A lesson for practical life from Ramayana by Shri Shri.Muralidhara Swamiji

[Guest guest]

Dear Members,

 

All of us know that Ramayana is all about Sri Rama’s

story.

 

Kaikeyi asked for boons ordaining Rama to go to the

forest, Sita humbly following Him, her falling in love

with a deer, Ravana taking her away, Rama waging a war

with Ravana and eventually getting Sita back.

 

Beyond this, Ramayana is a great benefit to our

everyday life too. How? If we read Ramayana

carefully, chapter by chapter, we can realize the

import of the story in our daily life, as conveyed by

the great Maharshi.

 

The first part of the epic talks about a prosperous

Ayodhya. The overflowing Sarayu river, the abundance

of grains, the devoted king and the devoted subjects,

the affluence of the people – all these signifying a

wealthy and prosperous land of Ayodhya is clearly

depicted.

 

One day, Dasharata addressed the masses and expressed

his wish to crown Rama and retire from his regal

duties. The citizens rejoiced. Rama was then

informed about the crowning ceremony scheduled for the

following day. The whole city was agog with this

happy news – decorations and preparations for the

crowning ceremony were on.

 

Hearing this news, Kaikeyi’s aide, Manthara (Kuni)

rushed to Kaikeyi ‘Hey! Did you hear that Kausalya’s

son Rama is going to be crowned?’

Kaikeyi, being a noble person at heart immediately

gifted her with a necklace.

‘Rama is like my own son! I love him even more than

Bharata. What difference does it make crowning Rama

or Bharata?’

 

Manthara said, ‘Oh! My dumb Mistress! Don’t you

realize that if Rama becomes the king, even Kausalya’s

servants will disrespect you? You will be trampled

once Rama is crowned. Bharata will be doomed!’

Saying thus, she poisoned Kaikeyi’s mind so much so

that the latter merely submitted to her - ‘What should

I do now?’

 

Manthara said ‘Long ago, when you assisted Dasharata

in a war, he granted you two boons. Exercise them!

One, let Bharata be crowned. Two, have Rama exiled

for 14 years.’

 

Kaikeyi was ready to ask these boons.

 

That night, when Dasharata came to her harem, she lay

there as if in abject misery. As instructed by Kuni,

she asked Dasharata for the two promises. It was a

blow to the king.

 

Dasharata pleaded with her to take back her request.

He beseeched her, ‘Let Bharata rule. But don’t

separate Rama from me. You know I can’t live without

him.’ Kaikeyi was stubborn.Begging with Kaikeyi all

through the night, Dasharata was completely wrecked by

grief and swooned.

 

At dawn, Kaikeyi summoned Rama and explained

Dasharata’s promise to her. ‘Your dad has given me a

word that you shall go to the forest!’ she said.

 

If we read this part of the story, we find that the

whole town was plunged into grief. Rama leaves for

the forest and the entire Ayodhya follows him. Wails

of sorrow sound in every home and there is

inauspiciousness all over. The queens Kausalya and

Sumitra wail, Vasishta cries, the whole kingdom is in

tears as they see Sita following Rama to the forest.

 

As Rama leaves the kingdom, he halts on the bank river

Sarayu for the night. The citizen who have followed

him, lie down to sleep. Rama sheds tears seeing their

pitiable plight – Such a flourishing and happy kingdom

as Ayodhya now bears a deserted and orphaned look! The

scene is now transformed into a gloomy one. There is

inauspiciousness all over. The king, who ruled for

60,000 years, passes away. The queens are widowed.

Bharata renounces the kingdom and is disturbed because

of the false blame on him.

 

In a moment, the whole scenario has turned

topsy-turvy. Who is the reason behind this? Is it

God? Fate? The king’s misconduct? No! It is thanks to

the woman with a hunchback (Kuni) named Manthara.

 

Introducing an insignificant character called

Manthara, Valmiki shows how she could cause a whole

kingdom, its king, princes and everyone to crash.

 

Any organization or setup should be wary of the fact

that it could be shaken to its roots by sinister

designs of even lowly employee from an insignificant

corner.

 

This important management precept which is a part and

parcel of our everyday life is being eloquently taught

to us by Ramayana.

 

Regards

 

Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare

 

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