Shri Raama

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Shri Raama — Dhanurvedecha-

 

*This series of stories on Shri Raama Chandra Murty try to showcase the 16

important sadgunas or the Shodasha-kalas in Shri Raama.*

 

*Kaartaveeryaajuna was the Raaja of Mahishmatii-nagaram. With Tapobalam, he

got 1000 Baahu (hands) and was doing Raajya-paalana with Bala-darpam.*

 

*Once Raavana, on the way of returning from a Vijaya-yaatra, came to

Narmadaa-nadii-teeram. It was time for Madhyaahnika-Sandhyaavandanam. After

taking snaanam in the nadi and doing Sandhyaavandanam, since he always did

shat-kaala-Shiva-pooja (6 times Shiva pooja per day), he started doing

abhishekam to the Svarna-lingam, which he always carried with him. With his

20 baahu (hands) he did Shiva-pooja, doing Veda-paaraayana with his 10

mouths. With great Bhakti he did Shiva-pooja, in accordance with Shaastras.*

 

*Suddenly Narmadaa, reversed its direction of flow and washed his pooja

materials away! He came to know that 0.5 Yojanam away, Sahasra-baahu

(Kaartaveeryaajuna), was doing Jala-kreeda with thousands of women, stopping

the flow of Narmadaa with his hands!*

 

*Then Raavana with anger went to fight with Kaartaveeryaajuna. There was a

fierce Yuddham between the two. Like two Suuryas, two Mada-gajas, they

fought each other. Finally Kaartaveeryaajuna won over Raavana and put him in

prison. Seeing this all the Devatas, maharshis were happy. Everybody was

taking about this episode only. They were surprised to see the

mahaa-balavanta Raavana being defeated. The whole of Svarga-lokam was

echoing with the story of the Shakti and Veeratvam of

Kaartaveeryaajuna. **Pulastya

Brahma*<http://moralstories.wordpress.com/2006/07/01/sri-k%e1%b9%9b%e1%b9%a3h%e1\

%b9%87a-lilas-9/>

*, the grand father (pitaa-maha) of Raavana, also heard this. He immediately

went to Kaartaveeryaajuna.*

 

*Kaartaveeryaajuna said " Mahaanubhaava! I am dhanya to have got your

Darshanam. Please tell me what I need to do. I and my people are ready to do

what you order " . Pulastya Brahma replied " O Raaja! I am happy with your

Bhakti and Shakti. You got the name 'Raavana Vijeta'. Now leave my pautra

(grandson) " . Immediately Kaartaveeryaajuna left Raavana, after doing

satkaaram to him and agni-saakshi mitratvam with him.*

 

*Later, only because of his bala-garvam, Kaartaveeryaajuna fought with

Parashuraama, the avataar of Mahaavishnu. Kaartaveeryaajuna was killed in

the Yuddham!! Aha! There is always someone who is greater than oneself.

Hence we must never have garvam, darpam.*

 

*After Shri Raama's Divya-leela of Shiva-dhanurbhanjanam and

Sitaa-Kalyaanam, Parashuraama comes and asks Shri Raama to take the

Vishnu-dhanuh, if He really has shakti and knows Dhanurvidya. Just on the

very touch of Shri Raama of the Vishnu-dhanuh, all the Bhagavat-shakti of

Parashuraama enters Shri Raama. Parashuraama realizes that Shri Raama is

Paramaatma Himself, does stotram of Shri Raama and leaves the place.*

 

*Discussion of the story:

One nice example of showing knowledge of Shri Raama on Dharnurveda is this

story. Raavana who defeated all Devatas, Dik-paalakas, his brother Kubera

and the Yakshas, was easily defeated by Kaartaveeryaajuna. The bala-garvam

of Kaartaveeryaajuna was removed by Parashuraama. Then a baalaka, of just 16

years, Shri Raama, not even by using the Vishnu-dhanuh, just by touching it,

did Garva-bhangam of Parashuraama! Thus Shri Raama did

avataara-anusandhaanam and Yuga-anusandhaanam with this Leela.*

 

*Using the dhanuh and winning a Yuddham is the act of ordinary Veeras and

Shuuras. Just by doing anusandhaanam of Shiva-dhanuh, Shri Raama broke the

Shiva-dhanuh! And just while taking the Vishnu-dhanuh from Parashuraama, He

won over Parashuraama. Thus Shri Raama is known as " Dhanurvedecha

Nishchitah " .*

 

*Even though Shri Raama had so much Shakti, Balam and knew all

Shastra-astras, **He always had

Vinayam*<http://moralstories.wordpress.com/2006/05/14/great-people-are-always-hu\

mble/>

* and never left Dharma-maargam. Whereas Raavana even though had such

alpa-shakti (when compared to Shri Raama), had a lot of Ahankaaram.*