What is Good and What is Evil? - Simply Beautiful Ramayanam (Part II)

Ravanan - one of the most fascinating characters among Hindu legends. His ten heads are quite mesmerizing and brings vivid memories of Ram leela celebrations. When I visited Cambodia I was stunned to see how Ravanan's ten heads were depicted. Instead of the familiar Indian style of depicting the ten heads one after the other in a straight horizontal line, it was a vertical depiction with 4 heads at the bottom (like Brahma's), 3 on top of that, 2 above that and finally 1 at the penultimate top. Fascinating. Also made me realize, with a deep sense of pride, how versatile Hindu legends are. Nothing is cast in stone. The fundamental essence in these legends are simple, so everything beyond that is left to our imagination. Human imagination truly has no bounds. So we see multiple versions and diverse depictions of the Ramayanam, especially in South East Asia, lending itself to a variety of art forms, each so rich and colourful.

Ravanan or Dasanan, a person with ten heads. For a long time now I have understood that the ten heads does not literally mean that there existed a person with 10 heads but an allusion to the fact that Ravanan was an highly talented and accomplished person. So talented and accomplished that this one human being was as good and capable as 10 of us. Hence ten headed. You are not one person man, you are ten persons combined in one!

Ravanan is till date considered to be Shiva's biggest devotee and is said to have built a palace exclusively for him. So architecture was something he was well versed in. The highly beautiful Siva Tandava Stotram is credited to have been composed by him. He knew classical Indian music quite well and is said to have defeated many experts with his knowledge. Played the Rudra Veena, quite a complicated string instrument to master. Ravanan, thus, had every right to be extremely proud of his accomplishments. Arrogance however is different. There is only a thin line between pride and arrogance. To rejoice in one's accomplishments is pride. To however believe that only I and I alone can accomplish this and none else in this world is capable - is arrogance. 'Only I' is the root cause for all evil in this world. It always has been, still is and will be. The goal then is to get out of this need to be arrogant. Unfortunately, despite all his talents and accomplishments, Ravanan failed to achieve this thereby bringing his own downfall.

Ramayanam is extraordinary not only because it highlights how even an highly talented and accomplished person can fall into the trap of arrogance and bring his own downfall. It is great because it also highlights what it means to be a good person. It not only answers the question what is evil but what is good as well. This is where it stands out. Ram was that good person. So good that he is said to be an ideal human being that we all should aspire to be. A role model worthy of worship. A personification of God himself i.e. if we were to visualise the Supreme Consciousness (Parabrahmam) as a human being, then Ram it would be.

Ram, the prince of Ayodhya. For 26 years he lived a privileged life in a palace as a prince. What more can one ask for. Then he was asked to leave the palace and live a life of an ascetic in a forest for 14 years. What a contrast! From having all the comforts one could think of in this world to having none in a matter of seconds and this was also because it was his step-mother's wish and not because Ram did something bad! To further show what a big deal this was, the day he was asked to leave was the eve of his crowning ceremony. At day break, in a few hours, he was to become the King of all of Ayodhya. But not anymore. His step mother calls him the night before and says his father wishes him to leave for the forest and live there for 14 years as an ascetic. Ram just says yes I shall do so and walked out of the palace with only a piece of saffron cloth and his bow. No questions asked! Wow! What a person! What strong character, what emotional strength he must have to be able to do this. Not even an iota of ego here. To have even a small percentage of that emotional strength, I would consider myself blessed!

It was not that Ram always blindly followed the dictat of elders. He stood his ground when Dassarath insisted he take another wife. Tradition requires Ram to have more than one wife and his father wished the same. But no, Ram refused. I vow to have one wife and one wife only, said Ram. Eka Patni vrat. 'Vrat' - penance, it was called. Ram's sense of dharma - that which is intrinsic or is one's true nature - is seen throughout the Ramayanam. Be it the time he says no to come back to Ayodhya, even after everyone including Kaikeyi, the step mom who wished his departure, regrets her mistake and apologizes or when he embraces Guha or eats at Sabari's house or the respect he gives to Hanuman, a monkey or when he accepts Vibeshana as a friend. 'Hey Monkey!', how often is this used derisively. We only have to look at Ram to know what an ideal behavior should be! Traditions, cultural practices, elderly respect, class differences, discrimination - nothing is of any value. Dharma alone counts. 

