lakshmaNa 1

[Guest guest]

Dear Sri vaishnava perunthagaiyeer,

 

 

 

During the deepaavali holidays and later when it was raining in Chennai

[surprisingly good rains for second consecutive year], how to kill 'time' in

a useful way? [or is it useless way?] Generally all will agree with me on

that 'easy' way, and that too in a non expensive way - is 'to see the TV' -

the so-called 'idiot box'. For many a times idiots like me are seeing it.

 

 

 

Again another point comes to mind - is it seeing? or is it browsing? Many

will agree with me on the later. Sometimes 'some good ideas' also sprout out

of seeing a 'useless film or a skit'.

 

 

 

This write up is also based on one such useless film. The 'double role'

played by the hero of the film kicked my thinking go 'a little wild' – on

thinking about lakshmaNa, the younger brother of the hero of RaamaayaNam

viz. Sri raama. This story on the 'raama anujan' – 'lakshmaNa' is about how

many 'roles' he played or donned in the main story raamaayaNam.

 

 

 

Of course the main story of raamaayaNam is well known to all of us, in this

elite circle of members. Perhaps every member can write an article, even

without any [or much] preparation, if he is called upon to do so.

 

 

 

Another incident in a film on murugan, the young skandhan teaching meaning

of praNavam to father sivan also caught my attention. This also provided

that impetus on same 'lakshmaNa' the raama anuja - teaching about dharmam to

that 'raamO vigrahavaan dharma:' - the dharma personification raama. A bit

of surprise, dear readers? Yes, Let the suspense be 'on' for some time. It

is a surprise that raama is being taught on dharmam by lakshmaNa. [More on

that later].

 

 

 

Perhaps on the different roles, the list goes like this -

1. Lakshmana - the 'baalya khEla sakhaa' – playmate to raama, in

raama's younger days. 2. LakshmaNa – the companion in a long trekking –

vazith thuNaivan 3. LakshmaNa – the counselor – in and as the angry

younger brother – suggesting or counseling his elder to fight for the

'elder's right to the throne' and says 'on your behalf ready to fight with

father, and do it when you ask me to do so'.

 

1. Lakshmana - the arduous servant – to arrange donations and bring

armoury etc even before the start to forest – why this particular mention –

is that his work as a servant starts here.

2. Lakshmana – the Engineer – to build the house, in the forest

according to vaasthu saasthra [many a times we hear vaasthu was not followed

in earlier days – but sage vaalmeeki says lakshmaNa built the house

according to vaasthu – the exact reference later]

3. lakshmaNa - the boat builder or the oars man – helped to cross the

river ganga

4. lakshmaNa – the minister - to counsel suggestions and advices to

his elder brother on occasions

5. lakshmaNa - the bodyguard to raama and to seethaa – the manni –

elder brother's wife,

6. lakshmaNa - the scavenger – to dig a pit and bury the viraadhan and

kabhandhan's bodies

7. lakshmaNa – the ambassador – to go to sugreeva and remind him on

the mission 'search seethaa'.

8. lakshmaNa – the envoy or assistant to carry out protocols – while

meeting sage agasthya and later in meeting hanumaan paving way for sugreeva

sakhyam [on this protocol please recall my earlier series]

9. lakshmaNa – the brave warrior and deputy leader of the army

10. lakshmaNa – the sleepless watchman for 14 long years – even at the

cost of separation from beloved wife.

11. lakshmaNa - the teacher or philosopher to talk or lecture on

dharma -

 

 

 

Presently we will stop with this at present and go into details of each role

and then add on to the list if more comes in our way.

 

 

 

1. Lakshmana – the baalya sakhaa – playmate during younger days. On

this there are two slokams from vaalmeeki –

 

 

 

na cha thEna vinaa nidhraam labhathE purushOththama: || 1-18-30

 

mrushTam annam upaaneetham a*s*naathi na hi tham vinaa |

 

 

 

meaning: That best one among the men, Raama, does not get his sleep without

LakshmaNa and he would not eat food brought for him, however delicious it

may be, without LakshmaNa. [1-18-30b, 31a]

 

* *

 

*point:* here sri paravaak kOttai srimadh aaNdavan swamy in his book 'raama

piraanaik karpOm' narrates an incident to show how or what extent these two

were close.

 

 

 

One day he child raama did not go to sleep and was crying. When a child

cries, it is natural that the mother feels child is hungry and then feed the

child. Mother kousalya first fed and then pacified the child raama, to go

sleep. No use in it, for crying did not stop. Then the royal doctor was

called upon to check for any stomach problem or other physical disturbance

etc. He also could not do any thing or find any real cause. Crying did not

stop. Then some manthrams and thanthrams were all done in all temples and

other places – for it is the royalchild – that too got after a yagnam and

all that.

 

 

 

No use in all these. Then minister sumanthra came and asked has the kula

guru vasishta been consulted about this happening. Immediately word was sent

to him. The kula guru vasishta asked immediately - where you have placed

child raama and then lakshmaNa. Guru was informed raama in separate cradle

in one room and lakshmaNa in a separate cradle in another room.

 

 

 

He immediately suggested the remedy - 'hey, put both the children side by

side and that is the solution'. When this was done, raamaa's crying

immediately stopped. So that was the extent of the anyOnyam – togetherness

of raama and lakshmaNa - even a small distance between the cradles or

cradles placed in different rooms could not be tolerated.

 

 

 

Also see what vaalmeeki says on the 'food'. Enjoy that. So that is the

extent of togetherness – baalya sakhaathvam - in the younger days between

the two. Perhaps you may wonder what is the reason for this kind of

attraction between the two. 'It is the charm of raama' says vaalmeeki. See

the words 'raamasya lOka raamasya' – 'world charmer raama' -

 

 

 

baalyaath prabhruthi su-snigdhO lakshmaNO lakshmi vardhana: || 1-18-28

 

raamasya lOka raamasya bhraathu: jyeshTasya nithya*s*a: |

 

 

 

meaning: Right from childhood LakshmaNa, the enhancer of prosperity, is

always amiable towards his world-charming elder brother Raama. [1-18-28b,

29a]

 

 

 

*point:* also note here vaalmeeki's usage of words – lakshmaNa is lakshmi

vardhana – in many other places lakshmana is titled 'lakshmaNO lakshmi

sampanna:' but here it is 'lakshmi vardhana' – growing – because child

lakshmaNa is also growing – also his 'lakshmi' – his assets – name, fame,

valour, education, etc are growing. [for those not much familiar with

Sanskrit – the word lakshmi has many meanings besides being the name and

means of identifying the periya piraatti].

 

 

 

Let us continue in next post

 

 

 

Dhasan

 

 

 

Vasudevan m.g

 

 

 

 

--

Vasudevan MG