The great Rishis and Munis of our Bharatavarsham studied Nature.It encompassed holistic observation, meditation and filtration of this knowledge through the ages metamorphosing all this study into wisdom. The resulting essence was scientific,logical and well-researched. It was then bequeathed to us and is our Samskriti. We are thus the inheritors of their sacred spiritual contemplation,wisdom, devotion and dedication.
However, through the ages, many other thoughts and beliefs were added on which were extraneous and unnecessary. But the core structure of our Dharma retains the truth. We cannot and need not question the authority of our Vedas and Puranams. They are fundamental truths. If we follow them we will never falter and go wrong.
About 50-60 years ago we in our Bharatavarsham had never heard of terms such as depression and emotional problems. It was because we had a certain way of life.....of including the spirit that ensured healthy mind and body. We used our mind, emotions and thoughts, body and soul for harmonious living.
Shravanam that was a great way to imbibe wisdom.
Even I remember as a child going to the Asthika Samaj and listening to Katha-Kathakalakshepam by very knowledgeable Pandits who sang, chanted and explained Srimad Bhagavatham, Sri Ramayanam and our Puranams. Elderly men and women used to throng these places to do Shravanam of such sacred Kathas and Pravachanams.
As an aside, all our dance forms too originated from our great epics which form the basis of our Ithihasam.
Kathak, Kathakali, Manipuri, Bharatanatyam,Kuchipudi and Mohiniattam all have spiritual and sacred origins.
And let us remember and never repeat the inappropriate word myth. Ithihasam is history. Myth is imagined and untrue.
Shravanam makes great impact on minds. As we listen our minds carve images on the screen of our inner eyes.
श्री गणेशाय नमः
The Sri Ramayanam.
The main character is Sri Ramachandra who is Maryaada Purushottham.
Every problem encountered in this life has a solution exemplified by the life of Sri Rama.
Buddhi is superior to everything and listening to the right knowledge is most important. We have to learn to deal with emotions in a positive way.
Ramakatha shows us the way to live life. Krishna katha is for listening not for living life.
Guruji first dealt with the topic of Sri Rama Jayam.
After 'Ravana vadham' and conclusion of Rama-Ravana Yuddham was the task of giving this auspicious news to Sri Seeta Devi. The sacred task could have been done by Sri Lakshmana, Sri Anjaneya or Vibheeshana brother of Ravana.
Sri Hanuman ji was chosen due to his intelligence, clarity of Buddhi and word precision ..... he is called 'vaakapatu'one who knows how to converse with logic, correct expression and wisdom.
Sri Hanumanji goes to Sri Seeta Devi and says - SRI RAMA JAYAM and the message is delivered precisely and perfectly.
Now as a child I saw my aunt (Periyamma) making beautiful 'kolam' in the Pooja medai and then writing Sri Rama Jayam. I was taught the art of kolam by my maternal grandmother and followed the same in our home at Prayag - Allahabad. Have also seen as Sri Guruji pointed out that at the beginning of a letter one always began with the sacred ॐ or Sri Rama Jayam.
These 'sacred rituals' go back into the immemorial history of our sacred nation.
It is believed that to repeatedly say Rama, Rama, Rama will usher in the auspicious and remove all negativities and sorrows.
Ramanaamam is 'tarakanaam' - janma rakshaka mantram that will deliver us across this ocean of life,give us Moksham.
Shiva tells Parvati Devi that just to chant 3 times Rama is equivalent to taking 1000 names of Vishnu.
श्री राम राम रामेती रमे रामे मनोरमे,
सहस्र नाम तत्तुल्यम् श्री राम नाम वरानने!
So if we can achieve so much just by chanting this name how much more power meditating on Sri Rama will have !
VATSALYA RAMA -
Sri Rama was the son of Kaushalya and was born after 12 months. And so too were Lakshmana, Bharata and Shatrughna. When he was just 11 Vishvamitra Muni took him to destroy the Rakshasas for the purpose of याग संरक्षणम।
Then Sri Rama goes on to break the Shiva Dhanush at the court of Raja Janaka. Janaka Maharaja gladly gives him the hand of Seeta but Sri Rama says he needs his father's consent before accepting Seeta.
Sri Rama was extremely obedient and respectful to his parents. Each day would begin with obeisance to them..... and this reminds me of my Mama whom I never ever saw but who was an ideal son to my grandparents.
Dasharatha Raja built a palace so safe and secure to safeguard the infant Sri Rama in every way.
It is said that Raja Dasharatha had 60,000 wives. It was because Parashurama in rage was killing off Kshathriya kings. In order to escape death every year King Dasharatha would marry one wife in order to avoid death at the hands of Parashuram who refrained from killing a newly married person for one year.
Again this took me to a recent fact where Sri Lankan L.T.T.E. recruits were not asked to go to war if they were married.
Thus granting marriage a sacred and secure state. Perhaps this has something to do with historicity because after all Sri Lanka is where the Rama-Ravana Yuddham took place.
