Ramayana of valmiki and kamban- Aranya kanda-1.Ramaenters Dandaka forest

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Valmikiramayanaa

Aranyakanda

 

1.Rama gives refuge to the rshis of Dhandakaranya

 

In Ayodhyakanda the dharma of pithrvaakyaparipalana, obedience to the words of one's father was elucidated. Here in this kanda we see the dharma of sisihtaparipalana, which necessitated dhushtanigraha of the Lord. Rama as a kshathriya stands example of the protection of he afflicted and as the incarnation of Naryana , He depicts the sishtaparipalana, protection of those who surrender to Him.

 

Valmiki describes the Dandaka forest in detail highlighting the scenes that depict the life of the rshis there. Dandaka forest was once the kingdom of Dandaka of Ikshvaku race and it was reduced to the state of a forest by the curse of Sukracharya.

 

That part of the Dandaka forest abounded in deer skin , darbha grass and other signs of hermitage of the rshis that could be seen everywhere. The whole place looked like the abode of Brahma with the vedic chants reverberating through the region. Rama entered the forest loosening his bowstring. This shows that Rama was roaming in the forest with his bow strung to ward off the wild animals and rakshasas and now due to respect for the holy place he unstrung the bow string.

 

The rshis welcomed them since they could see that a saviour has come. They rendered vedic blessings to them as mangalaSasana.

 

Valmiki says,

 

`te tu somam iva udyantam dR^iShTvaa vai dharmachaariNam laxmaNam ca eva dR^iShTvaa tu vaidehiim cha yashashviniim

ma~Ngalaani prayu~njaanaaH pratyagR^ihNaan dR^iDha vrataaH'

 

Rama appeared to them as rising moon to dispel the darkness, meaning that he had come to destroy the demons who represent the darkness as he was dhamachaaree, upholder of dharma and Seetha was yasasvinee, the glorious, as she was going to be the main cause of the ravanavadha. The rshis being endowed with divine insight could understand the incarnation of Narayana as Rama and witnessed the supreme being they henceforth only visualized. That too in a beautifula and captivating form.

 

 

`ruupasamhnanam lakShmiim saukumaaryam suveShataam |dhadhrSuh vismita aakaaraa raamasya vana vaasinaH

 

Thus seeing them the rshis felt like chanting a mangalaSasanam.

 

Then after honouring them duly the rshis entreated him to protect them saying that he alone is their refuge whether he is in the kingdom or in the forest. The implication is that Rama is the Lord Narayana Himself who is the sole refuge of all at all times in all places. This is indicated by the anjali, salutation with folded hands as the anjali is done only to the Lord as an act of surrender.