The image of a snake or serpent brings to the mind those archetypal associations of jealousy, animosity, vindictiveness, and even anger. Indian mythology is replete with serpent stories portraying various aspects of this archetypal symbol. But what if a snake gives up his natural tendency of animosity and vindictiveness and turn into a kind and benevolent creature? The great acharya Ramakrishna Paramhansa told the following story to his disciples while explaining the role and function of anger.
Once upon a time, a group of cowherds used to graze their cows in a nearby pasture. A venomous snake had made a corner of this grass field into his abode, and was notorious for biting and killing anyone who ventured into that area. Everyone was scared of him and avoided the area he occupied. One day a holy man from the nearby village came passing through the grass field. The cowherd boys came running towards the holy man and warned him “Oh sir, Please avoid crossing that area as a dangerous snake lives there, he might bite you”. The Brahmana said “ I am not afraid of snakes because I know a secret mantra that can make snake poison ineffective. This mantra will protect me. “Saying thus he walked on towards the pasture. As the boys were scared, they did not dare to accompany him. Suddenly, the snake slithered out of the bushes, reared up, spread his hood and came hissing towards the Brahmana ready to strike him down. Seeing the snake Brahmana began chanting his mantra and the snake immediately lost its power and fell limp at his feet like a worm.
The holy man said to the snake “My son, why are you so angry? Why do you have to always spew your poison and kill others for no reason? Let me give you a mantra. By chanting this mantra you will find god within yourself. This will free you of the anger and jealousy you feel towards other creatures.” Thus the Brahmana initiated the snake with the mantra. The snake bowed to the Brahmana with the promise of practicing the mantra that will free him of his anger and attain a life of peace and harmony. The Brahmana promised the snake that he would be returning on the same route and they would meet again. Saying this, the Brahmana departed for his destination.
As days passed the snake started chanting the mantra religiously. Meanwhile the cowherd boys noticed that the snake did not come after them or strike them like before. They tried throwing stones at him, but the snake did not retaliate with anger.This emboldened the boys and one day they caught hold of the snake by its tail, whirled it in the air and smashed it repeatedly on the ground. The snake vomited blood and lay unconscious on the ground. The boys assumed the snake was dead and went away gleefully celebrating their victory .
When the snake regained his consciousness, his whole body was in pain. Very slowly and painfully he crawled back into his hole. Grievously wounded the snake hardly had any strength left to move and lay motionless for days in his hole still chanting the mantra given by the holy man. After many days he ventured out of his hole in search of food, but due to his frail condition he could only eat some fruits fallen from nearby trees. He also realised that he no longer felt envy or anger towards anyone and continued to live by eating leaves and fallen fruits.
About a year passed in this manner and the holy man on his way back returned to the same spot and searched for the snake as promised. The cowherd boys told the Brahmana how they had killed the snake. But he did not believe them and kept calling out for the snake “Where are you my son? Come out”. After a while he saw the snake slowly crawling towards him. Seeing that his master has returned , the snake was happy and bowed towards him with great love. The holy man asked “ How are you my son?” and the Snake replied “ Sir I am fine” “But why are you so emaciated? You look sick.” Brahmana asked him with concern in his voice. The snake replied, “ Sir, you advised me not be angry or vicious. I have been following your advise. Now I do not kill any one and subsist only on leaves and fruits . Therefore I have become thin and emaciated. “
The snake had truly transformed himself and no longer carried anger and animosity within him. He had almost forgotten the incident of how the cowherd boys tried to kill him. But when the Brahmana reminded him of the cowherd boys’ claim of killing the snake, he replied “Master now I remember. These boys did torture me. But they are ignorant. They did not know that I have been transformed and no longer can strike or hurt any other creature ”.
The holy man was stunned and said, “ My son, I told you not to bite in anger but that does not mean that you should not try saving yourself from bodily harm. Why didn’t you pretend to strike those boys? It is necessary to show anger towards wicked people by pretending to be angry, otherwise they will hurt you and pour venom into you.”
Story collected by : Vidya Kamat
Source: The Incredible life of a Himalayan Yogi by Shuddhananda Brahmachari
Location Pan India
Image Copyright: Vidya Kamat
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