Khalnaayak Ki Khoj - Search for the villain

श्रीमान नायक कहते हैं 
नया है जमाना ,
बेटे और बेटी में फर्क बतलाना। 
बेटी को खूब पढ़ाएंगे ,
पांचवी कक्षा में ही शादी करवायेंगे । 
बहू नहीं बेटी चाहिए ,
साथ में ट्रक भर दहेज़ चाहिए। 
पश्चिम में फ़ैल रहा व्याभिचार ,
और खुद रखते पत्नी चार। 
आधुनिकता है अनैतिकता का प्रचार ,
दूसरे के कपड़ों में झांकते हैं, ढूंढ मौके हजार। 
स्वयं हैं समाज सुधारक ,
और कार्य हैं हृदय विदारक। 
स्वयं हैं महाज्ञानी ,
तानों के सिवाय कुछ भी देना हैं बेमानी। 
देने का हाथ तो है एक,
और बटोरने के अनेक। 
बड़ों का करते हैं बहुत आदर,
सोचते हैं मरें तो काटें पाप के गागर। 
प्रेम है ईश्वर का वरदान,
और प्रेमियों का मिलन है विषपान। 
हम हैं बहुत ज्ञानी,
यह धन माया तो है एक दिन आनी जानी, 
इसे जोड़ कर क्या करोगे ?
मेरे पास छोड़ कर सुखी रहोगे। 
लूटपाट है धर्म इनका,
हिंसा ही है मंत्र इनका। 
मेरे तरकस में हैं अनेकों तीर ,
एक से मरे ख्वाज़ा, एक से मरे पीर। 
एकछत्र राज जो चलना है,
सर्वत्र अपना ही धर्म फैलाना है। 

सूत्रधार / खलनायक के विचार - 

अब तो कहते हैं हम तुमसे यही नितिन,

करना बस यही जतन प्रतिदिन,

बनना हो तो रावण बनना, कंस बनना,

पर इस मानव तन में पसु मत बनना। 

चेहरे पर मुखौटा मत रखना,

जो करना हो वही कहना। 

इस कविता का शीर्षक नायकों कि भीड़ में कहीं गम हो गया,

एक बार फिर नायक खलनायक से जीत गया। 

नायक करता भी रहा और कहता भी रहा,

और मैं इस अंतहीन जनसमूह में कर्मिष्ठ खलनायक ढूँढता रहा। 

What happened to us?

We just celebrated the international Women’s Day on March 8^th. A great day dedicated to women and thanking them for the society we are in. while exchanging messages from different contacts and relaying them to my wife, I was reminded of the season 1 episode 1 of “Satyamev Jayate” program which was aired on May 6^th, 2012. Anchored and and beautifully tackled by Amir Khan, the show focused on the topic of “Female Foeticide”. Looking back at the statistics recorded in the 2011 census in India, the rate shows killing of about a million girls a year. Considering the demographies, it is noted that the rate of female foeticide is higher in both literate and as well as illiterate communities. Even affluent communities have shown this mortal sin at skyrocketing rates. In another disturbing news, a few weeks ago, a high ranking official stabbed his wife suspecting her of infidelity. Rapes have become a regular feature.

Even while we consider the rest of the crimes (molestation, eve teasing, groping etc.) committed against women to be insignificant, this is quite alarming. However, given our state, the crimes are rising just like Sursa’s mouth.

The Indian society – predominated by the Hindu philosophy of living has always worshipped women as a Godess, a mother, a sister, a wife and a daughter. There are countless examples of learned and even warrior females in the Hindu scriptures.

The question arises as to why have we degenerated ourselves into the unfathomable society that we are in today?

In my view, the issue lies in within us and in our interpretation of our habituated truths! Whether it’s us or our children, our thoughts emanate from our values. Our values come from our beliefs. And our beliefs come from what we see, what we hear and what we practice. Like it or not, we have created this myth that the woman is inferior to man – check it out yourself – a man chooses his bride and can reject anyone without having to give an explanation. We have considered that a male is positive while the female is negative. A person born with a female body is considered to be a burden as compared to a male body. We have started a comparison amongst the two than understanding the differences and the abilities of the two. The scriptures celebrate both – male and female – saying that they are inseparable and the two together only can help you understand the nature.

In the past when there were news articles about the disgrace brought upon women, certain intellectuals deftly shifted the responsibility. Looking back at our fundamentals was missed out by many. Our scriptures, tell us stories about

• Bhudevi who runs as a cow to escape the wrath of gods, humans and asuras but is comfortably sitting beside Vishnu upon assurance of her well-being
• Lakshmi who runs away from Indra who desires her but is calmly sitting with Vishnu who just loves her without desire.
• Parvati who loves, adores Shiva even when he is mendicant and unattached to everything
• Kali who rises above Shiva and drinks blood

What we see are two very extreme portraits of a woman and her relationship with a man. In my understanding, the society is struggling hard to find the balance between the two extremes. And since we do not understand a true balance, we often allude to it being nonexistent and commit heinous crimes towards each other.

