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Source: The Hindu

(http://www.hinduonnet.com/2002/02/09/stories/2002020903210600.htm)

Miscellaneous

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Religion

 

 

Unique place occupied by Tulasi Ramayana

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CHENNAI, FEB. 9. ``No one can be a source of delight or pain to another;

everyone reaps the fruit of his or her own actions, union and separation,

pleasurable and regretful experiences, friends, foes and neutrals, are snares of

delusion. Even so birth and death, prosperity and adversity, destiny and time

are all the illusions of the world, lands, houses, wealth, town and family,

heaven and hell, and all the phenomena, whatever is seen, heard or thought of

with the mind, has its root in ignorance.'' These were the words of a very noble

character in the Ramacharitmanasa, the story of Rama composed by Tulasidas in

Hindi. As the Lord and His spouse rested for a while in the forest on the

ground, with Lakshmana and Guha standing guard, the latter, with tears filling

his eyes, said: ``An adverse fate spares none. Do Sita and the hero deserve to

be exiled for no fault of theirs? It is rightly said that Destiny is supreme.

Kaikeyi has wrought a cruel mischief in that she has brought!

such trouble to both at a time when they should be enjoying a delightful life

in the lap of luxury in the palace''. Seeing his distress, Lakshmana spoke (the

above-mentioned) comforting, sweet and gentle words, imbued with wisdom,

dispassion and devotion.

 

Sri Musafir Anand, in a lecture said, the version of Tulasidas occupies a unique

place among the classics of the world's spiritual literature. With some

variations in the original contribution by Valmiki, this portrayal has a

universal appeal as this saint saw God in Rama. Many of the statements of

various characters contain philosophy and morals. One heart-rending scene in the

Divine Drama is the Lord and the Divine Mother sleeping on the ground. Lakshmana

then tells Guha: ``Do not be angry nor blame anyone in vain. Everyone is

slumbering in the night of delusion and while asleep, one gets dreams of various

kinds. In the night of mundane existence, the mystics alone keep awake and are

in quest of the highest Truth and remain aloof. Only when right understanding

dawns, the error of delusion disappears and then alone, one develops reverence

for the Lord. Rama is no other than God, the Supreme Reality, imperceptible,

beginningless, incomparable, free from all blemishes and cha!

rges and beyond diversity. The Vedas extol Him. For the sake of devotees, He

takes the form of a man and performs actions, hearing which, the snares of the

world are broken asunder.''

 

 

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