Chaand

चाँद 

काली अमावस्या गई,

और चाँद फिर निकला। 

रोज नयी छटा बिखेरता,

चांदनी की शीतलता लिए,

देखो चाँद फिर निकला। 

बढ़ता ही रहा,

हमारे संबंधों की तरह,

विशाल अजगर की तरह,

आज की महंगाई की तरह,

देखो चाँद बहता ही रहा। 

अचानक चाँद रुक गया,

हमारा रिश्ता भी बदल गया। 

चाँद अब घट रहा था,

तुम भी तो दूर जा रहे थे,

जब तुम न थे, चाँद पूरा निकला था। 

अँधेरा फिर से छा रहा है,

हम तुम बिछड़ चुके हैं। 

पुनः चाँद का इंतज़ार कर रहे हैं,

पुनः मिलन की आस जोट रहे हैं। 

अमावस फिर से छा रही है। 

पर अब अमावस भयावह नहीं,

हम तुम अकेले भी नहीं। 

परिपक्व संबंधों की आड़ में,

सुन्दर यादों की छाँव में,

चाँद फिर से निकलेगा। 

Vedic story about the birth of animals

The vedas and puranas are not the scriptures that talk about the religion, but the knowledge that our ancient Indians had. They talk about the existence of life and its purpose. They talk about a framework that defines the life and the actions during one’s lifecycle. We may have seen many frameworks succeeding or failing with time. However, the vedic framework of life has stood tall over time and provides a great explanation for the facts we see often.

I shall be trying to narrate stories / incidents from different scriptures that revolve around the closes siblings to the humans – animals. As the western concept – the evolution of humans theory of Charles Darwin – we were once animals. I will be referring to many great scriptures and notable writers in my quest for stories. Please bear with me even if you feel plagiarism. I am just lamenting upon knowledge that I am gathering – not producing.

We all know Brahma as the creator of the universe. The vedas tell us that Brahma started the creation to understand his own being. In his quest to understand the purpose of himself, Brahma created the universe and the organisms that inhabit the world. In order to progress his creation he created his sons. These were known to be born from his thoughts hence are known as “Manas Putra”. Narada muni is one of the most famous manas putra of Brahma. Brahma’s sons played an important role in the creation and also in providing for the creation to survive. The sons who helped in the providing are well known as “Prajapati”.

Brahma’s son Kashyap is said to be the father of all living creatures.  He had many wives. Each of them gave birth to a different set of creatures. The names of his wives and the children are as follows –

Kashyap’s Wife	Their children	Characteristics
Aditi	Devas or gods	Live in the sky
Diti	Asuras or demons	Live under the earth
Kadru	Nagas, slithering snakes and worms	Crawl on trees and on the earth
Vinata	Garuda, birds and insects	Fly in the air
Sarama	Wild creatures	Have claws
Surabhi	Gentle animals	Have hooves
Timi	Fishes	Live in water
Suarasa	Monsters

At the same time, vedas also talk about the gods travelling from one place to the other. For this movement, they require a vehicle. The vehicles for the gods were none other than animals, thus giving a new shape and name to the animals. Some of the well known vehicles or ‘vahans’ are –

God	Animal used as vehicle
Vishnu	Eagle (Garuda)
Brahma	Swan (Hamsa)
Saraswati	Swan (Hamsa)
Maheswara or Shiv or Shankara	Bull (Nandi)
Vinayaka or Ganesha or Ganapati	Rat (Mooshika)
Subramanyam or Shanmuga or Katikeya	Peacock (Mayura)
Yamraja or Dharmaraja	Buffalo (Bhainsa)
Dattatreya	Dog (Sunaka)
Durga or Amba or Parvati	Lion (Singh)
Indra	White Elephant (Airavata)
Surya	Horses (Ashva)
Shani	Vulture (Giddha)
Mangal	Lion
Agni	Male sheep
Chandra	Male sheep
Bhairava	Dog
Khandoba	Dog
Ganga – Since she is seen as a bubbly fast flowing	Makar
Yamuna – since she is darker and sluggish	Turtle
Lakshmi	Owl
Kama	Parrot
Kaalratri or Kaali	Donkey
Alakshmi	Crow
Shukra	Crocodile

The common folklore stories may have many more vahanas.

