Guest guest Posted November 28, 2000 Report Share Posted November 28, 2000 ---- The following is extracted from 'The Essential Teachings of Hinduism' by Kerry Brown ---- Ramayana, the great epic tells how a perfect being falls from bliss to sorrow and bondage, and then struggles back to his original state. Rama = Atman (Supreme Soul) in all of us. He is dark-skinned because, like Krishna (which means 'dark'), he is unknown. Both are God Vishnu's incarnations, who maintains the world and comes to earth when righteousness has been usurped by its greatest enemy - desire. Sita = Atman's loyal ego Lakshmana = mind Ravana with ten heads = Ten organs of action and perception Hanuman = Monkey-god = Intellect The ego(Sita) is party to the Atman's downfall. Sita is deluded and enslaved by the desires of the ten organs of action and perception, embodied as the ten-headed demon, Ravana. Having made this mistake, she then performs tapas(austerities) while she awaits in perfect faith for Rama-the Atman- to save her. Hanuman, the monkey-god, represents the intellect which, inspired by the Atman, leads its forces against the demon desire. --- To be Continued --- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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