The Great Indian Immortal Love Stories vs Valentine day

February is known as love month in the western world. Where persons who have hidden feelings about anyone, share with their probable soulmate. The second week of February is popularly known as valentine week and it is very famous in western countries. Each day of this week have a unique name for example rose day, propose day, chocolate day, teddy day, promise day, hug day, kiss day and finally valentine day. Loved one exchange candy, flowers and gifts on these days in the name of St. Valentine.

Who was Saint Valentine - Peoples celebrate valentine day as romance in name of a priest who served during the third century in Rome?  At that time Emperor Claudius II decided that single men made better soldiers than those with wives and families, he outlawed marriage for young men. Valentine felt injustice towards people and continued to perform marriages for young lovers in secret. When emperor Claudius came to know about it then he ordered for the death penalty to the priest. Some person says that it was Saint Valentine of Terni, a bishop, who was the true namesake of the holiday. He, too, was beheaded by Claudius II outside Rome.

No doubt western thoughts and love life are quite open and flexible but I feel a lack of trust and commitment in a good number of cases as compared to Indian customs and systems. As a result, despite valentine day celebrations lot of divorces takes place in western society. This trend is increasing in India to a high rate. Which is a matter of concern. No doubt life is actually the process of unlearning and learning. There is no problem in learning from each other. As we explained in our earlier articles that human personality consists of 4 bodies. Physical body, mind, intellect and spirit. These bodies are more powerful than earlier one in sequence. For example, the mind is more powerful than the physical body, intellect is more powerful than mind and spirit are ever more powerful than intellect. The power of love mostly takes birth in mind but its effect is observed at heart. Love is a very powerful action which can do anything subject to if contains purity. Sometimes people identify love with physical attraction and directly tend to correlate with sexual pleasure which is the very cheap and insulting definition of love. Therefore, I would like to discuss some Indian facts in this context.  

Importance of Love in the context of Indian Traditions- India is just not a nation, it is more 10,000-year-old civilization. When there was no script in the world at that time Indian Rishis and Munis wrote Veda & Upanishads. Vedas are the first book containing a base of science, art, humanity and divinity. In its 4 forms, Rigveda is an invocation, Yajurveda is offering, Samveda is a song and Atharveda is application. Vedas defines the relationship between human with nature and divinity, their origin, progress and maturity.

Vedas gives equal importance to male and females, that’s why Rigveda have exclusive sukta's i.e., Purush Sukta's and Devi Sukta’s. Few ignorant people think that Indians society opposes love and do not talk about the physical relationship. It is not correct. Indian scripture is full of deep research in this area. Following facts will give deep understanding about our incredible culture.

Suryaa Vivaah Sukta- It is an important sukta of Rigveda and base of our social life. Surya Vivaah gives a glimpse of relationship transition management so that it is on a firm ground of harmony and happiness. Vedic marriages are meeting of gods, rishis, families and couples.

Here the union of 2 souls takes 7 steps - Saptapadi. First step- Pure food, 2nd step- superpowers, 3rd step- prosperity and plenty, 4th step- happiness and knowledge, 5th step- good and progeny (children), 6th step- Health and longevity and 7th step- Friendship.

After marriage lady becomes the mother of all in the family. Here, the mother means who cares all members of the family. In this way, home becomes an intimate care unit not an intensive care unit.

In all parts of India, Vedic marriages are performed in the above system. This is a divine system of marriages which impacts all 4 bodies of the couple that’s why there is no exit route. Couples are empowered to handle all good and bad situations jointly without separation.

It is a matter of concern that now a day’s peoples are becoming ignorant about the meanings of our customs and systems and facing problems.  

Yama-Yami Samavaad Sukta – India is a vibrant source of wisdom. In ancient Gurukuls students are taught to see the truth in everything. They are taught to see beyond what appears on a physical level. Students learn to visualize sustainable growth over short term benefits. That’s why ethics always get superiority above other disciplines. Yam Yami Sukta of Rigveda talks about ethics in a man-women relationship.

Yam and Yami are youthful handsome and beautiful twins (children of Vivasvat). Yama means self-control. Yami falls in love towards his own twin brother. She tempts him to have sexual relations with her and share a bed and to become her husband. Which Yam politely refused defining its consecutive effects oncoming generations. Yami understood it and gracefully accepted his decision.

This is a great transaction with very high standards of ethics. It is path setting value standards. The attraction between men and women is the greatest attraction which can break all barriers. Yama demonstrated that he is worthy of his name “Yama” the self-control. Think about your own name. Become and be worthy of your own name. That’s why people give due importance to names. This is Veda dealing with a complex relationship management aspect. When your mind is in control of self then one is one’s own best friend.

Kamsutra – Rishi Vatsayan wrote a sex manual for approximately 3rd century. It is a guide to a virtuous and gracious living that defines family life, nature of love and touches all those aspects which concern male and female relationship. If you visit Khajuraho then you will find images of different sexual positions outside the temples.

This great book has been translated into almost all languages and still recognized as par excellence plus ratings.

In Indian culture due importance is given to love and independence of women. In addition to Vedic marriages, there were options of love marriage too which is called Gandharv Vivah. Like Rukmini was in love with Krishna. Although family wanted to marry her to Shishupala Rukmini’s love got victory over the willingness of family. The same story was repeated in the case of Sanjykta & Prithviraj. There is God & goddess of love named Kamdev & Rati. Sita & Laxman went with Ram to the forest leaving all comforts & luxuries of palace. Urmila wife of Laxman sacrificed her 14 years in taking care of her ailing parent in-laws. Stories of love, devotion & surrender are worship in India in form of Radha, Meera & Sathyabhama with Krishna. In the same way, love in form of respect & responsibility is a cherished case of Draupadi, Subhadra, Chitragda and Uloopi with Arjuna.

So, India has witnessed many romantic love stories which were very interesting and contained fragrance of selflessness, trust, care, dedication and responsibility. Here love was not a matter of show-off originated from physical attraction, rather a commitment. There are many good things in western culture too but what Indian tend to copy from films, social media & commercially sponsored materials, is cheap quality contents what appears superficial at the physical level. Therefore, let us do not limit love with the physical attraction of a couple only. It's much more than that. Have a lovely life.