Jiva

MIND, MATTER AND GOD : JIVA, JADA AND ISVARA
M.M.NINAN
anybody asserts that there is something beyond. Fools and wise men are destroyed
and disappear when the body falls to pieces. There are no more after death.
D Chattopadhyaya, Lokayata: A Study in Ancient Indian Materialism
In the great epic Mahabharata there is a description of a Carvaka being burned to death
for preaching against the bloodshed of the Great War and condemning Yudhishthira for
killing thousands for his greed. They condemned the practices of sacrifices and
penance. They stood against the Brahmin and Kshtariya domination of the period.
When the Brahmins were now once again standing silent, Carvaka the Rakshasa in the
disguise of a Brahmin addressed the King. This friend of Duryodhana, concealed under
the garb of a mendicant with a rosary, a lock of hair on his crown, and a triple staff,
impudent and fearless, surrounded by all the Brahmins exceeding a thousand in
number, who were anxious to utter their benedictions - men who practiced austerity and
self-restraint - this wretch, wishing evil to the magnanimous Pandavas, without saluting
those Brahmins, thus addressed the King: "All these Brahmins, falsely imputing the
malediction to me, themselves exclaim, woe to you, wicked king, the son of Kunti?
Since you have slaughtered your kinsmen and elders, death is desirable for you, and
not life." Hearing this speech of the wicked Raxasa the Brahmins were pained and
indignant, being maligned by his words. But they, as well as King Yudhishtira, all
remained silent, being ashamed and cut to the heart. Then Yudhishtira said: "Let all
your reverences are reconciled to me, who bows down and supplicates you: you ought
not to curse me who has recently undergone such great misfortunes." All the Brahmins
then exclaimed: "We never uttered the words imputed to us; may your Majesty enjoy
prosperity." Then these noble-minded Brahmins, versed in the Vedas and purified by
austerities, recognized (the pretend mendicant) by the eye of knowledge, and
exclaimed: "This Rakshasa called Carvaka, friend of Duryodhana; in the garb of a
vagrant he seeks to accomplish the purposes of your enemy; we speak not so,
righteous King; let all such fears be dissipated; may prosperity attend you and your
brothers." Then all these Brahmins, infuriated with anger, uttering menaces, slew with,
with muttered curses, the wicked Raxasa; who fell down consumed by the might of of
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