Akrodha (अक्रोध:)

Akrodha (Samskrit : अक्रोध:) means 'to be free from anger'. Akrodha (अक्रोधम् । Absence of Anger) is one of the twenty-six Divine qualities or Daivi Sampada of a Jiva given by Sri Krishna, in Shrimad Bhagavadgita.

परिचयः ॥ Introduction

Many a times, human beings commit actions on account of anger that may result in irreparable loss and injury; causing misery to both the doer and the receiver. The basic rules of Dharma, the observance of which was regarded as essential for the sustenance and welfare of the individual and the society were declared in various works on Dharma Shastra and Smrtis. The Shanti Parva in the Mahabharata has indicated nine basic aspects of Dharma. It says,

अक्रोधः सत्यवचनं संविभागः क्षमा तथा । प्रजनं स्वेषु दारेषु शौचमद्रोह एव च || आर्जवं भृत्यभरणं त एते सार्ववर्णिकाः।

akrodhaḥ satyavacanaṁ saṁvibhāgaḥ kṣamā tathā। prajanaṁ sveṣu dāreṣu śaucamadroha eva ca || ārjavaṁ bhr̥tyabharaṇaṁ ta ete sārvavarṇikāḥ।

Meaning: The nine rules of Dharma to be followed by persons belonging to all sections of society are

1. अक्रोध: | akrodhaḥ - Being free from anger
2. सत्यवचनम् | satyavacanam - Truthfulness
3. संविभागः | saṁvibhāgaśca - Sharing one's wealth with others
4. क्षमा | kṣamā - Forgiveness
5. प्रजनम् | prajanam - Procreation of children from ones wife alone
6. शौचम् | śaucam - Purity (in thought, word and deed)
7. अद्रोहः | adrohaḥ - Not betraying the trust or confidence reposed
8. आर्जवम् | ārjavam - Absence of enmity
9. भृत्यभरणम् | bhr̥tyabharaṇam - Maintaining the persons dependent on oneself

Need for Akrodha in an organization

Five of the 9 rules of dharma, namely, Samvibhaga, Akrodha, Kshama, Shaucha and Adroha are extremely relevant in the context of the employer-employee relationship. They can be called the five fundamental codes of conduct in this regard, the observance of which will do good both to the employers and to the employees by securing their happiness and welfare.

There are many instances in which anger exhibited frequently without justification and disproportionate to the situation by the employers against the employees strain their relationship. This gives rise to an experience of humiliation within the employees that overrides their desire to work with devotion. Thus, unjustified and disproportionate anger is also one of the causes for industrial unrest. Therefore, the principle of Akrodha warns employers against uncontrolled anger. It enjoins that even when an employee commits mistake, the employer's anger should not cross reasonable limits. And this guideline equally applies to employees as well.

In Shaivism, the four yamas to be followed by a Pashupata are celibacy, truthfulness, non-stealing and non-injury, while the niyamas consist of purity, carefulness (apramada), akrodha, lightness of diet and attendance on the teachers.

In case of a Kshatriya, the principle of Akrodha and Kshama (two of the ten lakshanas of Dharma as given by Manu) is of great importance. Akrodha warns a Kshatriya against uncontrolled anger while Kshama suggests that the quantum of penalty must be in proportion to the gravity of the misconduct and should not be harsh. In today's parlance, it means that even when an employee commits a mistake, the employer's anger should not cross reasonable limits. And only in cases in which the misconduct is grave that the maximum or highest penalty should be imposed; for only then it is justified.