Rama Avataara

[Guest guest]

It is not totally correct to say that Rama has not been portrayed as

an Avataara. It is true that Valmiki has not portrayed Raama in the

same way that Vyasa has portrayed Krishna. But when requesting Rama

and Lakshmana to be sent with him Vishvamitra tries to convince the

appalled Dasharatha by describing Rama as "rAmam satyam parAkramam"

or that Rama is the absolute truth - a description not applicable to

jivatmas. Rama Himself says in His famous charama shloka "Sakradeva

prapannAya tavAsmiti cha yAchatE. abhayam sarva bhutebhyo dadAmye

tat vratam mama." For one who even once surrenders to Me tells Me

that I am Yours, I promise all protection." Vedanta Desikar states

in RTS that (1) One jivatma cannot become a dasa of another jivatma,

and (2) One jivatma cannot protect another jivatma. Being a maryAda

Purusha and an expert in Dharma shastras Rama would not have been

unaware of these two facts before making the statement.

 

and (3) in the conversations between Dasaratha and Kaikeyi which my

wife was reading to me a couple of days ago Dasaratha indirectly

indicates that Rama is Bhagavan. I do not have my references here

but I could research it if anyone else wants the exact context.

 

Regarding a point made earlier that Dharma as indicated in the

Itihaasas are not as clear as our Acharyas have made them out to be:

Dharma is perfectly clear for our Acharyas. We have difficulty in

understanding the same because of avidya. Avidya gets reduced in

proportion to Acharya seva and Bhagavata Seva and is got rid of

totally at the time of Moksha.

 

Jaganath.