The concept of Sacrifice
Krishna now
explained that in the beginning when the Lord of all beings created mankind
through a great sacrifice, He said unto them that may this (sacrifice) bestow
upon them the ability to procreate and fulfill their desires. The Lord also
advised to His subjects that there should be reciprocity between celestials and
mankind. By giving through sacrifice or Yajna unto the gods who should share the
fruits of labour of mankind, the latter could expect material bliss from the
former. Thus both the entities (celestials and human race) would nourish each
other and grow through the sacrifice conducted by human beings. Nourished by
sacrifices and austerities, gods will provide the mortals objects of desire and
enjoyment. So without giving them their due in the form of sacrifices, one who
enjoys the results of material prosperity, he is verily a thief. On the other
hand person who consumes the remaining portion of the products of his toil only
after bequeathing a share of it to the others, is truly blessed, while the
selfish one who consume it all without sacrificing begets sin.
This is the concept of sacrifice linked to selfish action or action
born out of desire. Here the sacrifice is intended for material prosperity.
However even that is necessary for the cosmic balance and harmony as will be
evident in the subsequent teachings. We pray to the gods by offering them
various fruits of our toils, while they respond to our prays by giving us
material and spiritual bliss. This cycle of give and take is necessary to
establish a harmonious relationship between man and all other entities. Same concept applies to man’s relationship with environment, with
animals like cows which provide milk in exchange of the food and care it
receives. So the cycle of sacrifices or giving a portion of our toils to others
for their and our well being is a natural process established since time
immemorial. We implant a seed and nourish it with water to get a tree laden with
fruit. The fruit is then consumed not only by us, but by others as well as by
numerous birds, insects and animals. Thus all our activities should be forms of
sacrifices in various degrees in a way whereby others can depend on us for their
prosperity and nourishment and we depend on them for our welfare and happiness.
This concept of sacrifice is a truly beautiful one. It reminds us that we do not
exist merely for ourselves, but for others. It reminds us to become selfless by
degrees, by reserving and donating the first and sizeable portion of all our
material enjoyments to others. It tells us that life has not been given for our
own selfish enjoyments, but for providing for others, the less fortunate ones,
who are dependent on us in various ways. Even the gods share this mutual
dependence and therefore this is a cosmic law. This theory is the very
foundation of a moral, ethical and selfless society which India was at one point
of time in history.
The living beings subsist on food which is the result of rain. A
good rain ensures a good harvest and animals subsist on that harvest. Green
foliages become source of nourishment for various animals and insects. Rain
water provides sustenance to aquatic animals as well. Men feed on the grains as
well as on animal meat. Therefore all living beings are dependent on rain.
According to the Vedic traditions,
rains result from Vedic rituals,
various sacrifices and oblations. Gods, satisfied with the oblations, provide us
with plenty of rain for a good harvest. In an indirect sense rain comes from
toils of sacrifice, as water is evaporated by the intense solar heat during
summer month which forms cloud. This summer heat is also symbolic of the
sacrifice of nature for the welfare of its children. Therefore all sacrifices
are results of actions.
Actions arise from Brahman in the form of Vedas, the eternal source of knowledge
and actions. The rituals of sacrifices are provided in the Vedas, following which pious kings can
oblige gods to provide us with a bountiful harvest. The Vedas as source of all knowledge
originate from the eternal and imperishable Brahman. Therefore the all pervading Brahman is ever present in all forms of
sacrifices.
Upanishads, a part of the Vedas, which deals with knowledge of the
Supreme Being, declares Brahman as
everything and everything as Brahman.
The Supreme Being who pervades everything is ever present in all actions of
nature. It is He who ensures balance and harmony, who establishes and mandates
the natural and universal laws. Therefore Lord Krishna here explains the supreme nature
of all actions. Behind all actions is the divine will, which ensures that
through these sacrificial actions all living beings can live in harmony and
prosper together.
One who desist from sacrificial actions, in sharing the labours of
his toil with nature, being deluded by sense pleasures, lives in vain as his
actions are mired in selfishness.
No comments:
Post a Comment