The 3 monkeys

In the book - Meditation and Spiritual life, a nice experience is recorded by the author. It seems the swami was in Europe and besides a lake he saw a stone structure of 3 monkeys. Unlike the usual structure we have assumed of the 3 monkeys; ie One covering ears, other eyes and another mouth(hear, see or speak no evil), these were special.

These monkeys were covering one ear, one eye and half the mouth. The significance behind this was - Hear no evil, but only good; see no evil but only good and speak no evil but only good!

This thought seemed original, but in the vedas we found a similar analogy in the following stotra.

"ॐ भद्रं कर्णेभिः श्रुनुयामा देवाः

भद्रं पश्येमाक्षभिर्यजत्राह

स्थिरैरंगाई

स्तुश्तुवाम्सस्तानूभिः

व्यशेम देवहितं यदायुह

स्वस्ति न इन्द्रो वृधाश्रवाह

स्वस्ति नह पूषा विश्ववेदाः

स्वस्ति नस्तार्क्ष्यो अरिष्टनेमिः

स्वस्ति नो ब्रिहस्पतिर दधातु

ॐ शांतिः, शांतिः, शांतिः"

Meaning: The literal meaning of this mantra is: "OM. O Gods! Let us
hear promising things from our ears. O respectful Gods! Let us seepropitious things from our eyes, let our organs and body be stable,healthy and strong। Let us do what is pleasing to gods in the life spanallotted to us. May Indra, inscribed in the scriptures do well to us, MayPushan who is knower of world do good to us and May Trakshya whodevastates enemies do good to us! May Brihaspati do well to us! OMPeace, Peace, Peace".