King Janmejaya commenced Sarpa Yagna to avenge the killing of his father, King Parikshita, by serpent Takshaka. Millions of serpents were done to death and Takshaka, in fright, sought protection of Lord Indra. Janmejaya, however, was unrelenting. Finally Takshaka and its clan were spared when Brihaspati interceded on behalf of the serpents and Parikshita put an end to the Yagna.
The Mahabharata, is stated to have been first recited to King Janmejaya by Vaishampayana, son of Vyasa. Since then, I suppose, the war between the Pandavas and the Kauravas continue raging, without any sign of abating. Kaliyuga seems to be gaining virulence, with no sign of a New Yuga.
No wonder, our society does not as yet seem tuned to the concept of Rule of Law. Rather, even an educated Indian tends to view it as normal when the executive misuses law to fix an innocent. This cruel reality is widespread and shows no sign of decline, despite exponential spread of education and the lawyer fraternity.
India's democratic polity is pitted against growing despotism with simultaneous growth of middlemen; god-men, astrologers and extremism. A veritable time-bomb is ticking and it is highly unrealistic to accept that it can be defused by a stronger executive repression.
The phenomenal spread of executive highhandedness has been facilitated by an abysmally slow and highly expensive judicial system. The victim, in most cases, has preferred silent suffering, in the absence of any better alternative.
This Indian dilemma we can ill afford to sweep under the carpet.
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Incidentally, King Janmejaya was the first Ruler of Kaliyuga. No wonder, one sees relevance of Serpents and Poison in Kaliyuga which could not have been conceivable without them.
No wonder, our society does not as yet seem tuned to the concept of Rule of Law. Rather, even an educated Indian tends to view it as normal when the executive misuses law to fix an innocent. This cruel reality is widespread and shows no sign of decline, despite exponential spread of education and the lawyer fraternity.
India's democratic polity is pitted against growing despotism with simultaneous growth of middlemen; god-men, astrologers and extremism. A veritable time-bomb is ticking and it is highly unrealistic to accept that it can be defused by a stronger executive repression.
The phenomenal spread of executive highhandedness has been facilitated by an abysmally slow and highly expensive judicial system. The victim, in most cases, has preferred silent suffering, in the absence of any better alternative.
This Indian dilemma we can ill afford to sweep under the carpet.
******
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