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Home , Ashtavakra, Ashtavakra (epic), Ashtavakra Gita, Bali (Chandravanshi), Kashyapa, Shakuni

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Karmic Philosophy and the Model of Disability in Ancient OPEN ACCESS Neha Kumari Research Scholar, Banaras Hindu University, , Uttar Pradesh, India

Volume: 7 Abstract Disability has been the inescapable part of human society from ancient times. With the thrust of Issue: 1 disability right movements and development in  eld of disability studies, the mythical past of dis- ability is worthy to study. Classic Indian Scriptures mention differently able character in prominent positions. There is a faulty opinion about Indian mythology is that they associate disability chie y Month: July with evil characters. Hunch backed Manthara from and limping legged from are negatively stereotyped characters. This paper tries to analyze that these charac- ters were guided by their motives of revenge, loyalty and acted more as dramatic devices to bring Year: 2019 crucial changes in plot. The deities of lord in Puri is worshipped , without limbs, neck and eye lids which ISSN: 2321-788X strengthens the notion that disability is an occasional but all binding phenomena in human civiliza- tion. The social model of disability brings forward the idea that the only disability is a bad attitude for the disabled as well as the society. In spite of his abilities Dhritrashtra did face discrimination Received: 31.05.2019 because of his blindness. The presence of characters like sage and Vamanavtar of Lord indicate that by efforts, bodily limitations can be transcended. Accepted: 25.06.2019 Keywords: , Medical model, Social model, Ability, Gender, Charity, Rights.

Published: 01.07.2019 History of disability is as old as mankind. According to census 2011, approximately 21 million people in India who are suffering from different kind Citation: of disabilities. Disability has been the inescapable part of human society from Kumari, Neha. “Karmic ancient times. With the thrust of disability right movements and development Philosophy and the in fi eld of disability studies, the task of historicizing disability is a genuine Model of Disability in task. There are questions, accusations that get its cue in the mythical past of Ancient India.” Shanlax disability in ancient India. There is a faulty opinion about Indian scriptures International Journal that they present disabled character in negative light. Characters like Shakuni of Arts, Science and and Manthara have been sterotyped into the synonyms of villainy in the Indian Humanities, vol. 7, no. 1, households. While judging the actions of these characters, their motives and 2019, pp. 39-43. past life are not given much thought. The objective of this paper is to challenge the notion of the negative treatment of disabled characters in the Indian DOI: mythology. The time period of this study lies in epic age of ancient India. The https://doi.org/10.34293/ timeline of epic age is estimated from 1000 to 600 BC. Disability studies in sijash.v7i1.531 India did not probe deep into the presentation of disability in our religious scriptures. The primary sources for the paper are the tales as it is present in cultural consciousness of India. To subvert the negative disability myths I have taken the help of sub narratives. To fi nd these sub narratives I held conversation This work is licensed with masses, and took help from researches that support the notion of charity under a Creative Commons and karmic philosophy with respect to discussion of disability in ancient India. Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 The evolutionary model of disability asserts the presence of disabled people International License in ancient societies. The earliest model of disability follows the notion of Karma or actions as the sole reason behind any kind of disability, deformity or deviance from normal behavior. This model is witnessed in almost all culture of the world. The idea of sin and karma takes disability in rubric of religion.

