, loss of lives and property (and possibly to also avert Jarasandh's crudeness and un-Aryan-like activities (such as, loot and plunder, maybe even imprisonment and torture of citizens, and who knows, could be even enslavement too), besides the sowing of the proverbial negative aspects (that would have completely changed the 'way of life', 'coz Jarasandh was no worse than Duryodhan) - in case he were to gain the upper-hand.) As we can see, Krishn was both humane and a realist, but also a great strategist... and not an arrogant, egoistic, self-seeking megalomaniac by any stretch of imagination; that he was very unlike Jarasandh, Duryodhan, etc. Krishna bide his time, chose the moment of action and the 'instruments' of action with precision... and thus reinstated the old Ugrasena back on the throne. The opposite of Jarasandha in his goal, Krishna would be no 'samrat' (emperor)... for his status is that of 'svarat/svarāṭ' (one who removes tyrants and self-aggrandizers, those who establish hegemony and dominate other humans to the detriment of the earth and civilization on it, and other such negative entities.) The fall of Jarasandh restored independence to nearly a hundred chieftains/kings, freed various clans and indeed the whole country of the spectre of the (proverbial) all-constricting imperialistic Magadhan python. Here is the idea of loka-sangraha ("welfare for all" or the "common good") exemplified. Krishna's brilliance, his overwhelming intelligence, far-sightedness and motives are precisely what should have engaged and inspired the likes of Dhritarashtra, Dronacharya, Bhishma Pitamah, et al: to shun inertia, to overcome negative thoughts and narrow selfish motives and to perform their 'karm' - to rejuvenate 'dharm' (noble principles/'Arya-Dharm' or actions that benefit society). In short: loka-sangraha or loka-kalyana ("welfare for all" or the "common good"). Krishna was not motivated by personal glory. He did not have a vaulting self-image (i.e. he was not full of himself, nor was he a legend in his own mind.) He did not annex territories either (e.g. he installed Jarasandh's son Sahadeva, as the ruler of Magadh. Sahadeva became an ally of the Pandavs. Even Dhrishtaketu, Shishupal's son and the ruler of Chedi, was a Pandav ally.) Krishn did not indulge in un-Aryan activities like loot and plunder either. Whatever he did was for the greater good; he dispelled negative thoughts (such as fear and hopelessness) from people's minds and hearts, he rejuvenated/awakened society (by removing an assortment of tyrants and other such negative entities), he rejuvenated/awakened 'Arya-Dharm, he also halted all experiments directed at creating unnatural humans (thus the earth was rid of highly destructive weaponry, unnatural humans, humanoids, et al). And all this enabled the planet and society to gradually "heal", it allowed humanity, society and civilization to flourish well. It also helped create a new and peaceful world, so to speak. Krishna's thoughts and actions personifies 'Loka Kalyana' (welfare for all). His was Nishkam Karm (selfless action) at its finest; he simply performed his duty ('karm') without expecting anything in return. The whole life of Lord Krishn is thus like the roaring sound of a conch. He undertook a vow: to fight an assortment of negative aspects and entities (despite great odds and obstacles)... so as to restore peace, order and balance in society and civilization (and did his best to fulfill it.) Thus, he is a true 'karm-yogi'. And thus, in spite of being a Maha Avatar (great incarnation), and in spite of being part of a different era/yug (dvapar), it is the very human-ness of Krishna that is part of his aura and charm, and is also behind the irresistible fascination that he exercises and exerts over millions (transcending eras/yug.) The remarkable qualities of the head and the heart (noble virtues/sattva guna)... that makes Krishn pre-eminent among statesmen, counselors, diplomats and philosophers as well as among leaders of people and nations shines forth brilliantly. Thus, he is also a transcendental legend, a magnificent 'Yug Purush' (The Renaissance man/Millennium Man/Man of Destiny or the Timeless Man) and Bhagavan (possibly derived from 'Bhagyavan', meaning: the 'Fortunate One' or the 'Blessed One'. Sri Krishn has transcended eras/yug, his 'karm' and his philosophy is timeless, he continues to inspire.) The renowned American thinker, poet, author, historian, philosopher and leading transcendentalist, Henry David Thoreau said, "A man is wise with the wisdom of his time only, and ignorant with its ignorance." This is true of people like us, because we are mere ordinary mortals, ordinary people. But, in every era (yug), a handful of people appear amidst us once in a while, who prove to be an exception to this rule. At one level, these exceptional and extraordinary people are products of their time. But at another level they transcend their times. Their perceptions, their insights, their thoughts, their actions and their concerns are truly universal, in time and in space; they are neither constrained by the circumstances of their birth nor are they limited by the ignorance of their time. They are truly incomparable. Krishna is the foremost of such exceptional transcendental 'Yug Purush'. [Ditto Chanakya Vishnugupt, who rid the country of yet another (proverbial) all-constricting imperialistic Magadhan python, Dhana Nanda, as well as the rampaging Alexander, in another era. Perhaps even Samraat Chandragupta II Vikramaditya... who, by thwarting the designs (imperialistic ambitions) of the Sakas, and driving them out of wide swathes of land, (probably almost the whole of modern Asia)... established peace and prosperity under his wise, benevolent and enlightened rule. He assumed the title of Vikramaditya. Vikram means: one who is wise, diligent, brave and strong as well as victorious. The Sanskrit word -kram is a root word meaning 'step or stride', so the name Vikram can be understood to mean Vishnu's stride in itself, or as a name which reflects the qualities of Vishnu's stride. In Vedic scripture, Vishnu's stride is said to be over the Earth, the Sky, and the all-pervading omnipresent essence of the Universe/Cosmos. Hence Shri Vishnu is also known as Trivikram. Aaditya = the Sun. Therefore, Vikramaditya roughly translates to: the radiance of Vikram.*] Krishna, the Renaissance Man, is (therefore) timeless. He belongs to all eras/yug. His wisdom, his knowledge, his advice and his philosophy are ever relevant. Despite being in a position of great weakness, he used his wits, his razor-sharp intelligence, his ability to articulate, to connect, to adapt, to listen and to engage (including diplomacy, networking and negotiation skills, maybe even oratory and eloquence), his humility, his charm, his energy and drive, his ability and willingness to stay the course, to shoulder responsibility and facilitate change (without making a show), his optimism, his ability to absorb 'toxin' (so as to clear the 'fog' of negativity, the 'mist' of untruths and make-believe, as well as past cobwebs, etc), his perception/savvy and decisiveness, his power of conviction, his charisma, his astuteness, his single-minded determination and courage, his unwavering focus and grit, his ability to guide, his remarkable steadfastness, his considerable wisdom and knowledge, his immense foresight, his vision, his ability to unify and reconcile, his understanding of people and events et al - to fructify his thoughts and plans. Else... the likes of Duryodhan, Duḥśāsana, Shakuni, Kansh, Jarasandh et al would have held sway. Krishna also set the stage for Kaliyug to manifest; Kali = bud, symbolizing a "new dawn".
[*Shri Vishnu wears the auspicious "Kaustubha Mani" (Kaustubha jewel) around his neck. Sri Sri Lakshmi Devi dwells in this jewel, on Vishnu's chest. The "Kaustubha Mani" represents consciousness, which manifests itself in all that shines: the sun, the moon, the fire and the speech. Thus this jewel represents consciousness, the consciousness of all living things. *This brilliant jewel also represents the Sun's Disc (allegorically, that is). Out of one thousand names of Lord Vishnu (Vishnu Sahasra Nama), Ravi, Surya, Savita, Jyotiraaditya, Bhaskaradyuti, Gavastinemi (Centre of Rays) are also the names of the Sun. In the Vedas, Lord Vishnu has been mentioned as "Sahasrasirsa" ("with thousand heads.") This signifies his radiance, his scintillating effulgence. [Also, the multi-avatar Lord Vishnu is a fountainhead of enlightenment and knowledge.] Countless rays of the Sun (Surya Rashmi) are named as 'Sahasrasirsa'; hence Surya is called "Sahasranshu". Therefore, Vikramaditya roughly translates to: the radiance of Vikram. (Aaditya = the Sun.) The Vikram-Betal stories featuring Vikramaditya were woven to disseminate certain values and thoughts. This land has had a rich history of storytelling, e.g. Panchatantra, Hitopadesha, Jataka Tales, Jain Tales and the like. Hitopadesha is a collection of Sanskrit fables in prose and verse. According to the author of Hitopadesha, Narayana, the main purpose of creating Hitopadesha is to instruct young minds the philosophy of life in an easy manner so that they are able to grow into responsible adults. It is almost similar to the Panchatantra ('Five Principles') of Vishnu Sharma. Hitopadesha (Sanskrit: Hitopadeśa) has been derived from two words, 'hita' (welfare/benefit) and 'upadesha' (advice/counsel). It basically means to counsel or advice (upadesha) with benevolence, and for the welfare and benefit of everyone. Imparting ethics, morals and knowledge, Hitopadesha is one amongst the most widely read Sanskrit book in India. The Panchatantra (Sanskrit: Pañcatantra), on the other hand, is an inter-woven series of colourful fables, many of which involve animals exhibiting animal stereotypes and even human qualities. It illustrates, for the benefit of three ignorant princes... the central Sanaatan dharmic principles of nīti. While nīti is hard to translate, it roughly means prudent worldly conduct, or "the wise conduct of life". The Jataka tales, on the other hand, are dated between 300 BC and 400 AD and were written for mankind to gain knowledge and ethics. Originally written in Pali language, Jataka Buddhist tales have been translated in different languages around the world. The luminous fables of 'Jataka' are intended to impart values of self-sacrifice, morality, honesty and other informative values to people. No less than 547 in number, Jataka Tales are an important part of the canon of sacred Buddhist literature. These anecdotes and fables depicts earlier incarnations - sometimes as an animal, sometimes as a human - of the being who would become Siddhartha Gautama, the future Buddha. While the 'Jain Tales' aim to teach children values that help in avoiding (accumulating) bad karma. It encourages them to learn to accept and appreciate virtues. The tales about will power, devotion, penance and mutual respect, help underline the importance to serve and support rather than cause pain and suffering. *Could this brilliant jewel ("Kaustubha Mani" or Kaustubha jewel) also have been an indicator for solar energy? Or other energy, hydrogen fuel, for example... wherein hydrogen (an excellent + cost-effective source of energy) is stored on 'micro-jewels' (micro-beads or pellets?) as a hydride compound? Perhaps, our ancients knew how to cleave the hydrogen-oxygen bonds present in water... in order to produce hydrogen. ... And since Dvarka was an island surrounded by seawater... a huge source of clean energy (since burning of hydrogen results in its re-conversion back to water)... we cannot rule this possibility out. Also, via waste water treatment (that generates electricity from the hydrogen produced.) ]
Krishna's ability to read a situation, judge it correctly and then plan accordingly; his perception and discerning, his ability to observe, assess and evaluate any situation, force or entity... is amply demonstrated by his treatment of Duryodhan (plus allies) as well as his treatment of Jarasandh (and allies). These entities were wayyy powerful and influential than him. They wielded far greater clout vis-à-vis him. In fact, there is no comparison in these matters between Krishna and Duryodhan (plus allies), and Krishna and Jarasandh (plus allies). Besides, certain members of Krishna's own clan and family were assisting Jarasandh. For example: His maternal uncle Kansh, and his cousin Shishupal (who was also abusive to Krishn, in public), had allied themselves with the imperialistic ambitions of the nefarious Jarasandha (the powerful ruler of Magadh.) Kansh had even let himself be manipulated by (his friend) Jarasandh... and dethroned (and imprisoned) his own father, the aged Ugrasena (besides imprisoning Krishn's parents, Devaki and Vasudev). Even Kritavarma sided with Duryodhan and the Kauravas, while Balaram chose to remain neutral. [Krishna, of course, chided him for that.] Jarasandh (with a much bigger army, allies, resources et al) fought Krishna 18 times. And yet, the latter was able to stave them off. This, no doubt, would have frustrated Jarasandh. Thereafter, Krishn shifted to Dvarka (a city he built by claiming land from the sea, and a veritable island) - to avert destruction, loss of lives and property (and possibly to also avert Jarasandh's crudeness and un-Aryan-like activities (such as, loot and plunder, maybe even imprisonment and torture of citizens, and who knows, could be even enslavement too), besides the sowing of the proverbial negative aspects (that would have completely changed the 'way of life', 'coz Jarasandh was no worse than Duryodhan) - in case he were to gain the upper-hand.) As we can see, Krishn was both humane and a realist, but also a great strategist... and not an arrogant, egoistic, self-seeking megalomaniac by any stretch of imagination; that he was very unlike Jarasandh, Duryodhan, etc. Krishna bide his time, chose the moment of action and the 'instruments' of action with precision... and thus reinstated the old Ugrasena back on the throne. The opposite of Jarasandha in his goal, Krishna would be no 'samrat' (emperor)... for his status is that of 'svarat/svarāṭ' (one who removes tyrants and self-aggrandizers, those who establish hegemony and dominate other humans to the detriment of the earth and civilization on it, and other such negative entities.) The fall of Jarasandh restored independence to nearly a hundred chieftains/kings, freed various clans and indeed the whole country of the spectre of the (proverbial) all-constricting imperialistic Magadhan python. Here is the idea of loka-sangraha ("welfare for all" or the "common good") exemplified. Krishna's brilliance, his overwhelming intelligence, far-sightedness and motives are precisely what should have engaged and inspired the likes of Dhritarashtra, Dronacharya, Bhishma Pitamah, et al: to shun inertia, to overcome negative thoughts and narrow selfish motives and to perform their 'karm' - to rejuvenate 'dharm' (noble principles/'Arya-Dharm' or actions that benefit society). In short: loka-sangraha or loka-kalyana ("welfare for all" or the "common good"). Krishna was not motivated by personal glory. He did not have a vaulting self-image (i.e. he was not full of himself, nor was he a legend in his own mind.) He did not annex territories either (e.g. he installed Jarasandh's son Sahadeva, as the ruler of Magadh. Sahadeva became an ally of the Pandavs. Even Dhrishtaketu, Shishupal's son and the ruler of Chedi, was a Pandav ally.) Krishn did not indulge in un-Aryan activities like loot and plunder either. Whatever he did was for the greater good; he dispelled negative thoughts (such as fear and hopelessness) from people's minds and hearts, he rejuvenated/awakened society (by removing an assortment of tyrants and other such negative entities), he rejuvenated/awakened 'Arya-Dharm, he also halted all experiments directed at creating unnatural humans (thus the earth was rid of highly destructive weaponry, unnatural humans, humanoids, et al). And all this enabled the planet and society to gradually "heal", it allowed humanity, society and civilization to flourish well. It also helped create a new and peaceful world, so to speak. Krishna's thoughts and actions personifies 'Loka Kalyana' (welfare for all). His was Nishkam Karm (selfless action) at its finest; he simply performed his duty ('karm') without expecting anything in return. The whole life of Lord Krishn is thus like the roaring sound of a conch. He undertook a vow: to fight an assortment of negative aspects and entities (despite great odds and obstacles)... so as to restore peace, order and balance in society and civilization (and did his best to fulfill it.) Thus, he is a true 'karm-yogi'. And thus, in spite of being a Maha Avatar (great incarnation), and in spite of being part of a different era/yug (dvapar), it is the very human-ness of Krishna that is part of his aura and charm, and is also behind the irresistible fascination that he exercises and exerts over millions (transcending eras/yug.) The remarkable qualities of the head and the heart (noble virtues/sattva guna)... that makes Krishn pre-eminent among statesmen, counselors, diplomats and philosophers as well as among leaders of people and nations shines forth brilliantly. Thus, he is also a transcendental legend, a magnificent 'Yug Purush' (The Renaissance man/Millennium Man/Man of Destiny or the Timeless Man) and Bhagavan (possibly derived from 'Bhagyavan', meaning: the 'Fortunate One' or the 'Blessed One'. Sri Krishn has transcended eras/yug, his 'karm' and his philosophy is timeless, he continues to inspire.) The renowned American thinker, poet, author, historian, philosopher and leading transcendentalist, Henry David Thoreau said, "A man is wise with the wisdom of his time only, and ignorant with its ignorance." This is true of people like us, because we are mere ordinary mortals, ordinary people. But, in every era (yug), a handful of people appear amidst us once in a while, who prove to be an exception to this rule. At one level, these exceptional and extraordinary people are products of their time. But at another level they transcend their times. Their perceptions, their insights, their thoughts, their actions and their concerns are truly universal, in time and in space; they are neither constrained by the circumstances of their birth nor are they limited by the ignorance of their time. They are truly incomparable. Krishna is the foremost of such exceptional transcendental 'Yug Purush'. [Ditto Chanakya Vishnugupt, who rid the country of yet another (proverbial) all-constricting imperialistic Magadhan python, Dhana Nanda, as well as the rampaging Alexander, in another era. Perhaps even Samraat Chandragupta II Vikramaditya... who, by thwarting the designs (imperialistic ambitions) of the Sakas, and driving them out of wide swathes of land, (probably almost the whole of modern Asia)... established peace and prosperity under his wise, benevolent and enlightened rule. He assumed the title of Vikramaditya. Vikram means: one who is wise, diligent, brave and strong as well as victorious. The Sanskrit word -kram is a root word meaning 'step or stride', so the name Vikram can be understood to mean Vishnu's stride in itself, or as a name which reflects the qualities of Vishnu's stride. In Vedic scripture, Vishnu's stride is said to be over the Earth, the Sky, and the all-pervading omnipresent essence of the Universe/Cosmos. Hence Shri Vishnu is also known as Trivikram. Aaditya = the Sun. Therefore, Vikramaditya roughly translates to: the radiance of Vikram.*] Krishna, the Renaissance Man, is (therefore) timeless. He belongs to all eras/yug. His wisdom, his knowledge, his advice and his philosophy are ever relevant. Despite being in a position of great weakness, he used his wits, his razor-sharp intelligence, his ability to articulate, to connect, to adapt, to listen and to engage (including diplomacy, networking and negotiation skills, maybe even oratory and eloquence), his humility, his charm, his energy and drive, his ability and willingness to stay the course, to shoulder responsibility and facilitate change (without making a show), his optimism, his ability to absorb 'toxin' (so as to clear the 'fog' of negativity, the 'mist' of untruths and make-believe, as well as past cobwebs, etc), his perception/savvy and decisiveness, his power of conviction, his charisma, his astuteness, his single-minded determination and courage, his unwavering focus and grit, his ability to guide, his remarkable steadfastness, his considerable wisdom and knowledge, his immense foresight, his vision, his ability to unify and reconcile, his understanding of people and events et al - to fructify his thoughts and plans. Else... the likes of Duryodhan, Duḥśāsana, Shakuni, Kansh, Jarasandh et al would have held sway. Krishna also set the stage for Kaliyug to manifest; Kali = bud, symbolizing a "new dawn".
[*Shri Vishnu wears the auspicious "Kaustubha Mani" (Kaustubha jewel) around his neck. Sri Sri Lakshmi Devi dwells in this jewel, on Vishnu's chest. The "Kaustubha Mani" represents consciousness, which manifests itself in all that shines: the sun, the moon, the fire and the speech. Thus this jewel represents consciousness, the consciousness of all living things. *This brilliant jewel also represents the Sun's Disc (allegorically, that is). Out of one thousand names of Lord Vishnu (Vishnu Sahasra Nama), Ravi, Surya, Savita, Jyotiraaditya, Bhaskaradyuti, Gavastinemi (Centre of Rays) are also the names of the Sun. In the Vedas, Lord Vishnu has been mentioned as "Sahasrasirsa" ("with thousand heads.") This signifies his radiance, his scintillating effulgence. [Also, the multi-avatar Lord Vishnu is a fountainhead of enlightenment and knowledge.] Countless rays of the Sun (Surya Rashmi) are named as 'Sahasrasirsa'; hence Surya is called "Sahasranshu". Therefore, Vikramaditya roughly translates to: the radiance of Vikram. (Aaditya = the Sun.) The Vikram-Betal stories featuring Vikramaditya were woven to disseminate certain values and thoughts. This land has had a rich history of storytelling, e.g. Panchatantra, Hitopadesha, Jataka Tales, Jain Tales and the like. Hitopadesha is a collection of Sanskrit fables in prose and verse. According to the author of Hitopadesha, Narayana, the main purpose of creating Hitopadesha is to instruct young minds the philosophy of life in an easy manner so that they are able to grow into responsible adults. It is almost similar to the Panchatantra ('Five Principles') of Vishnu Sharma. Hitopadesha (Sanskrit: Hitopadeśa) has been derived from two words, 'hita' (welfare/benefit) and 'upadesha' (advice/counsel). It basically means to counsel or advice (upadesha) with benevolence, and for the welfare and benefit of everyone. Imparting ethics, morals and knowledge, Hitopadesha is one amongst the most widely read Sanskrit book in India. The Panchatantra (Sanskrit: Pañcatantra), on the other hand, is an inter-woven series of colourful fables, many of which involve animals exhibiting animal stereotypes and even human qualities. It illustrates, for the benefit of three ignorant princes... the central Sanaatan dharmic principles of nīti. While nīti is hard to translate, it roughly means prudent worldly conduct, or "the wise conduct of life". The Jataka tales, on the other hand, are dated between 300 BC and 400 AD and were written for mankind to gain knowledge and ethics. Originally written in Pali language, Jataka Buddhist tales have been translated in different languages around the world. The luminous fables of 'Jataka' are intended to impart values of self-sacrifice, morality, honesty and other informative values to people. No less than 547 in number, Jataka Tales are an important part of the canon of sacred Buddhist literature. These anecdotes and fables depicts earlier incarnations - sometimes as an animal, sometimes as a human - of the being who would become Siddhartha Gautama, the future Buddha. While the 'Jain Tales' aim to teach children values that help in avoiding (accumulating) bad karma. It encourages them to learn to accept and appreciate virtues. The tales about will power, devotion, penance and mutual respect, help underline the importance to serve and support rather than cause pain and suffering. *Could this brilliant jewel ("Kaustubha Mani" or Kaustubha jewel) also have been an indicator for solar energy? Or other energy, hydrogen fuel, for example... wherein hydrogen (an excellent + cost-effective source of energy) is stored on 'micro-jewels' (micro-beads or pellets?) as a hydride compound? Perhaps, our ancients knew how to cleave the hydrogen-oxygen bonds present in water... in order to produce hydrogen. ... And since Dvarka was an island surrounded by seawater... a huge source of clean energy (since burning of hydrogen results in its re-conversion back to water)... we cannot rule this possibility out. Also, via waste water treatment (that generates electricity from the hydrogen produced.) ]
Thus, Sri Krishn is Vrishaakritih (Dharma/Vrisha Himself). He is Dharma personified. ['Dharma' is not moralism. It is ethics: values/ideals and principles + actions that benefit people and society. There is never a vacuum; instead there are a myriad of 'push' and 'pull', 'cross currents' and a multitude of challenges. And yet, in spite of these, Krishna was able to perform deeds that helped people, society and civilization.] Thus, Krishn is kshemakrit: Doer of good. Thus, he is mahaamanaah: Great-minded. Thus, he is Dharmadhyaksha (Lord of Dharma). Thus, he is Vrisha Uttamam (Supreme Dharma). Thus, he is mahaavaraaho (the great boar). Thus, he personifies 'nishkam karm' (selfless action). Thus, he is also the finest 'karm-yogi'. Thus, he is 'Yug Purush', the Renaissance Man. Thus, he is eternal inspiration. Thus, he is Ajaya: The Conqueror of Life And Death. Thus, he is 'Bhagavan' (the 'Fortunate One' or the 'Blessed One'.) Thus, he is taarah: He who saves. Thus, he is mahaashringah: Great-horned (Matsya). Thus, he is Ekashringa Varaha, Unicorn Boar: One without a parallel. Thus, he is suhrit: Friend of all creatures. Thus, he is Jagadisha: Protector of All. Thus, he is Vrishakapi (one-horned Varaha) - the Supreme form of Lord Narayan/Shri Hari Vishnu. ... And thus, he is 'Ajatashatru' ("one without enemies") - in a manner of speaking, that is. || krishnas tu bhagavan svayam || ~ Perhaps 'coz: in him we find glimpses of all the Maha Avatars/great incarnations ~ the Dasavatara. And so, Sri Krishn is equivalent to the Dasavatara.
As Arjun stood in the battlefield of Kurukshetra (the
greatest of 'Dharm-Yudh', battle of principles/ethics), he was overcome with
feelings of weakness and confusion... since he faced the prospect of killing his
own kith and kin. Realizing that his adversaries were his own relatives,
beloved friends and revered teachers, he turns to his charioteer and guide,
Krishna, for advice. Responding to his confusion and moral dilemma, Krishna
advises him to follow his 'sva-dharma' or his 'duty as a
ksatriya'/upholder of dharm (i.e. ethics/principles/justice or actions that benefit society.) ['Kshatriya' is an amalgamation of two words: ksat
(meaning 'injury'), and tra (meaning 'deliver'). Therefore,
ksatriya/kshatriya means: one who protects others. Or in other words,
one who is an upholder of ethics/principles/justice. Shri Krishn is thus referred to as "Kshatriya-Shresht"
(shresht = the finest, best of the best. After all, he is the protector and preserver.) 'Sva-dharma' literally means: 'work or duty born
out of one's talent, nature or pravritti'. The 18th chapter of the Srimad Bhagavad Geeta
examines the relationship between 'sva-dharma' and 'swabhava' (i.e. one's essential/intrinsic
nature or inherent talent). In this chapter, the 'sva-dharma' of an individual is linked with
the 'gunas' or the 'tendencies or talent arising out of one's swabhava' (one's
nature, inclination). This 'Sva-dharma' - that Shri Krishna talked about - is now known as
'varna-dharma' or 'varnashram dharma'. (Varna = talent/aptitude; one's nature, inclination, bent of mind or pravritti. Shram =
work, task. Dharma = ethics, way of life. In short, the varna-system enumerated (but in no particular order of superiority or inferiority, though) ~ the manpower/workforce into four distinct groups. Thus, the Varna-system ~ Varna-shram
Dharma/Varna-dharma ~ essentially recognizes one's talent [aptitude and ability]
~ for various work/tasks... and therefore, the manpower/workforce was based on one's
aptitude and ability. So, imagine the level of training and efficiency.
However, since this was a non-rigid system, there was no concept of
'traditional occupation' whatsoever.)] [Note: "Varna-dharma" or "Varnashram dharma" has
nothing to do with "caste". Varna does not mean "caste", it means: talent; aptitude and ability. Even jaat/jaati does not mean "caste. It indicates clan. ("Caste" is derived from the Portuguese word "Casta,"
meaning: purity of descent.) No "varna" (talent; aptitude, ability) is meant to be superior or inferior to the other... 'coz society cannot function in the absence of any one of them.
The four "varna" is as per one's nature, inclination or pravritti, and is based
on one's gunas (traits, talent). "Varna-dharma" or "Varnashram
dharma" is neither rigid nor based on one's birth, etc. It depends on one's pravritti (nature, inclination, interest) and gunas
(traits, aptitude, talent). It is fluid. And concepts like "backward", "scheduled this-or-that", "dalit" etc are not part of it... since civic amenities, town planning, et al were excellent in earlier times. (All
this, including rigidity, based on one's birth, etc has come about in the
last millennium or so... as a 'by-product' of societal "samudra-manthan", etc. However, various reform and renaissance movements were able
to undo and/or dilute various unwanted aspects and social ills.) The four "varna" were: Brahman/Brahmana-varna, Ksatriya-varna,
Vaishya-varna and Sudra-varna. Not in any order of superiority, etc though; just four
"varna" (one's talent based on one's 'pravritti' or nature, inclination and interest, and 'gunas' or traits). A "Brahman" or "Brahmana" was someone who dedicated his or her life to the
pursuit (and dissemination) of knowledge, innovation, research, and
other intellectual and intellect-related activities. (Note: It's
"Brahman" or "Brahmana", not "Brahmin". "Brahman" or "Brahmana" = one who proceeded along the path of knowledge [Brahm], enlightenment [Brahmn]. And one's birth did not determine this.) A "ksatriya" was someone who protected others;
thus a "ksatriya" was essentially an upholder of ethics/principles/justice.
Their actions benefited society (and people) in general. As for "Vaishya", whosoever
was engaged in any kind of trading or business-related activities was
"Vaishya". While the rest, be they peasants, craftsmen, artisans, weavers, textile and handloom manufactures, fisherfolk, horticulturists, those involved in animal husbandry, et al were "Sudra". [Therefore,
ancient India was a hub of labour-intensive activities that not only generated
employment and revenue, but also allowed creativity to flourish.] The
"Varna-dharma"/"Varnashram-Dharma" or the Varna System was fluid... and not
rigid. There was no concept of 'traditional occupation'. As for "tribal", they were known as "adi-vasi" or "vanvasi"
(forest-dwellers or forest-dwelling human. Van = forest. Adi = ancient,
original or earliest known. So, perhaps, they may have been the first set of humans that
evolved on earth... from various animal-like ancestors.)] *The Hayagreeva/Hayagriva is also an
avatar of Lord Narayan/Shri Hari Vishnu. (It refers to someone 'horse-faced'/with an equine face, or
more likely, 'horse-jawed'. Greeva/Griva = jaw. Maybe this avatar is our
ancients' visualization/version/understanding of a Super-smart "knight". And, perhaps, the unicorn too should be viewed in this context.) The Hayagriva-avatar is believed to have
'rescued the Vedas... which was taken to rasatala'. It probably means: that this avatar rescued the Vedas (and/or Sanaatan Dharma) from decay and
degradation. In other words: this avatar revitalized the Vedas (its contents,
Vedic knowledge, etc) by cleansing it of the many unwanted aspects... that would
have seeped into them. (Veda comes from the Sanskrit root 'Vid' which means,
"to know". 'Vid' has in turn given rise to 'Vidya' ~ knowledge. Vedic = 'from
the Veda'; Sanaatan Dharm was essentially an enlightened 'way of life'.) Therefore, 'Sanaatan Vedic Dharma' is the treasure-trove of timeless
knowledge - which our ancients gathered (learnt) from nature (Prakriti),
universe (Brhmaand/Brahmaand) and space (Vyoma)... and then accumulated them
within the four Vedas and its other tributaries like the Upanishads, the Purans
and so on. Hence, this timeless knowledge is essentially a 'way of life': it was all about living in harmony with nature, performing one's karm
yog, pursuit of knowledge, becoming higher spiritual beings, connecting with
the Higher Self or seeking communion with the Universal Consciousness
(Sat-cit-ānanda: eternal bliss of self-realization), and so on. (Thus the Vedas can essentially be referred to/understood as: 'Book of
Knowledge' or 'Book of Enlightenment'.) And so, this ancient Vedic faith, Sanaatan Dharm, was never a cultic
movement (to unite people under a single "founder")... simply because
there has never been a "founder"! Instead, it is a 'way of
life' rooted in antiquity, and the stress is on 'dharma', meaning: to
perform actions/deeds that benefit society and humanity. The term Upanishad
is derived from upa (near), ni (down) and sad (to sit),
i.e., sitting down near a spiritual teacher (guru) in order to receive
instruction in the Guru-shishya parampara (tradition). Upanishad
also means 'setting at rest ignorance by revealing the knowledge of the Supreme
Spirit (Brahmn/Param-aatma).' A gloss of the term Upanishad based on
Shankara's commentary on the Katha and Brihadāranyaka Upanishads
equates it with Ātmavidyā ("knowledge of the Self"), or Brahmavidyā
("knowledge of Brahmn"). Shankara derived the word from the root
"sad" (to destroy, to loosen, to reach) with Upa and ni
as prefixes and kvip as termination and equated it's meaning with the 'destruction
of ignorance'. Therefore, Upanishad means "Brahma/Brahmn-knowledge
by which ignorance is loosened or destroyed." The treatises that deal with Brahma-knowledge
are called the Upanishads and so, pass for the Vedanta. The different
derivations together make out that the Upanishads give us both spiritual vision
and philosophical argument. In the Upanishads the spiritual meanings of the
Vedic texts are brought out and emphasized in their own right. The authorship
of the Upanishads is unknown, but some of their chief doctrines are associated
with the names of particular sages such as: Aruni, Yajnavalkya, Bâlâki,
Svetaketu, and Sândilya. The Upanishads belong to the class of sruti, or
'revealed literature', uttered by the learned sages (of yore) in the fullness of
an illumined understanding of the 'truth' (Brahmn/Ultimate Truth). According to
tradition, there were over two hundred Upanishads, but the philosopher
and commentator Shankara (who lived sometime between 509 and 820 C.E.) only
composed commentaries to eleven of them, generally regarded as the oldest ones.
