Long time ago, in the land of ancient India, there lived a boy called Ekalavya. He was the son of the Chief of his tribal clan called Nishada who lived in the forests of the kingdom of Hastinapur. They belonged to the hunter ethnicity.
As a young boy, Ekalavya was very much engrossed in the art of archery. He ate, slept and breathed with a bow and arrow. Such was his love for the art.
With time, he had acquired an intense desire to seek Guru (teacher) Dronacharya to train him in archery, in order to master the art and become a warrior.
Dronacharya was a famous Guru and his name was known to everyone. He was very well versed in archery and had gained expertise in military arts. He possessed and had knowledge of the divine weapons. Whoever got trained under Drona in his gurukul (school) would turn out to be expert archers.
Ekalavya expressed his desire before his father. But the father became sad, because they belonged to a lower class (Shudra) and expecting lessons like archery, from a Guru was out of question. Archery was meant only for the royal class i.e.,Kshatriyas (Warriors). The Gurus were from the highest class i.e., Brahmins.
Guru Dronacharya was appointed by the king of Hastinapur to teach the royal princes of the kingdom, which included Pandavas and Kauravas. Drona's gurukul consisted of his disciples, princes of Hastinapur along with princes from neighbouring kingdoms. He was a royal teacher.
Of all the princes, the third Pandava prince Arjuna had emerged to be a dedicated, hard-working and most naturally talented student. Arjuna meticulously served his Guru. He exceeded Drona's expectations in several challenges. Drona was impressed by Arjuna's intellect, concentration and determination. He was the most devoted student. One fine day, Drona promised Arjuna that he would become the greatest archer on earth. He also gave Arjuna a special knowledge of the divine weapons.
Those days in India, a Word meant everything. 'A man of his words' as they say. If a person vowed something, he would do anything to uphold it, no matter what.
Ekalavya left his home to go to seek Guru Drona for training him, in spite of his parents' unwillingness and disapproval.
He walked in the forests and reached the area of the forest where Drona's gurukul was set up. He glanced at the gurukul from a distance. In the midst of trees, were a group of huts on one side where the residents of gurukul lived and an archery yard on the other side. He saw the royal princes practicing with bows and arrows in the yard. His eyes unceasingly focused to find his master - his Guru Dronacharya, though he had never seen him before. He eagerly looked around. As he gazed through the archery yard, he found a man detailing a prince with a bow and arrow under a tree and giving him keen instructions. With his wit and calculations, in no time, he guessed the man to be Dronacharya himself. The prince with the Guru was Arjuna.
Ekalavya approached Drona while he was training Arjuna and bowed down with respect.
Drona was taken by surprise to see a strange boy at his gurukul. He enquired the boy as to who he was.
"Pranam Acharya Deva (Greetings to the God in the form of teacher), I suppose you are the great Guru Dronacharya. My name is Ekalavya, I'm the son of the tribal chief in the western forests of Hastinapur. I'm your devotee and I aspire to be trained by you. Please accept me as your disciple.", said Ekalavya bowing down with respect.
Drona sighed, "Ekalavya!...., if you are from a hunter tribe, you must be a Shudra (low class). I'm a Brahmin (high class) and I teach only Kshatriyas (royal class/warriors). Archery is for warriors and not for low class tribe like you. I cannot accept you."
Arjuna being enraged at the disturbance caused to his training by the tribal boy, yelled at him saying, "Acharya (teacher) is appointed by the king to teach us, the royal princes and high-born. How dare you enter the gurukul and seek him? Leave right now!". Arjuna shooed him away.
Drona didn't say anything to Arjuna for his malicious behaviour. Ekalavya was shocked by Arjuna's ill treatment, for he himself being a chief's son had never treated anyone below him so disrespectfully.
The innocent boy looked at Drona expecting support but was disheartened to see Drona say nothing. It was understood by their shunning gestures that he had to get out of the place.
