The following is an excerpt from J.W. McCrindle’s translation of Greek historians who accompanied Alexander to India. McCrindle uses the word “Bragman” to mean Brahmin. They (the Bragmanes) subsist upon such fruits as they can find, and on wild herbs, which the earch spontaneously produces, and drink only water. They wander about in the woods, and sheep at night on pallets of the leaves of trees. “We have … amongst us a sage called Dandamis, whose home is the woods, were he lies on a pallet of leaves, and where he has nigh at hand the foundtain of peace, whereof he drinks, sucking, as it were, the pure breast of a mother.” King Alexander, accordingly, when he heard of all this, was desirous of learning the doctrines of the sect, and so he sent for this Dandamis, as being their teacher and president. Onesikratês was therefore despatched to fetch him, and when he found the great sage he said, “Hail to thee, thou teacher of the Bragmanes. The son of the mighty god Zeus, king Alexander, who is the sovereign lord of all men, asks you to go to to him, and if you comply, he will reward you with great and splendid gifts, but if you refuse will cut off your head.” Dandamis, with a complacent smile, heard him to the end, but did not so much as lift up his head from his couch of leaves, and while still retaining his recumbent attidue returned this scornful answer:— “God, the supreme king, is never the author of insolent wrong, but is the creator of light, of peace, of life, of water, of the body of man, and of souls, and these he receives when death sets them free, being in no way subject to evil desire. He alone is the god of my homage, who abhors slaughter and instigates no wars. “But Alexander is not God, since he must taste of death, and how can such as he be the world’s master, who has not yet reached the further shore of the river Tiberoboas, and has not yet seated himself on a throne of universal dominion? Moreover, Alexander has neither as yet entered living into Hades, nor does he know the course of the sun through the central regions of the earth, while the nations on its boundaries have not so much as heard his name. “If his present dominions are not capacious enough for his desire, let him cross the Ganges river, and he will find a region able to sustain men if the country on our side be too narrow to hold him. “Know this, however, that what Alexander offers me, and the gifts he promises, are all things to me utterly useless; but the things which I prize, and find of real use and worth, are these leaves which are my house, these blooming plants which supply me with dainty food, and the water which is my drink, while all other possessions and things, which are amassed with anxious care, are wont to prove ruinous to those who amass them, and cause only sorrow and vexation, with which every poor mortal is fully fraught. But as for me, I lie upon the forest leaves, and, having nothing which requires guarding, close my eyes in tranquil slumber; whereas had I gold to guard, that would banish sleep. The earth supplies me with everything, even as a mother her child with milk. I go wherever I please, and there are no cares with which I am forced to cumber myself, against my will. “Should Alexander cut off my head, he cannot also destroy my soul. My head alone, now silent, will remain, but the soul will go away to its Master, leaving the body like a torn garment upon the earth, whence also it was taken. I then, becoming spirit, shall ascend to my God, who enclosed us in flesh, and left us upon the earth to prove whether when here below we shall prove obedient to his ordinances, and who also will require of us, when we depart hence to his presence, an account of our life, since he is judge of all proud wrong-doing; for the groans of the oppressed become the punishments of the oppressors. “Let Alexander, then terrify with these threats those who wish for gold and for wealth, and who dread death, for against us these weapons are both alike powerless, since the Bragmanes neither love gold nor fear death. Go, then, and tell Alexander this: ‘Dandamis has no need of aught that is yours, and therefore will not go to you, but if you want anything from Dandamis come you to him.’ ” Alexander, on receiving from Onesikratês a report of the interview, felt a stronger desire than ever to see Dandamis, who, though old and naked, was the only antagonist in whom he, the conqueror of many nations, had found more than his match. —J.W. McCrindle, Ancient India as described by Megasthenes and Arrian, Calcutta, Bombay, and London, 1877, online at hdl.loc.gov/loc.gdc/scd0001.20040416001in.1 as of 7 August 2004, p. 123–126.
