Man is a Domestic Animal

I was once watching the movement of an ox. He was being virtually driven with force towards the land he would plow. On the other hand, he looked quite happy to return back to the home where it would be strapped to a pole till the next morning. I found that the same was true with other domesticated animals, and strangely those  meant for eventual slaughter. Animals seldom socialize. What about a man, be that a hunter who returns home from the hills or a sailor who returns home from the sea ?

The moment a man leaves his home , he starts looking for comfort as being those available at his home. Watch his Sedan ! It will certainly be equipped with an  air conditioning device, a makeshift bed, a cupboard full of drinks, and boot space filled with whatnots.

The train has also transformed itself into a house or a palace on wheels. Over a period of time, we left far behind the smoke, and coal dust of a steam engine, the vibrations originating from undulated rails, or a stranger sitting by your side. These days , the trains do not have several stoppages, refueling halts, and window purchases. Now you are sealed in with integrated pantries, fixed glass pane windows,TV viewing et.al. You detest having a company of your kind.

When in Rome  we prefer not to do as the Romans do. Even in five star hotels, you shall find persons asking for his native boiled rice or cookies. Certainly , you shall feel at home when you overhear somebody talking in your native tongue. I , myself was enthralled to find a Royal Bengal Tiger, a beggar in the precinct of a  zoo, and a man relieving himself over the bushes behind a car parking area in a rather developed country. The environment had a homely touch.

Whenever, we return back home from a journey, we take less time. People say that it is because you are then familiar with the roads,and their nuances. I feel otherwise.

Deliberate mummification,and keeping household items,and jewelry by the side of such mummies were a common feature of several South American, and Asian culture since 6000 years. It is still in vogue. Now we immerse the body in liquid Nitrogen or use the technique of plastination. In India, only a century back, kings,and nobles were transmitted soul,and body together with billions of worth of jewelry straight to the homely comfort of the heaven. These gentlemen were blind folded. They were pushed into a deep well floored with upright spears. Their bits,and pieces of mortal remain washed down to the holy Ganges.

At the present time, we try to provide state of the art homely comfort in the graves to the departing bodies of flesh,and bones complete with a copy of the Holy Bible.

All mammals are social in as much as the mother,and its offspring bond to a certain degree. Man could be called a  social animal if he has a highly interactive organism with different members of its kind; if there is a permanence in relationships,and togetherness.

Permanence,and togetherness have faded into the past. In its place , we are more inclined towards me, my,and myself. We are fond of ourselves. We love ourselves. However, We feel proud in carrying our cross in public. Now social networking in the homely comfort is enough with putting a mere ‘like’ on other’s posts to get reciprocated suitably.

We are more a domestic robots than socially organic. 

A Pilgrim Odyssey

Indian temples and places of pilgrims gain importance and reverence in order of their location; more tough is the path- more valued is their worship and more possibility of reaping rewards from such pilgrimage. Swami Shankracharya had , therefore, stamped four temples in the four corners of India of which one is at the top North.

My friend Ashok, when he became a senior citizen, opted for the life of a pilgrim. It seemed that the Gods were also with him. He always found the way to pilgrimage paved for him. While going to Puri, his next berth traveler in the train was from Ram Krishna Mission. The later arranged for his stay at Puri for free. When he went to Trivandrum, his taxi driver was from his village. He took him to his home and to all places of worship without asking for any payment. At Hardwar, he stayed at a lodge operated by a person who was his class mate in school.

In his journey to Amarnath Caves which was at an attitude of around 4000 meter and 150 KM from Srinagar, he had no such assistance and had to be of his own. It was a nightmare when terrorists attacked and all the pilgrims fled away helter and skeltor. He had one blanket with him when it became dark and very cold. He somehow reached the place of temporary stay in tents. He was very tired and shivering with cold when he saw row of tents. He slipped into the first tent . There were twelve people sleeping there. He did not bother for food though he was very hungry and slept a good sleep.

He only arose when he heard voices. There were Indian soldiers talking over his head. One was asking others as to how the hell there were thirteen corpses when they had brought in only twelve.