Brahma’s fifth head

Brahma the creator of the universe is always seen with four heads. All of us must have heard different stories upon the significance of the four heads of Brahma. Some one says that the four heads represent the four "yugas" or the largest measure of time. Some say the heads are in four different directions to be able to see all around and be omniscient and omnipresent.

What is lesser known is that Lord Brahma was known to have five heads. There are two propagated stories depicting how the fifth head of Lord Brahma was lost.

Story 1

Brahma had the fifth head of a donkey. Once there was a war amongst the gods and the asuras. The gods were in a winning situation and the defeated asuras were fleeing away from the battlefield. Just then the gods realized that the donkey head of Brahma started calling out to the asuras requesting them not flee. The donkey head offered help to the asuras and told them ways to fight and defeat the gods. All the gods were furious at this display and requested Vishnu's intervention. The gods requested Vishnu to cut the fifth o the donkey head of Brahma. While Vishnu granted this wish, he also warned that if the chopped head falls down, the entire universe would be destroyed. The gods then requested Shiva to hold the chopped head of Brahma and he agreed. The place where Shiva finally rested the chopped head of Brahma is known as Rudratirtha, near Badrinatha.

Story 2

Brahma created various creatures, god, asuras, facets of life and nature. Finally he created a woman and named her Shatarupa – one who takes a hundred forms. He was fascinated with this creation of his. His fascination with Shatarupa was so great that he became obsessed with her. He could leave her out of his sight. She tried to escape Brahma's gaze by moving in different directions, and Brahma grew heads to keep her in sight. Then Shatarupa ascended upward hoping to escape, but then Brahma grew the fifth head facing upwards. Shatarupa then requested Shiva for help. Here are two versions on how Shiva helped –

• Version 1 – Shiva cut off Brahma's head and held it on his trident. He then rested the trident in Rudratirth.
  
• Version 2 – Shiva unleashed Rudra on Brahma. Rudra was also Brahma's creation. Rudra then destroyed Brahma's head by his claws and beak.
  

Since Brahma felt ashamed of the sin he committed towards his own daughter – Shatarupa, he is ever since chanting Vedas to absolve himself of the sins.

The moral of either stories is that when an organ or a person starts becoming a nuisance and is not performing upto the requirements, it's better to cut it off. We need to understand the purpose to realize the bigger perspectives than smaller gains or losses. Always realize what you need, what you can do than being happy or sad on little gains.

 

Ravana’s ten heads

On the occasion of Dussehra, I watched burning Ravana's effigy. The kids were excited and the crowd was enthralled. The entire celebration was construed as a fair. We even joked around that Ravana could never wear a round neck t-shirt or didn't need any one for chorus! Great enjoyment, but then the questions arose. Is there a man with ten heads? How would a man with ten heads look like? What are those ten heads? How would they behave? Do the ten heads speak on their turn or all at the same time?

Ravana's heads are best described in Anand Neelkantan's "Asura: Tale of the vanquished". He goes on to explain the ten heads as embodiment of the ten base emotions –

1. Anger
   
2. Pride
   
3. Jealousy
   
4. Happiness
   
5. Sadness
   
6. Fear
   
7. Selfishness
   
8. Love
   
9. Ambition
   
10. Mind (Devoid of all the above factors)
    

Ravana was educated that the nature gave him one head for the purpose of keeping only the tenth quality and not the first nine. A person with only the tenth head is slated to rise and shine.

Ravana did question the suggestion of 9 heads; and provide wonderful logic. Let's see how much we grasp and where?

Playing a devil's advocate, let me tell you the other part of the story –

• A misdirected anger can be harmful. Anger blinds your judgment. However, should you not be angry when you see the injustice? Should you not utilize your anger to electrify your emotions and push you into the right direction?
  
• Why shouldn't you be proud of your achievements? You worked hard and did you best. Why shouldn't you recognize your efforts?
  
• Jealousy motivates us. It helps us moving ahead. What's the harm in a healthy competition?
  
• Equanimity in sadness and happiness is close to being inhumane. How can you not be sad or happy for a loved one if not yourself?
  
• Why shouldn't you be afraid of death? Why shouldn't you plan for your loved ones after your death? We fear death not because we will be gone, but for our loved ones.
  
• You have gained a lot through sweating, Shouldn't you protect your gains? Why should your protection be called as selfishness? Selfishness – often leads to building empires. Shouldn't you be selfish and build something that others cherish?
  
• Whys shouldn't you love? Why should love be a base emotion? If so, why does a mother loves the child? Why should god love the humans?
  

Being able to draw a thin line and acknowledging is a true meaning of Vijayadashmi to me.

Let's ask ourselves, which head did we curb this Dussehra? Which Ravana did we kill this year? If we didn't are we qualified enough to celebrate the festival or burn the effigy of a person who was way more learned than us?

Rules

How many number of times would you have felt frustrated with some rules? And while in the same frustration mode, you would have exasperatedly questioned "who hell made that rule?"

This happens to all of us. Different time, and different place but to all of us.

Rules represent a manner in which each behavior must happen. Rules define boundaries to every code of conduct and define the parameters. The parameters (or metrics in the management terminology) are the basics to judgment. This classifies whether the conduct on the scales of morality, justness and righteousness.