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Hebrew Bible mentions a paralyzed man being There were tribes in pre modern societies where healed after Jesus forgave his sins. Books of common deformed or inabled children were killed. The ideal prayer states …”Whatsoever your sickness is know state described by Plato depicts no place for any kind your certainly, that it is God’s visitation .” of impaired human body. Looking towards Indian Koran 47:23 says, “such are the men whom Allah texts, Bhagvadgita appeals for charity towards has cursed for he has made them deaf and blinded disabled members of human society. India mostly their sight.” followed the later three stages of social attitude While explaining the treatment towards disability towards its handicapped citizens. The treatment of in ancient India, it is also necessary to discuss medical disability in Indian context is inclusive rather than model and social model. The medical model looks at that of being kept marginalized. Disabled in ancient what is ‘lacking’ in the body of person and not what India had active social and economic participation. the person needs. It tries to provide necessary aids for Context of disability is defi ned by society and culture. the person. But, It creates low expectations and leads Maximum number of society value uniformity over to people losing independence, choice and control diversity but the intrinsic quality of Indian society in their own lives. The medical model of disability believes in retention of its diversity. says people are disabled by their impairments or In context of Indian myths the portrayal differences. The social model says that disability is of disability is neutral; dominated by karmic caused by the way society is organised, rather than philosophy it stumbles between active and passive by a person’s impairment or difference. It looks at behaviour. There is a beautiful story associated ways of removing barriers that restrict life choices with Mesopotamian mythology which can aptly be for disabled people. Limitations are not just physical. ascribed to Indian mythologies too. Enki , one among Societal behavior towards disabled based on creator of the world created fi rst human beings; who prejudice or stereotype hampers the normal possible were very active, workaholic and quick. The other growth of the individual. goodess Ninmah one day planned to create imperfect Social model of disability is a more preferred human beings. Enki accepted her challenge saying model to that of medical model. It focuses on the that she will ensure still they will perfectly fi t into ability of individual rather than inabilities. The human society. Ninmah made a blind man, Enki traditional medical model did not help to cope with gave him melodious voice . Ninmah made a man personal experience of disability or help to develop without hands. Enki made him capable to deep their inclusiveness in society. The social model of observation and he became a spy. Ninmah made a disability says that disability is caused by the way barren woman; Enki turned her into courntsean. This society is organized. Social model tries to increase battle of creation continued and fi nally Ninmah gave their participation in society. up. This story brings home a point that despite bodily limitations, one can adapt and survive. Disabled, Marginalized or Socially Active But the social commentary about disabled, Contemporary disability study is being dominated handicapped or impaired people is not uniform. by European themes and chiefl y focuses on European It is based on charity and they respect a disabled experiences of disability. They focus upon stigma person according to his efforts of transcending and marginalization faced by disabled demography physical barriers. M. Miles, the British scholar and popularizes these norms as universal. Disability found in his studies that in ancient India the persons scholar Usha Bhatt comments, with disabilities were imparted quality education “From a historical perspective, there are four in the communities in which they lived. Indian distinct stages of social attitudes towards physical scholar Jeyachandran also added that education was handicapped; these are exposure and destruction, given in the mainstream institutions along with the care and protection, training and education, and normal pupils in a gurukul setting. Individualized social absorption.” instructions were given based on the individual child’s needs and age. These fi ndings suggest that