PATIENCE
Sri Rama by character was obedient, kind and patient and most of all with his parents.
He goes on exile for 14 years and when brother Bharat gives him the news of his father's passing and requests him to return as King, he refuses as the sanctioned period was not yet over. He was Kartavyaparayan and would not waive his duty at any cost.
SAHODARATTVAM
Affection for brothers and sisters was beyond everything......
Bharat is the son of Kaikeyi whom she wished to become king after Dasharatha.
During the exile period, Bharat comes to take back Sri Rama to Ayodhya with a grand retinue of people and soldiers. Lakshman misconstrues and thinks that Bharat wishes to fight Sri Rama and so warns him.However,Sri Rama is so unselfish and affectionate towards Bharat that he declares that if Bharat has that mindset, he would gladly spend the rest of his life in exile.
Sri Rama says that for his brother Bharat he would stay permanently in the Dandakaaranya forest.
He was so proud of his brothers and loved them beyond his very life.
These days people fight for property. And yet what an ideal and model brother Sri Rama was!
Sri Rama knew how to handle people and situations with wisdom and control while showing respect to each and everyone without belittling anyone . he never hurt or harmed anyone and yet warded off harm most wisely.
It was like using the vine called 'raajathaali' that deters snakes without causing harm to anyone.
He used his inborn wisdom.
SAKHYABHAAVAM
At Shringavelpur, Guha a poor tribal welcomes Sri Rama with open arms and tells him to stay with him.
Sri Rama comforts him as a precious friend and shows great love and respect and asks him to ferry him across the river to go into the deep forest.
Very gently he tells him that his staying there would cause worry to the people of Ayodhya as they would keep on visiting him if he stayed on in Shringavelpur.
Later on during his PATTAABHISHEKAM friend Guha is given great importance again demonstrating his innate 'saakhyabhaavam'.
His friendship for Sugreeva also demonstrates his sincerity.
Sri Rama promises Sugreeva that he would get back his wife for him and takes an oath in front of Agni. He indeed kept his word.
Sri Ramachandra Bhagavan has been 'maligned and accused' unfairly for certain actions he took during his life time.
The incident of Vali-vadha is when Sri Rama shoots and kills Vali by hiding behind a tree. Sri Rama has been much maligned for this killing by people who do not know the context.
The dying Vali asks Sri Rama to explain his actions. He wonders as to the reason. Did he lose his mind because of his separation from Seeta?
There are many reasons.
Firstly, Vali had kidnapped Sugreeva's wife which was Adharmic.
Sri Rama goes on to explain that as a Kshathriya King he had the right to hunt animals. This right entailed him to hide. So it was fair.
In addition, there was a boon given to Vali. This boon empowered Vale to get 50% of the strength of the rival fighting against him. So Sri Rama had to hide from being seen by Vali to prevent this loss of strength.
The dying Vali agrees in the end and tells Sri Rama that he is Dharmavaan and Neethivaan and that he had questioned him as he wished to hear these truth from Sri Rama himself.
SEETARAMAN (SRIRAMA of SEETA)
The pure and sacred love Sri Rama had for Seeta is undeniably exclusive and exemplary.
In the Kamba Ramayanam, Sri Rama's love for Seeta is shown to be so great that people started gossiping, ridiculing and questioning as to whether Sri Rama had gone to Vashishtha Muni's ashram to study the Vedas or to learn how to maintain a wife!
Sri Rama was a man of one word,one determination and one action, never ever wavering.
His inner and outer radiance and beauty were beyond description. His love and affection for Seeta was so great that he indulged her beyond everything. His love for her was beyond self and ego.
Once in a small ego clash he lost and Seeta won. But he tells her that losing to her is his joy, his comfort. He had so much love for her!
AGNIPRAVESHAM
Sri Rama tells Seeta after he brings her back from Sri Lanka that he feels strange to look at her after she has lived in someone else's house.
The people of Ayodhya too look at Seeta with suspicion.
But he being an ideal husband knowing her to be a Pativrata realises his Dharma to protect her Maryaada.
So he says - When 'painful' eyes look at a flame it hurts....... And by saying so he turns the people against himself as he faults his own vision.
All the people now side with the innocent Seeta.
Thus Sri Rama protects Seeta's impeccable reputation which was known to all.
So again Sri Rama puts himself second and takes the blame on himself.
Thus the Srimad Ramayanam is like the sun lighting our lives through every situation...... with Sri Rama at the core.
We are alive today.....and in comparison to so many we are more than fortunate.
My advice to you all is -
Live life as it comes to you.
Everything happens for good.
Sri Rama's charitram teaches us this.
See Bhagavan in everything, live like Sri Rama.
Accept, face life.
Rama, Rama, Rama, Rama, Rama, Rama, Rama,
Rama, Rama, Rama-Seeta, Rama, Rama, Rama !
EESVARORAKSHA, SARVAMEVASHUBHAAYA !
This was Sri Guruji Gopalvallidasar's Upanyasam on Sri Ramachandra Charitram.
Sri Gurubhyo Namaha!
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