During the nine days of the Brahmotsavam at Tirupati Tirumala Devasthanam, Sri Venkateswara is taken in procession with different animals as his vahans on each day.

Day	Sri Venkateshwara’s Vahan
1	Shesha (Serpent)
2	Shesha (Sepent)
3	Hansa (Swan)
4	Singha (Lion)
5	Garuda (Eagle)
6	Hanuman (Monkey)
7	Gaja (Elephant)
8	Ashwa (Horse)

To add to the list, God Vishnu is known to have taken different forms of animals marking his incarnation upon earth. Some of the very well known forms are –

1.     Matsya

2.     Kurma

3.     Varaha

4.     Narsimha

Brahma, in the process of creation created Shatrupa – the first woman. He fell in love with his own creation and took forms to follow her and express his love for her. Shatrupa kept changing her form into many animals, and Brahma kept following her. This went on till the extent when Shiva had to cut off Brahma’s fifth head.

God Shiva, also known as a yogi, took many postures or asanas to be one with his form. This pleased him and kept him at peace with himself. Many of these asanas look similar to the forms of the animals. It is believed that when Shiva took this posture, the corresponding animals came to life.

Asana	Animal
Ushtra-asna	Camel
Matsya-asana	Fish
Bhujanga-asana	Snakes
Shalabh-asana	Locusts
Go-mukh-asana	Cows

The yogis shall be able to tell much more of these names.

The collection of stars or constellations were named after animals, as they resembled their forms. What we do not understand is that the animals were formed based on the forms of the constellations, or because we know the animals that we see the constellations in this form?

The hindu belief also says that the human form is obtained after the soul passess through 8,40,000 animal wombs or ‘yonis’. Each form is known as the yoni of the soul. Depending upon the deeds of the soul in the previous yoni shall define the next yoni and the personality of the soul’s form. The cow yoni is supposed to be preceding the human yoni. Yet, which is the first – human or animal – is up for debate!

Precursor to my new series

I was going through my previous blog posts and thinking over them again and again. One of the most prominent themes that come across is the importance of storytelling and its impacts in defining one's character. Be it personality, appearance or the mannerisms – all are affected by the way the person thinks. Most of the stories that we relate to are the ones that we have heard while growing up and have a message hidden within them. Many of these stories have a character best described as an animal yet able to converse with humans, gods and demons with equal ease. The animal character in these stories holds immense significance as it bears the central idea that the story has to offer.
Many years ago, a very learned man – Pt Vishnu Sharma authored an entire book of stories with only animals as the characters – Panchtantra. The vedas and puranas are filled with scriptures wherein the animals talk sense to the humans. All these stories and symbols tell us of that despite the looks and habitat, animals and humans are not much different from each other. The only difference between the two species comes from the advanced brain of the humans. Charles Darwin actually proposed a theory of evolution which made him immortal.
Starting today from this article, I plan to write the stories from colloquial beliefs that have one or more elements related to animals. I request you all to share your ideas with me so that I do not miss out on the stories.

Why should I learn my language?

The popular management theories revolve around measurements, corrections and rewards. You measure everything through the eyes of meeting success, correcting what doesn’t and reward what does.

A great thinker and a philosopher has remarked – “As is your belief, so is your behavior and hence so is your business.” In a nutshell, it means that to understand one’s business, it is important to understand what the person believes in. Looking through his glass, one finds a paradox – measurable business, but immeasurable belief. Yet, it’s the belief that leads to the business. How did it happen?

