Thus Spake the Divine - Anger (Krodh)

Thus Spake the Divine

Anger (Krodh)

Lust and anger (Kaama and Krodh) are considered top among the five evils prevailing within an individual. Anger usually appears in combination with desire. Lust is a desire or yearning to possess or own something. Anger includes wrath, irritation, resentfulness, desperation, hatred, hot-temper and short-temper. Lord Krishna in Bhagavad Gita says, “It is anger which springs from lust that drives a man towards sinful actions”. Both lust and anger are our enemies.

When we develop a desire or passion to possess anything, we want to possess it at any cost and by any means. When we are not able to do so, we get desperate and angry towards those we think are stumbling blocks in our possessing that thing. In other words, the unfulfilled lust transforms into anger.

When we throw a ball against a wall, it bounces back at us. The ball thrown against the wall is lust. When it bounces back, it is anger. Likewise, when we express our wrath or anger against others, it comes back to assault our own selves. Anger directly affects our body and mind. You should ask someone to take a photograph of yourself when you are hysterically shouting at someone. When you see that photograph, you will know how wrathful your face turns when you are angry!

Generally, hunger is one thing that subsides once you eat something. After some time, there is again hunger. But fire is something, which does not subside even if we put something in to satisfy its hunger. It only inflames the fire more. Though fire glitters with its light, it burns those substances that get in contact with it and makes them black. That is why fire is referred to “Krishna Vartma”.

Lust also blows like fire. When you offer something lovable to it, it does not subside. It only aggravates lust more intensely. That makes our mind black and dark. When one desire is fulfilled, it gives temporary happiness. But the mind wanders again behind that desire without any control. It thus spoils happiness and peace, leading to wrath, anger and even tears. Tears come out of the sorrow of not being able to obtain what we want.

Both lust and anger are two sides of unfulfilled desires. We express our anger against those who stand in our way of getting our desires fulfilled. Or, we become depressed and start lamenting and weeping. The evil power of anger is worse than lust, which is well illustrated in the story of King Nala known as “Naishatham”. This talks of Saint Durvasa, who was never a victim of lust, but he could not control his anger and short-temper. He used to get highly aggressive at small issues. Sometimes, he would curse a person without thinking much.

We should be very cautious of these twin tyrants of anger and wrath. Before we get aggressive and angry against the other person, we should internally contemplate for a moment, put ourselves into his position and interrogate, “Am I qualified to point out the other person’s mistakes? Have I not committed any such mistakes or any other mistakes at all in my life?” Given the circumstance, we too may have committed such a mistake, isn’t it? In that case, what is the merit do we hold in shouting at others?

Therefore, never let the demon of anger conquer you. Keep away from anger.

This article is a snippet from the Book Thus Spake the Divine, is available online at www.giri.in and across Giri Trading Agency Private Limited, A chain of Speciality Stores dealing in all kinds of products needed in Indian Culture and Tradition.