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Real penance

CHENNAI : Penance is the spiritual practice described in the scriptures practised by great sages of yore to realise God. There are graphic descriptions also in these texts about its procedure. It is essential to understand the significance of this age-old practice so that it is possible to adopt it to suit this modern age. In the context of Sage Viswamitra approaching Dasaratha to send Rama with him to protect his sacrifice, the sage mentioned that just as desire and anger raised their ugly heads when a person undertook penance, his sacrifice was disturbed by two demons (Maricha and Subahu).

In his discourse, Nagai Sri Mukundan said it was possible to control desires to a certain extent but to surmount anger was very difficult. Hence true penance is achieving self-control over desires and anger. Tiruvalluvar mentions penance as not causing harm to others and patiently bearing all the difficulties that one faces in life. It is desire that makes one pursue one's objective even if another suffers as a consequence and forbearance is the quality of overcoming anger in trying situations in life. The portrayal of performing penance in the midst of the five fires in the Puranas is a metaphor for the control one must exercise over the five sense organs for overcoming desires and anger.

The Mahabharata illustrates this through the portrayal of Arjuna's character. He who had sported with maidens and married Subhadra when he went on a pilgrimage soon after the Pandavas' marriage to Draupadi could also exercise absolute restrain over himself when he wanted. During the exile of the Pandavas in the forest Sage Vyasa met the brothers and advised Yudhishthira to instruct Arjuna to do penance to Lord Siva to obtain the Pasupatastra from Him. To Yudhishthira's surprise Arjuna donned the garb of an ascetic and proceeded with the mission of obtaining the missile from Siva with total resolve.

When Arjuna reached the mountain peak Indrakila to perform penance, Indra came in the guise of an old ascetic to test his determination. Even when he tried to dissuade him and provoked him Arjuna remained firm in the objective he had set for himself without getting angry. He did not succumb to desire also in Indra's abode by ignoring Urvasi when she tried to distract him.

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