Ahilya's Story--A History of Male Domination

A story is told by Viswamitra as he leads Ram and Lakshman to the ashram of Gautam-a sage, Royal teacher of King Janak and  ‘most honoured by the Gods who dwell above the sky.’ The story is famous as the story of Indra and Ahilya.

I don’t want to get into the details of the story which has been retold for generations via the Valmiki Ramayan and many others who had read or heard the Ramayan and many know(actually they think they know!) that Ahilya, being driven by lust kept immoral relationship with Indra-king of Gods and cursed by her husband into becoming a stone until Ram noticed, came and touched her. Have we been diverted from the truth? Yes, we have been diverted from the truth.

1. What Valmiki Ramayan Says

The Ramayan describes her as counter-part of Gautam until this incident and even lists her as Pancha Kanya (also known as Five Satis-Devotees of their husbands) along with Sita, Tara, Mandodari and Draupadi. (It is strange that all these women suffered male domination!) The arrival of Indra is described as in the lines below:

‘It chanced the saint had gone away,
When Town-destroying Indra came,
And saw the beauty of the dame.’

Based on these lines, I don’t see Ahilya as the culprit because she did not even have a hint that Indra was coming. I find the culprit in Indra(Why is he being culprit in my every post?). Ramayan of other writers of have given in details, the preparation made by Indra and cause of Gautam’s absence which I don’t think should be detailed. I am concerned with everything that happened after the sage's departure.

2. What I have to Say

What was her reaction after seeing her husband coming back so soon and knowing that he was Indra instead? This question is important if we regard Ahilya as a noble woman. She was wife of one of the most heeded scholars of that age and happy with her conjugal life. Then could she have submitted herself to Indra at once to fulfill fer lust? That’s not possible at all. ‘But touched by love’s unholy fire, She yielded to the God’s desire.’ Such defaming lines have been used for Ahilya in Valmiki Ramayan but don’t the two word’s “God’s desire” not explain that Ahilya was under the authority of Indra. Who is the culprit-- Indra, the mightier who suppressed a lady, or Ahilya-- the inferior? The answer should have been Indra, but our blind-folded eyes see guilt on Ahilya. Shame on us!

Had this incident been a matter of love affair or adultery, I would not have to speak against Gautam, what he did to his wife might have been pardonable but this is a matter of crime. Crime on Ahilya by a male dominant society! Indra tricks Gautam into going out of the house at night, comes in his guise and meets Ahilya whom he tells who he is. She is then seduced and when disagrees to make love to the heavens’s king, is forced into physical intimacy(also called rape in common understanding). Just as in modern times, this was a crime  then but the victim was much victimized than the culprit. (Such trend still exists, must be the remnants of the past!)

After returning from the river, feeling that the daylight was far off, Gautam sees Indra rushing in a hurry. Ramayan says he was cursed but I don’t believe it. Had he been cursed, how could he forever become the King of Gods! He then curses the lady to remain as dead as stone and goes away saying he cannot accept her. (Life OK’s Mahadev showed that the curse on Indra was lifted by Parvati on the request of young Ganesh. How could anyone, that too a woman, lift the punishment for such a crime on mere request of a child? Was she afraid of Indra? Had she not lifted the curse and punished Indra even more, there would have been an inspiration for a secured society for women at present. Alas! That did not happen, not even on a contemporary show.)

Being a wise sage, why could Gautam not accept his wife or revolting against Indra? This idea haunts me whenever I read, watch or hear the story and I imagine him doing so. But what I imagine had not occurred at all! Gautam was a learned-man(educated man) and though people say such men are wise, I don’t think so. They are actually the ones who live for the prevalent traditions of the society. Gautam is the best example of Rousseau’s citizen. Yes, he was scared of the society. What would others say if he accepted a woman who had “crossed her limits”? He knew the question would arise and instead of answering, he abandoned his wife at the state of distress. This led the society to believe her as the culprit and apparently, Indra benefited. As a king, no one would raise questions on him and what would have happened if he was questioned? All the blame would go to the dame who had no one to support. What became of her life? Everyone knows--as dead as stone and the one who regained a little consciousness when Ram kicked her. (Ramayan says that Ram touched Ahilya on her head to bring her back to consciousness. It is to be noted that very few people visited that lonely cottage after Gautam left. Vishwamitra, Ram and Lakshman had reached near the cottage in the evening and Ram had been curious of Ahilya. How Ahilya survived that long might be a different question, but Ram kicked her during her unconsciousness. And it might have been other body parts as well, not only the head!)