The Muktika Upanishad lists 108 Upanishads, while according to Panini's Ashtadhyayi
(also known as: Panineeyam); the total number of Upanishads was 900. Patanjali
too puts the number at 900. Therefore, it appears that most of them are lost
forever. Alas. [Let's turn to Manu and Manusmriti (which, very
likely, gave rise to the word 'manuscript'.) There are innumerable universes,
with one Brahmā in each of them. There are fourteen Manu who are prominent
within this universe, each overseeing a "manvantara" or "manuvantara".
"Manu" is a title for the one who rules a manvantara. Each
"Manu" is endowed with great knowledge and wisdom. (The word
"Manav", signifying human or humanity, comes from "Manu".
Manav = human, mankind; antara = period, cycle.) Each kalpa (1,000
maha-yugas) is reigned over/overseen by a succession of 14 Manus, and the reign
of each Manu is called a "manvantara". A single manvantara is
approximately 71 maha-yugas. Manusmriti or rules of Manu texts
are ascribed to Yajña (as Svāyambhuva Manu) - the first Manu. Each Manu is the
progenitor of a line/lineage. Therefore, each Manu is the progenitor of a group
of humans, who eventually intermix. Hence, it is probably said that... Manu is
the 'progenitor of mankind' ~ Manav-jaati ('lineage of Manu') or manuṣya-jaati
('born of Manu'). Or it could also mean "guided by Manu". And thus, all humans are, therefore, called "Manava".
However, "Manu" is not "Brahmin". "Manu" is essentially a flood figure... who arrive (as per the instructions of the Almighty/Lord Narayan) in order to rescue, guide and
resettle mankind during times of great calamity, distress and turbulence (Mahajal Pralay, the Great Flood.) Therefore, "Manusmriti" (translated into English as: "laws of Manu,"
though "smriti" is not quite "law")... should be seen in that context. It is at best temporary/interim "guidelines" (to give people a
semblance of order + to reassure them) ~ since all groups of humans would be
traumatized and disoriented... and displaced. Besides, they have to travel in
specially built nao (ship) for years together (to be able to ride out the
swirling waters and its effects... to reach land and safety.) *They have
to start life anew in strange environs (maybe after a couple of generations or
more spent in specially built ships/nao.) And perhaps, some of them have to live (for
generations) in specially-equipped caves or even in settlements/shelters below the ground. Hence,
Sanaatan Dharm is not based on "Manusmriti". 'Coz this ancient Vedic 'way of
life' - Sanaatan Dharm - is neither monolithic nor homogeneous. And, though various
unwanted aspects did seep into Sanaatan Dharma in the last millennium or so... various reform
and renaissance movements led by progressive and far-sighted men and women (but
mostly men) were able to cleanse/undo and/or dilute many of these. And, given
that our ancient texts have experienced all kinds of mistranslations, inflections,
interpolations, et al (in the last millennium)... whether "Manusmriti" has remained impervious or not ~ my
guess is as good as yours. These reform and renaissance movements happened
at a time when the modes of communication, transportation, and publishing, et
al were nowhere near what they are today... and, all sorts of regressive aspects
had submerged Sanaatan Dharm. So much so that this enlightened and progressive 'way
of life' ~ Sanaatan Dharm, or even what we today understand as "Hinduism" - had
ceased to exist, in a manner of speaking, that is. In its place was a usurper, a ritual-heavy regression-filled
burden known as "Brahminical faith". (Therefore, in essence, what we today refer to as "Sikh-ism", "Jain-ism"
or even "Buddh-ism" came about as non-Brahminical faiths. Perhaps, Bhagavan Buddh did not (intend to) start a new "religion"... 'coz such a concept was unknown in his time. However, "Buddh-ism" eventually came about... courtesy the hegemony of the "Brahminical faith". These non-Brahminical faiths
(and others groups centered around a social reformer) provided an opportunity to wide swathes of the population to find their way out
of the black hole of hopelessness that the "Brahminical faith" had relegated
them. Not only did the new faiths not treat them shabbily, but also allowed
them to pray and worship, apart from offering them opportunities to gain
literacy, medical treatment and so on. In short: a respectable life. And the
new faiths did all that... without being patronizing, without rubbing salt into wounds. Instead, they "healed".) Therefore, to all those - be they leaders or
ordinary people - who were able to extricate and resurrect Sanaatan Dharm from the slough it
had fallen into... let our salutations go. [The Bhakti and Sufi movements converged, and
their combined message of egalitarianism and justice was able to support and bring about positive societal change. The greats of both these movements shared an easy
camaraderie; they advocated 'love of God' as the easiest way to attain God;
besides, both also preached the unity of God, love for mankind, tolerance and
importance of good deeds. Thus, they were able to create an atmosphere of
mutual trust and peaceful coexistence... that in turn benefited the people and
society.] Umm, but there wasn't quite a pan-India
movement as such... due to constraints of commutation and communication. However,
today the English language binds the whole of South-Asia and beyond. (Thus, this
language, in a generic sense, was the 'amrit' that arose out of yet
another 'manthan' that happened in this part of the world.) In every 'manthan' there will be some or the other 'by-product'. However, one must not confuse the trees for the forest, so to
speak. 'Coz the 'amrit' cannot and should not be belittled or ignored; it is
more important than anything else. This is the philosophy of a Param-hamsah
(Supreme Swan). ~ It is a quality that a true
Hamsan (ascetic/yogi) possesses. Lord Krishn is "Supreme Swan" ~ a true "Hamsan" or "yogi". The hamsah (swan) is supposed to possess the
ability to separate the water from the cream (in milk). The hamsa's ability to
separate milk and water symbolizes the need to differentiate between good/positive
aspects and bad/negative aspects as well as the eternal and the evanescent.
[*Note: Sri
Hayagrīva (the embodiment of higher knowledge, cosmic wisdom) is an
incarnation of Lord Narayan/Vishnu, depicted with a human body and a horse's
head, brilliant white in color (like a swan/hamsah), with white garments, seated on a
white lotus. [Puṇḍarīka/Pundarika or Pankaja/Svetakamala/Shubhra Kamal is
"white/pure white lotus". Pure white signifies pristine, embodiment
of pure knowledge, as well as tranquility.] He is the Cosmic Lord of all wisdom (cosmic wisdom). He has four lotus hands, with one in the mode
of bestowing knowledge; another holds books of knowledge/wisdom (the Vedas), and the other
two hold the Conch (Shankh) and the Disc (Chakra - possibly indicating the galaxies) respectively. [Shankhdhvani is similar to the sacred OM sound - the primeval sound ~ pranavah/Omkara/pranava
naad, the sound of the universe itself. It is the sound of the origination and dissolution
of the universe.] His beauty, like fresh cut crystal (Nirmala sphatik krittim Adharam), is an
auspicious brilliance that never decays. Hayagreeva is depicted seated, most
often with his right hand either blessing the supplicant or in the vyaakhyaa
mudraa - pose of teaching. The right hand also usually holds an aksha-maalaa
(rosary, Rudraksha?), indicating his identification with meditative knowledge. His left
hand holds a book, indicating his role as a teacher. His face is always serene and
peaceful, if not smiling. [He is also hailed as "Hayasirsa".
(Haya = Horse, Sirsa = Head.)] This avatar is worshiped on the full
moon day in August (Sravana-Paurnami/Sravana-Poornima ~ his avatara-dina) and
on Mahanavami, the ninth day of the Navaratri festival. His consort is Devi Lakshmi
(Marici - ray of light), the goddess of the rising sun, more accurately the sun's light... the life force of all things. Hayagriva is sometimes worshiped in a solitary
pose of meditation: this form is known as Yoga-Hayagriva. However, he is most
commonly worshipped along with his consort Devi Lakshmi and is known as
Lakshmi-Hayagriva.] The horse-faced/equine-faced form of Lord Vishnu is the God
of Vidya or knowledge as well as prosperity. One who prays to Lord Hayagriva
shall be blessed with knowledge and wisdom. Sri Hayagriva is the male equivalent to
Devi Sarasvati. Apparently, Lord Vishnu compiled the Vedas (Book of Knowledge/Wisdom
or Book of Enlightenment ~ eternal wisdom, knowledge, wisdom, guidance and
philosophy) in the Hayagriva form and that this avatar precedes the Matsya
Avatar. From Lord Narayan/Vishnu the eternal knowledge was transferred to Lord
Brahma (the Chief Engineer/Scientist of the Cosmos) and Devi Sarasvati, then to Lord
Surya/Suryadev, to the Manu-s ~ who, in turn, disseminated it to various humans
(including Ikshvaku - son of Vaivasvata Manu - and the founder
of the Ikshvaku [or Aikṣvāka]
dynasty ~ to which greats like Sagara, Dilīpa, Bhagiratha, Raghu and Shri Ram
belonged). The Hayagriva Avatar is also the rescuer of the Vedas
(from 'rasatala' - utter degradation and decay. 'Rasatala' is also the name of one of the lower planets of the Spiritually
deprived but Materially advanced Adho-Lokas/Lower Realms (not to be mistaken
for the Hellish Planets/Narak-Loka.) One of the legends states
that during creation, (malevolent entities) Madhu and Kaitabha stole the Vedas (Book
of Knowledge/Wisdom or Book of Enlightenment ~ treasure-trove of eternal wisdom, knowledge, guidance and philosophy) from Lord Brahma (the Chief Engineer/Scientist
of the Cosmos). To save the Vedas/eternal knowledge (from falling into wrong
hands... and therefore, its misuse) - Lord Vishnu took the form of Hayagreeva. ~ This
story represents the triumph of pure knowledge, guided by the divine over negative/malevolent
forces of darkness (ignorance, delusion, etc.) It could even be an allegorical tale applicable for all ages. [~ The two bodies of Madhu and
Kaitabha disintegrated into twelve pieces (two heads, two torsos, four arms and
four legs): These are considered to represent the twelve seismic plates of the
Earth.] (Sri Hayagrīva is known for his Shaurya - conspicuous and
uncommon gallantry and intrepidity; he is known to never rest; possesses the
all-mighty light; is without the slightest care for his own welfare, his heart
is full of compassion (unbiased, dispassionate understanding), and so on.] Maybe, if He were to be otherwise, the Vedas (Book of Wisdom/Knowledge
or Book of Enlightenment ~ treasure-trove of eternal
wisdom, knowledge, guidance and philosophy would have remained in the Adho-Lokas/Lower
Realms and/or in perpetual decay.) Hayagreeva
is an embodiment of intelligence and knowledge. He is a divine being who gives
divine intelligence and wisdom. He is also the "Defender of faith" (from
negative aspects, like ignorance, etc.) Hayagreeva can also bestow "Siddhi" (self-realization, Jeevan Mukti) when one
connects with his divine energy. [Here is the Hayagreeva Gayatri (a Vedic hymn):
|| Om Vagisvaraya vidhmahe Hayagrivaya dheemahi Tanno Hamsat pracodayat || ~
(Hamsat: a being with the complexion of a swan/hamsah). ~ Om, Let me meditate on the god of learning, O
God who has an equine-face, give me higher intellect, And let Lord Hayagreeva - Him of the hamsah/swan-like complexion -
illuminate my mind. The second one is the Hayagreeva
slokam (from a stotram):
|| Jnana-ananada mayam devam Nirmala sphatik krittim Adharam Sarva Vidyanam Hayagriva
Upasmahae ||: Link. Note: The hamsah (swan) is supposed to possess the
ability to separate water from cream (in milk). The hamsa's ability to
separate milk and water symbolizes the need to differentiate between good/positive
aspects and bad/negative aspects as well as the eternal and the evanescent. Sri Hayagrīva is thus Param-hamsah
(Supreme Swan.) ~ The hamsah/swan...
whose feathers do not get damp despite remaining in contact with water is an embodiment of "detachment" and exemplifies a true "yogi", a real ascetic/hamsan or sanyaasi/Jeevan Mukt (one who is detached like the lotus... which grows in
muddy water and yet remains Nirmal - untouched by it. It is the mark of an enlightened, higher soul (mahatmanah). The spirit of such persons is spotless, like the
lotus in muddy water that remains "detached" [does not adhere to
it.] ~ This should also help us to understand the concept of 'lotus feet' as well as the concept of Kara-puṣkara or 'lotus-palm'.] Note: No one can describe the Supreme Lord though. Noone has ever seen Him.
Words aren't enough to do justice to His glories. He is infinite. He is beyond
the physical world and beyond Past, Present and Future. ~ The
(great incarnations)/maha-avatars are also known as 'leela-avatars'; they
appear in their human form but their purpose is different. ~ Any one who attributes
human values to God (the 'leela-avatars' included) - has failed to realize the
True Leelas behind these episodes. One can truly understand the maha-avatars and the magnitude of their karm - only in one's mind's eye. ['Coz our ancient texts are full of allegories, metaphors and symbolism. By taking them literally (i.e. at face value) ] one will not be able to grasp their true essence. ~ E.g. 'Giridhari' is not literal - it is allegorical; Krishn did not lift a whole mountain - literally, that is (he was whisked away to a safer place as a newborn... and
then sent away to study at the age of 5 or 7 [do read paragraphs #4 and #6 - to
get the drift]; therefore, a teenage Krishn holding a large hill/mountain on
his forefinger is allegorical.) However, when one fully understands the significance of Krishn's karm... one can comprehend ('see' in one's mind's eye) *why* he is 'Giridhari' - the achiever of Herculean/superhuman tasks/deeds - against great odds/impediments/adversities. ~ And then, one can also understand: why he is the most chivalrous fish in the samsaric ocean - guiding others through turbulent waters. [He is also the dispeller ("lifter") of (the
allegorical 'dark clouds' of) pessimism, confusion, despondency, hopelessness, et al; he
is the harbinger of hope and the bringer of sunshine.]
[The 10th Vishnu, the Kalki-mahaavatar ~
too has an equine face... indicating a Super-smart chivalrous "knight". This avatar is a
(fair-complexioned ~ the allegorical/metaphoric "pure white
lotus"/ Puṇḍarīka/Pundarika; pure white signifies pristine, pure knowledge) person and not a 'white horse', per se. It is also indicative of his kuṇḍalinī (do read paragraph #9 - to know more about
Kundalini), which is vital for all the 7 Chakras - centers of Prāṇa, life
force, or vital energy - to be fully activated. Chakras correspond to vital
points in the physical body i.e. major plexuses of arteries, veins and nerves.
(For 'Sudarshan Chakra' ~ do refer to paragraph # 18 ~ from the top.) However, given that
this avatar is depicted either as a 'white-coloured horse' or as 'a man with a
horse's head' ~ people (at least those in the last millennium or so) probably
were unclear... and so, did not quite know what to make of it (meaning, how to
interpret the symbolism, etc). Besides, there is a "Hayagriva-avatar" too (and
this avatar is depicted as 'a man with a horse's head' as well.) Thus, they
probably decided to concentrate on the avatars that were depicted as human
figures. But then the 8th and 10th Vishnu is very closely
associated: Lord Kalki... one equal in stature to
Lord Krishna will guide humanity (at the end of Kaliyug, when the metaphoric
bud/flower [Kali] withers away and the 'Iron Age' [negative aspects] of Kaliyug
is at its peak.) Thus: One who was known as Lord Krishna then... will be known
as Lord Kalki now. In the circumstances when society and humanity finds itself
totally handicapped and without a solution... at such a time it is only the
Almighty who can help humanity come out of the confusion/chaos... and
revitalize itself. Thus the Super-smart chivalrous "knight" (the equine faced Kalki-avatar) is none
other than Lord Krishn ~ the finest avatar, the one closest to Lord Narayan... who will arrive to 'awaken' (from 'sleep' - stagnation and degeneration/decay) as well as to hold a mirror to society; to facilitate change, to set the stage for the next 'Maha-Yug' to manifest, to 'turn the wheel'; to rescue, guide and salvage (... and to prevent utter chaos on Prthvi-loka)
~ at a time when dharma, karma, comprehension, perception/cognition, noble values, ethics and principles, et al fall
below the minimum level (i.e. when the 'Iron Age' [negative aspects] of Kaliyug
is at its peak.)
Kalki or Kalkiḥ (कल्किः)
is also referred to as: Kalkin and Kalaki
~ often a metaphor for "Eternity" or
"Time". (Time is Kala/Kaalah in Sanskrit. Purush/Purusha = Cosmic Energy. Lord Narayan is the "Kaal
Purush". He is beyond time: puraatanah i.e. He who was even before time.
Therefore, "Time" (Kaal or Kaalah) bows before Him. The Almighty - the Viraat Purush, the Cosmic
Being, or the Primordial Being (Adi Purusha)... is the motive power behind the
mathematically precise universes. 'Avatar' means: descent and
refers to a descent of the divine into earthly form. Avatar comes from
the Sanskrit avatirna: "manifest/descent from the Lord.") Those who achieve 'moksha' (liberation) are free from the constant cycle of life, death and re-birth... and thus, gain entry into Vaikunth (Vishnu-loka, the ananda-maya,
cin-maya/eternal loka [planets]). For everyone else, the closest one can get to
see (i.e. get a "darshan" of) the Almighty (Lord Narayan/Shri Hari/Vishnu/Satya-Sundar/Virupaksha) is through Lord
Krishn (the 8th and 10th Vishnu). Lord Krishn is, therefore, God Himself (albeit, in the
flesh). Both arrive to 'turn the wheel', to 'close'
the respective yugs (Dvapar and Kali)... and to set the stage for the next
yug/cycle to manifest ~ to usher in a "new dawn". (Lord Kalki also 'closes' the maha-yug, the four-yug cycle: Sat/Satya/Krita, Treta, Dvapar and Kali... and is a one-man army, a lone warrior in this 'manthan'. He will, therefore, absorb the maximum 'toxin/venom' ~ the 'by-product' of this 'manthan'. *And, given that it is the end of Kaliyug, the most difficult of times, with the 'Iron
Age' [negative aspects] of Kaliyug at its peak... there is likely to be epic levels of 'venom'.) Please note: 'One-man army' or 'lone warrior' should not be construed as 'one-man show';
it is simply a sign of the times: unlike Dvapar, this time there will be no one
of the caliber of Arjun, Bheem or even Chandragupta Maurya to work with him. Such is the situation at the end of Kaliyug: apathy sets in and so, all sorts
of negativities proliferate; people's faculties become dormant ~ their
perception/cognizance exists only in name. Thus, he alone will 'pull chestnuts out of the
fire'; everyone else will be too busy working at cross-purposes and/or in pursuit of narrow/parochial
interests.] || Shri Krishna Govind Hare Murare, Heye Nath
Narayan, Vasudeva, Tribhuvan Ke Swami, Sakha Hamare, Heye Nath Narayan Vasudeva || [*Tamas is the quality of dullness, darkness, and
inertia and is heavy, enveloping (like a fog or mist) or obstructing in its
action. It functions as the force of gravity that retards things and holds them
in specific limited forms. It possesses a downward motion that causes decay and
disintegration. Tamas brings about ignorance and delusion in the mind and
promotes insensitivity, 'sleep' and loss of awareness. It is the principle of
materiality or unconsciousness that causes consciousness to become enveloped by
a 'fog'. From Tamas comes the ignorance that obstructs or engulfs one's true
nature and weakens one's power of perception. Through it arises the idea of an
ego (ahankara) or 'separate self' by which one feels alone and isolated. Tamas
prevails in consciousness identified with the physical body, which is dull and
limited. As long as one's identity and sense of well-being is primarily
physical one remains in the dark realm of Tamas. Tamasic types have deep-seated
psychological blockages. Their energy and emotion tends to be stagnant and
repressed and they do not know what their problems really are. They accept
their condition as fate and do not take advantage of the methods that may
alleviate their problems. They allow other people and negative influences to
dominate them and do not like to be responsible for their lives. They prefer
not to deal with their problems or will not let others know about them, which
only allows the problems to get worse. The end of Kaliyug is marked by
Tamasic-ness (~ the 'Iron Age' of Kaliyug is at its peak.)]
Kalkiḥ, Vishnu- Kalkiḥ or Krishn-Kalkiḥ ~ the tenth and final Maha Avatar (great
incarnation) of Lord Vishnu, will bring to an end the dark and destructive
influence of Kaliyug (the 'Iron Age' of Kaliyug) and set the stage for
Krita/Satya Yug of the next cycle to manifest. Various ancient texts describe Kalkiḥ appearing as a 'blazing thunder or
light'. [The Kalki-mahaavatar/Vishnu-
Kalkiḥ will be the guide, teacher/guru, reformer, leader, deviser/maker/creator, pioneer/trailblazer/path-finder,
toxin-venom absorber (since this avatar too is a 'blue avatar',
very likely: Prussian Blue) and
doer; however, the 'wheel needs to keep turning'.] The origins of the name
(Kalkiḥ) probably lie in the word Kalka, which refers to
"dirt", "filth" or "foulness". Hence Kalkiḥ
(कल्किः) means: Destroyer/Dispeller of foulness,
confusion, darkness or Annihilator of ignorance. [Here, "foulness," "darkness," "dirt," and "filth" =
dullness, ignorance, inertia, decay, disintegration, delusion, insensitivity
(loss of humanism), 'sleep' (stagnation, decline/decay), loss of awareness, weakness of perception,
pessimism, despondency, and everything arising out of these... that
causes consciousness to become enveloped by a 'fog'.] He is a torchbearer. Kalkiḥ also means: "the unifier". The (metaphoric, allegorical) flaming comet-like sword, (or a comet
like a sword) - that the Kalki-mahaavatar wields... is a symbol for
"discernment", or Wisdom ~ that slices away the bonds of illusion/delusion/lies/make-believe and foulness/filth ~ thereby lifting the 'fog of confusion' (from
our eyes and thoughts)... thus showing the way forward, and thus also liberating
the souls (jiva-atma) to greater awareness of 'truth' (Sat/Satya: i.e. dharma/actions that lead to a better society) and 'beauty' (goodness/Sundar: opposite of "filth").
Lord Vishnu will return as the final Avatar (the Kalki-mahaavatar) ~
amid fire and flames (utter confusion, degeneration, hopelessness and decay) ~
to reinvigorate the principles of "dharma" and "karm", besides setting the "Wheel of Dharma in Motion":
to "awaken" the minds of those who live at the end of Kali Yug... so
that they shake off their dullness, pessimism and despondency... and collectively
work towards building a better society and civilization. ... This avatar will reconcile all opposites (opposing sides) ~ so as to prevent chaos (Pralaya or large-scale destruction) on Prthvi-loka. || Asato
mā sad gamaya | From ignorance/untruth, lead me unto truth (dharma, ethics, actions
that benefit society) | Tamaso mā jyotir gamaya ~ From darkness (the
'fog' of regressive aspects, ignorance, 'sleep' [stagnation, decline/decay], destruction, delusion and pessimism), lead
me unto light (knowledge, hope, wisdom, enlightenment) ~ that help build/create
a better society and civilization.] Kalkiḥ-Vishnu is a 'warrior',
a warrior-par-excellence ~ against "dirt" and "filth" (of the 'Iron Age' of Kaliyug). He
has three souls (symbolic): satyam-sivam-sundaram. One soul is the
preserver/Vishnu (to preserve the world... from chaos/Pralaya/large-scale destruction); the second soul is the
destroyer/Shiva (to 'destroy' "filth" and confusion, to 'annihilate' ignorance
of the 'Iron Age' of Kali Yug), while the third soul is the creator/Brahma (to 'create' a new
era/yug, i.e. to set the stage for Sat/Satya/Krita Yug of the next cycle to
manifest). The symbolic form of Kalkiḥ
is on a white (winged) horse (Devadatta) ~ wielding a brilliant (comet-like) sword. However, another
etymology from Sanskrit is 'white horse'. Meaning: Kalkiḥ is the 'white horse';
possibly: a fair-complexioned equine-faced Super-smart chivalrous "knight" ~ who will come to rescue, guide, prevent chaos and 'awaken'... as well as hold a mirror to society. (Fair-complexioned: given the 'white' horse allegory ~
signifying Puṇḍarīka/Pundarika or
Shubhra Kamal ~ the allegorical/metaphoric "white lotus". White
signifies pristine, pure knowledge.) Lord Vishnu is also called "Nandakee": One who
holds the Nandaka sword. Srimad Bhagavad Gita 4:42: || tasmād ajñāna-sambhūtaḿ
hṛt-sthaḿ jñānāsinātmanaḥ chittvainaḿ saḿśayaḿ yogam ātiṣṭhottiṣṭha
bhārata || ~ Therefore, sever the ignorant doubt in your heart with the sword
of self-knowledge. Observe your discipline (karm yog). Arise (shun ennui, tardiness or slothfulness, despondency, pessimism, and so on.) | Shri Gautam
Buddh: "Being deeply learned and skilled, being well-trained and using
well-spoken words: this is good luck." | Swami Vivekananda: "All power is within
you, you can do anything and everything. Believe in that." [Do read the fourth paragraph from the last - to know more about self-knowledge and "samadhi".]
The
first age, Sat/Satya/Krita Yug, is believed to be the best age/yug
when "Dharma" (ethics, values, principles, et al... and by extension
karm, spiritual conditions, cognition, as well as society and civilization),
represented by the symbolic holy bull (not to be mistaken for a bovine creature
per se), stood on its all four legs; then came (the second era) Treta Yug - in which the ethical and
spiritual conditions deteriorated a bit, therefore "Dharma" lost one of its
legs. By the time the third age, i.e. Dvapara
Yug, arrived... "Dharma" had lost two of its legs. And in the most
degenerate/decayed of all ages - the end of Kali
Yug (when the 'Iron Age' of Kaliyug is at its peak) - "Dharma" is said to be standing only on
one leg. Across the yugs/ages when imbalances are created by adverse conditions
(can be referred to as "dushkrtam"/malevolence ~ and can include: ignorance, ennui, perfunctoriness, confusion, delusion, lack of perspective and comprehension, 'sleep' [stagnation, degeneration, decay] and so on)
~ they are believed to be set right (through a combination of karm/action
[including selfless action] + guidance) by various incarnations of Lord Vishnu/Narayan - in a variety of human forms
called "Avatars" (as per His stated ~ dharma-samsthapanarthaya sambhavami yuge-yuge: ~ To guide and to re-establish/revitalize/rejuvenate the principles of "dharma" and "karm" ~ for the benefit of mankind/humanity ~ for a better society and civilization, I manifest Myself millennium after millennium.) ~ Srimad Bhagavad Gita (Chapter IV-7): || yada yada hi dharmasya glanir bhavati bharata abhyutthanam adharmasya tadatmanam srjamy aham || ~ Whenever and wherever there is an alarming decline or
discrepancy in dharma/dharmic principles (for the greater good of mankind/humanity, and for society/civilization to flourish
well); or when such an alarming decline is perceived or becomes a bane; O
descendant of Bharata, only then, I, manifest Myself. ['Avatar' means: descent, and refers to a
descent of the divine into earthly form. Avatar comes from the Sanskrit avatirna:
"manifest/descent from the Lord."] A cycle of four yugs (Sat/Satya/Krita,
Treta, Dvapar and Kaliyug ~ whose lengths follow a ratio of 4:3:2:1) is known
as a "Maha Yug" or a "Chatur-Yug". Thus, Kaliyug is the shortest
era/age/yug. It was the Krishn-avatar who arrived to help and guide humanity in the transition from Dvapar to Kaliyug. [Kali
does not mean demon. Kali means bud. Only at the end of Kaliyug - when
the metaphoric bud/flower withers away - the 'Iron Age' (negative aspects) of Kaliyug will be
at its peak.]
