Singing the Stories of Harmony
Tales of harmony from ancient cultures that are carved in the walls of the BAPS Hindu Mandir in Abu Dhabi
Embark on a journey through time and space — traversing Egypt’s enigmatic sands, through China’s ancient pathways, experiencing the rich tapestry of Arab culture and delving into the colorful expanse of India — as we explore six enchanting tales from these diverse corners of the world. Handpicked for their profound insights, each of these narratives beautifully elucidates the universal value of harmony, showcasing its importance in our lives.
These stories are not just passed on orally or written in books, but these are the same stories etched in pink sandstone on the walls of the BAPS Hindu Mandir in Abu Dhabi. The mandir, which is a traditional Hindu house of worship, signifies an oasis of spiritual and global harmony through the entire campus. The mandir itself is unique as each stone that was carved tells a story from Hinduism and tales from around the world on the value of love, faith and harmony.
Carrying a Crown of Gold
King Solomon was approached by a group of Hoopoe birds with a unique request. The king of the Hoopoes said, “O King! May we be given golden crowns to wear upon our heads.” The Hoopoes expressed their desire to wear a golden crown on their head, similar to the one adorning the king’s head.
King Solomon, intrigued by their unusual plea, listened to their earnest request. The Hoopoes, known for their loyalty and intelligence, explained that they wished to wear the crown not out of vanity but as a symbol of unity and shared responsibility among their flock. King Solomon granted their wish, but said, “Crowns of gold shall you have. But you are foolish birds, and when the day shall come upon you and you see the folly of your desire, return here to me and I will help you yet again.” The Hoopoes left wearing their crowns with pride.
One day, a hunter spotted a Hoopoe and coveted its golden crown. He laid a trap with a mirror as bait. Drawn to their own reflection, the Hoopoe fell for the trap out of his own vanity. When taken to a brass smelter, the masses had learnt about the precious crown and had a single aim to hunt down the Hoopoes. The once peaceful forests turned chaotic with the sounds of arrows and traps, with the Hoopoe population dwindling rapidly.
In desperation, the king of the Hoopoes returned to King Solomon, acknowledging their foolishness and pleading for help. The Hoopes were shocked at how a crown had the ability to drown in death while King Solomon was able to wear the crown without any worries. King Solomon explained, “Did I not warn you in desiring to have crowns of gold? Pride in oneself leads to one’s own destruction.”
Having compassion for the birds, he transformed their golden crowns into a crown of feather crests, thus protecting them from hunters.
The tale of the Hoopoe birds and their golden crowns is a celebrated story in Arabian culture as it symbolizes the importance to let go of one’s pride and vanity for the greater good. Whether it is winning an award or receiving a simple compliment, when we take success as our own, it tunnels our feelings of gratitude. However, in success and failure, when one learns to be grateful for all in life, that can lead to a harmonious world.
The Cracked Pot
Once upon a time in ancient China, there lived an old water bearer with two pots, one flawless and the other cracked. Every day, he trekked from the river to his master’s house, carrying water for various chores. The perfect pot carried its water without a single drop lost, while the cracked pot, burdened by its imperfection, leaked along the way.
One day, feeling disheartened, the cracked pot apologized to the water bearer, lamenting its uselessness. The old wise man smiled and told the cracked pot to look behind it.
To the pot’s surprise, the wise old man smiled and pointed to the side of the path where the stream of water greeted vibrant plants and blossoming flowers.
The water bearer explained that he intentionally planted flower seeds along the cracked pot’s side, transforming its imperfection into a source of beauty.
The story of the cracked pot teaches us that even in our flaws, we can contribute to creating something extraordinary. Each of us has an opportunity to contribute to making this world a more positive and happier place. By embracing our strengths and weaknesses, we too can keep harmony through our journey in life, spreading joy and blooming flowers along the way.
The Feather of Truth
In the glorious civilization of ancient Egypt, every soul that passed from the land of the living to the realm of the dead would encounter a powerful test. This was not a test of strength, nor intelligence, but a testament to the harmony and balance of their life lived.
