International Journal of Pure and Applied Mathematics Volume 118 No. 20 2018, 289-293 ISSN: 1314-3395 (on-line version) url: http://www.ijpam.eu Special Issue ijpam.eu

Modern-day leadership concepts inspired from Lord Sri ’s “Kalyaana Gunas”: Excerpts from

 Sreejith.A Dr.Jeayaram Subramanian Department of Management Assistant Professor Amrita Vishwa Vidypeetham Department of Management Amritapuri Campus,KeralaIndia Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham [email protected] Amritapuri Campus,Kerala [email protected] Abstract—The leadership concepts have been developed since ancient times. Valmiki Ramayana demonstrates II. LITERATURE REVIEW each and every situation of human life. According to A. Leadership Valmiki Ramayana Lord Sri Rama is the only person in the earth with all the good qualities of an ideal leader. Leadership is the skill of influencing and motivating people This paper mainly deals with analyzing the leadership and achieving acommon goal. Leadership makes society, characteristics (Kalyaana Gunas) of Lord Sri Rama and Organization,and country effective and prosperous. Every incorporating it with current leader’s characteristics in King ruled the world, they had theirown leadership styles an organization and how leadership traitsof Lord Sri and management styles. Valmiki Ramayana has been Rama influence leaders in an organization. Here we used inspiring millions of people in India and other countries qualitative research methodology named as hermeneutics since many years ago. Lord Sri Rama’s Kalyaana gunas which is an interpretation of ancient classical wisdom have attracted many people and many researchers quoted literature and found that leadership characteristics of him as an ideal leader. Real leaders never bend their heads Lord Sri Rama is a good motivation and role model for down. They never run away from problems and challenges. current leaders in organizations. Lord Sri Rama was such a leader who is known to be anincarnation of Lord . In the paper (Pathak, P., I. INTRODUCTION Singh, S. and Anshul, A., 2016), Lord Rama is depicted as the ―Maryada Purushan‖ (Perfect man) showing the epitome of mannerism of a leader who is capable of leading a group HEleadership traits have been passed down for of people. This is a treatise related to the problem-solving T centuries. From the ancient times to current scenario we capability of a leader with good governance. (Balakrishnan see a lot of leaders and their numerous traits. The branches Muniapan, 2007) explained the transformational leadership of which had started from earlier generations. Burns (1978) styles demonstrated by Lord Sri Rama and how it influenced illustrated transformational leadership as a process that his followers. According to (Sivananda, 1996) quoted motivates followers by appealing to high ideals and moral Valmiki Ramayana as one of the most influential and values. Transformational leaders can create avision for the majestic epic depicting dharma through the description of organization, society,and country and also they could thelife of one of the greatest kings, Lord Sri Rama. He also transform their followers into good leaders. The described the life of Lord Sri Rama as a role model for all transformational leadership characteristics were already the men to attain the highest embodiments of exhibited by Lord Sri Rama thousands of years back. righteousness.(Balakrishnan Muniapan and Mohan Valmiki Ramayana demonstrates Lord Sri Rama as the only Dass,2009) tells about Indian leadership perspective from person living on the earth to have theembodiment of sixteen literary works of poet Kannadasan and demonstrated content analysis besides leadership interpretations from ancient different auspicious qualities (Kalyaana Gunas).This paper Indianliterature like Ramayana. (Vikasa, 2000) in his work illustrates the leadership characteristics of Lord Sri Rama explained how the verses of Valmiki Ramayana were widely and how it influenced his followers. The review and sung in nook and corner of India. He also explained that the literature of this paper are based on research methodology daily usage of Valmiki Ramayana in everyday conversation named as hermeneutics which is an interpretation of ancient of Indians astonished even the British missionaries. In classical wisdom literature. Ramayana is called as , Serat Rama in and in it is known as (Rosen, 2002). In the study done by (Balakrishnan Muniapan and Biswajit Satpathy, 2010) cites how Ramayana enhances managerial effectiveness. (Wah, S. S., 2003) highlights leaders as the most important element in leadership and he also explains that personality, conduct,and character the leader possess as amost critical ingredient for

