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?

Astitva - Identity

The following work is my own. this is my attempt at understanding self and one's identity!

अस्तित्व की खोज में निकला था मैं,
अस्तित्व ही खो कर आ गया मैं।
सुना, देखा पर पाया नहीं,
उसे तो कोई समझा ही नहीं।
               वन में वृक्ष का अस्तित्व,
               वृक्ष में पत्तों का अस्तित्व,
               क्या पाया है कोई?
               समझ पाया है कोई?
सागर में जल का अस्तित्व,
जल में बूँद का अस्तित्व,
प्रेम में प्रेमियों का अस्तित्व,
क्या समझा है कोई?
                अस्तित्व तो समर्पण है,
                अस्तित्व तो रचना है,
                अस्तित्व तो प्रेम है, ना ईर्ष्या है,
                देखा, पाया और समझा बस इतना ही। 

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.

Activity or Inactivity – What should I do?

Arjuna asked Sri Krishna – “O Janardana, O Kesava, why do you urge me to engage in this ghastly warfare, if you think that intelligence is better than furtive work?” – Why should I engage in fighting with the people I I grew up up with? Why should I fight the teacher, who taught me the art of war? Why should I kill the cousins that I played with? Why should I kill so many innocents who have nothing to do with me or Duryodhana? Why should I fight with my elders, who always taught me the way to lead my life?”

I ask the same question – When Shiva closes his eyes to the Maya and realizes that the Maya is the cause of grief, why should we go on the path of Maya?

Sri Krishna answered Arjuna – “Partha, the prakriti or the nature is supposed to recreate itself. Its nature is to procreate and move on continuously. This is the way Brahma created the universe. This is the way I engage with the world.”

For the cycle of nature to keep moving, we all need to play our part and keep performing our actions. Our actions without the expectation of a return makes our deeds even nobler. Humans usually tend to follow a path shown by others. We all look upon others to choose our own activities. Only the ones who choose their own path, shine over others and are chosen as leaders. If the leaders themselves choose the path of inaction or “sanyas”, how would the cycle move?

Inactivity holds the nature’s cycle. Activity keeps it moving. Actions performed by a person are just the roles performed on the stage of the world. The real actor is beyond us. Another way to understand the same concept is the concept of the body and the soul. The body is destructible while the soul is not. The soul moves on to find another body as its house and continues to perform the actions.  

In our own interpretations of the god and the scriptures, we often mistake the God to have different forms and different acts. We often visualize the God to have taught us different paths. What we do not realize that the God himself took different forms to emphasize of different actions that are required to perform based on the situation.