RAMARPANAM-40

File 40.

Dated : May 24th, 2012.

Jai Sri Ram.

Gurukula VAsam. 

Rama means one who steals the mind and heart by His mere Appearance.  For such of those who missed the Vibhava Rama, ArchA Rama is always there, far more transcended.   

His holding the Bow,  accompanied by Sita,  fallen for His scar of valor caused by the Bow's string and the all beautiful standing posture will make one surrender voluntarily  to the Lord and truly that is what His name stands for. There is no doubt then why LakshmaNa and Bharata were devoted to Him so dearly.  

SatrugNa on the other hand was devoted to Bharata,  as much as LakshmaNa to Rama.  This act of disregard, if we may call so,  towards Rama , the One who mesmerizingly takes everyone's heart,  needs courage and conviction.  SatrugNa is the victor on this score, displaying the fourth dimensional devotion to God and His men. 

The first stage is Asthikyam. Second stage is Abhimukyam. The third stage is Devotion to the Lord. The fourth stage is Devotion to His men. SatrugNa ended straight into the 4th stage. 

Valmiki too by qualifying the one eighth portion of the Payasam given to Sumitra, as "amrutOpama"  says it all.  

Thirumangai Alwar declares this devotion of His to the Devotees of  Sowri Perumal of Thirukkanna Puram, as the essence of His learning under Him. Madurakavi Alwar practiced this with Namalwar and Vaduga Nambi with Bhagavat Ramanujar. 

This stage of worship is the ultimate thing one can aspire and equally difficult

 to be true to it.  The one encouraging fact, of course,  is that  the Lord is pleased more by the Devotees of His Devotees rather by His own Devotees.

Namalwar also accredits this in His ''Nedumar kadimai'' Padhigam. 

As the four grew up, they took up to Gurukula vAsam to gain mastery over the 4 Vedas, Ithihasa Puranas, Upa-BrahmaNas and the Sastras essential to Crown Princes such as Archery etc.  Forethought and foresight the key to their learning. 

As the years passed by and upon attaining the age of 12,  King Dasaratha started thinking in terms of  performnce of marriage to them all. As the thought goes,

there arrived Viswamitra to fulfill His own alongside the wishes of Dasaratha.

RAMARPANAM-39

File 39.

Dated: May 23rd, 2012.

Jai Sri Ram. 

Naming Ritual. 

Rama is known in many names as

Kouslaya Rama

Ayodhya Rama

Dasaratha Rama

Seetha Rama

And so on. Let Him be Bhakta Jana mandAra Rama as well to all of us. 

Returning to Ayodhya where the four new born were seen last in their cradle, we now observe that in spite of all the Royal comforts they started crying endlessly. Unable to figure out the reason, Sage Vasishta was invited to help out. 

He after a deep thought changed the order of the cradle arrangements in the sequence of Rama, LakshmaNa and Bharata, SatrugNa. Even that went wrong and the Sage did the act of putting Rama and LakshmaNa in one cradle and the other two together in another cradle, such that four were reduced two. Now peace returned to the Kids as well as to the Royal attendants. This goes to suggest that from the very day of birth LakshmaNa was fondly attached to Rama, so also SatrugNa to Bharata. 

Turning our attention to  Ramavatar by Kambar, we feel gratified thus : 

Kousalya bore that Rama, who in the primordial time bore all the sentient and non-sentient being in His potbelly. That Rama who the Vedas fall short of comprehending and whose dark complexion compare to the pregnant clouds that are to deliver. 

KaikEyi yielded Bharata in the star Poosam with zodiac sign Meenam. 

So also, Sumitra her twin child, LakshmaNa and SatrugNa as 2nd and 3rd brother of  Rama in that order 

The Devas leaped, Celestial dancers (Arambayar) danced in frolic, the Kinnaras sung melodies invigorated by the start of the countdown of days to the Asuras, Rakshas who took to their feet. 

