BEAUTIES OF RAMAYANAM : 3.3.'3,4,5,6.'

08/08/2018
3. INTRODUCTION OF MAIN CHARACTERS : 3.3.'3,4,5,6'.

3. DASARATHA

Dasaratha literally means one who has restrained or controlled his ten organs or one who has the ten organs under control. It is the Jiva proper and so we find Dasaratha being addressed as Jiva in Ramayana. This Dasaratha or Jiva is always very anxious to get out of this ocean of Samsara. But for Dasaratha (Jiva personified), it was in no case possible to do so, unless he realised Brahman or the Self who is no other than Rama. The Jiva has to become one with the Self and as such Dasaratha, the Jiva, had to do proper Sadhana or penance for putting under full restraint all his ten Indriyas or organs, to make it one with the Self. Dasaratha ruled over this body, the city of ten organs or gates for full 1100 years. It is only after controlling the organs and becoming one with the Self, that Dasaratha, the Jiva, is in a position to get the Divine vision—Divya Chakshu or Jnana, the eternal light or illumination in the form of Payasa, Sringi Rishi being the Higher Manas or the Intellect proper (personified), the guide or the Acharya thereof.

4. RAVANA

Ravana was well versed in the Vedas and Vedanta. He was a great Yogi. He was chief amongst the performers of the Agnihotra sacrifice and other rites. He was a great hero whom even the gods could not conquer. He granted more than what was asked of him. He supported his dependants and friends liberally. He contributed to the prosperity of his friends and to the destruction of his enemies.

Ravana was not a monster. He was a great and mighty king. He ruled his country Lanka with masterfulness and skill. He was an autocrat.

5. THE RING EPISODE

According to Goswami Tulasidas, Hanuman saw Sita exclaiming to herself, "Heaven is unkind, my troubles cannot come to an end without fire. Trijata said there is no fire to be had at night. She too has gone away. I see the heaven all bright with sparks but not one of them, not a single star drops to this earth. The moon is all ablaze but no fire comes from it, as if all these knew, what a poor wretch I am. Ye, Asoka trees, would you not hear my prayers and answer to your name and rid me of my pain. You are shining with your flame coloured opening buds, please supply me with fire to consume my body." This, Hanuman saw with his own eyes and to him also, a single moment seemed to be a Yuga and after thinking to himself, he threw down the signet ring, as though a spark had fallen from the Asoka tree. Sita stared up with joy and clasped it in her hand.

A fine clue and an explanation to this "ring problem" has been discovered in the Ramayana Reliefs, from Prambanan in Java.

Ravana in his magic aircraft carried off Sita. Ravana, with his ten heads and twenty hands was holding Sita. The bird Jatayu fought with Ravana and received a death wound from Ravana. Sita made haste to give to Jatayu, the bird, her ring to be handed over to Rama. Jatayu handed over to Sri Rama the ring on his arrival.

6. EPILOGUE

In the epic of Ramayana there is much exaggeration and over-statement of facts, which are necessary for the education and edification of the devout masses. The epic was not composed with a view to create history or record facts, but a rationalist student may find in the epic, ample testimony of facts which enhance and redound to the glory of the divine personalities. Before the exile of Rama, the limit of the Empire of India was up to the Vindhya Mountains. Rama with the assistance of the native tribes of South India, conquered South India and proceeded to Ceylon and defeated and killed the mighty King Ravana with the assistance of Sri Hanumanji, who came to the rescue of Sri Rama, with his vast and mighty army of native soldiers, who were not mercenaries but who willingly offered their services as soldiers to fight in the righteous war. It was thus that Ceylon was conquered and subsequently Sumatra, Java and the Bali Islands, as also Burma and Siam. Sri Rama was thus the first great King, Emperor of greater and united India, and the like of whom has never since appeared on the surface of this earth.

The epic war was not waged merely for the rescue of Sri Janaki Devi. The wicked, invincible Ravana could not be killed by any other person than Sri Rama. Rama alone could slay him.

In the history of the world, there are no two such sublime personages as King Rama and his Queen Sita. Rama is considered to be the ideal king and the ideal husband. The benevolent and democratic rule of the nation which was happy under his rule has never been seen since then.

The holy stream of the Ramayana rises from Mount Valmiki and joins the ocean Rama. May she, like Ganga, purify the three worlds!

The End