Even in the, now controversial, incident of Vaali vadham, Ram sticks to Dharma. Vaali, who has defeated Ravanan before in battles had every right to stop Sita's kidnapping or rescue her after he got to know of that. The kidnapping happened in his territory, he was the king ruling those parts at that time. Ravanan trespassed and committed a crime. Vaali should have acted to enforce Dharma but he did not. So in a way Vaali becomes an indirect accomplice to Ravanan's crime and hence Ram agrees to unite his cause with that of Sugreeva and support him in his quest to take his kingdom back from Vaali. That he did this shooting his arrow from behind, hidden and unknown to Valli ie. the latter did not know he was facing Ram as an adversary - all adds to the controversy and raises the morality questions. Was this is a fair fight? justified? Even if Vaali held the boon that he would gain half his opponents' strength, which rationally explains why Ram could not take him on face to face, still, was it honorable? Does the end justify the means? Aah...the most pertinent question, for all times...still relevant for our time too.

(to be continued)

Idol Worship

Ever since a man named Moses on one fine day declared idol worship to be bad, it has remained so. Subsequent reiterations from Prophet Mohamed and Jesus Christ has led to this view not only becoming dominant but also superior i.e. idol worship is looked down upon. As a Hindu, idol worship is an integral aspect of the religion. In my view it is something quite brilliant!

Typically the response for why we indulge in idol worship is something like this - it helps us focus, gives us an anchor to base our spiritual thoughts. Not wrong at all. I would, however, like to add further dimensions to this. As a child when I first questioned the need for idol worship the response I got from a family elder was by pointing to a toy elephant. That is an elephant but it really is not. It resembles an elephant but is only a toy. Similarly the stone at the altar resembles God but that alone is not God. Again not a wrong view and a simple explanation that still captures the deep philosophy behind idol worship. How often have we taken our phone and shown it to our friends saying that's my mom or my son or daughter. Obviously we don't mean that the image in the phone is the real person, it is only a photo or  a video. Still, in resembling the real person it expresses a certain aspect of that person. If asked, this would most likely be my explanation to my child as well.

Going one step beyond this, idol worship, to me, brilliantly captures the core philosophy of vedantic thought that everything is God and God is everything. Tat Tvam Asi. To declare God as a supreme super human being that is omnipotent, omnipresent and all the omni's that exist and so we need to bow and worship (sometimes even fear!) that all powerful entity is, in my view, quite basic. On the contrary, to look at a mere stone that is powerless, characterless and many a times shapeless and in something like that to realize the Almighty's presence...well, that is truly awesome! Brilliant, I would say. True genius, whoever thought of this.

So when a Hindu bows before a powerless stone, it is an acknowledgement that even this powerless object is an aspect of God. This is so because the Vedantic view of what is God, does not stop with just a description of God as a super powerful being but goes further to state God to be a Super Consciousness and it is this Super Consciousness that has expressed itself in the form of the reality that we all experience. So everything is God including you and me. Aham Brahmasmi.

Even without knowing any of these deeply significant philosophies, every time a person bows and worships an idol it is an acknowledgement and affirmation of it. Eventually, as it has happened with me, one can figure this out and then quietly revel in its ingenuity.

No, idol worship is neither stupid nor bad, it is simply brilliant and beautiful as with many things in Hinduism.

What is Good and What is Evil? - The Simply Beautiful Ramayanam (Part 1)

It is that time of the year, the 9 nights or 10 days when there is a religious fervour across India with each region celebrating in their own style and for diverse reasons! I come from that part of India where Navratri - the 9 nights are dedicated to the 3 Goddesses of Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswathi, in that order with 3 days to each and the final 10th day or Vijayadasami / the day of victory is to Mahishasura Mardhini, the Goddess who destroyed or killed Mahishasura.

On a side note, while writing Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswathi, a thought struck me. I find it strange that strength is followed by wealth and finally by education! In the world we live today, it is the other way round i.e. it is education that is giving us access to wealth which enables you to become powerful. Maybe, given this is about Goddesses and so from a spiritual perspective, this order could be a reference to inner power / strength enabling us to enjoy / realize the wealth of happiness which leads to enlightenment or eternal knowledge!! Who knows, I could be completely off the mark, as this is just my speculation!

