The Wisdom of Brihaspati

The Scholar and His Journey

The fame of Vidyanath, the great scholar, had spread far and wide. Young men who aspired for true knowledge gathered around him. Vidyanath had a worthy successor in his son, Brihaspati, who had studied the scriptures diligently and developed a remarkable ability to explain them to seekers.

As Vidyanath grew old, he wished to entrust his esteemed son with the responsibility of the school. Rather than rushing into a decision, he advised Brihaspati one day, “My son! I believe you are a true scholar. However, your knowledge of books should be complemented by a practical understanding of the world. I suggest you undertake a journey across the country.”

Unforgettable Experiences

Brihaspati always recognized the wisdom in his father’s words, so he set off on a journey that proved to be quite fruitful. Some of his experiences were truly unforgettable!

For instance, he encountered a group of robust wrestlers in a certain village pouring water over the feet of a frail-looking man while worshipping him, chanting, “Glory to the great hero, Mahavali, and his illustrious descendant!”

Upon inquiring, Brihaspati learned that Mahavali had once been a great hero in that village. In those days, a vast forest near the village was filled with wild animals that frequently threatened the villagers. Mahavali had driven away or even killed many of these intruding beasts, including a ferocious tiger, almost single-handedly.

Then came a giant named Durmukh, a threat unlike any the villagers had known. Mahavali, a devout worshipper of the goddess Kali, confronted the giant. A fierce battle ensued, but Mahavali triumphed, banishing the menace!

Legacy of Mahavali

No wonder the villagers regarded Mahavali as their savior. Anyone who aspired to physical strength worshipped him, and the day he killed Durmukh became a significant date in their calendar. Every year, a festival was held on that day, drawing together wrestlers from the region to pay homage to Mahavali.

Even after Mahavali’s death, the tradition continued. The wrestlers worshipped his son, and later his grandson. By the time Brihaspati visited the village, this custom remained strong, even though the current scion of Mahavali was a frail man whom the wrestlers revered as their deity!

An Unexpected Encounter

Brihaspati had the chance to witness another incident of a different nature in another village. The local landlord, following the custom of kings, sought to appoint a new court poet after his previous one had passed away. Six leading poets from the region assembled at the landlord’s court.

Each candidate was required to bring a volume of verses as proof of their eligibility. However, the landlord suddenly asked one, “Are you by any chance a sky-man?”

“Yes, sir,” the man replied.
“Then you should have brought three volumes of verses,” the landlord noted, promptly dismissing the candidate and selecting another to be his court poet.

The Caste of Sky-Men

After the interviews concluded, Brihaspati inquired, “What is a sky-man? And why must there be a different rule for them?”

The landlord explained, “We refer to a specific caste as sky-men because their forefathers claimed to have descended from the sky. They believed they alone possessed the right to knowledge and became advisers to the king, wielding great influence over the people. Over time, they began to harass the common folk.”
“The tides of power shifted, and the dynasty that supported the sky-men no longer ruled. The new rulers offered them no favor, and now they do not claim any special privileges. Yet, they still pay for the undue advantages enjoyed by their ancestors,” the landlord concluded.

Brihaspati’s Return

Brihaspati continued his travels for two years before returning home. Soon after, Vidyanath passed away, and Brihaspati assumed charge of the famous school. He discovered that his experiences from the journey greatly enriched his teaching.

One day, while sharing the story of how the squirrel received stripes on its back, Brihaspati narrated how the creature assisted Rama in building the road to Lanka. The little squirrel rolled in sand and shook its body to scatter sand onto the road. Impressed by its effort, Rama brushed its back, leaving the marks it bears today.

When a student asked, “Is it possible for such marks to be passed down through generations?” Brihaspati replied, “Not in the literal sense, but such is the imagination of the people that they link one thing with another. The squirrel’s actions inspire admiration, and society remembers both virtue and vice across generations. This is why even a weakling can be glorified for an ancestor’s bravery, while a worthy individual may be overlooked for his ancestor’s misdeeds.”

With that, Brihaspati went on to recount two memorable experiences from his travels that illustrated his point further.