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Source: The Hindu

(http://www.hinduonnet.com/2002/03/22/stories/2002032200440800.htm)

Miscellaneous

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Religion

 

 

Inner strength of Valmiki's epic

 

 

 

 

Chennai

March 22

 

.. "He is the spreading tree under whose hospitable shade live noble and pious

men in peril; He is the unfailing support of the distressed, the inheritor of

all renown. Endowed with knowledge and wisdom, He is as rich a storehouse of all

excellent virtues as the mighty Himalaya with its abundant ores." This was the

praise showered on God when He assumed a human form as Rama by a woman character

in the Ramayana. Many have elaborated the purpose of God's incarnation as an

ordinary human being; in essence, they all say how the contents of the Divine

statements in the Vedas are beyond the capacity of laymen; to digest them sages

and saints had transmitted them through simple stories. One such work is the

Ramayana of Valmiki, in which God is presented as a perfect individual, one

empowered to fulfil a mission and one who zealously upheld the Law of Virtue.

Years had rolled by, but still people expound the teachings in this epic,

thereby revealing its inner strength.

 

The variety of characters has been mentioned in yet another Divine manifestation

known as "Hayagriva" through the work, "Moola Ramayana", with innumerable

slokas. Not all of them are available now, but the operative portion has been

gifted to humanity by Sri Madhwacharya in his "Tatparya Nirnaya". Different

roles have been donned by celestials. When they were unable to bear the

separation from Rama on His departure from Ayodhya, His sons were consoled by

handing over to them the idols of "Vaikunta Rama", Sita and Lakshmana. . These

idols were given by the Acharya to his disciple, who founded the "Kudli Akshobya

Thirtha Math". In a discourse the present head of the Math, Sri Raghupriya

Thirtha pointed out the existence of a pillar erected to commemorate the

founder's scholarship in establishing the merits of the Dwaita school of

philosophy, atop a hillock near Mulubagal. This Math has its headquarters in

Kudli, at the confluence of the rivers, Tunga and Bhadra. Elaborating ho!

w compassion and renunciation are the two polls around which the universe

revolves and how Rama acted as the axis, the Acharya cited the conduct of the

Lord when the evil-minded Surpanaka approached Him. Rama thereby has indicated

to the world that He was entirely different from ordinary souls and any attempt

to reach Him by any means other than Devotion will not be fruitful. How to seek

Divine Grace has been clearly laid down in the scriptures.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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