Then, after 11 days, Sage Vasishta was again called to name the Tots. He named Rama recollecting the episode of  Gajendra Moksham and pleased by the attractive, enchanting, inviting gestures of the child. 

LakshmaNa was given the name that  conveys the meaning LakshmaNo Lakshmi sampanaha: that Rama Seva His true wealth. 

Bharata iti Rajya bharaNAth, indicates that He one day will be asked to bear the brunt of  sitting in the Royal chair. 

SatrugNo nitya SatrugNaha: means the victor of all enemies and the undefeated. 

Dasratha considered Himself  the blessed as though He the body for the Soul called Rama, whose eyes belie the blossomed lotus and whose complexion deceit the water lilies in full bloom.

Next the four attain the VidyAbyAsam age.

RAMARPANAM-38

File 38.

Dated May 22nd, 2012.

Jai Sri Ram. 

Sri Rama AvatAram. 

The birth of Rama in Surya Clan and Ikshvaku dynasty is acclaimed as the greatest boon to mankind. The DevathAs fully gratified by the (havir bhagam) offerings given in the PutrakAmeshti Yajna accounted for such a blessed Son be born to Dasaratha. 

By the turn of the 6 rithus and elapsing of 12 months from the date of  taking the holy Payasam and at the confluence of Mesha mAsa, Suklapaksha Navami with day star as Punarvasu, Kousalya gave birth to Rama, the best half of  VishNu Himself.

KaikEyi gave birth to Bharata next featuring star Pushya, accounting for one forth of VishNu's powers and His Conch. 

Sumitra gave birth to a twin-child, LakshmaNa, SatrugNa in the following star, Aslesha. 

The birth of 4 children when longing for one made the Royal family and the people of Ayodhya ecstatic.  Their jubilation and festivity knew no bounds.  The streets and houses were decorated with rangoli, plantain branches, mango leaves ushering in the mood as if a new baby is born in each of their houses. 

Kousalya, Sumitra and KaikEyi placed the four Babies in cradle one after of the other and rocked them singing Perumal Thirumozhi  pAsurams dedicated to  Thiru Kannapuram Sowri Perumal. There is no anachronism, as Alwar only replicated Kousalya's VibhavAnubhavam in that Dasakam. 

Let us join the celebrations along with Namalwar who records Rama's birth as  'vEndi Thevar irraka vandu piranda' revealing the proverbial purpose of  His AvatAr.   

Here the words ' vandu piranda' has a special significance that He was born like every other human being undergoing the difficulties of a fetus in mother's womb, as part of His Avatara Rahasyam, as against 'thondriya' in case of Sri Krishna, who descended  with His four arms engaging the Disc, Conch,  Mace and the Padmam.  

This is known as ''AvatAratil maippAdu'' - justification to the role He had assumed, typifying  the words 'Leela mAnusha Vigraha:'

RAMARPANAM-37

File 37

Dated : 21st May, 2012.

Jai Sri Ram. 

Incornation of JAmbavAn, VAli, SugrEva, HanumAn and the monkey army : 

The VedAs hail that VishNu, the more He takes births in this world, the Great His feats become. "Sou srEyAn bhavathi jAyamAna:" So declares NarayaNa Upanishad.

The beauty and grace of a woman diminish as she mothers many a children. But, VishNu remains young and youthful, as He makes many an AvatAr. His human or any other form is not thus earthen but celestial. 

When the AlwArs took birth the family of birds like Krouncha, Stork, Parrots and the Cuckoos attained stardom as they were used as messengers of their love to God. So also the Ape-men family in RamayaNa. 

As Lord Vishnu decided to re-incarnate as Rama;

Brahma, Indira, vAyu, KubEra and every other dEvAs desired to take birth as Bear and Ape-men to be of some service to Rama in His efforts to kill the ten headed demon, RAvaNa. 

