More links: http://www.geocities.com/Athens/8107/chanakya.html
Some of you may wonder why I would include a person like Chanakya, who plotted and overthrew governments, as a saint. Some have even gone as far as to say that he was evil. If re-establishing the truth and the glory of Bharat is evil, then may Gandhiji be accused of overthrowing the British and getting independence of India. If remaining calm during war is not a mark of a yogi, what is ? Chanakya has been misunderstood by a lot of people, mainly the modern western scholars. Though I can not do justice to his greatness by a few lines of his life, I hope the following lines will convince you read some more about his life. Today is the independence day of India, and India is in a similar situation which Chanakya encountered. The country had been ravaged by Alexander and there were numerous petty kings looking after their own interests. The nationalistic pride had disappeared, and people were not proud or even aware of their ancestry. Chanakya appeared on the scene and united Bharat under the rule of Chandragupta Maurya. He was fearless, not afraid of death, disgrace or defeat. He was compassionate to the poor and kind, evil to deceit. His writings which clearly show his fearlessness in the pursuit of Truth has been echoed over 2000 years later when Swami Vivekananda cried out, 'Arise, Awake, sleep not till the goal is reached.' .... Chanakya lived during the period 350-275 BC. Details of his birth and life are hazy, and we have to rely on tradition. His works have been faithfully preserved through word of mouth for well over two thousand years. His place of birth has to be ascertained from other sources, namely the Buddhist and Jain scriptures. The mahavamsa tika (buddhist) mentions his birth place as taxila, while jain scriptures like adbidhana chintamani mention his birth place as South India, around present day kerala. Probably the latter is appropriate when we consider the frequent mention of the tuft of hair, which is a mark of present day nambudhiri. However, Chanakya's birth place will continue to remain a controversy. Let us not forget that the major puranas, including the bhagavata purana, vayu, matsya, brahmanda and bhavishya purana all mention chanakya along with chandragupta maurya. Probably the short and wonderful play mudra rakshasha written by visakhadatta is the most famous on chanakya, though this covers only the portion of his life after the downfall of nandas and the establishment of Chandragupta. Naturally, the life of these two people (Chanakya and Chandragupta) has been closely intervined. However, in my personal opinion, I would say that Chandragupta's fame and intelligence was in major portion due to Chanakya (this is not to put down chandragupta in any way). http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kautilya http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Chanakya * A good wife is one who serves her husband in the morning like a mother does, loves him in the day like a sister does and pleases him like a prostitute in the night. * An egoist can be won over by being respected, a crazy person can be won over by allowing him to behave in an insane manner and a wise person can be won over by truth. * A human being should strive for four things in life - dharma, arth (money), kaam (desires) and moksha (salvation). A person who hasn't strived for even one of these things has wasted life. * A man is great by deeds, not by birth. * A person should not be too honest. Straight trees are cut first and honest people are screwed first. * A rich man has many friends. * As soon as the fear approaches near, attack and destroy it. * As centesimal droppings will fill a pot so also are knowledge, virtue and wealth gradually obtained. * A woman is four times as shy, six times as brave and eight times as libidinous as a man. * Avoid him who talks sweetly before you but tries to ruin you behind your back, for he is like a pitcher of poison with milk on top. * Before you start some work, always ask yourself three questions - Why am I doing it, What the results might be and Will I be successful. Only when you think deeply and find satisfactory answers to these questions, go ahead. * Books are as useful to a stupid person as a mirror is useful to a blind person. * Education is the best friend. An educated person is respected everywhere. Education beats the beauty and the youth. * Even if a snake is not poisonous, it should pretend to be venomous. * He who befriends a man whose conduct is vicious, whose vision impure, and who is notoriously crooked, is rapidly ruined. * If you get to learn something even from the worst of creatures, don't hesistate. * In a state where the ruler lives like a common man, the citizens live like kings do. And in the state where the ruler lives like a king, the citizens live like beggers do. * Jealousy is another name for failure. * Never make friends with people who are above or below you in status. Such friendships will never give you any happiness. * Once you start working on something, don't be afraid of failure and don't abandon it. People who work sincerely are the happiest. * One who is in search of knowledge should give up the search of pleasure and the one who is in search of pleasure should give up the search of knowledge. * The biggest guru-mantra is: Never share your secrets with anybody. It will destroy you. * There is some self-interest behind every friendship. There is no friendship without self-interests. This is a bitter truth. * The four greatest enemies of a man are - the father who has taken a loan, the characterless mother, the beautiful but promiscuous wife and the stupid child. * The fragrance of flowers spreads only in the direction of the wind. But the goodness of a person spreads in all direction. * The