~ These incarnations/avatars
come in their human form... choosing their manner of entry into the world
according to the demand of the times. It is said that at the end of Kaliyug
"Dharma" will cease to exist (i.e. ethics, values,
principles, karm, spiritual conditions, cognitive abilities, perspective, et al shall
be touching their lowest point) ~ paving the way for darkness of the mind (the dense 'fog'
of ignorance, apathy, loss of hope, despondency, confusion, illusion, delusion, lower modes of
materialism, pursuit of narrow interests/parochialism, and so on) to hold sway. So much so
that Arya Dharma (the noble tenets of the Arya 'way of life') too will cease to exist (touch its lowest point). Besides, there will be other challenges as well: e.g. unlike the end of
Dvapar, there will be many paths/faiths. Plus, the end of Kaliyug signifies/heralds
the end of an entire "maha-yug" (a four-yug cycle) and the
commencement/transition into a whole new one. In other words, from the 'Iron Age' of Kaliyug to the 'Golden Age' of Sat/Satya/Krita
Yug ~ i.e. from the lowest point ("Dharma" on one leg) to the best of eras/ages/yugs ("Dharma" on all four legs). Therefore, it will not merely be an
intra-yug transition - from one yug to another within a Chatur-yug (a four-yug
cycle: Sat/Satya/Krita, Treta, Dvapar and Kaliyug.) ~ It is said that the Kalki-avatar is essentially the return of the Krishn-avatar in another form ~ to preserve and to protect, as well as to help and guide humanity in this transition. This movement (from the 'Iron Age' of Kaliyug to the 'Golden Age' of Sat/Satya/Krita Yug) will have to be gradual ~ slow and steady. [Do also read the next paragraph - for better clarity.] In a manner of speaking... it has to (gradually) move into and pass through a symbolic Dvapar (the 'Copper Age': "Dharma" on two legs; when some aspects of "Arya-Dharma", karm, cognition, comprehension, introspection et al still existed), followed by a symbolic Treta (the 'Age of Silver': "Dharma" on three legs) ~ finally leading to Sat/Satya/Krita (the 'Golden Age', the best era/age/yug of all ~ "Dharma" on all four legs.) ~ It is not a reverse movement - per se, but a symbolic one; one that will include/accompany a corresponding change in values/ethics, perspective, perception/cognitive abilities, introspection, karm, as well as dharma (actions that benefit society or lead to a better society and civilization), and so on. ~ There is no magic wand, no quick-fix, no instant solution; earthlings/humanity will have to settle/manage/handle their own issues - through collective effort, there is no one "out there" (a messiah figure) who will come and do it. They will guide and show the way - yes, however, there is no alternative to karm yog. ~ This has been the message of the Krishn-avatar. And this has also been the message of the Buddh-avatar. ~ Thus, it will require a
cogent, sagacious, persuasive, far-sighted and diligent avatar (characterized
by steady, earnest and energetic effort) ~ someone with dhriti/dhrti (courage of the mind - resilient, constant/steadfast, patient and displaying fortitude and endurance) - a Sampoorna (complete, all-embracing) Avatar - to not only address (interact with) all of humanity, but to also accomplish certain
tasks (to preserve and to protect, to reform and to guide) ~ to show the way forward. The Kalki-avatar is (thus) an
epoch-making avatar, a Yug Purush (Renaissance Man)... and is predicted to be an erudite, intelligent and valiant
personage who will possess Sattva Guna-s
(noble traits/qualities). [Valour/Shaurya is a
special human quality, usually demonstrated in the performance of extraordinary
and unselfish deeds (nishkam karm) in the face of great challenges... for the greater
good.] ~ When avatars arrive, they trigger or accelerate karmas. ~ The avatars create situations - time,
place and opportunity - that bring forth both the good/positive as well as the
bad/negative; e.g. Krishn brought out
both the positive and the negative. [Possibly: to let out the 'toxin' or 'venom' (to generate potent Prana or vital force in
order to reform) - to clear the 'cobwebs', to lift the 'fog', to pull humanity/society out of decay/'quicksand'/quagmire or prevent its slide into it, to "awaken" humanity ... as well as to hold
a mirror to society, to urge humanity into introspection ~ so that it leads to a natural process of unraveling (from
ignorance to discovery and from reformation to transformation). ... This process would be crucial for
the transition into the 'Golden Age' of Sat/Satya/Krita Yug (the best of all ages/eras/yugs... from the 'Iron Age'
of Kaliyug (the lowest point of all ages/eras/yugs)] ~ The 'destroying/dispelling powers' of Kalkiḥ ... is sharpest of all ~ so as to let out the 'toxin'/'venom' (to generate potent Prana or vital force in
order to reform); to clear 'cobwebs' and 'fog'; to hold
a mirror to society, as well as to 'destroy' (dispel)
ego/ahamkara, negative pride/conceit, delusion, ignorance, and so on. [... This may be
so, since this maha-avatar will remain among humans for the shortest time, and will accomplish all
that needs to be done (to protect and to preserve, as well as to guide) in twenty years.] The Kalki-avatar shall possess the five doors of perception - sight,
hearing, smell, taste and touch, besides... mind, heart, intelligence and "Turyavastha" or transcendence of
intuitive experience. [For purposes of comprehension, "Turyavastha"
can be translated as the "super-conscious" state (as opposed to
waking [Jagrata] to be conscious, dream [Swapna] to be sub-conscious, and deep
sleep [Sushupti] to be unconscious states). Turyaga is the state of a Muni/Jnani/"yogi",
it leads to "detachment", Jeevan Mukt ~ allowing one to enter into nirvikalpa samadhi to 'awaken' to "Moksha"
(liberation). Such a person can do seemingly impossible tasks with ease - the allegorical 'Giridhari'. Such a
person is also "Siddha" - one whose heart is larger than the universe
itself; one who has achieved the eternal bliss/spiritual ecstasy of "self-realization"
~ Sat-cit-ānanda.] This
maha-avatar will also possess seven other characteristics of a 'Purna-avatar', an
integral or all-inclusive avatar, e.g.: Grace or reward for effort that fails
to be rewarded though it has come from the deserving; "Anugraha" or special grace - whether the
recipient merits it or not: possibly indicating an extraordinary capacity for forgiveness, as well as a tremendous ability to absorb/soak up 'toxin' or 'venom' (since at the end of Kaliyug, with the 'Iron Age' of Kaliyug at its
peak... there is likely to be epic/unprecedented levels of it ~ so (maybe) this avatar can be called 'super-ghanshyam'); the power to create a new order of
life in society, new state of consciousness in individuals ("consciousness" and
"conscience" are two different things; "consciousness" is awareness, sentience -
the ability to feel, perceive, comprehend or to experience. It is necessary for cognition);
power to support and sustain what is inherently good, which may happen to be defenseless; the power to 'destroy' or dispel
negative aspects ('darkness of the mind': ego/ahamkara, negative pride, delusion, ignorance, etc), and the like. [However, the 'wheel needs to keep turning'.] On a separate note: How long ago did the last great
deluge/flood (Mahajal Pralaya) happen: one, one-and-a-half or two maha-yugs ago? ~ In
which case, some amount of the information, knowledge, etc are courtesy the
Manu-s and other higher beings? For what duration did the people have to travel by specially-built ships, etc - one-and-a-half generation or a couple of generations? ~ My guess is as good as yours. Also, going
forward... (e.g.) will the maha-avatars appear as combined (all-embracing) avatars (and
address/interact with humanity) or not ~ my guess is as good as yours.
The "Kalki-mahaavatar"
(Vishnu-Kalki) is not quite the 'Apocalyptic Horse Rider', but protector and preserver. He is also a trailblazer (guide/sarathy, path-finder), a pioneer of epic/heroic proportions: an action-oriented/practical doer who will take charge and courageously walk alone into the unknown/unfamiliar ~ to protect and to preserve (at a time when the 'Iron Age'/negative effects of Kaliyug is at its peak: when dharma, karma, perception/cognition, values, ethics and principles, et al fall
below the minimum level; when tamasic-ness holds sway... bringing about ignorance and delusion in the
mind, resulting in stagnation, decay and loss of awareness ~ which in turn causes the consciousness to
become enveloped by a 'fog'. Thus, people will be too busy working at cross-purposes and/or in pursuit of narrow/parochial interests. Hence, he alone will 'pull chestnuts out of the
fire'. ~ In the 'Iron Age' of Kaliyug... since tamasic-ness holds sway, the heart of mankind is hard and cold like iron.
And so, the 'Iron Age' of Kaliyug is also called the 'Machine Age' (an age characterized by lack of humaneness/humanistic values and concerns,
desensitized). The name Kalkiḥ means literally, "of
iron" or "machine". It does not imply that this avatar is a
robot made of metal, but that his birth is in the 'age of iron or machines' (an age characterized by lack of humaneness/humanistic values and concerns,
desensitized), an age when perception/perspective/cognitive abilities too get dulled.
The Vedic scriptures describe time in a cycle of four ages or yugs: the Golden
Age (Sat/Satya/Krita Yug), Silver Age (Treta Yug), Copper Age (Dvapar Yug) and
Iron Age (which is at its peak at the end of Kaliyug). Kalkiḥ is (thus) the Avatar of the 'iron or machine age' (an age characterized by lack of humaneness/humanistic values and concerns,
desensitized) ~ also called the age of ignorance and darkness (pessimism, loss of hope, confusion,
decay, degeneration, stagnation, apathy, and so on). It is regarded as the most
degenerate/decayed of the ages, characterized by a hardening of the spiritual
core of mankind, and extreme apathy/ennui/indifference and materialism. Not only would the lower modes of material nature become so strong that people
will lose interest in the doctrine of dharma and karm, they will also be too
strongly in the mode of ignorance/materialism/indifference/perfunctoriness to
even comprehend the basic concepts of dharma and karm. Therefore, this maha-avatar will not come to preach (unlike the
Buddha-avatar - the Enlightened One. Also, as the Krishn-avatar he has already said all
that he had to say.) Instead, he will be
action-oriented... and will also lead by example ~ to "awaken" mankind, to
urge them into introspection: so that it leads to a natural process of unraveling (from ignorance to discovery and
from reformation to transformation). [Sat/Satya/Krita Yug is the
time for spiritual transition wherein humans reach a higher level of existence, by moving out of his
or her inferior manas (lower mind or lower self) and into the superior manas
(higher mind or Higher Self... leading to a better society and civilization.] ~ However, there is no magic wand. Also, instant transformation is impractical; it is
akin to putting a lump of fine gold (signifying 'Golden Age' - Sat/Satya/Krita
Yug) into a glass of water. The gold will remain gold; the water will remain
as it is. Instead, positive change/transformation will be gradual, slow
but steady... through patience and collective effort; this will enable society and humanity to "heal"... so as to rejuvenate/reinvigorate itself sufficiently
enough to find its rhythm... which in turn will lead to a better civilization. [His purpose is to revitalize the concepts of karm and dharma (actions that lead to a better society).] However, in this 'manthan' he will be alone; there will
be no one of the caliber and stature of (e.g.) Arjun or even Chandragupta Maurya -
to work with him. Therefore, in all likelihood, he will make do with what is
available to him. Also, this maha-avatar will remain among humans for the
shortest time, and will accomplish all that needs to be done (to protect and to
preserve as well as to guide) in about twenty years: he will reform, guide and navigate; devise and create; break new
ground; lead by example; clear past 'cobwebs' and absorb 'toxin'/venom; hold a mirror to society; 'turn the wheel'; lift the 'fog' of tamasic-ness/illusion/delusion/pessimism,
etc - so as to "awaken" the mind (and not the heart ~ 'coz when the perceptive/cognitive abilities have diminished or dulled - especially in this 'Machine Age' - when the negative aspects/'Iron Age' of Kaliyug is at its peak... appealing to the heart will give rise to confusion) - to urge humanity into
introspection ~ to "close" the current maha-yug and set the stage/lay the foundations for the Sat/Satya/Krita Yug of the
next cycle to manifest, and so on.] Thus, this maha-avatar is an out-an-out Super-smart "Knight" riding (an allegorical) white stallion (white winged horse - Devadatta): A 'workhorse' ~ steadfast, dynamic, sagacious, non-preachy, hard working, dependable and a high-achieving/accomplished person - with great intellectual
horsepower,
strength and talent. ['Workhorse' is not literal. It is a colloquial way of
indicating 'eternal battery life' - a diligent, non-pompous, far-sighted, determined and dependable performer, tough enough to take on multiple challenges/extreme variables (choppy waters)... to bring about positive change as well as to protect and to preserve. Impediments or challenges will not daunt him; he will
find a way, no matter what. A path-finder (guide/sarathy, pioneer, trailblazer) ~ he will navigate, innovate, devise and create: a doer and
a thought leader, as well as a catalyst for positive change. (The 'white' horse = the allegorical/metaphoric "pure white
lotus"/ Puṇḍarīka/Pundarika; pure white signifies pristine, pure knowledge. It is also indicative of his kuṇḍalinī [do read paragraph #9 - to know more about
Kundalini], which is vital for all the 7 Chakras - centers of Prāṇa, life
force, or vital energy - to be fully activated. Chakras correspond to vital
points in the physical body i.e. major plexuses of arteries, veins and nerves.
[For 'Sudarshan Chakra' ~ do refer to paragraph # 18 ~ from the top.] The current kalpa is known as the "Svhetavaraha Kalpa". [Svheta = white.
Varaha = the great boar. Do refer to the Indus seal above to know more about the symbolism behind "Varaha".]) However, this maha-avatar... may not be that easily recognizable (unlike say the Krishn-avatar) ~
given that the 'Iron Age' of Kaliyug is at its peak: mental faculties diminish,
perception/cognitive abilities get dulled. Also, since no one knows or can
authenticate how the maha-avatars (great incarnations) actually look like,
what we get to see is based on various people's imagination, ... and so, some
amount of 'creative liberty' comes in. For example, in the third picture (or rather, in all four of them), the
Kalki-mahaavatar should be depicted carrying a brilliant comet-like sword (or wielding a comet like a sword) ~
signifying knowledge, discernment and wisdom: To dispel tamasic-ness: ignorance, pessimism and so on; to reform and to guide; to clear past 'cobwebs' and 'toxin'/venom; to reinvigorate the principles of "dharma" and "karm" - thus, he will also lead by example; to establish peace,
and prevent chaos/Pralaya on Earth; to bring to an "end" the present yug-cycle/to
"close" the maha-yug (the four-yug cycle, including the 'Iron Age' of Kaliyug); to "awaken" the
humans who live at the end of Kaliyug... leading to a gradual transformation (through a process of learning and unlearning) thereby (gradually) leading to a better society and civilization; to set the stage/lay the foundations for the Sat/Satya/Krita Yug of the
next cycle to manifest. However, the 'wheel needs to keep turning'. (Please read the previous five paragraphs - for greater clarity.) This (blue) maha-avatar is the possessor of Sattva gunas (Sattvic qualities/traits). For Buddhists, the Kalki-avatar is (very likely)
Kalki-Maitreya (the future Buddha, ruler of the fabled/mythical kingdom of Shambhala). ~ 'How shall we know him?' asked Ananda. ~ The
Blessed One (the Buddha) replied: 'The Buddha that will come after me will be known as Maitreya, which means kindness or friendliness.' [In Buddhist literature his name is known as Metteya (or Metteyya with two y's) in Pali, or Maitreya in Sanskrit. Thus the name could mean, 'One whose name is
kindness or friendliness' (Pāli: mettā or maitrī/maitree in Sanskrit). Maitreya could also mean, 'One who brings about maitrī'. A more fluent translation of Metteya in
English would be "friend" ~ since maitrī (Pāli: mettā) is in turn derived from the noun mitra (Pāli: mitta) which means
"friend". Buddha is derived from the root "Budh", meaning
both to "wake up" and "to know". Thus, Buddha = One who is Enlightened or "Awakened". Lord Maitreya, the World Teacher, is the Maitreya Buddha or Buddha
Maitreya, the future Buddha ~ the Buddha of the future: the next Buddha-to-be after Gautama Buddha/Sakyamuni Buddha.] Now, whether the Kalki-mahaavatar is also (e.g.) the
Saoshyant of the Zoroastrians ~ my guess is as good as yours. ... On a separate note, one wonders what the
confusion and concern over the Mayan calendar ~ supposedly predicting the 'end
of the world' (on December 21, 2012) was all about? Was it misunderstood or misinterpreted?
Did the Mayans actually predict apocalypse/'end of the world'? Or, did they
indicate the end of an era/yug (as they saw it)... and the subsequent transition into another? ~ My guess is as good as
yours. (Maybe, a deeper study of their literature will throw more light.) [Note: The incarnations of the Lord are innumerable,
like rivulets flowing from inexhaustible sources of water. Apart from the
direct incarnations, there are innumerable empowered
incarnations. The indirectly empowered ones are called vibhūtis. However, the Kalkiḥ-maha-avatar is the Almighty (jagat-patiḥ: the Lord of the Universe/Creation) Himself (albeit, in the flesh)... and
so, cannot be monopolized or confined to any specific
faith (given that the end of Kaliyug will be unlike that of Dvapar; unlike
Dvapar, it is not merely the end of a yug (within a Chatur-yuga: a four-yug
cycle: Sat/Satya/Krita, Treta, Dvapar and Kaliyug). Rather, the end of Kaliyug will
be the end of a complete Mahayug itself... and the commencement/transition into
another (a whole new Maha Yug or Chatur-yuga.) Besides, there would be many paths/faiths... therefore, his message will be for all) ~ "Ekam Sat Vipraha Bahudha Vadanti" ~ Truth is one, but the
wise know/call it as many | God is one, but we can approach Him in many ways. ~
"Whosoever comes to Me, through whatsoever
form, I reach him; all men are struggling through paths which in the end lead
to me." The Srimad Bhagavad Geeta
(Chapter 10, Verse 20) says: || aham atma
gudakesha sarva-bhutasaya-sthitah aham adis ca madhyam ca bhutanam anta eva ca
|| ~ "I am the Supreme
Spirit/Supersoul, O Arjun, seated in the hearts of all living entities. I am
the beginning, the middle and the end of all beings." ~ The
Almighty is present within the heart of every heart as the Supersoul and thus,
there is no distinction between differing bodies. Also, since all knowledge and all the Vedas (of all paths/faiths) flow from the Almighty Himself... this maha-avatar will also hold
a mirror to the interpolations and extrapolations. [However, "religion" - as we understand today, is man-made; what the Almighty imparts is knowledge, wisdom and guidance. For Him humanity is humanity.] ... The Kalkih-mahaavatar will (in a manner of
speaking, that is) also display another aspect of His Vishwaroop (the Universal
Form) ~ "Ekam Sat Vipraha Bahudha Vadanti" ~ Truth is one, but the wise
call/know it as many | God is one, but we can approach Him in many ways. ~
That: the Almighty is not a monolith or unidimensional; He has no one 'form' or
name. And that: "Ekam Sat" ~ Truth is One. [Maybe, this could be the reason why some consider this mahaavatar as the Sampoorna (complete, total) Avatar)] ... However, like all other avatars and maha-avatars, the Kalki-mahaavatar
too is unlikely to announce himself: the Almighty is the creator and benefactor of
mankind/humanity [Narayan = the benefactor of mankind/humanity; nara/nar =
humanity.] He guides, "awakens", protects, enlightens, as well as showers his blessings
and munificence on earth and on humanity everywhere. | The Śrīvatsa mark on Lord Narayan's chest... symbolizes His consort Sri Sri Lakshmi Devi.
Vishnu is thus Srivatsankita - the one who bears the sign of Srivatsa.
[Srivatsa (the beloved of Sri) is an ancient auspicious symbol in India. It
is a mark on the chest of Vishnu where His consort Sri Sri Lakshmi Devi
resides. It is also a mark of His immortality/eternal life.] It is said that
the Kalki-mahaavatar - the 10th (and final) Maha Avatar of Lord Narayan - will
be the bearer of the Srivatsa mark. (SrivatsavakshaaH is another name for
Shri Vishnu. The Śrīvatsa mark also adorns the images of the Jain Tirthankaras
and of the Buddha.) However, the Śrīvatsa mark is
symbolic of a deeper spiritual concept: Devi Lakshmi represents the Jiva-atma (the
individual soul). Her union with Lord Vishnu represents 'Moksha' - which is the
highest goal in Spirituality. The kundalini ('serpent power'; do read paragraph #9 - to know more about Kundalini)
when reaching the Sahasrara/the crown chakra (the highest chakra; kuṇḍalinī
is vital for all the 7 Chakras - centers of Prāṇa, life force, or vital energy
- to be fully activated. Chakras correspond to vital points in the physical body
i.e. major plexuses of arteries, veins and nerves. [For 'Sudarshan Chakra' ~ do
refer to paragraph # 18 ~ from the top]) provides the gateway to
'liberation' from the cycle of birth, death and re-birth (moksha). This state is also said to be the state of complete wisdom. It emphasizes the deep connection
of jiva-atma (the individual soul) and the param-aatma (the Supersoul, the Almighty).
This union of Jiva-aatma (the individual/human soul) with the Param-aatma (Supersoul/Atman/Almighty)
is called "Sanaatan Dharma": connecting with the
Higher Self or seeking communion with the Universal Consciousness
(Sat-cit-ānanda: eternal bliss of self-realization) ~ "swa" is "higher self",
"asti" meaning "being", and "ka" as a suffix, so
the translation can be interpreted as: "being with higher self". Lord
Narayan is also known as "Svasti": One who is the source of all auspiciousness.
Thus, "Sanaatan Dharma" is the eternal and enlightened 'way of life'... leading to a better society
and civilization. Lord Narayan is "Sarathy" - the guiding force for the jiva-atmas...
and hence, He is the lord who steers humanity through
the path of illumination (sūrya-dvāreṇa). He enlightens our intellect. (Please
read the 2nd and 3rd paragraph from the top - to get the
drift.) Note on Shambhala: In Tibet, this legendary land
of spiritual (adhyatmic) enlightenment is known as Shambala, a Sanskrit word
that to the Tibetans means "the source of happiness". In India, this
sacred land is known as the abode of the enlightened and
Siddha-s, and described as a supreme place of universe. It is taken as
the world's spiritual powerhouse, the true centre of the planet, the heartbeat of whole universe, the base of spiritual consciousness, heart of
divinity and the land of great Rishi-s. Guru Nanakdev-ji called it Sach Khand. It
is our past - our future - yet exists in our present. It
is the 'land of bliss' (eternal bliss/spiritual ecstasy of
self-realization ~ Sat-cit-ānanda) of the earliest Vedic times. It is also called "Aryavarsha" (abode of the Aryans/Arya people; the
Land of the Noble Ones) ~ the land from which the Vedas
(Book of Knowledge or Book of Enlightenment; Veda comes from the root 'Vid' which means, "to know") came from. [Aryan
is not a 'race', it means noble or noble-natured; it is a 'way of life' rooted in
noble ethics/principles. They followed a pattern of life
based on Arya-Dharma, Arya ethics/tenets or a noble way of life. Not that there was any do's
and don'ts; Aryan-ness was simply their 'way of life'; they were inherently
noble.] It is a home for immortals. [Some believe Shambhala to be the actual Rishikesh or 'Agni Tirtha'. (Agni Gayatri Mantra: || AUM
Maha jwalaya Vidhmahe Agni devaya Dheemahe Thanno Agni Prachodayath || ~ AUM,
Let me meditate on the great flame, O God of fire, give me higher intellect,
And let the Fire God (the foremost amongst the five elements of nature/PanchaBhuta) illuminate my mind. || AUM
Vaiswanaraya Vidhmahe Laaleelaya Dheemahe Thanno Agni Prachodayath || ~ AUM,
Let me meditate on the flame that digests/purifies, O merger of all, give me higher
intellect, And let the Fire God illuminate my mind.) ~ Apparently, the actual Kailash is located somewhere close to Shambhala. ~ Shivah (paradoxical and complex) is the Lord of mercy and kindness. He is also the destroyer and the
restorer (simultaneously): He is the destroyer of ego/ahamkara, ignorance, illusion, etc; he is also the great ascetic (hamsan, "yogi"; do read the fourth
paragraph from last... to know more about "yogi" and
"detachment"), and the kind herdsman (shepherd) of souls
(jiva-atmas/human or individual souls.) Rudra-Śiva: Rudra means: the dispeller
of darkness and usherer of peace. He is called "the archer"
(Sanskrit: Śarva) and the arrow is an essential
attribute of Rudra. The word is derived from the Sanskrit root śarv, which means, "to negate" or "to
dispel". Hence, the name Śarva can be
interpreted as: "One who can dispel/drive away darkness". The names Dhanvin ("bowman") and Bāṇahasta
("archer", literally: "Armed with arrows in his hands"/ Bāṇa = arrow, hasta = hand) also refer to archery/the
archer. Rudra is described as armed with a bow and fast-flying arrows (baan/bāṇa). Rudra: also means: one who makes everyone weep:
"ru", to cry or to teach, "rud", to make a person weep, and
"dra" to flow. Hence Rudra is considered as a deity who teaches the
supreme knowledge to all and whose energy flows in everything. Rudra essentially means, "to go beyond
suffering". When the word is split as RU and DRA it implies "flight
from lamentation", or "travel away from tears" - a state
beyond suffering. Rudra is sometimes referred to as "The Father of
the Universe" (bhuvanasya pitaraṃ) or "The Lord or Sovereign of the
Universe" (īśānādasya bhuvanasya). He is also "the
roarer". In the Rgveda, he has been praised as the "mightiest of
the mighty". Rudra can also mean: "the red one, the brilliant
one" from a lost root rud-, "to be red" or "to
shine". ~ "rukh draavayathi, iti rudraha" - where 'rukh' means
sorrow/misery, 'draavayathi' means to drive out or eliminate and 'iti' means
that which or he who, implies 'Rudra' to be the eliminator of darkness/ignorance
and usherer of peace. In other contexts the word rudra can simply mean Ekadasa Rudras - the eleven forms
of Rudra or Lord Shiva. The word "rudraksha" (Sanskrit: rudrākşa
= rudra and akşa
"eye"), or "eye of Rudra", is used as a name both for the
berry of the Rudraksha tree, and a name for a string of the prayer beads made
from those seeds. Rudra is said to have healing remedies, as the best physician
of physicians, and as possessed of a thousand medicines. This is described in
Shiva's alternative name Vaidyanatha (Lord of Remedies). || Om Namo Bhagavate Rudraya || The word "Virupaksha" (one with oblique eyes) is used for (indicates) Vishnu as well as Shiva. [As to: whether Rudra-Śiva, Harirudra, Ghanshyam, Neelkanth, Hari-Hara, Shambhu Nath, Shankaranarayan, Hayagreeva, Kaal-Purush, Mohan-Mohini, Vaidyanatha, Dhanvantari, et al are different entities, or one and the same ~
my guess is as good as yours.] ~ The three eyes of Lord Shiva suggest: the Sun is
his right eye; the Moon is the left eye and fire (agni - the foremost among purifiers and one of the five elements/PanchaBhuta), the third eye. The
"third eye" (very likely) indicates the Ajnea chakra
(Brow Chakra, the 6th chakra, the
third eye chakra ~ denoting spiritual guidance.) The word ajna
comes from the Sanskrit root which means 'to know, to obey and to follow'. Among
Indians, it is also known as the "divya chakshu" (the divine eye) or the
eye of knowledge. The third eye chakra is located in the brain, directly
behind the eyebrow center at the top of spinal chord i.e. at the medulla
oblongata. A two-petalled lotus symbolizes Ajna chakra. The left petal represents the moon or the ida nadi and the right petal represents the sun or the pingla nadi. Within the two-petalled lotus is a perfectly round
circle that symbolizes the "shoonya" or the void i.e. the state completely
devoid of ego/ahamkara. In this circle the symbol Om is written. 'Om' is the
mantra and the symbol of ajna chakra. ~ However, is there a deeper meaning to this? Does this indicate the actual "manas-sarovar" or even Rudraprayag or "Prayāga" (confluence) - the sacred union of the three (allegorical) "rivers"? [Manas = Sanskrit "mind" from the root maan - "to think". Mahat or universal mind is the source of manas:
what manas is in the human constitution, mahat is in the
cosmic constitution. Manas, is thus a direct ray from the cosmic mahat.] ~ My guess is as good as yours. Shambhala is also considered to be the gateway between the physical and spiritual world ~ Haridvar? The
Hindu and Buddhist alike regard Mount Meru as the
location of Shambhala. (Meru is said to be situated in the center of the earth.) It is the center of the cosmos. Its
summit is believed to align to the wheeling constellation of Ursa Major, the Seven Stars that
circle the Pole. [Note: The abode of the 33 Vedic gods (Svarga-Loka) also known as the
Trayastriṃśa in Buddhist cosmology
is located on the peak of Mount Meru, the central 'mountain' of the world.
This Loka corresponds to the concept of Heaven as described in the Western
sense of the term. Here the King/Ruler/Chief of the Gods/Devas (Higher Beings -
highly intelligent, technologically and spiritually far advanced beings, not
humans) - Devaraj (Lord of Devas and demi-gods) Indra, rules with his companions - Maruts, Vasus and other
divine beings. [If they become further advanced in spiritual conditions - through right inclinations and
good karma (i.e. through nishkam karm/selfless action - without expecting
anything in return), they can advance to one of the
higher Munilokas (Spiritually advanced planets inhabited by [even more] Higher
spiritual and enlightened beings). But if they become attached to material
enjoyment (indulgence of senses and unbridled desires, etc)... they will
degrade into a lower position (e.g.) of a semi-divine being, a Human, or even to
the Adho-Lokas/Lower Realms. And through really really
really bad/Prarabda Karma, they may even have to suffer in one of the Hellish
planets/Narak-Loka.] The task assigned to the Devas (by the Almighty) is to manage the
affairs of the universe (e.g. the jiva-aatmas - human souls or individual souls - meet with Dharmaraj Yamaraj and his team, led by Chitrgupt - in Yamaloka*), besides protecting its inhabitants against malevolent entities
(could also be 'darkness of the mind'). [*To determine which loka they will go to and what they will be re-born as
(the concept of Charaiveti: to keep going, in this
cycle of samsara - the cycle of birth, death and re-birth - until one attains "moksha"
- based on one's karm - nishkam/selfless/non-benefit-seeking action...
that contributes towards a better society). ~ Every jiva-atma (human soul or
individual soul) will be reborn based on its accumulated Karm phal, the
fruits of one's Karm, and (thus) get an opportunity to redeem itself.] Bhuvar-Loka: The planetary
system that roughly corresponds to our Solar System and contains Five major planets plus the Sun. (However, there are two planets outside the Solar
System included in this - Dhruva Loka or Pole Star and the
realm of the Sapta-rishis or Big Dipper.) Bhuvar-Loka are the
abodes of Semi-divine beings that are one notch higher than the
Humans. (They assist the Devas in various ways and sometimes interact with
the humans. Through good karma (nishkam karma/selfless action - without
expecting anything in return) and spiritual advancement... they can become a Deva
or by indulging in material enjoyment/sensory pleasures, be born as a
Human on the Earthly Realms or even lower. Sapta-rishi Loka: The abode of
the Seven Great Rishi-s (Enlightened entities) or the Sapta-rishis located
below the Dhruva-Loka (near the Dhruva Tara/Pole Star). The seven rishis (who differ according to different Manvantara) are
the most advanced spiritual guides for Humanity and have been present at all
major time periods of our History. Astronomically, their abode is recognized in
the form of the Big Dipper or Ursa Major constellation and it always revolves
around the Dhruv-Loka or Pole Star. There are numerous stories and legends in our
ancient texts that relate the immense services these rishis have provided to
different rulers on our planet - over many yugs/eras/ages. They undertook research, euphemistically known as 'yagna', etc (~ do read paragraph #11 from the top to get the drift.) Probably they were the ones who taught the Sanskrit language to humanity. These rishis were not only men of great wisdom
and knowledge, but also masters of Science, including advanced medical science
and quantum physics. ~ And, this should also explain
how Shri Ram and his siblings were born - via very advanced IVF
procedure/therapy - where (perhaps) nothing was injected into the
body, instead, it could be ingested! Clearly: 'modern science' is as yet unaware of such
advanced medical science, which was known to our ancients in the second era or
the Treta Yug itself - courtesy the Sapta-rishi. ~ Therefore, the last
great flood/deluge (Mahajal Pralaya) could not have been an ancient phenomenon
(rooted in antiquity). ... However, 'Kamadhenu'
is not a bovine creature per se. It is a device whose
output was far greater than its input. Just like a cow. And therefore, the metaphor
of a 'cow' has been used. 'Kamadhenu' was (probably) a multi-purpose
device: one that was capable of growing 'synthetic meat' or 'in vitro meat',
besides other eatables of course - not from cells/stem cells/tissue of dead
fauna, though. It could also develop exact replicas of precious stones - that
were equal in shine and value to the original. (As can be gathered from the
stories associated with Draupadi and Rishi Jamadagni.)] Shambhala is not heaven
on earth... but a mystical kingdom that guards the most sacred spiritual
teachings of the world, including the Kalachakra (Wheel of Time), the pinnacle
of Buddhist wisdom. Perhaps, Shambhala is synonymous with Shangri-la; or,
maybe, the lost kingdom of Shangri-La was inspired by the legend of Shambala.
This fabled/mythical land is considered as Siddhabhoomi (Siddha =
self-realized; one who has achieved the eternal bliss/spiritual ecstasy of
self-realization ~ Sat-cit-ānanda; bhoomi = place. ~ 'Sat' describes an essence that is
pure and timeless; 'cit' is consciousness; 'ānanda' is absolute bliss or
spiritual ecstasy. A "Siddha" is one whose heart is larger than the universe
itself; such a person is "Jeevan Mukt", and can enter into nirvikalpa samadhi
to 'awaken' to "Moksha". Do also read paragraph #4 from the last - to get the
drift.) However, Shambhala and Shambhu
Nath ~ is there a connection? Shambhu Nath is taken as another name
for Lord Shiva. ~ But could 'Shambhu Nath' actually mean: Lord/Master/Ruler/Protector/Guardian of
Shambhala? [Shambhu ~ is it derived from Shambhala? Nath = Lord/Master/Ruler/Protector/Guardian.] ...
