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Source: The Hindu

(http://www.hinduonnet.com/2002/03/04/stories/2002030400160800.htm)

Miscellaneous

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Religion

 

 

God, the sole refuge of mankind

 

 

 

 

CHENNAI

MARCH 4

 

.. The names of the Supreme Being are innumerable and each gives insight into a

facet of His nature and His infinite auspicious qualities. As human beings

cannot grasp Him in His entirety, sages and seers have strung together select

names in hymns for easy handling, out of compassion for mankind. One such hymn

is the Vishnu Sahasranama, which was chanted by Bhishma before Lord Krishna when

Yudishtra requested him to expatiate on Dharma.

 

In his discourse, Sri S.V.Radhakrishna Sastrigal said the entire Ramayana could

be dilated upon with few names following Rama in this hymn. Sage Vasishta chose

this name meaning "He who delights" for the Lord during His naming ceremony

because it was the most apt one for Him who had assumed the human form in this

manifestation. Valmiki draws attention to how Dasaratha never felt satiated

beholding Rama. Neither did the citizens of Ayodhya who waited with great

expectation to see Rama whenever He went to pay obeisance to His father. This

must not be understood at the superficial level as referring to His charming

appearance but to His divine nature which makes the beholder's mind absorbed in

Him to the exclusion of all other thoughts. Thus God bewitches the mind of His

devotee and He who is the end becomes the means to realise Him.

 

The Lord showed the way for man's salvation surrender to Him as means to

liberation in the context of Vibhishana's surrender. After Ravana did not

heed his counsel to return Sita to Rama, Vibhishana parted ways with him, as he

did not want to be party to his brother reprehensible ways. Along with four of

his attendants he sought refuge in Rama. Naturally this aroused suspicion in the

minds of Sugriva and the others who looked upon him as enemy. The Lord did not

want to act unilaterally. Rama consulted them and each one gave a different

opinion.

 

Rama patiently allowed them all to have their say before He expressed His

decision, "In the name of humanity one should not strike even an enemy arrived

at one's door and piteously soliciting protection with joined palms... I

vouchsafe security against all living beings to him who comes to Me only once

and seeks protection from Me, saying `I am Yours'. Such is My vow." This

assurance of the Lord has become a paradigmatic instance of the doctrine of

Self-surrender to God as means to liberation.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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