KRISHNA THE MANAGEMENT GURU NARAYANA 18th AMA Week Inspirations from Lord Krishna 05.09.2010 Day of Transcendence Mamata –AMA Centre for Indian Wisdom for Management i SPONSORSHIP COURTESY Excel Crop Care Limited La Opala-RG Limited Mumbai Kolkata Krishna — The Management Guru Narayana ([email protected]) March 2011 Published by Ahmedabad Management Association Core-AMA Management House • Torrent-AMA Management Centre ATIRA Campus, Dr. Vikram Sarabhai Marg Ahmedabad 380 015, INDIA Phone: +91 79 2630 8601 • Fax: +91 79 2630 8606 Email: [email protected] • Website: www.amaindia.org Printed by N.K. Printers, Rakhial, Ahmedabad 380 023 ii Dedicated with reverence to Guruji Shri Vidya Prakasha Ananda Giri Swamiji whose Gita Makarnadam opened flood gates of consciousness iii Gratitude and admiration to the visionary and the missionary of Management Week Programmes of Ahmedabad Management Association Shri Mukeshbhai Patel and Shri. K.K. Nair because of whose programme on “Inspirations from Lord Krishna” this book has come into its soulful existence iv From the President, AMA It gives immense pleasure in bringing out the book "Krishna - The Management Guru”, authored by none other than erudite Shri G. Narayana, whom we all endearingly address as Guruji. Till recently the Bhagavad Gita was regarded as a symbol of Indian spiritualism. Now, however, it is being realized that Lord Krishna's expositions enshrined in the 18 chapters of the Gita offer a holistic approach to resolve any type of conflict or conflicting interests that managers encounter every day. Simple and yet evocative, Guruji has brought home the fact that the Gita, though written thousands of years ago, is an outline of management principles to achieve mental equilibrium and to overcome any crisis situation. The Bhagavad Gita can be experienced as a powerful catalyst for transformation, enlightening and leading us towards a harmonious and blissful state of affairs in place of the conflict, tension, poor productivity, and absence of motivation that are commonplace in business and elsewhere. The modern (western) management concepts of vision, leadership, motivation, excellence in work, achieving goals, giving work meaning, decision making and planning, are all discussed in the Bhagavad Gita. The difference according to Shri Narayana is that the Bhagavad Gita tackles the issues from the grass roots level of human thinking. Once the basic thinking of man is improved, it will automatically enhance the quality of his actions and their results. Shri Narayana rightly points out that the core lesson to be learnt from Lord Krishna is that ethics whether in business or personal life are vital for v v success. A manager needs to be an educator, a guide and motivator for people working with and under him. We are deeply grateful to Shri Narayana for his vision and hard work in presenting us with a simple treatise on Management Principles as outlined in the Gita. February 2011 Pankaj R. Patel President, AMA vi Phones: (R) 040-23301212 Office: 23453241 Cell: 9440825555 No. 27, Ministers Quarters Road No. 12 Banjara Hills, Hyderabad D. SRIDHAR BABU Minister for Higher Education NRI, A.P.Affairs Government of Andhra Pradesh Foreword Management has been an ever new and constantly evolving subject since the times human moved from the hunting and gathering stage and made a conscious decision to form societies. It has become more and more significant in the current scenario where there is an immense need for leadership. In countries where ancient civilizations existed, researchers have started earnestly looking back to their roots and unearthing personalities who contributed to the wisdom of the past. Of the many works in history and mythology the actions and teachings of Lord Krishna in the Bhagavadgita, in particular, has been intensely studied and a plethora of new management concepts highlighted over the last few decades. Sri Narayana popularly known as ‘Guruji’ in his book “Krishna, The Management Guru” has made some most wonderful and astounding revelations. To Guruji ‘Krishna’ came most naturally (going by his personality both in society and organizations he had worked). His vii vii thoroughness with the teachings of Krishna including Sri Garga Samhitha, Bhagavatam, Mahabharatam, and Gopala Sahasranaam paints Krishna not only as the divine guru, guide and philosopher, but also as a copious reserve for learning myriad concepts of management. A major part of the content in the book has been devoted to Bhagavadgita, the essence of Krishna’s teachings .Guruji has elucidated the wisdom of the 18 most precious gems applicable to management and leadership situations. They are: encouraging leadership, present reality, work is the way, seeing the unseen, work and knowledge, mutual support, leadership by example, chaos and emerging leadership, protecting the right, learning organization, self improvement, value adding leadership, roles and relations, vision, conduct and character, inner power and final point, empowering freedom, inspiring path shower and inspired path walker; all