And does Shambhala have some sort of connection with the cosmic force known as "Shiva"
(responsible for cosmic turbulence/'Tandav' - in the Akash Ganga/Milky Way... that would destroy the effect the moon has on earth: it stabilizes the earth's rotation + has an influence on oceanic tides) - and therefore, trigger Pralaya/Apocalypse?
~ My guess is as good as yours. Shambhala (ruled over by Lord Maitreya/Buddha Maitreya/Maitreya Buddha) is also mentioned in various ancient texts, including
the Kalachakra Tantra + other texts that predate Tibetan Buddhism in western
Tibet. ~ Therefore, the Kalki-mahaavatar is the Ruler/Guardian/Protector of the
legendary kingdom of Shambhala. [So, is he Shambhu Nath? ~ my guess is as good
as yours. Another meaning of Shambhala: "Bhal" refers to the forehead. Therefore, Shambhala
can also mean: "Born of the Forehead" or "Place of the Forehead" ~
indicating "destiny". The brilliant comet-like sword (or a comet like a
sword) that he carries in his hand is the sword of light
(signifying enlightenment, to lift the 'fog' enveloping the consciousness; to
illumine the mind, to urge humanity into introspection); it is the sword
of destiny. He is also an "archer" - "to
negate" or "to dispel" ignorance and darkness (pessimism, confusion, decay, degeneration, apathy, and so on).] Lord Narayan/Vishnu is also
known as "Shivah" ~ #1. He who is eternally pure. #2. Auspiciousness. ... Therefore, is the depiction of Lord Shiva (with which we
all are very familiar) also an allegorical reference to the cosmic "Shiva-force" as well as Shambhu Nath - the
Lord/Master/Ruler/Protector/Guardian of Shambhala? Are 'Mahadev' and Shambhu Nath one and the same? Also, is this the reason why OM or AUM is applicable for both Vishnu (the "protector and preserver") and Shiva (the "destroyer")? ~ Hari-Hara or Harirudra or Neelkanth? ~ Is this why Lord Narayan is shown holding the
supreme lotus (padma: pink or pale red in colour) - denoting the
highest deity? (Do read paragraph #2 - to know more about the
symbolism behind various lotus flowers.) || Om Namah Shivaya || ~ is this addressed to the cosmic "Shiva-force"
or Shambhu Nath or Hari-Hara or all three? ~ My guess is as good as yours. PS: The depiction of Shambhu
Nath is allegorical, not to be taken at face value. As for: whether he really
had anything to do with shmashāna, etc... or it came to be associated with him
later ~ courtesy the many cultic movements; whether it had anything to do with
great yogis like Gorakhnath-ji or not; whether different narratives have confluenced or not (e.g. maybe, Shambhu Nath was also known as Bhoot/Bhuta Nath [Lord/Guardian/Protector of Mankind/Beings - since the human body is made of the five elements of nature/PanchaBhuta] ~ but then, somewhere down the line the word 'bhuta/bhoota' probably underwent a change of meaning, 'coz 'Panchabhuta' or 'Mahapanchabhuta/PanchaMahabhuta' refers to the five elements of nature, 'bhoot' as in 'spirits' is very likely a much recent association ~ my guess is as good as yours. Therefore, aspects like ash smearing, chillum smoking, etc is (probably) courtesy
the many cults that sprang up in his name - in the last millennium or so. But then, the
way Lord Shiva is depicted is largely allegorical, not to be taken literally.]
There could be a higher being named "Shiva" as
well - (possibly) the better-half of the higher being named Parvati. But this "Shiva"
(residing in "Shiva-loka") seems to be a somewhat over-generous entity,
dispensing boons (i.e. granting wishes) to whosoever propitiates him... without thinking
of the consequences thereof. As is captured in the allegorical tale of Bhasmasur: Bhasmāsura (Ash Man) - possibly, a malevolent entity and a denizen
of one of the lower planets (Adho-loka) - propitiates Shiva; after a while,
pleased with his devotion and diligence, Shiva appears before him... and
agrees to grant him a boon (i.e. grant his wish). Bhasmasura asks for
immortality (eternal life), but Shiva says that he did not have the power to
grant him immortality/eternal life. Thereupon, Bhasmāsura
asks to be granted the power whereby anyone whose head he touches (with his
hand) should instantly (burn up and) turn to ashes (bhasma). Pleased to be able
to grant a 'boon', Shiva grants this wish. Immediately thereafter, Bhasmāsura tries to 'test' his newly acquired power... and attempts
to touch Shiva's head. Shiva, chased by Bhasmāsura, flees... and somehow manages
to reach Vishnuloka/Vaikunth - to seek a solution to his predicament.
Thereupon, Lord Narayan, as the (ace diplomat and
negotiator) - Mohini-avatar - meets Bhasmasura... and confuses him (sufficiently enough) to touch his own head. ~ Thus, Bhasmasura turns into ashes - due
to the power he had recently gained. (Please read the last two paragraphs - to
know more about the Mohini-avatar.) ~ Therefore, despite the presence of namesake
higher entities "Shiva" and "Brahma" (the Chief Engineer/Scientist of the
cosmos) - is Lord Narayan Himself the Cosmic "Trinity" or Trimūrti - in charge of the cosmic functions of creation, maintenance/preservation and dissolution/destruction? ... And is that why He is shown holding the
supreme lotus (padma: pink or pale red in colour) - denoting the
highest deity (Satyam-Shivam-Sundaram/Purushottam Satya/Satya-Sundar)? (Do read paragraph #2 - to know more about the
symbolism behind various lotus flowers.) ~ Is He Himself the "Satyam-Shivam-Sundaram" (Truth/Dharma-Auspiciousness-Beauty/Goodness):
#1. Brahmn and Srashtaa: Supreme Creator and Lord
of Creation; Prapitaamahah: The father of the 'father of
beings' (Brahma) - one who instructs Lord Brahma. #2.
Vishnu: "Harih/Hari" - the "protector and preserver"; the
motive power and guiding spirit behind the mathematically precise universes. #3. Shivah: a. He who is eternally
pure. b. Auspiciousness. Shambhu Nath - the Lord/Master/Ruler/Protector/Guardian
of Shambhala, as well as "Hara" - the "destroyer" (dissolution).) ... And, therefore, is Lord
Narayan the "Kaal-Purush" [Time] Himself? ~ My guess is as good as yours. From what
one can gather, Lord Narayan is an astonishingly brilliant, energetic, creative, sagacious, non-pretentious/non-conceited,
wise, magnanimous and enlightened being - the Ultimate, Übergod. [When
I read the Bhagavad-Gita and reflect about how God created this
universe everything else seems so superfluous. ~ Albert Einstein.] Lord Narayan is also immensely generous and bountiful: He
is the Lord of Creation/Universe/Earth: therefore, everything on earth - whether seen
or unseen, tangible or intangible, animated or inanimate... has been bestowed by Him, and symbolically represents Him (His Universal Form). | ~ There is a vast 'ocean' (the 'ocean of Garbha')
present at the bottom of our universe. This
'ocean' is very likely a combination of cosmic dust, energy and gas, even gas
hydrates formed under conditions of high pressures and low temperatures, and so
on... and maybe, even a great amount of suction force. Its appearance is in the
form of 'concentric circles or bands'... though none of it is visible to the
unaided eye. During "Prakritik Maha
Pralaya" ~ at the end of Brahma's Lifetime/Life-span (this is when
Prakriti/Material Nature [except the Vaikunth planets] is completely dissolved) -
Prakriti/Material Nature 'dissolves' into this 'ocean of
Garbha'. ~ Our ancients visualized this 'ocean of
Garbha' as the endless serpent 'Adi-Sesha' or 'Ananta-Sesha'. [Ananta =
infinity, endless, eternal. Sesha = zero, shunya.] "Prakritik Maha Pralaya" (dissolution) occurs when 'Ananta' becomes 'Sesha', infinity becomes zero and Yog-maya (the ever changing
and evolving/ 'illusory' [mayamayi or transient] Prakriti/Material Universe/Nature) becomes
Yog-nidra (the big sleep). Therefore, in a manner of speaking, it is said that
when Adishesa 'uncoils', time (kaal, kaalah) moves forward and creation takes
place. When Adisesha/ Śeṣanāga 'coils back', the universe ceases to exist.
("Shesha" in Sanskrit texts, especially those relating to
mathematical calculation, also implies the "remainder" - that which
remains when all else ceases to exist.) ~ So, very likely, what is today known
as the "Shiv Ling" was actually a depiction of this above phenomenon. (Maybe the Gupta emperors installed it... to depict of the cosmic
phenomenon of "creation" and "dissolution".) However,
with the passage of time - possibly after the decline of the Gupta era - due to
various interpolations, extrapolations, mistranslations and so on, it has now
come to be understood/regarded as the "Shiv Ling". ... And so, the original depiction has
not only undergone several changes, but a lot of knowledge has
also been obliterated along with it. Alas. Plus, we have no way of knowing what it was
originally called either. Alas. However, one can only marvel at the ancients' immense
knowledge and vaulting imagination. They could - so effortlessly - simplify
complex science... that even a child could easily grasp it. Amazing, indeed. | Vadavagni is a form of Agni (fire) and is
depicted as a mare that breathes fire. [Agni/fire is the foremost among purifiers. Agni
has been worshipped since time immemorial... throughout 'Aryavarta' ('Arya-lands' or 'land of
Aryas/Aryans'; in other words, 'land inhabited by Arya people' - noble-natured people who followed
a pattern of life based on noble/Arya tenets/principles. Not that there was
any do's and don'ts; Aryan-ness was simply their 'way of life'; they were inherently
noble-natured.) There are more hymns to Agni in the Rg Ved than to any other
God/dev/element. Agni is also one of the five elements ([maha]panchabhuta
or PanchaBhuta).] It is believed that it is the escape of
this 'fire' (Vadavagni) from under the 'ocean' (the 'ocean of Garbha'), which
will finally consume the current cycle of creation and prepare the universe for
the next cycle of creation. [Now whether this 'fire' is an allegorical way of
(also) indicating some great force/energy like a tremendous suction force ~ my guess
is as good as yours.] Vadavagni is (believed to be) located beneath the 'ocean' (very
likely, the 'ocean of Garbha') and is allegorically depicted with the face of a
mare. Apparently, mists and clouds are formed due to the activity of Vadavagni
(below the 'ocean'/'ocean of Garbha'). It also prevents the 'ocean' from
consuming the land (euphemism for Prakriti/Material Universe/Nature?) [Probably meaning: that Vadavagni (allegory for a tremendous force/energy?) causes the
(metaphoric) 'ocean water' to 'evaporate' and turn into 'mist', thus preventing the 'ocean'
from ever overflowing on to land/earth (euphemism for Prakriti/Material Universe/Nature?)] It is
said that just before 'Pralaya' (cataclysmic events), Vadavagni will stop doing this, causing the 'ocean'
to expand and submerge the land/earth (euphemism for Prakriti/Material Universe/Nature?) At that
time, Vadavagni will burst forth as (in the form of) 'volcanoes' from under the 'ocean' and escape (i.e. the fire of devastation will [gradually] consume the whole of Prakriti/Material Nature; maybe, euphemism for a great suction force.) [Srimad
Bhagavad-Gita 11.32: śrī-bhagavān uvāca (The Blessed One said): || kālo 'smi
loka-kṣaya-kṛt pravṛddho || ~ "Now I am Time (kālo 'smi), the destroyer
of all." Alternatively: "Time I am, the shatterer of worlds." ~ He is referring to "dissolution". [Note: The first atomic bomb was detonated on July 16,
1945, in the Trinity test in New Mexico; Oppenheimer, often called the "father of the atomic
bomb", remarked later that it
brought to (his) mind words from the Bhagavad Gita. He interpreted it as: "Now
I am become Death, the destroyer of worlds." ~ We knew the world would not be the same. A few people
laughed, a few people cried, most people were silent. ... I suppose we all
thought that one way or another. ~ After the war he became a chief adviser to the
newly created United States Atomic Energy Commission and used that position to
lobby for international control of nuclear power to avert nuclear proliferation
and an arms race with the Soviet Union. After provoking the ire of many politicians with his outspoken opinions during the Second Red Scare, he had his
security clearance revoked in a much-publicized hearing in 1954, and was
effectively stripped of his direct political influence; he continued to
lecture, write and work in physics.] | Here are a few more verses: BG 11.12: ||
divi surya-sahasrasya bhaved yugapad utthita yadi bhah sadrisi sa syad bhasas
tasya mahatmanah || ~ "If the radiance of a thousand suns were to suddenly
burst forth in the sky, that would be like the light of the noble one/supreme consciousness." | Srimad Bhagavad-Geeta 10.8: || aham sarvasya
prabhavo mattah sarvam
pravartate || ~ "I am the source of all
spiritual and material worlds. Everything emanates from Me." | Srimad Bhagavad-Geeta 10.33: || dvandvah samasikasya ca aham evakshayah kalo dhataham vishvato-mukhah || ~ "And among compound words I am the dual
compound. I am also inexhaustible Time (evakshayah kalo), and of Creators, I am Brahma." | Srimad Bhagavad-Gita 10.34: 1st stanza: || mṛtyuḥ
sarva-haraś cāham udbhavaś ca bhaviṣyatām || ~ "I am all-consuming time, and I
am the generating principle/cause/energy of all that is yet to be." (Alternatively: "I am
all-consuming time, and I am too the birth of all that shall come into being.")
| 2nd stanza: || kīrtiḥ śrīr
vāk ca nārīṇāḿ smṛtir medhā dhṛtiḥ kṣamā || ~ Among women I am glorious deeds (kīrtiḥ), radiance (śrīr), fine speech/persuasion (vāk),
memory/clarity of thought/discernment (smṛtir), intelligence (medhā), resilience/steadfastness (dhṛtiḥ) and patience/forgiveness/magnanimity
(kṣamā). | Srimad Bhagavad-Gita 10.23: || rudranam sankaras casmi || ~ "Of all the Rudras I am Sankara [Lord Siva]; || vasunam
pavakas casmi meruh sikharinam aham || ~ of the Vasus I am fire [Agni - the foremost one; the foremost among purifiers and one of the five elements/PanchaBhuta], and
of mountains I am Meru." [Note: Agni: All creation-related work is the work of Fire. The Cosmic, the Solar and
the Planetary Devas work with Fire (Brahm-jyotih?) All formations at all levels is work of
Fire. Fire is the essence of all existence. Fire is the basis of all life. Fire
is the means of development. Fire is the builder, the preserver and the
destroyer. Fire is purifier and is the consumer of all. Fire is God. God is
Fire. From atom to cosmos Fire stands as the basis. When the Fires blend and
blaze the apparent existence ceases. Seeming non-existence remains. The latter
is called God beyond creation. The former is called God in creation. Fire is
internal, inherent and latent. Fire is radiatory and emanating. Fire is
vivifying and stimulating. Fire transmits and transmutes. Fire is the originator.
Study of Fire and its work in creation itself elevates. Veda contains thousands
of verses praising Fire and describing its functions. Fire is called Agni in
Sanskrit. Agni's blessing is invoked. When we say Agni it has a deeper meaning. BG 10.33: || akṣarāṇām a-kāro 'smi || ~ "Of letters I am the
letter 'A'." ~ The sound 'A' is the foremost of the sounds. All the alphabets begin
with the letter 'A', thus is number 1. Before number one it can only be zero (shunya).
Zero (shunya) is the potential Creation, the Cosmic Egg, which would manifest in due
course of time, and Fire (Brahm-jyotih?) is the basis for such manifestation. All the planes of
existence are the result of the work of Agni. Agni transforms; transforms that
which is subtle to gross and also transforms the gross to subtle. In the
beginning it is from subtle to gross and later from gross to subtle. The
evolution and involution is the work of Agni. Hence Agni is the basis of the
Cosmic Devas (possibly: demi-gods, like Indra, et al), Solar Devas (possibly: Lord Surya/Surya Dev, et al) and Planetary Devas (semi-divine beings, etc). It is Him that even the Devas
worship because the whole work starts from Him. The whole creation-related work
commences from Him and He is the one who emerges from the unknown to the known
as the Cosmic Bang. The
dynamism in us is also Fire. The Kundalini 'Fire' causes enlightenment
of the brain cells. But enflaming the Kundalini 'Fire' requires service to the
fellow beings, to the society (selfless/non-benefit-seeking/nishkam
service/action... that contributes towards a better society.) One has to
dedicate oneself to nishkam karm... without which the Kundalini 'Fire' is
not ignited. Agni: exists as Cosmic Fire, Solar Fire and as Frictional Fire. The Kundalini
Fire is Frictional Fire, when it is below the diaphragm. When it is above the
diaphragm, it is already Solar Fire, and when it reaches the brain, it is
Electric Fire (brilliant white). As one progresses regularly (in nishkam
karm), the brilliance of the 'Golden disc' grows. Just as the morning Sun who
is Golden in colour grows to brilliant white, the 'Golden disc/chakra' visualized
at the eyebrow centre rises to Ajnea center/chakra and
shines forth like a diamond disc/chakra. This is the final state of the Kundalini
'Fire'. When this 'chakra' opens, it is deemed as the opening of the Third Eye. ~ On a separate note: Agni also
symbolically
represents the spiritual fire of life and the processes of transformation. It is the foremost amongst purifiers. Agni does not
indicate/signify "tyag" per se; Agni is the greatest of purifiers and
the foremost amongst the five elements of nature - PanchaBhuta (also: PanchaMahaBhuta
or MahaPanchaBhuta). ~ Agni signifies "tyag" in the sense (to indicate) one has
conquered oneself; in other words: that one has conquered/overcome the
negativities residing in one's heart and mind. And thereby, become a Siddha. ~ Siva: There are eleven Rudras, of whom Sankara, Lord Siva,
is preeminent. He is the 'destroyer'/dispeller
of the modes of ignorance in the universe. He is the
'destroyer' and the restorer (simultaneously): He is the 'destroyer' of
ego/ahamkara, negative pride, ignorance, etc; He is also the great ascetic
(hamsan, "yogi"; do read the fourth paragraph from last... to know
more about "yogi" and "detachment"), and the kind herdsman
(shepherd) of souls (jiva-atmas/human or individual souls. He is also "Neelkanth" (the blue-throated one) - one who takes in halahala or Kaalkoot -
resulting out of 'societal manthan/churn' - for the good of humanity/mankind ~
to enable it to evolve, function better and progress. ~ Halahala or Kaalkoot: the
most
vicious and venomous "poison" - that would destroy society and humanity if
allowed to spread or accumulate.) For Mt. Meru, situated in the center of the earth - do read the previous
paragraph. But what does 'Vishnu as the Kurma-avatar holds up Mt. Meru on his back' really mean?] ~ So what is meant by "Nataraj"... and who really is "Sivam" - the metaphoric 'tandav-dancing' "Nataraj"? Why is "Virupaksha" (one with oblique eyes) used for both Vishnu and Siva? Why is OM or AUM used for both Vishnu and Siva? ~ My guess is as good as yours.*] ~ Subsequently, the 'ocean' will consume the land/earth (euphemism
for Prakriti/Material Nature?) - perhaps 'ocean' is an indicator for the endless serpent 'Adi-Sesha' or 'Ananta-Sesha'. [(Ananta = infinity, endless, eternal. Sesha = zero, shunya.)
"Prakritik Maha Pralaya" (dissolution) occurs when 'Ananta' becomes
'Sesha', infinity becomes zero and Yog-maya (the ever changing and evolving/
'illusory' [mayamayi or transient] Prakriti/Material Nature) becomes Yog-nidra (the big
sleep). Therefore, in a manner of speaking, it is said that when Adishesa
'uncoils', time (kaal, kaalah) moves forward and creation takes place. When
Adisesha/ Śeṣanāga 'coils back', the universe ceases to exist.
("Shesha" in Sanskrit texts, especially those relating to
mathematical calculation, also implies the "remainder" - that which
remains when all else ceases to exist.)] Thus, everything will be destroyed by lava and
water. All this (very likely) explains "dissolution"/"Prakritik Maha
Pralaya" or even "Pralaya" (cataclysmic events).
~ Now, where is this Mount Meru? Is it a real mountain or an allegorical one? Is it the earth's axis of rotation? Is it the
Himalayas or a part of the Himalayas? Or, some energy/force connected to the
Himalayas? Or, does ancient Jambudvipa have something to do with it? ~ What
exactly does the Kurma Avatar mean? Is ancient Jambudvipa (or some parts of it)
the allegorical Mount Meru? But then, what areas constituted ancient Jambudvipa? Is the
mythical land of Shambhala Mount Meru? And if so, is the "Shambhu Nath"
(Ruler/Protector/Guardian of Shambhala) also the allegorical Kurma Avatar... and/or
the allegorical Matsya Avata? Or both? In which case, are the Matsya and/or the Kurma
avatar the allegorical guardian of Jambudvipa? ~ My guess is as good as yours. [*Note: AUM (also known as OM): The
syllable OM (written out as AUM with each letter having its own significance)
represents Brahmn, the supreme creator (Srashtaa), as well as the whole of
creation. OM represents the Shabda Brahmn. It is the primeval sound - pranavah/Omkara/pranava
naad, the sound of the universe itself. The uttering of the sacred and mystical
OM is called Onkar or Omkar. It is the sound of the origination and dissolution
of the universe. The past, present, future and all that transcends time are all
included in this sound. It represents that Jyotiḥ-mayaḥ/Tejasvi - Brahm-jyoti
- the Divine effulgence (also referred to as "Brahmn") - emanating
from Goloka-Paravyoma (the spiritual abode of Shri Krishn). ~ It is the light
that impersonalists perceive in the Nirguna mode of God/Almighty. Lord
Narayan is the personification/manifestation (Omswaroop) of OM or AUM. Thus, He
is Hariom. He is Omprakash - light of OM, light of the world. Bhairav: The Primordial Sound.
In
old treatises Bhairav is referred to as the adi-raga and comes
attached with a wealth of lore. Bhairav is so fundamental to Indian
tradition that its impaction on the nation's musical soul can never be
overstated. The holiest of our ragas is Shri
Bhairavi. The corresponding raga of Shri Bhairavi is the Raga Bhairava.
(Bhairav or Bhairava is another name for Shivah - the cosmic force associated
with cosmic turbulence/tandav nritya.) Bhairavi's looming presence in the
Indian musical mind is in no small measure on account of it's close association
with this great land's spiritual repertoire. No bhajani baithak can be complete
without a generous dose of Bhairavi. Sample an early Pt. Bhimsen Joshi rendering this Hari bhajan: jo bhaje Hari ko sada... [Link.] Bhairavi lends itself well
to brisk, taut bandishes. Since it is considered to be the holiest of
Raaga-s, Bhairavi is respectfully addressed as Shree Bhairavi. ~ The mesmerizing Pt. Omkarnath Thakur - Raag Bhairavi: Link.]
[*(Continued from the paragraph before the last seven) ~ besides adequate provision of food supplies and other essential supplies (including water and medicines) they probably also carry large quantities of dietary supplement or Super Food such as Spirulina (powder or capsule). But in what form they carry water, we can only speculate. Once the turbulence subsides, life/civilization starts afresh: perhaps with the help of cryogenically stored seeds, DNA samples (human, livestock and other animals), donor eggs and sperms + the survivors (human + flora + fauna). Perhaps the 'gotra-system' was devised during the last great flood (Mahajal Pralaya) ~ as an interim arrangement/measure ~ to prevent consanguineous vivah/union and avoidable physical ailments and defects, and maybe, to also give the new versions and/or sub-species of humans adequate time to acclimatize. There must also have been some mechanism/guidelines in place ~ to deal with death and corpses; however, this may not have been homogeneous, and would have, in all probability, differed ~ depending on whether the people were traveling onboard ships, or were sheltered in specially-designed-and-equipped caves and in settlements below the ground. Now whether the ones traveling onboard ships threw the bodies in the turbulent waters? ~ We do not know. However, since dead bodies are treated with respect, this is unlikely to have happened. Also, they would have required teachers, storytellers, composers, musicians, artists, doctors (and other medical staff), weavers, barbers, artisans, craftsmen and toy-makers, and so on... to have a semblance of 'society', continuity and order. So as to be somewhat prepared ~ to begin life afresh on new lands. And, very likely, these various functions were taken up by people ~ based on their "varna" (talent and ability). Maybe the "Manu" and his team spoke to them about life on earth, about their ancestors... and perhaps, even showed pictures, videos, presentations and documentaries too ~ in a bid to prepare them for new lands and life anew. ... Once everything is reasonably well-settled, the Manu-s (and their team) depart. (Noukeshwar is at best a 'title' and means, Lord/Master/Principal/Chief/Captain of the Nao. (Here 'nao' or 'boat' indicate specially-designed-and-equipped-ship.) But whether 'Noukeshwar' has been abbreviated/altered to 'Noah' (due to the passage of time and change in phonetics) ~ my guess is as good as yours.) However, there are times when God chooses a great human ~ as "Manu". This chosen one then becomes one of the "Manu"; he is thereafter referred to as a specific "Manu"... and participates in rescue and rehabilitation activities. The seventh and current Manu, Vāmana as Vaivasvata Manu is one such human "Manu". We are currently in the seventh Manvantara, named as: "Vaivasvata Manvantara" (after the current Manu - Vaivasvata Manu). His original name is Satyavrata. He saved mankind from the (previous) great flood/deluge (Mahajal Pralay) ~ by building specially designed ships (nao)... as per the advise of the Matsya-Avatar. Now whether Vaivasvata Manu is also referred to as "Noah" or not ~ my guess is as good as yours. During great flood/deluge (Mahajal Pralay) the entire Earth is inundated by water that swallows up the land and destroys existing landmass/continents; the scale of devastation is mind-boggling. (Some species of flora and fauna are wiped out, and certain early version(s) of humanity too ceases to exist. Maybe some imperfect versions of human species too come to an end. Now, is it possible that these are then replaced by other versions? And if so, do these new versions and/or sub-species of humans, etc arrive from (or maybe are brought in from) other loka/planets that exist in the same band [Madhya-loka/Middle Planets] as our Earth... so as to resettle them after some or the other natural calamities? Therefore, do the Almighty and team [Brahma, et al] create different humans [and flora and fauna] for different maha-yugas? Or are they attempting to create humans-that-have-High EQ as well as humans-that-are-low-on-emotion-and-high-on-technology [for different maha-yugas] ~ and then trying to see/understand how these different versions/sub-species of humans react to each other [in different maha-yugas]? And/or what combination leads to what situation? ~ Well, we can only speculate. (Note: Sanaatan Dharma does not talk about the human species emerging or evolving out of great apes. The extinct civilizations/groups/people also do not say so; there are indications of higher beings; besides, a huge/gigantic serpent features in many extinct cultures/groups. However, it is quite possible that a small group of humans evolved on earth from various animal-like ancestors, not 'animal' per se, but 'animal-like' ~ given the shape of their skull, jawline or teeth, or for that matter their food habits, etc. One possibility is that: this helped to determine the habitability of the earth for future versions of humans ~ that did not evolve on this planet. By the time the latter groups arrived (in batches), the former groups would have evolved and become more human-like, albeit with a distinct culture, language, way of life, etc. And so, for the newer versions of humans, they were, thus, known as "adi-vasi": adi = most ancient, original or earliest known, vasi = dwellers. But then, various groups of humans eventually intermixed... giving rise to newer groups/sub-species, languages, culture, cuisine, and so on.) [Lord Vishnu is also known as "Prapitaamahah": The father of the 'father of beings' (Brahma) ~ in a generic sense, that is; He is Aadi Purush (the Original/Primal Being or the Supreme Being; Purush = Cosmic Energy; He is the motive power and guiding spirit behind the mathematically precise universes.) He is also known as "Srashtaa": Creator. He instructs Brahma, who can be loosely understood as the Chief Engineer/Scientist of the Cosmos (probably responsible for creating various human species and sub-species, flora and fauna, and so on.)] The Cyclical Destruction of the World as we know it, occurs in events singularly known as a "Pralaya" that takes place at the end of a "Chatur-Yug". A cycle of four yugs (Sat/Satya/Krita, Treta, Dvapar and Kali whose lengths follow a ratio of 4:3:2:1) is known as a "Maha Yug" or a "Chatur-Yug", and at the end of this cycle, our Earth experiences a cataclysmic event that has the capacity to wipe out all life from the face of the planet. However, that does not quite happen... since the Manu-s arrive to rescue, rehabilitate and re-people the Earth (in case of a great flood/deluge/Mahajal Pralay). However, Sanaatan Dharm does not believe in a single event of destruction/dissolution of the World, or even in a single event of creation for that matter. Time (Kaal, Kaalah) in Sanaatan Dharma, is not Linear i.e. it does not start and end at specific points, rather, it is Cyclical and never-ending. This eternal cycle of Life and Death; Birth and Re-birth; Formation and Dissolution is called the "Kaal-chakra" or the "Wheel of Time". Therefore, other events such as Global Warming; killer Earthquakes or frequent Earthquakes in the seabed (triggering a Great Deluge that would submerge the entire landmass and drown everything in its colossal Tsunamis); melting of Antarctic Ice sheets; celestial events ~ like a meteor crash; nuclear wars or usage of highly destructive weaponry, and so on... too can bring about dissolution and/or tremendous destruction (enough to wipe out the entire civilizational progress of Humanity on Earth.) And, depending on which of these events is likely to follow the closure of a "Maha Yug" or a "Chatur-Yug" ~ the higher entities (the Manu-s, the avatars or a Maha Avatar) arrive ~ to rescue and rehabilitate/resettle, or to salvage, 'awaken' and prevent. There are different types of Pralaya-s/cataclysmic events as per our ancient texts: #1. A "Pralaya" ~ at the end of a Maha-Yug or a Chatur-Yug; #2. "Manvantar Pralaya" ~ at the end of the rule of each of the Manu-s; #3. "Naimittik Pralaya" ~ at the end of each "kalpa" (1,000 maha yugs) or "a Day of Brahma"; and #4. "Prakritik Maha Pralaya" ~ at the end of Brahma's Lifetime/Life-span (this is when Prakriti/Nature [except the Vaikunth planets] is completely dissolved. Re-birth/formation commences once again... after 2 kalpas, or after 'a day and a night of Brahma' has elapsed. This is when a new Brahma appears. The life span of Brahma is 100 Brahma years, or 72,000 kalpas, or 311.04 trillion human years. (Each "kalpa" is overseen by a succession of 14 Manu-s, and the reign/period of each Manu is called a "manvantara". A single manvantara is approximately 71 maha yugas. In other words: a "Manvantara" is equal to seventy-one times the number of years contained in the four Yugas (Sat/Satya/Krita, Treta, Dvapar and Kaliyug), with some additional years: this is the duration of each Manu, the [attendant] divinities (Indra, etc), and the rest.) The current "Brahma" is 50 Brahma years old now (i.e. 155,521,972,949,110 human Years old now.) 50 years of Brahma has elapsed and we are in the first Day of the 51st year. In other words: We are located in the fifty-first Brahma year of the life of our Brahma: this Brahma's day - kalpa - is named as "Svhetavaraha Kalpa". [Svheta = white. Varaha = the great boar. Do refer to the Indus seal above to know more.] Within this 'Day', six Manvantaras have already elapsed and we are in the seventh Manvantara, named as: Vaivasvatha Manvantara (after the current Manu, Vaivasvatha Manu). Within the Vaivasvatha Manavantara, 27 Mahayugas (4 Yugas together is a Mahayuga) have elapsed; hence, we are in the Kaliyuga of the 28th Mahayuga. (This would place us at about the 454th maha yuga of the 1,000 maha yugas that comprise this 'day' of Brahma.) This Kaliyug began at midnight of 18 February in 3102 BC in the proleptic Julian calendar. This is because Bhagavan Shri Krishn departed on this date. The period after his departure marks the beginning of Kaliyug. Since 50 years of Brahma have already elapsed, we are in the second Parardha, also known as Dvithiya Parardha.] Note: Manu is essentially a reassuring father-figure (not to be construed for 'patriarchal'. A guide or a leader can be a guide or a leader without being patriarchal or matriarchal.) None of the "Manu" is responsible for regressive customs like Sati, female foeticide and infanticide, child marriage, stopping girls'/women's education, 'caste system', and the like. ("Varna-dharma" or "Varnashram-dharma" is completely different. It is neither rigid nor based on birth. In a nutshell, it is based on "varna" ~ one's talent [aptitude and ability.] The premise is that: doing something based on one's talent and ability leads to efficiency and contentment... which, in turn leads to a better society. Please refer to the paragraph before the last three ~ to know more about it.) All sorts of regressive concepts came about in the last millennium; Manu was not present on Earth at the time. [However, what inflections and re-writings the "manusmriti" has undergone in the last millennium, given that even the Mahabharata has not remained impervious ~ we can only speculate. The current version is not the original one; all ancient texts have to be copied afresh after a period of time, else they disintegrate. Modern books are of fairly recent vintage.] The Manu-s (and team) is representatives of Lord Narayan. ... And all sorts of regressive customs and concepts like 'caste system', etc is not Lord Narayan/Sri Krishn's doing. These came about due to societal churning, courtesy the usurper known as "Brahminical faith". Sanaatan Dharm did not have any concept of "outcaste". However, this concept ~ known as 'jaat-nikaal' or 'jaati-nikaal' ~ came about as a 'by-product' of yet another societal 'manthan' ~ for power, influence, and so on. Wherein one group/clan of people tried their best to topple (and then banish + 'demote') ~ another group of people, on most occasions, their own clan-mates, but who enjoyed greater influence, etc (especially in the courts of minor kings and chieftains.) Mostly these machinations were successful, and the former not only replaced the latter, but also banished and 'demoted' them. This 'demotion' and banishment was known as 'jaat-nikal' or 'jaati-nikal'. [jaat/jaati = clan.] Gradually this concept took on different hues... and mutated, thanks to the "Brahminical faith" and other kinds of 'manthan'. When one set of colonizers arrived, the concept of "caste" came about; when another set of colonizers arrived, 'jaat-nikal' or 'jaati-nikal' became "outcaste", and 'adi-vasi' became "tribal". Though more affluent groups and people were affected, 'coz even traveling to distant lands onboard ships was cause enough to be 'demoted' (more severe than 'déclassé'), considered 'impure' and 'lose one's caste', it was essentially the economically weak and vulnerable groups and adi-vasis that were greatly impacted due to this 'manthan'. But then, despite gaining our independence, we have persisted with negative, regressive and pessimism-inducing terminologies, besides labeling our ancient knowledge (in craftsmanship, textiles, weaves, woodworking, leather-crafting, etc) as "backward". (Although these require a great amount of skill and know-how.) ... Thus, what could and should have been a cause for pride (for keeping alive and carrying forward our ancient heritage) as well as generating revenue, leading to employment and economic self-sufficiency... became "backward" this or that instead. Alas.]
