protocol 4

[Guest guest]

Dear sri vaishNava perunthagaiyeer,

 

 

 

In observing protocol while meeting great personalities, sri raama observed it

while meeting sage agasthya. The question was 'what is so special to him, which

otherwise he has not observed with other sages?' Except one point of view from

sri Babu, since no other comments or viewpoints came, I now place my points for

your consideration.

 

 

 

1. Is raama not trained properly so as to observe the protocol in one case and

violate that with another?

 

 

 

The answer to this question will be a firm "No". Sri vaalmeeki has a slOkam that

he is properly trained.

 

 

 

kalyaaNa aBhijana: saadhu: adheena: sathya vaagruju: |

 

vrudhDhair aBhivineethascha dhvijair Dharma arthha dharsiBhi: || 2-1-21

 

 

 

Meaning: Raama, having born in a good clan, was gentle minded. He was not

feeble. He spoke truth. He was straightforward. He was properly trained by

elderly wise men, who knew righteousness.

 

 

 

2. Is raama not uniform in behaviour so that at times he observes the rules,

protocols, but in other occasions does not do so?

 

 

 

Here also the answer will be a firm "NO" for he has good norms of behaviour, so

that even that earth wished raama to be her lord. See slokam -

 

 

 

tham Evam vratha sampannam apradhrushya paraakramam |

 

lOka paala upamam naathham akaamayatha mEdhinee | 2-1-34

 

 

 

Meaning: The earth wished Raama to be her Lord, as he was adorned with

self-control, and norms of behaviour, bearing undefeatable valour equal to the

universal lords like Indra.

 

 

 

If such is the case, why then the deviations? Let us analyse and conclude.

 

1. The first Sage raama met - bharadhwaaja - was more like a tour guide -

pardon me for expressing so - for the sage entertained raama and the 2 who

accompanied him for a day or two, guided the way into the forest, and gave the

data whereall raama can stay etc. Similarly when raama returned he did same,

viz. entertaining for a while. When bharatha came he entertained them, gave a

big feast to all. A very good description on that feast is available in ayOdhyaa

kaaNdam. So he played more an innkeeper's role and a guide. As such in his case

protocol is not necessary.

 

 

 

2. Sage Sarabhanga was just waiting for the arrival of raama, to meet him

and then take off from this world, for dhEvEndhran has already come and ready to

take him to brahma lokam. But since he is a realized soul, does not want to go

to brahma lokam, knows well with this body he cannot go to the other world, and

having known that the supreme lord has come here, in this bhoo lOkam and also

very nearby [realized by his sixth sense says slokam], he met raama and then

went to mOksham leaving the body here.

 

 

 

That means this sage is a 'dhaasan' to raama to leave the body at the feet of

raama and realize the lord's presence here and now - at his 'dhEha avasaana

samayE' - at the time of leaving the body. As such the lord need not observe any

formalities or protocols with his dhasan.

 

 

 

It is the same case wih sage sutheekshaNa.

 

 

 

3. Sage athri - as already stated with particular stress on that word

'puthravath' - this sage received raama as his son. In meeting a father one need

not observe protocols. Also see the stress on that 'svayam aathithyam' -

self-hosting - a son in his father's house has to be on his own and no

formalities or protocols. Since meaning already given the slOkams only here

repeated.

 

 

 

sO~athrEr aasramam aasaadhya tham vavandhE mahaa yasaa: |

 

tham chaapi bhagavaan athri: puthravath prathyapadhyatha || 2-109- 5

 

 

 

svayam aathithyam aadhisya sarvam asya susathkrutham |

 

soumithrim cha mahaabhaagaan seethaam cha samasaanthvayath || 2-109 - 6

 

 

 

4. In the case of sage agasthya, the protocol is some thing very special.

For raama himself falls at the feet of agasthya, expresses that sage is the

guru. So it is necessary to observe the protocol, of that - a shishya announces

his arrival at the gate of guru's home, takes permission and then enters the

abode of guru. See slOkam.

 

 

 

Further he is going to be the GURU, in teaching the aadhithya hrudhaya sthOthram

later while facing the fight with raavaNa.

 

Also like sage visvaamithra he is also giving bows and arrows etc. When one does

all naturally he has to be respected and observed with some protocols.

 

 

 

Evam ukthvaa mahaabaahu: agasthyam soorya varchasam |

 

jagraaha aapathath thasya paadhou cha raghunandhana || 3-12-24

 

 

 

meaning: That dexterous Raama on saying about that sun-like radiant sage

agasthya, he, that descendent of Raghu, fell on the feet of agasthya touching

them reverentially.

 

 

 

While taking leave see what raamaa says to the sage.

 

 

 

dhanyOsmi anugraheethOsmi yasya mE muni pungava: |

 

guNai: sabhraatru bhaaryasya guru: na: parithushyathi || 3-13-10

 

 

 

sa bhraathru bhaaryasya guNai: = with brother's, wife's by virtues;

 

yasya mE = to him, such as me;

 

na: guru: muni pungava: = our mentor sage the eminent;

 

pari thushyathi = is well-pleased by that;

 

dhanya: asmi = privileged I am;

 

anu gruheetha: asmi = blessed, I am.

 

 

 

Meaning: I am privileged and blessed as our mentor and the eminent sage is well

pleased with the virtues of my brother and wife, which are similar to mine.

 

 

 

So thus observing protocol with one and non-observing same with another by raama

has different reasons, which we have to analyse and realize raama's greatness.

Thanks

 

 

 

Dhasan

 

Vasudevan m.g.

 

 

 

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