Almighty, abode of inimitable traits

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Almighty, abode of inimitable traits (An Article from the Religious Section

of The Hindu taken with permission: "Copyrights 2000 The Hindu & Tribeca

Internet Initiatives Inc.")

 

Among the manifestations of the Supreme Being which He assumes from time to

time for the sake of the welfare of the world, His incarnation in human form

as Rama has special significance to humanity. Rama's divine nature was

relegated to the background and He exemplified an ideal human being.

Valmiki's portrayal of Rama as the abode of inimitable virtues is to highlight

the fact that the purpose of this incarnation was to show to mankind by

example that human beings can and must lead a virtuous life. The Divine

Mother, Sita, was Rama's match in all aspects. The poet highlights this truth

in the context of Her marriage to Rama. She was no ordinary mortal and was

found by the king of Mithila under unusual circumstances. This was proven

later by incidents that happened including Her marriage to Rama. Janaka was a

king renowned for his philosophical bent of mind. An incident is recounted in

the spiritual tradition as proof. Sage Yajnavalkya, who was Janaka's

teacher, once wanted to prove Janaka's spiritual stature to his other

students who entertained the notion that their teacher was partial towards the

king because he always waited till he joined them for study. The students out

of jealousy felt that the king did not deserve that special treatment.

 

The sage told them that Mithila was on fire, an illusion he had created by

dint of his spiritual power, to test their reaction. All of them except

Janaka ran helter-skelter to save their belongings. The students were

naturally ashamed of their behaviour, when the king replied to the sage's

query why he who was the emperor of Mithila remained calm, that he did not

even consider his own body as his. What to say of his kingdom!

 

In his Harikatha, Kalyanapuram Sri R.Aravamudan said the words of such a man

of total renunciation when he gave Sita away in marriage to Rama, had special

significance. Janaka said, ``Full of supreme delight I offer... my daughter,

Sita, who resembles a daughter of the gods... to Rama.'' The possessive

remark ``my daughter'' has been a subject for comment by commentators, which

is referred by philosophers as due to subtle ego (Sattvika). It was Sita's

auspicious qualities which was responsible for Janaka's remark. He was as Her

father overjoyed when Rama claimed Her hand after breaking the bow. Rama's

lineage and His auspicious qualities were a perfect match to Sita's birth and

Her sterling nature. It was to draw attention to the fact that they were

perfectly suited to each other that Janaka drew attention to Sita's qualities

while giving Her in marriage.