GURU TATTVA #11 EKALAVYA

Guru tattva #11
Ekalavya..Tragic...
We can't help it, our hearts go out to Ekalavya.
He wanted so intensely to study military arts in Dronacharya's gurukula.
But Ekalavya's heritage was aligned with Duryadhona 
and he also was not a kshatriya by birth.
By birth was serious consideration when the age of varna and ashrama
was fully functional 5000 years ago.
Dronacharya refused to allow Ekalavya into the school.

Ekalavyas' desire was so strong to become the best archer in the world
that he performed great austerities, and practiced nonstop in the forest.
He worshiped Dronacharya as if he were his guru
even though he had been refused as a disciple.
And indeed he became an incredible archer.
Of a quality to be able to challenge Arjuna and possibly defeat him.

But this was not what Dronacharya wanted.
He didn't want just any great archer, he wanted Arjuna to be the greatest archer because of what Arjuna would have to do in the future.
Fight on religious principles.
Ekalvaya did not have the divine mandate.
And even was aligned on the opposite side of religious principles.

While in the forest one day a display of talent
was seen by Dronacharya and Arjuna.
Ekalvaya sealed shut the mouth of barking dog with arrows. Poor dog.
Seeing this Dronacharya approached Ekalvaya and discovered
his practicing and considering Dhroancarya his guru.
What to do? This went against the master plan.

Since Dronacharya was his guru albeit unbeknownst to him,
but nonetheless still so.... and this unusual disciple was there,
then there should be guru daksina.
Dronacharya asked for Ekalvaya's archery thumb.

The lesson here is so profound.
I am overwhelmed every time I remember this account.

I am reminded of the ritviks.