40 http://www.shanlaxjournals.in S International Journal of Arts, Science and Humanities disabled were not treated as marginalized community uncle of . None on earth could defeat in pre modernIndia. M. Miles also indicated that the him in game of chess. The real name of Shakuni infamous shrine of Dhola Shah in Punjab of Pakistan was Saubala and he was prince of . He felt would have originated as a charity institution for the himself humiliated as asked the hand of her disabled in ancient India. sister for his blind brother Dhritrashtra. This There is a general opinion about Indian mythology made him revengeful towards the whole kuru clan. is that they associate disability chiefl y with evil Behind his instigation lied the wish of destruction of characters. Scholars like Anita Ghai also condemns kuru dynasty. the negative portrayal of disability in Indian myths. Shakuni’s character also acts as a dramatic Hunch backed Manthara from Ramayana and limping device. Mahabharata is remembered for its legged Shakuni from Mahabharata are negatively Dharmayuddha between Kauraav and and stereotyped characters of Indian households. In the chief action of game was enacted by Shakuni. popular vocabulary, their names are understood Despite the assumption that his name is associated as synonyms of villainy. Before accepting this with villainy , there is kuravar community in kerala accusation about Indian mythology it is needful to that worships him. An ancient temple is built in his look at sub narratives related to these stories. Behind name at Pavithreswaram in kollam district of Kerala. their negative actions they were guided by motive of Manthara and Ashtavakra are two characters revenge or, sense of loyalty. It is their actions that who fi nds their crippled yet potent existence in the bring the necessary change in unfolding of plots. world of Ramayana. Ashtavakra gets mention in Mahabharata, Chhandogya Upnishada and padam Famous Disabled Characters purana too. Little is known about the chronology The only disability is a bad attitude towards of the life of Ashtavkara life or century in which disability or, the bad attitude lived by the disabled. Ashtavakra actually lived. The chief versions of Indian myths praise a man according to the deeds the legend place him with , the ancient king done by him. Mahabharata is considered the longest of Videha. Astavakra is known for the authorship epic of the world and carry almost all human of Ashtavkra gita or Ashtavakra .Aāvakra emotions and actions in it. In this epic Dhritrashtra is credited as the author of the . and Shakuni are presented as two disabled character the of the Mahābhārata, the legend at powerful positions. Dhritrashtra is the blind of Aāvakra is described in greater detail. : also king from kuru dynasty of . Despite his mentions the story of Ashtavakra. He acquired blindness he was able bodied, judicious, scholar king. his disability in womb of her mother, as his father He had immense physical strength, he could fi ght who was telling her mother stories, miss spelt some with 100 elephants alone. But his sovereignty as a words. The foetus corrected his father got cursed by. king is being doubted because of his blindness. Time The curse led him towards eight deformities in his to time his frailty as a human being is blamed to his body giving him the name Ashtavvakra. He learnt inability of vision. There are instances, Duryodhan and other holy scriptures at a tender age. In his son feels wronged because of Dhritrashtra’s the court of King Janak, he faced humiliated for his blindness. Any behavioral fault that is percieved in physical deformity. But winning the Shashtrartha or, Dhritrashtra is not because of his inability but the debate; he did earn respect of everyone along with a way his blindness was perceived by people around scholarly position in court. His story has a moral that him. Bad attitude of society aggravated disability if a disabled man transcends his limitation he will be in his case. Dhritrashtra remains a passive character recognized in society. owing to social barriers. Manthara was an old maid servant, who was Shakuni is considered the chief antagonist of hunch backed. She was lady in assistance and was Mahabharata, who instigated prince Duryodhana considered among favorite of queen Kaikeyi. In against . Shakuni was a limping legged general perspective, she becomes the sole agent man with miraculous pair of dice. He was maternal behind the Ram’s exile. After she listens the news

41 http://www.shanlaxjournals.in S International Journal of Arts, Science and Humanities about coronation of Ram; she instigates Kaikeyi that deep feelings of spiritual ecstacy , especially in against Ram, kaushalya and others. She felt that this mood of separation from a loved one, produce her rank among servants will get lowered. Kaikeyi transformations in the body. coming into her talk demands two wishes from king The god of dawn described in Dashratha which led Ram in 12 year exile. One sub has deformed lower half. Without legs and genitals narrative related to Ramayan depicts Manthara to be the gender of Aruna is unspecifi ed. Sometimes he is a very intelligent lady who was protective towards called as Usha.This deformity in his body took place kaikeyi as she had been living with the queen from because of mother’s Vinata hastiness for delivery of the time she was not married to Dashratha. the child. Vinata the wife of led two eggs. Other sub narrative says that Goddess Vinata had to wait for 100 years for hatching of the sit on tongue of Manthara to bring the necessary eggs but one day she broke one egg which resulted in change in coronation plot. Tongue is the human birth of Aruna. organ, considered to be the tool of speech via The Narsmiha incarnation of Lord Vishnu and knowledge. There is a shloka recited even to the Goddess are naturally deviant from normal day in praise of Godess Saraswati, with a mention human morph in their physical description. Narsmiha of Manthara, for the role she played in the killing of combines of half man and half lion; while Goddess Ravan by . Durga has eight hands. The sixth incarnation of lord Vishnu which is famous as vamanvtar in India is of a dwarf . To destroy the arrogant evil king , he incarnated as a dwarf Brahmin asking for land. He measured whole universe in three steps Kaikeyi had a low witted servant named only. These stories inspired common mass to accept Manthara disability in positive spirit. Saraswati changed her mind to change the story. These religious narratives related to kingdom On the announcement of Rama’s Coronation, the of God and Goddesses bring forward the idea that Gods were worried that kingship will keep the lord’s the only disability is a bad attitude for the disabled in Rama away from the incarnation’s chief ob as well as the society. Association of disability jective, which is destruction of the evil king . with divine also helped in softening mass’s attitude On the behalf of godly kin, saraswathi is known to towards the crippled and helpless. Sage Narad pervert Manthara’s brain and mainly her spoekn who is famed for his communication both with the words, which became the cause of Ram’s banishment mortal and divine world asks Yuddhishtera, “Do you from the kingdom. Her one act made her ill famed in treat as father, your subjects who are affl icted with Indian history. The pressure of being good was more blindness, dumbness, lamness, deformity and those heavy on shoulders of those who were disabled. who have renounced the world”.

