Palanquin Bearers
Lightly, O lightly we bear her along,
She sways like a flower in the wind of our song;
She skims like a bird on the foam of a stream,
She floats like a laugh from the lips of a dream.
Gaily, O gaily we glide and we sing,
We bear her along like a pearl on a string.
Softly, O softly we bear her along,
She hangs like a star in the dew of our song;
She springs like a beam on the brow of the tide,
She falls like a tear from the eyes of a bride.
Lightly, O lightly we glide and we sing,
We bear her along like a pearl on a string. Sarojini Naidu
The wedding theme here is also deliberate. Palanquins fulfilled a
ceremonial as well as practical function. Even today, ornate versions
called dolis are used to convey brides to their marital homes and carry
idols and royalty along religious processions. But about a hundred years
ago, when this poem was written, palanquins were an essential cog in
India’s transport and postal infrastructure. Many regions in the
Subcontinent were only accessible to travellers by palki
What is a palanquin?
Palanquin is an anglicisation of the Sanskrit ‘paryanka’, from which we get
the Hindustani ‘palang’, ie bed. It was designed to be a comfortable way
for the wealthy to travel. A wooden box carried on two poles by a set of
four-six men, the palanquin could accommodate a lot of little luxuries that
travelling on horseback wouldn’t allow. Like window-blinds for privacy,
plush interiors upholstered in chintz and mulmul, brass finials at the end
of the poles that announced the passenger’s status, and enough room within
to sleep without breaking your journey. Before the trains, this was what it
meant to travel first-class.
Jada Bharata story. Bharata stumbled along like an
animal, without looking. The other bearers proceeded fast. The king noticed
that the palanquin was being carried in uneven fashion. ‘What is this?’ he
asked. ‘Please keep pace with each other.’ When the king said this many
times, the other palanquin bearers responded, ‘This one is moving slowly.’
The king asked, ‘Are you tired? You have only carried the palanquin for a
short distance. Can’t you take some exertion? I can see that you are quite
stout.’ The Brahmana replied, ‘I am not stout, nor am I carrying your
palanquin. O king! I am not exhausted, nor am I incapable of exertion.’ The
king said, ‘I can see that you are stout and that you are bearing this
palanquin. For all those with bodies, the carrying of a load causes
exhaustion.’ The Brahmana replied, ‘Please tell me what you have seen of
me. Strong or weak are adjectives that can be used later. The assertions
that you are astride this palanquin and that it is being borne by me are
false. Listen to my words. The feet are placed on the ground and the legs
rest on the feet. The thighs are based on the legs and provide a foundation
for the stomach. The chest finds support in the stomach and the arms and
the shoulders rest on the chest. The palanquin rests on my shoulders. How
is that a burden for me? There is a body that can be seen astride the
palanquin. The words ‘you’ and ‘I’ are used because of that reason and not
otherwise. ‘You’, ‘I’ and everything else is made out of the elements. All
this is because the elements follow the flow of gunas. Sattva and the other
gunas follow karma. Because of ignorance, all beings are subject to the
accumulation of karma. The atman is pure and without decay. It is serene
and devoid of gunas. It is beyond Prakriti. In all those with bodies, it is
the only one that does not increase or decrease. It is not enhanced or
diminished. That being the case, how could you have said that ‘I’ am stout?
The palanquin rests on the shoulders, which rest on the stomach and other
things, the waist, the thighs, the feet and the ground. Therefore, the
burden is borne equally by you and me, because neither I, nor you are
physical bodies. O lord of the earth! This is true of all other beings, not
just those who are astride palanquins. Mountains, trees, houses and the
earth have the same origin, in the elements. When men seem to be different,
that is because of Prakriti. How does the question of me exerting, or not
exerting, myself arise? The substance in the palanquin is made out of the
elements. Even though we have developed differently, you, I and everything
else are made out of the same elements.’ Having said this, he continued to
bear the palanquin but was silent.
All fingers are not the same. This is a Persian expression
meaning that all of our 5 fingers in one hand have different size, shape
and orientation and all of them are unique. But all these discrepancies
make hands the crucial part of the body with the highest performance.
Fingers are not equal in length because it provides a better grip
and dexterity for humans, allowing us to effectively grasp and manipulate
objects of different sizes and shapes, which is a result of evolutionary
adaptation; having different finger lengths helps with tasks like picking
up small items, throwing objects, and using tools effectively.
Evolutionary advantage:
The varying lengths of fingers likely evolved from our ancestors' need to
use their hands for climbing and tool making, where a longer middle finger
provided stability while shorter fingers helped with fine manipulation.
Grip strength:
The different lengths allow fingers to curve around objects of different
sizes, creating a more secure grip.
Thumb opposition:
The thumb's unique ability to oppose other fingers is crucial for precise
movements, which is further enhanced by the different finger lengths.
What if all fingers were the same length?
Reduced dexterity: If all fingers were the same length, our ability to
grasp and manipulate objects would be significantly reduced, making tasks
like picking up small items or using tools much harder.
Poor grip on curved surfaces:
A uniform finger length would make it difficult to grip objects with uneven
surfaces.
“Picture a hand with five fingers. Each finger is distinct, but
each finger also connects to the same source—the hand itself. The fingers
are separate, but connected. We as humans have vastly different experiences
here on earth, but all of our experiences funnel into one massive
collective experience—the experience of our existence. Our souls,
ourselves, our experiences, our existence—these are not isolated in any
way. The universe is not a place of separateness, it is a place of
entanglement. We are connected to others in ways we cannot fathom.”
So, it sways; it bears and unbears only as elements; it takes the Bride;
and it takes the King; the differences are in the Karma Guna Vibaga or
elements of Gunas by birth; all fingers are not the same but if they were
equal then bio advantage of providing the fingers are lost. Thus,
inequality does exist I appearance; but they are all needs of the
recipients’ pleasures; in case of all in the same scale or not carved out
differently the movements of the perceptions will not happen. Inequality
as mind interpreted does exist; equality is the cause of actions; Because
Krishna did not fight, does not mean that the valour of the Arjuna won the
Mahabharatham war. It is not disputed the inequality; in all fairness
mending the way is welcome. Corrections and elevations are chain reactions
to attain the APEX.
K Rajaram IRS 18225
On Tue, 18 Feb 2025 at 04:04, Jambunathan Iyer <[email protected]>
wrote:
> Don’t compare yourself
>
> One of the biggest confidence killers is definitely comparison. And if you
> were compared too much as a child, do yourself a favour and stop doing it
> to yourself as you grow older. Comparison will only bring in more problems!
>
> N Jambunathan Rengarajapuram-Kodambakkam-Chennai-Mob:9176159004
>
> *" What you get by achieving your goals is not as important as what you
> become by achieving your goals. If you want to live a happy life, tie it to
> a goal, not to people or things "*
>
>
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