AITAREYA UPANISHAD - “By a Peasant for the Peasant”: 9. Rishi Maheedasa Aitareya.
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AITAREYA UPANISHAD: “By a Peasant for the Peasant” :
Composed by Rishi Maheedasa Aitareya
Series of 10 Lectures - by SWAMI ADVAYANANDAJI
Acharyaji, 15th Batch Vedanta Course
AT SANDEEPANY SADHANALAYA, POWAI, MUMBAI
February 15th – February 23rd, 2013.
Reflections by SWAMI GURUBHAKTANANDA
PART 1: Chapter 2 - 5 Mantras: ABODES for the Devatas
Post-9.
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Mantram - 2.5: What About Hunger and Thirst?
16
tam ashanaayaa-pipaase abrutaam: = Hunger and Thirst said to Him:
aavaabhyaam abhiprajaaneehi, iti; = “For both of us also find out an abode
17
te abraveet, etaasu eva vaam = He told them: “To both of you along.”
devataasu aabhajaami; = with these Gods, do I assign a place,
etaasu bhaaginyau karomi, iti. = and make you both SHARERS with them.”
18
tasmaat yasyai kasyai cha devataayai = Therefore, to whatever Devatas
havih; grihyate bhaaginyau eva asyaam = oblations are made, partakersof it also
ashanaayaa-pipaase bhavatah. = do Hunger and Thirst become.
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Commentary:
Acharya added a creative touch to what must have transpired before line 17.
Hunger and Thirst must have made their normal plea to Brahmaji. Brahmaji seemed not too concerned about their problem and said to them, “But you are feelings; why do you need abodes? Abodes are for the Devatas only.” This was like saying, “Only the Executives need their own offices: why should the tea-boy and the maid need an office?”
16
But Hunger and Thirst begged once again to be given proper abodes. In fact, several other Devatas also added their names to the petition, as there really was a problem. Brahmaji pondered over this new problem for a pretty long time. He thought, “Being feelings, how are they going to get their food and drink? If I give them an independent home in the body, I cannot rely on the other Devatas to bring the food and drink to them. They may forget to do so, and then Hunger and Thirst may never be satisfied.”
The Perfect Co-operative Society:
17
As He pondered over the problem thus, a brainwave hit Him. “Oh yes, I’ve got it! I shall make these two share the abodes of all the other Devatas. Then when it is time for nourishment, all of them will feel the hunger and thirst together and so they will all have to work together to bring the food and drink.” This was quite a brilliant idea from Brahmaji. That is how it was arranged, and it worked magnificently. When Hunger and Thirst felt hungry and thirsty, all the other Devatas also felt the hunger and the thirst in them. So they co-operated fully to do their share of work to obtain food and drink. Hunger and Thirst then distributed the nourishment to all the Devatas in a measure proportional to each one’s need. It worked like a charm!
The hunger of the intellect goaded it to obtain more knowledge; that of the eyes wished to see more pleasant sights. And so, each organ had a hunger to fulfil its own function. When food was needed, all of them contributed jointly to ensure that food was brought on the table on time. It was a happy body, indeed, wherein all the Devatas worked in harmony with each other for the joint success of the whole body.
No Place for Selfishness in Nature:
He may have been too idealistic, too optimistic. But imagine the complication added to Brahmaji’s task if He were to make this allowance in his design of creation. He would need to build a kitchen in every organ to supply it with its own nourishment. And what if one organ decided it was going to raid its neighbour’s kitchen at night? The human body would have become a very hostile place to live in!
Anyway, the good side of seelfishness is that it created some work for two additional Devatas – Worry and Anxiety! These two additional posts were created in His government. The entire Police Force, Army and the Justice Department are run by these Devatas.
If everything was perfect for man, no one would think of God. The lesson is quite clear: We can be as selfish as we want to, but at our own peril.
When we act selfishly, we act against Nature. And by acting against Nature, we head for serious trouble within ourselves. Excessive selfishness is bound to get us into trouble with Nature at some stage in our life; our Karma soon ‘catches up’ with us.
Feeling the Success of Others as One’s Own:
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There is a uniqueness and subtlety in this Upanishad. Here we see an example of it. It compels us to think with it. We feel a part and parcel of the whole creation process. We learn to work in co-operation and harmony with others. If the executives and workers in a firm feel that the whole business belongs to them, then with what energy and zeal will they work towards the success of the whole venture!
We also see how each Devata enjoys the success of every other Devata. When the eyes see something pleasant, the whole body reacts with pleasure. When the ears hear beautiful music, the whole body is soothed by it and enjoys it. When food and drink are taken, all the Devatas of the body feel contented or satiated.
*****
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PART- 1: Chapter 3A, 10 Mantras: The Creation of FOOD
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Series of 10 Lectures - by SWAMI ADVAYANANDAJI
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