Krishna explains to Arjun his duties as a warrior and prince... besides elaborating on a variety of philosophical concepts. However: it is unlikely that the conversation took place in the battlefield. It probably happened elsewhere, in the presence of other people (over a few days)... and was (very likely) facilitated by the use of technology, such as television screens. This enabled a large number of people (besides Arjun) to "see" the "Divine Form" (Vishwaroop) of the Supreme Spirit/Param-aatma, and to hear Krishna speak about 'Karm Yog' and explain the cosmic process as well as the meaning of destiny. Krishna, Arjun's charioteer and guide in the battlefield (of the greatest of Dharm-Yudh-s), sought to allay the latter's confusion/dilemma by teaching him about the distinction between the physical body (which is impermanent) and the soul or atma (which is permanent). ... And from what we can gather, every human has two souls. #1. The "Jiva/Atma": meaning individual soul or personality, and #2. The "Atman" or "Supersoul": seen as a portion of Brahmn/Brhmn or the Param-aatma (Cosmic Energy/Supreme Soul/Spirit - the source of everything, the 'Cause'; since everything emanates from Him). The Srimad Bhagavad Geeta (Chapter 10, Verse 20) says: || aham atma gudakesha sarva-bhutasaya-sthitah aham adis ca madhyam ca bhutanam anta eva ca || ~ "I am the Supreme Spirit/Supersoul, O Arjun, seated in the hearts of all living entities. I am the beginning, the middle and the end of all beings."] BG Chapter 10, Verse 22: || indriyanam manas casmi bhutanam asmi cetana || ~ "Of the senses (indriyanam) I am (asmi) the mind (manas); and in living beings (bhutanam) I am the living force (cetana, consciousness.") Thus, to my mind, cetana or consciousness represents the "atman" (Supersoul), and this (very likely) is also linked to the mind (brain/Manas Chakra or Mind Lotus)... making it work/function, and which in turn helps the rest of the body to function as well. Else a human being goes into a 'vegetative state' (wherein the 'indriyas' stop functioning, leaving one benumbed or stupefied (the mind, senses, will, etc.) [Please note: Cetana or consciousness represents the life force. It is not the same as conscience.] The atman (Supersoul) is a part and parcel of the Supreme Soul/Spirit (Brahmn/Brhmn/Param-aatma), but the Jiva/atma (individual soul) never loses its identity. And this is where we, as an individual, get an identity/entity. This identity exists eternally; the individual soul (Jiva/Atma) never dies. [Verse 17: || avinasi tu tad viddhi yena sarvam idam tatam vinasam avyayasyasya na kascit kartum arhati || ~ "But know that which pervades the entire body is indestructible. No one is able to destroy the imperishable soul (Jiva/Atma/ individual soul)."] And that: Verse 18: || antavanta ime deha nityasyoktah saririnah || ~ "Only the material body of the indestructible, immeasurable and eternal living entity is subject to destruction." ... While the individual soul/Jiva/Atma only transmigrates from one body to another body: Verse 22: || vāsānsi jīrNāni yathā vihāya navāni grihNāti naro.aparāNi tathā śarīrāNi vihāya jīrNānyanyāni sanyāti navāni dehī || ~ "Just as a human being puts on new garments, casting off old and worn-out ones, the individual soul (Jiva/Atma) similarly takes up residence within new material bodies, giving up the old and infirm ones." [The "First Law of Thermodynamics" (Conservation) states that energy is always conserved; it cannot be created or destroyed. In essence, energy can be converted from one form into another: 'Energy can be changed from one form to another, but it cannot be created or destroyed. The total amount of energy and matter in the Universe remains constant, merely changing from one form to another.' ~ The Srimad Bhagavad Geeta in Physics! :)] BG Chapter 2, Verse 20: || Na jãyate mriyate vã kadãchinnãyam bhootvã bhavitã vã na bhooyaha ajo nityaha shãshvato'yam purãno na hanyate hanyamãne shareere || ~ "The individual soul (Jiva/Atma) never takes birth and never dies at any time nor does it come into being again when the body is created. The individual soul (Jiva/Atma) is birthless, eternal, imperishable and timeless and is never destroyed even when the body/outer coil is destroyed (perishes)." Chapter 10, Verse 23: || nainaṃ chindanti śastrāṇi nainaṃ dahati pāvakaḥ na cainaṃ kledayantyāpo na śoṣayati mārutaḥ || ~ "Weapons cleave It not, fire burns It not, water wets It not, wind dries It not. This self (Jiva/Atma) cannot be cut, not burnt, nor get wet, nor dried up. It is eternal, all pervading, stable, immovable and ancient. This [self] is said to be un-manifested, unfathomable and unchangeable." Krishna describes (to Arjun) the human soul (the individual soul/ Jiva/Atma) as something that cannot be cut by weapons, cannot be burnt by fire, cannot be drowned in water, cannot be blown by the wind. Chapter 10, Verse 13: || dehino 'smin yatha dehe kaumaram yauvanam jara tatha dehantara-praptir dhiras tatra na muhyati || ~ "As the embodied soul continuously passes, in this body, from childhood to youth to old age, the soul similarly transmigrates from one body to another. A self-realized soul is not bewildered by such a change."
[*(Continued from the paragraph before the last seven) ~ besides adequate provision of food supplies and other essential supplies (including water and medicines) they probably also carry large quantities of dietary supplement or Super Food such as Spirulina (powder or capsule). But in what form they carry water, we can only speculate. Once the turbulence subsides, life/civilization starts afresh: perhaps with the help of cryogenically stored seeds, DNA samples (human, livestock and other animals), donor eggs and sperms + the survivors (human + flora + fauna). Perhaps the 'gotra-system' was devised during the last great flood (Mahajal Pralaya) ~ as an interim arrangement/measure ~ to prevent consanguineous vivah/union and avoidable physical ailments and defects, and maybe, to also give the new versions and/or sub-species of humans adequate time to acclimatize. There must also have been some mechanism/guidelines in place ~ to deal with death and corpses; however, this may not have been homogeneous, and would have, in all probability, differed ~ depending on whether the people were traveling onboard ships, or were sheltered in specially-designed-and-equipped caves and in settlements below the ground. Now whether the ones traveling onboard ships threw the bodies in the turbulent waters? ~ We do not know. However, since dead bodies are treated with respect, this is unlikely to have happened. Also, they would have required teachers, storytellers, composers, musicians, artists, doctors (and other medical staff), weavers, barbers, artisans, craftsmen and toy-makers, and so on... to have a semblance of 'society', continuity and order. So as to be somewhat prepared ~ to begin life afresh on new lands. And, very likely, these various functions were taken up by people ~ based on their "varna" (talent and ability). Maybe the "Manu" and his team spoke to them about life on earth, about their ancestors... and perhaps, even showed pictures, videos, presentations and documentaries too ~ in a bid to prepare them for new lands and life anew. ... Once everything is reasonably well-settled, the Manu-s (and their team) depart. (Noukeshwar is at best a 'title' and means, Lord/Master/Principal/Chief/Captain of the Nao. (Here 'nao' or 'boat' indicate specially-designed-and-equipped-ship.) But whether 'Noukeshwar' has been abbreviated/altered to 'Noah' (due to the passage of time and change in phonetics) ~ my guess is as good as yours.) However, there are times when God chooses a great human ~ as "Manu". This chosen one then becomes one of the "Manu"; he is thereafter referred to as a specific "Manu"... and participates in rescue and rehabilitation activities. The seventh and current Manu, Vāmana as Vaivasvata Manu is one such human "Manu". We are currently in the seventh Manvantara, named as: "Vaivasvata Manvantara" (after the current Manu - Vaivasvata Manu). His original name is Satyavrata. He saved mankind from the (previous) great flood/deluge (Mahajal Pralay) ~ by building specially designed ships (nao)... as per the advise of the Matsya-Avatar. Now whether Vaivasvata Manu is also referred to as "Noah" or not ~ my guess is as good as yours. During great flood/deluge (Mahajal Pralay) the entire Earth is inundated by water that swallows up the land and destroys existing landmass/continents; the scale of devastation is mind-boggling. (Some species of flora and fauna are wiped out, and certain early version(s) of humanity too ceases to exist. Maybe some imperfect versions of human species too come to an end. Now, is it possible that these are then replaced by other versions? And if so, do these new versions and/or sub-species of humans, etc arrive from (or maybe are brought in from) other loka/planets that exist in the same band [Madhya-loka/Middle Planets] as our Earth... so as to resettle them after some or the other natural calamities? Therefore, do the Almighty and team [Brahma, et al] create different humans [and flora and fauna] for different maha-yugas? Or are they attempting to create humans-that-have-High EQ as well as humans-that-are-low-on-emotion-and-high-on-technology [for different maha-yugas] ~ and then trying to see/understand how these different versions/sub-species of humans react to each other [in different maha-yugas]? And/or what combination leads to what situation? ~ Well, we can only speculate. (Note: Sanaatan Dharma does not talk about the human species emerging or evolving out of great apes. The extinct civilizations/groups/people also do not say so; there are indications of higher beings; besides, a huge/gigantic serpent features in many extinct cultures/groups. However, it is quite possible that a small group of humans evolved on earth from various animal-like ancestors, not 'animal' per se, but 'animal-like' ~ given the shape of their skull, jawline or teeth, or for that matter their food habits, etc. One possibility is that: this helped to determine the habitability of the earth for future versions of humans ~ that did not evolve on this planet. By the time the latter groups arrived (in batches), the former groups would have evolved and become more human-like, albeit with a distinct culture, language, way of life, etc. And so, for the newer versions of humans, they were, thus, known as "adi-vasi": adi = most ancient, original or earliest known, vasi = dwellers. But then, various groups of humans eventually intermixed... giving rise to newer groups/sub-species, languages, culture, cuisine, and so on.) [Lord Vishnu is also known as "Prapitaamahah": The father of the 'father of beings' (Brahma) ~ in a generic sense, that is; He is Aadi Purush (the Original/Primal Being or the Supreme Being; Purush = Cosmic Energy; He is the motive power and guiding spirit behind the mathematically precise universes.) He is also known as "Srashtaa": Creator. He instructs Brahma, who can be loosely understood as the Chief Engineer/Scientist of the Cosmos (probably responsible for creating various human species and sub-species, flora and fauna, and so on.)] The Cyclical Destruction of the World as we know it, occurs in events singularly known as a "Pralaya" that takes place at the end of a "Chatur-Yug". A cycle of four yugs (Sat/Satya/Krita, Treta, Dvapar and Kali whose lengths follow a ratio of 4:3:2:1) is known as a "Maha Yug" or a "Chatur-Yug", and at the end of this cycle, our Earth experiences a cataclysmic event that has the capacity to wipe out all life from the face of the planet. However, that does not quite happen... since the Manu-s arrive to rescue, rehabilitate and re-people the Earth (in case of a great flood/deluge/Mahajal Pralay). However, Sanaatan Dharm does not believe in a single event of destruction/dissolution of the World, or even in a single event of creation for that matter. Time (Kaal, Kaalah) in Sanaatan Dharma, is not Linear i.e. it does not start and end at specific points, rather, it is Cyclical and never-ending. This eternal cycle of Life and Death; Birth and Re-birth; Formation and Dissolution is called the "Kaal-chakra" or the "Wheel of Time". Therefore, other events such as Global Warming; killer Earthquakes or frequent Earthquakes in the seabed (triggering a Great Deluge that would submerge the entire landmass and drown everything in its colossal Tsunamis); melting of Antarctic Ice sheets; celestial events ~ like a meteor crash; nuclear wars or usage of highly destructive weaponry, and so on... too can bring about dissolution and/or tremendous destruction (enough to wipe out the entire civilizational progress of Humanity on Earth.) And, depending on which of these events is likely to follow the closure of a "Maha Yug" or a "Chatur-Yug" ~ the higher entities (the Manu-s, the avatars or a Maha Avatar) arrive ~ to rescue and rehabilitate/resettle, or to salvage, 'awaken' and prevent. There are different types of Pralaya-s/cataclysmic events as per our ancient texts: #1. A "Pralaya" ~ at the end of a Maha-Yug or a Chatur-Yug; #2. "Manvantar Pralaya" ~ at the end of the rule of each of the Manu-s; #3. "Naimittik Pralaya" ~ at the end of each "kalpa" (1,000 maha yugs) or "a Day of Brahma"; and #4. "Prakritik Maha Pralaya" ~ at the end of Brahma's Lifetime/Life-span (this is when Prakriti/Nature [except the Vaikunth planets] is completely dissolved. Re-birth/formation commences once again... after 2 kalpas, or after 'a day and a night of Brahma' has elapsed. This is when a new Brahma appears. The life span of Brahma is 100 Brahma years, or 72,000 kalpas, or 311.04 trillion human years. (Each "kalpa" is overseen by a succession of 14 Manu-s, and the reign/period of each Manu is called a "manvantara". A single manvantara is approximately 71 maha yugas. In other words: a "Manvantara" is equal to seventy-one times the number of years contained in the four Yugas (Sat/Satya/Krita, Treta, Dvapar and Kaliyug), with some additional years: this is the duration of each Manu, the [attendant] divinities (Indra, etc), and the rest.) The current "Brahma" is 50 Brahma years old now (i.e. 155,521,972,949,110 human Years old now.) 50 years of Brahma has elapsed and we are in the first Day of the 51st year. In other words: We are located in the fifty-first Brahma year of the life of our Brahma: this Brahma's day - kalpa - is named as "Svhetavaraha Kalpa". [Svheta = white. Varaha = the great boar. Do refer to the Indus seal above to know more.] Within this 'Day', six Manvantaras have already elapsed and we are in the seventh Manvantara, named as: Vaivasvatha Manvantara (after the current Manu, Vaivasvatha Manu). Within the Vaivasvatha Manavantara, 27 Mahayugas (4 Yugas together is a Mahayuga) have elapsed; hence, we are in the Kaliyuga of the 28th Mahayuga. (This would place us at about the 454th maha yuga of the 1,000 maha yugas that comprise this 'day' of Brahma.) This Kaliyug began at midnight of 18 February in 3102 BC in the proleptic Julian calendar. This is because Bhagavan Shri Krishn departed on this date. The period after his departure marks the beginning of Kaliyug. Since 50 years of Brahma have already elapsed, we are in the second Parardha, also known as Dvithiya Parardha.] Note: Manu is essentially a reassuring father-figure (not to be construed for 'patriarchal'. A guide or a leader can be a guide or a leader without being patriarchal or matriarchal.) None of the "Manu" is responsible for regressive customs like Sati, female foeticide and infanticide, child marriage, stopping girls'/women's education, 'caste system', and the like. ("Varna-dharma" or "Varnashram-dharma" is completely different. It is neither rigid nor based on birth. In a nutshell, it is based on "varna" ~ one's talent [aptitude and ability.] The premise is that: doing something based on one's talent and ability leads to efficiency and contentment... which, in turn leads to a better society. Please refer to the paragraph before the last three ~ to know more about it.) All sorts of regressive concepts came about in the last millennium; Manu was not present on Earth at the time. [However, what inflections and re-writings the "manusmriti" has undergone in the last millennium, given that even the Mahabharata has not remained impervious ~ we can only speculate. The current version is not the original one; all ancient texts have to be copied afresh after a period of time, else they disintegrate. Modern books are of fairly recent vintage.] The Manu-s (and team) is representatives of Lord Narayan. ... And all sorts of regressive customs and concepts like 'caste system', etc is not Lord Narayan/Sri Krishn's doing. These came about due to societal churning, courtesy the usurper known as "Brahminical faith". Sanaatan Dharm did not have any concept of "outcaste". However, this concept ~ known as 'jaat-nikaal' or 'jaati-nikaal' ~ came about as a 'by-product' of yet another societal 'manthan' ~ for power, influence, and so on. Wherein one group/clan of people tried their best to topple (and then banish + 'demote') ~ another group of people, on most occasions, their own clan-mates, but who enjoyed greater influence, etc (especially in the courts of minor kings and chieftains.) Mostly these machinations were successful, and the former not only replaced the latter, but also banished and 'demoted' them. This 'demotion' and banishment was known as 'jaat-nikal' or 'jaati-nikal'. [jaat/jaati = clan.] Gradually this concept took on different hues... and mutated, thanks to the "Brahminical faith" and other kinds of 'manthan'. When one set of colonizers arrived, the concept of "caste" came about; when another set of colonizers arrived, 'jaat-nikal' or 'jaati-nikal' became "outcaste", and 'adi-vasi' became "tribal". Though more affluent groups and people were affected, 'coz even traveling to distant lands onboard ships was cause enough to be 'demoted' (more severe than 'déclassé'), considered 'impure' and 'lose one's caste', it was essentially the economically weak and vulnerable groups and adi-vasis that were greatly impacted due to this 'manthan'. But then, despite gaining our independence, we have persisted with negative, regressive and pessimism-inducing terminologies, besides labeling our ancient knowledge (in craftsmanship, textiles, weaves, woodworking, leather-crafting, etc) as "backward". (Although these require a great amount of skill and know-how.) ... Thus, what could and should have been a cause for pride (for keeping alive and carrying forward our ancient heritage) as well as generating revenue, leading to employment and economic self-sufficiency... became "backward" this or that instead. Alas.]
Krishna explains to Arjun his duties as a warrior and prince... besides elaborating on a variety of philosophical concepts. However: it is unlikely that the conversation took place in the battlefield. It probably happened elsewhere, in the presence of other people (over a few days)... and was (very likely) facilitated by the use of technology, such as television screens. This enabled a large number of people (besides Arjun) to "see" the "Divine Form" (Vishwaroop) of the Supreme Spirit/Param-aatma, and to hear Krishna speak about 'Karm Yog' and explain the cosmic process as well as the meaning of destiny. Krishna, Arjun's charioteer and guide in the battlefield (of the greatest of Dharm-Yudh-s), sought to allay the latter's confusion/dilemma by teaching him about the distinction between the physical body (which is impermanent) and the soul or atma (which is permanent). ... And from what we can gather, every human has two souls. #1. The "Jiva/Atma": meaning individual soul or personality, and #2. The "Atman" or "Supersoul": seen as a portion of Brahmn/Brhmn or the Param-aatma (Cosmic Energy/Supreme Soul/Spirit - the source of everything, the 'Cause'; since everything emanates from Him). The Srimad Bhagavad Geeta (Chapter 10, Verse 20) says: || aham atma gudakesha sarva-bhutasaya-sthitah aham adis ca madhyam ca bhutanam anta eva ca || ~ "I am the Supreme Spirit/Supersoul, O Arjun, seated in the hearts of all living entities. I am the beginning, the middle and the end of all beings."] BG Chapter 10, Verse 22: || indriyanam manas casmi bhutanam asmi cetana || ~ "Of the senses (indriyanam) I am (asmi) the mind (manas); and in living beings (bhutanam) I am the living force (cetana, consciousness.") Thus, to my mind, cetana or consciousness represents the "atman" (Supersoul), and this (very likely) is also linked to the mind (brain/Manas Chakra or Mind Lotus)... making it work/function, and which in turn helps the rest of the body to function as well. Else a human being goes into a 'vegetative state' (wherein the 'indriyas' stop functioning, leaving one benumbed or stupefied (the mind, senses, will, etc.) [Please note: Cetana or consciousness represents the life force. It is not the same as conscience.] The atman (Supersoul) is a part and parcel of the Supreme Soul/Spirit (Brahmn/Brhmn/Param-aatma), but the Jiva/atma (individual soul) never loses its identity. And this is where we, as an individual, get an identity/entity. This identity exists eternally; the individual soul (Jiva/Atma) never dies. [Verse 17: || avinasi tu tad viddhi yena sarvam idam tatam vinasam avyayasyasya na kascit kartum arhati || ~ "But know that which pervades the entire body is indestructible. No one is able to destroy the imperishable soul (Jiva/Atma/ individual soul)."] And that: Verse 18: || antavanta ime deha nityasyoktah saririnah || ~ "Only the material body of the indestructible, immeasurable and eternal living entity is subject to destruction." ... While the individual soul/Jiva/Atma only transmigrates from one body to another body: Verse 22: || vāsānsi jīrNāni yathā vihāya navāni grihNāti naro.aparāNi tathā śarīrāNi vihāya jīrNānyanyāni sanyāti navāni dehī || ~ "Just as a human being puts on new garments, casting off old and worn-out ones, the individual soul (Jiva/Atma) similarly takes up residence within new material bodies, giving up the old and infirm ones." [The "First Law of Thermodynamics" (Conservation) states that energy is always conserved; it cannot be created or destroyed. In essence, energy can be converted from one form into another: 'Energy can be changed from one form to another, but it cannot be created or destroyed. The total amount of energy and matter in the Universe remains constant, merely changing from one form to another.' ~ The Srimad Bhagavad Geeta in Physics! :)] BG Chapter 2, Verse 20: || Na jãyate mriyate vã kadãchinnãyam bhootvã bhavitã vã na bhooyaha ajo nityaha shãshvato'yam purãno na hanyate hanyamãne shareere || ~ "The individual soul (Jiva/Atma) never takes birth and never dies at any time nor does it come into being again when the body is created. The individual soul (Jiva/Atma) is birthless, eternal, imperishable and timeless and is never destroyed even when the body/outer coil is destroyed (perishes)." Chapter 10, Verse 23: || nainaṃ chindanti śastrāṇi nainaṃ dahati pāvakaḥ na cainaṃ kledayantyāpo na śoṣayati mārutaḥ || ~ "Weapons cleave It not, fire burns It not, water wets It not, wind dries It not. This self (Jiva/Atma) cannot be cut, not burnt, nor get wet, nor dried up. It is eternal, all pervading, stable, immovable and ancient. This [self] is said to be un-manifested, unfathomable and unchangeable." Krishna describes (to Arjun) the human soul (the individual soul/ Jiva/Atma) as something that cannot be cut by weapons, cannot be burnt by fire, cannot be drowned in water, cannot be blown by the wind. Chapter 10, Verse 13: || dehino 'smin yatha dehe kaumaram yauvanam jara tatha dehantara-praptir dhiras tatra na muhyati || ~ "As the embodied soul continuously passes, in this body, from childhood to youth to old age, the soul similarly transmigrates from one body to another. A self-realized soul is not bewildered by such a change."
*Let's discuss the Mohini-avatar: The aasuric (malevolent)
entities (residing in the Adho-Loka/the Lower Planets) indulged in negative
activities/adharm ~ after attacking and occupying the higher Planets/the
Urdhva-Loka, also known as Svarga-loka, Deva-loka. They also forcibly gained
control over certain resources (euphemistically referred to as 'amrit')... that
did not belong to them. This helped them to increase their influence and
power tremendously. Result: "samudra-manthan"... and huge imbalance. At such
a time, Lord Narayan (Shri Hari/Vishnu/Satya-Sundar/Virupaksha/Pundarikaksha) ~ as the Mohini-avatar ~ acquires the (metaphoric) pot of
'amrit' from the thieving 'Asuras' (malevolent entities) ~ via diplomacy, and
returns it to the Devas (positive entities); thus helping them to regain their
position/pre-eminence (euphemistically referred to as: immortality.) And so, the
machinations of the malevolent/negative entities came to a naught. [This could well be an allegorical tale, applicable to all eras.] Lord Narayan
incarnates (to help mankind/humanity) face the challenges posed... whenever
negative forces become too dominant. In reality, though, there is no such thing as
'amrit' - celestial or otherwise. "Amaratva" (eternal life) can be achieved only
through one's karm, 'coz one's keerti (great deeds) lives on forever. Thus, a
mere mortal/human can triumph death (which is inevitable)... and become
'mritunjay' (immortal). [Narayan = benefactor of humanity (nara). HA= sky; RA= fire; I= energy; HARI = effulgent
omnipresent omnipotent omniconscient cosmic energy. Hari also means: green,
Lord Narayan is also the Lord of Nature. He is "Kshiteeshah": The Lord of the earth. Virupaksha = one with oblique
eyes. Pundarikaksha = 'lotus-eyed' (i.e. one whose eyes are
shaped like lotus petals). Lord Krishn is also puṣkara-locanaḥ,
puṣkara-akṣaḥ, puṣkara-īkṣaṇah ~ 'lotus-eyed'
and vishalaksha ~ 'big-eyed'. In His "Vishwaroop" ~ His Universal form, Lord Narayan incorporates
everything that is a part of the entire universe/cosmos, whether seen or unseen,
animate or inanimate, tangible or intangible. The universes are therefore His
'body'. And, He is also the motive power and guiding spirit behind the mathematically precise universes.] Let's turn to the 'Rahu-Ketu' story. 'Mohini's Sudarshan Chakra cut
off Rahu's head': Perhaps, the Mohini-avatar was responsible for
Prthvi-loka getting a satellite of her own... as can be inferred from the
'Rahu-Ketu' stories. (Rahu's head remained while the body was destroyed -
thanks to Mohini's Sudarshan Chakra.) Here: 'Sudarshan Chakra' is a
metaphor for an instrument/technology. (Do also refer to paragraph # 18 ~ from
the top, to know what 'sudarshan chakra' otherwise means/indicates.) Lord Narayan, as the
Mohini-avatar, would have destroyed the 'body' (possibly: a giant asteroid)
while keeping the 'head' (very likely: a small moon... accompanying the
'body'/giant asteroid) ~ intact. Result: a global catastrophe (if it were to strike Prthvi-loka/Earth, that is) was averted, while the newly acquired
satellite began circumnavigating Prthvi-loka. (Rahu: probably is a reference
for an asteroid-moon duo: a giant-sized asteroid with own small satellite in
tow; i.e. a giant-sized asteroid dragging its moon along. Such a huge flying
object is known as a binary asteroid, and is circled by a satellite, or moon.
Giant-sized, hence the word 'Asura' has been used. [Asura = giant-sized.
Here: 'Asura' is not a reference for any people or clan, or even malevolent entities.] Pieces of the destroyed
asteroid probably fell on the moon. Ketu (probably) is a reference for
Prthvi-loka/Earth. Hence it has been said: The body also turned into Ketu due to
a boon, and it in turn swallows the moon on timely basis to cause a lunar
eclipse. ... And (as we know) ~ a lunar eclipse occurs when the Earth's shadow falls on the
Moon! It's a small wonder then that this story is part of the "samudra-manthan" stories - the
story of the churning of the Kshirasagar/Ocean of Milk/Akash Ganga (Milky Way)
and/or the Andromeda (... and that is how our solar system emerged/came about). In short:
"samudra-manthan" is essentially the story of creation. ['Deva' could indicate positive force/energy/charge (anode), while 'Asura' could indicate negative force/energy/charge (cathode). Their interplay gives rise to creation/Shrishti (the Material Universe/Prakriti/Nature, as well as the planets, habitability on planets [land, mountains], et al.) 'Mohini-avatar' represents a stabilizing force and/or the catalyst.] However, since
samudra-manthan (as a metaphor) can also have wide usage/application, various
narratives have confluenced and even fused into one, courtesy later-day translators,
interpreters, et al.]
Robi Thakur rightly said: "gaaner bheetor diye jakhon dekhi
bhuban-khani, takhon tarey chini." He acknowledged (as only he
could) that he has realized Him through his songs. That he has understood the Eternal
Enigma and His endless cosmic mysteries... through music. Do listen to Eso Shyamolo Sundaro: Robindroshongeet -
based on raaga Desh, and rendered by the
effervescent-versatile-spellbinding Asha Bhonsle:
[Note: This story is part of the "samudra-manthan" stories - the story of the churning of the Kshirasagar/Ocean of 'Milk' - the story of creation (as well as the story of the evolution of the Earth). The Kshirasagar/Ocean of 'Milk' can represent the churning waters on the earth (and/or of Jambunad) - foamy-white in appearance, and thus the metaphor of "Kshira" or Milk; it can also (metaphorically) represent Akash Ganga (Milky Way) and/or the Andromeda (... and [perhaps] that is how our solar system emerged/came about). ~ 'Deva' could indicate positive force/energy/charge (anode), while 'Asura' could indicate negative force/energy/charge (cathode). Their interplay gives rise to creation/Shrishti (the Material Universe/Prakriti/Nature, as well as the planets, habitability on planets [mountains, land], et al.) The 'Mohini-avatar' (can also) represent a stabilizing force and/or a catalyst. (In fact, Lord Narayan - in His various avatars - represents a stabilizing force, one that preserves and protects - for the good of humanity and the earth... when the imbalance [caused by various "churning"] becomes too great.) ~ "Samudra-manthan" (as a metaphor) can also have wide usage/application... and can even include societal churning, and so on. PS: Mount Meru, in Hindu mythology, is a magnificent and sacred mountain that stands in the centre of the universe and is the axis of the world. As the world axis, Mount Meru reaches down below the ground, into the nether regions, as far as it extends into the heavens. Mount Meru, also called Sumeru (Sanskrit) or Mahameru (the Great Meru/Mountain), is a sacred mountain in Hindu, Jain as well as Buddhist cosmology and is considered to be the center of all the physical, metaphysical and spiritual universes. The Suryasiddhanta mentions that Mt Meru lies in 'the middle of the Earth' ("Bhugol-madhya") in the land of the Jambunad (Jambudvip). [Suryasiddhānt, however, mentions a Mt Meru in the middle of Earth, besides a Sumeru and a Kumeru at both the Poles.] Another text mentions "Sumeruḥ Prithvī-madhye shrūyate drishyate na tu" ('Su-meru is heard to be in the middle of the Earth, but is not seen there'). ~ So, probably, Mt Meru cannot be seen with mortal/unaided eyes/it is not a physical 'mountain'. Mount Meru of Hindu traditions (has allegorical aspects, and) is described as 84,000 Yojan high (which is around 1,082,000 km (672,000 mi), or 85 times the Earth's diameter), and having the Sun along with all its planets in the Solar System revolve around it as one unit (~ this could also be allegorical, to indicate the importance of Mount Meru). [One Yojana can be taken to mean about 11.5 km (9 mi) though its magnitude seems to differ over time periods.] According to Jainism, Mount Meru is at the center of the middle world. The continent, known as Jambu Dwipā, surrounds it in the form of a circle and its diameter is 1,00,000 Yojāns. A ring formed ocean surrounds the Jambu Dwipā. It is an ocean of the salt (Lavanoda) and in its diameter is 2,00,000 Yojāns.]
Pic: Illustration - Dasavatara. ~ Maharshi Vashisht (one of the Sapta-Rishi and the chief preceptor or the royal guru to the Suryavanshi Ikshvaku [or Aikṣvāka] lineage in which Lord Ram appeared) shared with Shri Ram what was told to him by Sage Bhushunda. ~ That: in the beginning there was nothing; the Earth was extremely hot and covered by lava for thousands of years (11,000 years to be precise; however, this could be Human years [in which case it would be 11,000 years per se], or it could be Deva years [in which case, it would be much more than 11,000 years]. 1 human year = 1 Deva Ahoratra for God (1 day and 1 night) ... And that "Daityas" and "Danavas" (indicating 'gigantic creatures', possibly various dinosaurs) roamed the Earth. [As we can see meanings and nomenclature changes with time. "Daityas" and "Danavas" meant 'gigantic creatures'/wild animals at one time, while in another era/yug they were the names of Asura sub-clans.] ... Then, gradually, everything was covered by ice. It was extremely cold. There was no life. Slowly the ice melted. | ~ Therefore, (i.e. after a reasonable amount of the ice had melted)... did "samudra manthan" commence? ~ My guess is as good as yours. ~ Is Shambhala and/or Jambudvipa the first landmass to emerge out of the "samudra-manthan" (?) - the churning of the Kshirasagar/Ocean of 'Milk' (the churning waters on the earth [and/or of Jambunad] - foamy-white in appearance, and thus the metaphor of "Kshira" or Milk.) ~ My guess is as good as yours. And, once the turbulence/"churning" subsided (to a reasonable extent, at least) did the higher beings introduce 'life' on earth - in the form of various micro-organisms; which were then (gradually) followed by (the earliest) algae, plankton, fungi, snails, slugs, et al? And finally (the earliest) fish (matsya)... an indicator that life on the waters was flourishing, and so, the conditions were suitable for the appearance of land (landmass or sandy stretches) on Earth? ~ And that the Earth (landmass or sandy areas on Earth, that is) was now ready to host 'higher' creatures/living beings? ~ And therefore, was this followed by the introduction of (the earliest) amphibians (as is also depicted/indicated by the kurma or tortoise-avatar)? This (probably) was followed by (the earliest) ferns, and other smaller plants, shrubs... and finally trees? Thereafter, came (the earliest) animals and birds - as is also depicted/indicated by the third avatar - the Varaha-avatar (which, due to its strong and sharp teeth, would have been able to sort of (in a manner of speaking, that is) till the land/sandy stretches, (thus) paving the way for plants/trees, etc to grow well, besides creating suitable conditions for pollination to happen?) ~ My guess is as good as yours. ... And, once all of these acclimatized on Earth, did the higher beings (gradually) introduce various animal-like ancestors of the earliest humans/adivasis (as is also depicted/indicated by the fourth avatar - the Nrsingh-avatar) on Earth? ~ 'Coz Sanaatan Dharma does not talk about the human species emerging or evolving out of great apes. The extinct civilizations/groups/people also do not say so; besides, a huge/gigantic serpent features in many extinct cultures/groups. ~ However, it is quite possible that the first group of humans (vamana or small-sized humans + what is today understood as 'Mongoloid' tribes) evolved on Earth... from various animal-like ancestors; not 'animal' per se, but 'animal-like' - (progenitors of the earliest humans, but sort of 'resembling' ape-man, bear and even lion-like in (facial) appearance) - given the shape of their skull, jawline or teeth, or for that matter their dietary habits, gait, hirsuteness, eye-sight, verbal sounds, et al. ~ One possibility is that: this helped to determine the habitability of the Earth for future versions of humans - the ones that did not evolve on this planet (as is also depicted/indicated by the sixth avatar, the Parasurama-avatar). By the time the latter groups arrived (in batches - from other lokas/planets, maybe from other planets that are part of the Madhya Lokas/Middle planets - to which even our Earth belongs), the former groups would have evolved and become more human-like (gradually though, ever since they discovered fire and learned to cook raw meat, etc), albeit with a distinct culture, language, way of life, etc. And so, to the newer versions of humans, the former were, thus, known as "adi-vasi": adi = most ancient, original or earliest known, vasi = dwellers. [With the arrival of the new groups of humans, settlements came about, language and means of communication changed, dietary habits changed... and so on; thus, the evolution of society or a new 'way of life' took shape. Pastoral and agricultural activities (as denoted/indicated by the Balarama-avatar holding a plough) and other socio-economic functions came about. Barter system evolved, and so on.] But then, various groups of humans eventually intermixed... giving rise to newer groups/sub-species, languages, culture, cuisine, and so on.) ~ BG 10.6: || maharsayah sapta purve catvaro manavas tatha mad-bhava manasa jata yesham loka imah prajah || ~ "The seven great sages/enlightened beings (the Sapta-Rishi) and before them the four other great sages/enlightened beings (Sanaka, Sanandan, Sanatana and Sanat, collectively known as the four Kumaras or Sanat Kumaras) and the Manu-s (entities that arrive... during times of great calamity, distress and turbulence - pralaya - to guide and resettle mankind/humanity), come from Me, born from My mind (manasa, manasa-jata/brain-child), and all the living beings populating the various planets (loka) descend from them." ~ [Now, could this mean that the Sapta-Rishi (the seven enlightened beings/sages - not to be confused for 'ascetics') and the Manu-s are responsible (tasked with) introducing life on Earth... starting from the earliest micro-organism to the latest humans? ~ My guess is as good as yours.] ... The seven-rishis/enlightened beings (their combination differs according to different "Manvantara"/with each "Manavantara" overseen by one of the 14 Manu. Manvantara = Manav [human/human species; from "Manu" comes 'manushya' or 'manav'] + Antara [time gap]) are the most advanced spiritual guides for Humanity and have been present at all major time periods of our ancient history (pracheen itihasa). They undertook research, euphemistically known as 'yagna', etc. and shared their knowledge with deserving disciples. They were also preceptors or guru of prominent royal lineages ~ and besides conducting research, treating ailments, undertaking surgical procedures and imparting knowledge/education, they also provided advice and guidance. Probably they were also the ones who taught the Sanskrit language to humanity (especially to the humans of Jambudvipa). [It is unlikely though that there ever was a single language or even a single version of the Sanskrit language. (~ No language is monolithic.) Also, humans, whether they evolved on Earth (i.e. various adivasi groups) or arrived from other lokas/planets... would have, in all likelihood, come up with (i.e. developed) their own language and system of communication (in the case of the adivasi groups) or brought along their own language(s) and ways of communication with them (in the case of the later humans).] These sapta rishis (enlightened/learned beings) were not only men of great wisdom and knowledge, but also masters of Science, including advanced medical science, biotechnology and quantum physics. [~ And, this should also explain how Shri Ram and his siblings were born - via very advanced IVF procedure/therapy - where (perhaps) nothing was injected into the body, instead, it could be ingested! Clearly: 'modern science' is (as yet) unaware of such advanced medical science, which was known to our ancients in the second era or the Treta Yug itself - courtesy the Sapta-rishis. ~ Sri Ram and his siblings were (thus) the first set of unnatural humans on Earth: i.e. humans whose gestation happened in human womb but who were not conceived naturally. ... However, due to their noble nature and positive/great deeds - which benefited society and humanity - Sri Ram and his siblings were hailed. Thus, these humans (born out of very advanced IVF therapy) were accepted by society and humanity at large - in Treta. And this would have (also) benefited childless couples. ... The Lord Himself arrived - as (an IVF baby) - the 'Ram-avatar' (the 7th Vishnu) - to integrate the first set of unnatural humans (born as a result of scientific procedure/assistance: very advanced IVF procedure/therapy), as well as various adivasi groups (e.g. Hanuman-ji, Surgeeva, Angad, Jambavan, et al were adivasi) and other marginalized groups (such as the 'tritiya-prakriti') with the rest of society. [In fact, he proved that the adivasi-s and 'tritiya-prakriti' were not sub-humans, but full-fledged humans, albeit with a distinct 'way of life'. Thus, Treta accepted them as full-fledged humans. ~ Shri Ram and Shri Krishn belonged to different eras/yugs... and their purpose, karm and challenges were also different. However, like Shri Krishn, Shri Ram too led from the front, and by example; he established/reinvigorated dharma... leading to a just and inclusive society.*] ~ However, as the 8th Vishnu (the Krishn-avatar) - the Lord arrived (yet again)... to eliminate the other set of unnatural humans (cross between humans on Earth and other much Higher and advanced Beings) - born via highly advanced genetic engineering and cloning technology. ~ Thus, while Treta accepted humans born out of advanced IVF therapy/procedure, Dvapar rejected unnatural humans born out of advanced genetic engineering and cloning technology. ~ The Lord Himself arrived to make this happen.] ~ The Sapta-Rishi are (very likely) one notch higher than the Humans. They pursue the path of knowledge, innovation and research, rather they are dedicated to it; that is their intrinsic nature (pravritti) or talent (guna)... and hence they are "Brahmana", not to be confused for "Brahmin". (Their appearance and depiction is courtesy the imagination of various persons of later eras, and so, cannot be taken literally.)] As to how various extinct (or lost) flora and fauna make their re-appearance ~ my guess is as good as yours. [PS: The "Dasavatara has many strands.]
~ Krishn is a most extraordinary figure: a leader, a hero, a legend, an enlightening personage, a guiding force, a karm-yogi, a transformational/renaissance figure, God in the flesh (the 8th Vishnu, svayam Bhagavan; the human manifestation [sagun swaroop] of Lord Vishnu/Narayan, His Purna Avatar)... and yet, an everyman; he's a Soldier-Statesman par excellence (soldier against despondency, pessimism, confusion, hopelessness, decay and so on). He was up against tremendous odds; sermons would have had no effect on the likes of Shakuni, Duryodhan et al. ~ The challenges at the end of Dvapar were manifold, and very different from those of Treta; humanity was different, ethical and social conditions were not the same either. Decay, indifference/impassiveness, inertia et al held sway. ~ Krishn's was the highest dharmic mission; and by his very appearance (karm + guidance), he reinvigorated/re-energized the principles of dharma (duty/action, even selfless action, for the benefit of humanity, for the greater good - to build a better society: dharma-samsthapanarthaya); he also urged (advised) humanity to introspection and action (karm) - to duty. [Dharma is not quite ethics or duty, it also means a constructive 'way of life'.] Krishn advised humanity to shake-off inertia and embrace karm yog. [There is no magic wand; thus, he also led by example and instructed through his own behaviour (acharan) - the mark of a true teacher/guru/mentor (but then, besides being the Cosmic Ruler He is also the Cosmic Teacher); this aspect/dynamism remains constant, be it the Ramayana ('The Exertions of Shri Ram'/ Shri Ram was a Reformer-Prince and Cakravartin) or the Mahabharata ('The Great History of the Bharatas'/ Shri Krishn was a Soldier-Statesman, but a Cakravartin by dint of his actions; his actions were for a higher cause - Loka-kalyana or Loka-sangraha: the greater/collective good. As a pathfinder his focus, tenacity and determination remains unwavering; he keeps the goals/objectives above himself.) ... Maybe, 'coz there is no alternative to karm yog (collective action/duty/responsibility, even selfless action/service to humanity/society) - to create/build [and sustain] a better society/civilization. This is his message/advise/mantra. ~ One needs to contemplate and deliberate deeply - to understand his purpose, his karm and his message/advise. Only then will it percolate.] ~ Instead of being active participants in their own destiny, humanity cannot become idlers and mere spectators/bystanders. ~ That will lead to a gradual all-round degeneration/degradation. This is the core of his message. (Thus, there is an organic interplay between finite and Infinite.) ~ Krishn is the Perennial Guide (Chir-Saarathy) - the (allegorical/metaphoric) shepherd to his flock. ~ There is no magic wand, no quick-fix, no instant solution; humanity will have to sort out their own issues - through collective effort, there is no one "out there" (a messiah figure) who will come and do it. They (avatars/empowered entities, maha-avatars/great incarnations and Purna Avatar/one in whom divinity is manifested fully) will guide and show the way - yes, however, there is no alternative to karm yog. ~ This has been the message of the Krishn-avatar (the 8th Vishnu). And this has also been the message of the Buddh-avatar (the 9th Vishnu/ Shri Gautam Buddh/Siddhartha was a Sage-Prince and the 'Enlightened One'). ~ Krishn also 'closed' Dvapar... and navigated through complex/tortuous paths/events to bring about the transition from Dvapar to Kaliyug... which commenced from midnight of 18 February in 3102 BC in the proleptic Julian calendar. [This is because he departed on this date. The period after his departure marks the beginning of Kaliyug. (Lord Narayan/Harih/Vishnu is the motive power and guiding force behind the mathematically precise universe. So, one can only wonder at the precision with which His maha-avatars work.) ~ Kali means bud. Thus, he was also a stabilizing force (a preserver) and a revitalizing force (Renaissance Man). ~ Only at the end of Kaliyug - when the metaphoric bud/flower withers away, will the 'Iron Age' (negative aspects of Kaliyug) be at its peak (i.e. ghor kaliyug): cognitive abilities fall, perception level is enveloped by a 'fog' of ignorance, apathy/indifference, delusion, stagnation, and so on; hence, it (the end of Kaliyug, that is) is (also) called the most degenerate of all ages/yugs). ~ A cycle of four yugs (Chatur-Yug) - whose lengths follow a ratio of 4:3:2:1 is also known as a 'Maha Yug' ~ Sat/Satya/Krita [Golden Age], Treta [Silver Age], Dvapar [Copper Age] and Kaliyug (Kali means bud/flower, but the end of Kaliyug is termed as 'Iron Age'/ghor Kaliyug). Thus, Kaliyug is the shortest of all eras/ages/yugs.]
Both Ram and Krishn (very likely) were fair-complexioned; Krishn is probably reddish-hued or crimson (Lohith/Rohitah or Rohit); coral lips (maybe deep-pink or the colour of red-coral); eyes shaped like lotus petals (maybe, big-eyed); head bedecked with peacock feathers (that would very likely be the headgear or crown); a chiseled appearance and a fascinating face (a reference to his good looks); a mischievous enthralling captivating smile. ~ What we can conclude is this: that Krishna was a figure of immense good looks, grace and splendor. [His features probably were a result of the delicate blending of the martian, saturnine, venusian and lunar characteristics. In other words: due to the dominance of the influences of the Moon and Venus, with Saturn and Mars.] Krishn is also known as: the master/lord of the senses. ~ He had not only gained mastery over his own senses (indriyas), but also over those of others. No wonder he is magnetic, riveting. ~ He is Trikalagya as well: a "bhuta-bhavya-bhavat-prabhu" or "The Master of all things that exist in the past, future, and present". ~ Possessor of the metaphoric Tritiya-Nayan: the Third-Eye. [As for Lohitah/Rohitah/Rohit: Red is the warmest and the most energetic colour in the spectrum. It stands for: energy, speed, strength, valour and purity. Purity means: doing what is right (~ leading to the larger good). Hence, Red is the symbol for a 'soldier' who strives for a better society. Rohit is also one of Shri Vishnu's many names. Krishn is svayam bhagavan, the human manifestation (sagun swaroop) of Lord Vishnu/Narayan.] ~ Peet or golden-yellow: Krishn is "Peetamber" - draped in the colour gold. It is also another name for Lord Vishnu/Narayan. "Peet" is golden-yellow and "amber" is sky. Hence, Peetamber also indicates the brilliant and glittering sky as well as enlightenment (as in: an illumined mind). Shri Ram is also known as Peetavasane (one who wears yellow attire signifying purity and wisdom. Here 'purity' means: doing what is right [~ leading to the larger good]). While the colour Blue also stands for: meditation/introspection, peace, tranquility, depth, stability, trust, loyalty, wisdom, confidence, intelligence, patience, decision-making and truth/dharma. | ~ However, post the decline of the Gupta era, Prabhakara Vardhana (of the Vardhana dynasty) and his sons (Rajya Vardhana and Harsha Vardhana) tried to consolidate the smaller and fragmented monarchies, independent kingdoms and feudatory states. Harsha Vardhana proved to be a distinguished ruler, (though not quite a Chakravartin)... but after him his empire disintegrated rapidly. [Though it is said he ascended the throne at the age of 16, however, given that the concept of time in Indian thought is very interesting, and involves planetary alignment, the cycle of lunar asterisms, and various other systems... a time gap between two consecutive years is imperative/cannot be ruled out.] ~ The absence of a Chakravartin was akin to a rudderless ship; also, it resulted in 'too many cooks spoil the broth'. [~ A Chakravartin, on the other hand, was way different w.r.t stature, character, calibre, vision and worldview vis-a-vis any influential/powerful big, medium or small satrap.] ... All sorts of 'manthan' commenced - for power, influence and other selfish and petty motives. The years were marked by a lack of intellectual stimulation, stagnation... and (eventual) decay. India lost her preeminence in all aspects and areas. This land was no longer the seat of innovation and learning. ~ Also, the feeling of oneness and internal unity despite the immense diversity (gradually) unraveled... fissures, schisms and fault-lines appeared/developed/came about; Arya Dharma and the social fabric woven around it too came apart; in the absence of a nucleus (a shared roadmap, vision) and a guiding and binding force/factor (a Chakravartin) - India went adrift. ~ The decline of Takshasheela marked the decline in Indian education, thought and structure. Fewer and fewer knowledge-seekers, students and travelers made the trip to India. [Now whether all of this - cumulatively - led to rote-learning or not ~ my guess is as good as yours.] ~ Earlier, the world looked to India for answers. The post-Gupta era India floundered... and (at best) looked elsewhere. Alas. ~ Bharatavarsha, "cherished land": the continent ('varsha'; Sanskrit) that is dedicated ('rata') to light, wisdom ('bha'). ["Bharat" did not mean rural India/hinterland.] ~ Also, ancient India was not confined to the contours of modern India. ... So, imagine the calibre and stature of the Chakravartin.
Genesis of the name "India": In ancient times, the entire Indus river system (along with its seven tributaries - Sutudri or Satadru or SuturI (Sutlej), VipASa (Beas), AsiknI/Chandrabhaga (Chenab), ParuSNI (Ravi), VitastA (Jhelum) and the now-extinct River SarasvatI) and the area it covered, was called "Sapta Sindhu" (the Vedic Sapta Sindhavaḥ) i.e. the land of seven rivers ("Sindhu" means river, stream or ocean in Sanskrit). The word "Sindhu" not only referred to the river system and adjoining area but also became the label to denote the culture that had developed along its valleys. [The "Indus Valley Civilization" should more accurately be called the Sarasvati-Sindhu Civilization considering the landmass where it developed).] ~ Thus, courtesy the ancient Persians... to the world beyond, the area around the Sarasvati-Sindhu rivers and its culture came to be known as the area of "Hindus" (thus the name "Hindustan" which literally means the land of "Hindus". (Stan = land or place in Persian. Similar to Sthan in Sanskrit. ~ The similarity between "Stan" and "Sthan" is again due to the ancient Avestan Persian-Sanskrit connection which go back a long way.) ~ This nomenclature stuck and became particularly prevalent after the arrival of the Mughals. The Mughals (based on the earlier Persian terminology) used the term "Hindu" to refer to the original inhabitants of the land and this label became the way to distinguish the indigenous/ancient culture from theirs. ~ When the Greeks first reached the river plains of the Punjab, they borrowed the name of the region (Hindu) from the Persians and simply modified it to "Indós". "Indós" later morphed into "Indus" in Latin - by which name the river is still known in the West. [The ancient Greeks referred to the ancient Indians as Indói, the people of the Indus.] The Romans began to call the whole landmass after this river and thus the name "India" came to stay ~ which has been the form used by Europeans over the ages. ~ Thus the word "India" is derived from the Indus River.
[On a separate note: the "Sindhu" in our national anthem could be a reference to the River Indus. This song is dedicated/addressed to that "Bharata Bhagya-Vidhata" (Creator; dispenser; supporter of India's Destiny) ... who has (in Tagore's own words) from age after age held steadfast the reins of India's chariot through rise and fall, through the straight path and the curved. That Lord of Destiny, that Reader of the Collective Mind of India, that Perennial Guide ... is none other than the eternal charioteer (chir-saarathy): "Jana-Gana-Mana-Adhinayaka" (ruler/leader/captain of the minds of all people). ~ The complete five stanza of "Jana-Gana-Mana Adhinayaka..." composed/penned by the Universal Bard: link.]
[Note on Tagore: Rabindranath Tagore (aka Robi Thakur), the Nobel laureate poet, writer, and philosopher was one of the finest ambassadors of Indian/Eastern thought to the rest of the world. (Invitations came from all directions, and so... besides India, he toured Europe, the US, Canada, South America and Asia extensively. His travels also took him to Egypt. While in Japan he wrote: "The Japanese do not waste their energy in useless screaming and quarreling, and because there is no waste of energy it is not found wanting when required. This calmness and fortitude of body and mind is part of their national self-realization.") Tagore is also the first-ever Asian to be awarded with the Nobel Prize. ~ He is called "Bishwa-Kabi", which means the poet of the world and is sometimes also called "Kabiguru", which means the guru of poets. His genius enriched whatever it touched. ~ Gurudev was a versatile genius, a multifaceted personality: a social reformer, a thought-leader, a teacher/educator, a renaissance poet, a novelist, a playwright/dramatist, an essayist, an artist, a choreographer of dance dramas, a critic, a lyricist/music composer, a prolific painter and above all, a great humanitarian and philosopher. [His vast canon also included travelogues, sketches and doodles... and over 2000 songs.] ~ In 1909 Tagore began penning Gitanjali. In 1912, he journeyed to Europe for the second time. On way to London he translated some of his poems/songs from Gitanjali into English. He met William Rothenstein, a noted British painter and critic, (known for his lithographic portraits), in London. [Tagore had been introduced to Rothenstein in Calcutta (in 1910) during a gathering at Abanindranath Tagore's (Aban Thakur's) home.] ~ "Here was poetry of a new order which seemed to me on a level with that of the great mystics. Andrew Bradley, to whom I showed them, agreed: 'It looks as though we have at last found a great poet among us again,' he wrote." ... Needless to say, Rothenstein was impressed by the poems, made copies and gave to Yeats and other English poets. He also arranged a reading in his house where Yeats read Tagore's poems in front of a distinguished audience comprising of Ezra Pound, May Sinclair, and Ernest Rhys etc. ~ Meanwhile, the India Society of London published Gitanjali ('An Offering of Songs') containing 103 translated poems of Tagore. Yeats wrote the introduction for this book and Rothenstein did a pencil sketch for the cover page. The book created a sensation in the English literary world. The serenity of Tagore's "Geetanjali" amazed European scholars. (Many of his poems are actually songs, and inseparable from their music.) ~ Tagore was touring America then... speaking at Rochester, Boston, and Harvard University. Ezra Pound's Poetry Magazine (published from Chicago) published the first English poem of Tagore. Six of his poems from Gitanjali appeared in Poetry Magazine in its December 1912 issue. Tagore returned to Calcutta... and on 13th November of 1913 Indians learned that the Nobel Prize for literature has been awarded to Tagore (for Gitanjali) "because of his profoundly sensitive, fresh and beautiful verse, by which, with consummate skill, he has made his poetic thought, expressed in his own English words, a part of the literature of the West." [In response Tagore conveyed his "... grateful appreciation of the breadth of understanding which has brought the distant near, and has made a stranger a brother."] ~ He was not often to escape the tumult and peace was to be his but at rare moments. ... Henceforth Tagore was to become a world-figure. ... Tagore's dignity and handsome presence, the ease of his manners and his quiet wisdom made a marked impression on all who met him. The young poets came to sit at Tagore's feet; Ezra Pound the most assiduously. Among others whom Tagore met were G. Bernard Shaw, H.G. Wells, Galsworthy, Andrew Bradley, Thomas Sturge Moore, and Robert Bridges. According to Rothenstein: "It was pleasant to see homage paid so readily to an Indian; nothing of the kind had happened before." ~ W.B. Yeats described him, "Tagore was the product of a whole people, a whole civilization, immeasurably strange to us, and seems to have been taken up into this imagination; and yet we are not moved because of its strangeness, but because we have met our own image, as though we had walked in or heard perhaps for the first time in literature, our voice as in a dream". Tagore also met and interacted with Robert Frost, Helen Keller and Dr Karel Hujer (Astronomer). He and Werner Heisenberg, the discoverer of the famous Uncertainty Principle of quantum physics, had long conversations about science and Indian philosophy. ~ Not only Yeats and Ezra Pound and T. S. Eliot, not only Bernard Shaw and Bertrand Russel and Albert Einstein, but scores of other writers and intellectuals, and millions of more common folk, were touched in due course by this melodious Eastern sage (personality). [Sage personality should not be construed as renunciation; it was not his way. He delighted amongst all the hustle and bustle of life.]
Tagore
credits several illuminating experiences from his childhood with shaping his life
and establishing its creative direction. When he was learning to read at about
the age of six, disconnected words suddenly came together as he encountered the
rhyming phrase "jal parey/pata narey" (the water falls/the
leaf trembles) in his spelling book. The rhythm of the words connected him for
the first time with a harmonious creative dimension. ~ "I was no longer a
mere student with his mind muffled by spelling lessons," he writes.
"The rhythmic picture of the tremulous leaves beaten by the rain opened
before my mind the world which does not merely carry information, but a harmony
with my being. The unmeaning fragments lost their individual isolation and my
mind reveled in the unity of a vision." ~ Tagore wrote poetry as an eight-year-old. At age
sixteen, he released his first substantial poems under the pseudonym Bhānusiṃha
("Sun Lion")... and the next sixty-four years were marked by a torrential flow of creativity in manifold forms.
In the second decade of the last century Tagore was already beginning to be ubiquitous. André Gide (winner of the Nobel Prize in literature in 1947) translated his works into French, Boris Pasternak (who won the Nobel Prize in 1958) and Anna Akhmatova translated them into Russian. [In 1917 several Russian translations of Gitanjali (one edited by Ivan Bunin, later the first Russian Nobel Laureate in Literature) were available, and by the late 1920s many of the English versions of his work had been rendered into Russian by several distinguished translators.] W.B. Yeats had written the preface to the first edition of Tagore's own translation of the Gitanjali in 1912, and Ezra Pound in a revised edition in 1913 compared him to Dante. Juan Ramón Jiménez, a Nobel Prize winner in 1956, seemed especially responsive to Tagore's idealism/humanism and sensitivity to nature's nuances, and who, in collaboration with his wife, Spanish-born writer and poet Zenobia Camprubi, produced Spanish versions of 22 of Tagore's titles. Pablo Neruda also translated some of his works. ~ Latin American literature was influenced by these developments. A number of litterateurs including the Nobel Prize winners - Mexican poet Octavio Paz and Chilean poet Gabriela Mistral came under the spell of Tagorean magic. But few in this continent were as deeply moved (by the great Indian) as the legendary Chilean poet Pablo Neruda.
In the second decade of the last century Tagore was already beginning to be ubiquitous. André Gide (winner of the Nobel Prize in literature in 1947) translated his works into French, Boris Pasternak (who won the Nobel Prize in 1958) and Anna Akhmatova translated them into Russian. [In 1917 several Russian translations of Gitanjali (one edited by Ivan Bunin, later the first Russian Nobel Laureate in Literature) were available, and by the late 1920s many of the English versions of his work had been rendered into Russian by several distinguished translators.] W.B. Yeats had written the preface to the first edition of Tagore's own translation of the Gitanjali in 1912, and Ezra Pound in a revised edition in 1913 compared him to Dante. Juan Ramón Jiménez, a Nobel Prize winner in 1956, seemed especially responsive to Tagore's idealism/humanism and sensitivity to nature's nuances, and who, in collaboration with his wife, Spanish-born writer and poet Zenobia Camprubi, produced Spanish versions of 22 of Tagore's titles. Pablo Neruda also translated some of his works. ~ Latin American literature was influenced by these developments. A number of litterateurs including the Nobel Prize winners - Mexican poet Octavio Paz and Chilean poet Gabriela Mistral came under the spell of Tagorean magic. But few in this continent were as deeply moved (by the great Indian) as the legendary Chilean poet Pablo Neruda.
This difference in their philosophy, thinking and outlook probably stemmed from the fact that for Tagore science did not signify a mechanistic analysis of facts, but rather a broader interpretation, a wider perception of the universe. Tagore (and even Acharya Jagadish Chandra Bose) conceived Nature not merely as a physical phenomenon, but a living spirit, which could help man/humanity to realize the essential Truth of Life. ~ Tagore showed a keen interest in scientific knowledge and discoveries. ... To both Tagore and Bose, there never existed any rigid distinction between science and poetry or more broadly between science and literature. Critiquing the typical Western attitude of making excessive specialization in the field of learning, they sought to locate an underlying unity in all branches of knowledge, to find a 'comprehensiveness of truth', which is the core of Eastern philosophy.
