Miscellaneous - Religion   

Pride’s downside religion

CHENNAI: The Bhagavata Purana remains highly influential and popular because of its spiritual content that synthesises the metaphysical, philosophical and ethical viewpoints to generate Bhakti. The sheer range of episodes that describe celestials and human beings in their relationship with the Supreme Being serves to highlight perennial values against the backdrop of Adharma or evil. The ease with which both celestials and human beings get tempted into the dragnet of ego, conceit and pride is repeatedly stressed to caution mankind in this regard. When wealth, status, youth, scholarship, austerity, etc., in a person can give every reason for a rightful sense of pride, a lack in humility easily serves to squander these possessions, pointed out Sri B. Sundarkumar in a discourse. This is aptly illustrated in the episode dealing with the sacrifice performed by Daksha on a grand scale. Daksha had nurtured his arrogance, conceit and pride and failed to understand that all his glory was derived from the Supreme Being.

When Sati heard about the Yagna, she was keen to attend it, though her father had taken care not to invite Siva. But Siva recalled the incident when Daksha had insulted him earlier in the assembly of celestials and learned scholars, and of the subsequent enmity that rose between Him and Daksha. With an arrogance fanned by self-importance that blinded him to goodness and virtue, Daksha had not acknowledged Siva’s greatness and saw Him as a mere son-in-law who was bound to respect his father-in-law.

Siva cautioned Sati that if she went ahead with her plans to visit her father, being Siva’s wife, she would certainly be insulted. As warned by Siva, no one even welcomed Sati when she entered the place of sacrifice. Unable to cope with the insult, Sati raged against her father whose antagonistic stance towards Siva was unwarranted. She then decided to give up her life through yogic power. Hearing the news of the ignoble treatment meted out to Sati by Daksha, Siva became so infuriated that He caused the disruption of the Yagna leading to the death of Daksha and many others. When the celestials tried to pacify Siva’s rage, He gracefully restored Daksha’s life and granted him peace of mind.

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

Stories in this Section

Cartoonscape
The hindu crossword 8973
Solution to Puzzle 8972
Pride’s downside religion
dated July 24, 1957 : Metric system
dated July 24, 1957 : Overcrowding in trains
dated July 24, 1957 : Ceylon Indians problem
Weather

Copyright © 2007, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu