I Am Not Yet Ready

 

What is the difference between human beings and animals? Can the difference be defined with a most notable single feature? It is the capacity to think, understand and relate. The human brain works at different levels at the same time. It takes in multiple inputs, sorts and understands them, store and retrieve the required parts as and when desired. There is also the capacity to transfer these stored and accumulated information and knowledge. Some animals also display such qualities but they are to a very limited extent. Dogs and Parrots are the best examples. Other animals are also trained to do certain actions and used in shows and circus. Some of them like Elephants are used to work as well so that the life of humans is simplified and made easy. But all these meet with limited success. This basic distinction also results in the capacity of human beings being able to visualise things, plan their execution and act decisively to achieve those plans. This makes human life interesting as well as complicated! 

Human beings visualise, plan and execute those plans. This requires action or a series of actions. As a human being is executing many plans simultaneously, there are multiple sets of actions in implementation at any point in time. In case of team tasks, there are multiple sets of actions being implemented by each member of the team to achieve the common goal. 

What are the basic objectives behind all these actions? This is a very interesting question. One of our well known ancient philosophers Kumarila Bhatta has quoted from Parashara Samhita (Verse 59 of 13th Chapter) that even a stupid person will not venture into something without evaluating its utility  (प्रयोजनमनुद्दिश्य न मन्दोपि प्रवर्तते - Prayojanamanuddishya na mandopi pravartate). His evaluation may be defective, but it is another matter. This being the case why does a person act in a given direction?

Each action has two basic objectives; to get rid of some difficulty or sorrow and achieve some pleasure (दुःख निवृत्ति, आनंद प्राप्ति). Thus many actions lead to a second situation (action) to rid of an existing situation. The funniest part is that each pleasure so derived often brings its own pain either immediately or with a time lag. This leads to a further action and so on....

The above chain is very well chronicled in the birth of Draupadi in Mahabharata. 

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Sage Bharadwaja is one of the Saptarshis, the seven revered sages, and is credited with immense contributions to our Vedic literature, Ayurveda and many other branches of learning. He is the son of Devaguru Brihaspati and devoted his entire life to learning and teaching. He had taken a vow of celibacy and remained a bachelor. One morning he was going to the river near his hermitage to take bath and start his daily routine. Ghrutachi, a celestial nymph (apsara) had just finished her bath in the river and came up. A strong wind blew away the thin cloth she was covering herself with. She recovered her cloth and went away. Rishi Bharadwaja saw her and for a moment his mind was severely disturbed. Surprised at the happening, but satisfied that this was due to some cosmic will of the Lord, he collected the semen in a vessel made of leaves. In due course of time, a handsome boy came out from the pot. The boy was named as Drona, as he was born not from a mother's womb but a Drona, a container made from leaves. 

Sage Bharadwaja brought up the boy by giving him proper education. The prince of Panchala kingdom, Drupada, joined the gurukul of Bharadwaja. Drona and Drupada became close friends. Drupada once promised that when he becomes the king of Panchala, Drona can have anything he wants, even half of his kingdom. In due course, Drona came to be known as Dronacharya and was appointed by Bhishma as the Chancellor of the Archery and Weapons Training School in Hastinapur. Drupada became the king of Panchala. Dronacharya married Krupi,  the sister of Krupacharya, Guru of the Hastinapur kings. The son of Dronacharya and Krupi was named as Ashwatthama, who later became an important General in the army of the Kauravas.

Dronacharya was leading a contented life with Krupi before coming to Hastinapur, without asking any favours from anyone else. Young Ashwatthama was being given rice flour mixed in water as milk. After becoming friend with Duryodhana, once he had a chance to drink the real milk in the palace. Ashwatthama demanded that he be given real milk henceforth. Krupi persuaded Dronacharya to approach his childhood friend Drupada, who had now become a king, for getting a cow so that Ashwatthama can be given proper milk. Though unwilling, Dronacharya went to king Drupada. Drupada laughed at his friend and said there cannot be any friendship between a king and a pauper. Enraged at this behaviour of Drupada, Dronacharya took a vow that he would have Drupada captured by his disciples to teach him a lesson. A new set of actions were set in motion now.

