No doubt Alexandar remains one of the greatest king's of our times. The way he ruled for years and built an empire of unprecedented lengths and breadths, he is rightly called "Alexander the great".
But do you know that powerful 'Alexander' once faced defeat at the hands of an Indian 'Sadhu' ?
Those who don't know about 'Sadhus', they are renouncers who choose to live a life apart from edges of society and focus on spiritual practices. Sadhu is a sanskrit word to refer to these renouncers. They live, or try to live, a very simple life. They don't eat too much and don't save money or cultivate dreams of becoming rich or to built a large empire. Exactly opposite to how 'Alexander' lived.
In 326 BC Alexander invaded India, obviously to expand his empire even more. But India was altogether a different land, and a different culture, to what Alexander had come across thus far in his journey. It didn't took much time for him to realise that this piece of land cannot be occupied with military power alone. He also heard of these sadhus of India who had great paranormal powers. Many people told him to be careful as some of the sadhus can read mind, run on water, and see future. So he was bit worried that if sadhus can foresee his plans and tell them to local kings, he could be defeated.
Alexander decided that he needed to bring some sadhus in his military. So he went around the country in order to find the best sadhu out there. He wanted someone who can foresee things and tell him which territories are weak and can be occupied without much resistance. So he was looking for the right men.
After sometime, with the help of few locals, he came across a sadhu. That sadhu was a weak looking man, with almost no clothes on his body, and looked like a beggar. His hair were dirty and his face wasn't bright at all. Everyone told 'Alexandar' that this is the most powerful sadhu.
Alexander was bit sceptical about this man though. He was in India long enough to see that Sadhus with great powers or 'siddhis' were usually bright people who wore clean clothes and were healthy with spark in their eyes. First he thought that locals were trying to plot some sort of web around him. But the great warrior that he was, he decided to check the ability of that sadhu.
As alexander approached the weak man, sadhu asked him whether he was alright after spending two days and three nights in the rain. Alexander was taken aback - How come this man know about the weather? How he knows from where I've come? The way Alexander went about his business during those days, it was very difficult for anyone to gauge his movements.
Sadhu also told him few things about his personal life (which can't be mentioned here). Alexandar was impressed.
He told sadhu that from now on he is going to be the part of secret intelligence services of his army. He ordered sadhu to pack his bags (not that there was much baggage that sadhu had) and come along with him.
But sadhu ignored him.
Alexander ordered him again. Sadhu replied - 'I don't take orders. You can go away. I want to do meditation'.
No one had spoken like this to alexander in recent past. Everyone bowed in front of him. He was too powerful after all.
Alexander got angry and said to sadhu - "What do you think of yourself - old 'beggar' ? Just because you have few powers, you think that you are the king of this world?"
Sadhu smiled and replied - "Indeed I am the king, and you are a mere servant. You are not even good enough to be the servant of my servant ".
Now Alexander got even more angry. In front of thousands of people, and his own army, this beggar lookalike sadhu was challenging his greatness and telling him to be not good enough to be working as his servant.
But since this 'sadhu' was told to be the best sadhu out there, angry 'Alexander the great' decided to give this man one more chance before he would chop his head.
Even more angry Alexander in a loud voice said - 'Prove me that you are the king, and I'm not even good to be your servant. Otherwise get ready to loose yourself and all your petty powers'.
Sadhu smiled and replied to him and said - 'You don't deserve to be the king. Yo might have won acres of land but you still remains slave. You are not the king but slave. '
"Slave of whom? You beggar! Can't you see so many people saluting me?" - said angry alexander.
Sadhu told him, again smiling (even after being repeatedly insulted) - "You are slave of your own anger. Look at yourself. Just a few words from my side are powerful enough to make you loose your temper. On the other hand, look at me, I'm not affected by anything you said to insult me. I am smiling and enjoying this occasion. "
Alexander understood the point that sadhu was trying to make. He bowed his head in front of him and told everyone that this is the first time he has really got defeated. He left the place, and India.
