What’s your promised land?

The book of Exodus tells the story of the Promised Land – the land promised to Abraham by God. God promised Abraham and later his descendants a land full of milk, honey and bread for them and all of their followers. This is a very well-known story and am sure many of us must have heard it as well. One must note that there is only one Promised Land where a person gets all that he wants or rather promised by God, provided he fulfils all the duties and complies by the rules laid out for him.

In the Hindu way of thinking, we have not one but 3 promised lands – Swarga, Kailasha and Vaikuntha. Let’s examine and understand!

Swarga or Heaven

Swarga or the pinnacle of all human wants is ruled by Indra. Full of all riches and dancing damsels, it is the dream of all humans. Asuras fight all their life gain control of the Swarga. Indra is the protector of Swarga and keeps both Asuras and Humans away.

There are three main things which make the swarga – Kamadhenu (an all-giving cow), Kalpavriksha (an all-giving tree) and Chintamani (an all-problem-resolver gem). Each of these items give you what you want when you ask them. Yet, we always see Indra worried of others taking over his swarga. Each time, there is an undefeatable Asura at his door and he runs for help. Each time there is a sage or a good king on the earth and he sends his damsels to dissuade them from their deeds.

Indra yearns for power and strives to feed himself before anything else.

All-in-all we see a lot of prosperity, yet no peace in this promised land.

Mount Kailasha

The abode of Shiva atop the mountains is covered with snow. Nothing grows there and nothing sustains there due to frigid. Yet Shiva and his family lives happily. Shiva is beyond the hunger. He is devoid of all the Maya emotions. In any calendar depicting Shiva’s family, you’ll see Shiva’s conveyance – Nandi the bull. Despite of no vegetation and no grass, the bull is happy. He doesn’t feels hungry! Shiva’s wife – Parvati or Annapurna or Devi rides a lion. A lion preys on a bull to feed itself. But they don’t do so. The snake around Shiva’s neck feeds on the rat. And there is a rat – Ganesha’s ride. Peacock – Karthikeya’s ride, eats snakes. But it doesn’t do it either. All live in harmony with each other.

 

This is because they are not hungry – they do not feel the hunger. Another thing to note – animals kill only when they are hungry! Animals feel their own hunger and care for that only. Humans on the other hand have the ability to sense other’s hunger too.

At Mount Kailasha we see a lot of peace but no prosperity.

Vaikuntha

The ocean of milk, the bed of Sheshnaga, Lakshmi at his footsteps, Garuda bowing to take orders and followers worshipping – the abode of Vishnu is well displayed in this image.

Vaikuntha is where we see prosperity and peace living together in a harmonious balance with each other. While the Sheshnaga provides a bed for Vishnu, Garuda provides him a ride. While Sheshnaga examines everything with a shorthsighted approach, Garuda provides farsightedness. Though many followers are here and many a gods asking for help, Vishnu rests in peace and smiles all the time. This peace is what keeps Lakshmi with him. He doesn’t has to fight anyone to protect Lakshmi, but she is with him by her choice.

Vishnu considers other’s hunger before himself. He empathizes with others and hence is known as the preserver.

Consider, what’s your hunger. Consider whose hunger matters to you! And you’ll get to your promised land.

I must give thanks to Dr Devdutta Pattnaik for having helped me see these patterns. This article is his ideas, represented in my words.