At the convocation of the Archery and Weapon School in Hastinapur, the issue of giving "Guru Dakshina" (a fee by the student to his teacher) came up. Dronacharya used the opportunity and told kauravas and pandavas that he would like them to defeat Drupada, capture and present him at Guru's feet. Kauravas went first but were defeated by Drupada and his army. Pandavas went in next and Arjuna succeeded in in defeating and capturing Drupada. Dronacharya pardoned Drupada and sent him away saying that he is now gifting away the entire panchala kingdom to Drupada.

Now it was the turn of Drupada to feel insulted. He was extremely impressed by the bravery and skills of Arjuna. He now decided that he would do something to get a son who would kill Dronacharya to get his revenge. He will also get a daughter so that he can make Arjuna his son-in-law. The twin desires now put a further set of actions in motion!

*****

The task was not an easy one. There must be some method to achieve these twin objectives, Drupada thought. He entrusted the kingdom to his ministers and set forth in search of someone who could guide him to achieve his goals. He went to the forest and found a Rishi who appeared competent to guide him. The rishi was Upayaja, a brother of rishi Yaja (Similar to Indra and Upendra, Upa meaning younger brother). After hearing Drupada's request, Upayaja refused and said that he is not willing to get involved. On repeated requests by Drupada, Upayaja said that he can approach his elder brother Yaja who may accept his request. After serving Yaja for a long time, he agreed to do a holy ritual (Yagna) to achieve the objectives. But Yaja put a condition; it was not possible for him to do it alone and his brother Upayaja should join him in the conduct of the ritual! Drupada was now again forced to go to Upayaja. Upayaja agreed to assist Yaja as it was a command of his elder brother. The two brothers made all arrangements and started the ritual.

The time was set for the ritual. Drupada and his wife Queen Prishati started the proceedings. After the initial phase, Prishati was permitted to attend to the guests and arrangements at the site and advised to be available as and when called to take further part in the ritual. At the conclusion of the ritual, a divine messenger appeared from the fire and handed over the "Yagna Phala" to Chief of the ritual, Rishi Yaja. Yaja advised Drupada to call his queen Prishati to join him to receive the Yagna Phala. When the queen was called to the site of the sacred fire, she said "I Am Not Yet Ready" to receive the Phala as she was busy with some chore and had perfume in her hands. Enraged at this Rishi Yaga shouted and said that the divine events do not care whether anyone is ready to respond to them. He said that a ritual done under the leadership of Yaja and Upayaja cannot go waste nor can it wait for someone to come. He put back the yagna phala back into the sacred fire with a prayer.

As a consequence of this, a remarkable boy of about 14 years in shining armour emerged from the fire. Following him, a very beautiful girl with dark complexion emerged from the fire. The boy was named Drishtadyumna and the girl was named as Krishnaa due to her complexion. She was later known as Draupadi, the daughter of Drupada. The one born without a mother's womb (Dronacharya) was now destined to be killed by another born without a mother's womb (Drishtadyumna). Another set of actions were set in motion now.

Queen Prishati was now crestfallen. She had looked forward to be a proud mother of divine children, but now was deprived of this distinction. She was also worried as to how the two children would deal with her now that the bond a mother had with her children she delivered is absent. She requested Yaja and Upayaja to bless her. The two brothers recognised her position and gave her a boon. "The two children will treat you as if you have given birth to them. You will enjoy all the blessings and happiness a mother can expect from her children. Shower your love and affection on them as well", they blessed her. Thus ended the saga of the sacred ritual, but it was only sowing the seeds of the future actions.

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In all such sacred rituals, Yagna Phala results in the couple getting children delivered by the mother, but this was an exception when the children emerged from the sacred fire itself. It is a very interesting and intriguing story. 

Is there a lesson in this for us? Revenge opens the gates for another revenge, is the first one. Forgiving and starting a new chapter in one's life is more beneficial than keeping old wounds open and seeking to settle scores with our friends who may sometimes offend us. Understanding that elders and events do not wait for us and we should be ever ready, is the second. The main objective should not be forgotten while looking into allied things, one should remember. If and when something adverse happens, one should try to retrieve and salvage whatever best is possible, as done by Queen Prishati, is the third.

Do you find any other lesson as well?

Please Wait For Your Turn....

 

The mighty milky ocean was churned for a long time. Devas and Asuras joined together in this task, despite their irreconcilable differences, with the only hope of getting the "Amruta" the Nectar, consuming which would make them immortal. There were many problems and difficulties on the way, but ultimately Lord Dhanwantari emerged with the pot of Nectar. One of the Asuras stole the pot and ran away with the intention of denying the Devas of their share. Lord Mahavishnu appeared as Mohini. Just by looking at her, the one who ran away with the pot dutifully handed it over to her and everyone requested her to equitably distribute Nectar to all.

Mohini made all the Devas and Asuras sit in separate lines and distributed the Nectar. Mesmerised by her beauty, the Asuras did not even complain when distribution started on the other line. Ultimately they were denied any share of Nectar. The present day practice of our political leaders distributing the benefits of government schemes to their party-men only, has its origin here and we should not unnecessarily blame them. Asuras fought with Devas but lost the war since the Devas had now become immortal due to the effect of the Amruta consumed by them. Many Asuras were killed and they had to ultimately run away to the lower worlds. 

The Asuras did not have the Nectar, but their Guru Shukracharya had the power of "Mrutasanjeevani" with him. He restored all his disciples to the original forms. Devas came to know of this. Now they wanted to divest Shukracharya the power of this Mrutasanjeevani. Kacha, son of Devaguru Bruhaspati was deputed to the hermit of Shukracharya for this secret mission. Kacha served Shukracharya for a long time but Shukracharya did not part with the secret as he was aware of the dangers of kacha's mission. Asuras came to know of the efforts of Kacha. When Kacha went to the forest on some errands, they cut him to pieces and fed the parts of his body to wild foxes so that he will not be alive and succeed in his mission. 

Devyani, daughter of Shukracharya was fond of Kacha. She cried with her father when kacha did not return from the forest in the evening. In order to pacify her, Shukracharya used the Mrutasanjeevani process to bring back Kacha to life. The parts of Kacha's body tore open the stomach of the foxes, assembled together and came back as kacha. Such was the power Mrutasanjeevani had!

The Asuras were unhappy that Kacha has come back to life. They wanted to create a situation where Kacha would never come back to life. This time they cut Kacha into pieces, burned the pieces, mixed the resultant ashes in wine and served the same to Shukracharya himself. When Devyani again cried with her father, he said nothing can be done. But Devyani was not one to give up and she insisted that her father can somehow find a method to resolve the issue. Unable to deny his daughter, Shukracharya used the powers of Mrutasanjeevani to bring back kacha to life inside his stomach. Once he became alive, Shukracharya taught him the knowledge of Mrutasanjeevani while in his stomach. Kacha burst out of Shukracharya's stomach but Shukracharya was now dead. Kacha used the knowledge of Mrutasanjeevani to restore Shukracharya to life. Once his mission was completed, Kacha went back to the upper worlds.

*****

Banking practices were much different forty or fifty years ago. There were no computers and all records were maintained manually. Physical control of records and securities at the branch was very important. Branch Manager was the most important person and held many such records and assets in his custody. When a Branch Manager was transferred and a new person posted in his place, there was a need to physically hand over certain records and assets, including the pledged securities held in the branch safes and pledged godowns of loan customers. In order to facilitate this process, there was a procedure of handing over charge of the branch by the existing Manager and taking over of charge by the new person. Depending on the size of branch and business levels, a period of one or two weeks were allowed for this process. The incoming Manager was provided temporary accommodation in a hotel, he would report at the designated branch and start the process and proceed systematically taking custody of the records and assets. On the final day, a charge taking over report was prepared and signed by both the persons and the process would be complete. The earlier Manager would proceed to his next branch to set the same process in motion there.

During this one or two weeks period, known as Charge Taking Period, the earlier Branch Manager would continue to sit in the Manager's chair in the cabin. The incoming Manager would sit in one of the chairs opposite to him (usually meant for customers). All actions of a BM were done by the outgoing Manager till the day charge taking was complete. The process was usually smooth and the new Manager occupied the Manager's chair only after the previous incumbent handed over charge and left. The principle followed was that there is only one BM in any branch on any given day.

With the advent of computerisation and change in the method of managing things, this process is no longer followed. Time spent on charging making over and taking over and the expenditure thereon is now considered a waste. In today's banking, things manage themselves and nobody really has any control over the affairs of a branch! The illusion that things are under control make everyone happy and the world goes on...