Coming back, despite being from a part of India that remembers Mahishasura Mardhini's 9 days of war against Mahishasura and 10th day of final triumph, I am drawn to the other war for which Dussera (10 days) is celebrated - the war between Ram and Ravanan.

Last year or the year before, I am not sure which exactly, I remember saying Diwali and my American boss saying its for good vs evil, right? and I responded with a yes. The conversation ended there. For some reason I keep going back to this conversation this year. What is bothering me is the question - What is good and what is evil?

You see, in Hinduism, there is no concept of God and anti-God. You are not by default good because you believe or worship God nor are you by default bad because you do not believe in God or against God! Almost all the asuras, as far as I can remember, worshiped and believed in God. Ravanan, till date, is considered to be the biggest devotee of Lord Shiva. Even Hiranyakashipu was only anti-Vishnu not anti-God. What then is good and what is evil.

In my mind, almost all of the Hindu legends deals with just this concept and with such clarity. There is no discrepancy in how they define what makes an asura evil or to be politically correct, there is no discrepancy on what makes any person become an asura, the evil one! However, the two epics, Ramayanam and Mahabaratham to me, are exceptional in how they define what is good. Both epics are such lovely contrasts. Ramyanam is simple in dealing with just two exceptional individuals while Mahabharatam has a host of characters who are just human.

If we look at most of the Hindu legends of asuras and their demise, they typically follow a pattern. The asura undertakes intense penance. Penance that are physically and mentally challenging. Just sitting still for many years chanting Om alone would fall into this category. Most increased the intensity by standing on one leg or sitting on beds of thorns or on fire etc. Moved by their Intensity, Brahma or Shiva (don't recollect Vishnu ever granting a boon to an asura!)  request them to stop their penance in return for a boon or granting of a wish. Now, the asuras want only one thing - immortality. However, this cannot be granted. Neither Shiva nor Brahma have the power to grant this because it will disrupt the inherent order of the universe. Anything that is created in this universe has to be destroyed. Death is inevitable.

In this scenario, the next best alternative is to choose the least probable way in which you can die. This then makes death nearly impossible. This is what the asuras go for. Now, which are the least probable options is a subjective matter. So each asura have their own assumptions and they also get quite creative. Each adding a vibrancy with lots of colour and flavor to these legends. Mahishasura for example requested that he can be killed only by a woman. Not a bad choice, for woman are still considered to be the physically (and sometimes even emotionally!) weaker sex. So for a man as strong as a buffalo (hence Mahisha or buffalo) to assume that the probability of a woman coming up to him and killing him as least likely is neither stupid nor absurd, I would say. On the creative side, Bhasmasura's request that he can be killed only if he puts his hand on his own head is a good one. Clearly you are not leaving the chance of your death to someone else but ensuring it stays with you in your own hands, literally. The most creative, however, for me, is Hiranyakashipu. Wishing that you cannot die in the day or night, inside or outside (any structure), neither by a human being or by a beast and with any weapon is truly awesome. Smart guy! So, there are many legends and many such requests that does make you wonder at the intelligence of the asuras.

Surely, seeking immortality or choosing the least probable way to die is not evil. The devas guarded amruth, the elixir of life that which gives you immortality, with their life! Amruth is also not absolute in its powers, the universal rule still applies. In Tamil we say, if taken in excess even amruth becomes a poison.

It is neither their penance nor their boons that makes asuras evil. It is what happens next. In the knowledge that the possibility of their death is nearly improbable, they undertake deeds that in itself makes the least probable outcome, highly probable resulting in their inevitable death! The abuse of their nearly no death situation through torture or blatant exploitation of others who do not have this power, results in the emergence of The Woman who destroys Mahishasura or leads to the moment when Bhasmasura so enamored by Mohini forgets himself and puts his hand to his head or even the impossible situation of half lion half man Narasimha appearing at sunset when it is neither day nor night dragging Hiranyakashipu to the doorstep which is neither inside nor outside and killing him with his nails which would not qualify as a weapon. It is our own action that causes the outcomes. Karma phala i.e. we get the fruits of the seeds we ourselves sow.

This then is the clarity that exists in Hinduism and comes out clearly in each of the legends - actions that are undertaken to purely satisfy one's ego is evil. Period. No second thoughts about this. Absolute clarity.