Ekalavya walked out of the gurukul with a heavy broken heart, feeling resentful about the unjust treatment he had undergone.
But it didn't hinder his passion for archery. He strongly believed that Dronacharya was the best teacher and those who learnt under him became great warriors. He believed that he wouldn't become a warrior without a Guru. On his way back in the forest, he was passing by a river. The clay soil on the river bank invoked him to make an idol of his guru. He fetched the soil and walked further to find a suitable place for his practice.
Soon he found a secluded clearing suitable for his practice. He made a Murti (idol) of Dronacharya out of the soil and placed it on a platform in the clearing.
Owing to his undying passion and beliefs, he proceeded to learn the art.
He commenced his training by worshipping the idol of his most revered Acharya and started off practice in front of it. He assumed his Guru to be instructing him, to be watching him practice and mending his shooting skills.
With immense devotion, dedication and determined practice, he excelled the art. He mastered various sorts of challenging shots.
One morning, during his practice, he heard a dog bark. He ignored it initially and concentrated on his practice. But the dog's incessant barking disturbed Ekalavya and he at once, shot in the direction of the sound, right into the dog's mouth without looking at it and without injuring it. He shot several arrows back to back into the dog's mouth without hurting it. The sight of the dog was an amazing feat of archery though it was a plight of the dog.
The same morning, Drona and his students were walking in the forest. Drona was training his students in the wild under natural conditions, when they found this dog with mouth full of arrows. Drona and his students were wonder struck to see this stunning master stroke. They were curious enough to learn as to who this master archer was. Thus they started off looking for him, who had shot the arrows into the dog with such expertise.
Meanwhile, they found a dark skinned, bright-eyed, energetic and tough tribal boy, dressed in black, who was practicing with his bow and arrow. They could easily conclude that it was him.
Walking closer to him, Drona exclaimed, "Your aim is truly remarkable!".
Ekalavya looked at him in awe. Drona continued, "You are a great archer. I must admit. From where did you learn the art and gain mastery?"
Ekalavya being his devotee, was pleased to see his Guru and was in a trance hearing praise from him, which was a dream come true moment for him. He bowed to his Guru with respect and replied, "Thank you Acharya. You are my Guru."
All the disciples, princes and Drona were surprised. Drona asked, "Guru? And I? I've never seen you before. How have I probably been training you!?"
Ekalavya said, "My name is Ekalavya. I had come to your gurukul a few months ago to seek your training."
In a trice, Drona remembered the day when he and Arjuna had dispelled a hunter tribal boy from the gurukul premises. He asked Ekalavya, "Are you the same hunter boy who approached me at my gurukul a few months ago whom I refused to teach?"
Ekalavya nodded and replied, "Yes Acharya. I'm the same. You had refused to accept me as I'm a Shudra".
He then pointed out at Drona's idol he had made and said, "On coming back, I made your idol here and worshipped it everyday before starting practice. Thank you Acharya. I'm pleased to receive your appreciation today."
Drona and the rest looked at the idol, decorated with flowers offered and were impacted by the degree of devotion Ekalavya had for Drona.
Arjuna's ego was hurt as the Guru had always praised Arjuna and nobody else till then. Arjuna fumingly accused Drona saying, "How can this happen Acharya? You had promised me that you would make me the greatest archer in the whole world. Now, this normal tribal hunter is better than me!?"
Drona was shocked. He had no answer for Arjuna's accusations. He was afraid his promise did not stand true any longer. But it was a promise he had made to Prince Arjuna and had to abide by it at any cost, he thought. Then he came up with an idea.
"Where is your Guru Dakshina?" he asked Ekalavya.
Guru Dakshina is a gift that the student gives to his Guru at the end of his training.
Ekalavya was more than happy. He thought that Drona had accepted him as his disciple and hence asked for Guru Dakshina.
Overwhelmed and filled with devotion, he asked Drona, "Acharya, what would you accept as Guru Dakshina from me? It's my pleasure to serve you."
