Deivathin Kural Series - 87

Om Namah Sivaya.
Deivathin Kural # 87 of 13 Oct 2006.

1. These e-mails are translations of talks given by the erstwhile Pontiff of Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam, over more than sixty years, published by Vanady Padippagam, T.Nagar, Chennai, India, in ten volumes, in the Tamil language. On line version of this book in Tamil is available at 'www.kamakoti.org'. The english version is likely to be available very soon. These e-mails are simply an effort on the part of the sender, to share some of his bliss, as it is said, 'Yam perra peru peruga ivvaiyagam'. When he adds any personal observations he uses the phrase, 'KTSV adds'.
2. To-days lecture, titled, 'Mahabharatham', in pages 419 to 422, in Volume 1 of Deivathin Kural. Unless specifically mentioned, he or man includes, she or woman.
3. 'Brahmi', is the 'Lipi' or Script, for all the Indian Languages, in which all the old writings are available, recorded etched on stone or carved on palm leaves. Even in very old such recordings, the writing is beautiful and flowery. Then in the Stone carvings of the Pallava period, the writing is very neat, as though printed, with literary merit.
4. Later in the copper plates of the Chola period, letters and language are quite good, but both are relatively of a lesser standard. The older writings were more accurate and the beauty of writing was so precise that, it made you feel like touching it to your eyes with reverence. When you see copper plates of say two to three centuries back, you note that, there is no order, mistakes are aplenty, writing is full of grammatical errors with the script atrocious.
5. Similarly, I compared the stone and metal statues of yore, with later ones. Pallava statues are very good. Chola period ones are OK. Then as time progressed, there is regress in standards. If you get one made now, there is neither the classical beauty, nor the divine presence noticeable.
6. How was the behaviour of the people of olden times? That was also of a very high standard. Megasthanis, the Greek, who came to this country two thousand years back says, 'Even if somebody gave something, there was nobody to take it. People of this country do not steal. They do not know as to how to bluff or say a lie!'
7. Peace, good habits, nice attitude and excellent behaviour, were the characteristics of people of those days. Now things have changed so much. How were the people of those days? How was their minds? Why can it not be like that now? These are the questions that haunt you, thinking about them.
8. Generally if there is discipline in life, it reflects favourably in all aspects of life. That is why, the old time statues, paintings, calligraphy, were all orderly and beautiful. I wondered as to why, when the ancestors could maintain such high standards, the people of later times, but of the same stock, should deteriorate? There has to be a proper reason for this falling in standards!
9. Those days, there was an order that, in all the Temples, Mhabharatham was to be read. There were standing orders with fund provisions for this specific purpose, as evidenced by 'Sasanams' or written directions, in copper plates. Now-a-days, even in big temples, nobody is reading Baratham! In some odd corners, in some villages,it is still be a practice. Even now there are people visiting some of these village Temples to hear Baratham being read. Even now when cinema and other mediums of entertainment are attracting the people's mind, if there are people listening to it, think of what would have been the popularity of it, in earlier times, when there was no other means of entertainment!
10. What is there in Bharatham? Patience is personified by Dharmar. As a role model for keeping one's words, there is Beeshma. Karna is an epitom for philonthrophy. Arjuna is emulatable for bravery and humaneness. Similarly if you take Ramayana, Sri Rama stands for ideal morality and justice. Sita is a take out for womanhood. Even the villain of the epic Ravana's wife Mandodari, is irreproachable in her behaviour.
11. When you read and hear such stories, one tends to relate to the ideal characters, when faced with real life situations. Even if one cannot exactly replicate their behaviour, one is often prompted to emulate. The power of suggestion works automatically. That is why, the people of the past, in this country, could keep up a high level of discipline, which reflected in all their activities.
12. Culture of a society is a harmonious evolute, by the combined effect of justice, mutual respect and high morality. To change that chracteristic culture of this country, there are many contrary inputs. It is best to revive some of the old good habits. You cannot bring back the past. But we must make an effort in the right direction, for God to give us a hand. Actually, virtually, God has given us the hands, legs, eyes and the mind to use them. Before He gives us a 'kick-in-the-pants', it is time we woke up to the problems of modern times.
13. Now there are too many temptations and distractions. People are confused as to whom to follow, what to see and hear. There are too many parties, pulls, forces; trying to sell or convert. At this juncture, Ramayana and Maha Bharatha, are more relevant, to be studied, heard and absorbed.
Sambhomahadeva.