Belief is the truth or the ideas that shape up the persona – identity, thought and the aura around the person. The beliefs make the person’s opinions. The beliefs are made out of the subjective truth the person lives by. They may not mean the same to others but mean the world to the person concerned.

Hence, they are not the objective truth or absolute but subjective truth or relative given the circumstances. Belief is made and enhanced through the stories, symbols and signs around oneself. The stories that have a meaning in a context, yet meaningless to others. This is also same as mythology.

Charles Darwin, a well renowned scientist, explained the evolution of humans from monkeys. The fact that remains is that the humans are still animals with an enlarged brain. It’s the brain or the mind that distinguishes the humans from animals. It’s the mind that gives the limitless power to the humans through imagination. And it’s the mind and the power of imagination that turns the humans fearful. The fear is a result of the thought that emanates from the unfavorable imagination or something beyond imagination.

The humans deal with their fear everyday and every moment. This defines their behavior. Since everyone’s fear is different, their behavioral pattern differs. The person living in the poverty fears about his food for the next day, while a well-to-do person fears for the food and the luxury for his future generations. An even better-to-do person fears for his name and fame. Thus comes the Maslow’s pyramid of needs.

To deal with their fears and the need for a better future, humans created boundaries across everything – event the thoughts in their mind are contained. The boundaries create a structure – a measurable fundamentalist unit called society or a culture. The Indian society leans heavily on the brahmanical society revolving around the pinnacle – Brahmin. Unfortunately, in the quest to get to the highest form, we have forgotten the true meaning of the Brahmin – “Greater Mind” (Brah + Man). A mind expanded to infinity is attaining divinity!

The best way to understand a person and his behavior is to understand his beliefs. And the beliefs are created through the stories and symbols shared with them since their childhood. Just like the same rice and pulses cooked in every house has a different taste to itself, the stories told in every household differs in the point they make.

The Indian mindset has been trained or cultivated with the stories of Rama and Krishna as separate identities yet forgetting the point that they are different incarnations of the same Vishnu. One most important learning from the Indian Philosophy is that nothing lasts forever. And everything happens in a context. Without the context, anything is meaningless.

To understand the Indian philosophy, we must understand what our scriptures tell us. The stories, symbols, signs and messages that each of them have for us. The best way to understand them would be to read them in the language they are written to understand the true meaning and the context. This is where I believe the true value of “Vedic Vidyalaya” lies.

DISCLAIMER - I wrote this article for the annual magazine for "Vedic Vidyalaya" 2015. Most of my thoughts and writing are inspired from Dr Devdutt Pattnaik. I make no claim that my thoughts are original, but I am proud that I am starting to understand the purpose. My earnest request to all of my readers is to share your views and stories with me to keep me going. 

Yet another look at generosity

We recently completed the fundraiser for Nepal earthquake victims. Thank you all for all your support to us for this great event. It was a well attended program and very well organized. My wife has done a great job for a noble cause and has collected amazing amount of funds to be given to the Red Cross. I am so proud of having a partner who is passionate and keeps me on my toes in the quest for good deeds. While we were working our way with the fund raiser, we met with a person who is to go to Nepal and help rebuild homes. We hope that our small contribution makes an impact in someone’s life.

At the time when left out grey cells in the right hemisphere of the thing called brain were working on the event, the whitish grey cells in the left hemisphere were busy thinking of another story.

Let me retell it for you.

