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Source: The Hindu (http://www.the-hindu.com)

 

Ego distances man from the Almighty

 

CHENNAI, APRIL 18. The epics, the Ramayana and the Mahabharata,

are the scriptures dealing with life of the Lord when He

incarnated in human form as Rama and Krishna respectively and at

a deeper level they have philosophical import which is more

important from the standpoint of humanity. The Ramayana's main

thrust is the doctrine of surrender to God which involves

surrender of the ego totally. It is the ego which stands in

between man and God and only by surrendering the ego can a

spiritual aspirant realise God.

 

While adopting surrender to God as means to liberation, the

supplicant actually sheds his ego and is thus released from

bondage. This is highlighted in the Ramayana through the

character of Vibhishana who gained the kingdom of Lanka after he

surrendered to Rama. The Mahabharata, on the other hand, is the

portrayal of what happens when one is attached to material

possesions which is the way ego manifests. It was due to

attachment to their kingdom that the Kauravas had to lose even

their lives in the Mahabharata war.

 

In his Harikatha, Kalyanapuram Sri R. Aravamudan said that the

events leading to the exile of Rama to the forest after Dasaratha

expressed his wish to install Rama on the throne of Ayodhya gave

an inkling into Rama's sterling character which had endeared Him

to the citizens who showed their overwhelming approval of His

succession to the throne.

 

In this context the epic highlights that Rama did not show any

elation when Dasaratha informed Him about his decision to

coronate Him and was not dejected when He was informed of His

exile to the forest on the eve of His coronation. This shows how

detached Rama was and how adherence to Dharma alone mattered to

Him. The description of Rama's virtuous qualities by the citizens

of Ayodhya when Dasaratha expressed his wish was a matter of

great pride to him and it is but natural for a parent to be proud

of his son.

 

If everyone took delight in Rama's company one can imagine the

love of the king for his son who was the Lord-incarnate whom the

epic describes as the very embodiment of Dharma. The epic here

conveys how a parent should behave towards his offspring.

Dasaratha did not resort to eulogy of Rama just as his subjects

did and when he sent for Him informed Him, ``Since all these

people assembled here have been gratifed by you through your

excellences, therefore accept you the office of Prince Regent

tomorrow... You have been adjudged to be abundantly rich in

excellences by your very disposition.'' He then proceeded to

advise Rama as to how He should conduct Himself in His role of a

ruler.

 

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