3 short stories — Mythologies are beyond just ‘Victory of Good over Evil’
The stories of Bhasmasura, Jaya-Vijaya & Ashwatthama can teach you some life and management lessons
Parents and elders strive hard to build virtues and values into their offspring in different ways. Moral-based and Mythological stories have been one such tool used by my grandparents and parents during my growing years, and I assume of many other fellow Indians and others across the globe. In continuation to my series of 3 short stories, I am going to share 3 mythological stories in this article and my views on how we miss out on some important learnings from those which are relevant even in today’s times. The structure of these stories was quite consistent and the result was very predictable.
· The characters — protagonist, antagonist, and support characters
· The journey/narrative — protagonist’s journey and struggle to eventually win against a very powerful antagonist,
· The result — ‘Victory of good over evil’
Many movies also follow a similar structure, but I would restrict this article to mythological stories. Our fascination towards the end results is so overhyped and celebrated that, we usually miss out on the important messages in the progression of the story, because we all want to only hear and believe it’s ‘Good that is eventually going to win over Evil’. For which the good has to make a lot of sacrifices, but in this world of very thin wall between the two, do we actually know which side we actually fall on?
Story 1 — Bhasmasura — Paradoxical effect of empowerment
Vrikasura was an ardent devotee of Lord Shiva (the destroyer God of Hindu trinity) who performed great penance to obtain a boon from the Lord. Shiva was pleased and granted him a boon. Vrikasura then asked that he be granted the power that anyone whose head he touched with his hand should burn up and immediately turn into ashes (bhasma). Since then, Vrikasura is also known as Bhasmasura. Bhasmasura then wanted to test his newfound power by placing his hand on Shiva, himself. So, Shiva ran and prayed to Lord Vishnu (the preserver God of Hindu trinity) for help. (Source: Wikipedia)
The story post this is about the ‘Victory of Good over Evil’, it is about how Vishnu takes the form of Mohini and eventually tricks Bhasmasura to death by making him place his own hand on his head.
Yes, this empowered man chose to erase the source of his empowerment. One key message this story delivers to me is, Bhasmasura showed determination and grit in his journey to acquire growth and powers from someone to who he seemed devoted. He was great on that aspect of performance to have impressed Lord Shiva but lacked empathy for anyone around him, choosing the extreme step of erasing them with a boon to turn people who are a threat to him to ashes. He couldn’t ethically manage the powers bestowed on him. While you may question why such powers should ever be bestowed to anyone, we are the ones who have also had ‘not so good’ bosses in our careers or at least seen or heard about them. That should answer the question. Harmony and collaboration are the essence of life and essential for holistic assessment of performance rather than just completion of tasks. Empowering self-centered individuals who fail to responsibly manage their powers can eventually cause harm to the team, boss and eventually result in the collapse of the system.
Story 2 — Jaya-Vijaya — Challenges can prove the shortest route to success
Vaikuntha or the ‘the abode of eternal bliss’ is the abode of the mighty Vishnu (the preserver God of Hindu trinity). Regarded as the highest spiritual realm that one could attain, according to Hindu mythology. The entrance to this magnificent realm is guarded by the twin deities, Jaya and Vijaya. One day, four Kumaras (young boys), named Sanaka, Sanandana, Sanatana, and Sanatkumara, arrived at the entrance of Vaikuntha. They were actually old and spiritually knowledgeable ones but blessed to look young like children. Deceived by their appearance the gatekeepers Jaya and Vijaya did not allow them inside informing them that Vishnu could not be disturbed as he was resting. Enraged by the response, they cursed the twin gatekeepers to lose their divinity and take birth in the material world. On being cursed they pleaded to the Kumaras to revoke the curse. Hearing the commotion Lord Vishnu arrived himself and got to know about the incident. Vishnu turned to his gatekeepers and told them that the curse of a Kumara could not be revoked. Instead, he could modify the curse. He gave them two options; either they could be born seven times as devotees of Vishnu, or three times as enemies of Vishnu in the material world. Either way, Vishnu would be a part of their mortal lives. Jaya and Vijaya could not stand the thought of being away from their master for seven lives, so they agreed to be born thrice as his enemies.
