SHAILAJA GANGULY recounts a Sanskrit prayer from one of the foremost Sanatani Puranas that invokes peace, harmony and goodwill for all of humanity
Every evening, after playtime, the first thing l had to do as a growing child was—wash my hands and feet, stand in front of the shrine to chant a few prayers, devour the snack and milk waiting for me, thanks to an adoring and adorable Grandma and then settle down to finish the dreaded school homework.
One of those chants which still sits on my tongue and flows out daily is:
Sarve bhavantu sukhinaha
Sarve santu niramayah
meaning, ‘Let everyone (Yes, everyone…not just Hindus) be happy; let everyone be free from illness, malaise’…(we can include body and mind here).
The next two lines:
Sarve bhadraani pashyantu
Maa kaschit dukkha bhagbhavet
‘May everyone behold only that which is auspicious
May no unhappiness befall anyone’ (again notice the stress on inclusivity of
‘ everyone’).
Fundamental, the dictionary tells me, is something basic and important from which everything else develops.
Therefore, if l said that air or water is fundamental, l will not be wrong, right?
So also, this prayer that beseeches the Divine to grant peace, good health and a problem-free existence to all human beings on this planet is a beautiful entreaty seeking something fundamental—meaning universal harmony, joy and peace. It does not restrict its reach to a particular section of society even though it appears in an ancient and sacred text of Sanatan Dharma, namely the Garuda Purana.
Misguided, ignorant or petty-minded individuals (and worse still, people invested with the power of controlling or manipulating a larger group) can always twist the definition of any rule to suit their own treacherous purpose.
Read and reflect on the blessing sought in the prayer above and you will not need me to tell you that…anything which is so pure and well-meant is always for the betterment and benefit of the largest possible number of fellow-travellers on this short journey on Mother Earth.
Building boundaries, stressing on ‘Mine’ and ‘Yours’, deliberately creating insular thinking and distorting eternal truths is what breeds hatred, disruption, rage, wars and other debasing thoughts that destroy feelings of peace and harmony between communities.
So if saying this Sanskrit prayer from a respected scripture every evening and then trying to apply it in real life for the welfare of the many (caste, class no bar) within my means and power makes me a fundamentalist, l am indeed happy to be one.
How about you?
Shailaja Ganguly is a journalist, writer, voiceover artiste, anchor for classical music and dance by India’s best, and a fitness fiend who loves children, yoga and food. She is the recipient of the award for excellence in journalism from the Kanara Saraswat Union, and the Woman Icon of Navi Mumbai Award
from the Smiles Foundation, an Economic Times prizewinning NGO. She lives in Mumbai.