Sage Valmiki and Kambar give detailed account of who became who as mentioned here:

Brahma as JAmbavAn;

Indira as VAli and Angada;

Surya as SugrEvA;

Bragaspathi as DhAran;

KubErA as GandhamAdan;

Viswakarma as NaLan;

Agni as NElan;

Aswini DevathAs as Maindan, Dwidan;

VaruNan as SushENan;

Parjanyan as Sarabhan and

VAyu as HanumAn.

Rest of the sages, DEvAs as innumerable Ape-men

All caused to be born in forests, mounts and at Kishkinda awaiting Rama's sojourn in eliminating RavaNa, the dreaded. 

They all had gifted powers of knowledge, strength, valor of extraordinary stature so much so can lift a mountain, uproot trees, use weaponry, tear and rip off any thing using their teeth & nails, change to any form of their liking and on top of it,  

The zest for Rama Bhakthi kept them strong and un-surmountable.

RAMARPANAM-36

File 36

Dated : May 18th, 2012.

Jai Sri Ram.

Divine Payasam and its sharing : 

The Lord takes birth, unlike we humans,  out of His own free will and mercy and to drive home this essential difference,  Rama, LakshmaNa, Bharata, SatrugNa were consummated by taking the Divine Payasam and not by physiological relations of a man and a woman. 

The nectar like Payasam brought by the Godly person from out of the Yajna

flames in a Golden vessel of  no earthen-links, was offered to Dasaratha in fulfillment of His desire to have a child. He took it with reverence and rewarding spirits. 

He then invited His three wives and shared between them in the following order. 

First the Payasam was made into two halves of each and one portion was given to Kousalya, His first wife and she took it instantly.

The remaining half was made into two halves of one fourth each and the divided one fourth portion was given to Sumitra, His second wife.  She after receiving was waiting for the other portion to be given to KaikEyi. 

But Dasaratha, then made the remaining one fourth portion into two halves of one eighth and this one eighth portion was given to KaikEyi and the remaining one eighth portion to Sumitra again.  

KaikEyi took her share immediately, Sumitra who now received the one fourth and one eighth portions took them last.

Thus Rama was born to Kousalya, who ate the major portion.

KaikEyi, who ate the one eighth portion second, gave birth to LakshmaNa to remain a Rama sevaka.

Bharata, SatrugNa were born to Sumitra to remain Bagavath, BhAgavada sevakas respectively as a result of her taking the one fourth portion and the one eighth portion of the Payasam that were given to her in that order of  sequence. 

As these were happening, Lord Vishnu appeared on His Garuda vAhana to the assembled audience of the DevAs and Brahma to give His assuring words of how He is going to be born as Rama-LakshmaNa-Bharata-SatrugNa to end the cruelty of RavaNa and his men with no further waiting. 

This Kambar vividly explains with a metaphor in His own style. 

The Lord 's darker complexion compare to the all-black rain clouds.

His Disc and the Conch compare to the bright Sun and the soothing Moon, belittling the lotus flowers that bloom in the back drop of  en Emerald mount.

The Goddess Lakshmi adorning Him compare to a flash of  lightning that embellish the clouds, in all a picture-perfect contrast of colours and get up at  the end. 

Let us not miss out the rest of the happenings that are to follow......

RAMARPANAM-35

File 35.

Dated : May 17th, 2012.

Jai Sri Ram.

The celestial Prayers of Brahma and the DevathAs.

The declared agenda behind Lord VishNu's incarnations are :

1. Dushta sikshaNam (clamping the un-just)

2. Saadu rakshNam ( nourishing the righteous) &

3. Dharma paripAlanam (up-holding the sacrosanct)

One such incarnation taken by the Lord, to dis-infested the world from the thorny

RAvaNa, is the RamavatAr.

Now all the Devas including Brahma put forth their request that VishNu should carve Himself to four and be born by own choice to

Dasaratha, His father

His three wives, Kousalya, Kaigeyi and Sumitra, His celebrated mothers by the Grace of

Shri Devi

Hree Devi &

Keerthi Devi

Who are none other than the Shridevi, Bhoodevi and Neeladevi of Lord VishNu Himself.