The Tagorean magic touches our core - the heart as well as the mind. It touches our very soul. There is forever the primordial in him. It is life he celebrates; that the universe is a pattern of ever-widening ripples and experience is the insistent falling of the rain on monsoon nights. In his songs there emerges all the brilliance of the universe as it goes through a dawning somewhere deep within time and space. ... And so you hear the gentle tones of tumi daak diyechho kon shhakaley / keu ta jaane na: link. ~ Here is rup tomar bani: link; Mor Bina Othe: link; : link (it expresses a sense of deep "wonder" in the universe); ; Aloker ei jharna dharaye dhuiye dao: link; Mor bhabonare ki haowaye matalo: link1/ link2; Anando-loke Mangal-aloke: link. ~ Tagore's portrayal and celebration of a higher power embedded in the fabric of the universe and responsible for its continuing existence and operation is very fascinating, indeed. According to him: 'aamare tumi ashesh korechho, amon-i leela tabo...' (tr. Thou hast made me endless, such is thy pleasure/leela. ~ Though 'pleasure' is not an equivalent translation of the word 'leela' - essentially the interplay between finite and Infinite; between created and Uncreated; between evanescent and Eternal). Robi Thakur was a "Sadhaka"; his songs were his "Sadhana" ~ not in the sense of limiting him, but lifting him up to meet the Super-personal Man/the universal human spirit. He also said: 'gaaner bheetor diye jakhon dekhi bhuban-khani takhon taare chini...' [~ He acknowledged (as only he could) that he begins to comprehend the Cosmic Person/Super-personal Man/the universal human spirit (which he believed lay behind everything in the universe/cosmos - visible and invisible); that he begins to understand His serenity, divinity, creativity, vision, insight, guidance, tranquility, compassion, greatness, magnanimity, boundlessness... and so on - through his songs. ~ He is convinced that there is an organic relationship between finite and Infinite.] ~ As you recite his poetry or sing his songs, you remain aware of certain inalienable truths. And they are pretty simple ones as well. The universal bard speaks to you through the turnings in the seasons. In your turn, you speak to him; absorb his sentiments as it were. The result is a harmonious whole. ... And harmony, balance and integrity are what Gurudev has consistently focused on. ~ Think of Jagorane Jaay Bibhabori (link) or sheemar majhe ashim tumi / bajao apon shur (Within the finites, you the Infinite play your own tune - link). ~ It is a song that takes you closer to Creation, indeed imbues you with thoughts of the ties that bind you to your Creator. [~ Do also read the Tagore-Einstein conversation/discussion to understand this wonderful Tagore-song (Rabindra-sangeet).] ~ In Tagore, it is the gentle and the tranquil that flows through the leaves of the trees. The poetry is the breeze. | Tagore was a passionate Indian, but his nationalism transcends into universalism; his philosophy of humanism is enriched with the tranquil touch of internationalism ~ where one may find a unique blending of the best of the East and that of the West. He was an Indian by birth but a world citizen by his perception. India in Tagore's vision is the pilgrimage (pilgrim centre) of world humanity as she is the great synthesizer and unifier in the midst of manifold differences through centuries. ... His poetry with its message of harmony, universalism and humanism is an eternal light-house to mankind.
Tagore was forward-looking. He believed in the synergism between spirituality and reason; he was spiritual as well as a genuine science enthusiast; he was not a mystic (despite his appearance - white flowing beard and attire). He also had a voracious mind - he possessed an extraordinary depth of knowledge and could hold his own on a variety of topics. [It's a common misconception that science and arts are two mutually exclusive spheres and one cannot excel in both. Tagore proved it wrong, as did Einstein with his interest in music and literature.] ~ A widely-traveled man... Tagore was a curious and keen observer of socio-political life in the numerous countries he visited. He was a citizen of the world. ~ He believed in an intellectual union of world cultures; his vision was to take on a more holistic attitude towards understanding the dynamic spirit of his time (and beyond). He was critical of the excesses and exploitation of colonial rule; however, he also distrusted "narrow domestic walls" and hollow arguments ("the dreary desert sand of dead habit")... and recognized the importance of what India could learn - from other nations/cultures. ~ Tagore emphasized on education - knowledge and intellectual curiosity (as opposed to rote-learning). "These solidly complete Universities over which our country is brooding, are like hard boiled eggs from which you cannot expect chickens to come out." ~ His luminous/timeless oeuvre (which is notoriously difficult to translate... without letting go of much of its enigma/subtlety/nuance and flavour) cannot be pigeonholed. His thoughts/philosophy/viewpoint appears to be disarmingly simple... although it is simultaneously simple and infinitely complex to understand. The more one reads, re-reads and re-re-reads, the more one discovers, re-discovers and re-re-discovers. ~ But then, discovering and even rediscovering legends and towering figures hardly comes with an expiry date (it is part of "ever-widening thought...").]
A masculine river is called "Nad", a feminine one "Nadi". However, of all the Vedic rivers, the Sindhu is both masculine and feminine. Incidentally, the Sarasvati is (also) called "she with seven sisters" (saptasvasā), indicating a group of eight rivers, probably the (missing river is) KubhA. ~ Rivers, such as the Sapta Sindhu ("seven rivers"), play a prominent part in the hymns of the Rig Veda. Perhaps it was around these rivers that the Rigveda (and maybe, much of the other Vedas/Book of Knowledge or Book of Enlightenment was written. Veda comes from the root 'Vid' which means, "to know").] The Saptarishi (from saptarṣI) or the seven-enlightened/learned beings are regarded in the Vedas as the progenitors of the Vedic way of life. [The Sapta Rishi are the Hierarchy working under the guidance of the Highest Creative Intelligence, God/the Almighty/Lord Narayan; they are (also) the Great Well Wisher of the Universe, connecting humans and Gods (Higher Beings; devas, demi-gods, etc.)] ~ The Big Dipper asterism is also called Saptarshi. Astronomically, the Saptarishis' abode is recognized in the form of the Big Dipper or Ursa Major constellation and it always revolves around the Dhruv-Loka or Pole Star. ... The summit of Mt Meru (in Shambhala) is believed to align to the wheeling constellation of Ursa Major (the Sapta Rishi Mandala or the Constellation of the Great Bear/sapta-riksha), the Seven Stars that circle the Pole (Dhruva Loka?)
Pic: The first Indus Valley seal found at Harappa in 1872. | Notes on the Sindhu-Sarasvati Civilization: First discovered in 1920-1921 at Harappa by Rai
Bahadur Daya Ram Sahni, the Indus Valley Civilization came to be known as
Harappa Civilization. The city was well-planned (with a
well organized civic, economic and cultural system) and divided into two parts:
citadel (raised portion) and lower part. ~ To even think that over five
thousand years ago a highly civilized community flourished in the region! [... Though fresh sites are still being unearthed, adding insight
into the rich culture of the Harappan civilization. ~ Some
of the most striking aspects of the discoveries are the town-planning and
architecture, art and crafts and the social, cultural and economic condition
of that era. Much has been known about the town-planning and architecture
of the Harappan civilization. The cities boasted of well-planned roads -
wide and straight, houses provided with an efficient drainage system and
ventilation.] ~ Like other great discoveries, the
discovery of the Indus Valley civilization was grounded and shaped by the personal and professional experiences and interests of the various
characters - ranging from the brilliant Rakhaldas Banerji to the tragic Luigi Pio Tessitori as also the
institutional circumstances of those times. ~ In about 1920
there was enough interest in the site of Mohenjo-daro for the archaeologist
Rakhal Das Banerji to excavate there. In the first season Banerji's team found
the remains of a large city built mainly from baked brick. However, they did
not know when it might have been built or who might have built it. Banerji's
team found objects such as weights, beads and finely painted pottery. Perhaps
the most important finds were small square seals like the ones found at Harappa
in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. ~ Excavations continued
throughout the 1920s and 1930s with several teams of excavators. During this
period, the site was divided into different areas. Each area was given a
'title' based on the name of the archaeologist working there. In doing so, they
began uncovering a civilization so vast in its extent that at its peak it is
estimated to have encompassed a staggering 1.5 million sq km - an area larger
than Western Europe. In size, it dwarfed contemporary civilizations in the Nile
Valley in Egypt and in the Tigris and Euphrates valleys in Sumer (modern Iraq).
Its geographical boundaries are now believed to extend up to the Iranian border
on the west, Turkmenistan and Kashmir in the north, Delhi in the east and the
Godavari Valley in the south. [Even extending to Rupnagar,
in India, at the foot of the Shimla Hills 1,000 miles (1,600 km) to the
northeast.] ~ Two things are clear: That Indus Valley was a
misnomer and that in size it was the largest prehistoric urban civilization -
even bigger than Pharaonic Egypt. That it was governed much like a democracy
(collectivism) and the Indus people were the world's top exporters. [Between around 3500 BC
and 2000 BC, people in the Indus Valley built more than 100 towns. The largest
were Mohenjo-Daro (situated on the right bank of the River Indus, excavated in
the year 1922 by Rakhaldas Banerjee) and Harappa (situated on the left bank of
the river Ravi/ParuSNI), with populations of 40,000-50,000. These towns had large granaries,
brick houses, public baths, elaborate drainage system, and streets laid out in neat grid patterns. Farmers grew wheat,
barley, cotton, and rice on land fertilized by yearly Indus River floods. They
also raised animals. In towns, people made cloth, pottery, metalwork, and
jewelry. On the coast, they went abroad to trade.] ~ A recent count showed that
as many as 1,400 Indus sites have been found, of which 917 are in India, 481 in
Pakistan and one in Afghanistan. While Mohenjodaro and Harappa were rightly
regarded as principal cities, there were at least several others such as
Rakhigarhi in Haryana and Ganweriwala (on the dry river bed of the
Ghaggar-Hakra) in Pakistan's Punjab province that match them both in size and
importance. Other important sites are: Dholavira (in Gujarat), Banawali (in
Haryana), Kalibangan (in Rajasthan - excavated in the year 1953 by A. Ghosh),
Lothal (in Gujarat - excavated in the year 1957 by S.R. Rao and M. S. Vats) and
Mehrgarh (in Baluchistan: 7000 BC - c. 2500 BC i.e. 9000 AD; believed to be one
of the world's oldest cities... it represents the long-lasting early spring [and
not quite the high summer] of the Indus Civilization). [There's also Chanhudaro
- one of the bigger sites and a city with no citadel (raised portion) - first excavated by Nani
Gopal Majumdar in March, 1930 and again during winter field session of 1935-36
by the American School of Indic and Iranian Studies and the Museum of Fine
Arts, Boston team led by Ernest John Henry Mackay.]
[Pic: Necklace Harappan Civilization, Indus Valley
III-II millennium BC. ~ This agate necklace consists of beads of different
shapes and sizes from archaeological sites of Harappa in the Indus Valley
civilization. The Harappan civilization produced the finest agate and carnelian
beads.] | Indus jewelry, ornaments, etc: The
jewelry in gold and silver - bangles, necklaces and other ornaments are well-crafted. They are well-finished and highly polished. Tools of stone,
copper and bronze have been found. The discovery of a large number of spindles
of various sizes indicates that threads both of cotton and woolen must have
been spun in those days. Spindle whorls made of pottery, shell and faience
have been found. Both men and women wore ornaments. While necklaces,
fillets, armlets and finger-rings were common to both, women also wore girdles,
earrings and anklets. Ornaments were made of gold, silver, copper, ivory,
precious and semi-precious stones, bones and shells etc. From archaeological
findings it appears that the Harappans were conscious of fashion. Different hairstyles and beards were in vogue. Cinnabar was used as a
cosmetic and as face-paint; lipstick and collyrium (eye-liner) were also known
to them. The main diet consisted of wheat, barley and milk products. Fruits,
vegetables, fish and meat were also consumed. Music and dance appear to be
the main sources of entertainment. Agriculture was their main occupation. [Were they also agripreneurs? Did they convert waste to
energy? ~ My guess is as good as yours.] Rainfall
was heavy. There is evidence of the cultivation of wheat, barley, peas,
mustard, cotton and rice. Domesticated animals were kept in the
house. Horse bones have also been discovered at Surkotda, indicating use
of the animal. (Besides, the various unicorn seals, described in the earlier portions, too indicate a familiarity with the horse. ~ The unicorn may have numerous symbolism attached to it, however, without knowing about the horse... the ancient Indus people could not have simply imagined it.)
Pic: Necklace from Mohenjo-daro made from gold, agate,
jasper, steatite and green stone (lizardite or grossular garnet). ~ The gold
beads are hollow and the pendant agate and jasper beads are attached with thick
gold wire. Steatite beads with gold caps serve to separate each of the pendant
beads. [This necklace fragment is only half of the original ornament which was divided between India and Pakistan in 1947.]
Pic: This collection of gold and agate ornaments
includes objects found at both Mohenjo-daro and Harappa. ~ At the top are fillets
of hammered gold that would have been worn around the forehead. The other ornaments include bangles, chokers,
long pendant necklaces, rings, earrings, conical hair ornaments, and broaches.
Such ornaments were never buried with the dead, but were passed on from one
generation to the next.
Glazed tiles: The technique of glazing blue-green tiles using recipes that are very similar to those used by the Indus craftsmen is still practiced in many centers throughout the Indus valley. The term faience comes from a kind of brightly-colored glazed earthenware. Called the "first high-tech ceramic", faience is a siliceous vitrified and glost ceramic, made of a body of fine ground quartz or sand, coated with an alkaline-lime-silica glaze. It was used in jewelry throughout Egypt and the Near East beginning about 3500 BC. Forms of faience are found throughout the Bronze Age Mediterranean, and faience objects have been recovered from archaeological sites of the Indus, Mesopotamian, Minoan, and Egyptian civilizations. Faience was an important trade item during the Bronze Age; the artisans of Indus Valley, Egypt, and Mesopotamia were developing glazes and faience using several different techniques by 2600 B.C.
Faience ornaments: A collection of
faience ornaments from Harappa has been discovered. The Harappans developed a very
compact glassy faience that was produced in a variety of colors, ranging from
white, to blue green, deep blue and even red-brown. On the left is a disc
shaped ornament of blue green faience. Parallel ribbing of light blue green
alternates with white paste in the bottom of each groove. This unique ornament
may have been sewn onto cloth or inlaid onto a metal ornament. At the top
center is a bead made of red-brown and white faience. This bead is possibly an
imitation of the bleached carnelian eye beads. The fragments on the lower right
are banded with dark blue and come from small jars, possibly used to hold
perfume or medicines.
Glazed tiles: The technique of glazing blue-green tiles using recipes that are very similar to those used by the Indus craftsmen is still practiced in many centers throughout the Indus valley. The term faience comes from a kind of brightly-colored glazed earthenware. Called the "first high-tech ceramic", faience is a siliceous vitrified and glost ceramic, made of a body of fine ground quartz or sand, coated with an alkaline-lime-silica glaze. It was used in jewelry throughout Egypt and the Near East beginning about 3500 BC. Forms of faience are found throughout the Bronze Age Mediterranean, and faience objects have been recovered from archaeological sites of the Indus, Mesopotamian, Minoan, and Egyptian civilizations. Faience was an important trade item during the Bronze Age; the artisans of Indus Valley, Egypt, and Mesopotamia were developing glazes and faience using several different techniques by 2600 B.C.
[Pic: Ancient Indus jewellery. ~ Fired steatite was an important material used in
many different types of Indus jewelry. Steatite beads are found in all four
necklaces in the center of this collection of jewelry from Harappa and
Mohenjo-daro.] ~ Jewelry making in the Indus Valley dates back to the
Neolithic-age Mehrgarh culture (7000-5500 BC), and Late Harappan age, which
predates the iron-age development of metal-casting and metal working. The Indus
Valley region, which encompasses (ancient) Persia and the Indian sub-continent, was home to the Indus-Sarasvati civilization (Aryan/Harappan/Vedic
peoples of Aryavarta or Brahmavarta; essentially 'people of the Indus') that were the largest (both by population and geography) of the major
ancient civilizations from Egypt, Mesopotamia and China. The Sarasvati
was a river praised in the Rig-Veda (a collection of Vedic Sanskrit
hymns), running the length of the Indus Valley, from the Punjab to the Arabian
Sea. ~ Early Indus Valley jewelry consisted of strands of simple beads that
were carved from soft stone, or fashioned from shells. The Harappans were
expert craftsmen, making beads from agate, amethyst, carnelian, lapis lazuli
(a precious stone prized since antiquity for its
intense blue color) and turquoise. Some stones were heated to produce a reddish color that was
prized by the early Indus civilization. During the Late Harappan period
craftsmen began to work with bronze, copper, silver, and gold, fashioning simple
necklaces, head-bands, bangles and other ornamentation from cast metalwork,
glazed faience (a non-clay ceramic), terracotta, shells, and carved ivory.
Copper was mined locally (by the Harappans) in Baluchistan and Rajasthan. [Minerals,
unavailable from the alluvial plain, were sometimes brought in from other parts.
Gold was imported from southern India or Afghanistan, silver and copper from
Afghanistan or northwestern India (Rajasthan), lapis lazuli from Afghanistan,
turquoise from Iran (Persia), and a jade-like fuchsite from southern India.] Examples
of this early jewelry can be seen on the cast-bronze statuette of the 'Indus dancing
girl' believed to be dated around 2,500 BCE. ~ The Harappans were also
accomplished sailors and navigators, helping them to expand the boundaries of
trade to Bahrain and Sumer. For navigation, the Harappans carved compasses from
conch-shell, which they used to measure the angle between stars. ~ Jewelry was
also made in the form of anthropomorphic symbols such as animals and trees, maybe
due to their nature worship rituals and spiritual beliefs in the Mother Goddess.
Jewelry was not buried with the deceased, but passed on to their heirs. [~ Discovery of a large cache of gold and other
ornaments reportedly belonging to the Harappan period (2600-1900 BC) by the
villagers of Mandi in the Muzaffarnagar District of UP (in the year 2000) has challenged previous notions about the geographic
reach of the Indus Valley civilization. Scholars from the ASI and the state's
Department of Archaeology (DoA) visited the site and declared the
jewelry to be Harappan. Gold and silver bangles, gold beads, and agate and onyx
beads all resemble jewelry found in Indus Valley sites such as Harappa and
Mohenjo-daro and at Lothal, Rakhigarhi, and Dholavira in India. Two copper containers, one circular in
shape and the other rectangular, were also recovered; the rectangular container
measures 16.5 inches long and was perhaps used for holding gold fillets. It is the first time that such a large cache of gold jewelry has been
recovered in UP. Visiting scholars found late Harappan pottery at the site. Excavations conducted in the vicinity at Hulas
in Saharanpur district, Alamgirpur and Bargaon in Meerut district have all
yielded similar Indus Valley material; this shows that the civilization stretched
far and wide.]
An index to an advanced stage of trade, and its essential
element, the recovery of this balance and weights from Mohenjo-Daro suggests
that Harappan settlers not only pursued systematic trade activities but also
had in prevalence weights and measures ensuring accuracy, consistency,
transparency and fairness of trade-system and commercial behaviour. Far ahead
of the primitive measuring vessels of bartering goods... Harappan settlers
maintained consistent standards of weights and regularized weights' based pricing
system. Though re-fabricated, this balance is estimated to be about four-and-a-half-millennium old. These finds attest with great certainty the advanced
stage of trade amongst Harappan settlers.
[Pic: Cubical weights in graduated sizes. ~ These weights
conform to the standard Harappan binary weight system that was used in all of
the settlements. The smallest weight in this series is 0.856 grams and the most
common weight is approximately 13.7 grams, which is in the 16th ratio. In the
large weights the system become a decimal increase where the largest weight is
100 times the weight of the 16th ratio in the binary system. These weights were
found in relatively recent excavations at Harappa and may have been used for controlling
trade.] ~ The recovered weights range from the
heavier ones with lifting rings attached to those of micro-miniaturized sizes
used probably by jewelers for weighing precious metals, jewellery items and
perhaps some rare and scarce spices. Harappan settlers seem to have had a decimal
system in use for defining higher weights as also for measuring lengths. It
seems some central authority controlled and ensured adherence to strict
standards and fairness in trade and commercial activities. A large number of
small rectangular blocks - both cubical and cylindrical made of tawny chert and
marked with light grey bands, have been excavated from Harappa and
Mohenjo-daro. Archaeologists have identified these blocks as weights.
Interestingly, all these finds are well-finished and have polished faces.
Occasionally they also have beveled edges, though none of them bear an
inscription or mark indicating a weight and value. Along such weights
Mohenjo-daro excavations have also revealed a copper balance.
~ There appears to be a completely organic process of growth that threw up the Harappan culture, as we know it. [On pottery on many of the smaller sites graffiti similar to some figures on the script begin to appear. And at Dholavira (in Gujarat) and at Banawali in Haryana, the distinction between the citadel and the lower city is beginning to evolve. There is, however, a huge jump in scale in such activity in those critical 100 years.] Dholavira, for instance, shows the existence of small farming and pastoral villages on the same site before it was transformed into a bustling metropolis. The beginnings of village farming communities and pastoral camps were reported as early as 7000 to 5000 BC. But developed farming communities, which grew wheat and barley, emerged around 4300 BC. In a site called Mehrgarh near the Bolan river in Balochistan province, there are signs of agricultural surplus with the establishment of community storage silos. In Kunal in Haryana, archaeologists found what are known as proto Indus seals. In Harappa as in most Indus sites, the distinct gridiron pattern for streets appear, a scientific system of drainage that linked up to even the smallest house in the lower city is established, precise weights and measures (including decimal system) begin to circulate, and the writing system evolves. As well as the bullock-cart technology that the Indus people had perfected. Archaeologists say the Indus people couldn't have copied their town-planning from Egypt and Mesopotamia because in those civilizations the roads meandered like village streets. Nor was the writing similar to Sumer's cuneiform or the Egyptian hieroglyphics. The Harappans had their own distinctive style. Lal explains the dramatic change as a result of centuries of growth reaching a critical mass that caused an unparalleled urban explosion. Trade, he believes, was the driving force of the revolution/metamorphosis. ~ It all was indeed an expression of the ancient Indian genius.
Pic: Mehrgarh Bichrome Oil Lamp, Indus Valley, c. 3rd millennium BC. ~ Of four-pinch square form, the pot painted with geometric designs on the outer rim. Some lime and soot deposits attesting authenticity.
Pic: The dock, with a canal opening to allow water to
flow into the river, thereby maintaining a stable water level. | More on Lothal: the cradle of the subcontinent's oldest
civilization; the cradle of Aryan civilization in the sub-continent. ~ Lothal,
literally "Mound of the Dead" (in Gujarati), is the most extensively excavated site of
Harappan culture in India, and therefore allows the most insight into the story
of the Indus Valley Civilization, its exuberant flight, and its eventual
decline and subsequent diversification. ~ Once a sleepy pottery village, Lothal
rumbled awake to become a flourishing centre of trade and industry, famous for
its expertly constructed system of underground sanitary drainage, and an
astonishing precision of standardized weights and measures. Lothal passed
through all the phases of society; from earliest development to most
mature. At the height of its prosperity, it not only survived but also was
strengthened by three floods, using the disaster as an opportunity to improve
on the infrastructure. The fourth flood finally brought the settlement to the
desperate and impoverished conditions that indicated the end of a once-glorious
civilization. ~ Lothal began as a small village on the Sabarmati river,
inhabited by people using "red ware" micaceous pottery (similar to
today's terracotta), during the Chalcolithic era. Sea-faring merchants, and
later the potters, masons, smiths, and seal-cutters of the Indus Valley
Civilization, established a colony at Lothal circa 2450 BC, bringing with them
their tools, technology, crafts, and expanded sea-borne trade. Lothal soon
became an industrial center, one of the southernmost outposts of the Indus
Valley Civilization, and (also) its most important port. ~ Around 2350 BC,
after all the houses were destroyed by severe floods, the people of Lothal
rallied together, or perhaps were led by someone, to not only rebuild the town,
but also to improve on it. They strengthened the walls of the fort, raised the
level of the town, built an artificial dock, possibly the first in the world,
and an extensive warehouse. A hundred and fifty years later, after the next
floods, they again came together to reconstruct the town into a larger city.
After the third severe flood circa 2000 BC, many inhabitants left the city to
move to higher and safer regions. When the city was again completely
submerged around 1900 BC, what is known as the Mature Harappan period gave way
to the Late Harappan Period. Farmers, artisans, and fishermen gradually
returned in the hope of rebuilding their lives, but the urban center could
never be regenerated. Result? ... The populace lived in poorly constructed reed huts,
with no drainage, and perhaps even a return to illiteracy. Yet, somehow, the
civilization continued here till the 16th century BC, long after it had
disappeared from the northern provinces. Gradually the town was abandoned and
silted up over the next few centuries. ~ Dr. S. R. Rao's excavation of the site
from 1955-62 provided the most exhaustive study of Harappan culture in India
from artifacts and structural remains such as: #1. Earthenware: strong large
ceramic jars, human and animal figurines, as well as toys and games-figures.
#2. Copper and stone tools: in beautiful designs of human and animal
figurines, often of bulls. #3: Seals: Lothal holds the third largest
collection of seals and sealing, engraved on steatite, with animal and human
figurines and letters from Indus script, but these remain undeciphered, so they
do not provide as much insight into the material culture as the other findings.
They do however show aspects of the spiritual culture; there are signs of fire worship, and of worship of the sea goddess, but not of the mother goddess. [So, maybe,
stories of Shambhu Nath as well as the Shiva-Parvati story (gradually) came in
with people/migrants from the Harappa-Mohenjo-daro/Meluhhan areas.] #4. Beads: Lothal
had a highly developed bead-making industry that has not been surpassed even by
the modern Cambay craftspeople working 4000 years later. Lothal was famous for
its micro-beads that were made by rolling ground steatite paste on string,
baking it solid, and then cutting it with a tiny saw into the desired lengths.
The expertise is evident in the micro-beads of gold under 0.25 mm in diameter
that cannot be found anywhere else. #5. Weights and measures:
despite the vast area over which the Harappan culture spread, it developed
an extraordinarily precise system of weights and measures, standardized across
the civilization, represented in the local materials at Lothal. #6. A
network of underground drainage: there were also 12 private paved baths on
the upper town. These show a remarkably
forward thinking concern for hygiene and sanitation. #7. Dock and warehouse: The dockyard allowed
ships to sluice from the sea, and expertly constructed lock gates allowed them
to float while loading or unloading their cargo. Apparently the dockyard could,
at that time, hold 30 ships of 60 tonnes, or 60 ships of 30 tonnes, a capacity
comparable to that of the modern docks of Vishakapatnam. The dock allowed sea
trade with West Asia, in particular, to expand greatly.
[Pic: Seal, Kalibangan.] | Notes on Kalibangan: It
is almost as large as Harappa and Mohenjodaro, and designed on the same plan. Discovered by A. Ghosh
(director-general of the Archaeological Survey of India), this site, is of
archaeological significance because it contains both pre-Harappan and Harappan
remains; and therein can be seen the transition between the two cultures.
Excavations reveal that Rajasthan had been an important centre of the ceramic
industry. The paintings on the ancient pottery bear close affinity and
resemblance with the Harappan designs. The remains include a cemetery and a
fortified citadel. Small, mud
plastered ovens closely resembling present-day tandoors have been also been
excavated at Kalibangan, an Indus Valley site. Kalibangan is also
identified as being established in the triangle of land at the confluence of
Drishadvathi and Sarasvati Rivers. Luigi Tessitori at this site first
identified the prehistoric and pre-Mauryan character of Indus Valley
Civilization. The Archaeological Survey of India published Kalibangan's
excavation report in its entirety in 2003, 34 years after the completion
of excavations. The report concluded that Kalibangan was a major provincial
capital of the Indus Valley Civilization. Its unique fire altars and "world's
earliest attested ploughed field" distinguish Kalibangan. [~ The excavation
unexpectedly brought to light a two-fold sequence of cultures, of which the
upper one (Kalibangan I) belongs to the Harappan, showing the characteristic
grid layout of a metropolis and the lower one (Kalibangan II) was formerly
called pre-Harappan but now it is called "Early Harappan or antecedent
Harappan". Other nearby sites belonging to Indus Valley Civilization include Balu (Haryana),
Kunal (Haryana), Banawali etc.] B.B. Lal, former DG of ASI, said: "Kalibangan
in Rajasthan has given the evidence of the earliest (c. 2800 BC) ploughed
agricultural field ever revealed through an excavation." It has been found
south east of the pre-Harappan settlement, outside the fort. "Kalibangan
excavations in present western Rajasthan show a ploughed field, the first site
of this nature in the world. It shows a grid pattern of furrows, placed about
30 cm apart running east-west and other spaced about 190 cm apart
running north-south, a pattern remarkably similar to the one practiced even
now." Even today, similar ploughing is used for two simultaneous crops in
this region, esp. of mustard and gram. For preservation, this excavated
ploughed field area was refilled after excavation and concrete pillar posts
marked the area.
[Pic: Kalibangan Seal; Commemorative Stamp. Issue date: 14/12/1961; denomination: 0.90.] | ~ Kalibangan lies along the left bank of the dried-up
bed of river Ghaggar (Ghaggar-Hakra River). It comprises of three mounds,
the larger one in the middle, the smaller in the west and the smallest in
the east. The excavations brought to light grid layout of a Harappan
metropolis, perhaps truly 'the first city' of the Indian culture
heritage. The significant part of the evidence, however, relates to
the discovery of an early-Harappan settlement, immediately underlying the
occupational remains of the Harappan citadel. The pre-Harappan settlement was a
fortified parallelogram, the fortification wall being made of
mud-bricks. The houses within the walled area were also made of
mud-bricks. The distinctive trait of this period was the pottery, which was
significantly different from that of the succeeding Harappans. An outstanding
discovery was a ploughed field, showing a cross-grid of furrows, the
southeast of the settlement outside the town-wall. This is perhaps the
earliest ploughed field excavated so far. During the Harappan period, the
structural pattern of the settlement was changed. There were now
two distinct parts: the citadel on the west and the lower
city on the east. The former was situated atop the remains of the
preceding occupations to gain an eminence over the lower city, which was laid
out on the natural plain towards the east. The citadel complex was a
fortified parallelogram, consisting of two equal but separately patterned
parts. The fortification was built throughout of mud-bricks. The
southern half of the citadel contained some five to six massive platforms, some
of which may have been used for ritual purposes. The northern half of the
citadel contained residential buildings of the elite. The lower city was
also fortified. Within the walled city, was a gridiron plan of streets
running north-south and east-west, dividing the area into blocks. The
houses were built of mud-bricks, baked bricks being confined to drains, wells,
sills, etc. Beside the above two principal parts of the metropolis, there was
also a third one, situated 80 m east of the lower city. It consisted of a
modest structure, containing five (Vedic) 'fire-altars' similar to
those found at Lothal (indicating worship of 'Agni') and as such could have
been used for ritualistic purposes. Of the finds obtained from this
excavation, a cylindrical seal and an incised terracotta cake are quite
significant. The cemetery of the Harappans was located to the
west-southwest of the citadel. Three types of burials were attested:
extended inhumation in rectangular or oval grave-pits; pot-burials in a
circular pit; and rectangular or oval grave-pits containing only pottery and
other funerary objects. The later two methods were unassociated with
skeletal remains.
B. B. Lal, former DG of ASI, says: "Kalibangan in
Rajasthan ... has also shown that there occurred an earthquake around
2600 BC, which brought to an end the Early Indus settlement at the
site." This is perhaps the earliest archaeologically recorded earthquake.
At least three pre-historic earthquakes affecting the Indus Valley Civilization
at Dholavira in Khadir have been identified during 2900-1800 BC. Robert
Raikes, an Italian hydrologist, has argued that Kalibangan was abandoned
because the river dried up. Prof. Lal supports this view by asserting:
"Radiocarbon dates indicate that the Mature Harappan settlement at
Kalibangan had to be abandoned around 2000-1900 BCE. And, as the
hydrological evidence indicates, this abandonment took place on account of the
drying up of the Sarasvati. This latter part is duly established by the work of
Raikes, an Italian hydrologist, and of his Indian collaborators."
