The Modern Day Ashtavakra

Ashtavakra was a great sage and a phenomenal scholar. Born in the ashram of Rishi Aruni he was cursed by his father to be be born with eight types of deformities. So the child was born physically deformed – his feet, hands, knees, chest and neck were bent; and hence the name Ashtavakra.

With the advent of technology and gadgets, the balancing act of managing a smart phone between shoulder and ear while working on a laptop precariously placed on our laps has created many self-made Ashtavakras. At least they are safe within the premises of their homes or offices, how about the ones who are on the road. While adjusting their phones they manoeuvre traffic and race between signals all while balancing their families as pillion riders. Gadgets have percolated even into the kitchen with the chef having a phone to the ear, multiple pots and pans to be stirred, vegetables to be diced and sometimes a webinar on the side.

Ashtavakra had no choice; he was born that way. In the name of multi-tasking are we bending ourselves out of shape and creating Ashtavakras. The impacts are many as we can develop severe crick in the neck, a catch in the back, cramps in our muscles, joint pains to name a few.

We want to do a lot and complete various tasks at one go, however what is the price we are paying? Do take a moment and think about this.