H.H. Sri Swami Sivanandaji Maharaj
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H.H. Sri Swami Sivanandaji Maharaj Salutations to the great sage Valmiki, the matchless in beauty. He is an obedient son, author, Lord Rama and other heroes of the a kind brother, loving husband, a faithful Ramayana, and Sri Sita, a remembrance friend, an ideal king, a merciful enemy and of whom removes all obstacles in life and a lover of all living beings. All people adore bestows prosperity, auspiciousness and him.” success in all undertakings. Valmiki, reflecting over this flowing Valmiki once asked Narada, “O Venerable description, was walking along the banks of Rishi! Please tell me whether there is a perfect river Tamasa. He happened to see a pair of man in this world who is at once virtuous, Kraunchas (birds) sporting with each other brave, dutiful, truthful, noble, steadfast in in love. Suddenly the male bird was shot duty and kind to all beings.” dead by a cruel fowler and the female, seeing her mate rolling on the ground in the agony Narada replied, “ There is such a one, a of pain, screamed out most pitifully her prince of Ikshvaku’s line named Rama. He lamentations. The sage felt great pity at sight is virtuous, brave, gentle and wise. He is a of the fallen bird and his grieving spouse great hero. He loves his subjects immensely. and burst forth in the exclamation. “ Never, He is a protector of Dharma. He is firm and O fowler, shalt thou obtain rest, as thou hast steadfast. He is just and liberal. He is well killed a Krauncha in the midst of his love.” versed in the Vedas and in the science of arms. These words came out spontaneously in the He is unique in the possession of virtues and form of a musical verse having four feet of 1 eight syllables each (Anushtup metre). affection above everything else in this world and follows his brother in the forest leaving Then Brahma himself, the Creator of the all pleasures of the palace and leading the world, appeared before the poet and said, way to ward off all dangers. The description “ Sing Rama’s charming story in the same of nature in the Ramayana is most sublime melodious metre. As long as this world and beautiful. One can actually feel that the endures, as long as the stars shine in heaven, hills, the rivers, the trees and the birds are so long shall thy song spread among men.” really one with human joys and sorrows. The So saying Brahma vanished. He inspired the description of battle-scenes is magnificent. poet with the knowledge of Sri Rama’s whole The chief characteristic of the Ramayana story. Then Valmiki sat down in meditation is simplicity. Pathos and tenderness run and saw every event in Sri Rama’s story in through the whole poem. Poetry and morality detail in his Yogic vision. Then he began are charmingly united. There is loftiness of to write the Ramayana. The melody of moral tone. The Ramayana has a historical Ramayana was born from a heart of love and basis. It is a book of antiquity. It is not a mere pity for the wounded bird. allegoric poem. It is a marvellous inspiring book for all times, that has loomed large for Valmiki’s Ramayana contains 24,000 verses, centuries over the destinies of millions of which have been grouped into 500 chapters people and will certainly continue to do so and that again into seven sections. It contains for ages to come. genuine classical Sanskrit poetry. Rama’s young sons Kusa and Lava, were the first In the Bala Kanda (first section) the reciters to the world, who sang to music incarnation of Lord Rama and his childhood this reputed work. They came in the garb of life are described. Rama helps Vishvamitra ascetics from the hermitage of their teacher by guarding his sacrifice. He slays the ogress Valmiki, and sang the wonderful poem in the Tataka and Subahu. He frees Ahalya from her presence of their father Rama and the other curse. He breaks the bow of Siva and marries heroes of the story. Sita and annihilates the pride of Parasurama. The Ramayana is a marvellous book which In the Ayodhya Kanda (second section) contains the essence of all Vedas and all preparations are made for installing Rama sacred scriptures. It is a treasure for man. as the heir apparent. His stepmother Kaikeyi It is a reservoir which contains the nectar stands in the way and sends him into exile for of immortality. It delineates the character fourteen years. Rama’s brother Lakshmana of a son who kicks off the throne and the and wife Sita follow