The Hindu Article - Lessons from the Ramayana

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Date:29/11/2002 URL:

http://www.thehindu.com/2002/11/29/stories/2002112905760900.htm

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Miscellaneous - Religion

 

Lessons from the Ramayana

 

CHENNAI NOV. 29 . The prayers of a devotee to God will invariably be

to remove the obstacles, which may crop when he is executing his

plan. There was however a strange request to the Lord to ensure that

impediments should continue so that the scheme worked out to get rid

of wicked forces did not get thwarted. While donning the role of a

human being (as Rama), it was decided that He should go to forest to

get His decision implemented. As there were certain attempts to

prevent this move, celestials and the hero were eager that events

should take place as scheduled and the purpose of His descent should

be a success.

 

One of the many lessons drawn from the Ramayana is that even a very

trifle act that might have wounded the feelings of another at an

early stage may later result in catastrophic consequences if the

offender harbours a thought to take revenge at an opportune moment.

Though there is no reference in Valmiki's original poem, an Azhwar

has cited Rama as narrating to Sugriva about an insignificant

incident where an arrow aimed by him hit the hunchback maid, who out

of hatred, had managed to indoctrinate her mistress, Kaikeyi, to

demand His banishment to forest.

 

The Ramayana focuses before the people the purpose of God's visit to

the world to re-establish moral order. The general rule even in days

of yore was that the opinion of seasoned elders should be listened to

by youngsters and their sentiments respected and orders obeyed. Rama

gave practical demonstration to this rule and implicitly carried out

His father's words. The other brothers of Rama symbolise "service"

and "obedience".

 

For Lakshmana, His brother, Rama was all in all and he did not look

beyond Him. He was a watchful guard at all times, reflected how a

devotee should be at God's service on all occasions. He was

suspicious of visitors and was upset when Bharata came to meet Rama

with an army to lead Him back to the capital but he mistook it as an

attempt to give Him further trouble. His devotion to Rama was total

and he was ever vigilant in his duty and was efficient in his work.

He exploded violently when Rama's interests were at stake. On the

other hand, Dr. M.A. Venkatakrishnan explained in a discourse,

Bharata was persistent, possessing strong will. He tried all tactics

to persuade Rama to return, but in the end, as per His wish, took His

Padukas and ruled the country, keeping them on the throne.

 

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[Guest guest]

OM

gurur brahma gurur visnu gurur devo maheshvarah

guruh sakshat param brahm tasmai sri gurve namah

om namah sivaya

om namah sivanandaya

 

Revered list members,

An interesting exposition on the Sri Ramanaya is:

Spotlights On The Ramayana By Sri Swami Premananda

A DIVINE LIFE SOCIETY PUBLICATION

http://www.thedivinelifesociety.org/download/spotlights.htm

 

A very remarkable, analytical study of the Ramayana and India.

 

 

OM

 

 

advaitin, "Ram Chandran" <rchandran@c...> wrote:

> Date:29/11/2002 URL:

> http://www.thehindu.com/2002/11/29/stories/2002112905760900.htm

> -------------------------------

>

> Miscellaneous - Religion

>The Hindu