"The perfect brings death upon itself. 'What is full, is perfect, and coronation signifies perfection of some kind.' So says Athenaeus. Animals for sacrifice would only be crowned once it was clear that they were perfect, 'so as not to kill something that was not useful" (Calasso 111).
This quote really stuck out to me because it focuses on the importance of offering the most perfect sacrifice, giving only their best to the gods. As I was reading this quotation, I couldn't help but be reminded of a story we had learned in my study of Hinduism class not too long ago about a boy named Nachiketa.
In the story of Nachiketa, his father Vājashrava, desiring a gift from the gods, started an offering to donate all his possessions. But Nachiketa noticed that he was donating only the cows that were old, blind, or lame; not such as might buy the worshiper a place in Heaven. Nachiketa wanting the best for his father's rite, asked: "I too am yours, to which god will you offer me?". After being pestered thus, he answered in a fit of anger, "I give you to Yama (Death)!"
Nachiketa then went to Death's home, but the god was out, and he waited three days. When Yama returned, he was sorry to see that a Brahman guest had been waiting so long. He told Nachiketa, "You have waited in my house for three days without hospitality, therefore ask three boons of me". Nachiketa first asked for peace for his father and himself. Yama agreed. Next, Nachiketa wished to learn the sacred fire sacrifice, which Yama also allowed. For his third boon, Nachiketa asked to learn the mystery of what comes after death.
Yama was reluctant on this question; he said that this had been a mystery even to the gods. He asked Nachiketa to ask for some other boon and offered many material gains, but Nachiketa replied that material things will last only till the morrow. He who has encountered Death personally, how can he desire wealth? No other boon would do. Yama was secretly pleased with this disciple, and elaborated on the nature of the true Self, which persists beyond death. The key of the realization is that this Self (within each person) is inseparable from Brahman, the supreme spirit, the vital force in the universe.
Personally, I would find it extremely troublesome to offer up my finest animals, riches, especially my virgin daughter. There's no way I would be able to let go at the snap of a finger, but then again something tells me I only feel this way because I live in our current day in age, god is not as involved as he would have been in Europa's time. But through the story of Nachiketa, I have learned that material things are worthless, we should not fuss or cry over lost belongings, in time we will grow past the little things and begin to enjoy what really speaks to your spirit.
Nachiketa then went to Death's home, but the god was out, and he waited three days. When Yama returned, he was sorry to see that a Brahman guest had been waiting so long. He told Nachiketa, "You have waited in my house for three days without hospitality, therefore ask three boons of me". Nachiketa first asked for peace for his father and himself. Yama agreed. Next, Nachiketa wished to learn the sacred fire sacrifice, which Yama also allowed. For his third boon, Nachiketa asked to learn the mystery of what comes after death.
Yama was reluctant on this question; he said that this had been a mystery even to the gods. He asked Nachiketa to ask for some other boon and offered many material gains, but Nachiketa replied that material things will last only till the morrow. He who has encountered Death personally, how can he desire wealth? No other boon would do. Yama was secretly pleased with this disciple, and elaborated on the nature of the true Self, which persists beyond death. The key of the realization is that this Self (within each person) is inseparable from Brahman, the supreme spirit, the vital force in the universe.
Personally, I would find it extremely troublesome to offer up my finest animals, riches, especially my virgin daughter. There's no way I would be able to let go at the snap of a finger, but then again something tells me I only feel this way because I live in our current day in age, god is not as involved as he would have been in Europa's time. But through the story of Nachiketa, I have learned that material things are worthless, we should not fuss or cry over lost belongings, in time we will grow past the little things and begin to enjoy what really speaks to your spirit.
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