him. Raja Dasaratha pleasures of the senses and the world to fulfill (father) becomes very much afflicted at heart the words of his father and lives in the forest on account of his separation from Rama and for a period of fourteen years. It depicts the dies due to grief. Rama, Lakshmana and character of a father who sends even his most Sita are entertained by Guha, a hunter-chief. beloved son into exile in order to keep up his They cross the Ganga and meet the Rishi word. It delineates the character of an ideal, Bharadvaja. They go to Chitrakuta by advice chaste wife who is devoted to her husband till of the Rishi. They build a cottage made up the end of her life and shares the adversities of grass (Parna Kutir) and live there. Then of her husband and serves him untiringly in Bharata (another devoted brother) goes to the forest, and who also regards her husband the forest and insists Rama to return to the as God himself. Above all, it also points the country and finally takes Rama’s sandals character of a brother, who places brotherly alone. He places the sandals on the throne 2 and rules the kingdom in the name of Sri bears) finds out Sampati, brother of Jatayu, in Rama. Bharata himself lives at Nandigrama. a cave, who gives out facts. Hanuman climbs up the top of a hill by his direction and from In the Aranya Kanda (third section) Viradha, there he leaps across the ocean. a giant, attacks Rama and Lakshmana in the Dandaka forest. Rama kills him. Thereafter In the Sundara Kanda (fifth section) they pay a visit to the Rishis Sarabhanga, Hanuman’s exploits are described. During Sutikshna and Atri. Anasuya, wife of Atri, his aerial journey, Mainaka, an island peak, gives an inspiring discourse on the duties of invites Hanuman to rest on his top at the a wife to Sita. Then they meet Rishi Agastya. request of the ocean. Afterwards, Simhika, Rama receives celestial weapons from him. a monstress living in the ocean, drags him They encounter the giantess Surpanakha in down by catching his shadow. Hanuman kills the Panchavati forest, She is disfigured by her. Then he gets a distant view of Lanka and Lakshmana. Lakshmana cuts her nose and enters the city at night. He finds out Sita in ears. Khara and Trisiras (along with fourteen thousand giants), brothers of Surpanakha, are very much enraged. They fight against Rama. They are slain in the battle. Surpanakha goes to Lanka and complains to her brother Ravana. Under Ravana’s plan, Maricha, uncle of Ravana, assumes the form of a golden deer and appears before them. Sita requests Rama to get the deer for her. Rama proceeds to catch the deer and kills it. In the meantime, Ravana carries away Sita in the absence of Rama and Lakshmana. Jatayu, the king of the vultures, challenges Ravana, but is mortally wounded. Rama obtains all 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 with great devotion. the Ashoka grove. He gives her Rama’s token In the Kishkinda Kanda (fourth section) Rama and message Hanuman destroys the Ashoka meets Hanuman on the banks of Pampa. They grove. The Rakshasas imprison Hanuman. proceed to Mount Rishyamuka and make Hanuman frees himself and sets fire to an alliance with Sugriva. Sugriva kills Vali Lanka. He returns to the place where Rama with the help of Rama. Sugriva is crowned stays and gives Sita’s gem to Sri Rama. Sri as the king of Kishkindha. Rama consoles Rama is highly delighted when he receives Tara, wife of Vali. Thereupon Hanuman Sita’s token and her message. with a party of monkeys proceeds in search of Sita. He takes with him the ring of Rama In the Yuddha Kanda (sixth section) Nala as a token. He makes a vigorous search and (one of the monkey-chiefs) builds a bridge is not able to find Sita. Jambavan (chief of across the sea by the advice of the sea. The 3 heroes with a large army of monkeys cross the the intellect. Sita is peace. Rama is Jnana ocean and reach Lanka. Vibhishana (brother (wisdom). To kill the ten headed Ravana is to of Ravana) joins them and tells them how to kill egoism and curb the senses. To recover destroy Ravana and his army. Kumbhakarna, Sita is to attain the peace which the Jiva Indrajit and Ravana are killed in battle. (individual) has lost on account of desires. During the battle, both the parties of Rama and To attain Jnana is to have vision of Rama or Ravana use Astras (weapons charged with the the Supreme self. Mantras). Rama sends an Astra on Ravana’s He who crosses this ocean of delusion and party.