The following is from an editorial in the Indian Express. Apparently, when Alexander the Great came to conquer India, he met a sanyasi, who was actually a great sage. The sage’s name was ‘Dandamis’; at least, that is how Greek historians seem to have pronounced it. Alexander questioned the sage: “Do you believe in God?” The sage remained silent. Alexander said, “I cannot see, so how can I believe? How do you believe without seeing him?” The naked sage laughed. He took Alexander by his hand towards the marketplace. Alexander followed—maybe he was taking him somewhere where he could show him God. A small boy was flying a kite, and the kite had gone so far away that it was impossible to see it. The sage smiled secretly and stopped there, and the king of the Macedons waited impatiently. The sage asked the little boy, “Where is your kite? Because we cannot see it, and without seeing, how can we believe it is actually in existence? So where is that kite of yours? How do you still believe the kite exists?” The boy laughed merrily and looked pityingly at the sage for asking such an absurd question. He said, “I can feel the pull of it.” And the sage said to Alexander, “I can also feel the pull of it.” —Swami Chaitanya Keerti, “Taking God on Trust”, at indianexpress.com/ie20010830/ed3.html as of 7 August 2004.
Troy was an ok movie to pass the time, they all seem to lack the x-factor Braveheart had. I am assuming they all try and copy that formula.
What I really liked about this is the message that one who is really a Yogi, fears no one, he is completely free and totally attached to one thing - Krishna. You cannot scare him and even the king of the world has to come down as a man to talk to him.
It's important to recognize the inportance of Alexander in the subsequent development of western civilization. His conquests led to the Hellenization of large areas around the mediteranean, and there is little doubt that Greek culture, despite its defects, was a big advance on what had gone before. Many of the basic things in our culture to-day come from the Greeks - not only in the arts, but also government and the very notion of the 'free citizen'. The Hellenistic period led to the Roman empire etc, a kind of peak of european civilization, which would not be equalled until about the 18th century. The fact that he went to see Dandamis could easily be seen as proof that he possesed some degree of humility - he could easily have had him brought before him by force.
Recent big historic epics: Braveheart and Gladiator great, Kingdom of Heaven a little weaker but still an awesome movie and reasonably accurate in a historical sense, Troy definitely watchable, Alexander marginal and a little too gay for my sensibilities. I like that aspect too...Alexander had gained the whole world, but lost sight of his own soul...the man who was master only of himself was the true ruler.
I didn't like 'Braveheart' - but I'm not a fan of Mel Gibson generally. I don't actually see many films these days - of what I've seen in the last couple of years, LOR and 'Downfall' were the two that made the biggest impression. The TV series 'Rome' was also good IMO.
Mad Mel has definitely strained his relationship with his fans as well. Lord of the Rings series was generally OK, but too long and effects-burdened. Downfall...I'm not familiar with. I've seen that at Blockbuster...since you liked, I'll rent a couple of episodes and check it out.
'Downfall' is about the final days of WW2 in Hitler's bunker. It is done extremely well, and based on accounts of those who were there. It is somewhat violent, and even disturbing in places, but I think it's worth a view. It is in German with subtitles. It's got an eerie kind of feel to it...of the films I mentioned, def. the best one. 'Rome' is done very well, with attention to little historical details which make it about the best Roman type film I've seen to date. It too is a bit violent in places, but I found I got hooked on it when it was on TV. And thats rare for me, as I don't view a lot of television these dyas.
OK...I have seen Downfall recently...it was very good. I had the genres mixed up since we were talking about historic epics. Rome is definitely worth a look...I don't think anything about that period of history can avoid some heavy violence. I don't see much TV either... my wife and I watch late-night comedy guys pretty regularly, and rented movies often go unwatched. We're on a monthly Blockbuster plan that allows unlimited rentals at no more than two at a time, so if something doesn't look worth watching, no guilt about spending $$.
