Aashirvad generally relates to spoken words to express some heartfelt
wishes meant to benefit the recipient of Ashirvad. One may wish long and
healthy life, victory, successful completion of a task or trouble free
operations in a venture to the other, that is, to the recipient of Aashirvad.
The ‘giver’ of Aashirvad, the one who offers his blessings, is generally,
more mature in age, has more knowledge,
enjoys higher status, possesses superior qualities or a character without
blemishes. A father, a teacher, a saint or a man with impeccable character can
bless someone who ‘needs’ some sincere ‘good wishes’ or maybe, some kind of
recommendation for a divine help coming from the core of the heart of the one
who genuinely wishes good of the recipient. A true Aashirvad is almost an
unconditional moral commitment for support from the one who blesses, which may
acquire even a physical form if a need arises. However, Ashirvad,
generally, is not a promise of physical support.
My intent behind using the Sanskrit word Aashirvad here
was to highlight the ancient Indian tradition of Ashirvad, where
there is someone who is in need of moral support and he expects it; and there
is someone else, who is competent to commit a moral support to the former and
he extends it. It is obvious that only those who possess spotless moral
character can commit moral support; and they were likely to extend such moral
support to only those who were unlikely to use such moral support for any immoral
purposes. Hence, there is something extraordinarily pure and ethical about Aashirvad.
In my opinion the tradition of Aashirvad has a lot to do with
empowering the good and the truth in this world. No doubt, there are stories
about a few seeking mystical support
from wicked souls, whose existence is believed by many, but the word ‘Aashirvad’
is not used for such support or help, perhaps because, there is definitely
something cruelly selfish about such help than the soulful.
All things considered, there is definitely something very
pious and harmless about Aashirvad. Aashirvad, therefore, is one of the well
intentioned, harmless, positive and fulfilling traditions. Everything is not
positive about the modern world. The tragedy is that much that had been
traditionally rich in our culture and lifestyle is on the decline. Is it not
our duty to give some strength to the goodness we traditionally possess,
instead of allowing it to be debased with selfishness, greed and violence?
If an expert thief of
mature age blesses his son to become a good thief, it cannot be called an Aashirvad.
But, we hear the stories about the ‘ethics of the mafia’ that make them a cohesive
force to reckon with. Strangely, not everything is entirely selfish about such
ethics. Many insignificant ruffians thrive under the Aashirvad of gangsters.
The one who has more ‘criminal strength’ acquires the position and right to
commit ‘moral’ support to the ones who may be trying to gain some ‘criminal
strength’. If criminals can sift out the ‘essential operative part’ of the
traditions of their ‘demonstrative part’ and thereby strengthen themselves; why
can’t the ordinary people, trying to survive by investing their physical and
intellectual labour, do the same? Maybe,
we need to review our traditions in many ways. It is the time when truth
desperately needs moral support and there is everything right with seeking
moral support from anyone who has the competence and strength to extend it,
irrespective of his age, social status and position.
It is high time that truthful and nonviolent thoughts and
conduct are accepted as moral competence to extend moral support to those who
need it in form of Aashirvad or some other form. The beauty of Ashirwad
is that the giver has a strong sense of moral commitment and the recipient
has a strong sense of being grateful to the giver and a willingness to follow
him. We must try to visualize that in ancient times the traditions were in their
formative stages for the benefit of the man; whereas, in modern times, many a
traditions have lost their edge, have gathered dust or have been corrupted. For
the sake of truth, we need to do many things that have not been done in the
past. For example, maybe, some well meaning teachers need Aashirvad from
some promising and committed students in the present context.
No, I am not trying to revolutionize anything; I am only
talking about evolving some traditions that are actually beneficial of the man
and are more consistent with the truth.
PROMOD KUMAR SHARMA
[The writer of this blog is also the author of “Mahatma A
Scientist of the Intuitively Obvious” and “In Search of Our Wonderful Words”.]
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