Thus Spake the Divine - Sri Ram

Thus Spake the Divine

Sri Ram

In this and the next chapter, Poojyasri Maha Periyava speaks of Lord Sri Ram with intense adoration and also dwells on the celebration of Rama Navami Festival.

“Ram” is the synonym of a blissful, happy person. It also means the one who provides happiness to others. It is only Sri Ram, who never had anxiety at heart in spite of all the sorrows and adversities He adhered to the rules of Dharma in their strictest sense. It only appears externally that Ram underwent enormous sorrows. In reality, He always remained happy inside his heart.

Yogi is one who never has a wavering mind in times of sorrows or happiness. He is the one who is happy by himself and also provides happiness to others. The only way to bring a wavering mind under control is to adhere to the rules of Dharma as ordained in our Veda Shastras. If one follows the rules of Veda diligently by not being unbiased owing to his own likes and dislikes, then, the nervousness in mind would automatically reduce and clarity would dawn on his mind. With this clarity, the mind will always be light as a feather filled with happiness. This helps cleanse the mind, which is the penultimate requirement to liberate oneself and reach Moksha.

To turn a great role model for humanity, Lord Narayan (Vishnu) took the Avatara of Sri Ram. Sri Ram lived a life of happiness by adhering to the Dharma prescribed under Vedas. If you read the statements made by Sri Ram in Ramayana, He would have never said, “This is my opinion or view”. He would always quote from the Veda and Dharma Shastras and say, “Rishis say like this”. “These are as per Veda Shastras”. The irony here is that He, Sri Ram, is Himself governed by Vedas, though He is the Brahmam, who is the Founder of Vedas and has to be realised by people of this world!

Some people ridicule saying, “What is use of seeking the grace of Sri Ram, who was a just a mile away but could not even hear the pleading of his own wife Sita when she was being abducted by Ravan! These people do not understand the reality that the incarnation of Ram was that of a human being, who should act within the limits of human capabilities! Let me explain this to you with a simple example.

There is a stage drama on Ramayana. The veteran, Ramaswami Ayyangar, plays the role of Ram and his own two sons act as Lava and Kucha, the two sons of Ram. In one scene, Valmiki brings Lava and Kucha to Ram. The Ram character in the drama asks Valmiki, “Whose children are they?” At this juncture, can the audience ridicule Ramaswami Ayyangar (in the role of Ram) that he did not know his own sons? How absurd it would look if the Valmiki character were to answer this question of Ram with, “They are your own sons! Don’t you know even that?” In a stage drama, one should act ignorant even if he knows the reality, isn’t it? Similarly, Sri Ram also disguised himself as a man in this world’s stage by hiding His real power and wisdom.

Once Ram, the Veda Brahmam, was born as the child of King Dasarath, the Veda, as Ramayana, became the child of Valmiki (celebrated as the Poet of Poets, who gave the immortal epic Ramayana to this world). Throughout this Ramayana, Dharma is enunciated at length under different scenarios. When Ram is exiled to the forest for 14 years, Kousalya, his mother packs “Dharma” as the un-perishable, everlasting companion. She blesses Him saying, “Raghava! If you adhere to the Dharma without fear or favour, that same Dharma will protect you!”

One should adhere to the rules of Dharma without any personal bias; simultaneously being courageous in adhering to the Dharma. Just because someone is ridiculing, one should not give up his stand on Dharma. Lakshman, his own brother, out of his love for Ram says ridiculing, “Brother! You have got into all these sorrows because of your extraordinary adherence to “Dharma”. Disown all the Dharma; we will wage war on Dasarath and conquer this kingdom in your favour. Permit me to do that!” But Ram stood strong in His own Dharma and followed the Dharma to its last syllable. The same Dharma protected his head. Though Ravan had 10 heads, all the 10 heads fell to the ground during the war because he followed the path of Adharma (non-righteousness). Sri Ram is characterised as the epitome of Dharma till date.

If we constantly chant the name of Ram, all our impurities at heart will vanish and we will never deviate from the path of Dharma.

This article is a snippet from the Book Thus Spake the Divine, is available online at www.giri.in and across Giri Trading Agency Private Limited, A chain of Speciality Stores dealing in all kinds of products needed in Indian Culture and Tradition.