The Seven Eternal Values

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The Seven Eternal Values

 

In the Indian tradition there are seven immortals: Aswathama, Bali, Vyas,

Hanuman, Vibhishana, Kripacharya and Parashuram. They symbolise certain higher

ideals.

Aswathama, the son of Guru Dronacharya, was a mighty warrior. He had even learnt

the art of invoking the Brahmastra, the ultimate weapon of destruction. One day,

after the Mahabharata war was over, and when the Pandavas were away, he and a

posse of men entered the camp of the Pandavas by stealth and killed all the

male members in complete disregard of the prevailing ethics of warfare. He was

later overpowered and arrested by the Pandavas. His life was spared but his

crown jewel — a gem — was prised out of his head. He was condemned to live for

ever, the wound festering, never to heal. It was a warning to future

generations that a great warrior's life, bereft of good conduct, is a life

given to eternal suffering. That is karmic retribution. Ashwathama's flawed

immortality is a grim reminder of the consequences of unethical behaviour.

King Bali is immortalised because even Vishnu had to humble himself as Vamana to

conquer him. He stands out for his valour and charity — two great eternal

qualities. Bali knew fully well who Vamana was. Yet, he prepared to surrender

all he had, to his Lord. So this man of grace is still revered.

Vyas, the great scholar and writer, the author of Mahabharata and the Srimad

Bhagavatam, is another immortal, a shining beacon of erudition and wisdom. A

katha-wachak reading from the holy texts, is said to ascend the Vyaspeeth —

blessed by the immortal Vyas. He comes to represent the continuity of

erudition, scholarship and the apotheosis of the writer as the ultimate

visionary.

Hanuman exemplifies selflessness, courage, devotion, energy, strength and

righteous conduct. He stands for the potential that is inherent in all of us.

He also represents the air, the atmosphere and thus the life-breath — the

prana. Sita is believed to have bestowed on him the boon which made Hanuman

ever-youthful, energetic and immortal.

Vibhisana had unshakable faith in what he believed. He was a fearless counsellor

of righteousness even when all around him were given to sycophancy and peer

pressure. As a follower of right conduct, Vibhisana survived unscathed while

tragedy befell the unrighteous king and his followers.

Kripacharya was an extraordinary teacher. To him, all pupils were equal. A guru

like Dronacharya favoured Arjuna and sacrificed an equally if not more

promising student — he asked Ekalavya for his right thumb. Kripacharya, on the

other hand, upheld the highest standards expected of a teacher: He was

impartial.

Parashuram was master of martial arts. No one could beat him — whether the tools

were astras, sastras or divine weapons. He had no temporal ambition. Had he so

wished, he would have been the greatest Chakravarti Samrat India had ever

known. But he lived a hermit's life. He was also one who never hesitated to

admit a mistake. During Sita's swayamvar, after Ram had broken the divine bow

of Shiva, Parashuram asked both Ram and Lakshman for forgiveness. Despite his

excellent qualifications, he did not hesitate to apologise in all humility that

he had lost his reason in anger. Parashuram symbolises excellence and strength,

tempered by humility.

These seven immortals exemplify certain basic truths, laws and standards of

ethical behaviour which transcend time, locale and generation. They are

universal and immutable. Their immortality is therefore not mere deathlessness

— it is more the immortalising of each divine principle they stood for and

upheld even in the face of adversity and pressure.

 

Author is GIRISH BHANDARI Source:indiatimes.com

Arun Reddy Nukala

+44-7946-595063

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