One of the greatest teachers in Hindu mythology was Dronacharya in Mahabharat. Mahabharat is much more popular and interesting than Ramayana as it portrays human nature and its frailties and dilemmas and our struggle with them. Ramayan is straightforward in its treatment of life as very straight and proper and does not deviate from the good and the bad and all is always black and white.
Coming to Dronacharya. His favourite was Arjun and he wanted him to be the best archer in the world. He was biased in his approach towards him as his love for Arjun overcame the first principle of a teacher to teach all students all methods (this is the popular interpretation).
He wanted to give some extra knowledge to Arjun and his son Ashwathama. But could not do so in front of all the Pandav and Kaurav princes. So he gave all students a big vessel each to fill with water from a distant stream and come back everyday.
He taught Arjun a mantra (a way) to fill the vessel fast and gave his son Ashwathama a vessel with wide mouth as he knew Ashwathama would never be able to wield the mantra. Result was, both Arjun and Ashwathama used to reach the school (ashram) much ahead to the rest of the students. Dronacharya gave lots to extra knowledge to both of them. Arjun, of course, went on to become the supreme archer.
Now Arjun had this advantage of having a very devoted and loving teacher. He had earned this because of his hard work and dedication which Drona recognised.
History also records how Drona treated Ekalavya.
Now the question arises:
1. Why did Drona act like this?
2. He was obviously a wise man and not prone to such favouritism (I do not believe in the popular interpretation). Did he think that higher knowledge is meant for only a few who deserve? Who can handle the power of knowledge? Who are capable of understanding it fully? So did he bring in gradation of knowledge disbursement according to one's ability without others knowing and hence creating unnecessary furore among the other less fortunate students?
I had a feeling that my education had stopped when the mother thread was closed by Saint. What followed in the sister threads was basically revision and application practice of the knowledge gained till that time from Saint.
When this forum started, I found, and today ST also voiced the same in one of his posts, that moderators are Arjuns and their knowledge is far ahead of mine. They are the top students of Saint, no doubt, and deserve the status of Arjun.
I hope, I am able to develop my abilities also to be like one of the Arjuns of this forum so that I also gain higher knowledge and earn the recognition from our teacher Saint to also impart us the knowledge for which we will strive to reach that level of excellence where he will think that we have arrived on the pedestal where once Arjun stood.
Saint will be remembered as one of the greatest teachers among our fraternity and we will one day tell our children and grandchildren that we were taught by him.
Bee