From ancient times man has been fascinated with beauty. References to beauty are found from Vedic times to Leonardo Da Vinci right down to modern days. Philosophers, artists, poets, musicians and thinkers have tried through various mediums to define beauty. Defining beauty in absolute terms is difficult. That which is auspicious and sacred is truly beautiful. Nature in all its aspects is always beautiful. Beauty exists or can be experienced in the softness of a flower, the flight of a bird, the sound of the ocean, the dew drops on the leaf or the sunrise over the mountains. Beauty is ever-new. Kalidasji, speaking on beauty said, “That which is fresh and new every moment is beautiful.” Nature has an inherent ability to rejuvenate itself and retain its freshness. The Ramayana says that when Lord Rama came to live in Panchavati, each day Nature became more and more beautiful, ‘din din prati ati hoya suhae’. It is indeed the presence of the Lord that gives beauty to all.

There is charm and beauty in a relationship, when there is freshness and newness. Freshness remains with the discovery of new aspects of a person, and a relationship lasts where there is deeper beauty of mind and the soul. Health is beauty. A sick person dressed in the best of clothes will still look sick.

Beauty creates love and love creates a beautiful feeling within. The word ‘sundaram’ etymologically means ‘perceiving’ or thinking about which our heart melts in love. A person in love looks beautiful and a beautiful person invokes love. A strong man melts, at the sight of his newborn child or even at the thought of his child. His face softens and the words are tender when he talks of his child. Man is naturally attracted towards that which is beautiful. Great sages meditating on the formless Truth were irresistibly drawn towards the beautiful form of Shri Rama as He was passing through the forest. The gopis followed Krishna wherever he went. Ugliness on the other hand creates disgust and revulsion, and a movement away from it.

The world gives great importance to outer or physical beauty. The inner beauty of the mind and the intellect is something that is generally neglected. The ornaments of man are the physical form and the ornaments of the form are his inner virtues. The ornaments of virtue are knowledge. Outer beauty is skin deep, impermanent and perishes. Physical attraction has no power to sustain and wears out sooner than later. Even an ugly person is considered beautiful if he is virtuous. Virtues like truth, humility, clarity, compassion and cheerfulness can grow with age. These virtues give lasting beauty and joy to man. The knowledge of the goal of life is man’s ornament. Armed with this knowledge he can lead an exemplary life, and become a role model for others.

A man of perfection often shows impatience with the imperfections of others. The intelligent are intolerant of the dull witted, the healthy insensitive towards the sick, and the artistic looks down on the one without an artistic sense. But to tolerate, accommodate, and forgive with love and compassion is indeed the highest adornment of man. It is generally believed that forgiveness is for the weak. But we know that it takes greater strength to forgive. Tulsidasji sees beauty in the incomparable Lord Rama - He is beautiful, full of knowledge and compassion and liberates even his enemies, by a drop of His grace. When one looks at such holistic beauty, one’s mind is elevated. Khara and Dushana, enemies of Shri Rama came to attack him with an army of 14,000 soldiers. But when they saw Him, they forgot their enmity and were completely fascinated by the Lord. Their hearts melted at the thought of harming such beauty and perfection, with hard arrows.

One whose heart is filled with inner beauty cannot get attached to outer beauty. A saint staring at a beautiful woman was gently told by his devotees that it was not decent to stare at a woman. He said, “I was admiring the Lord who created such beauty, how much more beautiful must He be?” Our ears are beautified by ‘satsang’, not by earrings. Our hands are beautified by charity, not by bangles. The body of good people is beautified by good deeds, not by sandal paste. The purpose for which each organ and limb is given to us should be fulfilled. Our ears are meant for listening to noble thoughts, to gain knowledge and not for gossip and trash. Our hands are meant to give of what we have, to the needy and weak. It is only inner beauty that sustains and attracts, reflecting in the smiles of the people around!

The author is the head of Chinmaya Mission