The importance for the society is to realize the difference and acknowledge it. Just as we acknowledge the different creations of nature, we need to acknowledge the man and the woman. After all, it’s only the difference of physical appearance. Spiritually we are the same. Once we can appreciate the differences and allow for both the forms to coexist and move forward will we be able to create a better society for all. Not only this applies to the crimes committed towards other women or children, but also in our married lives.

The six pointed star

A six pointed star holds a great significance in various culture and religions.

Referred to as the “Star of David”, it represents the identity of the Jews. Christians revere the star as the Star of Creation and each point denoting the day of creation. Muslims also consider the star an important symbol. It represents the “Seal of Solomon”. Quran says that David and King Solomon were prophets and kings and hence their symbols are revered too.

Figure 1: The Star of David	Figure 2: The star on Pope's crown
Figure 3: Hexagonal structure in the Qutab complex - Islamic Architecture	Figure 4: Use of the star in Humayun's Tomb

The Mormons or the Latter-Day Saints symbolize the star as the union of God and the man – the downward triangle representing the descent of god from heavens upon mankind and the upward triangle represents the man rising up to god through his deeds. And I bet all the symbol enthusiasts must have been waiting to hear about the free masonry and the star! Well, yes the star is interpreted as two interlacing triangles or union of two principles or forces prevailing in the universe. And the star is an important symbol in occult practices. It is considered both as a talisman and for conjuring spirits.

Even our Hindu scriptures are not unaware of the star. The star is used to represent the union of spirituality with materialism. The upward triangle shows the spiritual ascent and the downward triangle represents the material binding which keeps humans a part of the nature. These triangles also represent the union of the male and the female creations of the nature. The male form is suggested to be able to focus itself on the spiritual ascension while the female form is capable of creating the life within itself and hence represents the growth of materialism. While one argues that one form is superior over the other, the knowledge lies in the union of the forms and the balance provided by them. The growth in one dimension requires a balance from the other to offer stability. Remember the “tilak” on the forehead of Sri Venkateswara or Sri Vishnu? Notice that the tilak has three lines – a cup like figure made of two white lines joined together and an ascending redline in the middle bounded by the cup or the joint white lines. The red line represents the spirituality and the white lines represent the material nature. The cup or the chalice thus formed, gives the much needed balance to the spiritual growth of a man.

Figure 5: The star in Hinduism

Figure 6: Sri Venkateswara's Tilak

Indradhanush

इंद्रधनुष की छटा निराली ,

कभी लालिमा तो कभी हरियाली ,

जीवन की भी रीत ऐसी ,

कभी आँसू तो कभी बातें सुहासी। 

धनुष है सन्देश प्रेम का 

धरती से आकाश के मिलन का ,

और जीवन 

स्वयं ईश्वर से मानव का। 

फूल खिल उठते हैं ,

पक्षी सुरीले गीत गाते हैं ,

बरखा और सूरज मिल कर नाचते हैं ,

जब इंद्रधनुष के दर्शन होते हैं। 

और यहाँ गोली चलती है ,

छुरी भोंकी जाती हैं ,

उसी जीवन को ख़त्म करने के लिए ,

जो ईश्वर से हमें मिलता है। 

इंद्रधनुष के रंग कई ,

पर सब रंग दिखें साथ। 

मानव के भी रूप कई ,

पर हम रहे खुद को बाँट। 

माँ के लिए 

सब बच्चे होते समान ,

फिर प्रकृति की गोद में ,

हम करों बनें असमान। 

My work published on an hindi portal in 2001 - http://www.anubhuti-hindi.org/nayihawa/n/nitinrastogi/indradhanush.htm

Who is a Brahmin?

Few days ago, friends and I got into a discussion – a discussion that I just try to avoid at all costs – the Varna system. I try to evade the topic as much I can, because it has been blown up out of proportions already. It has become such a political hot potato that not only everyone wants to get it off their plate, but also want to add spices to be able to eat it. Hence, in a nutshell, everyone hates this topic, but would like to keep the debate to make whatever gains they can. Who am I to fight the world? Here we go again!

Varna or caste system started with the Hinduism, but has been exploited by many. The earliest examples of the caste system may be many but the few notable ones are – Kevata and Shabri in Ramayan, Karna and Eklavya in Mahabharata. Not only the Shudra’s or Brahmins talk about it, but even Arjuna and Krishna spoke of the caste system at length in Geeta.

चातुर्वर्णयं मया सृष्टं गुणकर्मविभागशः ।

तस्य कर्तारमपि मां विद्ध्यर्कतारमव्ययम् ।। ४\-१३

Sri Krishna tells Arjun that he is the creator of the four “varna” or groups divided through the qualities or the “gunas”. Krishna explains to Arjun that he created the four classifiers to classify the humans based on the actions they perform. And guess what, the actions they perform define the degree of presence of the “guna” in them. He also explains to Arjun, that any action performed with the expectation of the fruits, lowers the value of the action itself. Thereby reducing the action and moving away from the path of salvation – the ultimate truth!

