Hari
OM
Story-day is for cultural exploration, puraanas and
parables and finding out about leading lights in spiritual philosophy.
In
India, this has been going on for centuries and continues even today. However,
the heros, the storylines and the outcomes and rules given, are all contained
in the puraanas - the ultimate soap operas! महाभारत/Mahaabharata and रामायन/Ramaayana are
beyond par for giving the common person a 'guide to life'. There are countless
visual re-tellings available, both in anime and live actor format; as recently
as 2008, almost the whole of India stopped when the epic was given a modern
makeover for television. Indians have their imaginations sparked by
scripture. It is a wonderful thing.
The
Ramaayana itself falls into the स्मृति/smriti category of Sanskrit works; it means
'remembered'. Given the oral history within Sanskrit, this means that the story
has existed as long as memory and was learned in this way also. The commitment
to written form is attributed to sage Valmiki. Many other variants arose, but
the Valmiki version is considered authoritative, though the
"Tulsi-Ramaayan" is much favoured when staging. (Sage Goswami
Tulsidas wrote the Ramcharitmanas - the 'lake of the deeds of Rama' - and it gives all the essentials). As with all such things, there is debate
about whether the tale is pure fiction, myth, or fact. Mostly these stories are
confined to the 'myth' basket. It is
worth noting, though, that myth - like smoke - cannot exist without the 'fire'
which lit it. What is important here is that both the Mahaabharata and
Ramaayana provide a structure for life, demonstrating the pitfalls, showing the
benefits of a constrained and devout life and giving examples of the best of
daily living. In this respect Sri Rama, considered to be the
seventh incarnation of Vishnu, arrived in human form and lived a full life with
his people, setting them an example of living divinely on Earth. (Other
incarnations all came for specific periods to address particular situations -
notable other exception being Sri Krishna.) Rama was the ideal son, the ideal
husband, the ideal brother, the ideal
leader, ...and the original 'Sun King'!
The
accepted history in Sanskritam, then, is that Sri Rama was born to Kausalya,
one of king Dasharatha's three wives, in Treta Yuga (we will talk about yugas
at later time); he had half siblings in the form of Bharata (mother Kaikeyi)
and Lakshmana and Shatrughna (mother Sumitra). All the brothers shared in their
education equally. As happens in families, there can be some bonds a little
stronger than others. Shatrughna showed
particular care for Bharata and Lakshmana revered Rama.
When
Rama was but 16 years, sage Vishwamitra came to आयोध्य/Aayodhya and requested of
Dasharatha that Rama and Lakshmana be sent with the sage to slay the राक्षसाः/raakshasa-s (demons) who were disturbing the forest ashram. The king was reluctant but allowed it and
Rama proved his worth even at this age, as an archer and hunter.
Vishvamitra
then brought the two brothers to Mithila where king Janaka was holding स्वयंवर /swayamvara… a process of finding a suitor for his daughter Sita. The test was
to lift and string the mighty bow which belonged to Lord Rudra (Shiva). All the
princes failed - but now came Rama! He
not only lifted and stringed the bow, but his strength was such he snapped the
bow in half. Sita became Rama's wife, and the three other princes also found
wives.
When
Dashartha grew old, he wanted to install Rama as the crown prince. However, due to a promise he had given to
Kaikeyi long before and which she now reminded him (as pushed by her crooked
maid Manthara). She was to be granted two boons. For one, she asked that Rama
should be banished for fourteen years. For the second, she asked that her own
son, Bharata, be made crown prince.
The
king was distraught, but also wished to honour his word. Rama, hearing of it,
showed fine example by saying he would gladly accept the exile. He, Sita-ji and
Lakshmana left the palace and headed into the forest. The loss of his fine son
caused such pain to Dasharatha, he died. Bharata, who had great reverence and
love for Rama, tried in vain to bring Rama back. Failing, he ultimately
installed Rama's padukas (sandals) on the throne, refusing to sit there
himself, and ruled from the floor beneath them in the name of Rama.
Rama
and companions came to Panchavati. Here, they passed happy and devout times.
However, things started to go awry when the rakshasa Maricha deluded the
brothers by taking form of a golden deer. Sita so wanted that deer (desire!!!)
that Rama went in search. When Marichi then mimicked Rama's voice callling for
help, Lakshmana too was lured away. Then the king of Lanka, Raavana, was able
to trick Sita into thinking he was a sadhu looking for alms. Having heart, she
crossed the line of fire which Lakshmana had left to protect her and thus
Raavana kidnapped her. [This king is often
depicted with ten heads and as some sort of devil; however this is symbolism
for the fact that he was actually a very talented man in his own right, being a
polymath - ie with many 'heads' - but plagued with a materialistic and highly egotistical
personality...which does 'bedevil' the unwary!] He carried Sita to Lanka
in his airship - and you thought science fiction was new! - killing the king of
the birds, Jatayu, who tried valiantly to save the queen. In Lanka, Sita was
pleaded by Raavana to become his queen, but she was fully absorbed in the
thought of Rama. Jealous Raavana therefore imprisoned her in a garden grove.
Rama's
search for Sita is long and arduous. He and Lakshmana find the dying Jatayu,
who is able to give them the news till the point of his stabbing; they also
meet the king of the वानराः/vaanara-s (monkeys), Sugriiva, helping him in his own
battle against his brother Vali (who had usurped the vanara throne), thus
making allies. Among them, of course, was Hanuman-ji, who became the most
devoted servant of Sri Rama.
When
all the allies arrived at the foot of India, it was found that there was an
ocean between them and Lanka - therefore Sita. Hanuman plays his greatest part
now, as he is able to summon the powers of his birth and fly across the ocean,
defeat the rakshasa defences and get to Sita, bringing her a ring token and
news of her impending rescue. All the animal armies, from the smallest squirrel
(who earned the three stripes which adorn his back for his efforts), to the
mightiest bears and elephants and all the monkeys and of course the human
allies Rama and Lakshmana had been able to rally, were able to build a bridge
by which they could cross to Lanka and there ensued a mighty battle. Raavana
was finally defeated and Sita restored to Rama.
They
returned to Aayodhya in Northern India by pushpaka - the airships. There they
found Bharata, still serving as regent and rejoicing at the return of the
rightful heir to the throne. Thus began
the long and prosperous reign of Rama which is considered to be the 'Golden
Age'. It is written that, "untimely death visited not the subjects of
Rama. They enjoyed freedom from disease. Women had not to bewail the loss of
their husbands or children, for there was not war. No robbers, cheats or false
dealers were there; for each man loved his neighbour as himself. Trees yielded
fruits per their rightful season; harvest never failed and people were
satisfied with the fruits of their labour.
Everywhere there was joy, health and happiness."
All images are of Sydney branch of Chinmaya Mission Yuvakendra production, presented in 2011 before Guruji and Swami Swaroopananda-ji, head of Australasia and UK.