of them are applicable to successful modern management. A lot of effort has gone into the meticulous selection of 60 quotations from Bhagavadgita which are relevant to the management system. One can see from the following examples how pertinent they in fact are – Staam stitikshasva Bhaarata (Meet the change with patience and forbearance) Abhyutthaanam adharmasya tadaatmaanam srujaamyaham (when disorder arises, I create myself by assuming responsibility) Shraddha mayoyam purusho (A person is known by his dedication and commitment) Vimrushaitad asheshena yadeschhasi tadaa kurus (Analyze and evaluate this completely and do as you choose) viii viii The author has brought to light seven prominent areas related to management and leadership education from the Bhagavadgita. They are, transactional analysis, growing to knowing, appropriate internal management, appropriate integrated management, perfect perception, decision process and system, and spirit of management. He has also pointed out the types of leaders and teachers exemplifying the characters of Mahabhararta establishing Lord Krishna as the ultimate guru. In the concept ‘appropriate internal management’, he outlines the four spaces within, namely, organs, mind, intellect and ultimate as taught by Krishna relating them to physical, emotional, intellectual and spiritual areas of management. The author also goes into ‘beyond management’ at many places and offers extended concepts to modern managers like the four processes; nurturing, managing, leading and path making. He elaborates the concepts into 64 glimpses. He explains in a lucid manner the spirit of “Transformation and Transcendence”. Sri Narayana Guruji has written the book with utmost care and consciousness and also substantiates his thoughtsets with ample illustrations, tables, and flow charts. He makes every attempt to systematically ascertain the actions and teachings of Krishna. He proves how Krishna is a great resource for imbibing the principles of management — management of not only an organization but also the management of the self. The effort of Guruji in bringing out wisdom that is equally essential both to the organization and to the self from the ancient texts is indeed highly commendable. I have known Guruji Narayana since longtime and has been greatly inspired by his works (books and articles) most of which are masterpieces. His unending zeal to serve the society in every possible way is also exemplary. ix ix I’m confident this book which is the ultimate and the magnum opus on Management will help in the elevation of any and every individual in discharging his roles and responsibilities to reach the heights of transcendence. All Success. (D. SRIDHAR BABU) x x Foreword 3-1-2011 Gamdhinagar KRISHNA SAMHITA When Lord Krishna conveyed to Arjuna that I will come in every saga, the expectation of an average reader is that the Krishna will be born with same Pitambar, Murali and Morpanchh. But Lord Krishna’s promise to Arjuna needs to be understood in proper perspective. What the divine Lord meant was that “I will be available when you feel you are clueless and when rightfully feel defeated”. Thus, there are two stages to discover Sri Krishna within. First, find out Arjuna in yourself. Second, ask the right question to invoke the Lord. And you will have your Krishna discovered. Guruji, in this volume, helps us invent both these stages in our own work environment. He does this with his innate competent style and originality. ‘Krishna’ was a word to me when I first heard it from my father during my childhood. It got duly ensconced with obedient faith. Today, the ‘word’ has become my world with discovered echoes of ages, demystified Wisdom and demonstration of grand awareness. To me, the word Krishna encompasses a larger dimension conveying new meanings at every turn and bend of my unfolding life with many including the Blessed and the blissful becoming Guides and mentors. One such great person in this enriching journey as guide and co-traveler is G.Narayana or Guruji as he is fondly known. When I first glanced at this book authored by Guruji, my mind instantaneously recalled a beautiful xi xi Shloka – “Narayanena Swayam” from the sacred Geeta Mahatmya and found myself transported into a state of blissful delight. This inspirational experience is not new with Guruji’s books. His words flow remarkably like cascades of a waterfall, with all the freshness. And whatever he pens comes with ink of discovery. My ears remember how melodious it was when I first heard the Shloka. And today, once again, with this delightful discovery of Krishna, I hear Vedvyasa saying, Тƒ¢ü² Ðíç¼Ï¢¢ïç{¼¢æ |¢x¢±¼¢, Ý¢Ú¢²‡¢ïÝ S±²}¢ì J Guruji (Narayana) literally takes us to Vibhooti Yoga or the Yoga of Manifestation with a scientific vision and modern management concepts. It is no wonder that Guruji is revered as Management Guru as his words come out of depth of experience and clear directness. With a rare ability to offer interpretation in lucid style Guruji draws parallel between Krishna situation and our own corporate backdrop.