As puerile as my mind could be while infantile, everything in the world fell into either of these two categories: wrong or right, black or white, good or bad, Suras or Asuras. Adulting made me learn that there’s a spectrum, guarded by black and white, bridged by multiple shades of grey, which demand no justifcations. The blacks and whites are just our own varied hued perspectives. Then what happens to age old tales, we fed our childhood with? Suras and Asuras? Linguistically, ‘Sura’ means wine; ‘Suras’ were the ones who drank wine, and the ones denied its consumption, came to be known as ‘Asuras’. There is always the idealism to narrate us its own undoubted victory. The etymological roots of ‘Asura’ to ’Asu’, meaning life of the spiritual world. The oldest verses of Samhita layer of vedic texts describe The Asuras as “any spiritual, divine beings inclusive of good and bad intentions, constructive or destructive inclinations’’.
A famous refrain from a Rig Veda Sukta for end of each stanza states, “mahat devanam asuratvam ekam” : Great is the one nature of spirit of the devas. Declining the duality in the existence between the Suras and Asuras. With the progression in the civilization the duality grew prominent, the monotheistic* panentheism* had shifted to a more artificial henotheism*. The Asura word starts to have a slight hostility and “adevic” connotation. The prime antagonist of Ramayana, King Ravana, beholder of erudite knowledge and spiritual conquests, an exemplary scholar, a fierce warrior, a great administrator was an equally prolific musician. Then what made him an Asura? Thinking of shutting me up saying, Karma. Agreed! What about the defrauding strategies of Krishna of disposing Dronacharya, making Duryodhana mortal and vulnerable, and all other bitter sweet duplicities throughoutthe battle of Mahabharata? Imagine the battle once without deceptions. Whom do you see winning, the Kauravas or the Pandavas? Still counting Karmas? Karma is definitely not the deciding factor of good or bad.
Thought provoking enough to not let only one dimension paint the other? The perspective, thereby is nothing other than our comfort of accepting the pre-conceived notions. But, denial is not the answer to the curious thoughts. The equilibrium of the rights and wrongs in a particular situation is the key. And who are we to typecast any individual into Black and White. After each and every happening, messing up every time, underneath that skin, ‘strength’ runs in the vein that nullifies the guilt.
* relating to or characterized by the belief that there is only one God.
*the belief or doctrine that God is greater than the universe and includes and interpenetrates it.
*adherence to one particular god out of several, especially by a family, tribe, or other group
Classic elaboration yet requires further details and refinement. If one may go through it from the mythological perspective, one will come across the complexities of the scenes stated in a postive manner, without having any proir depth upon the matter, yet this very fact could be used to enhance and improve the quality of information one can accumulate from this essay. Keep writing and I know you can always do better.. keep up..