From this emerges the journey of an Hindu or the Hindu way of life. The quest to get away from the urge to satisfy one's ego is the purpose of life. Achieving that results in liberation or moksham. Again, simple and clear.

Summer rain

Life is such a celebration, just when you think everything is going downhill, something joyful happens and you forget all the pain. Take Chennai for instance. Its weather is so legendary. People in the city claim to have only three types of weather hot, hotter and hottest! I have even heard of people who have never been in the city complain about how hot and humid it is :)

But then… it rains, in the middle of summer… After several weeks of sweltering heat, yesterday it happened.

We, my parents and I, were having dinner. We suddenly heard the pitter patter. At first we thought it was our overhead water tank that was overflowing, then we thought maybe my mother had kept water in the stove and that was boiling over. By the time we could process these thoughts the sweet man vasanai, that smell which emanates when water falls on dried mud, wafted through and we all realized it was raining!

My father was incredulous when he realized this. My mother, as always, was composed and confirmed it was raining. Me, I was jumping and smiling, nearly laughing my heart out...cause for me this event was a vindication of my belief that when everything seems nearly doomed and going the other way, good things do happen.

But then… this miracle is short lived. We know that agni natchatram, that one week in May when temperatures peak to even fifty degree centigrade, is just around the corner…

Just as bad times do not last long, good times disappear too only to reappear again. They both play this hide and seek game, one following the other and each being not necessarily of equal measure. It is this that makes life so fascinating for me. Would there be any fun in watching a match if its result was known and not just the end but every twist and turn…

Wake Up Sid

I cannot believe it is the movie Wake Up Sid that has finally made me to start blogging!! I saw this movie today. Just by myself and with about 30 other strangers for company in a Ahmedabad multiplex. The movie was nice, but what inspired me to start blogging was the nostalgia it stirred in me for those 2 years I spent in Bombay (and I cannot say mumbai despite resolving to call madras as chennai!!).

There is a scene where konkana says to ranbir - if this was to be my last night in bombay and there was only one spot you can show me, what would that be? - the minute she finished saying this, the words 'Marine Drive' splashed through my mind... and there they were in the next shot :)

Seeing them both sitting there reminded me so much of my friend Shilpa and myself and the times we have spent sitting on those ledges. Shilpa is from Delhi and have never had the experience of the sea until she came to Bombay. I am from Chennai and the sea has been an integral part of my growing up days. For both of us, sitting on those ledges in marine drive, listening and watching the sea crash against those rocks was an incredible experience. It always made us pause from our busy lives of mails, deadlines, ambitions, performance, career growth and realise the joy in simple things... this is what we loved best at those moments.

I worked at Bakthawar in Nariman Point for couple of months. I used to take the train from Andheri to Churchgate. From the station, there is a taxi stand where you stand in a queue (seperate for men and women) to take a shared taxi of four for Rs.6.50 each to specific office locations in that area. There is an order in which you sit in the taxi. The first person in the queue sits in the front next to the driver. The second person takes the right most seat behind the driver, the third is in the middle and the last person sits on the left corner. Usually people prefer to be first since you can sit separately and don't have to squeeze with others. But I always loved being second, as then, during the drive you have the sea on your right and it was sheer joy having the sea breeze drift over your face in the morning. For that one pleasure it was worth coming home very late the previous night, starting early in the morning, facing demanding associates, taking the work load and again reaching home late that day. Those mornings were definitely worth all of this...

Konkana opens the window of her flat and falls in love with the view. That reminded me so much of my flat in sion (where I stayed for a year with my school-mate Harini). This flat was in the kalpataru building which was a sky scrapper and we were on the 10th floor. The view from our window was incredible. I cannot count the number of lazy saturday and sunday mornings I have spent sitting on my window sil with a coffee mug or a book and staring at the beautiful and never ending bombay skyline...

There were so many other scenes in the movie that reminded me of many more such things. What topped it all, however, was the last part in the movie. Konkana says that what made bombay special for her was that she had a friend to share it all with and she would not have enjoyed it if that person had not been there. It was this that inspired me to write this post...

For what would have my life been without my friends with me there. What made each of my experiences special was always having people with me to share it with and that multiplied the joy from those moments. Sitting alone in that theater, I could not but agree emphatically with konakana...