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the success of any company. He also adds that organizations A person is said to possess the quality of without a leader are just collection of people. ―Sousheelyam‖ when he/she comes down from his/her elite level/standard to the lowest level and accepts B. Lord Sri Rama as a leader everyone unconditionally. For instance, we can see this According to Valmiki Ramayana Rama is the world- quality in Rama wherein when he goes to the forest, he renownedgentleman who is keenly into the path of accepts Guha, the leader of the hunters as his younger righteousness. Rama inspired many of his followers in many . He accepts , the king of the Vaanaras stages of their life with his values and thoughts same way (Monkeys) as his brother. He accepts as one Burns (1978) illustrated transformational leadership as a of his best devotees, who by nature is born in the clan of process that motivates followers by appealing to high ideals monkeys. He then proclaims Vibishana, a person who’s and moral values. A leadership happens in either of two born in the (Demon) clan as his brother too. ways: transactional and transformational. (Bass and Avolio, So, in all these cases we can observe that Lord Rama 1994) explained four dimensions of the leadership like treats everyone equally without any variations, whoever inspirational motivation, intellectual stimulation,and they are and wherever they originate from. This noble individual consideration. Swami Vivekananda once quality is called Sousheelyam. So from this, we can described Lord Sri Rama as animmortal character and infer that a good leader should come tothe lowest level ancient idol of heroic ages who is embodied with truth, and treat every team members equally and he/she should morality ideal son,and husband. not discriminate their subordinates and should give value to team members. III. METHODOLOGY Through this paper, we want to incorporate the leadership B. Veeryavaan: characteristics of Lord Sri Rama with modern leadership This can be interpreted as ―Strength‖. It’s well known qualities. We have taken 8 Kalyana Gunas (good qualities) that Lord Rama was a great and a fierce warrior with of Lord Sri Rama from Valmiki Ramayana and relating extraordinary powers and strength.Lord Rama and his these characteristics to modern management. Here we used alliance of had to face the powerful and qualitative research methodology named as hermeneutics sophisticated army of the Demon-King , the one which is an interpretation of ancient classical wisdom who singlehandedly defeated the formidable Devas and literature. vanished powerful kings. Lord Rama was not frightened but was courageous enough to fight the odds and drive IV. ANALYSIS AND RESULTS away the fear. He was strong mentally, morally and physically. After the war, the Demon-King Ravana was “Konvasmin saampradam loke gunavaan kasya veeryavaan! defeated and was given the eternal bliss of mukthi from Dharmagnyascha kritagnyascha sathyavaakyo his sins by Lord Rama. Similarly, a good leader should dridavrathaha!! (1) be courageous to take risks and decision making at right Chaarithrenacha koyuktaha sarvabhooteshu kohitaha! time and also protect or support his/her team members Aatmavaankaha jithakrodaha dyuthimaan konasuyakaha!! in tough situations. A great leader creates and nurtures (2) other leaders. Also, a leader should be mental, physically and morally strong enough to fight the odds Vidvaankaha kaschamarthascha tasyayika in the organization. During a crisis, the leader should priyadarshanaha! leave his/her objective, but s/he should be mentally Kasyabibyrathi devaaschajaatharoshaschasanyuge!!”(3) prepared to face the difficulty and develop strategies to The above three slokas (verses) taken from BaalaKanda of overcome the situations and find solutions for the crisis Valmiki Ramayana explains the sixteen kalyanagunaas of and emerge victoriously. Lord Sri Rama. As answered by Sage Narada to Valmiki Maharshi’s question;who is the only person in the earth C. Dharmagnya: filled with all the sixteen good qualities of a leader? Here we A person who stands by his ―Dharma‖ (Righteous path) have explained eight Kalyaana Gunas of Sri Lord Rama at all times.When the war started on the first day relating to modern leadership qualities. Let’s analyze all the Ravana, without adequate preparation marched to the eight Kalyaana Gunas of Lord Sri Rama one by one: battlefield and fought with vanaras and Rama’s alliance, he