implemented an elaborate system of controls on its use.’
‘What kind of controls?’
‘He did not give the Somras freely to everyone,’ continued Daksha. After conducting a
rigorous country-wide survey, he chose a select group of adolescent boys of impeccable
character — one from each of the seven regions of ancient India. He chose young boys so that
they would live with him at his gurukul and he could mould their character into selfless helpers
of society. The Somras medicine was administered only on these boys. Since these boys were
practically given an additional life due to the Somras, they came to be known as the dwija or
twice born. With the strength of the Somras, the training of Lord Brahma and the numerous
other inventions that they collectively produced, this group became more powerful than anyone
in history. They honed their minds to achieve almost superhuman intelligence. The ancient
Indian title for men of knowledge was Rishi. Since Lord Brahma’s chosen men were seven in
number, they came to be known as the Saptrishi?
‘And these Saptrishis used their skills for the good of society’
‘Yes my Lord. Lord Brahma instituted strict rules of conduct for the Saptrishis. They were
not allowed to rule or to practice any trade — essentially anything that would have caused them
personal gain. They had to use their skills to do the task of priests, teachers, doctors, amongst
other intellectual professions where they could use their powers to help society. They were not
allowed to charge anything for their services and had to live on alms and donations from
others.’
‘Tough service rules,’ joked Shiva with a slight wink at Parvateshwar.
Parvateshwar did not respond but Daksha, Kanakhala and Nandi guffawed loudly. Shiva
took a quick look at the prahar lamp by the window. It was almost the third prahar. The time
that Sati would probably come out to dance.
‘But they followed their code of conduct stricdy my Lord,’ continued Daksha. ‘Over time, as
their responsibilities grew, the Saptrishis selected many more people to join their tribe. Their
followers swore by the same code that the Saptrishis lived by and were also administered the
Somras. They devoted their lives to the pursuit of knowledge and for the wellbeing of society
without asking for any material gain in return. It is for this reason that society accorded these
people almost devotional respect. Over the ages the Saptrishis and their followers came to be
known as the Tribe of Brahma or simply, the Brahmins’.
‘But as it usually happens with all good systems over long periods of time, some people
stopped following the Brahmin code, right?’
‘Absolutely, my Lord,’ answered Daksha, shaking his head at the all too familiar human
frailty. ‘As many millennia went by, some of the Brahmins forgot the strict code that Lord
Brahma had enforced and the Saptrishis propagated. They started misusing the awesome
powers that the Somras gave them for their own personal gains. Some Brahmins started using
their influence over large number of people to conquer kingdoms and start ruling. Some
Brahmins misused other inventions of the Saptrishis and Lord Brahma to accumulate fabulous
wealth for themselves.’
‘And some of the Brahmins,’ interjected Kanakhala with a particular sense of horror, ‘even
rebelled against the Saptrishi Uttradhikaris’.
‘Saptrishi Uttradhikaris?’ inquired Shiva.
‘They were the successors to the Saptrishis my Lord,’ clarified Kanakhala. ‘When any of the
Saptrishis knew that he was coming to the end of his mortal life, he would appoint a man from
singke
(singke)
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