"What if you are not happy with what I ask from you? What if you refuse to give me?", enquired Drona cunningly.
The innocent Ekalavya faithfully replied, "No Acharya. I cannot deny you anything. I'm not so ungrateful to you. Please ask me."
Without delaying a second, Drona said, "I demand your right hand thumb as my Guru Dakshina!!!"
Everybody was aghast at Dronacharya's inhumane demand. There was absolute silence of dismay. How could their Guru be so cruel to a mere tribal boy?
Ekalavya stood speechless for a moment. Archery was his breath and his right thumb played a key role for shooting. What would he do without his thumb?
But then, the next moment he said, "Sure Acharya". He knelt down before his Guru. He took out his knife. In the blink of an eye, he cut his thumb off!! He picked up his severed thumb and held it forward. "Here is my Guru Dakshina Acharya", he said.
As a young boy, Ekalavya was very much engrossed in the art of archery. He ate, slept and breathed with a bow and arrow. Such was his love for the art.
With time, he had acquired an intense desire to seek Guru (teacher) Dronacharya to train him in archery, in order to master the art and become a warrior.
Dronacharya was a famous Guru and his name was known to everyone. He was very well versed in archery and had gained expertise in military arts. He possessed and had knowledge of the divine weapons. Whoever got trained under Drona in his gurukul (school) would turn out to be expert archers.
Ekalavya expressed his desire before his father. But the father became sad, because they belonged to a lower class (Shudra) and expecting lessons like archery, from a Guru was out of question. Archery was meant only for the royal class i.e.,Kshatriyas (Warriors). The Gurus were from the highest class i.e., Brahmins.
Guru Dronacharya was appointed by the king of Hastinapur to teach the royal princes of the kingdom, which included Pandavas and Kauravas. Drona's gurukul consisted of his disciples, princes of Hastinapur along with princes from neighbouring kingdoms. He was a royal teacher.
Of all the princes, the third Pandava prince Arjuna had emerged to be a dedicated, hard-working and most naturally talented student. Arjuna meticulously served his Guru. He exceeded Drona's expectations in several challenges. Drona was impressed by Arjuna's intellect, concentration and determination. He was the most devoted student. One fine day, Drona promised Arjuna that he would become the greatest archer on earth. He also gave Arjuna a special knowledge of the divine weapons.
Those days in India, a Word meant everything. 'A man of his words' as they say. If a person vowed something, he would do anything to uphold it, no matter what.
Ekalavya left his home to go to seek Guru Drona for training him, in spite of his parents' unwillingness and disapproval.
He walked in the forests and reached the area of the forest where Drona's gurukul was set up. He glanced at the gurukul from a distance. In the midst of trees, were a group of huts on one side where the residents of gurukul lived and an archery yard on the other side. He saw the royal princes practicing with bows and arrows in the yard. His eyes unceasingly focused to find his master - his Guru Dronacharya, though he had never seen him before. He eagerly looked around. As he gazed through the archery yard, he found a man detailing a prince with a bow and arrow under a tree and giving him keen instructions. With his wit and calculations, in no time, he guessed the man to be Dronacharya himself. The prince with the Guru was Arjuna.
Ekalavya approached Drona while he was training Arjuna and bowed down with respect.
Drona was taken by surprise to see a strange boy at his gurukul. He enquired the boy as to who he was.
"Pranam Acharya Deva (Greetings to the God in the form of teacher), I suppose you are the great Guru Dronacharya. My name is Ekalavya, I'm the son of the tribal chief in the western forests of Hastinapur. I'm your devotee and I aspire to be trained by you. Please accept me as your disciple.", said Ekalavya bowing down with respect.
Drona sighed, "Ekalavya!...., if you are from a hunter tribe, you must be a Shudra (low class). I'm a Brahmin (high class) and I teach only Kshatriyas (royal class/warriors). Archery is for warriors and not for low class tribe like you. I cannot accept you."