world's biggest power is the youth and beauty of a woman. * Treat your kid like a darling for the first five years. For the next five years, scold them. By the time they turn sixteen, treat them like a friend. Your grown up children are your best friends. * Whores don't live in company of poor men, citizens never support a weak administration and birds don't build nests on a tree that doesn't bear fruits. * Never go on a long journey alone. * Wise men should never go into a country where there are no means of earning one's livelihood, where the people have no dread of anybody, have no sense of shame, no intelligence, or a charitable disposition. --- In [email protected], doctor_gabby_savy <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > --- In [email protected], "Premanand Paul Mason" > <premanandpaul@> wrote: > > > > Yes, I have a similar take on this, but have you looked at the > > Shastras? Phew!!!! Also, Guru Dev extols not only the Shastras but > > their author, holding him to have supernatural sight. > > http://www.hinduism.co.za/chanakya.htm > At a very early age little Chanakya started studying Vedas. The Vedas; > considered to be the toughest scriptures to study were completely > studied and memorized by Chanakya in his infancy. He was attracted to > studies in politics. In politics Chanakya's acumen and shrewdness was > visible right from childhood. He was a student of politics right from > child hood. Known as a masterful political strategist, > ...... > > Since Chanakya was a great scholar from Taxila, he was included in the > committee for charity. Chanakya later on became the president of the > `Sungha' (Trust). The Sungha used to help the king in the distribution > of the money allotted for charity to the different sections of the > society. In the process of delegation of the funds for charity, the > president of the trust had to meet the king frequently. When Chanakya > met the king for the first time, he was disgusted at the ugly > appearance of Chanakya. As time passed he developed contempt for > Chanakya. There was no refinement in words and conduct. To increase > the fire between Dhanananda and Chanakya, the courtiers dissuaded the > king from having a cordial relationship with Chanakya. Chanakya acted > like a thorough professional and avoided praising the king. He always > spoke bluntly and tersely. The king did not like the way Chanakya > behaved with him. The king removed Chanakya from the post of president > without any reasons. Chanakya was enraged at the proposition of being > exploited by the less knowledgeable king. So, he erupted like a > volcano on the king, and said, " Arrogance in you has eroded the > respect which I had for you. You have removed me from the > presidentship for no fault of mine. You can't act in a way detrimental > to the demeanor of a king. You think there is none to question you? > You have removed me from my rightful place and I will dethrone you !" > > > .... > > The relationship between Chandragupta and Chanakya bloomed through the > years developing into a strong force for their enemies. Most of the > historical events took place right under the eyes of Chanakya and > Chandragupta. The troops of Alexander and the umpteen number of > invaders who ravaged the subcontinent for decades around India. It is > said that Chandragupta met Alexander. The bold and arrogant talk by > Chandragupta enraged Alexander as a result of which Chandragupta was > arrested. Chanakya's training to Chandragupta was over by now and he > thought it to be the right occasion to let Chandragupta taste the > practical aspect of warfare. Chanakya closely observed the movement > and strategies employed by Alexander. He also became aware of the > weaknesses of the Indian rulers. > ... > > The momentous life of Chanakya reminds us of a revengeful saga where > the individual is obsessed by the idea of taking revenge. But personal > revenge was not the aim of Chanakya. He wanted that the kingdom should > be secure and that the administration should go on smoothly, bringing > happiness to the people. He thought that there were two ways of > ensuring the happiness of the people. Firstly, Amatya Rakshasa had to > be made Chandragupta's minister; Secondly, a book must be written, > laying down how a king should conduct himself, how he should protect > himself and the kingdom from the enemies, how to ensure law and order, > and so on. > > By writing "Arthashastra" and "Nitishastra", Chanakya has become a > never ending phenomena. He has truly guided the generations with his > wisdom . It would ideally suit the closing of the life of Chanakya with a > couple of quotations by Chanakya > > "The secret task of a king is to strive for the welfare of his people > incessantly. > The administration of the kingdom is his religious duty. His greatest > gift would > be to treat all as equals." > > "The happiness of the commoners is the happiness of the king. Their > welfare is his welfare. A king should never think of his personal interest > or welfare, but should try to find his joy in the joy of his subjects." > > These words were written 2300 years ago by Chanakya, the expert > statesman and wise sage. And Chanakya is also another name for > courage and perseverance. > ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> Join modern day disciples reach the disfigured and poor with hope and healing http://us.click.yahoo.com/lMct6A/Vp3LAA/i1hLAA/UlWolB/TM --------------------------------------------------------------------~-> To subscribe, send a message to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Or go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FairfieldLife/ and click 'Join This Group!' Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FairfieldLife/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