Friends those who can overcome anger and win over it are the real kings.
But do you know that powerful 'Alexander' once faced defeat at the hands of an Indian 'Sadhu' ?
Those who don't know about 'Sadhus', they are renouncers who choose to live a life apart from edges of society and focus on spiritual practices. Sadhu is a sanskrit word to refer to these renouncers. They live, or try to live, a very simple life. They don't eat too much and don't save money or cultivate dreams of becoming rich or to built a large empire. Exactly opposite to how 'Alexander' lived.
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| sadhu practices meditation at ganga river (Varanasi, India) |
In 326 BC Alexander invaded India, obviously to expand his empire even more. But India was altogether a different land, and a different culture, to what Alexander had come across thus far in his journey. It didn't took much time for him to realise that this piece of land cannot be occupied with military power alone. He also heard of these sadhus of India who had great paranormal powers. Many people told him to be careful as some of the sadhus can read mind, run on water, and see future. So he was bit worried that if sadhus can foresee his plans and tell them to local kings, he could be defeated.
Alexander decided that he needed to bring some sadhus in his military. So he went around the country in order to find the best sadhu out there. He wanted someone who can foresee things and tell him which territories are weak and can be occupied without much resistance. So he was looking for the right men.
After sometime, with the help of few locals, he came across a sadhu. That sadhu was a weak looking man, with almost no clothes on his body, and looked like a beggar. His hair were dirty and his face wasn't bright at all. Everyone told 'Alexandar' that this is the most powerful sadhu.
Alexander was bit sceptical about this man though. He was in India long enough to see that Sadhus with great powers or 'siddhis' were usually bright people who wore clean clothes and were healthy with spark in their eyes. First he thought that locals were trying to plot some sort of web around him. But the great warrior that he was, he decided to check the ability of that sadhu.
As alexander approached the weak man, sadhu asked him whether he was alright after spending two days and three nights in the rain. Alexander was taken aback - How come this man know about the weather? How he knows from where I've come? The way Alexander went about his business during those days, it was very difficult for anyone to gauge his movements.
Sadhu also told him few things about his personal life (which can't be mentioned here). Alexandar was impressed.
He told sadhu that from now on he is going to be the part of secret intelligence services of his army. He ordered sadhu to pack his bags (not that there was much baggage that sadhu had) and come along with him.
But sadhu ignored him.
Alexander ordered him again. Sadhu replied - 'I don't take orders. You can go away. I want to do meditation'.
No one had spoken like this to alexander in recent past. Everyone bowed in front of him. He was too powerful after all.
Alexander got angry and said to sadhu - "What do you think of yourself - old 'beggar' ? Just because you have few powers, you think that you are the king of this world?"
Sadhu smiled and replied - "Indeed I am the king, and you are a mere servant. You are not even good enough to be the servant of my servant ".
Now Alexander got even more angry. In front of thousands of people, and his own army, this beggar lookalike sadhu was challenging his greatness and telling him to be not good enough to be working as his servant.
But since this 'sadhu' was told to be the best sadhu out there, angry 'Alexander the great' decided to give this man one more chance before he would chop his head.
Even more angry Alexander in a loud voice said - 'Prove me that you are the king, and I'm not even good to be your servant. Otherwise get ready to loose yourself and all your petty powers'.
Sadhu smiled and replied to him and said - 'You don't deserve to be the king. Yo might have won acres of land but you still remains slave. You are not the king but slave. '
"Slave of whom? You beggar! Can't you see so many people saluting me?" - said angry alexander.
Sadhu told him, again smiling (even after being repeatedly insulted) - "You are slave of your own anger. Look at yourself. Just a few words from my side are powerful enough to make you loose your temper. On the other hand, look at me, I'm not affected by anything you said to insult me. I am smiling and enjoying this occasion. "
Alexander understood the point that sadhu was trying to make. He bowed his head in front of him and told everyone that this is the first time he has really got defeated. He left the place, and India.
Friends those who can overcome anger and win over it are the real kings.
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