The Hindu : Miscellaneous / Religion : Anger leads to downfall

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Dec 31, 2004

Miscellaneous

Miscellaneous - Religion

Anger leads to downfall

CHENNAI, DEC.31 . A person who gets provoked easily will have to regret for the consequence of his anger because even the judicious man fails to consider the pros and cons of what he says and does when he is angry. Scriptures are replete with instances of even sages who were unable to control their temper and they warn that this should not be construed to mean that the layman could afford to get angry. Sages were men of wisdom with spiritual power and they could mitigate its effect by undertaking penance. These instances are related in scriptures so that a spiritual aspirant can overcome such weaknesses.

In his discourse, Sri P.R.Vaidyanatha Sastrigal said the Vishnu Purana highlighted the importance of overcoming anger right at the outset. Sage Parasara, father of Sage Veda Vyasa who was the prolific composer of the other Puranas, composed the Vishnu Purana. Parasara taught this to his disciple Maitreya when he approached him to learn the truth in the manner of the Upanishads which are in the form of dialogue. In spiritual matters unless the student is eager to learn and expresses it, the Guru will not voluntarily impart the truth. Parasara greatly appreciated his disciple's zeal and so disclosed to him how he happened to compose this Purana.

Parasara was the posthumous child of Sage Sakti who was devoured by King Kalmashapadan. The king was Sage Vasishta's disciple. Once when he was engaged in hunting he came across Vasishta's eldest son Sakti and instead of showing him respect refused to give him way. In the ensuing duel the sage cursed the king to become a demon with the intention of teaching him a lesson. To make matters worse the king also incurred the curse of a hungry man when he failed to appease his hunger that he would become a cannibal. Angry that Sakti was responsible for his plight he ate him. Vasishta lost all his sons to the demon's wrath and became inconsolable with grief.

The only silver lining was that Sakti's wife was then expecting his child. Thus was born Parasara as the hope of Vasishta to carry on his lineage. He was a precocious child and when he learnt about the manner of his father's death sought to avenge it by killing all the demons by a sacrifice. Vasishta advised his grandson to eschew anger and vengeance saying that his father was responsible for his end, and that anger would lead to his downfall. With his and Sage Pulastya's blessings Parasara mastered the scriptures and composed the Vishnu Purana.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Miscellaneous

News Update

Stories in this Section

The Hindu Crossword 8179

Solution to puzzle 8178

Anger leads to downfall

dated December 31, 1954: Dangers of regionalism

dated December 31, 1954: PM on Afro-Asian meet

dated December 31, 1954: French PM wins vote

Weather