Money comes in various sizes, shapes, and materials across different countries around the world. In recent times, we’ve seen the rise of electronic money, UPI, Bitcoin, cryptocurrency, and more. Yet, no matter the form, money functions the same way everywhere, for transactions, purchases, spending, even for basic needs and desires. Simply put, from your first breath to your last, if you’re part of human society, you need to earn and spend money to survive.

     As the years pass, we seem to become increasingly dependent on money. It’s a well-observed truth on Earth: the more money you have, the more affluent you’re considered. The more you accumulate, the more people tend to show deference or respect.

     Let me take you back to the birth of currency in human society. It wasn’t possible for one person to produce all necessary goods, which led to the idea of exchanging one commodity for another. This eventually gave rise to a medium of exchange; currency. The barter system was the foundation of it all. In ancient times, people exchanged goods directly. However, as the inefficiencies of the barter system became apparent, societies began to prefer a standardized medium of exchange.

     Anthropologists have documented numerous examples of primitive currencies based on commodities. These include cacao beans in ancient Mexico, cowrie shells in ancient China and India, tools, iron rings, and brass rods in parts of Africa, human skulls in Sumatra, woodpecker scalps among the Karok people of inland California, feathers in the Solomon Islands, dog teeth in Papua New Guinea, whale teeth in Fiji, strings of wampum beads in the American colonies, and even extremely large and heavy stone discs on the Pacific Island of Yap.

     An important aspect to consider about the barter system era is that human needs were limited. People primarily focused on basic necessities and simple comforts. They had ample time to spend with their families and in nature. Mental health was generally better, with fewer asylums and hospitals, as illness was less common. Humans lived according to the natural purpose of life; much like other animals on Earth: eating, sleeping, reproducing, and doing only what was necessary to survive. This lifestyle resulted in minimal harm to Mother Earth.

     Around 1200 BCE and onward, societies began using metals such as copper, silver, and gold as forms of money due to their durability, divisibility, and ease of transport. This shift marked a significant development from earlier barter and commodity systems. The first standardized coins are believed to have appeared in Lydia, in what is now modern-day Turkey, around 600 BCE. These coins were minted by King Alyattes using electrum, a naturally occurring alloy of gold and silver. The coins often bore symbols or images of rulers, which helped increase trust and legitimacy in their value and use, laying the foundation for modern monetary systems.

     Paper money first emerged in China around the 7th century CE during the Tang Dynasty, when merchants began using promissory notes as a more convenient method of conducting large transactions. By the Song Dynasty, the Chinese government recognized the utility of this practice and began issuing official paper currency. The main advantage of paper money was its portability; much easier to carry than heavy metal coins, especially for long-distance trade. This innovation was so remarkable that the Venetian traveller Marco Polo famously documented the widespread use of paper money during his visit to China in the 13th century, introducing the concept to many in the Western world for the first time.

     During the Medieval to Renaissance period in Europe, the development of banking and credit systems marked a major transformation in how economies operated. Cities like Florence and Venice became financial hubs, where institutions introduced innovations such as banks, bills of exchange, and credit mechanisms. These systems allowed merchants to engage in long-distance trade without carrying large amounts of physical currency, greatly facilitating commerce across regions.

    In ancient India, temples were not only centres of spiritual life but also played a vital role in the economic and financial systems of society. They functioned as early forms of banks, especially during periods such as the Chola, Pandya, Gupta, and Vijayanagar empires. Temples received substantial donations in the form of gold, silver, coins, and land from kings, nobles, merchants, and devotees. These offerings were stored securely within the temple premises, making temples significant repositories of wealth. Due to their sacred status and moral authority, temples were trusted by the community as safe places for storing valuables.

     In the 20th century, most of the world transitioned to modern fiat money; currency that has no intrinsic value but is accepted as legal tender because it is backed by government authority. A pivotal moment in this shift occurred in 1971, when the United States officially ended the Gold Standard, severing the direct link between paper money and gold reserves. This move solidified global reliance on fiat currency, which remains the standard worldwide today.