Once, the spirit of a young artisan entered the trials of the afterlife, reaching the grand hall, “The Hall of Ma’at,” named after the goddess of truth, harmony, and balance. In the middle of this imposing hall lay the scale of justice, presided over by the god of the underworld, Osiris.
Anubis, who cared for the scale, delicately balanced the young man’s heart on one scale. On the other end, he placed the feather of Ma’at, a symbol of truth, harmony, and balance.
If the artisan’s heart proved heavier than the feather, weighed down by sins and wrong doing, the man would be sent to a second, irrevocable death. However, if the heart was lighter than a feather, he would be freed into the afterlife.
A hush fell over the courtroom as the scale began to sway. The young artisan had lived with kindness, he thought, offering selfless service to all. But did his actions extend to his mind and heart? Did he have to intent of kindness and harmony?
The scale wavered, jerking left and right, then slowly, it steadied. Breathlessly, everyone watched as the two sides of the scale reached equilibrium — the heart and the feather were perfectly balanced.
A sigh of relief washed over the young man as it was declared, “He has lived a harmonious life, true to Maat’s principles”. With this, the gods dismissed the artisan to join the stars for eternity.
Harmony is not just an external action or a term that is tossed around. As the ancient Egyptians teach us, we must live a life knowing in our heart that we are living with truth and harmony. Harmony in our actions, thoughts, and behaviors, respect towards others, and understanding of our environment are all equally crucial. Such harmony in life would lead to our hearts being as light as a feather, which will allow us to keep harmony with all those around us.
The Enduring Exile
The Ramayana is a sacred scripture in Hinduism which tells the story of the life of Bhagwan Shri Ramchandra, the king of Ayodhya. On the day of his coronation, his stepmother, Queen Kaikeyi asked for him to be banished into a fourteen-year exile and place her son, Bharat, as the king. Despite the pain and agony of the decision, King Dasharath — the father of Ramachandraji — had no other option but to uphold the queen’s two boons.
Ramachandraji accepted Kaikeyi’s words as his own mother’s words despite such a massive turn of events. With his wife, Sitaji, and his brother, Prince Lakshman, Ram gave up his entire wealth and prestige at a moment’s notice.
After undergoing the trials of his wife being captured by the evil King Ravana, almost losing his brother in battle, and living a life of simplicity, Ramchandraji returned home upon fulfilling his promise of a fourteen-year exile.
Upon reaching Ayodhya, the houses were lit with diyas (clay lamps) with the townsmen celebrating with pomp and fanfare. As Ramchandraji reached the palace, he requested that he meet Kaikeyi. Many thought that Ramachandraji would seek revenge and banish Kaikeyi into exile. He bowed at the feet of Queen Kaikeyi and said,
“O, Mother! Because of your blessings, I have learned so much! I learned and understood the love of my father, the virtues of Prince Bharat, the might of Hanumanji, the friendship of Sugriv, the devotion of Prince Lakshman, the purity of Sitaji, my own strength and the strength of my enemies. O, Mother! If it were not for you, I would not have understood any of these matters.”
Ramachandraji had a choice that many of us have, either to hold a grudge and seek revenge or to uphold harmony in one’s family. He chose the latter. Even after coming back from exile, Ramchandraji spoke of the exile as a blessing in disguise. Our families are not perfect, and individuals have qualities that we dislike, however seeking revenge upon one’s own loved ones hurts us more than it hurts the other person. Keeping harmony in the world, begins with keeping harmony at home.
Bridging The Gaps Between Communities
Rev. Bishop Reginald Heber, the Bishop of Calcutta, was touring Northern India when he discovered Bhagwan Swaminarayan and his impactful reforms in Gujarat through the Collector of Vadodara, Mr. Williamson. Acknowledging Bhagwan Swaminarayan’s positive influence in troubled areas, Williamson highlighted the unity and law-abiding nature of the people Bhagwan Swaminarayan had touched.