*****

The vaccination against Covid pandemic had just started in the first week of April. Front line workers like Doctors, Nurses and other medical staff were vaccinated in the previous two months. When the vaccination opened up for the general public, persons with age of over 60 years were allowed first to get vaccinated. All these were senior citizen and the anxiety and initial teething problems in managing such a huge effort was telling on them. The large crowds at the hospitals, the process of producing and checking documents, the struggle of the dealing staff in handling the process, slowness of the computer systems in bearing the burden, handling vaccination while attending to other regular patients, all contributed to the delays. A person seeking vaccination had to stand in many Queue; starting with registration at hospital, verification of documents, checking of temperature, BP and Pulse rates, final registration and checks, vaccination proper, observation hall and so on. It was a testing time for all concerned with the added problems of masking and social distancing. 

As it happens in such situations, a new vaccination candidate landed at one such spots. There were many queues around the place and there was total confusion. The elderly gentleman (all were elderly there; the difference was only elderly, very elderly and very very elderly) stood in a queue but after sometime wanted to find out whether he was really in the right queue. He moved out of the queue and went up to the person handling the computer on the other side to make his inquiry. Others who were impatiently waiting for their turn pounced on this gentleman, in not a gentle way. "Please wait for your turn Mister! Don't jump the queue. We are waiting here since a long time", one of them shouted. Some others supported him. One or two supported the gentleman attempting to make the enquiry. Tempers ran high till a smiling hospital supervisor intervened and restored sanity.

Jumping the queue is not tolerated. One has to wait for his turn, even if otherwise eligible tor attention or the place. The rights of those ahead of you are to be respected.

*****

Guru Shukracharya was not happy with the turn of events and the defeat of his disciples. He took the Asura King Mahabali under his wings and made him perform a series of Yagnas (holy rituals) that would bestow on him the eligibility to become the Lord of all the worlds and occupy the seat of Indra, the Captain of the Devas. King Bali was the grandson of Prahlada and son of Virochana. He dutifully followed all the instructions of Guru Shukracharya. Guru Shukracharya gave him additional powers using his own special efforts. 

Armed with his new found eligibility and special powers, King Bali went to the upper worlds to challenge Indra and takeover the seat of the Lord of the upper worlds. Indra looked to Guru Brihaspati helplessly. Guru Bruhaspati told him that the times are in favour of King Bali right now and he is invincible. There is no use in fighting him now and it is advisable to handover the throne and live in exile for sometime. Lord Mahavishnu will intervene later on and resolve the issues involved, Indra was advised. Indra dutifully followed the advise of his guru. Bali took over the reins now.

*****

I was working as an Officer in one of the branches of the bank in the late 70s. There was a Branch Manager, an Assistant Manager and other staff members. Somehow there was a misunderstanding between the Branch Manager and Assistant Manager. They were not talking to each other and roundabout communication was being used. A cold war was going on and I was the mute observer. The Assistant Manager was transferred to another branch after sometime, a new Assistant Manager joined and things were normal.

Days passed and after a year or so the former Assistant manager was promoted and now posted to our branch as Branch Manager. He was to come to his old branch and take charge from his former Manager. He was not in a mood to sit before the other person for a week and go on with charge taking. He arrived on a Monday morning much before the existing manager arrived and occupied the Branch Manager's cabin and seat. Existing manager arrived a few minutes later and found his cabin already occupied by the new BM. He did not want to sit opposite to a man who was much junior to him but now in the same rank. He came and occupied a chair opposite to me. The new BM told me that he is waiving the charge taking, assuming charge on "as it is where it is basis" and the old BM can be relieved anytime he wants. Anyway, he was well familiar of the affairs of the branch having worked there only a few moths earlier.

The charge taking was curtailed to one day and the awkward time thus passed when the former BM left the branch.

****

After King Bali occupied Indra's throne and the Devas were forced into exile, it was the turn of Aditi Devi to be unhappy. Her mighty children were now refugees elsewhere and were denied their rightful positions because of the usurper. She pleaded with her husband Sage Kashyapa to initiate some action and restore the status of her sons. Sage kashyapa advised her to embark on "Payovrata", to please Lord Mahavishnu. During the first half of the month of Phalguna, last month of the Lunar year, prayers were to be offered continuously and shunning all food items. Only a small quantity of milk offered to the Lord was to be consumed as prasada, to sustain oneself. Aditi did this dutifully and Lord Mahavishnu appeared before her.

When Aditi made her intentions known, the Lord informed her that he would certainly take steps to meet her request. He advised her that he would himself take birth as her son. Since Bali was in the ascendant now, it would not be possible to displace him with power. So, the Lord assured her that he will meet her request even by taking the form of a yaachaka (one who is asking for something - beggar would be a crude word for it) before King Bali. Thus was born Vamana, also known as Upendra (younger brother of Indra and hence Upendra). 

