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Source: The Hindu

(http://www.hinduonnet.com/2002/04/16/stories/2002041600490800.htm)

Miscellaneous

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Religion

 

 

Grace of the Divine Mother

 

 

 

 

CHENNAI

APRIL 16.

 

The vast amount of scriptural literature, though contributed by several sages

and saints thousands of years ago, had been interpreted and commented upon by

scholars and religious leaders. In the original texts, there had been some

passages, which appear to contradict one another, but all these apparent

discrepancies have been cleared subsequently. But no one has said that the

events in the Puranas and other texts based on original statements were

imaginary. The Ramayana, for instance, is a tale that had happened and from the

episodes several moral instructions have been prescribed for a man to lead a

virtuous life. God, who visited the world and behaved as an ordinary human being

and established moral law, has left us an unequivocal declaration to provide

cheer even to a man who has erred, that anyone who owns his mistake and seeks

refuge in Him will be given protection. Religious guides have duly amplified

this as the Doctrine of Surrender. Arising from this policy spelt ou!

t by the Lord, commentators have added that should, by any (though very remote)

chance, He hesitate to save a defaulting person because of the magnitude of his

sins, if the latter approaches the Divine Mother, She will not hesitate to

recommend his case and the Lord will not refuse.

 

In his discourse, Sri R. Kannan Swamigal mentioned about the doubt raised by

some as to how Vibhishana, realising that his appeals to return the abducted

Sita to Rama were rejected by Ravana, went straight to Rama and surrendered to

Him; how could this happen without Sita's recommendation? Tulasidas, in his

Ramacharitamanasa, had justified this saying that as Vibhishana made an aerial

dash to Rama's camp, he crossed the Ashokavana, where Sita was kept confined,

and She had indirectly bestowed Her grace on them. Likewise when Rama was aiming

arrows to sever the heads of Ravana, Sita wondered why He could not straightaway

direct them at his heart. For this Trijata, Vibhishana's daughter, gave a

fitting explanation (as per Tulasidas): "The enemy of the Lord will sure die if

an arrow hits his chest. But the Lord is careful not to strike him there as He

is prevented by the thought that You (Sita) dwell in Ravana's heart and that

Your heart is His own abode and hence if that place!

is struck, everything will perish. Ravana will get disconcerted when his heads

are cut off and You will escape from his mind. At that particular moment He will

punish him."

 

 

 

 

 

 

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