Today, a new chief minister takes the chair in New Delhi. Arvind Kejriwal, whose debut at the state elections has been sensational, is a political novice. He does not belong to a political dynasty nor does he have an alliance with the large national parties. Thus, even though this is a state election and not that of the country, Kejriwal's ascension to the high seat of power could be a turning point for not just Delhi but for the country at large.
In general, mythology treats ascensions as special. Exemplified in story and in ritual, they have huge metaphorical value. According to philosopher-historian Mircea Eliade, they always indicate that the human condition is being transcended and that higher cosmic levels are being attained (A Dictionary of Symbols, J E Cirlot). Thus, it could be a rishi ascending to a higher level in his sage-hood, a prince to the throne, a student to a higher plane of learning, a new leader to a position of power and so on - all these are viewed as intersections of the old and new which create a lasting imprint on the evolution of mankind.
Since leadership was among the principal preoccupations of ancient society, myths were built around those who stepped up to the role and the process of ascension. Many believe that the story of Hanuman and Rama marks a shift of power - from the peasants to the landlords. 'It has been said that the Ramayana is a symbolic depiction of the dominance of the landlords (with their god, Rama) over the peasant Hanuman, or that it represents the conflict between agriculturists and food gatherers. It could also be described in different historical terms as the juxtaposition between monarchical state systems and tribal chiefships prior to the emergence of the state, the relationship often dissolving into confrontation.' (Exile and kingdom: Some thoughts on the Ramayana/Romila Thapar/Bangalore Mythic Society: 1978)
Not all transitions of power were bloodless. A myth included in the Mahabharata goes thus: there was a time when gods lived on earth and were keen to procure Soma which Indra refused to part with. They approached the meters (the rhythmic beat of poetry or song or speech), which were conceptualised as female birds in the ancient texts. The first to fly out on the quest was Jagati. She had 14 syllables in each of her four feet and was considered the most able but she failed. Her journey was not entirely wasted though as she brought back sacrificial beasts and the method of consecration for the sacrifice in exchange for two syllables. The next to fly out was Trishtubh with 13 syllables in each of her four feet. However Trishtubh was unsuccessful and brought back penance (tapas) and sacrificial gifts (dakshina). She lost two of her syllables, retaining only 11. Finally it was the turn of Gayatri. She had three feet with four syllables in each and was believed to be the weakest of all meters. But, she not only got Soma but also brought back the two syllables each that Jagati and Trishtubh had bartered in exchange for their gifts. At one level, the myth represents a heroic quest for an elusive drink. But myths carry many meanings which depend on the way they are told and the cultural context that they are set in. It is possible that the meters represented three tribes and ultimately the tribe that spoke in the Gayatri meter became the leader-tribe. None of the meters come out unscathed in this journey and neither is their quest fruitless, symbolising perhaps, the give and take that marked the early way of life in the region.
Societies change with the coming of a new leader or a new power in their midst. None can predict the nature of this change but the transition is important. Thus Kejriwal may or may not let down a million hopes that have been vested in him but his impact on the nature of Indian polity and the relationship between the rulers and the ruled will be enormous. At the recent Arab Spring, for instance, the protesters at Tahrir Square should have been paid more attention by President Mubarak and his supporters. After all they were perpetuating was a practice from Egyptian myth which limited a king's rule to 30 years. According to Donald Mackenzie (Egyptian myth and legend), Egyptian rulers were considered as representatives of the god Osiris but had to step down every 30 years. They were then killed in a gruesome cannibalistic tradition. The 30-year jinx may be mythical but the fact that power comes with a sell-by date is not. Like Mubarak, present day political parties in India may be ignoring this mythic dimension at their own peril.