Banawali: earlier called Vanavali, it is on the left
banks of dried-up Sarasvati River; Banawali was built over upper middle valley
of Sarasvati River. Artifacts recovered: S-shaped jars, cooking
vessels, ovens, tandoors, painted earthen pots etc. Painted motifs include,
peacocks, pipal leaves, tree, deer, star, fish flowers, intersecting circles,
checker board patterns, honey comb patterns. Harappan seals carrying pictures
of Rhinoceros, wild goat, ibex, unicorn, and composite animal with tiger body.
Gold, copper, bronze pieces: gold beads, copper, lapis lazuli, bangles of
shells etc. The pottery found, is comparable with Harappan pottery in fineness
and pottery assemblage is very similar to assemblage of Kalibangan.
~ The Harappans were expert craftsmen. They excelled at stone-carving, complex weaving and carpet-making, inlaid woodwork and decorative architecture. They engraved with remarkable artistry their famous seals, mostly in steatite (or soapstone); those seals, over 3,000 of which have been found, seem to have served various purposes: some commercial, to identify consignments to be shipped, some for administrative purposes, some for internal trade, and some ritual or spiritual (maybe to invoke deities); some for commemorative purposes, maybe. Statues are not abundant, but refined, whether in stone, bronze or terracotta. They carved ivory and worked shells into ornaments, bowls and ladles; they cast copper (which they mined themselves in Baluchistan and Rajasthan) and bronze for all types of tools, domestic objects and statues (such as the famous Indus "dancing girl"); they also worked silver and gold with great skill, specially for ornaments. They made beads of carnelian, agate, amethyst, turquoise, lapis lazuli, etc.; they manufactured bangles out of shells, glazed faience and terracotta. ... And, of course, they baked pottery in large quantity - to the delight of archaeologists and history buffs alike, since the different shapes, styles, and painted motifs are among the best guides in the evolution of any civilization. ~ Especially since most objects made of cloth, wood, reed, palm leaves etc., usually vanish without a trace, especially in hot climates.
~ "Hariyuppa" or "Hariyupiyah" mentioned in the Rg Veda, is taken to mean Harappa. [~ And as we know, Hari indicates Lord Vishnu/Narayan.] ~ Also, is Mohenjo-daro (meaning: "Mound of the Dead") and/or the whole of Indus Valley Civilization the original Meluha (very likely meaning: the 'Radiant City') - courtesy the ancient Sumerians? ~ My guess is as good as yours. [In Sumerian language, 'alu' means city. 'Melu' means 'bright'. 'Melam' means 'radiance' or 'Nimbus'. Therefore, 'Meluha' would mean: the 'Radiant city'.] ~ Did "Persia" evolve from "Parshva" (meaning: 'next door', 'neighbouring' or 'nearby')? Did the ancient Indus people call the people of the first/neighbouring port by the Sanskrit word "Parshva"? Did the ancient Persians in turn (also) refer to the ancient Indus people and/or those living east of what is now Mohenjo-daro as "Prachya" or "Poorvi" (meaning: 'Eastern' or 'of/from the East' or Eastern Country)? ~ My guess is as good as yours. ~ But then, that would have been so fitting. ... "Poorvi" would mean the dawn of civilization. It would have also meant: from the East where the sun rises! | ... On a separate note, what constituted Praesii? Were Praesii and Pataliputra one and the same? But then, Praesii is said to have been very prosperous... the capital being Palibothra, a very large and wealthy city, after which the people themselves were known as Palibothri. Apparently, Palibothra was located (from the north-west) before the Ganges-Yamuna confluence. ... But Pataliputra or modern Patna lies southeast of the confluence. So was Praesii (of the Greeks) Prachya, which in Sanskrit means Eastern country? ~ Megasthenes' Palibothra may not have been located in Eastern India. So, what areas did he refer to by the city of Palibothra, the country of Praesii and the river Erannoboas? [~ Did he indicate the Sindhu Pulindakas by any chance?] ... Megasthenes was reasonably familiar with the places he visited in (ancient) India. Apparently, "The Indus skirts the frontiers of Praesii". ~ But then, which River Indus is being referred to? Was it the river Indus or some other minor river of the same name? ~ According to Classical accounts the river Jomanes flows through Palibothra into the Ganges between the towns of Methora (Mathura) and Carisobaras. Therefore, was Palibothra, the Prasii/Praesii capital... situated near Mathura? ~ Palibothra may not have been Pataliputra. So was there an ancient kingdom in the Madhyadesa region that tallied with Megasthenes' description of Palibothra? Was the country of Prabhadraka, Prabhadra or Palibhadra/Paribhadra, (part of Madhyadesa from the Mahabharata times) same as Megasthenes' Palibothra? ~ There is also reference to a king called Chandraketu (as the head of the Prabhadraka Kshatriyas). Now was this Chandraketu the Sandrokottas of the Greek accounts? ~ In which case, the Bhadraka kingdom or Paribhadra and its people, the Paribhadrakas or Palibhadrakas would be the Palibothra and the Palibothris (respectively) of Megasthenes' accounts. So Palibothra could well be Paribhadra instead of Pataliputra. [But who then was Sandrokyptos? Who was Sasicottus? And who was Xandramas?] ~ Magadha (the Prachya, "Easterners," Greek, Prasioi) had attained a dominating position; it probably consisted of eastern U.P., Bihar, possibly Jharkhand, Bengal, Assam and Orissa. ~ However, were there two Prachya/Prachyadesa, just like there was two Kambojas (actually three, if we consider Kambuja Desa or modern Cambodia)? ~ My guess is as good as yours. | Megasthenes' Herakles was not the classical Greek deity per se. ~ During his travels (as the ambassador of the Seleucids) during the reign of Samraat Chandragupta Maurya of the Maurya Empire/Dynasty... Megasthenes came upon an Indian deity, a fascinating figure... and equated him with the classical Greek divinity, Herakles. This Herakles was none other than Krishn or Hari-Krishna. Megasthenes also described an Indian clan called Sourasenoi, who especially worshipped 'Herakles' in their land, and this land had two cities, Methora and Kleisobora, and a navigable river, the Jobares. ... As was common in the ancient period, the Greeks sometimes described foreign deities/gods in terms of their own divinities, and there is little doubt that the Sourasenoi refers to the Shurasenas or Shurasena Yadus, a branch of the Yadu clan/kula (the ancient clan/lineage of Harikula or Harivansh) to which Krishn belonged; Herakles to Krishna, or Hari-Krishna; Mehtora to Mathura; Kleisobora to Krishnapura, meaning "the city of Krishna"; and the Jobares to the River Yamuna. ~ Quintus Curtius also mentions that when Alexander confronted Porus (Puru or Raja Paurava/Parvateshvar)... Porus' soldiers were carrying an image of 'Herakles' in their vanguard. ~ The all-conquering Alexander's career pretty much came to a halt... after his brief encounter with this mighty king of the Indus region. [The Greeks however had some success ruling as kings in northwestern cities such as the one in Takshasheela... the decline of which marked the decline in Indian education, thought and structure.] Subsequent events heralded the advent of the Chanakya-Chandragupta duo. [~ Thus, the so-called Macedonian empire in the east lasted less than ten years after the invasion.] ~ However, what about Sarakene? And, who really were the Sarakenoi or Saraceni? Did this word evolve from Late Latin Saracēnus or from Late Greek Sarakēnos? Or, did it have anything to do with the Shurasenas/ Shurasena Yadus (i.e. Megasthenes' Sourasenoi)? Were they an offshoot? Did the name Shurasena (or Sourasenoi for that matter) undergo some variation due to change in phonetics? ... And, since they were opponents of the Roman Empire, did the Romans characterize them as 'barbarians'? ~ My guess is as good as yours.
Through the processes of over-expansion and
changes in important river patterns, the Harappan urban centers began to
decline around 1900 B.C., and the unifying cultural symbols of the cities were
no longer useful. However, the regional cultures that began to take form did
retain some of the characteristic symbols and technologies of the Harappan
culture. These continuities provide an important thread connecting the
developments of the first urban civilization to later cultures that became
dominant in the regions of the erstwhile Indus Valley civilization. Some of the
technologies, architecture, artistic symbols and aspects of social organization
that characterized the first urban centers of the Indus Civilization have
continued up to the present in the urban setting of traditional South Asian
cities.
However, there are still many misconceptions about this
culture that have resulted from the theoretical and cultural biases of the
earliest excavators. Some of these misconceptions are that the Indus
urban society was the result of colonization from Mesopotamia to the west (in
modern Iraq); that it appeared suddenly from unknown origins; that is was a
strictly uniform culture ruled by a priest-king from two major capitals; and
then disappeared, leaving no influence on later cultural developments. ... But then, this is all fantasy. ~ The Indus Valley civilization developed out of
earlier farming and pastoral communities that inhabited the plains and western
mountainous regions of Baluchistan and Afghanistan (and maybe surrounding areas). These communities are
referred to as pre- or Early Indus cultures and each had its own distinctive
artistic style. These regional styles are most clearly observed in various
painted designs on pottery, different types of clay figurines, toys, seals and
ornaments. Although the styles of expression are different, trade and exchange
networks connected the various regions and allowed for the distribution of raw
materials, finished goods, technological knowledge. These items included
precious stones, copper, sea-shells, chert for stone tools and probably many
other commodities such as grain, wool and livestock. The gradual dispersal of
specific artistic styles and motifs along with specific types of ornaments
indicates that there was a gradual integration of these communities though
marriage alliances, ritual interaction/festivities, trade ties, and eventually political/administrative treaties. Although in the earliest period they had not yet
begun to make pottery, they lived in mud brick houses, wove baskets and adorned
themselves with elaborate bead ornaments made of shell and colored stones. Some
of these beads appear to have been traded from distant areas or were collected
during pastoral migrations. Around 5500 B.C. the earliest forms of pottery
have been discovered along with new types of ornaments and more developed
architecture. The earliest forms of pottery have shapes that are similar to
baskets and many of the designs on the vessels may replicate woven motifs on
the earlier baskets. These decorative motifs were not simply for ornamentation,
but undoubtedly had some ritual significance and were symbols that served to
distinguish different clans or groups (and perhaps even regions). Excavations at the ancient mounds revealed well
planned cities and towns built on massive mud brick platforms that protected
the inhabitants against seasonal floods. In the larger cities the houses were
built of baked brick, while at smaller towns most houses were built of
sun-dried mud brick. The settlements had major streets running North-South and
East-West, with smaller streets and alleys connecting neighborhoods to the main
thoroughfares. Indus artisans produced a wide range of
utilitarian and decorative objects using specialized techniques of stone
working, ceramics and metallurgy. Copper and bronze were used to make tools,
mirrors, pots and pans. Bone, shell and ivory were turned into tools, jewelry,
gaming pieces and especially furniture inlay. Silver and gold utensils and
ornaments were crafted. The Indus cities were connected with rural
agricultural communities and distant resource and mining areas through strong
trade systems. They (probably) used pack animals, riverboats, sailboats and bullock carts
for transport. This trade is reflected in the widespread distribution of exquisite
beads and ornaments, vessels, ladles, toys, metal tools and pottery that were
produced by specialized artisans in the major towns and cities. Cotton, lumber, grain, livestock and other food
stuffs were probably the major commodities of this internal trade. A highly
standardized system of weights was used to control trade.
The decline of the river Sarasvati: When
the sites were plotted on a map of the subcontinent, archaeologists noticed a
curious clustering of sites along the Ghaggar River that flows through Haryana
and Rajasthan and runs almost parallel to the Indus. After entering Pakistan,
where it is called Hakra, the river finally empties itself into the sea at the
Rann. Over 175 sites were found along the alluvial plains of the Ghaggar as
compared to 86 found in the Indus region. ~ What puzzled archeologists was that
the Ghaggar-Hakra River and most of its tributaries are dry and their courses
have silted up. So why did so many cities come up on such a desiccated
water-sheet, especially at a time when rivers were the lifelines of
civilization? ... Unless, of course, at one time a mighty river flowed
perennially. In their search for answers, Indus experts homed in on the Rg
Veda. Many of its hymns mention a sacred river called Sarasvati, describing it
as the foremost of rivers, big as the ocean, rising in the mountains and
flowing between the Yamuna and Sutlej (Sutudri or Satadru or SuturI) before entering the sea. But in later
Vedic hymns it is no longer described as mighty. The
Mahabharata also talks about the River Sarasvati as a river in decline.
[Therefore, migration from the Indus region has not been a single exodus, but in
batches (beginning 3900 years ago)... once the mighty Sarasvati began to shrink. ~ Some of the Indus people
traveled as far as Egypt (ancient Miṣr)
and maybe even beyond... carrying their culture, language(s) and 'way of life' with
them. Inevitably 'cross-pollination' happened. Thus, the
Lion-Man (Nrsingh) probably became the 'Sphinx' and perhaps Garuda gave way to
Horus - the Falcon-god or the Falcon-headed man. ~ Do look up the earlier
section for more details.] ~ In the '80s, Indian satellite images of
the region showed that the ancient bed of the Ghaggar-Hakra River could be
traced from the Sivaliks to the Rann of Kutch. Where it is not covered by sand,
the bed of the river consists of a fertile loam and its width extends from
three to 10 km on different parts of its course, making it a very large river.
Putting together the evidence some archeologists and Indus experts concluded
that the Ghaggar-Hakra River was the Vedic Sarasvati and existed when the Indus
civilization flourished. [... However, equating the Ghaggar-Hakra River with the
Vedic Sarasvati could be misleading. The Sarasvati probably declined (over a period of time) due to a combination of factors, such as: change in rainfall pattern,
climate change, rise in pollution levels, rampant urbanization and so on; maybe
it also changed course due to a massive earthquake... and was eventually 'lost'. ~ Easily recognizable are the Indus and its
current tributaries, but the Sarasvati, portrayed as "surpassing in majesty and
might all other waters" and "pure in her course from mountains to the ocean,"
was lost. Based on ancient textual descriptions, it was believed that the Sarasvati
was fed by perennial glaciers in the Himalayas. Today, the Ghaggar, an
intermittent river that flows only during strong monsoons and dissipates into
the desert along the dried course of Hakra valley, is thought to best
approximate the location of the mythic Sarasvati, but its Himalayan origin and
whether it was active during Vedic times remain controversial. ~ New research argues that these crucial
differences prove that the Sarasvati was not Himalayan-fed, but
a perennial monsoon-supported watercourse, and that aridification reduced it to
short seasonal flows. ... But then, it is still not convincing/compelling enough to equate the Vedic Sarasvati with the Ghaggar-Hakra.]
Alternatively: It could also be that faced with multiple challenges arising out of over expansion, over-exploitation of nature and unplanned urbanization... disproportionate to essentials like water-supply and sanitation (besides a sharp decline in trade... that would have also affected employment, purchasing power, collective prosperity et al) the ancient Indus people, in their collective wisdom, decided to alter the course of their 'way of life'... and (thus) went back to living in harmony with nature. ~ And this probably helped them breath new life into the once-glorious civilization. [... Therefore, it may be somewhat misleading to say that the civilization appeared like a meteor on ancient India's landscape, shone brilliantly for a while... then declined, and was finally snuffed out. ~ Instead, the Indus people simply adjusted to the changes and challenges (both natural and man-made)... and so, the civilization lived on. Rather flourished in its own way.]
So although earlier scholars thought that the Indus civilization disappeared around 1700 B.C., recent excavations indicate that the civilization gradually became fragmented into smaller regional cultures referred to as Late or post-Harappan cultures. The ruling classes and merchants of the major urban centers were no longer able to control the trade networks that served to integrate such a vast geographical area. The use of standardized weights, writing and seals became unnecessary as their social and political control gradually disappeared. The decline of the major urban centers and the fragmentation of the Indus culture can be attributed in part to changing river systems (due to climate change and change in rainfall pattern) that disrupted the agricultural and economic system. As the river dried up the Indus people migrated to the central Indus valley, the Ganga-Yamuna Valley or the fertile plains of Gujarat in western India. The Indus river itself began to change its course, resulting in destructive floods. Certain distinguishing hallmarks of the Indus civilization disappeared. Others, such as writing and weights, or aspects of Indus craft technology, art, agriculture and possibly social organization, continued among the Late and post-Harappan cultures. These cultural traditions eventually became incorporated in the new urban civilization that arose during the Early Historical period, around 600 B.C.
Whether the artefacts are called Hakra ware; whether the civilization is divided into pre-Harappan stage or mature-Harappan phase, pre- or early Indus cultures, Neolithic-age or Chalcolithic age, and so on... it is all for academic purposes. ~ It does not indicate different culture(s) or people; it simply indicates the gradual progress of the civilization through various stages/phases from simple pastoral communities to a bustling metropolis and trading powerhouse. ~ The greatness of the Sindhu-Sarasvati civilization can (thus) be attributed to ancient Indian genius. Apart from its striking cultural continuity with subsequent (diversification, fragmentation, assimilation and) developments of Indian civilization, which makes up a total thread of (at least) 9,000 years (since much of the excavation is yet to happen), the ancient Indus people exhibited the following traits: an enterprising spirit, a knowledge-based and forward-looking culture, a remarkable adaptability to changing conditions, a spiritual content, and, most importantly, a capacity for a broader view, without which such a vast area could not have had such a cultural affinity (and all-round progress and trade) free from major hiccups.
Evolution of the fluvial landscape: Landscape dynamics as the crucial link between climate change and people. ~ By 3900 years ago, their rivers drying, the Harappans had an escape route to the east toward the Ganges basin, where monsoon rains remained reliable. We can envision that this eastern shift involved a change to more localized forms of economy: smaller communities supported by local rain-fed farming and dwindling streams. This may have produced smaller surpluses, and would not have supported large cities, but would have been reliable. But then, such a system was not quite favourable for the sustenance of the Indus civilization as it was known (i.e. to maintain the well-knit 'high summer' phase of the Indus civilization, which had been built on bumper crop surpluses along the Indus and the Sarasvati rivers in the earlier wetter era). This dispersal of population meant that there was no longer a concentration of workforce to support urbanism. Thus cities collapsed, but smaller agricultural communities were sustainable and flourished. Many of the urban arts, such as writing, faded away (and evolved), but agriculture continued and perhaps diversified. [~ Maybe, due to the change in rainfall pattern/monsoon coupled with a warming world (climate change) catastrophic floods (due to rising sea levels) turned much of the ancient Indus irrigation system, designed for a tamer river, obsolete.]
~ Should the Indus Valley civilization be renamed the Sarasvati Valley civilization? Or would Sindhu-Sarasvati civilization be more appropriate? ~ Well, my guess is as good as yours.
BG 10.11: || teṣām evānukampārtham aham ajñāna-jaḿ tamaḥ nāśayāmy ātma-bhāva-stho jñāna-dīpena bhāsvatā || ~ I, who dwell within their inner psyche as consciousness, destroy the darkness born of ignorance by the shining lamp of transcendental knowledge as an act of compassion for them.
(BG 10.16) Arjun says/asks: || vaktum arhasy aśeṣeṇa divyā hy ātma-vibhūtayaḥ yābhir vibhūtibhir lokān imāḿs tvaḿ vyāpya tiṣṭhasi || ~ "Please tell me in detail of Your divine opulence/manifestations by which You pervade all these worlds/planets." (BG 10.17): || kathaḿ vidyām ahaḿ yogiḿs tvāḿ sadā paricintayan keṣu keṣu ca bhāveṣu cintyo 'si bhagavan mayā || ~ "O Kṛṣṇa, O supreme mystic, how shall I constantly think of You, and how shall I know You? In what various forms are You to be remembered, O Supreme One?"
Among the Daityas (an Asura sub-clan) I am Prahlāda, among subduers I am time (kālaḥ), among beasts/animals I am the lion, and among birds I am Garuḍa (Lord Narayan’s insignia, as well as His vehicle/vahan - probably the name of His flying vehicle; it also indicates eagle or maybe falcon) (prahlādaś cāsmi daityānāḿ kālaḥ kalayatām aham mṛgāṇāḿ ca mṛgendro 'haḿ vainateyaś ca pakṣiṇām. ~ 10.30) I am the wind among the purifiers, and Shri Ram among the warriors (warrior = reformer, for a better and inclusive society). I am the crocodile among the fishes (can also mean aquatic creatures); and of flowing waters/rivers I am the River Ganga (pavanaḥ pavatām asmi rāmaḥ śastra-bhṛtām aham jhaṣāṇāḿ makaraś cāsmi srotasām asmi jāhnavī. ~ 10.31) I am the beginning, the middle, and the end of all creation, O Arjun. Among spiritual knowledge I am knowledge of the supreme Self. I am logic of the logician (sargāṇām ādir antaś ca madhyaḿ caivāham arjuna adhyātma-vidyā vidyānāḿ vādaḥ pravadatām aham. ~ 10.32) Of letters I am the letter A (the sound 'A' is the foremost of the sounds. All the alphabets begin with the letter 'A', thus is number 1. Before number one it can only be zero (shunya). Zero (shunya) is the potential Creation, the Cosmic Egg, which would manifest in due course of time, and Fire (Brahm-jyotih?) is the basis for such manifestation. All the planes of existence are the result of the work of Agni. Agni - the foremost of purifiers - transforms that which is subtle to gross and also transforms the gross to subtle. In the beginning it is from subtle to gross and later from gross to subtle. The evolution and involution is the work of Agni. ~ The whole creation-related work commences from Him and He is the one who emerges from the unknown to the known as the Cosmic Bang. The dynamism in us is also Fire. The Kundalini 'Fire' causes enlightenment of the brain cells. But enflaming the Kundalini 'Fire' requires service to the fellow beings, to the society (selfless/non-benefit-seeking/nishkam service/action... that contributes towards a better society.) One has to dedicate oneself to nishkam karm... without which the Kundalini 'Fire' is not ignited. Agni: exists as Cosmic Fire, Solar Fire and as Frictional Fire. The Kundalini Fire is Frictional Fire, when it is below the diaphragm. When it is above the diaphragm, it is already Solar Fire, and when it reaches the brain, it is Electric Fire (brilliant white). As one progresses regularly (in nishkam karm), the brilliance of the 'Golden disc' grows. Just as the morning Sun who is Golden in colour grows to brilliant white, the 'Golden disc/chakra' visualized at the eyebrow centre rises to Ajnea center/chakra and shines forth like a diamond disc/chakra. This is the final state of the Kundalini 'Fire'. When this 'chakra' opens, it is deemed as the opening of the Third Eye. ~ On a separate note: Agni also symbolically represents the spiritual fire of life and the processes of transformation. It is the foremost amongst purifiers. Agni does not indicate/signify "tyag" per se; Agni is the greatest of purifiers and the foremost amongst the five elements of nature - PanchaBhuta (also: PanchaMahaBhuta or MahaPanchaBhuta). ~ Agni signifies "tyag" in the sense (to indicate) one has conquered oneself; in other words: that one has conquered/overcome the negativities residing in one's heart and mind. And thereby, become a Siddha), and among compound words I am the dual compound. I am also inexhaustible time, and of creators I am Brahmā (akṣarāṇām a-kāro 'smi dvandvaḥ sāmāsikasya ca aham evākṣayaḥ kālo dhātāhaḿ viśvato-mukhaḥ. ~ 10.33) I am all-consuming time, and I am the generating principle/cause/energy of all that is yet to be." (Alternatively: "I am all-consuming time, and I am too the birth of all that shall come into being.") Among women I am glorious deeds (kīrtiḥ), radiance (śrīr), fine speech/persuasion (vāk), memory/clarity of thought/discernment (smṛtir), intelligence (medhā), resilience/steadfastness (dhṛtiḥ) and patience/forgiveness/high-mindedness/magnanimity/nobility of spirit (kṣamā). (mṛtyuḥ sarva-haraś cāham udbhavaś ca bhaviṣyatām kīrtiḥ śrīr vāk ca nārīṇāḿ smṛtir medhā dhṛtiḥ kṣamā. ~ 10.34) I am Brihatsaam among the Vedic hymns. I am Gāyatrī mantra among the Vedic mantras. Of months I am Mārgaśīrṣa [November-December], and of seasons I am spring (maybe that's why Shyamsundar Krishn is the personification of spring). (bṛhat-sāma tathā sāmnāḿ gāyatrī chandasām aham māsānāḿ mārga-śīrṣo 'ham ṛtūnāḿ kusumākaraḥ. ~ 10.35) I am gamble of the guileful, splendor of the splendid, victory of the victorious, enterprise of the enterprising/resolute, and strength of the strong/determined. (dyūtaḿ chalayatām asmi tejas tejasvinām aham jayo 'smi vyavasāyo 'smi sattvaḿ sattvavatām aham. ~ 10.36) Among the Vrishnis I am Vaasudev (of Dvarka), Arjun among the Paandavs, Vyaas among the sages, and Ushanaa among the poets/great thinkers. (vṛṣṇīnāḿ vāsudevo 'smi pāṇḍavānāḿ dhanañjayaḥ munīnām apy ahaḿ vyāsaḥ kavīnām uśanā kaviḥ. ~ 10.37) I am the power/sagacity of rulers, the statesmanship of the seekers of victory; I am silence among the secrets, and the Self-knowledge of the knowledgeable (i.e. of the wise I am the wisdom). (daṇḍo damayatām asmi nītir asmi jigīṣatām maunaḿ caivāsmi guhyānāḿ jñānaḿ jñānavatām aham. ~ 10.38) Furthermore, O Arjuna, I am the origin of all beings (the cause of all creations). There is nothing, animate or inanimate, that can exist without Me. (yac cāpi sarva-bhūtānāḿ bījaḿ tad aham arjuna na tad asti vinā yat syān mayā bhūtaḿ carācaram. ~ 10.39)
The manifest creation is a very small fraction of the Absolute: There is no end of My divine manifestations, O Arjun. What I have spoken to you is but a mere indication of My infinite manifestations. (nānto 'sti mama divyānāḿ vibhūtīnāḿ parantapa eṣa tūddeśataḥ prokto vibhūter vistaro mayā. ~ 10.40) Know that whatever is endowed with glory, brilliance, and power - spring from but a spark of My splendor. (yad yad vibhūtimat sattvaḿ śrīmad ūrjitam eva vā tat tad evāvagaccha tvaḿ mama tejo-'ḿśa-sambhavam. ~ 10.41) But what need is there, O Arjun, for all this detailed knowledge? I continually support the entire universe by a small fraction of My divine power (YogMaya). (atha vā bahunaitena kiḿ jñātena tavārjuna viṣṭabhyāham idaḿ kṛtsnam ekāḿśena sthito jagat. ~ 10.42)
BG 2.72: || esa brahmi sthitih paartha nainam prapya vimuhyati sthitvasyam anta-kale 'pi brahma-nirvanam rcchati || ~ "O Paartha [O Son of Prtha/Kunti], having gained the realization of the Ultimate Truth (Ultimate Consciousness/Self-realization), one is never again deluded and even at the end of one's life, being situated in this state, liberation from the material existence (moksha) and attainment of the Ultimate Consciousness (Brahmn) is assured." | ~ When the mind is withdrawn from the sense objects and deep reflection sets in, the objective consciousness is 'closed'; Savitarka Samadhi commences. This is Samadhi with reasoning. The mind here is free from worldly thoughts; negative thoughts (or thoughts about personal glory, etc) cannot enter now. The mind is Sattvic. (It can be called Chitta Suddhi.) When the mind is completely absorbed in one object of meditation, it is termed Samadhi. Karm Yog is also a kind of meditation. It destroys the ego (negative pride, ahankara, vainglory). And, it requires complete self-sacrifice of Nishkam Karm Yog (selfless action/service). Such yogis are Nishkam Karm Yogis. ... And only they can achieve Nirvikalpa Samadhi to 'awaken' to Moksha (liberation). [Shri Krishn was not given to vainglory. Instead, he was a nishkam karm yogi, a true "yogi" and Jnani, a Param-hamsah (Supreme Swan).] The state of Nirvikalpa Samadhi leads to (inner) detachment/Jeevan Mukt. In nirvikalpa samadhi there is infinite bliss. (Sat-cit-ānanda, pronounced as: sach-chid-ānanda - one who has achieved eternal bliss of self-realization. Sat describes an essence that is pure and timeless; cit is consciousness; ānanda is absolute bliss or spiritual ecstasy.) One not only feels bliss, but also actually grows into that bliss (of the body, mind and spirit/soul). [Yoga or yog does not indicate some complicated physical manoeuvers; instead, it is the science of achieving complete harmony ~ of the body, mind and spirit. It calms the mind, leads to inner detachment and (therefore) bliss/spiritual ecstasy... and generates synergy; in short: it activates kundalini. (Probably, "yog" or "yoga" has given rise to "sanjog"/"sanyog", to connect. ~ When the mind is Sattvic (free from worldly thoughts, or thoughts of personal glory, etc) and is completely absorbed in one object of meditation, it is termed Samadhi. Meditation (dhyan) is also Yoga or Yog; it not only helps in achieving complete harmony of the body, mind and spirit, but also helps in connecting with the energies of the cosmos. It activates and unleashes the power of kundalini... that in turn illumines or 'ignites' the mind.] ~ BG 10.20: || aham atma gudakesha sarva-bhutasaya-sthitah aham adis ca madhyam ca bhutanam anta eva ca || ~ "I am the Supreme Spirit (Supersoul/Atman), O Arjun, seated in the hearts of all living entities. I am the beginning, the middle and the end of all beings." | ~ When one enters into nirvikalpa samadhi, one's heart is larger than the universe itself. One 'sees' the universe as a tiny dot inside one's vast heart. (Aham Brahmasmi ~ I am He/Brahmn: one (the jiva) achieves communion with the Universal Consciousness.) ~ One reflects the light of every being in the universe, and one's light is reflected in them. One can feel the expansiveness of one's being... an expression of the infinite field of intelligence and all possibilities. ~ Becoming one with the soul is possible only in the Nirvikalpa Samadhi state. (Should one hold communion with Brahmn [the Universal Consciousness], devoid of mental fancies/attachments and modifications, then the great bondage of the mind will cease, all doubts will vanish, all pratibandha or vighna [impediments of the mind and spirit] will disappear, and all [negative] karmas will perish.) ~ It is then [i.e. only after attaining the stage of Nirvikalpa Samadhi] that one gains Realization of God and the Self [i.e. Self-realization or Param-aatma realization.] ~ It is then that Jiva [the human soul or individual soul] becomes identical with Brahmn [the Param-aatma or Supersoul (Atman) or the Universal Consciousness.] ~ Self-realization (or Param-aatma realization) is to fully know and realize who you are. Before knowing God/Universal Consciousness (Brahmn), know yourself. If you understand yourself... only then is it possible to understand God (Universal Consciousness/Brahmn), Nature or Love. With the realization of the Universal Consciousness (Atman/Supersoul/Param-aatma/Brahmn) come universal compassion, love, and the awareness of the oneness of all things (higher knowledge).]
The light of thy music
illumines the world. The life breath of thy music runs from sky to sky. The
holy stream of thy music breaks through all stony obstacles and rushes on.
|| Gaaner leela'r sei kinare
J'og dite ki saw'bai pare
Bishva hrida'y parabare
Raag rginir jaal phelate ||
J'og dite ki saw'bai pare
Bishva hrida'y parabare
Raag rginir jaal phelate ||
Aamar Byala Je Jaye by the Queen of Sangeet:
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