As I recollect the story of Ahilya from the Ramayana, first told to me by my maternal grandmother at a tender age of 10 or 11 years, I thank my stars for fully comprehending the horrible consequences that Poor lady Ahilya had for no fault of her. It was lustful King of the Gods Indira who deserved a more severe punishment for outraging her modesty. But it was poor Ahilya who was doomed and turned into a stone through a curse by her husband Sage Gautama. As for Indira, he initially got one thousand vulvae that later turned into one thousand eyes enabling him to cast his lustful evil eyes on more and more women. Such was the justice done through the power of curses!
Yet, the rich tapestry of Hindu mythology, the epics, Upanishads and the Puranas stand out as an invaluable source of wisdom, morals, and intriguingly and horrible impacts of curses. These ancient texts are replete with stories where gods, sages, and demons wielded the power to curse with dire consequences. A mere utterance could transform a king into an animal, condemn a soul to a thousand rebirths, or bring about catastrophic changes in the natural world.
As fascinating as these stories are, I feel relieved that such formidable power to curse has faded into myth. Had it not been so perhaps most of Human race would have been turned into animals, stones, half humans, formidable creatures, monsters and you name it….Afterall, we live in a realm of technology driven, information overloaded society inhabited by short-fused humans-both men and women.
The Burden of Power
It gives me jitters to imagine living in a world where a moment of anger could have irreversible consequences. For example, the Puranas depict eccentric sages like Durvasa, often emulated by many of us, whose temper is legendary, and curses had profound irreversible profound impact. The crazy Sage Durvasa got late in his bath beyond the time of ritual and punished a righteous King Amrish who waited for him by creating a demon to chase him. Poor Amrish had to get rid of the demon by invoking Lord Vishnu’s Sudarshan Chakra. While these stories make compelling narratives, it also underscored the immense responsibility and potential for abuse that came with such power. Today, our inability to curse with such potency shields us from the chaos that unchecked power can unleash.
The Evolution of Justice and Forgiveness
In modern society, justice is sought through structured through laws and legal systems rather than the arbitrary will of individuals. The Puranic curses often served as immediate and severe retribution, bypassing any form of due process. It is not that it is all well and injustices don’t happen anymore! How many times we have read stories of a person being acquitted of a charge of murder after languishing in jail for twenty odd years with no accountability on the part of lawyers and judges who would have caused harm to an innocent man by delaying and thus denying him the justice. For subjecting him or her to unjust confinement in jails and so on.
One notable case of such injustice is that of Chandrasekharan- a small-time fruit vendor from Kerala. His life took a tragic turn when he was wrongly accused of being involved in a double murder case of 1984, when two people were murdered in a violent incident. Chandrasekharan was implicated in the case based on circumstantial evidence. But he didn’t have resources to fight his case by hiring an expensive lawyers with specialisation to turn truth into a lie and vice versa. Consequently poor Chandrasekharan was convicted and doomed to life imprisonment, for a crime he hadn’t committed. Despite his persistent claims of innocence, he languished in jail for 22 years. During this time, he lost his youth, his family life, and his health deteriorated significantly due to the harsh conditions in prison. In 2006, in a major breakthrough, the actual perpetrator confessed to the crime, exonerating Chandrasekharan. This revelation led to a re-investigation of the case, and eventually, Chandrasekharan was released from prison. The court acknowledged that he had been wrongfully convicted and imprisoned. Yet poor Chandrasekaran faced immense challenges in reintegrating into society. He struggled with the physical and emotional scars of his wrongful imprisonment. His family had suffered tremendously during his incarceration, and he had missed out on many crucial years of his life. This story illustrates that even in this structured system, largely favouring the moneyed and influential people, one could be doomed akin to a curse. Yet such instances would hopefully be fewer-a lot fewer than our epics, Upnishads and Puranas.
Comparing it to the erstwhile era of mythology where the fear curses at the hands of sages reigned supreme, the contemporary world of forgiveness, justice and rehabilitation, and a fair trial seemingly make more sense than instant retribution. The shift from curses to courts reflects our progress toward a more just and empathetic society-provided the system can ensure speedy and time bound justice to everyone and doesn’t force people to offer them solace by blaming some bad Karma of some previous birth instead of blaming the sickening highly manipulated system. When such injustices happen, I briefly start feeling the need of having the power of ‘curse’ to punish the erring policemen, lawyers and those responsible for denial of natural justice-not in normal circumstances!
The Importance of Emotional Regulation
The stories of the Puranas also highlight the dangers of acting in anger. Today, we understand the importance of emotional regulation and conflict resolution. Therapy, meditation, and communication skills are promoted as ways to manage anger and resolve disputes without causing harm. The absence of the power to curse ensures that our moments of rage do not lead to lasting damage, fostering a more stable and harmonious society.
Embracing Positive Influence
While we may no longer curse, we still hold immense power in our words and actions. Our ability to inspire, motivate, and heal far outweighs any mythical curse. Modern leaders, educators, and influencers use their platforms to spread positivity, encourage growth, and bring about meaningful change. This constructive use of influence is a testament to our evolution from the destructive capabilities of our mythological ancestors. I too have joined this quest of inspiring positivity among my young friends-at the threshold of a new life and the children-the young citizens of our society.
Learning from Mythology
The tales of curses in the Puranas are not just about punishment but also about the lessons they impart. They remind us of the impermanence of power, the value of humility, and the importance of ethical conduct. By reflecting on these stories, we gain insights into human nature and the virtues of compassion, patience, and wisdom. How I wish the tales of delayed and denied justice invoke some sense of remorse and responsibility in our lethargic legal system.
Conclusion
As enthralling as the Puranic tales of curses are, the absence of such powers in our modern world is a blessing. We are no longer burdened with the ability to cause irreversible harm with a mere word, allowing us to focus on more constructive and positive ways to influence our surroundings.
Our journey from the wrathful curses of ancient times to the thoughtful discourse of today marks a significant milestone in our collective evolution. The evolution from curses to courts reflects our progress toward a more just, empathetic, and structured society. Despite its flaws, our legal system offers a means for redress and correction, which were absent in the era of curses.
While we acknowledge that modern justice is not without its injustices, as seen in cases like that of Chandrasekharan, the structured approach of courts is a step towards fairness and accountability. It is a system that, ideally, should ensure speedy and time-bound justice for everyone, moving us away from arbitrary and instant retribution.
Today, our inability to curse with such potency shields us from the chaos that unchecked power can unleash. Instead, we have tools for emotional regulation and conflict resolution, promoting a more stable and harmonious society. Embracing positive influence and learning from mythology’s ethical lessons can guide us toward a more just and compassionate world.
Thank God we no longer have the power to curse like our ancestors, for it has paved the way for a more just, forgiving, and harmonious world.
Inspire Positivity 