     The 21st century has seen the rise of digital and cryptocurrencies, revolutionizing how people interact with money. Traditional payment methods such as credit cards, online banking, and mobile wallets have become commonplace. Meanwhile, the introduction of Bitcoin in 2009 signalled the beginning of decentralized digital currencies, forms of money that operate without a central authority. These innovations continue to reshape the financial landscape, presenting new possibilities and challenges for global economies.

     In the journey of money, what humans lose and gain is worth noting. People have lost peace of mind, eyesight, hair, and above all, health and close friendships. On the other hand, people have gained money, luxury, greed, gluttony, and the so-called “better” way of living. It is widely assumed and experienced that those who have money can buy a good life; those with more money can buy anything on Earth; and those with even more can buy beyond Earth; even a space station.

     If we closely study the past three decades, we see that many luxurious items, once only accessible to the rich, have become household goods. Take, for example, cameras in the 1980s or 1990s, which were typically found only in photo studios or in the hands of wealthy people. But by 2025, cameras have become commonplace in every household. With the advent of smartphones, from metropolitan cities to rural villages, from rags to riches, almost everyone owns one. The vast number of photos and videos on social media bears witness to the widespread use of smartphone cameras. What was once unavailable to the masses has become available to all, largely due to democracy and the increased accessibility of money in human society.

     There are countless such examples: salt, sugar, mobile phones, drones, personal computers, laptops, internet access, flat-screen TVs, cars, air travel, refrigerators, washing machines, branded clothing, and shoes. The more money one has, the more things one can buy. But to be honest, the more money one has, the more they can extract and exploit the Earth. Wealth enables the purchase of gold, silver, diamonds, rubies, and other precious metals. The greed of the human species drives us to dig deeper and deeper into the Earth’s crust. I fear the day is coming when humans will drill from the North Pole to the South Pole just to extract more metals.

     The Earth provides everything we need to thrive, yet we fail to seize any opportunity to protect it. Perhaps humans are the only species on Earth capable of bringing about their own doomsday. Our greed burns hotter than the fires of hell. Other species live out their natural cycles; birth, fulfilment of purpose, and death, but humans, endowed with intelligence, often use that intelligence against themselves. Every invention we create carries its own consequences. This reminds me of the story of Bhasmasura. It is not merely a myth but a truth: every human being on Earth in 2025 is like Bhasmasura, unknowingly bringing about their own destruction, not slowly, but prematurely.

     Well, if someone murders another person, the law of the land punishes the culprit to maintain order in society. But what about the slow mutilation we continuously inflict on Mother Earth? Collective goals are easier to achieve than individual ones, and our shared harm to the Earth, our only home, is the perfect example of this. What punishment will we receive for breaking the laws of nature? In fact, some punishments are already visible in our lives, like the rising costs of health insurance.

     Why do people buy health insurance? Because they expect to fall seriously ill one day, hoping the insurance company will cover hospitalization expenses. We pay these premiums every year, just in case. The same goes for life insurance, car insurance, and countless others. We work tirelessly for months only to see electronic money credited to our accounts. Then, with a single swipe on our mobile screens, that hard-earned money vanishes. We work for invisible money to afford visible things in life and put food on our plates. In earlier days, we could hold coins and notes in our hands and truly feel that we had earned something. Nowadays, we see only numbers on a screen, while we bow our heads to the grind for months and years forgetting even to breathe in nature for a moment. Trapped inside boxes called offices, we keep working endlessly.

     I feel that the environment we have created for ourselves is much like the conditions once made for cattle. The mythological figure Mayasura feels strikingly real today. Mayasura is none other than our salaries; illusionary wealth that keeps us bound. The worst part is that we pass this same way of thinking to the next generation; our children. We proudly boast when our children stay far away from soil and dirt. Yet, the very essence of life is rooted in soil and water. How can we truly succeed if we never touch our feet to the roots?

     The taller our buildings, the higher our reputation in society. This mindset, this perception, is what we continue to pass on to our children, hoping they will be successful. But who knows when we will change. Change is, after all, the very nature of life. I hope we can move toward a better future, with the goal of creating a healthier environment and a better Earth. The only true inheritance we can leave for the next generation is a healthy planet: clean air, pure water, and nutritious food on their plates. If we can achieve even this much in our lifetime rather than chasing after the illusion of Mayasura, we will have truly accomplished something meaningful.