Ramayana: a Divine Drama Actors in the Divine Play As Scripted by Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba
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Ramayana: A Divine Drama Actors in the Divine Play as scripted by Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba Volume IV Compiled by Tumuluru Krishna Murty Edited by Desaraju Sri Sai Lakshmi © Tumuluru Krishna Murty ‘Anasuya’ C-66 Durgabai Deshmukh Colony Ahobil Mutt Road Hyderabad 500007 Ph: +91 (40) 2742 7083/ 8904 Typeset and formatted by: Desaraju Sri Sai Lakshmi Cover Designed by: Insty Print 2B, Ganesh Chandra Avenue Kolkata - 700013 Website: www.instyprint.in VOLUME IV It is Love that creates, sustains and engulfs all. Without Love, no one can claim to have succeeded in deciphering God and His handiwork, the Universe. God is Love; live in Love---that is the direction indicated by the sages. Love can grow only in a well-ploughed heart, free from brambles. So, the heart has to be prepared by means of Naamasmarana (constant recital of the Name). Charge every second of time with the Divine current that emanates from the Name. Develop the firm conviction that God is within you and that you are Divine. Live in love and make your entire life a saga of love. Through love, you can achieve anything. Without love, you cannot be successful. Love helps you to know your Self. In order to experience love, you do not need to approach anybody; nor do you need to exert yourself. Turn you vision inward. - Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba God is love, live in love. TABLE OF CONTENTS FOR VOLUME IV 10. THE VANARAS 11 10.1 HANUMAN 13 10.2 SUGRIVA 117 10.3 VALI 145 10.4 TARA 161 10.5 ANGADA 173 11. NOTABLE SEERS AND SAGES IN RAMAYANA 195 11.1 INTRODUCTION 197 11.2 AGASTHYA 217 11.3 PANCHAKANYA - AHALYA 233 11.4 SAGE ATHRI 247 11.5 BHARADWAJA MAHARSHI 253 11.6 PARASURAMA 275 11.7 SAGE SARABHANGA 295 11.8 SAGE SUTHEEKSHNA 301 11.9 ADIKAVI VALMIKI 307 11.10 VASHISTHA 337 11.11 VISWAMITRA 381 12. ASSOCIATES OF RAMA DURING HIS EXILE 451 12.1 GUHA 453 12.2 JAMBAVANTHA 477 12.3 JATAYU AND SAMPATHI 489 12.4 SABARI 509 12.5 SQUIRREL 529 INDEX 535 Jaya Jaya Rama Janaki Ram ShyamalaKomalaNayanabhi Ram Natavara Shyama Sundara Rama Pathitodharaka Pattabhi Rama Bhakthodharaka Prasanthi Rama|| - Inspired composition by Tumuluru LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS FIGURE 1: RAMA WITH MONKEY CHIEFS 11 FIGURE 2: HANUMAN SEES THE FORLORN FORM OF SITA 39 FIGURE 3: HANUMAN’S TAIL IS SET ON FIRE 59 FIGURE 4: RAMA MEETS SUGRIVA 117 FIGURE 5: HANUMAN MEETING RAMA AND LAKSHMANA AT RISHYAMUKA DISGUISED AS A BRAHMIN 125 FIGURE 6: VALI 145 FIGURE 7: THE FIGHT BETWEEN VALI AND SUGRIVA 153 FIGURE 8: TARA 161 FIGURE 9: TARA LAMENTS THE DEATH OF VALI 167 FIGURE 10: ANGADA GOES AS AN ENVOY TO RAVANA 181 FIGURE 11: AHALYA 233 FIGURE 12: LIBERATION OF AHALYA 239 FIGURE 13: HERMITAGE OF SAGE ATHRI 247 FIGURE 14: MAHARSHI BHARADWAJA 253 FIGURE 15: PARASURAMA CONFRONTS RAMA 287 FIGURE 16: ADIKAVI VALMIKI 307 FIGURE 17: RAMA RELEASES AHALYA FROM CURSE 381 FIGURE 18: MOTHER GAYATRI AT PRASANTHI NILAYAM 437 FIGURE 19: CHIEFTAIN OF NISHADAS 453 FIGURE 20: RULER OF THE BEARS 477 FIGURE 21: JATAYU BATTLES RAVANA 495 FIGURE 22: SALVATION OF SABARI 509 10. THE VANARAS Figure 1: Rama with Monkey chiefs Source of the Photo: (From Wikipedia) Description English: "Ramachandra standing in a rocky landscape with Lakshmana and the bear and monkey chiefs of his army" "The Chiefs of Rama-Chandra's army. 1. Rama Chandra. 2. Lakshmana. 3. King Sugriva. 4. Hanuman. 5. Jambavan. 6. Angada. 7. Arunda. 8. Nila. 9. Samrambha. 10. Nala. 11. Vanara. 12. Durvinda. 13. Rambha." Date 19th century (early) Source http://www.britishmuseum.org/research/search_the_collection_databas e/search_object_image.aspx?objectId=182857&partId=1&searchText =rama&fromADBC=ad&toADBC=ad&orig=%2fresearch%2fsearch_t he_collection_database.aspx&images=on&numPages=10¤tPag e=3&asset_id=283217 Author unknown Permission This is a faithful photographic reproduction of an original two- (Reusing dimensional work of art. The work of art itself is in the public domain this file) 10.1 HANUMAN HANUMAN Hanuman is a Hindu deity, who is an ardent devotee of Rama, a central character in the Indian epic Ramayana. A general among the Vanaras, an ape-like race of forest-dwellers, Hanuman is an incarnation of the divine and a disciple of Lord Sri Rama in the struggle against the demon king Ravana. - From Wikipedia, the free encyclopaedia Hanuman was a great hero in the story of Ramayana. He led an army of Vanaras in his holy mission of searching for the whereabouts of Sita, who was kept in captivity in Lanka by Ravana. He was a very intelligent and faithful