My CPU had some problem and I replace it with a new
one a few days back. The Local Disk (D :) had many documents which I had to
copy to a Pen Drive before connecting my new CPU. I brought a new Pen Drive and
copied the 30 GB content. It hardly took less than 10 minutes to transfer the
data from the computer to the pen drive. There were lots and lots of articles
in Microsoft Word Document, our entire prospective buyers list in Microsoft Excel
Worksheet, many presentation of our factory work flow chart in Microsoft PowerPoint
Presentation, music mp3 files and video files too. I was amazed at the speed
the data was transferred which I had taken enormous hours to pile. That’s technology
for us, it has made transfer of data from one system to another so easy if they
both have the USB port. One such data transfer did happen thousands of years ago.
Gurukula (House of Guru) was the place where
students used to study Shastras (Scriptures) and at the same time carry out of
mundane chores such as cleaning the ashram, gazing the cattle, washing clothes,
fetching firewood etc. The disciples in the ashram were given lesson on
subjects depending on the interest they had, every disciple would get lesson
according to their aptitude. Guru would know what should be taught to a student
and how much, depending upon his capacity to receive and retain knowledge.
One such Gurukul belonged to Rishi Ayodha Dhaumya who
had a disciple named Aruni. Aruni was an average student but his willingness to
learn and devotion towards his Guru was immense. Any work assigned to him he
would finish in such a way that it required none to put their hands into it again.
Thus even though he did not progress in his learning, he continued to be in the
Gurukula unmindful of other things.
One day it started raining heavily with heavy
thunder and lightning. The paddy crop was just finished its flowering stage and
was entering into the milk stage, Guru was worried that the crop would be
flooded. There was a tank and any chance of breach in the tank would wash away
the crop. That paddy crop was the main source to feed the students for the
whole year. He wanted somebody to go over there and see if there was anything to
prevent the tank from breaching. As
usual the task was given to Aruni who immediately took the Palm leaves umbrella
and set out towards the tank. The heavy rain did not bother him as his mind was
occupied to save the crop.
Whole night the little boy was lying along the tank
bed to prevent it from breaching. Unable to control the flow of water by making
heap mound of mud he deemed it fit to cover the breach with his body. His body became
a reservoir to stop water from entering the field. In the morning Guru found
him lying cold with other student’s help he filled the breach and lifted the
boy and embraced him for saving the crop.
At the Gurukula in the morning after bath Guru asked
Aruni to come and sit before him. He placed his right hand on his head and by
invoking all his spiritual powers transferred the entire knowledge he had to
the boy. Aruni who was an average student suddenly became as knowledgeable as
the Guru himself. From then on he was
called “Uddalaka” (one who stopped the water). Uddalaka was the one who
explained his son and disciple Svetaketu meaning of “Tat Tvam Asi” in Chandogya
Upanishad. His daughter Sujata was the mother of Ahstavakra.
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