THUMBS DOWN - EKLAVYA AND GURU-DAKSHINA

THUMBS  DOWN  -  EKLAVYA  AND GURU-DAKSHINA

                                         

In ancient India, there was a system of  Gurukul meaning students were taught in the house of the Guru (teacher).  The students stay with the Guru and complete their studies.  They were not only taught scholastic Vedic hymns, Rituals and Philosophy but also Upavedas which included  lessons in warfare (Dhanur-veda). health (Ayur-veda), theatre (Gandharva-veda),time (Jyotish-shastra), space (Vastu-shastra) and polity (Artha-shastra). After the  completion of their tutelage, the pupil will give the teacher dakshina or tuition fees.

Guru-dakshina means tuition fees.

 

Drona was a teacher who learnt his lessons in Warfare from the guidance of great Sage Parashurama.  Parashurama asked Drona not to impart his knowledge to the Kshatriyas (warriors) and Drona nodded in agreement.  However, once out of the Gurukul Drona forgets his promise and take up the coaching of Kauravas and Pandavas, the Ksahatriya princes.

 

While on the subject, it is imperative to understand the caste system of India which was in force from 5000 BC.  

 

The Indian society was a caste-ridden one splitting into four varnas (castes). The Brahmans (priests), Kshatriyas (warriors), Vaishyas (merchants) and Shudras (servants). There are clear cases of prejudice against those outside or at the bottom of society. They were forbidden from learning Archery for example.

 

 

 

 

Eklavya was a Nishada, a hunter in the forest, who belongs to the bottom strata of the society.  He wanted to learn Dhanur-vidya (Archery) and goes to the famous Drona's Gurukul.  Drona sidelines him stating that he was busy and cannot accommodate any new pupil.  A dis-heartened Eklavya asked him then how  he will learn Dhanur-vidya. Drona told him that you can do self-study thinking in his mind that Drona as his Guru.  Eklavya took his words seriously and started practicing Archery in the presence of Drona's clay model.  He did his practice with great concentration and devotion.

One day while practicing archery, a dog's bark made him to lose his concentration.  A disturbed Eklavya shot seven arrows to the dog's mouth in such a way piercing his jaw but not hurting him otherwise.  The dog stopped his barking. The dog was a hound of Pandava's and Arjun, the Pandava prince was astonished to find the presence of an archer who is far superior to him. He turns to Drona and reminded him of his promise that he will make him the world's best archer.  A stunned Drona after seeing the dog's plight wanted to find out who was that archer who silenced the dog.  He set off from his Gurukul at Hastinapuri in search of the archer along with Pandava princes.  

In the forest they found Eklavya who was practicing the archery.   After sighting Drona, he rushes to him to touch his feet.  Drona recognized Eklavya who was shooed away by him denying admission to his Gurukul.

Drona told Eklavya that if he had learnt archery under his guidance even if not physically present in his Gurukul, he owes him a Guru-dakshina.  Eklavya was more than pleased to give the Guru-dakshina and asked him what can he give as tuition fees since he had nothing to offer.  Drona asked for his right thumb as Guru-dhakshina.  Eklavya without any hesitation brandished his knife and cuts-off  his right thumb and offered the same at Drona's feet.  An astonished Arjuna after witnessing the cruel deed of his Guru realized that there will be nobody to challenge him in the game of archery now.

 

In fact, Guru-dakshina was to take care of only the Guru's sustenance.  But Drona takes much more.

Drona tells Arjuna that he has done that to keep the balance of Chatur-varnya.  

This may be seen as hypocrisy from the part of Drona.

 

Though one may criticize Drona for his cruel deed, it was mentioned in history,  aftermath, Drona trained Eklavya to do archery using his index finger and middle finger in the absence of thumb. 

 

Eklavya once again becomes the archer not to be defeated by anyone and joined Kauravas in the war of Kurukshetra.

The modern archers in the Olympic games uses the index finger and middle finger to shoot.

 

 

 

 

At present, the custom of Guru-dakshina prevails mostly in the tutelage of Dance and Music.