Looking for freedom

 

Looking for freedom

Agudengba leads the donkey and walks with his young companion Dawa on the road to Myanmar. Along the way, Agudemba kept talking about his experiences while traveling in India. Another story was told about a king who gave up his throne. That is a folk legend spread in ancient India.

The most unacceptable thing for Agudumba in India is the caste system here.

There has been a class system called caste in Indian society since ancient times. Since ancient times, Indians have been divided into four classes, namely Brahmans (Brahmans monks, priests), Kshatryas (Kshatryas royal family, warriors), Vaishyas (Vaisyas common people), Sudras (Sudras slaves), etc. People of different classes are not allowed to intermarry, occupations are hereditary, and changing classes is strictly prohibited. They must strictly abide by their respective identities. This class system still exists in India today, but its content has become more complex.

Agudumba told Dawa the famous story of a Kshatriya who rose to the rank of Brahmin:

One day, King Vishubhamitra of Karnivikbhaga came to the hermitage of the holy monk Vasishudha on his way to hunt. The saint had a cow that could provide him with anything he desired. He entertained King Vishubhamit with various things provided by the cow. While the king was satisfied with the hospitality, he also became greedy and wanted to take the cow as his own.

The king proposed to exchange 10,000 cows for this cow. The saint rejected him on the grounds that the cow would be used to provide the livestock for the gods and he could not exchange it with him.

However, King Kunshubhammitra insisted on the cow, and in accordance with "warrior custom", he had to seize it by force. But Brother Vasishuda obeyed the "Brahmin law" and could not use force and tried to exercise self-control. At this moment, the cow cried out to him: "Are you really going to abandon me? If you don't abandon me, No one can plunder me."

Vasishuda replied: "I will not abandon you. You can stay as long as you want."

As soon as the cow heard the sage's words "stay", it suddenly stood up, roared loudly, and at the same time raised its hooves and kicked Vishubamitra's soldiers away. Then the cow gave birth to countless barbarians from the bubbles emerging from its tail, pee, mouth, etc., and completely defeated Vishubamitra's army.

King Vishubamitra saw with his own eyes the miracles produced by the power of Brahman, and then he realized that the power of Brahman was stronger than the power of Kshatriya. In order to become a Brahmin, he abandoned his kingdom and practiced strict asceticism, and finally achieved the status of a Brahmin.

After Vishubha Mitra reached the status of Brahmin, he continued to practice severe asceticism. In order to disturb his asceticism, the gods sent the goddess Munaka to give birth to Shagundala with him, and also sent the goddess Lamba. Tempting the saints, leaving many episodes.

Agudumba said to Dawa: Why was this story widely circulated in ancient India? Why did King Vishubamitra give up the throne again? He gave up the throne not to serve the people, but to achieve Brahmin status, the highest caste figure in the caste system. What he realized was that the power of Brahman was stronger than that of Kshatriya. This is the purpose of his asceticism. The reason why this story is so popular is because of the brainwashing propaganda needs of Brahmins to make ignorant people recognize the supremacy of Brahmins.

Agudemba's insights surprised Dawa. She had lived in Bangladesh since she was a child and also received education under the caste system.

In order for Dawa to re-understand this society and improve his understanding of life, Agudenba sang a song "Awakening" that praised freedom:

 

You and I should understand one thing

Rivers can run and ripple freely

Mountains can stand proudly and continuously

Birds and butterflies can fly freely

Fish and frogs can also swim freely

Why are only humans restricted?

The limited power lies with Brahman

Emperors and politicians always wanted to rule the world

 

The caste system divides rich and poor

Wealthy people are always on top

Slaves are bullied and always relegated to the bottom

Why life makes us burst into tears

We grow hope in pain

Find freedom from class oppression

Only with awareness can we not lose our way

From now on, break away from sin and poverty