Intrigued, Bishop Heber sought an interview with Bhagwan Swaminarayan in Nadiad. Bhagwan Swaminarayan was in Dabhan at the time and sent baskets of sweets and garlands as a gesture of goodwill from Dabhan.
When the bishop met six diverse devotees carrying the basket, the group included Muslims, Kathis, Kolis, Rajputs, Rayats, and Banias. Seeing this, the bishop was astounded by their harmonious coexistence. With genuine curiosity, he questioned how individuals from varied backgrounds came together.
In response, the devotees, with tilaks on their foreheads, explained, “Although we belong to different communities, we are all devotees of Bhagwan Swaminarayan. He has taught us to treat one another as brothers and live together in peace and harmony.”
They expressed that Bhagwan Swaminarayan’s teachings emphasized treating one another as brothers, fostering a sense of unity, peace, and harmony among them.
This was reaffirmed when Bishop Herber met Bhagwan Swaminarayan on
March 26, 1825, in Nadiad. Bhagwan Swaminarayan arrived at the bishop’s residence at 11 a.m., in which the two spoke in brief spoke on the role of philosophy, spirituality and God. One of the Bishop’s final questions was regarding caste. Bhagwan Swaminarayan did not regard the subject as of importance and said, “People may eat separately or together in this world, by that above [to God], those distinctions cease to exist, where we all are ek ekhee jaat (one like another).”
Bhagwan Swaminarayan’s profound teachings of unity and harmony serve as a transformative blueprint for establishing a more harmonious society. His unique approach in bridging societal and cultural divides, as reflected in his tolerance and promotion of universal brotherhood among his diverse devotees, sets a practical example for fostering peace in our world. He understood the intrinsic equality of all individuals, reinforcing the belief that in the eyes of the divine, we are all one. Similarly, if we too wish to bring harmony into the world, we must remind ourselves to engage in dialogue and respect one another regardless of one’s background.
From Narrative of Journey Through the Other Provinces of India, pages 143–144, by Bishop Herber
Creating a Harmonious Present
The value of harmony is not a distant one, but one that can be seen in action in the present day.
On April 5, 1997, His Holiness Pramukh Swami Maharaj visited the deserts of Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates at the request of the local disciples. With the sacred murti of Bhagwan Swaminarayan in his hands, Pramukh Swami Maharaj selflessly prayed,
- “May peace prevail here and everywhere.
- May all religions of all countries grow greater love for one other.
- May all countries be free of internal enmity and prejudice towards each other and may they all progress in their own unique way.
- May a grand mandir be built here.”
This simple, yet powerful prayer shows how Pramukh Swami Maharaj’s prayer was one that could benefit all and bring people together. Prayers can often become routine or self-centered, but for Pramukh Swami Maharaj, his prayers were always for others, as captured in his life’s motto, “In the joy of others, lies our own.” He not only prayed for harmony, but actively brought people of various backgrounds together to build mutual respect and tolerance. And his efforts can be seen two decades later….
Two decades after that prayer, the royal leaders of the UAE generously allotted land to build the first traditional Hindu mandir in the UAE. This mandir is a symbol of harmony that we have seen throughout history. People from various faiths, cultures and backgrounds have come together to help build this campus to inspire global harmony.
His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj, the sixth spiritual successor of Bhagwan Swaminarayan, carries the same zeal for harmony in his travels throughout the world. During his visit to the UAE in 2019, he visited the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, in which he wrote in the guestbook,
“The only way in life is to attain harmony — in family, at work, in society, in-country, within communities, and in nature, and inner nature and in Supreme God.”
As we celebrate the opening of the BAPS Hindu Mandir in Abu Dhabi, let us reflect on these stories that are etched on the external façade of the mandir and introspect how we too can bring harmony with ourselves, with our family and the world. The construction of the mandir is a testament of bringing faiths, communities and cultures together to create something everlasting and beautiful.
The next time you visit a traditional Hindu mandir, such as the BAPS Hindu Mandir in Abu Dhabi, take some time to learn the stories carved into the stone of the mandirs and reflect on the ideals learnt.
Mauktik Dave