was rendered weaponless by Lord Rama. Taking into A. Gunavaan: consideration the code of chivalry, Ravana was allowed (Sousheelyam): This is the crux of the very purpose of to return to his citadel. This shows the code of conduct Lord Rama’s incarnation. The deeper explanation of this and ethics Lord Rama followed that an unarmed enemy quality is described in for a better should not be attacked, proving the righteous path or understanding: Dharma he stood with.Being ethical is very important as “Mahathaha a leader is concerned. Ethics represent the standards that mandaissahaneerandrenasamskleshahasvabhaavam” – determine business decisions every day. These affect the Sousheelyam way a company operates and how it treats employers,

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customers, shareholders and the community in which The leader should have a strong will-power to it’s located. accomplish the solution for any kind of miseries or problems s/he faces. Total commitment to the cause and D. Kritagnya: integrity of character are his real weapons. A quality where one is always thankful or grateful or indebted for even the smallest of the ―upakaara‖ (help) that he received from others.Lord Rama after saving , come to meet king Sugriva to convey his H. Priyadarshanaha: thanks for letting his alliance to rescue mother Sita. A person who has a captivating, handsome and pleasant Apart from being a superior person than king Sugriva, look. Lord Rama shows a down to earth friendship to king On Lord Rama and his brother ’s first Sugriva, Hanuman, and each and every meeting with Lord Hanuman, he praises about Lord vanaras. Rama as the most handsome and pleasant looking A leader, even if he is the one leading the pack should person and Hanuman could extend his speech because be able to thank and appreciate even the member at the of the radiance of beauty and aesthetics Lord Rama lowest ranking in his pack. Considering an example of possessed. how any manager of a company should be thankful to A leader should not be aggressive rather s/he should be employees and even to the guards who take care of the assertive and listen to what his followers or others speak company during day and night. A thankful leader will and also s/he should smile and have a pleasant face. It is respect more than the one who is an authoritarian. not wise for a leader to be an egotist. The more pleasant the leader is the more elegant the works are done by E. Drudavrathaha: him/her. A person who is self-determined, steadfast in his/her attitude towards truth and righteousness and V. CONCLUSION resolute.Lord Sri Rama was very much determined by Leaders always bring a positive change among the people to his vision and his vision was to bring back Devi Sita foster a sense of belongingness for the group. The followers from Raavana and he used therighteous path to it and he help each other in accomplishing the goal set by the team. It defeated Raavana and brought back Devi Sita.So it creates an atmosphere of harmony and encouragement. The defines a leader should always be well determined by leader enhances the personal potential growth of every teams vision and mission and should always use individual member of the team and provides them required therighteous path to achieve goals. guidance to achieve their goals as well as organizations goals. Here Lord Sri Rama is a perfect example of an ideal F. Vidwaan: leader and his Kalyaana Gunas (good qualities) is an A person who has a mastery over all subjects. This is inspiration for all the upcoming leaders in future. Lord Sri also known to be a Scholar. Rama had shown every characteristic of a good leader Lord Rama never does anything without having ample through his entire life situations Lord Sri Rama’s leadership knowledge of a subject or thing to be done. He used to styles shows how to encourage and empower employees of study mantras in such a way that words could create a an organization and to think innovative and to take risks at world of peace and happiness. Taking into right time. consideration Lord Rama has used beautiful stanzas with word rich in meaning to describe Lord Hanuman to REFERENCES brother Lakshman. The leader should be knowledgeable enough to inspire, motivate and guide their followers, [1] Muniapan, B. A. L. (2007). Transformational leadership style demonstrated by Sri Rama in Valmiki Ramayana. International only then he can be called as a leader. Journal of Indian Culture and Business Management, 1(1-2), 104-115. [2] Sivananda, S. (1996). Beauties of Ramayana. 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