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Source: The Hindu (http://www.hinduonnet.com)

 

The Almighty, abode of auspicious traits

 

CHENNAI, NOV. 6. Among the manifestations of God in this world,

His incarnation in the human form as Rama has a special import

for humanity and hence many saints have underlined its importance

in their works. The efficacy of chanting the Divine name as a

method to realise God needs no special emphasis. Besides being

hailed as the most suitable means to liberation in this age, its

easy handling by anyone makes it the most popular one. ``Rama''

is not only a name of the Almighty but also a mantra and hence

its unique status among the Divine names. Lord Siva Himself

singled out this name among the thousand names of Lord Vishnu in

the Vishnu Sahasranama when the Divine Mother, Parvati, wanted

Her consort to suggest the easiest means to man's liberation.

 

The Veda is hailed as the breath of the eternal and tradition

asserts that it is the Veda which has been composed as the

Ramayana by Sage Valmiki. The significance of the Lord's

incarnation as Rama is conveyed right at the outset in the epic

in the question Valmiki raised to Sage Narada, ``Who can possibly

be full of virtues in this world at present?'' The celestial sage

not only enumerated the noble qualities of Rama, who was ruling

in Ayodhya then, but also narrated in detail His life. From the

incidents that happened in rapid succession following Narada's

visit, it is apparent that Valmiki was ordained to write the

Ramayana.

 

In his Harikatha, Kalyanapuram Sri R. Aravamudan said it was in

the Ayodhya canto that the epic dilated at length on the question

that was instrumental in the composition of the epic. Even though

he was the sovereign emperor who could name his successor,

Dasaratha in the best tradition of democracy, convened his

assembly and expressed his intention to crown Rama as the Prince

Regent with the purpose of ascertaining the opinion of his

subjects. There was such an overwhelming approval that the king

was overjoyed that Rama had endeared Himself to one and all by

His good conduct but he wanted to hear others mouth His virtues.

So he asked them why when he was ruling the Earth with

righteousness they wished to see Rama crowned.

 

The citizens then portrayed Rama as the very personification of

Dharma and virtues that a human being could possess. The Almighty

is the abode of infinite auspicious qualities and He expressed

some of these noble traits in this incarnation. Rama's conduct

and character became an ideal for humanity since then. His

qualities of compassion and easy accessibility are especially

important in the context of man's redemption.

 

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