Definitions - Dharma- Maryada Purushottama Sri Rama !

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Sri Sunderji states

 

( dharma is the 403rd name of Vishnu, in the Vishnu-sahasra-nama )

 

and what did this statement remind me of ? The seventh AVATARA of

Sri Mahavishnu - none other than Lord Rama !

 

Sri Rama was the very embodiment of 'dharma' - In his entire life ,

Lord RAMA PRACTICED THIS DICTUM FROM THE TAITTRIYA UPANISHAD :

 

" SATYAM VADA; DHARMAM CHARA" - 'SPEAK THE TRUTH; PRACTICE THE PATH

OF RIGTEOUSNESS"

 

Sri RAMA was described as Maryada purushottama ((Divinity who has

restricted Himself by laws) and Lord Krishna as Pushti-Purushottama

(Divinity that bestows Grace in ways that are not bound by laws and

social norms) !

 

Why was Sri Rama the perfect man ? He was an 'ideal' son ,

an 'ideal' brother, an 'ideal' king , an 'ideal' friend ,

and 'ideal' disciple, an 'ideal' foe , and above all an 'ideal'

husband ( eka patni vratam) ! IT IS SAID SRI RAMA'S WATCHWORD

WAS ' 'ONE WORD' ONE ARROW; ONE WIFE ' ... a MAN full of moral

values and ethical standards -

 

ON ONE WORD:

 

THIS COUPLET COMES TO MIND !

 

Raghukul Riti sada chali aeee,

Pran Jaye par Vachan na jaya."

 

Rama's ancestors believed that if one was faced with the choice of

either giving up one's life or go against one's word - one must

choose the former. `Give up your life, but not your word', they

proclaimed.

 

To uphold 'dharma' and respect his Father'S WISHES ( King

DASHARATHA'S PROMISES TO HIS WIFE KAIKEYI), Sri Rama renounced his

kingdom and went to the forest for 14 years just to keep up the !

There are many instances in the Ramayana where Lord RAMA KEEPS UP

HIS WORD !

 

one Arrow!

 

A true kshatriya ( warrior) never misses his target - so one arrow

is enough to slay the enemy ! sri RAMA was a powerful warrior - True

to his 'swadharma ', being a kshatriya , he protected his subjects

who came to him asking for help and refuge ! He promised help to the

monkey king Sugriva ( who lived in Rama's kingdom and therefore one

of rama's subjects) and Sri RAMA WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN

SLAYING 'VALI' , Sugriva's brother ! ( there is some criticism of

this episode - we will not get into that right now)

 

One WIFE

 

When Sita was banished to the forest , sri Rama performed

the 'ashwamedha ' yagya - in this yagya , the king needed to have

his wife sit next to him to perform the yagya . Sri Rama never

considered taking on another wife ; rather He had a golden statue of

Sita made for this event and performed the yagya ! Such was his

loyalty and dedication to his beloved wife ! A man of exemplary

moral values - a dharmic man , par excellance!

 

one can go on on and on about the Kalyana gunas of lord Rama - how

his whole attitude towards life itself was ! When he 'reighned'

there was only peace , prosperity, wealth and happiness ! it was

truly a RAMA RAJYA !

 

WHERE dharma reigns , there is rama rajya !

 

WHERE ADHARMA REIGNS, there is only chaos and confusion ! this is

the kali yuga , we are in now !

 

THIS IS NOT A BHAKTI FORUM! THIS IS AN ADVAITA GROUP! BUT I WOULD

LIKE TO SAY - IF ONE RECITES THE TARAKA MANTRA 'RAMA NAMA ' ONE WILL

BE LIBERATED! here is the explanation !

 

In the Vishnu sahasranama, Rama is the 394th name of Vishnu. In the

interpretation of Adi Sankara's commentary, translated by Swami

Tapasyananda of the Ramakrishna Mission, Rama has two meanings: the

supreme Brahman who is the eternally blissful spiritual Self in whom

yogis delight or the One (i.e., Vishnu) who out of his own will

assumed the enchanting form of Rama, the son of Dasaratha)

 

also,

 

Rama, the embodiment of Dharma

Maaricha, while speaking to Ravana- (Aranya Kandam 37-13):

 

Ramo'vigrahavaan dharmah saadhuh satya paraakramah;

Rajaa sarvasya lokasya devaanaam maghavaaniva.

 

Rama is the embodiment of Dharma,

saintly, yet valiant defender of Truth,

King of all the worlds --

as Indra is the king of the Devas.

 

AS GANDHIJI SAYS

 

'i acknowledge no other God but the one God of truth and

righteousness'

 

AND THAT IS WHY THE GREAT LEADER Gandhiji ALWAYS HAD 'RAMA NAMA '

ON HIS LIPS ! HIS LAST WORDS WERE 'JAI RAM' -

 

ON THIS VALENTINE'S DAY , LET ME LEAVE YOU ON A FRAGRANT NOTE !

 

worship the God of 'Love' ( SRI KRISHNA) and the God of 'Truth ;(

SRI RAMA) FOR GOD IS LOVE AND GOD IS TRUTH!

 

LOVE OF TRUTH LEADS TO GODHOOD !

 

Jai Ram! jai Siya Ram !