Sri Ramajayam

[Guest guest]

Draupathi: I may be mistaken, but it is my recollection

that Draupathi is considered one of the great pathivrathaas

like Arundhathi, Mandothari, et al. Sita piraatti is not one

of this group because She is not a mere mortal like the

others. The only place where Draupathi is talked ill of

is immediately following the gambling, and that too

only be the evil Kauravaas and Karna. No one else

in MB casts any aspirations against Draupathi.

If Draupathi is portrayed as a "loose woman" in MB,

this is the first time I am hearing of it. I would

like to read that portion for myself. Therefore, please

provide the parvam/adhyaayam details.

 

Rama's cruelty: The episode after Ravana vatham is a

leela played out by our Lord and Piraatti. The message is

that we need to perform our duty even at the risk of

looking cruel. What is that duty may change from time to

time. We have to look to our spiritual leaders like

acharyaas of the day for determining our duties.

 

This message of dharma is played out forcefully in many

places in both Ramayana and Mahabharatham. It is dangerous

to jump to conclusions without the guidance of acharyaas.

For example, with a cursory reading it is entirely

possible for one to conclude that Srimad Bhagavath Geethai

is a document meant to justify cruelty and violence.

 

Eauality: We discussed this sometime back, I recall.

Our sambradayaam is not in the business of equality

but only in the spirutual salvation of all life forms.

Demanding perfect symmetry of duties between men

and women from our sampradaya is not fair, is not

practical, and is unattainable. For starters, how

do you define equality? Is that view shared by women?

Please do not misunderstand me; this view can and does

coexist with zero tolerance for disrespect to any

section of community, women, low-caste, etc.

 

Rama avathaaram: I once heard someone claim that

Vaalmeeki never presents Rama as an avathaara. Is this

right?

 

 

-- Parthasarati Dileepan