After his Upanayana (sacred thread ceremony), Vamana proceeded to the place where King Bali had embarked on another holy ritual (Yagna). All the persons gathered at the site of the ritual were astounded by the presence of the young Vamana. King Bali received Vamana with full respects and asked him what can he offer to the young Vatu. Vamana merely asked for three measures of land for carrying out his daily rituals; the three measures by his own small feet. King Bali was warned by Guru Shukracharya not to be fooled by little Vamana; this was no ordinary Yaachaka. King Bali said he would abide by his promise come what may. He advised the boy that he should ask proper things and not insult the King by asking for three feet of land. He would give him immense wealth as anyone who got something from King Bali would not be required to ask anyone for anything for the rest of his life. On the other hand, he would himself be able to donate to others!

Vaman stuck to his request and said he did not want anything more than three feet of land. Bali reluctantly gave away the land following the prescribed procedure. The moment the transfer of land was done, Vamana (dwarf) started growing and attained the form of Trivikrama, the Giant. All the upper worlds were measured in one step and all the lower worlds in the second step. Now King Bali did not have anything else to give! When asked for the third step of land, King Bali offered the top of his head. Vamana put his foot on King Bali's head and pushed him to the Sutala Loka, one of the lower worlds. Lord Indra was back at the helm of affairs at his usual position. Normalcy was restored.

Prahlada came running and thanked the Lord for the kindness bestowed on his grandson. Where is the kindness, someone may ask. Lord Mahavishnu took one form form of Narasimha for the sake of Prahlada. But for the grandson Bali, he assumed two forms; Vamana and Trivikrama. King Bali's wife Vindhyavali requested the Lord to forgive her husband. What was the offense? King Bali said he would give something. That was the big mistake. How can he give something to Lord Mahavishnu, who is the owner of everything? Ishavasyam Idam Sarvam. Everything belongs to the Lord and others are only trustees of the concerned assets for the time being. The mere thought that i can give something to the Lord who owns everything is itself a serious lapse. You cannot donate something to its owner!

Vamana smiled and assured Vindhyavali that not only King Bali was excused, he is also conferred orders to be Lord Indra in the next Manvantara. Lord Mahavishnu will himself stand as a guard at the royal gate of King Bali's palace in the Sutala Loka, in recognition of the noble qualities of Bali.

*****

There are many interpretations that Lord Mahavishnu did injustice to King Bali. In the SrimadBhagavata, King Pareekshit asks the same question. Why innocent Bali was punished? The answer lies in the two lessons the episode of Bali and Vamana teach us. Mere eligibility does not entitle someone to usurp the seat of another and one should not jump the queue. One should wait for his turn patiently. A competent authority should issue an order for occupying any position. Secondly, everything belongs to the Lord. We are only trustees of a tiny part of his treasure that is entrusted to us from time to time. The arrogance that "I give something" is not acceptable.

How can it be said that King Bali jumped the Queue? What is the measure of time? 

The answer is here:

When measured by the length of our one year, the Yuga Cycle is as follows:

Kruta Yuga:       17,28,000  years

Treta Yuga;        12,96,000 years

Dwapara Yuga:    8,64,000 years

Kali Yuga:             4,32,000 years

(We are in 28th Kali Yuga, First Quarter - Prathama Paada))

One Maha Yuga: 43,20,000 years (one cycle of the above). 

A cycle of 71 Mahayugas (30,67,20,000 years in our measurement) is the span of one Manvantara. So far, in the present cycle, six Manvantara have lapsed; Swayambhuva, Swarochisha, Uttama, Taapasa, Raivata and Chakshusha. 

Present Indra has his reign in the seventh, Vaivasvata Manvantara. 

King Bali will get his chance in the next Manvantara, the eighth - Saavarni Manvantara.

It is also humbling to note that 14 Manvantara is one day for Chaturmukha Brahma. This is one Kalpa. Present Kalpa is Swetavaraha Kalpa. Another 14 Manvantara is one night for him. 28 Manvantara is one full day for him. His span is 100 years measured by such days! Present Chaturmukha Brahma is in his 51st Year. (Dwiteeya Parardha)

*****

When someone like King Bali has to wait his turn and should not jump the Queue, what about about us, who are insignificant in this vast measurement of time? 

We should learn to be patient and wait for our turns!