Swami on the Importance of the Ramayana

July 2, 2007

The story of Rama teaches us the three fold Dharma pertaining to the individual, the family and the society. Rama incarnated in order to establish Dharma. What is Dharma? It is that which delights your heart. When man takes to unrighteous means, his conscience will not approve of his acts since every man is the embodiment of Dharma. He is born to practice Dharma. But as he gets carried away by worldly pleasures, he is afflicted with misery. "Ramo Vigrahavaan Dharmah" ("Rama is the very embodiment of Righteousness"). It was as if Righteousness itself had incarnated on earth. Dharma and Rama are inseparable. It is often said that Rama followed Dharma at all times. This is not the correct way of describing him. He did not follow Dharma; he was Dharma. What he thought, spoke and did was Dharma, is Dharma for ever. In the Ramayana Sathya and Dharma are the most important concepts.

The Vedas, which are regarded as their very life-breath by Bharatiyas, have proclaimed: "Sathyam Vada; Dharmam Chara" In order to honor the plighted word of his father, Rama elected to go to the forest leaving Ayodhya. Truth is the foundation for all righteousness. The recitation of Ramayan verses or listening to the exposition of those verses must transform the person into an embodiment of Dharma. His every word, thought and deed must exemplify that ideal. Sraddha in Rama, Ramayana and oneself is essential for success. And for what end? To become good and help others to unfold their goodness. To be totally human with every human value expanded to the utmost and promote those traits in society to help others too. Everyone must trace the ego to its spiritual origins and direct his life on the lines of that heritage. Rama is the very embodiment of Dharma (Morality, Virtue, Right conduct). The other three

goals can be achieved only by steady adherence to Dharma. We find, therefore, the brothers Lakshmana, Bharatha and Satrughna following the footsteps of Rama. Rama is the embodiment of Dharma, Lakshmana is the embodiment of Sraddha. Bharata embodies Bhakti, Shatrughna personifies Sakti. Dharma is associated with Sraddha. The protecting cover for Bhakti is Sakti. Hence Rama and Lakshmana were always together as a pair and Bharata and Satrughna as another. Ramayana is a guide on human relationships Among the four brothers there was boundless love and regard for each other. When Rama went to the forest and was in Chitrakuta, Bharatha came there to entreat him to return to Ayodhya and reign as the legitimate heir to the throne. Rama refused to return, saying that Bharatha should rule over Ayodhya in accordance with the promise given by Dasaratha. The argument between the two was ultimately resolved by Sage Vasishta

who told Bharatha: "Do not cause any pain to Rama, who is Divinity itself and who has come down to protect the good and uphold Dharma." Bharatha pleaded for taking Rama's sandals and administering the kingdom in Rama's name till he returned to Ayodhya. The Ramayana is a guidebook on the ideal relations between mothers and children, between husband and wife, between brothers, between the ruler and the people, between the master and the servants and many other human relationship. Rama showed compassion to the dying eagle Jatayu, which had fought with Ravana when he was carrying Sita away to Lanka and Rama gave refuge to Vibhishana, even against the fears expressed by Lakshmana. These are examples of Rama's supreme benevolence and magnanimity towards anyone who revered him or sought his protection. Rama declared to Lakshmana: "Anyone who comes to me in a spirit of surrender, whoever he might be, is mine and I am

his. I shall give him asylum. This is my vow." Rama was a man pledged to one word, to one wife and to a single arrow. What are the inner meanings of the name Rama? The three syllables 'R', 'A' and 'Ma' indicate the three causes for human birth, namely Papamu , Thapamu and Ajnanamu. Hence, the word Rama has the right triple power of destroying sins, conferring peace and dispelling ignorance.It is in the heart of the man who is sweet spoken that Sri Rama loves to dwell. From the Ramayana, you have to learn the lesson of sacrifice. You have to install the principle of Rama in your heart. Rama practiced Sathya and Dharma all his life. You should firmly adhere to these principles in your life. Develop friendship with God and the whole world will be under your control. - From Bhagawan's Sri Ramanavami Discourse in 1984

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