{"id":341,"date":"2022-02-20T11:08:28","date_gmt":"2022-02-20T05:38:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vishwanadhsattiraju.wordpress.com\/?p=341"},"modified":"2024-06-09T13:15:58","modified_gmt":"2024-06-09T07:45:58","slug":"the-parable-of-chariot","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vishwanadh.com\/?p=341","title":{"rendered":"The Parable of Chariot"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

3 min read<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Parable of Chariot \u2013 Part 1<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The Mahabharata War (55611<\/sup> \/ 31622<\/sup> BCE)
Image Courtesy: Gita Press, Gorakhpur<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Looking at the above visual, Bhagavad Gita<\/em> should come to your mind.  The image of the Chariot needs no introduction.   The concept of Nara<\/em> & Narayana<\/em> is precisely the first part of the story.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Parable of Chariot \u2013 Part 2<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Source: Kathopanishad<\/em> – Adhyaya<\/em> 01, Valli<\/em> 3 (Canto III), Mantra<\/em> 3 & 4 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Timeline: unknown <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Meaning:<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Know the atman<\/em> as the lord of the chariot, the body as only the chariot, know also intelligence as the driver; know the minds as the reins. (1-3-3) <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The senses, they say, are the horses; the objects which they perceive, the way; the atman<\/em>, the senses and the mind combined, the intelligent call the enjoyer. (1-3-4)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Parable of Chariot \u2013 Part 3<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Sources: (1) – Rig Veda<\/em> \u2013 Mandala<\/em> 6. Sukta<\/em> 75. Mantra<\/em> 6<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(2) – This Mantra<\/em> also appears in 4th Kaanda<\/em>, 6th Prasna<\/em> and 6th Anuvaka <\/em>of Krishna Yajur Veda –<\/em> Taittireeya Samhita<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Timeline: Earlier to 210001<\/sup> \/ 145002<\/sup> BCE<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Meaning:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Smart Charioteer (Susaarathi:<\/em>) [Driver] standing on the chariot, guides the horses before him, to places, wherever (Yatra Yatra) he desires (Kamayate<\/em>).  You appreciate the power of horse reins.  It complies with his thinking (Mana:)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rendition of above Mantra<\/em> by Shri K Suresh along with his mentors \/ gurus can be heard on YouTube<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Who cares?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Who cares how Rishis <\/em>created many ways to recite Vedas<\/em>? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why the chronology of ancient scripture matters when there is no relevance to our times, anyway?   <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Do we want to go back to the times of animal driven chariots or carts? (\u2018tongue in cheek emoticon\u2019 to indicate satire)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If that is what you think, apologies for wasting your time.  You do not need to read any further.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Okay, now what?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Have you noticed the relationship in all the three parts of the stories above?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is the question now?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Just wondering \u201cdid Bhagavan <\/em>Veda Vyasa chose Kurukshetra war setting to gift us this treasure, Bhagavad Gita, only to immortalize the metaphor created by great Rishis <\/em>(before Vyasa\u2019s period)\u201d?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Do you want to suggest Mahabharata is a myth?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

No, no\u2026 that is absolutely not the purpose here.  I am one of the many who believe Mahabharata<\/em> (like Ramayana)<\/em> is Itihasa<\/em> and very much part of our true history and heritage and our lives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So what?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Just excited to find out how cryptic sanatan<\/em> scriptures are!  Incredible how Rishis<\/em> made sure that multiple knowledge systems work like moving parts to pass on the ancient wisdom, intact, generation after generation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Okay, why do you tell me this?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Felt like sharing the ‘WOW!’ moment I had. Never mind if you do not see what is ‘WOW’ moment here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Are you done now?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I do not want to learn the scriptures now and bother to teach you.  They say, it takes several years to learn one single Veda<\/em>.  Who has so much time anyway?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2026\u2026 and the discussion continues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

*Timeline Courtesy: (1) Research works of Nilesh Nilakanth Oak and Rupa Bhati (2) Vedveer Arya available on public domain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

P.S.:<\/strong> All errors \/ mistakes are my own<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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3 min read<\/strong><\/p>\n

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The Parable of Chariot \u2013 Part 1<\/p>\n

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