SRIRAMAYANA #6

[Guest guest]

Srimathe Ramanujaya Namaha

Om Asmath Gurubhyo Namaha

 

Valmiki starts the 5th sarga by informing us, that, Srirama was a descendent

of Ikshvaku dynasty, with a long lineage of great chkravarthies (rulers), thus

letting the readers know, that from birth itself Sri Rama is not an ordinary man

and His noble ancestors were endowed with great qualities which is hard to find

among us. The tendency of mankind is to feel jealous of others if they find

somebody who is better than them. That's why Sage Valmiki warns people in the

beginning itself saying, "I will tell the story from the beginning, but you have

to listen without any prejudice or ill will. All the characters in this kavya

are real ones and they are not created by my own imagination". Thus he starts

with the detailed description of the capital Ayodhya.

Once upon a time there was a Kingdom called Kosala, on the banks of Sarayu

River. Ayodhya the capital of Kosala kingdom was built the Manu (from whom

Ikshvaku dynasty started). It was a well laid out beautiful city with royal

highways (Freeways). The streets were clean as they were regularly washed, and

very nicely decorated with flowers and gems. From the capitol there were roads

to other Kingdoms, which was long and wide. All the buildings in that city were

planned correctly and constructed in the shape of a Chessboard, (8 rows and 8

columns). All the houses were decorated with arches and gateways. The City was

surrounded by several compounds and moats-filled with water, so that no enemy

could enter the city without the guards knowing about it. That's why it was

called by a suitable name Ayodhya which means can't be defeated by anyone (in

Sanskrit -yoddhum na sakya). Coming to the people of that city, they were all

good in nature and character. There were many professionals like artists,

sculptures, dancers, musicians, teachers and Vedic Pundits etc. In those days

people used to respect women, and they were given a chance to participate in

dramas. KSHTRYIYAS OF AYODHYA WOULD NOT KILL WHEN THE ENEMY WAS IN HELPLESS

CONDITION. THEY DIDN'T KILL AN ENEMY IF HE DOESN'T HAVE ANY PREDECESSOR OR A

SUCCESSOR IN HIS FAMILY. THEY WON'T KILL ANY ONE RUNNIG AWAY TO PROTECT

THEMSELF OR SHOOT AN ARROW IN THEIR BACK. THEY WOULD FIGHT ACCORDING TO THE

DHARMA SASTRA ONLY. THE PEOPLE OF AYODHYA WERE VIRTUOUS AND THEY COULD CONTROL

THEIR INDRIAS LIKE RISHIS. THEY WERE ALL HAPPY WITH WHAT THEY HAD AND THEY ALL

HAD STERLING CONDUCT AND CHARACTER, (except one, Ghuni. but she wasn't born in

Ayodhya).

Ayodhya, the whole kingdom was flourishing due to the fact that people followed

their prescribed duties, Brahmins did the necessary daily rituals like Veda

Parayanam, and Homas, Kshathriyas ruled the Kingdom according to Dharma sastra,

and women conducted themselves properly. They had rain 3 times a month, (like

Andal said "mum mari peidu", and cows had plenty of milk, and there was no

poverty or lack of any riches both in health and wealth. The people were happy

and felt that living in Ayodhya was like living in Swargaloka, being ruled by

Indra. Sage Valmiki describes Ayodhya for its richness of character, justice,

and peaceful way of living and for their wisdom. Under the rule of Dasaratha

people lacked nothing and He ruled the Kingdom for a great number of years with

His able and noble ministers. We will learn about them in our next mail.

(Contd.)

 

Jai Srimannarayana

JET Prajna Teachers