Disability in Divine World Conclusion Scriptures, folktales and mythologies of ancient Indian heritage has made efforts to present India does include divine world in discourse of persons with disability as contributing members of disability. The deities of lord Jagannath in Puri is society. Rock edicts of King Ashoka, Zakat system worshipped, without limbs, neck and eye lids which in reign of Akbar and separate instutions by Sher strengthens the notion that disability is an occasional Shah Suri and gupta Maurya, Zakaat show but all binding phenomena in human civilization. that handicapped were well cared in history of The poem Mahabhav praksha by the Orien poet India. But their efforts were based on charity and Kanai Khuntia describes the confi dential meaning it could not lead the disable community towards behind the form of jagnnatha. He is the embodiment their full potential as human beings. Disabled do of ’s pang of separation from the residents of not form a homogenous society. Considering this Vrindawana particularly . Scriptures explain point government of India brought the person with

42 http://www.shanlaxjournals.in S International Journal of Arts, Science and Humanities disability act 1995. PWD Act 1995 focused on with Karmic philosophy. It suggests that the results equal opportunities, protection of rights and full of past karma can be transcended and improved by participation in societies. Still there is a lot to work, present karma. The law of karma is imbibed with support, discover and create awareness about the the spirit of acceptance of problem and efforts of wrong messages which have been associated with coping with it. It is true that law of karma associated disability. It is neither divine nor diabolical. Despite with disability evokes feeling of guilt and shame their impairment they are ordinary human beings in but, there are stellar characters like Ashtavakra who terms of their good deeds and bad deeds. Human transcends the mental and social obstacles caused by body is not fi xed, it is tentative. An accident or long their deformities. Buddhism , Sikkhism and Jainism time ailment can lead towards a crippled condition are eastern religions which have this notion of karma or impairment. The strategy of disability should and disability in cause and effect relationship Potraits be focused towards their more inclusiveness in of disability in ancient India leaves some room mainstream society. Theorist John Turner opined in of negativity still, it is not completely inhumane. 1986 that social participation of the disabled brings a Karmic philosophy dominates the social attitude new discourse in the state of citizenship. towards disability in ancient India. The share of gender discourse has a weak status in ancient Indian society. Only one female character References is known to the general eye that is Manthara. While Anand Shilpa. Historicizing Disability in India: male characters are placed in powerful position; Questions of Subject and Method, 2013. Manthara has a weak status of maid servant. Anita Bhatt Usha. The Physically Handicapped in India: A Ghai discussed that how disabled women have to Growing National Problem, 1963. face double discrimination in society. Dutt, Romesh. Mahabharata, The Epic of Ancient Disability study is not supposed to be uniform; India, 2015 Eastern countries have different context. Studying Miles.M. Disability in Ancient Culture and Belief. the Asian domain of disability on western themes Thomas, MJ. “Comments on Disability in Asian will not bring the judicious fi ndings. Such studies Cultures and Beliefs.” edited by M. Miles, will perhaps deviate into some misunderstanding Journal of Religion, Disability & Health, again. Charak Sanhita mentions disability in relation 2002.

Author Details Neha Kumari, Research Scholar, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India. Email ID: [email protected]

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