RavaNa, KumbakarNa, VibheeshNa all by penance enhanced their mite by taking a boon of in-fallibility from any body, any quarters. Surprisingly the humans and the ape-men, who were left out remoursely, ultimately brought their down fall. That is the reason why They requested Him to be born as children of four to Dasaratha and his three wives.

This four fold number is unique to Lord VishNu as we see :

1. VASUDEVA-SANKARSHNA-PRADHYUMNA-ANIRUDHA combine.

2. PUSHPA-BHOGA-THYAGA-JNANA MANTAPA combine.

3. ARAM-PORUL-INBAM-VEEDU combine.

And now

4. RAMA-LAKSHMANA-BHARATA-SATRUGNA

AvatAr to bolster :

1. SaadaarNa,

2. VisEsha,

3. VisEsha thara

4. VisEsha thama

Dharmas such as

1. Pitru vAkya paripAlanam,

2. Bhagavat kainkaryam ( nirbandithu )

3. Bhagavat kainkaryam ( vaithavidathu irundhu )

4. Bhagavada (AchArya ) Kainkaryam of both.

VishNu acknowledged their request and re-assured them that He will be born accordingly as four sons of Dasaratha and that the thorny RavaNa would be plucked off roots and buds. That the three, worlds seeing his end, will then be ruled by Him for nearly 11,000 years before returning to Vailkundam.

From here, We shall return to the Yajna sAla, where PutrakAmEshti is being performed, to witness the God's words turning to reality.

--K S S .

RAMARPANAM-34

File 34.

Dated : May 16th, 2012.

Jai Sri Ram.

Yajna, its performance and peripherals.

God does the abominable to Asuras and RAkshasas and does the opposite to His devotees and He thus be called Mukunda by one and all.

The time for His incarnation to engage with RavaNa, KumbakarNa and Indrajit had come and the Yajna commenced by Dasaratha ensues further :

First three days of the Yajna was devoted to the performance of

1. ChathushtOmam,

2. Ukyam &

3. AdhirAthram

followed by

4. Jothisht

5. Ayush hOmam.

The four who perform each of these Yajna are known as

1. HOthA (one who gives away the offerings to yAhAgni)

2. Adhvaryu. (                                                                    )

3. UdhgAthA ( one who chants the scriptures relevant to the offerings made) &

4. Brahma. (one who ensures the rendition of the scriptural texts and the attendant acts are correct)

Dasaratha paid dakshiNA to all the four seated at the East, West, North and South respectively in that order. At the completion of the AshwamEtha Yajna, all of them wished well claiming there was no other King to take care of them like he did. He, the YajamAnan ( one who is the Sponsor beneficiary of the Yajna) , be blessed with a child as prayed for.

The King also gave due remuneration to the Sculptors, Architects, Masons, carpenters , art workers and the people in general in terms of 10 lakh cows, 100 million gold coins, 400 million silver coins, by which the taxes and tolls collected were spent on His people auguring well for their welfare.

Finally He paid praNams to Sages VasishtA and Rishyasingar and rewarded them as much as He can and requested them to do the best that suits His aspirations for a Royal Heir.

Rishyasingar offered to perform an Ishti Homa to fulfill His desire.

At this juncture, the Devas, having suffered cruelty under the unruly RavaNa-Indrajit combine, all met Brahma, the four headed God of creation, and He in turn took them to kAraya Vaikundam where Lord Vishnu assembles to hear their grievances. This place in Leela vibhoodhi is also known as ThirupArkadal.

Lord Vishnu, seated on Garuda, appeared before the Deva-Brahma congregation, as though lightning struck the rain clouds.

At His sight, all the Devas in the company of Brahma started praising Him profusely, invoking His blessings to see the end of RavaNa and his men.

How Lord Vishnu re-assured them all will be seen next.

--K S S .

