‘SRI RAMAYANA’ AS I KNOW IT

  

Sri Rama Jayam

 From Sampath’s Desk:

  

 

‘SRI RAMAYANA’ AS I KNOW IT AND POSITIVE LESSONS THEREFROM

 

From boyhood, I have always admired, adored, and revered Sri Rama and Maatha Sita, my Icon Gods. My understanding is that while the Divine Duo in the Ramayana is the ‘PARAMATMA’, the Immortal-Being in eternity, others are ‘JEEVATMAS’ representing the ordinary mortals on the wait entangled and enmeshed as they are in the whirlpool of births and rebirths for the final Reunion with the Divine Being, whose abode is the ultimate destination for all of us to reach, sooner or later. There is also a spiritual concept that all JEEVATMAS are individually atom-like bodies of the Supreme PARAMATMA. I don’t intend to reject, brush aside, undermine and/or undervalue any other religious or spiritual philosophy as I always strongly believed that all the religious rivers, though chartering different paths/routes, and meandering through different territories, are set to finally confluence with the Ocean called THE ETERNAL ABODE OF THE GOD ALMIGHTY.

 

Even though Ramayana is essentially a religious masterpiece Epic of Hinduism, still, it gives universal spiritual messages to the entire humanity transcending different religious streams - especially on how to live our life - with what moral, ethical, and righteous values - and appropriate codes particularly the DO’s and DON’Ts for the mundane life of human-beings and their conduct and behaviour vis-v-a-vis their fellow-beings and even towards non-human creatures. One need not confine or reduce the significance of the Epic to a particular religion only, as it is inclusive of and encompassing all perceivable differences and man-made barriers. In fact, it is full of secular values. 

 

Multiple Gods in the Hindu religion don’t represent any differences and/or divergences. Rather, the multiplicity insists on fostering oneness through pluralism. In simple parlance, They represent a bouquet/garden of flowers with motley colours and aroma, or a garland.

 

RAMAYANA is not just an Epic simpliciter of India and Hindu religion but an ocean of ideals by exemplification, embodiment, and epitomization for all valuable and valued values the humans are supposed to have, nurture, and act with.

 

Sri Ram personified Himself in the following ways – He never spoke lies nor used foul language - he would smile and start the relationship by speaking to others first instead of expecting them to approach Him and speak first, by liberal inter-mingling without any inhibitions, reservations, or other qualifications - respecting elders, treating all ‘good’ and ‘bad’ things He had to face alike with composure, equanimity, and equilibrium - He complied with all His promises made to others,  at any cost and by all means - He never did any self-boasting nor made any differences while protecting, blessing, and gracing others -  He would forgive and forget all the evil things done to Him by anyone but would remember even the least of something good done by that person and/or his good qualities - He had a heart as wide as the sky with compassion up to the hilt and as voluminous as the ocean - He would not just teach or preach but live and practice all the ‘must DOs’ - in short, He was an Exemplar and not a mere tutor - He followed Monogamy and never thought of any woman other than His Divine Consort Maatha Sita - He would never hesitate to forgive even those who did wrong things to Him but would only do good things to them if they realized their mistake(s) and opted for the righteous path - He would sacrifice everything of Himself for others - He would suffer any pains, pangs, and ever personal losses for the sake  and protection of others - He would respect parents, relatives, elders, saints, and the subjects of His Kingdom, always upholding truth and righteousness - He was a well-wisher, not just for his people but each and every creature - His principle was to accept and save anyone who reposed absolute faith in Him from any troubles, trials, and tribulations  no matter how much harm that person had done to Him earlier - to top it all, He was the embodiment of kindness, compassion, sympathy, empathy, benevolence,  care, and concern for all alike. He was full of generosity and liberal qualities - unmatched and unparalleled!

 

Needless to say, Maatha Sita is the pivot and pillar of strength of the whole Epic. All the pristine traits and attributes narrated above would be equally applicable to Her as well. She would help His Lord to abide by all the things mentioned above by extending unstinted support to Him wholeheartedly.

 

Janaka’s daughter Maatha Sita with lofty values and virtues embodied and exemplified as She was, is a role model for the entire women-folk in all facets of womanhood. Maatha Sita embodies in exalted philosophical and creative refinement She being related to Saraswati as the supreme muse of artistic inspiration, to Lakshmi as the capacity to nourish all creatures, and to Parvati as the Yogini who can renounce and overcome all limitations.

 

The Divine Couple represented much more than what they appear to be in the Epic. There are many good disciplines for people to discern and decipher for compliance. While His Universal Self had an inner connection with the whole humanity, She was with profound cosmic aspirations. Although they had extraterrestrial powers and prowess, They were born in this world in Human Form to educate all of us values and virtues valid and relevant - in the past and the present, and for all times to come.

The Divine Duo demystified Their exalted positions to take human birth, and lived by ideals and treaded the upright and virtuous path that ought to be invariably followed by humans.

 

Lord Ram through Sri Ramayan tells the world that any battle or war should be resorted to only as the last unavoidable choice. The errant should be given all opportunities to mend himself/herself.  At every point in time, Lord Ram had proved the well-meaning dictum, ‘No matter how high or low your position may be, it is how you treat people ultimately tells everything about you.'

Ramayan and the Divine Behaviour of Lord Ram tell us, ‘Victory is just an event that should not make the victor arrogant, self-boasting, self-conceited, and/or a Big Brother. Humility clinches your ability.'

 

Sri Lakshman stood out as a formidable example of what a brother ought to be towards his elder sibling. He exemplified Himself as the most trusted sentinel of the Lord. After all, he was the reincarnation of ‘Sri Adhi Sesha’ that eternally offers a bed for the Lord in His abode. Sri Lakshman has the discriminating power of ‘Buddhi’ (intellect) that protects this inner receptivity.

  

Among all, Sri Hanuman was the one who was closest to The Lord (of course next only to Sri Lakshman), with Sri Ram reposing complete faith in Him. He always stood a brave, formidable, and sagacious warrior with a volcano of zeal in His actions to protect the Divine Couple at all times. That is an example of selfless service. 

 

We have to take stock of the letter and spirit, and the real purport of the events in the magnificent Epic and the lessons imparted by them.

 

Human life, though karmically (in a cycle/whirlpool of activity/duty) bound to be a physical reality, is part of an infinite consciousness all through the Nature. Developing that unbounded awareness along with its complementary compassion is the real teaching behind the sacred depictions as Lord Rama and Maatha Sita.

 

Sri Bharata stands for pristine brotherhood and honesty; Vibishan and Sugreeva for friendship and keeping promises made.

 

These are only the tip of the iceberg. I would have perhaps consciously or inadvertently omitted to mention some other positive aspects. Readers can perhaps fathom as many other good and noble concepts, ideas, ideals, traits, and values one must live with as enjoined upon the human-kind by the great Epic.

 

Of course, there is no need to dwell on the negative characters.

 

SRI RAMA JAYAM

 

((R.SAMPATH)

5/8/2021