Alexander the Great, we all have heard his name and stories related to him. For the longest time (childhood), he was one of my favourite historical person. Honestly, back then all I knew about him was that “he conquered almost the entire world.” My appreciation for him was just limited to the fact that he was a great king and there was no-one like him in the history. In India, he is known as Sikander and this term is also used for a person who is lucky and determined to win. When I was in college, I thought about researching more about him. However then my appreciation for him as a great warrior (only one of his kind) was declined, since I felt that most of his victories were matter of chance or right time.
Now my view of him as a great king was gone, but I looked upon him as a great teacher. The lessons he gave to the entire world are now like milestones. No other king in the history has left such big impact on people. More than his life, it is related to his death.
First, Alexander knew that he is going to die; and in spite of being a king and have access to the wealth and resources (physicians etc) he could not escape the death. This is a simple lesson that it does not matter what you own in this world, you don’t own your life. This life has to end and death is there.
Second story was about his desire to see his mother’s face when he realised that he would die soon. After all the years of struggle and fights, what was he desiring for? “To see his mother’s face or in other words to return where he started from”
And an ultimate lesson that Alexander the Great left behind was his Third wish.
“My third wish is having my hands dangling out of the coffin, I wish people to know that I came empty handed into this world and empty handed I go out of this world”.
For me, he became Alexander the Great from a king Alexander because of his last wishes. He is still on my favourites but now for a different reason.
Here is a brief story about Alexander’s last wishes if you would like read further:
While lying on his deathbed, Alexander called his generals and said, “I will depart from this world soon, I have three wishes, please carry them out without fail.” “My first desire is that my physicians alone must carry my coffin. After a pause, he continued, “Secondly, I desire that when my coffin is being carried to the grave, the path leading to the graveyard be strewn with gold, silver and precious stones which I have collected in my treasury”. He took a minute’s rest and continued. “My third and last wish is that both my hands be kept dangling out of my coffin”. Alexander’s favorite general kissed his hand and pressed them to his heart. “O king, we assure you that your wishes will all be fulfilled. But tell us why do you make such strange wishes?”
At this Alexander took a deep breath and said: “I would like the world to know of the three lessons I have just learnt. realize that no doctor can really cure anybody. They are powerless and cannot save a person from the clutches of death. So let not people take life for granted. The second wish of strewing gold, silver and other riches on the way to the graveyard is to tell People that not even a fraction of gold will come with me. I spent all my life earning riches but cannot take anything with me. Let people realize that it is a sheer waste of time to chase wealth.
And about my third wish of having my hands dangling out of the coffin, I wish people to know that I came empty-handed into this world and empty handed I go out of this world”.
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