Merry Musing: Raudra Rasa

By: Smita Shah

I feel the biggest scourge of mankind is “Anger”. It’s the root cause of wanton killings and wars all over the world. So many precious lives are lost because of it.

There have been Rishis who have given ‘shraps’ or curses to people who have fructified. Such a person may have gained powers because of his Tapasya, but what is the point of all this meditation, if he can’t control his anger? He can’t be called a holy man. What desires has he conquered if he has no control over anger?

Even Gods are not free from tantrums. Remember Lord Shiva chopped off the head of the guard of Parvati’s boudoir as he did not let him enter! On learning that it was a son Parvati had created, he replaced it with an elephant head. History, mythology and legends are filled galore with stories of anger and what it can lead to. Lord Siva in anger can do Tandav too and destroy the world!

It’s very difficult to control anger but one can make little effort. Positive thinking is one way out. I remember once I had an Ayah who had two daughters around the same age as my two daughters four and one. She worked for me , took care of my children and also did the cooking. I would get very angry that sometimes her children too came along with her. I was worried that they might mess up my house and she wouldn’t take proper care of my children whom she was in charge of. Then I thought positively and I told myself, “What right do I get over her? It’s a mere quirk of fate that she is my Ayah. What if it had been the other way round ?” I put myself in her place and the frightening thought would stop me from losing my temper. I looked at the bright side. Yes, I am really grateful that she’s working for me to the best of her abilities and problems and she has to bring her kids because there is a lack of care at home. My kids have playmates this way. So folks just look at the positive side and you will be always happy.

My eldest grandkid would get very angry and hit her younger sister. Then I told her how to control herself. I asked her to grit her teeth and hold her hands one into the other tightly. Not to hit or scream and the moment of anger will pass off. I said, “Then you will yourself laugh at whatever the cause of anger on the spur of the moment was, was all too trivial and stupid.” You won’t believe she still remembers this trick and she says it helps even now when she is twenty!

Things will not go your way always. Look at other points of view too. Try the art of self-control when in a rage.

Photo credits: The Art Dungeon