Arjuna being enraged at the disturbance caused to his training by the tribal boy, yelled at him saying, "Acharya (teacher) is appointed by the king to teach us, the royal princes and high-born. How dare you enter the gurukul and seek him? Leave right now!". Arjuna shooed him away.
Drona didn't say anything to Arjuna for his malicious behaviour. Ekalavya was shocked by Arjuna's ill treatment, for he himself being a chief's son had never treated anyone below him so disrespectfully.
The innocent boy looked at Drona expecting support but was disheartened to see Drona say nothing. It was understood by their shunning gestures that he had to get out of the place.
Ekalavya walked out of the gurukul with a heavy broken heart, feeling resentful about the unjust treatment he had undergone.
But it didn't hinder his passion for archery. He strongly believed that Dronacharya was the best teacher and those who learnt under him became great warriors. He believed that he wouldn't become a warrior without a Guru. On his way back in the forest, he was passing by a river. The clay soil on the river bank invoked him to make an idol of his guru. He fetched the soil and walked further to find a suitable place for his practice.
Soon he found a secluded clearing suitable for his practice. He made a Murti (idol) of Dronacharya out of the soil and placed it on a platform in the clearing.
Owing to his undying passion and beliefs, he proceeded to learn the art.
He commenced his training by worshipping the idol of his most revered Acharya and started off practice in front of it. He assumed his Guru to be instructing him, to be watching him practice and mending his shooting skills.
With immense devotion, dedication and determined practice, he excelled the art. He mastered various sorts of challenging shots.
One morning, during his practice, he heard a dog bark. He ignored it initially and concentrated on his practice. But the dog's incessant barking disturbed Ekalavya and he at once, shot in the direction of the sound, right into the dog's mouth without looking at it and without injuring it. He shot several arrows back to back into the dog's mouth without hurting it. The sight of the dog was an amazing feat of archery though it was a plight of the dog.
The same morning, Drona and his students were walking in the forest. Drona was training his students in the wild under natural conditions, when they found this dog with mouth full of arrows. Drona and his students were wonder struck to see this stunning master stroke. They were curious enough to learn as to who this master archer was. Thus they started off looking for him, who had shot the arrows into the dog with such expertise.
Meanwhile, they found a dark skinned, bright-eyed, energetic and tough tribal boy, dressed in black, who was practicing with his bow and arrow. They could easily conclude that it was him.
Walking closer to him, Drona exclaimed, "Your aim is truly remarkable!".
Ekalavya looked at him in awe. Drona continued, "You are a great archer. I must admit. From where did you learn the art and gain mastery?"
Ekalavya being his devotee, was pleased to see his Guru and was in a trance hearing praise from him, which was a dream come true moment for him. He bowed to his Guru with respect and replied, "Thank you Acharya. You are my Guru."
All the disciples, princes and Drona were surprised. Drona asked, "Guru? And I? I've never seen you before. How have I probably been training you!?"
Ekalavya said, "My name is Ekalavya. I had come to your gurukul a few months ago to seek your training."
In a trice, Drona remembered the day when he and Arjuna had dispelled a hunter tribal boy from the gurukul premises. He asked Ekalavya, "Are you the same hunter boy who approached me at my gurukul a few months ago whom I refused to teach?"
Ekalavya nodded and replied, "Yes Acharya. I'm the same. You had refused to accept me as I'm a Shudra".
He then pointed out at Drona's idol he had made and said, "On coming back, I made your idol here and worshipped it everyday before starting practice. Thank you Acharya. I'm pleased to receive your appreciation today."
Drona and the rest looked at the idol, decorated with flowers offered and were impacted by the degree of devotion Ekalavya had for Drona.
Arjuna's ego was hurt as the Guru had always praised Arjuna and nobody else till then. Arjuna fumingly accused Drona saying, "How can this happen Acharya? You had promised me that you would make me the greatest archer in the whole world. Now, this normal tribal hunter is better than me!?"