We all follow the rules as they are everywhere. There is a rule for even our basis existence. Rules slowly become the laws, through enforcements. Our rituals are also rules followed by us in view of pleasing the gods.

Let's try to understand the origin of the rules. The rules are constructed as guidelines for behavior to uphold the principles. Having said this, I would also stress on the fact that the rules are bound with time and place and hence are circumstantial. Anything which is circumstantial is temporary. Consider this example – A north indian meal focusses on a wheat bread and puts rice in a bowl to add the taste. A south indian meal on the other hand focuses on the varieties of rice and provides wheat bread on the side. This ritual or a custom is based on the fact that paddy is grown in Southern India and wheat is grown in Northern India.

In our own quest for being known as a good person, we just follow the rules without understanding the underlying principle. Thus keeping the letter of the law we miss the intent. Are we becoming like Duryodhana, Dhritrashtra and Bhishma? They followed the law that could do whatever to their slave and yet disrobed their own daughter-in-law in front of everyone?

It was the rule of the "Raghukul" which Rama followed and went to exile. It was also the law of the land for the king to have a wife of remarkable reputation. Since a lowly citizen of Rama Rajya raised a finger on Sita's reputation, a pregnant lady was sent to the forest. Was following the rule right?

Rama followed his father's request and went to exile. This way he not only creates an empire but also cleanse the earth of the unruly asuras. Bhishma also follos his father's wish and creates a dynasty that led the whole India to the most bloody war. Following your father's wish or command is a rule. Is this rule right?

Rules are helpful in taming the desires and ambitions of the mighty over the meek. They help the meek to survive. But aren't they also hampering the free will of the mighty? Could be the mighty may provide a net new way of leading the life? An interesting comment from Devdutt Pattaik is "Rules don't make Ram Rajya. Rules make tamed animals".

I believe the principle is more important than the law or the rule itself.

The hindu dharma – based on the Vedic literature talks about principles and not rules or rituals or laws. The biblical, judeo-islamic cultures however, do talk of the set of rules dictated by the god himself or his messenger. I, in no way am qualified to question the righteousness of any of the rules. But understanding the principle and the circumstances that led to the rule will make it easy to follow whatever you want.

Finding Nemo

Quite an interesting name for my first ever blog.

Interesting since it reminds every one of the movie and its iconic place in the heart of almost all the kids and the indefatigable search of a father for his son.

Though my blog is not related to the movie and definitely doesn't swims under the ocean, but it is also an indefatigable search for the self. (I leave the judgment for the word – indefatigable to you).

I believe that life has a purpose. Everything we do or happens is for a purpose. It is the search for that purpose, which drives me.

I am sure that this blog would be confusing to you at times and probably may make no sense. But I would try to remain true to myself and record the search as it happens.

Reading or not – is your choice. Writing is definitely mine!

Did Yudhishthir go to heaven?

In the last few chapters of Mahabharata, "Svargarohanika Parva" to be precise, Veda Vyasa introduces a nice little story. And as we understand that every story has a moral or a purpose.

After the Mahabharata war, Pandavas ruled their kingdom for 36 years. In the 36^th year, the desire for giving up and moving to the heaven took on them. All the five brothers and their wife – Draupadi started to climb the mountain which was to take them to the heaven or "Swarg". On the way, all four brothers and Draupadi died leaving Yudhishthir alone on his journey.

Upon reaching the heaven, Yudhishthir saw his 100 Kaurava cousins in there but neither his Pandava brothers not his wife Draupadi. He felt anguish in him and charged the gods that they were being unfair by giving heaven to Kauravas and denying the same to his brothers and wife. This anguish shone on him like anger.

He charged the gods for being unfair and giving heaven to treacherous, murderous, unjust Kauravas.

The gods then asked him, what did he do to go to heaven?

Yudhishthir reminded them of the rightful, just life he led. He told them how he upheld the Dharma or the principles throughout his life. He told them of all the sacrifices he made during his journey to the heaven – his kingdom, personal riches, chariots even clothes. He told them that he never turned back even when his most beloved wife and his brothers passed away. He let go of everything that was dear to him.

"Everything" – The gods exclaimed, and asked the reason for his anguish and anger for the Kauravs?

Yudhishthir realized.

He had given up all his worldly possessions.

He had given up all his relations.

He had given up all his desires.

He hadn't given up his hatred for the Kauravas.

He hadn't forgiven the Kauravas.

He hadn't given up on his anger.

He hadn't 'let-go' of all that happened even after 36 years.

Once Yudhishthir understood this, he bowed to the gods and asked for forgiveness. He was told that the heaven image he saw was an illusion to make him realize.

 

But again the question is, did Yudhishthir really go to heaven? Did he stay there? Forever?

Update – I realized I missed writing my own interpretation on this.

To me the purpose of this story was "Forgive" and "Let Go". One does not only holds the worldly possessions and relations. But also the thoughts. We need to clear ourselves of the thoughts as well when cleansing ourselves. In my view this is what Yudhishthir missed.

There is one more story that showcases agony of the anger. I shall write that again later.