As we grew up, almost all of us have come to know the story of Adam and Eve. The love of God overcome by the influence of the snake culminating into biting of the apple , that resulted into banishing of Adam and Eve from the high echelons of the Paradise to Earth.
In fact there is a Hindu sect that believes that this earth is the prison from where we have to strive to go to Heaven by continuously chanting the Lord's name.
Over the years have also realised that these tales, parables and happenings of the yore are instilled in the young mind and on a gross level may appear vague or distant, surely enough enshrined within though symbolic in nature , a deep subtler meaning.
As we mature our perspective changes and we are able to unfold those inner meanings like the petals of a bud that are inaccessible but the moment the flower blooms the glory is all revealed.
To my mind the banishment symbolises losing our purer qualities by the influence of exterior environment that creates ripples in our value system and over the years the divine qualities in us get shrouded by negative tendencies , popularly known as षड्रिपू or six enemies : lust, anger, greed, attachment, ego and envy.
Mind you, it could happen over a life time or over generations but the degeneration is slow and sure , although may not be manifest immediately.
A case in point is all the professions. Teaching and Medicine , long considered to be noble professions are seen today not in the same context as in the past . Doubt, mistrust, helplessness - these are the predominant feelings today when someone is hospitalised. While there are definitely dedicated teachers or doctors on a summation we do not find these proffessions to have that past glory.
During the initial phase after India attained independance , corruption was considered to be a vice. Yet as money gained more importance over means , corruption which was once a taboo has become a way of life especially for politicians and key government positions. Again there are exceptions yet the degeneration is very apparent.
Call it by any name economics , commercialisation, consumerism or any other name. After all what's in a name ? A rose would smell as sweet even if called by any other name -said Shakespeare.
Take natural calamities as an example. Some excesses of mankind result in ill effects elsewhere. In fact the ripple effect of the flapping of the wings of a butterfly has the ability to cause a tsunami - it is said. There was a landslide recently in Rwanda and the Nyabugogo river which is known as a very calm river - so much so that am told there is a saying in Kinyarwanda that loosely translates to :' this river is so calm that one has to come to it to be dead'. That very river , which was never known to go beyond its banks , was in full spate as a domino effect of the landslide resulting in many people losing their lives and property.
Public infrastructure like bridges, including the one on Nyabugogo River, were also temporarily submerged making them impassable for a few days.
The transition could also symbolise the first premordial sound - OM ! When Brahman initiated action - The Creator created the Universe.
So these timeless tales bear a lesson for us and although as children we may have heard or read several times,it is worthwhile to read them again , to bring that discipline in our life that helps one to elevate to be a better soul.
The Vedas, upanishads, Bhagwad Geeta , Ramayan ,Mahabharat et all have in them the divine wisdom and so whether reinterpreted by Devidutta Patnaik or cast as TV serials these continue to woo the audiences by their timeless potency.
