HOW LIFE IN OUR BHARAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN

The ancient scriptures of our land that had been written by great learned sages and Rishis had documented different aspects of life to guide a man born here. These truths are possibly the result of divine revelations rather than an extensive research in anthropology. A comparison of what had been laid out in the scriptures may throw some light on how much we have deviated from nature.

Life as prescribed in the scriptures :

Castes : The society was divided into four major castes, viz., Brahmins, Vaishyas, Kshatriyas and Shudhras. The caste system was a reflection of the type of society rather than an instrument of persecution or imposition. Moreover the castes were not based on one's birth into a particular caste family; far from it, it was determined by the ‘Gunas’ exhibited by an individual. ie., a person born to a kshatriya could acquire brahminical traits and recognition and vice-versa. Eg. Prahalad, born to a kshatriya king exhibited traits of a Brahmin; Emperor Ashoka is another example. No caste was considered to be a degrade compared to the other and each had a role, responsibility and duty to perform.

Gunas : The behavior of an individual was classified into 3 main categories. Viz, Saatvik, Rajas and Tamas. Saatvik guna represented detachment, calmness of mind, mind devoid of desire, contentment, serene and compassionate. Rajasic guna represented people with leadership qualitites, ambition to achieve, and authority. Kings were expected to possess such qualities. Tamassic qualities meant a meek, servile nature. Every individual is said to possess all the three gunas in certain proportions with one of them predominant. Thus Saatvik guna was attributed to Brahmins, Rajassic to Kshatriyas and Vaishyas and Tamassic to Shudhras.

Stages of Life: The lifespan of an individual was divided into three main stages based on ones duties and the expectation of the society. They are Brahmacharaya, Gruhastha and Vanaprastha.At about 8-9 years of age a boy was inducted into the stage of Brahmacharaya, which is basically a student life. All the boys from all the castes were inducted into this stage. The students learnt various arts and skills apart from knowledge of the scriptures. The learning centres were the Gurukul which were run by learned sages and savants. The skills taught to the students depended on the assessment of the gurus of the gurukul, who did it without any prejudice. The education involved both therotical and practical. The student was left in complete charge of the master of the Gurukul and parents could not interfere into its activities, which remained largely unblemished. This was applicable even to the kings. The kings son was treated the same way as other boys in the Gurukul carrying out the same activities.

Once this stage got completed, the boys marriage was performed and his role changed to providing for his family through the pursuit of an honourable profession. At this stage, the duties of the individual was stressed. That included duty towards his family, the society, devotion to his profession, duty towards his parents, his forefathers alive and dead, duty towards all the sages, rishis who gave so much of the knowledge and the duty towards rearing up of his children and provide them resources to be useful to society later. The last stage of Vanaprastham was adopted when the individual had finished all his duties towards his family and children. He was expected to retire to the forests where he would live on fruits and vegetables and spend his time meditating on God.

Composition of the body and nature: The sacred truth one learns here is that the human body is made up of the same materials that make up the nature around him. ie.. The Panchboothams. They are air, water, fire, ether and earth. These five elements are present in perfect proportions in the unspoilt nature. The same five elements in different proportions make up the human body. The individual must always keep these five elements in his body in balanced proportions for leading a healthy life. Even if one of these elements goes out of proportion, it will lead to damaging results. For eg.when an individual becomes angry, the fire in him increases out of proportion which may lead to certain harmful effects in his body. If one is fat, he is basically increasing the earth proportion in him which must be avoided.

But life in actuality at present times:

Caste :In the present days the castes are divided purely based on ones birth. Eg. a Brahmin born in a Brahmin family becomes one throughout his life. The caste system came to be imposed on the individual leading to a lot of acrimony in the society. It became a tool for persecution and exploitation.

Gunas : These gunas are not well recognized in our present society. Todays society does not appreciate Saatvik guna though the scriptures proclaim it to be ultimate to happiness. Rajassic is promoted to be the most desired behavior nowadays. But can everybody be a king, can everybody wield authority?. Similarly Tamassic guna is suppressed and exploited for selfish gains.

Stages of life : Students are admitted to the school at a very young age of 3 years and are expected to undergo 20 years or more of education that are largely irrelevant to his later life or to the society he lives in. The career of the individual is decided on the basis of his parents' choice, their social status and the financial prowess with little regard to the child’s aptitude. The school life consists more of mechanical activities that teach more of evil ways of the world rather than virtues. With the result evil, nowadays, occupies more of space in the human mind, leading to a life more and more chaotic day by day. The stress is laid on earning more money, wielding more power and authority. After school education , family is added. Children are brought into this world but duties are all forgotten.

Composition of the body and nature: The significance of these five elements is still not understood by this world in the real sense. Without realizing this fact, medicines are administered by the doctors to bring the elements of the body to balance. Since there is no realization that this body and nature are made up of the same matter, there is large scale misuse of the nature that has resulted in deforestation, climatic changes, natural disasters, global warming, extinction of the plant and animal species, unhealthy farming and plundering of natural resources.

While it is true that there will be a general decline in the values of the society where evil will slowly and surely occupy more and more space, the rate at which this is happening is alarming. Though there is no escape from this phenomenon, I wonder whether the rate of degradation, at least, is in the control of the people. But we also must know the final solution that is again mentioned in our scriptures. That there will be an ‘avatar’ to rid this world of the evil and to re-establish the ‘dharma’, which is the righteousness. Till such time however, mankind will suffer. Can our children endure such sufferings?.