The greatness of a civilization can be directly measured by the ideas it
has conceived. Indian civilization, especially during its Vedic period,
has scaled great heights in this regard. It is one thing to be
imaginative in epics and classics, but it is totally a different class
to have immaculate concepts on matters affecting common man in their
daily lives. Some of the Indian concepts on thoroughly materialistic
matters tend to border on philosophy. Equality of man, richness and
self-controls are some aspects of day to day life that our forefathers
have thought out in great depth. Any impartial student of history would
find it truly amazing to discover how the Indian rishis proposed novel
concepts on matters so basic to mankind. A brief look at some of our own
outstanding concepts will be enlightening for most of us.
Advaita
Social concepts about the essential equality of man have found
expression in all civilizations. Yet there has been nothing that can
match the profoundness of our own Advaita. If socialism and struggle for
social justice aim at highlighting the fact that no one is superior,
what can be more meaningful than a belief about the existence of God in
everything? Our ancient rishis have realized long time back that life is
divine in any form and that there is no primacy about man in the long
evolutionary chain of life. Even today, any man would prefer a fierce
but faithful dog as companion than an ungrateful and dangerous human
being. Then what is so noble and special about any man, just because he
has the form of a human being. Equally important are the so called
non-living things in this universe. If we analyze carefully, we can
clearly establish that each and every one of the living beings is
sustaining its life only because of the non-living things around it.
Thus the concept about the same God being present in everything in this
universe is so elementary and undisputable.
While modern isms like Communism and Socialism strive to enforce the
equality of man in an artificial format, the immaculate philosophy of
Advaita underlines the same in a natural way. If we realize the simple
fact that there is an element of God in each and every one of us, there
is no approval or acceptance required from anyone. The whole concept is
much more appealing when we realize that it is the same case with the
apparently dead things around us as well. Everything in this universe is
undistinguishable at the micro level and an ancient philosophy that is
built on this is truly immaculate. How can things composed of
undistinguishable components be considered and treated separately?
Advaita reiterates this seminal idea in unambiguous terms. In this
context, Adi Sankara, who popularized the concept of Advaita is the
foremost socialist in modern times.
Akshayapaatra
There can be an endless debate on who is the richest man on earth. Some
say it is Bill Gates, some others George Bush or Pope or King Abdullah
or some one else. This question boils down to the concept of richness in
the questioner’s mind. Is it the bank balance or peace of mind or health
that makes one rich? Or is it a combination of all these? Or still, is
it the feeling of richness that makes one rich? I am sure there would be
as many answers as the number of attempts to answer it. While the
overall picture of happiness is definitely dependent on a whole lot of
combinations, what is it that can make one consider himself rich in any
situation? We pass through different situations in everyday life and the
demand for each situation is totally different. A rich and powerful
Saddam was cornered in an underground hole and sometimes even the
richest cannot avoid pain in the best hospitals in the world.
It is in this most confusing scenario that we have to appreciate the
ingenuity of our ancient rishis who introduced the concept of
akshayapaatra, which stands for something that can offer anything
what the possessor wants at any time. Imagine the convenience and
comfort embedded in this concept of richness. One doesn’t need a bank
account nor does he need black cats to protect him from the robbers. An
akshayapaatra can provide food, currency notes, medicines and
what not whenever and wherever you need it. All that one got to do is to
attain one and use it properly. But attaining an akshayapaatra is
no easy business. Lord Krishna gave one to Panchali, but only after he
was convinced of her devotion. And he was cent percent sure that it will
never be misused in her hands.
Lakshman Rekha
There are limits imposed on individuals from various quarters. The
legal, moral and social restrictions on individuals in any society are
well known. But the most important one is the self-imposed restriction
by each one of us based on our own conscience. The concept of
Lakshman rekha is one without any parallels in this regard. Though
first imposed (or suggested) by Lakshman on his sister-in-law
Sita, to protect her from the advances of Ravana, the concept
is much more meaningful in everyone’s life. Each one of us must be aware
of the Lakshman rekha in all the transactions or activities we
indulge in. What happened to Sita when she did cross the rekha
is a warning for all of us. And what is more important is to bear in
mind the simple fact that we cannot always expect to have lakshmans to
set limits for us. In the modern world, each of us have to define our
own lakshman rekha at all times and all situations.
The list of such immaculate concepts that flowered and flourished in the
Indian soil centuries back is endless. Little wonder that many
historians have admitted India as the cradle of human civilization. But
the sad part is how many Indians, especially children, are aware of this
enviable legacy of ours. Our own self-proclaimed historians are vying
with one another in denigrating anything and everything that is
applauded the world over as unambiguously India’s contribution to
humanity. And our own elected governments are spending our own money in
teaching our own children that India was a land of aborigines before the
advent of Aryans, Missionaries and Mongolians.
Do we really need any external terrorists to destroy the Indian nation?
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The greatness of a civilization can be directly measured by the ideas it
has conceived. Indian civilization, especially during its Vedic period,
has scaled great heights in this regard. It is one thing to be
imaginative in epics and classics, but it is totally a different class
to have immaculate concepts on matters affecting common man in their
daily lives. Some of the Indian concepts on thoroughly materialistic
matters tend to border on philosophy. Equality of man, richness and
self-controls are some aspects of day to day life that our forefathers
have thought out in great depth. Any impartial student of history would
find it truly amazing to discover how the Indian rishis proposed novel
concepts on matters so basic to mankind. A brief look at some of our own
outstanding concepts will be enlightening for most of us. 