I often think, “Had Gautam defended his wife and made Indra confess his sin, there would have been a more secure society for women.” His action might have affected him then but would have created ideal society for women. 

Conclusion

The present society-it lives in duality. Sometimes it says Ahilya a scarlet woman and sometimes respects her as devotee to husband(who left her at time of distress!) This duality, which still exists, would have been ended a long time ago had Gautam raised his voice against the crimes of the SHAMELESS Indra.[i]

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[i] The texts in Italics have been derived from The RÁMÁYAN of VÁLMÍKI Translated into English Verse, Ralph T. H. Griffith, 1870-1874.

A Note on Marriage Anniversary of Uma-Shankar

Had Lord Shiva and Lady Parvati lived till date, they would have celebrated their __th marriage anniversary this Akshaya Tritiya![1] Hindus worship them as God and Goddess. They believe that their miraculous bonding formed the Earth and protected Her from the influence of Asuras(infamous as 'demons').

I take this marriage as a historically significant event. Among all the 33 crores[2] Lords(a.k.a. Gods), the marriages of only two are remembered-- one of Shiva and the other of Ram. Why? I asked this question time and again to myself and I have come to an interesting conclusion based on what I have read and have listened to from our “Holy Books”.

The marriage between Lord Shiva and Lady Parvati was not a minor event- not at all. This marriage carried a sense of revolution against the then social conditions and traditions. Of course, the parents of Parvati- Himalaya and Menaka had no objections on the marriage. They had probably feared the result of refusal to Lord Shiva[3]. Whatever it was, love or force or fear, the marriage was a great ceremony. It was an event that could pave path for development of new culture, new traditions. It was a ceremony that united people of two races- the indigenous Dravidians and the immigrant Aryans!

Nothing but his existence is known about Lord Shiva. His family name as well as clan has remained anonymous. Yet he was a great warrior of the Himalayas. He had a huge army of Bhootas, Pretas and Yoginis. Though the names might suggest that these were ghosts and demons, in reality they were clans of nomadic indigenous people. As they had accepted Shiva as Lord, I believe the Lord himself belonged to one of such tribes.

Immigrants have always troubled indigenous people. Aborigines of Australia and Red Indians of North America are the commonest examples of indigenous communities dissolved by the influence of immigrants. Similar might have the situations then. The immigrants who called themselves Arya or Noble must have tried to suppress the indigenous tribes. Their true colors are shown where Indra describes himself victorious over the people of the Ancient Indus Civilization. He had been there long after the people had died of drought and famine but he called it his mass killing[4]. The statement had an effect upon the innocent people and Indra became their Lord.

Lord Shiva with his huge army, however was able to dominate the Aryas to some extent. He must have defeated Indra and gained the dignity of being Lord of the Lords[5]. As a result, the Aryans had to do something to gain him into confidence. To let Shiva marry Parvati was the best way to get his support and also expand their culture. The denial was never made, the reason to which, I have given already.

The marriage ceremony of Uma-Shankar was grand. People from all over the places of Jambudweep participated. The Aryans went to the bridal side while the Asuras, Shiva’s Army along with many of the sages came from groom’s side. The Chandra Shekhara guise of Lord Shiva was the talk of the people. He had officially accepted to be one of the Aryans. As of Lady Parvati, there was no match to her beauty. Her love and devotion had finally met a happy end. I am not sure if their union gave rise to the Earth, but what I am sure is that their union was an example that set the message of co-existence.[i]

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[1] I am not sure of the actual date! The accuracy in the number of years has not been provided to me!!

[2] There are 33 classes of Lords in reality. Many Hindus believe it to be 33 crores(1 crore= 10 millions) because of the word “Koti” in Sanskrit which has two diverse meanings.

[3] Lord Shiva had previously loved and married Sati, the daughter of Dakshya. Because Dakshya refused to accept Shiva as son-in-law(he had declared the marriage as elopement), Sati died and Lord Shiva had nearly destroyed a race.

[4] Based on the article on Indus Valley Civilization in Wikipedia.

[5] Except Lord Shiva, none of the Hindu Gods are nomadic or dark-complexioned. It is not by chance; Lord Shiva is the only Dravidian originated Hindu God.

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[i] At the End: It has been a common practice to write Lord in front of Shiva’s name. If it is so, the name of Parvati should be prefixed by Lady. Although many people would prefer writing Goddess before the name of Parvati, I have omitted the use.

As to the matter related to Ram's marriage, it is remembered as marriage of Aryan Prince to a Dravidian Princess.