Ramayana – Dharma in Theory and Practice
Aadhou Rama
Thapo Vanadhi Gamanam, Hathwa Mrugam Kanchanam
Vaidhehi
Haranam, Jatayu Maranam, Sugreeva Sambhashanam|
Vali
Nigrahanam, Samudhra Tharanam, Lanka Puri Dahanam
Paschad
Ravana Kumbha Karna Haranam, Etat Iti Ramayanam||
Meaning: Formerly
Sri Rama went to the forest (where Rishis did penance) and killed the illusive
deer. Sita was carried away and Jatayu was killed. (Rama) met Sugriva, killed
Vali and crossed the ocean. The city of Lanka was burnt (by Hanuman). Ravana
and Kumbhakarna were then killed. Thus (is recited) the holy Ramayana.
The Ramayana
Salutations to the great Valmiki, Lord Rama
and other heroes of the Ramayana, and Sri Sita Devi,
a remembrance of whom removes all obstacles
in life and
bestows prosperity, auspiciousness and
success in all undertakings.
The Ramayana of
Valmiki is perhaps the most ancient and glorious epic in the world. It is known
as the Adikavyam, the first poem. Valmiki Ramayana contains 24,000 Slokas which
have been grouped into 500 chapters and again into seven Kandas or sections:
Bala, Ayodhya, Aranya, Kishkindha, Sundara, Yuddha and Uttara Kanda.
Ramayana is a marvellous
book which contains the essence of all the Vedas and all sacred scriptures. It
is a treasure for man. It is a reservoir which contains the nectar of
immortality. It delineates the character of a son who renounced the throne and
the pleasures of the world to fulfil the words of his father and lived in the
forest for a period of fourteen years. It depicts the character of a father who
sends even his most beloved son in exile in order to keep up his word. It
delineates the character of an ideal, chaste wife who is devoted to her husband
till the end of her life and shares the adversities of her husband and serves
him untiringly in the forest, and who also regards her husband as her God.
Above all, it also points the character of a brother who places brotherly
affection above everything else in this world and follows his brother to the
forest leaving all the pleasures of the palace, and leading the way to ward off
all dangers.
In Sri Rama we
find a dutiful son, an ideal husband and king. In Lakshmana we find an ideal
brother who shares the joys and sorrows of his eldest brother in city and
forest. Can a Hindu wife have a more nobler exemplar than the peerless Sita?
The very names of these great personages produce a holy thrill in every Hindu
heart and in the hearts of all those who read the Ramayana.
The sage Valmiki
taught the Ramayana to his little disciples, Lava and Kusa who were the first
to sing it to the world. They came in the garb of ascetics from the hermitage
of their teacher and sang the wonderful poem in the presence of their father
and other heroes of the story.
Those who study
the Sundara Kanda daily with faith and devotion attain wealth, happiness, sons
and prosperity.
SYNOPSIS of RAMAYANA by Swami Sivananda
1. BALA KANDA
Hari Om!
Rama helps
Visvamitra by guarding his sacrifice. He slays Tataka and Subahu. He frees
Ahalya from the curse. He breaks the bow of Siva and marries Janaki. He
annihilates the pride of Parasurama.
2. AYODHYA KANDA
Preparations are
made for installing Rama as the heir apparent. His step-mother Kaikeyi stands
in the way and sends him into exile. Raja Dasaratha becomes very much afflicted
at heart on account of his separation from Rama and dies on account of grief.
Rama, Lakshmana and Sita are entertained by Guha, a hunter-chief. They cross
the Ganga and meet the Rishi Bharadvaja. They then go to Chitrakoota on the
advice of the Rishi. They build a cottage made of grass and leaves there.
Bharata comes and asks Rama to return and take back the administration of his
kingdom. Rama refuses. Then Bharata returns and takes Rama’s sandals. He places
the sandals on the throne and rules the kingdom in the name of Sri Rama. He
himself lives at Nandigram.
3. ARANYA KANDA
Viradha, a giant,
attacks them in the Dandaka forest. Rama kills him. They then pay a visit to the
Rishis Sarabhanga, Suteekshna and Atri. Anasuya, wife of Atri, gives an
inspiring discourse on the duties of a wife to Sita. Then they meet Rishi
Agastya. Rama receives celestial weapons from him. They encounter the giantess
Soorpanakha in the Panchavati forest. She is disfigured by Lakshmana, who cuts
off her nose and ears. Khara and Trisiras, brothers of Soorpanakha, were very
much enraged. They fought against Rama and Lakshmana. They were slain in the
battle.
Maricha, uncle of
Ravana, assumed the form of a golden deer and appeared before them. Sita
requests Rama to get the deer for her. Rama proceeds to catch the deer and
kills it. Ravana carries away Sita in the absence of Rama and Lakshmana.
Jatayu, the king of the vultures, challenges Ravana, but he is mortally
wounded. Sri Rama obtains all the information about Sita from the dying Jatayu.
He is very much afflicted at heart. Subsequently Rama and Lakshmana kill
Kabandha near the lake Pampa. Then they meet the pious Sabari. She offers them
roots and fruits.
4. KISHKINDHA KANDA
Sri Rama meets
Hanuman on the banks of Pampa. They proceed to Mount Rishyamuka and make an
alliance with Sugriva. Sugriva kills Vali with the help of Sri Rama and he is
crowned the king of Kishkindha. Rama consoles Tara.
Thereupon Hanuman
with a party of monkeys proceeds in search of Sita. He takes with him the ring
of Sri Rama as a token. He makes a vigorous search and is not able to find
Sita. Jambavan finds Sampati, brother of Jatayu, in a cave. Hanuman climbs up
the top of a hill on his direction and from there he leaps across the ocean.
5. SUNDARA KANDA
Mainaka, an island
peak, invites Hanuman to rest on its top at the request of the ocean. In his
aerial journey Simhika, a monstress of the ocean, drags him down by catching
his shadow. Hanuman kills her.
Then he gets a
distant view of Lanka and enters the city at night. He finds out Sita in the
Asoka grove. He gives her Rama’s token and message. The Rakshasas imprison
Hanuman. Hanuman frees himself and sets fire to Lanka. He returns to the place
where Rama is staying and gives Sita’s gem to Sri Rama. Sri Rama is highly
delighted when he receives Sita’s token and message.
6. YUDDHA KANDA
Nala builds a
bridge across the sea on the advice of the ocean. The heroes with a large army
of monkeys cross the ocean and reach Lanka. Vibhishana joins them and tells
them how to destroy Ravana and his army. Kumbhakarna, Indrajit and Ravana are
killed in battle. Sita is rescued. Vibhishana is then crowned as king.
Sri Rama, with his
party returns to Ayodhya in the flying car called Pushpaka. Rama is crowned as
Emperor. The people of his kingdom feel extremely happy.
Sita’s honour is
tested in the fire. She comes out more glorious and effulgent than ever.
7. UTTARA KANDA
Sri Rama’s reign
is called Rama Rajya. There is righteousness everywhere. Everywhere there are
plenty and prosperity. There are neither dacoits nor thieves. There is neither
disease nor sorrow. There is no cheating in the markets and shops. There is no
adultery. The pilgrims visit safely the sacred places and shrines. Property and
life are quite safe. A purse of gold may be exposed without danger in the midst
of a highway.
The four castes
duly observe their Dharmas. Sri Rama goes back to His supreme abode after a long
and prosperous rule.
Continue
to read:
“Philosophy
of Right and Wrong” by Swami Sivananda
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