Drona was shocked. He had no answer for Arjuna's accusations. He was afraid his promise did not stand true any longer. But it was a promise he had made to Prince Arjuna and had to abide by it at any cost, he thought. Then he came up with an idea.
"Where is your Guru Dakshina?" he asked Ekalavya.
Guru Dakshina is a gift that the student gives to his Guru at the end of his training.
Ekalavya was more than happy. He thought that Drona had accepted him as his disciple and hence asked for Guru Dakshina.
Overwhelmed and filled with devotion, he asked Drona, "Acharya, what would you accept as Guru Dakshina from me? It's my pleasure to serve you."
"What if you are not happy with what I ask from you? What if you refuse to give me?", enquired Drona cunningly.
The innocent Ekalavya faithfully replied, "No Acharya. I cannot deny you anything. I'm not so ungrateful to you. Please ask me."
Without delaying a second, Drona said, "I demand your right hand thumb as my Guru Dakshina!!!"
Everybody was aghast at Dronacharya's inhumane demand. There was absolute silence of dismay. How could their Guru be so cruel to a mere tribal boy?
Ekalavya stood speechless for a moment. Archery was his breath and his right thumb played a key role for shooting. What would he do without his thumb?
But then, the next moment he said, "Sure Acharya". He knelt down before his Guru. He took out his knife. In the blink of an eye, he cut his thumb off!! He picked up his severed thumb and held it forward. "Here is my Guru Dakshina Acharya", he said.
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Ekalavya offering his severed thumb to Dronacharya as his Guru Dakshina
The princes gasped at Ekalavya's act of bravery. They were moved by the incident. Drona blessed Ekalavya saying that he would always be remembered in the world for his bravery and loyalty towards his Guru. Drona did not express, but was grieved at his own action. But at the same time, he was also satisfied that his promise to Arjuna was not compromised. They walked away into the forest thereon.
Ekalavya neither showed any trace of anger or displeasure towards his master's demand nor did he show any signs of pain after severing his thumb. Staunch devotee that he was, was proven. He's known to be the most loyal and devoted student in the mankind till date.
On the other hand, it is believed that Goddess Saraswati, the Goddess of knowledge cursed Drona after this heinous, inhumane act of Drona towards a seeker of knowledge. Knowledge is meant for all. A Guru is supposed to be granting knowledge to whoever seeks it, irrespective of his race, caste, class, gender, colour etc.
She cursed him that he would die a horrific death without any weapons and armour on him.
Ekalavya did not leave his passion for archery even after losing his thumb. It is said that he continued his practice of archery using his point and middle fingers. With a lot of practice as he did earlier with dedication and perseverance, he achieved to be the best archer, better than before and his name and fame spread across the kingdom like wild fire.
This story of Ekalavya is mostly narrated to show the loyalty and devotion of a true student towards his Guru.
But I would like to see the brighter part of the story.
Though he was born in a mere tribal community, though he was refused to be taught, been a victim of racism, still he did what he aspired to. He mastered archery.
Without an actual Guru, but by believing that he has a Guru, he made the impossible into possible. He is the best example for the proverb "Where there is a Will, there is a Way!". We must learn from this story that, if you wish to do something in life, you can achieve it without giving excuses. Nothing can overpower your will and efforts you put across to accomplish your goals.
From another different perspective, I see this story also stands strong in portraying the power of idol worship. When you pour your positive energy into something solid (idol) made of earthly materials i.e., stone, soil, metal or wood, and worship it everyday with a particular aim/goal, your energy is accumulated in it with time. This same energy in turn helps you to fulfill your desires depending on the intensity of your energy for the desire. The time taken to reach your goal is directly proportionate to the strength of your desire and positive energy you've devoted with dedication unto the idol.
Very nice narrative 👌
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