I recently stumbled on to the website of National Geographic’s genographic project. And I have been blown. In the words of the man driving the project (find out more here: https://www3.nationalgeographic.com/genographic/index.html), Dr Spencer Wells, it is an attempt to throw some light on our genetic journey. The project is a journey back in time to discover how universal human heritage really is.
Wells is a fascinating man (please read his interview at: PLoS GENETICS). Somehow, I cant upload this link here. He is the explorer in residence at National Geographic and reading about the work he is doing is like walking into a beautifully illustrated book that reveals an invisible crisscross of linkages between people all over the globe. It makes all our differences seem so small and the likenesses so huge and... so in our faces that I am surprised we still miss it.
Monday, April 30, 2007
Tuesday, April 03, 2007
sunda
Interestingly, Sunda was once a kingdom in west Java. According to Wikipedia, it lay very close to what is present day Jakarta, capital of Indonesia. According to the Indonesian tourism website, Jakarta was known as Sunda Kelapa, the main port of the Hindu kingdom of Sunda.
While it is not clear how the kingdom was destroyed, it is believed that there was a major battle between the Portuguese who had built a strong alliance with the Sunda kings and Muslim troops from the Indonesian islands of Cirebon and Demak. The kingdom, if we are to interpret the myths spun around Sunda and Taraka, could have been destroyed in battle or maybe an earthquake.
any interesting spins anyone?
While it is not clear how the kingdom was destroyed, it is believed that there was a major battle between the Portuguese who had built a strong alliance with the Sunda kings and Muslim troops from the Indonesian islands of Cirebon and Demak. The kingdom, if we are to interpret the myths spun around Sunda and Taraka, could have been destroyed in battle or maybe an earthquake.
any interesting spins anyone?
mythical dilemmas
It is not us mere mortals alone who have to deal with awful dilemmas at the workplace and in our families. The gods have to do the same and our myths are full of the ingenious ways in which these dilemmas are resolved.
One instance is in the Ramayana, when Ram is asked to attack Taraka Rakshashi (yakshi). He is distraught. He appeals to Viswamitra, who had left behind a sobbing Dasarath in Ayodhya for the specific purpose of getting rid of Taraka. Now Ram’s dilemma had to be addressed if he had to get the work done.
Ram asked him: How can I attack a female? Would that not be the ultimate sin?
Viswamitra tells him that Ram is merely following the natural order of things. It is sin to fight a woman, but under extreme circumstances as this one was, it can be justified. And since he is an avatar who walks the earth to rid mankind of its problems and sins, he and not anybody else, can take this on.
He goes on to tell him the story of Taraka’s birth and curse that convinced Ram that the need of the hour was to kill the yakshi.
Taraka, Viswamitra says, was the result of a boon and a curse.
The boon: Taraka’s father was Suketu,a formidable yaksha but very devout. He prayed for a child and was granted a boon by Bramha. Bramha granted him the boon of a daughter who was beautiful and had the strength of a 1000 elephants. But Bramha did not grant him a son because he believed that a yaksha would be more harmful to the world than a yakshi.
Taraka grew up and married Sunda, son of Jambha. Soon she had a son and he was named Mareecha. (This is the same Mareecha who disguised as a golden deer would trigger off the battle; also Ravana’s uncle and thus in a manner typical to our mythology, Taraka, Mareecha and Ravana get looped in a circle of relationships).
The curse: Agastya, a sage was angered by Sunda (Taraka’s husband) and he turned him to dust. Enraged, Taraka rushed at him to end his life and Agastya cursed her saying that she would lose her beauty and her form and exist as a monstrous yakshi for ever after. And her son Mareecha would become a demon (I assume a lesser yaksha). Taraka retired to the forest and began harassing the rishis and destroying the birds and animals that had earlier lived in peace.
Viswamitra explained to Rama that he was justified in killing Taraka because if he did not do that, she would destroy faith, belief and life on this universe.
One instance is in the Ramayana, when Ram is asked to attack Taraka Rakshashi (yakshi). He is distraught. He appeals to Viswamitra, who had left behind a sobbing Dasarath in Ayodhya for the specific purpose of getting rid of Taraka. Now Ram’s dilemma had to be addressed if he had to get the work done.
Ram asked him: How can I attack a female? Would that not be the ultimate sin?
Viswamitra tells him that Ram is merely following the natural order of things. It is sin to fight a woman, but under extreme circumstances as this one was, it can be justified. And since he is an avatar who walks the earth to rid mankind of its problems and sins, he and not anybody else, can take this on.
He goes on to tell him the story of Taraka’s birth and curse that convinced Ram that the need of the hour was to kill the yakshi.
Taraka, Viswamitra says, was the result of a boon and a curse.
The boon: Taraka’s father was Suketu,a formidable yaksha but very devout. He prayed for a child and was granted a boon by Bramha. Bramha granted him the boon of a daughter who was beautiful and had the strength of a 1000 elephants. But Bramha did not grant him a son because he believed that a yaksha would be more harmful to the world than a yakshi.
Taraka grew up and married Sunda, son of Jambha. Soon she had a son and he was named Mareecha. (This is the same Mareecha who disguised as a golden deer would trigger off the battle; also Ravana’s uncle and thus in a manner typical to our mythology, Taraka, Mareecha and Ravana get looped in a circle of relationships).
The curse: Agastya, a sage was angered by Sunda (Taraka’s husband) and he turned him to dust. Enraged, Taraka rushed at him to end his life and Agastya cursed her saying that she would lose her beauty and her form and exist as a monstrous yakshi for ever after. And her son Mareecha would become a demon (I assume a lesser yaksha). Taraka retired to the forest and began harassing the rishis and destroying the birds and animals that had earlier lived in peace.
Viswamitra explained to Rama that he was justified in killing Taraka because if he did not do that, she would destroy faith, belief and life on this universe.
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