RAMARPANAM-33

File 33

Dated : May 15th, 2012.

Jai Sri Ram.

Yajna, its Consecration and divinity of purpose..


Sri Rama adorns the bow and arrow not only to ward off the known enemies of the outside world but also to thrash out the rivals inside ones-Self such as greed, anger, dogmatic fervor, Self-boast etc. Let us meditate on that Rama who kills the wantoness by fulfillment and the fear of the inner-Self by His un-ending Grace.

Moving on to RamayaNa story, Kambar eloquently describes thus :

By completing the Yajna as per ritualistic norms, the King would be blessed with a child and through Him a protector for the 7 worlds beyond which the King's mental agony of a long wait for a child would also end at the twilight of His age.

The King gave away arms, dolls, charities in the form of gold sovereigns, clothes, cows, lands etc. without an iota of pride or pittance attitude unto the all deserving and in the desired way.

He along with His three wives took Dheeksha, a solemn pledge of not tonsuring and adhering to purity in life to be kind, courteous and sublime all through the year long wait for the return of the Ashwa sent to integrate the great Empire, that Ayodhya was.

Savana-Homa and hosting of the 21 Yupa stumba carved out of various tree family and the 18 tugged fire sacraments for the Havan were modeled and moved to respective places, followed by consecration of Deities as per the ritualistic norms.

Sages Vasishta and Rishyasingar took charge of the actual performance of the Yajna and at its culmination appeared a divine person from the flames of the Yajna bearing a vessel, made of gold and silver, filled with rare pAyasam as a gift. Dasaratha received it with reverence and fulfillment.

Now the next act of the King would be worth a wait and let us return with doubled enthusiasm.

--K S S .

RAMARPANAM-32

File 32.

Dated : May 14, 2012.

Jai Sri Ram.

Preparations for the Yajna :

Sri Rama connates and associates obviously with His celebrity Bow, Kothandam in many ways. By yawing the Shiva Danush Sita was married to Him. By over powering ParasurAm He got the Vishnu Danush and using this, He ended the Kara, DushaNa army. Sita, throwing Her own prowess to winds, awaited Rama for freeing Her from the RavaNa bhavana relying on His archeries and His esteem attached to it. Rama destroyed the Setu bridge using the same Bow which won Him the war on RavaNa. Thus the icon of Rama is His Bow and we bow to that Rama who holds on to it ever in the service of His devotees.

We now move on to the Ramayana Story where Yajna preparations are underway.

The site for the same was identified on the north banks of the river, Sarayu and the Yajna pasu or the Royal horse, Aashwa was made to go round the countries to accept the challenge and the sovereignty of Ayodhya. It will go round for a full year and on its successful return either by peace or victory over rivals, the Yajna will begin. King Dasaratha had no difficulty in commencing the same.

He ordered that invitation be sent to Janaka, King of Mithila as well to those of KEkaya, Kasi, Angadesa up to the eastern boundary of Sind and Sowrashtra. Special efforts were made to bring Rishyasingar in whose august presence the Yajna was to be performed.

Several sages were invited and the people of all the nations thronged to witness the rarest of the Yajna their King is performing for a child to be blessed to Him.

All arrangements for their stay, food, amusement and vacation got underway and many of the workers for building a new town for this purpose, with the assistance of masons, carpenters, decorators and the like were engaged with special care and purpose, such that no defect will arise from any quarters in the successful fulfillment of the Yajna and in bestowing the fruits of IT.

Let us also reserve a prominent place at the Kirutu site for a full view of the happenings as it gets underway......

--K S S.

RAMARPANAM-30

File 30

Dated 10-05-2012

Dasaratha and His subjects.

Offering pranAms again and again to that Rama, who quells hardships and fills all the wealth to the seeker, we move on to the story how King Dasratha + His 3 wives, in all 4 jointly, were blessed with 4 children, Rama-LakshmaNa-Bharata-SatrugNa.

