- Author: Dr. Vamshikrishnacharya Purohit
- Translation: Lakshmi
By the grace of God, we, ordinary jeevas, have taken birth in this world. Once here, we need shelter to live on. Prior to our birth, we were comfortably housed in the abdomen of Lord Rama without any worry. During the course of birth, we had sought shelter in our mother’s womb. Upon our death, we will be given a dwelling either in hell or heaven. However, amidst this cycle of life and death, we need a shelter to lead our lives. For this, we go through hassles in life. We painstakingly put up buildings and houses.
Although God brings us to this world to be untethered and to progress further on the course of achieving salvation, it is we who limit ourselves. We build boundaries despite having several opportunities. We construct houses seeking shelter. In reality, the houses hold us captive rather than providing shelter. Learned people opine that even if one builds a house, the dwellers should have largesse. In order to achieve that, we need to inculcate disciplined and devoted spiritual practice. Hence, scholars use a beautiful word “gr̥haṁ” to describe the house that provides us with shelter and helps us achieve spiritual upliftment.
The word “gr̥ha” is explained as “gr̥hṇāti iti gr̥haṁ”, which means “accept whatever comes one’s way and protect those who seek refuge”. Even when we consider the materialistic sense, this definition is befitting as our houses accept cold-rains-winds-heat and offer protection to the dwellers by ensuring they are not exposed to the effects of the weather. Thus, the accordance of term “gr̥ha” to a house is meaningful in a way. Further, it is the responsibility of the residents to ensure that this definition of the word “gr̥ha” suits our homes in the philosophical context. This can be done by accommodating guests and serving them to the best of our ability. When they are content, it bodes well for us too.
For example: It is practice, when Haridasas, the learned or saints visit our house, to say “This particular wise one visited our house. Hereon, auspiciousness will befall us.” If such is the mind-set of the people of the house, then the house they reside in will also become “gr̥ha”. On the contrary, if a house is for the sole purpose of self and not for serving the noble, then such a house will not be a “gr̥ha”, it would be a “graha”. Meaning it would always eclipse (grahana) us and entrap us more.
When a question arises as to how a house should be, a particular instance from the Mahabharata comes to mind;the instance of Pandavas dwelling at Indraprastha. Shri Madhwacharya in Tatparya Nirnaya elaborates upon how the Pandavas lived.
yajñōrudānanaradēvavandyatā praśnarṣipūjāsu yudhiṣṭhiro:’bhūt |
dharmānuśāstiharitattvaśansanasvarāṣṭrṭarakṣādiṣu bhima āsīt ||
The five Pandavas, along with Draupadi, six of them in all, looked over one aspect of managing the house. Amongst them, Dharmaraja took care of serving the learned people who visited them. Bheema ensured practice of Bhagavata dharma, propagation of the truths about Lord and protection of his subjects. Arjuna was involved in the destruction of enemy armies. Nakula disbursed wages to the citizens of the kingdom. Sahadeva would stay beside the king, offer political advice using the methods of sāma (conciliation), dāna (compensation), bhēda (dissension) and daṇḍa (punishment). Draupadi looked after the treasury, advised the servants on the supremacy of Lord Hari and engaged in charitable deeds to ensure that the country progressed on the righteous path.
…to be continued
|| Hare Srinivasa ||
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