I was once travelling in Himachal Pradesh I met Mataji Manasi Chaitanya, in Ekanta Askram in Kullu. She is an erudite scholar in hindi and a warm, pious and noble person. She was presenting a talk in the daily Satsang assembly in the Ekanta ashram. In course of her talk in one of the daily Satsangs she narrated this interesting episode that makes a lot of sense.
Sage Vasista was the Rajaguru (royal grand master and adviser) of Ayodhya. He lost his sons when King Koushika massacred them all in a conflict. He was grief stricken but still did not want to curse or confront Koushika. Intending to practices self restraint and overcome the grief, entrusted his duties to a worthy junior and retired to a Himalayan riverside to perform austerities. He stayed there for many years leading a simple and austere life and gradually overcame the grief. The river, in reminiscence of Vasista’s mastery of passions, came to be known as Vi-pasha (one that is rid of passion). The place where he lived is called Vasista-ashram, near Manali.
Meanwhile, Lord Rama, the king of Ayodhya, longed to bring back the master to the kingdom. Vasista’s advice and guidance were vital for the political functioning. Lakshmana went as the king’s representative to bring back Sage Vasista to Ayodhya. When he reached the ashrama, he saw Vasista sitting in a meditative mood, dressed in an old faded bark garment, deer hyde and possessed a long beard, long nails and his hair was undone. Lakshmana bowed down to the great sage and requested him to report back to the royal duties. Sage Vasista agreed. They both began to journey towards Ayodhya, the capital city. They travelled for many days and reached the outskirts of the kingdom.
Vasista stopped there and told Lakshmana- “Dear Lakshmana, I shall stay here for today. You go into the town and get me royal garments and emblems. Send me a barber and fragrant unguents too. I need to groom my looks”. Lakshmana was amused and thought for himself- “How ridiculous! This sage has spent many years in penance, contemplating on spiritual truths. He must have transcended all attachment to the body and belongings. But he is still has the dehabhava, conscious of his looks and official status”. However without disclosing his feelings, Lakshmana humbly said ‘yes’. But nevertheless, the sage noticed Lakshmana’s feelings and explained- “Look my boy! In the forest, mine was a ‘tapasvi dharma (the life of a mendicant)’. I was just a lone person performing austerities for self elevation. There was no necessity for me to give much attention to my dress or other formalities. But when I am inside Ayodhya, my role is that of a ‘Rajaguru’. I am a master, a role model for all the citizens. If I do not follow the norms of formal dress, hygiene, etiquette or any other formal procedure that is required, the citizens will simply follow me and do the same. That will dilute the quality of nagarika-dharma (social discipline). Understand? ”
This episode not only reflects the necessity for man to be adaptibile to lokachara (i.e. adapt to the society where we live or stay) as goes the saying ‘be a Roman in Rome’, but also highlights a teacher’s responsibility in setting up a role model through his own behaviour.
- Dr Arathi V B
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