When the armies of Kauravas and Pandavas met each other face to face, ready to fight, there was a moment of stillness. A surprising quietness filled the atmosphere. The soldiers, captains, commanders and generals were sizing their counterpart in the other side. Suddenly a chariot came in between the two armies. The flag of the chariot sported a monkey, the charioteer was Sri Krishna and the owner was none other than Arjuna. Arjuna had requested Sri Krishna to steer him to the middle ground between the armies so that he can have a look at all the people who have come to fight this war on either sides. After giving a thorough look, he spoke to Sr Krishna – “Hey lord, what is the point of fighting this war? I am going to be fighting my own sons, nephews, brothers, uncles, teachers and in-laws? What is the point of winning this war, when I would have to set the throne on their corpses? Looking at all this, I do not wish to fight this war. I will give up my weapons and declare defeat. Let Kauravas take whatever they want!”. Sri Krishna laughed at hearing this. And asked “What a noble thought Parth! But let me ask you, where is this generosity coming from? Fear or Kindness? Are you letting go of your pride because you are afraid of loosing your loved ones? Or Are you letting go of your pride that you realize that it is meaningless?”

Bottom line of this conversation was – “Where does generosity comes from?”

The human mind is capable of imagination. Unfortunately, the imagination also gives rise to feeling of fear. The fear could be for anything, most prominent being failure and social pressure. Many times, we perform act not out f free will, but because of the social pressure. Fearing that non performance shall result in non compliance with the society.

Any charity done because of the fear is not generosity! It is neither charity. I am yet to find a suitable word to define the act. Please let me know if you have one.

Reviving generosity - the act of giving

I have had been unsure of what I wanted to write. Don't get me wrong - this has been a common thing with me - being unsure or being confused. If I think deeply, I believe this is the same situation for almost all of us. We are highly unsure at the moment of taking a decision or committing towards something. Committing is like entering a contract - you shall not back out of a contract! Isn't that management? Guess what? breaking a contract was the topmost crime that must be dealt with iron fist as taught to Yudhishthira by Bheeshma Pitamah on his death bed.

Recently, there was a earthquake in Nepal claiming many lives and livelihood of many others. Followed by the earthquake, the nature showed little pity through a snowfall and series of quakes that have left the people shaky. Being in the Himalayas, the worst affected places have been cut off from the rest of the world as the roads and the bridges have been affected too. This has jeopardized the rescue and relief efforts as well. Not just Nepal, but the adjoining areas have been through a great trauma since the nature shook its head. The people over there need help, need us, need belief that someone somewhere shall come to their rescue. 

The god or the superpower or the supernatural we all believe in, will come to the rescue of the fallen and shall help them. But how? I believe he sends his agents to work on his behalf and later get immortalized as his incarnations. This is just a belief, but a strong one. I believe this is an opportunity for all the rescue workers to step up and get immortalized in the visions of the people of Nepal and affected areas. In this attempt to provide the relief, all of us can play a part. Do whatever you can to help the rescue and relief missions - supplies, money, labor, honesty, getting down there and helping with the rebuilding - anything that you can.

Of course, money is an important media for charity, but not the only one. As I spoke in my earlier posts, charity is not simply an act of giving. Charity is an act of enabling someone to withstand their hardships and get back to normal routine. And that's the reason, why I emphasize on the thought behind the act than the act itself. The purity of thought, the vision behind the act defines the way in which the act is exercised and thus the outcome is defined. Thinking of an example to this idea is the birth of Dhritrashtra, Pandu and Vidura (If you want the explanation on that topic, contact me). 

We have always read and believed in the saying that "God helps those who help themselves" - a great thought. However, in my opinion, this is quite a selfish thought for it creates a way for one to turn away from the act of giving. The giver is always considered higher than the one who takes. Giving away something that you have in excess is simply an act of charity. But giving away something which is near and dear to you is only triggered through generosity. Karna was not remembered for giving away all his money but for giving away his armour and earrings which made him invincible. 

As per the Hindu belief, we are expected to give away provisions on Makar Sankranti, thinking that it shall provide for us in next life. Islam and even Christianity subscribes to the thought of giving or charity. Thereby upholding the virtues of charity. 

An act of giving with an expectation of returns is not charity but business. Generosity is not even in question in such a transaction. An act of giving under force is also not charity, but can be termed as a loot or taken by force. If you wish your act goes a long way, do it with a pure heart. It cleans yourself and creates a better world to live in.