To put it in other words,

Dasaratha and His Aides, namely Sumantra + Vasishta + Rishyasingar, these 4 together made it happen for the King, when He went without even one child for several millennium years.

Kambar accolades Dasratha meaning :

He was taking care of His subjects as Mother to a child. In austere methods He was comparable to the DevathAs and the Rishis. For those inflicted with ailment or disease He served as medicine and in their betterment, helped as proficiency would do for them.

By His philanthropic gestures, He dried the sea of indigents. By His studious instincts, He became a Savvy of all knowledge. He crushed His enemies, by the might of sword. He accomplished all the Bliss, a King would deserve, by the Grace of God.

Despite all these, the birth of a Crown Prince to succeed was denied to Him for several millennium years. So He started consultation with His counsel of Ministers and decided to perform Ashwameda yagnya.

They narrated the story of King RomapAda of Angadesa, who brought Rishyasingar to invoke the mercy of Rain God to remedy the famine and draught that fraught his nation. So also, they desired that King Dasaratha shall perform PutrakAmeshti by the hands of Rishyasingar for a child to be blessed to Him.

The Yagnya sAla used in ThrethA Yuga that stand testimony to the story of Rama AvatAr can be witnessed on the banks of Sarayu in AyodhyA even today, to believe it yourself.

--K S S.

RAMARPANAM-31

File 31

Dated 11-05-2012.

Jai Sri Ram.

Invitation to Rishyasingar.

Rishyasingar is unique in one respect that He lived deep inside the forest far away from the weird world of sensual pleasures of women and wealth. He never had seen women, not even His mother or any human, except His father, sage Vibandakar. But the purity of His action and mind made Him a wonder personality.

Angadesa, neighboring Ayodhya and ruled by RomapAda was once frought with drought and famine and the King had no clues to remedy the situation. He was then advised to bring Rishyasingar to his royal residence for the return of rain and prosperity to his state.

So the King sent a beauty pageant of young girls to Rishyasingar Ashram to try and bring home the Sage. He was amused at the girls like any other creatures in the forest would do. They came back for a while and went again with food, fruits and beverages which He had never tasted and that made Him follow into Angadesa. His father’s absence in the Ashram precincts made the job of the girls easy.

As He entered Angadesa, there was flood of rain and richness to the country and the King got his daughter married to Him, duly convincing Vibhandakar on the alliance.

This story narrated by Sanatkumara was retold to Dasaratha by Sumantra with intentions to let know the King that by bringing Rishyasingar to Ayodhya and by performing AshwamEda and PutrakAmeshti yagnya by His hands He would soon be blessed with a Baby-heir to the Throne.

Taking the suggestion on its due merits, King Dasaratha requested His Royal priest, VasishtA along with Sumantra to set things in motion for the performance of the Yagnya in the ensuing spring itself. Such that by the return of the next Vasanta Ritu things would fall in place and stage set for the completion of the two kAmya karmAs, fulfilling the aspirations of Himself and the people of Ayodhya.

Preparations for RamAvatAr are under way here and let us wait and enjoy as it unfolds.

--K S S.

RAMARPANAM-28

File 28

Dated 08-05-2012.

Jai Sri Ram.

King Dasaratha's Reign.

We all know that Ramayana is the re-incarnation of the Vedas. So also, Rama is the avatar of Sri Maha Vishnu. The distinctive motif for Him is the disc and the conch. Sri Rama appearing in four arms bearing the disc and conch, with His right foot folded and the left lowered, seated as if in Paramapadam, is rare but not un-real.

King Dasaratha's reign was one of peace, prosperity and plenty. River Sarayu played a vital role in this.

The paddy fields harbored conch and pearls. Water channels and their expanse were riddled with gold and precious stones. The water holes for livestock were filled with water lilies and white swans of walking gaiety.  The sugar cane crop was raised in honey instead of water.

The women’s eyes looking like the female bee were attracted by live-bees as if to have found a mate. They, the women, were well educated and wealthy and practiced charity and hospitality.