So, in the mortal world they were born in Satyug (the age/era of truth) as Hiranyaksha and Hiranyakashipu slayed by Vishnu’s Varah and Narasimha avatar. Then as Ravana and Kumbarkarna in Tretayug (the age/era of 3 quarters of truth and a quarter of sinfulness) to be slain by Vishnu’s avatar of Rama and finally as Shishupala and Dantavakra in Dwaparyug (the age/era of 2 quarters of truth and 2 of sinfulness) to be slain by the avatar of Krishna. (Source: Amar Chitra Katha)
So, it all eventually had a happy ending with the twin gatekeepers resuming their roles after that and believed to be immortalized. They were at core nice people, so we know this was to happen. But there was a more important message to this story. Why did the Lord himself choose to put his devotees through challenges as a fast-track to reach their goal? The proposition was high risk — high returns. Most of the bosses do that too, as that differentiates one from the others in their conviction to reach ultimate growth. Take those as cues of someone testing your abilities to develop the skills to swim through the toughest times to shine as a leader. A goal can be reached in multiple ways and at different time periods depending on the ability to face and overcome challenges encountered or sometimes intentionally thrown at you. How do you differentiate if the challenges posed are genuine and the boss is well-intended? That answer too is available in the story. Lord Vishnu told them, he would be with them in the mortal journey irrespective of their choices.
Story 3 — Ashwatthama — The Half Truth
In the war Kurukshetra of Indian epic of Mahabharata, Lord Krishna (Avatar of Lord Vishnu) who guided the protagonists of 5 Pandava brothers knew that it was not possible to defeat an armed Dronacharya who was the supreme commander of the enemy camp of Kauravas and also the guru of the Pandavas. Krishna also knew that Dronacharya loved his son Ashwatthama who was blessed with immortality. So, Krishna suggested to Yudhishthira and other Pandavas brothers that, if he were convinced that his son was killed on the battlefield, then Dronacharya would be so sad that he would lay down all his arms on the ground and it would be easier to kill him.
To find a way out, Lord Krishna suggested Bhima (one of the 5 Pandava brothers) kill an elephant by the name of Ashwatthama and claim to Dronacharya that he has killed Dronacharya’s son Ashwatthama. After killing the elephant as suggested; Bhima loudly proclaimed that he had killed Ashwatthama. Dronacharya however, did not believe Bhima’s words as he knew that it was impossible for anyone to kill Ashwatthama and he approached the eldest brother Yudhishthira (and the head of Pandavas). Droṇacharya knew of Yudhishthira’s firm adherence to Dharma (truth) and that he would never ever utter a lie. When Dronacharya approached Yudhishthira and questioned him as to whether his son was dead, Yudhishthira responded with the cryptic “Ashwatthama is dead. But it is an elephant and not your son”. Krishna also knew that it was not possible for Yudhishthira to lie outright. On his instructions, the other warriors blew trumpets and conches, raising a tumultuous noise in such a way that Dronacharya only heard that “Ashwatthama was dead”, but could not hear the latter part of Yudhishthira’s reply. Drona descended from his chariot, laid down his arms, and sat in meditation. Closing his eyes, his soul went to heaven in search of Ashwatthama’s soul. Dhrishtadyumna from the Pandava camp took this opportunity and beheaded the unarmed Drona. (Source: Quora)
While Dronarchya is regarded as one of the most knowledgeable and respected gurus in Indian Mythology, his alliance with Adharma (evil) due to call of duty and loyalty to the kingdom caused him this painful death. The Dharma (good) wins over evil yet again. But like the previous 2 stories, this was not supposed to be about that aspect. Why did Krishna a Lord himself, choose to go this route of making only a half-truth heard? Sometimes in life and at work, even the most powerful people with the best of abilities and efforts don’t get the best result. Being truthful is regarded as the holy grail, however, the evils around are sometimes empowered so much that they can flip this very aspect of you being truthful against you. I would be wrong in suggesting resorting to lies but would recommend giving out only that aspect of truth which is for the larger good and doesn’t cause harm to the good itself. If the complete truth causes harm to the good itself, it isn’t worth being the truth.
Next time you hear or narrate such a story look or teach for the learning beyond the ‘victory of good over evil’, as what you learned and implemented from that would decide which side you belong.
