Sur - Asur

Creation has two different aspects – the positive (sur) and the negative (asur). The surs are responsible for protection and preservation of creation, while the asurs are engaged in its destruction. Those who feed the hungry, rescue animals and preserve the natural environment, can be called surs. Those who kill animals, destroy forests, and abuse fellow beings fall in the category of asurs. Surs and asurs can be found across time and place, across religions and communities, and have been battling each other since time immemorial.

Around seven thousand years ago, Agastya Muni, after sending the asurs underground on the request of devtas, prophesied that after Mahabharata, Kaliyug would begin and the asurs would resurface on earth to create chaos. If one looks around, one can see his prophesy coming true. Crime against humans and animals as at its peak and our environment and resources are deteriorating rapidly.

In recent years, rhesus monkeys have been declared 'vermin' in certain parts of Himachal Pradesh, which means that they can be culled or hunted without attracting penalty under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. Policy makers have reasoned that these monkeys pose danger to people and destroy crops. This decision is a clear indicator of the rise of asuric vritti among some humans which has limited their thoughts to the self-destructive philosophy of 'i-me-myself'. Their buddhi has been polluted due to which they are unable to think about the benefits of creation.

An animal needs food and shelter. Declaring monkeys as vermin is against humanity. It is actually the land mafia who have usurped the natural habitats of these monkeys, the forests, and now the same people are promoting policies to kill animals. It is this mafia which is vermin, not the monkeys.

Nowhere else in the world is such blatant killing of animals permitted. This is clearly asuric vritti at play. We cannot resort to killing animals after taking over their habitats and food sources. An animal is happy if it gets its food and its children are safe. The world over, animals are being protected. Forests are being conserved and reserved areas have been demarcated for the growth of animals. They are ordered to be killed only if they come out of those areas.

Let's not forget that monkeys helped Lord Ram in his battle against the asurs. Killing them is equivalent to siding with the asurs, and the fate of those who kill them may be similar to what was meted out to the asurs in tretayug. Killing animals unleashes great pain on our planet and breaks the ecological chain. Karmically, the results may be disastrous as animals may retaliate by killing humans. It would unleash chaos and have a devastating effect on tourism and India's image in other parts of the world. Let's stop killing animals, and let's help them survive and thrive.

Yogi Ashwini

The writer is considered the 'guiding light' at Dhyan Ashram. Views are personal.

Picture by: Dead Angel