servant of Rama. He was a person of noble qualities and great physical strength. In his noble qualities and might he was unparalleled. In fact, one whole chapter, namely Sundara Kanda was devoted to describe the qualities of head and heart in the Ramayana. (SSS Vol.41 p.115-116) 15 Ramayana: A Divine Drama – Vol. IV PRAYER TO HANUMAN Manoj-avam Maruti Tulya Vegam Jitendriyam Bhudhi-mataam Varishtam Vaataatmajam Vaanara-yoota-mukhyam Sri Ramadootam Shirasaa Namami || I surrender to Hanuman, the messenger of Lord Rama, whose speed is as swift as the mind and as swift as the wind, who has controlled his sense organs and is the most intelligent among the intelligent ones; who is the son of Vayu and the chief of the monkey tribe. Anjaneyam ati-paata-lananam Kaanchanaadri Kamaneeya Vigraham Paarijaata-tarumoola vasinam Bhavayami pavamana nandanam || Anjana’s son, his face deep red, His body shining like a golden mountain Dwelling always at the root of the Parijata tree, On him, I meditate; the Wind-god’s son. Yatra yatra Raghunatha Keertanam Tatra tatra Krita mastakanjalim Bhaashpa-vaari paripoorna lochanam Marutim namada rakshasa-antakam || In all those nooks and corners, where the name of Lord Raghunath (Rama) is sung about, in all such nooks and corners is he (Hanuman),is present. With tears flooding from the eyes, 16 Hanuman salutations to my Lord Maruthi, He who saw the end of all evil ones. HANUMAN 1 : Son of the Wind God and a great ``devotee servant'' of Rama. He was part man, part monkey. (Glossary for the Vahinis) BIRTH OF HANUMAN2 The eagle which took away Sumitra’s pudding bowl dropped it in the lap of Anjana Devi while she was meditating. (She picked up the bowl and happily ate the pudding3. As a result, she gave birth to the great hero of Ramayana (SSS Vol.41 p.112). Hanuman was closely connected to Rama, Lakshmana, Bharatha and Shatrughna as he was born to Anjana Devi out of the sacred pudding that the queens of Dasaratha had partaken. Because of this reason Hanuman felt a close link with Lord Rama and played an important role in His Mission. (SSB 2002 p.46) HANUMAN MEETS RAMA AND LAKSHMANA: They (Rama and Lakshmana) approached the Rishyamuka Mountain Range. Amidst the hills of that range, Sugriva was 1 Also spelt as Hanumaan 2 Also known as Anjaneya 3 An eagle swooped down and carried away the bowl and left it on the Matanga Mountain. Anjana Devi found the bowl and partook of the sacred pudding. Consequently she became pregnant and gave birth to Hanuman. (SSS Vol. 41 p.56) 17 Ramayana: A Divine Drama – Vol. IV residing as a refugee, with his Ministers and Courtiers. Sugriva4 espied the two brothers, nearing the hills and was astonished at their noble mien and mighty stride. They appeared to be Divine. He called Hanuman to his presence and said, “Mighty hero! Do not delay any longer, go. Inquire who they are and why they have come and from where.” Sugriva gave him various directions and suggestions to meet all contingencies. Hanuman hurried towards the strangers by leaps and bounds. Reaching their presence, he fell at their feet in great reverence. He said, “Oh Shining Ones, You arouse deep wonder and curiosity in me. Your charming forms are attracting my mind with a strange yearning. You look so tender and innocent. Indeed, you are not mere men. Of that, I am convinced. I guess you are the Divine pair Nara-Narayana, come down on earth. Won’t you tell me why you are going through this jungle with no others to serve or guide you?” Hanuman questioned them in great humility and reverence. Rama appreciated the devotion and humility of Hanuman. There was a smile on his face when he replied, “We are the sons of Emperor Dasaratha, ruler of Ayodhya. We entered the forest. This is my brother, Lakshmana. My name is Rama. My wife too came with me into the forest; but while we were residing at Panchavati, she was carried away by some Rakshasa when both of us were absent from our cottage. Now we are moving around in this area, searching for her, intent on knowing her whereabouts and on regaining her.” Rama spoke to Hanuman 4 See Chapter, Sugriva - Sugriva meets Rama and Lakshmana: 18 Hanuman without any inhibitions, the plain facts which could explain their presence near their range of hills. He said, “Well, I have given you my antecedents and story. I would like to know about yours, too.” Hanuman realised that the brothers were his own Overlords. So he fell at their feet once again to pay respectful homage. Rising up, and standing before them on one side, shedding streams of tears in sheer joy and devotion, he could not speak at all. At last, gathering courage, and standing with folded arms, he said in a faltering voice: “Lord, I am a stupid ignoramus.