In response to a query as to why the great Pativrata's of Indian lore like Draupadi, Thulasi, Ahalya were depicted as blemished at some point of time.
There was evil in human beings at every point of
time. The epics and lore first reported honestly what had happened.
Then people tried to tamper the facts by superimposing the moral rules
of different eras.. Social values change with the progress
of time.. Right and wrong are relative and not absolute. Right and
wrong also depend on the person who executes an action. Indra and
Pandavas and other characters were strongmen of their era...so they
could purchase praise for their actions. We have only to praise our
chroniclers for reporting truth more or less intact. Interpretation is
anybody's choice.
Kalidasa said in मालविकाग्नि मित्र, I believe "
पुराणमित्येव न साधु सर्वं नचापि काव्यं नवमित्यवर्यं।
सन्तः परीक्ष्याभिनवत् भजन्ते मूढः परप्रत्यनैकबुद्धिः॥
सन्तः परीक्ष्याभिनवत् भजन्ते मूढः परप्रत्यनैकबुद्धिः॥
puraaNamityeva na saadhu sarvaM nachaapi kaavyaM navamityavaryaM.
santaH pariikSyaabhinavat bhajante muuDhaH parapratyanaiikabuddhiH..
santaH pariikSyaabhinavat bhajante muuDhaH parapratyanaiikabuddhiH..
"Nothing
need be justified because it is mentioned in a Purana and novel ideas
need not be rejected just because of their recent origin. The
discerning people apply the test of logic before accepting anything, but
the idiot simply follows
things just because there were precedents." We have to congratulate
the honesty of our ancient chroniclers rather than trying to justify
wrong things, which would militate against reason. Indians never
expected such blind following. We can just remember that cultural
revolutions would have removed such objectionable parts from the lores
in many other societies with artificial sophistication. Respect Krishna
the geethacharya, respect Indra the leader of the Gods, respect Panchaali for her heroic upraise against oppression of females which
ultimately created the epoch of Mahabharatam. Is there any great person
in this world without skeletons in his cupboard? Puranas are there to
read and understand the varying perspectives and cultural
cross-currents and nobody need particularly like or dislike or emulate
any puranic character. All must have been persons with flesh and blood
at one point of time and also subject to the temptations of that period.
Ahalya or Thulasi, might have erred on rare occasions and have paid the
price for such errors. But who is perfect even today in this terra
firma? And who will declare with audacity their secret sins?
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