Viewing this whole idea in a 2*2 matrix, it would look like -

In the Mahabharata, rishi Bharadwaja asks rishi Bhrigu about the classification of the humans, and is told that there was only one class of humans as created by Brahma the creator. However, the actions and the intentions of the humans got them distinguished into the classes of their own.

एकवर्णम इदम पूर्व विश्वम आसिद युधिश्ठिर

कर्मक्रियाविशेसेन चतुर्वर्ण्यम प्रतिश्ठितम

It is even said that whether it’s the Brahmins or the shudra, all of them are blood brothers and it is very difficult to determine the caste of a person by birth as men can get offsprings from all sort of women.

अन्त्यजो विप्रजातिश च एक एव सहोदरः

एकयोनिप्रसूतस् च एकसाखेन जायते

So what’s the definition of a Brahmin?

Per rishi Bharadwaj, all humans were created by Brahma as Brahmans. Those who took the path of Passion, Indulgence, Pleasures, Desires, Courage and attributes of severity and wrath were known as Kshatriyas. Those who still had passion and goodness but chose to professions of agriculture and cattle rearing became Vaisyas. And those who chose to completely ignore their duties of Brahmin and adopt the path of Darkness under the influence of untruth, cupidity, injuring others and ready to do any kind of jobs were known as Shudra.

But the question remains – Who is a Brahmin?

In my understanding (Thanks to Dr Devdutta Pattnaik), Brahmin comes from two sanskrit words – Brah and Manas. While Manas means mind, Brah means expansion. Therefore anyone capable of expanding their mind to understand the acts of God and impact of their own actions is a Brahmin. This is the reason, Brahmins were chosen to be the learned and be the teachers.

How should we motivate?

We discussed the concept of hunger in my previous post – “What’s your promised land?” It’s the hunger that defines the needs and the goals for oneself. We also discussed the need for motivation in the other post – “Who needs motivation?” In this post let’s examine how we should motivate using the concepts defined earlier!

It is a known fact that the life is a sequence events and our life is shaped by how we handle these events. What we should also see that our desires change at every step. Thus changing the desire for the Promised Land.

The sequence and the decisions may be different for every human, and hence our lives are different too. It is very difficult to define a common path or a common stand for all to measure up. How do I motivate others in such a case?

The answer is simple – communicate to them by realizing their Promised Land. Look for what they want. Watch what are they hungry for? Once we determine other’s hunger, it is easier to empathize and motivate.

Remember, Vishnu attracts Lakshmi and Indra wants Lakshmi but is afraid of losing her.

Be a Vishnu and not Indra. Lakshmi will come to you.

Realize other’s hunger and help them fulfill it.

Who needs motivation?

When Hanuman and his group of monkeys reached the sea shore in search for Sita, all of them discussed ways to cross the sea. Some said that they could jump upto 100 yards but it may not be enough to reach Lanka on the other end of the sea! They even started to think ways to lead their lives without returning to their home – Kishkindha and face the wrath of failure. Then, amidst all the discussions, an old bear – Jambvant spoke to Hanuman – “Oh Vayuputra Hanuman! Only you can cross the ocean. You can easily jump across the ocean and reach Lanka in no time. You have descended on the earth for a purpose. You had once flew and ate the Sun itself. Your power and reach has no bounds”. Hanuman had forgotten his powers due to a curse.

Jambvant was praising Hanuman and motivating him to realize his potential. He chose his words carefully, realizing his power and putting the overall goal in front of Hanuman inspiring him to achieve.
In Bhagwad Gita, Krishna told Arjun that one must lead their life to do the acts of God without the expectation of the fruits. He also said that the “Karma” or the acts performed are transactional in nature and can be easily termed as “Yagna”. Yagna is where the doer or the “yajman” performs the act and offers it to the God. The God in return absolves the doer of the outcome and provides solace. It is this solace and notion of peace, which keeps the performer going. Arjuna had given up on his weapons and was ready to renounce the war of Mahabharata, if it was not the motivation from Sri Krishna. He also said that transactional relationships are also causes for stress and may cause either parties to stray away. And whenever such a stress jeopardizes the action, the God himself would descend to correct the course.
Each one of us, need the motivation just like Hanuman or Arjun. We all have potential to achieve our goals, but have forgotten it somehow. It is very difficult for any human being to perform the acts and foregoing the fruits. At the same time, it is very difficult to lead a meaningful life, knowing fully well that there will be innumerable lives after this one! To keep moving on the path of Gita, one needs motivation. When Brahma’s creation lacks motivation, it starts rotting and strays from the path of sustenance. This is the time, the God takes a form to destroy the rotten part and rejuvenate the creation once more, giving it a new life and a new meaning.
Doesn’t it sounds like the corporate story too? Every organization has its own set of employees, leaders, managers and owners. When all the constituents are well motivated, the organization is healthy. Motivation comes in many forms – Power, Attitude, Incentive, Fear, Competence, Affiliation and Achievement.
Those, who have the ability to lead, must not forget the power of motivating their followers. They look upon you to help them realize their potential. Won’t you help them?