A couple of doubts from a friend.

[Guest guest]

Dear BhAgavatootama-s:

 

I got the following mail from a friend raising a couple of questions related

to SrImad rAmAyaNam.

I would like to request the learned members to assist in responding

to the questions.

 

-dAsan kr*shNamAcAryan

 

============

(Questions from a friend)

 

I have been a great admirer of the poetic gift of Vali, the poet in Tamil

who thanks to Lord's grace (nirhetu-I don't think it could be due to

Markata Nyaaya)

has been contributing to Anandavikadan with the story of Ramayana and now

Mahabharata. I was reading Ramayana portion for its poetic beauty from Vali

and in Ayodhya Kandam, I noticed a strange thing which I would like to

share with you all. I have already discussed the first controversy with

some of you which was not kindled by my curiosity, but by a Tamil scholar

Navalar Somasundara Bharatiyar. Some of you know that.

 

When Dasaratha dies, Rama is in the forest. Vasishta sends people to pick

Bharata and Satrugna, it looks apparently both are away. Bharata come back

and goes through the agony and it takes 8 days for the cremation to take

place. The body was kept in Tailam ( special oil). Finally when Bharata was

ready to do the Samskaram, he does know Rama has gone to the forest and why

he went etc.

There are 2 options. 1. Delay a few more days and do the samskaram with

Rama as the eldest, by locating Rama in the forest. Assumes Rama cannot be

found and so do the samskaram as the eldest among who is traceable. If he

assumed the second course, there is no need for running to the forest to

bring Paduka, laeving the state without any king. If he assumed the 1st

corse of action, he should have delayed. On top of this according to Vali (

we all agree he has no position like Valmeeki or Kamban or more recently

Tulasidas, for religious recognition ). Vali's version says: Since

Dasaratha never wanted Bharata to be his rightful son for samskaram related

activity at the time of death (is it so?), Vasishta advises Bharata to take

the second place and ask satrugna to do the samskaram.

I checked valmiki ramayanam and in it it is clearly Bharata who is asked by

Vasishta to do the samskaram and even advises him not to cry any more but

continue with the rituals. I wanted to check with kamba Ramayanam.

Unfortuanately I do not have Ayodhya Kandam part. I wish some one can

educateme on what is Kamban's version. Is that same as what vali says.

Since Kamban differes significantly in ceratin details, it is possible

Kamban says to that effect.

 

A second problem is: The details of homa kundams and removal from places to

avoid pollution due to death are discussed in detail in the Valmiki

Ramayanam.

However, it also mentions 8 days were past before the cremation took place

after death. In our home traditions we have definite conflict on this. When

my mother died, I wanted my mother's body to be kept till I reached home.

But according to Sastras none like my father, sisters, aunts etc could eat

without the body being cremated. Among farmers in villages, the tradition

is to put the body with oil and wait till all the closest relatives are

present. SrImad rAmAyaNam agrees more with the farmers' tradition

than with our tradition.

In general when in doubt we use Srimad Ramayanam (Smarta+ vadagalais) or

riRamayanam- in case (Madhwas or Tengalais) to conduct all our principles

and rituals according to the standards set forth by Ramayana traditions.

Any explanation is better than no explanation