Guest guest Posted July 23, 2009 Report Share Posted July 23, 2009 Pranams to Bhagavan Sri Krishna and His Bhaktas, ( A discourse by, Brahmashree Bhagavata-hamsam Malliyoor Shankaran Nampoothiri, who is a divine exponent of Sri Krishna). This the month for *Ramayana-parayanam* ( reciting Ramayana) . These days are for listening the *mahatmyam* ( greatness) of Sri Rama . By doing so , one can attain *Mukti* ( salavation) through *Bhakti* ( devotion) . While thinking about Ramayana, one question may arise in the mind . *Rama-rajya* , the ideal nation. That is the message of Ramayana. It's contents point fingers at many social, cultural and spiritual aspects. Ramayana tells us how a society should live . Society is a gathering of individuals. Each individual is different. Each person is at a different level . There are, Intelligent, Valiant, Fathers, Mothers, Sons, Daughters, Siblings, Teachers, Students, Women and Children. Each one of them has own obligations. That is what constitutes the Society. To guide the society in the right way, a Leader is required. King was that Leader. King was for his Subjects. Moving in the *Dharmic*( righteous) path , he leads the Subjects from the front by own personal example. When any fault or calamity happens to the nation, King takes it's total responsibility. This is the relevance of Sri Rama and Ramayana. Through it's characters, Ramayana defines and analyzes these obligations. None is without fault. None is perfect. Sri Rama is the one closest to perfection . Hence , He is adored as *Uthama-purusha* and *Maryada-purushothama* . The country ruled by Him became the ideal state *Rama-rajya*. Still , even Sri Rama was not 100% perfect. Only Bhagavan is 100% perfect. Man is not supposed to be perfect. Rama is anlaysed both as God and a Man. Though, He is an incarnation of God , Rama is still a Man. Hence, the slight trace of imperfection in Him . It is natural that , during Sri Rama's period, Subject's wish was King's wish . In the beginning, I mentioned about this aspect of that era. Will we ever have the good fortune to live in such a nation! That picture of Sri Rama who after relinquishing the attained Crown , becoming *Jada-valkala-dhari* ( sporting Jada and wearing Wooden skin) to begin forest life!. That picture is ever fresh in the mind ! Oh! The innumerable messages given by it ! The symbolic representation of so many aspects! Sacrifice, tolerance, will power, devotion to Father, maturity, selflessness ! . Sri Rama was the Deity-form of all these supreme qualities! . Above all , as the Ruler who has sacrificed everything for the welfare of His Subjects ! Sri Rama repeated His supreme sacrifices in His later life too . On occasions like abandoning Sita, only a refined mind could do it . Rama's moral strength was empowered by the advices of His *Kula-guru* ( Tribe's Guru) Sri Vasishta. The transition from Child-Rama to the mature Rama starts with the advices given by Vasishta revealing the real *Dharma*. *Yoga Vasishtam* is the compilation of those advices : Mana: Krutham Rama, Na Sareerakrutham Krutham Yeneivalinganam Kantham Yeneivalinganam Sutham ( The real Dharma is that of mind ; not that of body . When the body performs a particular activity , mind's *bhava* ( emotion) will be different . When a Man embraces his wife and when he embraces his Son, two different types of emotion happens in his mind . ) Similarly, both the Doctor performing a surgery and the Murderer stabbing his victim cuts open the body. Though that physical activity is same, their mentalities are totally different. When one's activity is selfless, Karmic-bondage will not happen to him . King orders punishment a part of Raja-dharma. If any trace of pleasure or revenge occurs in it , that is a deviation from Raja-Dharma. One should be able to see everything and everybody as equal . *Samaloshtasma Kanchana* ( Same attitude towards Golden-bar or a lump of earth).This *Bhava* is equality ( samatva).To attain this *Bhava* , strict *Brahmacharya*( celibacy) is necessary . Only such a refined mind is eligible for *Grihastashrama*( house holder life) . Such refined persons should become the Ruler of the nation. This is what made Sri Rama, the Iconic Sri Rama . What equality we see and say in the present age , is not true equality . Behaving in the same way with everyone and acting like everyone is not equality . It is just equal-respect. Equality should evolve in the mind. For that, mind should be mature. Such matured persons should become the rulers. This is the story of the past era. Ramayana reminds us of the Rulers who are subjected to accusations daily. Are the present Rulers for their Citizens or the Citizens are for the Rulers ? This doubt arises in my mind. There is a poem written by Sri . Kunchan Nambiar : "While falsely pretending to be making great efforts for the country, some Rulers are cruelly exploiting their poverty-sticken citizens to accumulate wealth". Foreseeing the present era (of not knowing what is right and what is wrong ) , our wise ancestors established the tradition of *Ramayana-parayanam* and *Ramayana-month* . A reminder is required in between . If it benefits at least one person, the objective of *Ramayana-parayanam* is fulfilled . Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya !!!!! SriKrishnaDasa Rajeev Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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