Concept of Surrender In the Ramayana

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Concept of

Surrender In the Ramayana

by D S Srinivasan

 

When Vibhishana pleads with his brother Ravana to return Sita to Rama,

Ravana ridicules and insults him and asks him to go away. After all his

efforts fail, Vibhishana ultimately comes to Rama's camp with folded

hands, seeking protection. Sugriva and his entire army are against

accepting Vibhishana. Rama says: "Whoever comes to me in desperation, I

will protect him from the fear. This is my vow". He also says he will

protect anyone who surrenders to him, even if it is Ravana himself.

Krishna in the Bhagavad Gita says: "Leave everything and surrender to

me, I will absolve you of all sins and lead you to salvation".

 

In fact, the birth of the Ramayana could be traced to the devas praying

to Vishnu to save them from the clutches of demons and their king

Ravana. Vishnu is persuaded to take birth as the son of Dasaratha and

requests the devas to take the form of monkeys. The devas' request for

divine help was the first of several sharanagatis (complete surrender to

God) in the Ramayana.

 

God does not differentiate between friend and foe, man and animal,

caste and creed. He comes to the rescue of those who surrender to him

with faith and belief as is illustrated in the story of Gajendra's

moksha and that of Prahlada, son of demon king Hiranyakashipu, and of

Draupadi.

 

Jayantha, son of Indra, the king of the devas, takes the form of a crow

and injures Sita's breasts. As the blood drips on Rama, he becomes

furious and fires the Brahmastra. Jayantha seeks refuge in Brahma,

Shiva, his parents — but all of them express their helplessness. With no

saviours, Jayantha flings himself at Rama's feet. Though he has

committed a heinous crime, Rama forgives him and saves his life.

 

When Rama asks Lakshmana to stay back in Ayodhya, he says: "Aham sarvam

Karishyami" — "Allow me the privilege of serving you and Sita during the

14-year vanvas period". Rama agrees. During vanvas, the sages request

Rama to free them from the tyranny of the demons and their king,

Ravana. Rama promises to help them and vanquishes Ravana and his army.

When Trijada, Vibhishana's daughter, prays to Sita to protect her from

the demon-women, Sita obliges following Rama's victory.

 

The person to whom one turns to for protection should have power,

strength and compassion. Otherwise, the sharanagati will fail as it

happened in the following instances: When Parasurama challenges Rama

after Sita's marriage, Dasaratha pleads before Parasurama to pardon and

leave his children. But Parasurama challenges Rama to break his Vishnu

Dhanus. Here the sharanagati fails. Though Parasurama has the power, he

does not have compassion.

 

The sharanagati of Sugriva to Vali also failed as Vali did not have a

kind heart nor did he believe Sugriva. Rama went on fast praying to the

ocean king to give them passage, but the sharanagati failed. When Rama

threatened to burn the ocean with his astras, the king of ocean

suggested ways to build a bridge across the ocean.

 

Some sharanagatis have failed, but for different reasons: Bharata comes

to the forest and requests Rama to return to Ayodhya to take the reins

of the kingdom. Rama declines as it would mean going against his

father's words.

 

Trisanghu, after being cursed, falls at the feet of Vishvamitra, who

creates a separate heaven for him. Though Vishwamitra was kind and had

the power, he was not fully successful as it was against the principle

of the universe. So Trisanghu remained suspended between heaven and

earth. The sharanagati of Ravana to Sita and Surpanaka to Rama also

failed because it was against the principles of Rama and Sita.