Eternity and Time GRC - Essay Example

Lecturer: Themes in ‘Eternity and Time’ Spirituality and Divinity Indira is said to slew the dragon that holds the waters of the sky. In this case referred to as a god, his thunderbolt is flung into the ungainly coils and there is the waters streaming the vast expanse of the lands. Indira comes on to rebuild the majestic mansions and all the divinities view him as their saviour. This is equally said to be built by the god of arts and crafts, Vishvakalman. This absolute spirituality is manifested in that a destruction done to the home of the gods is repaired by the gods.

The divine craftsman also tends, at all times to believe and turn to the Olympian. When the Brahmin boy, carrying the pilgrim staff arrives at the gate of Indira, he is later viewed to be divine and spiritual by virtue of the knowledge and ability he was expressing. He is referred to as the holy child, an indication of spirituality and divinity. When the other amazing apparition entered the room, he is still viewed as spiritual. This is because he is referred to as a saintly figure. Moreover, the holy man, Shiva himself and the Brahmin boy disappears from the very sight of the king, which is quite indicative of spirituality.

These two are addressed in absolute divinity by the king upon their arrival and presence. Wisdom and PrideThere is a high show of wisdom from the young and old alike which creates pride and humiliation in equal measure. There is a great difference in the knowledge exhibited by the little boy and the king. The king feels that the boy pretentiously is aware of the gods that existed before him. The boy expresses knowledge on the forefathers of the king as Kashyappa, Mariachi, Brahma and Vishnu himself.

He is also aware of the dissolution of the earth. With explicit knowledge of cycles of the living races from the boy, the king ends up laughing, buoyed by extreme knowledge of the little boy. His pride had fallen under this immense knowledge. His lips go dry and with the idea of the parade of the ants, the king pleaded with humility for more revelations. The boy reveals to the king parabolic ants indicating that the vast number of earlier Indiras had either gone up in glory for the good deeds or re-incarnated as birds and ants.

JudgementIn this aspect, there is the aspect of death being the final ‘judge’ and master. In view of the wisdom expressed, the good kings, by virtue of their deeds ascended to the rank of the king of the gods. The ants indicate the vast army of former Indiras but divided by whether they were good or bad. The Indiras that practiced piety and high deeds by judgement rose to the glorious realm of celestial mansions while the others practising bad deeds sank into pits of pain and sorrow. The judgement for good deeds is happiness the judgement for bad deeds is anguish.

HospitalityTo the two guests that visit the king, there is a high sense of hospitality to them both. To the first, despite being a young boy who otherwise would not have merited entering the king’s place is welcomed warmly. To the Shiva that visits later, the king observes obeisance and offers milk with honey as refreshments. This shows a high sense of hospitality.RedemptionThe second visitor clearly states that faith in the highest Vishnu is more than redemption which brings joy. There may have been a poor beginning that puts an Indira in line with the ants that go to re-incarnation but faith changes everything and hope is created when the king desires redemption after receiving wisdom from the two visitors.

ReferenceZimmer, Heinrich Robert. Myths and Symbols in Indian Art and Civilization. Ed. Joseph Campbell. Illustrated. Vol. 6. New Jersey: Princeton University Press, 1972.