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Courtesy: Agroha Vikas Trust (www.agroha.com) |
"In order to live in heaven after death, we shall have to live in heaven
before death"
avowed Maharaj Agrasen, the king of Agroha, born to king Vallabh of Pratapnagar
some 5182 years back. Maharaj Agrasen, was king of great administrative skill.
His concepts of kingdom and the duties of the king towards his subjects have
evolved him as a centurial man. Equality, Nationalism, Socialism and
Non-Violence were the principles which formed the backbone of his kingship.
Maharaj Agrasen established the republican state of Agroha. Agroha consisted of
18 state units. The head of each state unit was given a Gotra. All the residents
of that particular state unit were identified by that Gotra. It was maintained
by Maharaj Agrasen that a nupital alliance could not take place in the same
Gotra. That is a girl of "Goel" Gotra could not marry a "Goel boy"', but could
be married in any of the other 17 Gotra. This rule enunciated by Maharaj Agrasen
promoted harmony and brotherhood among all the 18 Gotra represented by state
units. This facilitated promotion of unity and nationalism among the state
units.
 Maharaj Agrasen was a doer (a Karmyogi) who conjured prosperity for all. An
adherent of Socialism, he devised a unique rule in order to ensure an
egalitarian society. He promulgated that any person coming to Agroha to settle
down permanently, shall be given one rupee, one brick, by each resident of
Agroha.With the bricks he could build a house for living and with the money so
collected he could set up his own business. This way through a small help by
each a person could attain a equal status in the society of equals.
He adopted the ideal of Non-Violence during the 18th Yagna, wherein he realised
the futility of animal sacrifices. The Yagna was being performed for the
establishment of the 18th Gotra. This realisation led him to become one of the
strong protagonist of 'Non-Violence'
"Instead of targeting a crane with an arrow,
I wish to see it flying;
Instead of eating away a nightingale,
I wish to hear it singing"
He banned all animal sacrifices.
However, his belief in nonviolence did not mean non-resistance to
oppression,rather he promoted self defence. According to him self protection and
national defence were not the task of only kshatryas - the warrior caste, rather
it is the duty of each citizen to protect and safeguard his motherland.
The ideas of Equality, Socialism and non-violence propounded by Maharaj Agrasen
5000 years back form the spirit of the present Constitution of India. But, we
Indians have not been able to cultivate these ideals into our lives, they remain
simply words in our constitution. It lies upon us now to adopt these ideals in
our lives as a tribute to our progenitor.
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Courtesy: Agroha Vikas Trust (www.agroha.com) |
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