This was the country where the death-god went job-less because all were Righteous. No-body frowned at any-body as all were straight forward. Nothing seemed grate as there were no ordinary things.

The women folks torching  the eagle-wood tree (agil) for hair-drying,  their burning the fire-wood in the kitchen, the jaggery industries scorching the bagasse and the Brahmins performing the sacrificial Havan cause cloud like smoke invigorating the rain God.

There were no poor, so there were no charity givers.

There were no valorous as there were no meek.

There was no truth distinct as none tipped false-hood.

In all, the world of Gods was here replicating the Vaikunda nAdu, so concludes Kambanattalwan.

We may not be in such a world as of now but we can re-create one, provided all are just and God-citizens.

--K S S.

RAMARPANAM-29

File 29

Dated 09-05-2012

Jai Sri Ram

Canon of life in Ayodhya.

Apart from Mandodhari and Kousalya, HanumAn too had darshan of Rama with four arms, which is revealed in the sloka:

Ayathscha suvruthascha bagavh parigopama

Sarva bhooshaNa bhooshArhaha kimitham nabhooshithA:

Bagavh: in Sanskrit refer to more than two shoulders. With this recount of Rama's blessed devotee, we shall go further into Valmiki Ramayanam.

Raja Dasaratha ruled Ayodhya as per the dictums of the Vedas. He planned the welfare of his subjects with far sightedness. His fortress was indomitable. All his subjects were treated fairly and equitably.

He performed all religious sacrifices well in the form of Yaga, Yagnjas.  Knew all Dharma sAstras. People get fascinated to him. He is considered as the Raja rishi by all of them. His was the return of the Manu Rule comparable to Amaravathy ruled by Chandra.

The subjects too were good, as they were:

1. Not greedy of others wealth.

2. Not lacking in compassion.

3. Not illiterate.

4. Not against belief of God.

5. Not meek and wanting in strength and stamina.

6. Not lacking in composure either.

They were:

1. Believers in Dharma.

2. Richly dressed.

3. All adorned with crown.

4. Seekers of no ordinary pleasures.

5. Decently perfumed.

6. Well fed, rather hunger or starvation is un-known to them.

7. Indulging in Yoga for longevity in life.

8. Handsome and good looking people

Brahmins, in particular were:

1. Up-holding celibacy.

2.  After rightful sensual pleasures.

2. Performing religious sacrifices as prescribed.

3. Faring well in their devotion to duty and God.

4. Relentless in learning and teaching the Vedic texts.

In all the subjects were true and faithful to their King.

Dasratha engaged 8 ministerial counselors to assist him in the administration and Ashta Rishis to guide him in his efforts to deliver justice and fair play to all.

As the Sun spreads its rays far and deep, Dasaratha too ruled with un-disputed Authority and Fame over all the eight directions of the world.

As is the administrator, so are his subjects.

--K S S.

RAMARPANAM-27

File 27.

Dated 07-05-2012.

The beauty and bounty of Sarayu.

Ravana invoked Lord Brahma in penance and took a boon not to be killed by the Devas or the three Gods of creation, sustenance and annihilation. So, to end his barbarity Lord Vishnu incarnated as human, enshrouding all His Godly powers.  Ravana missed that boon, as though human could not ever get to him to end his life.

But Rama is figured out as God by a few and Mandodhari, wife of Ravana, is one among them. She at the death of her husband breezed in to the war field to have a look at his slain-body. Out of bereavement and anguish she wanted to curse Rama, the Victor. But ended in a sthudhi about Him, in the form of Mandodhari chatusloki. 

In that she seizes His Godly form with four arms holding the disc, conch, the bow and the arrow and was all praise for Him. Ravana, had he also realised this, his penitence would have saved his life and those of his kith and kin together, but that never were to be.

The same Rama, when Brahma and Shiva accolade Him as Narayana, He rebuffed and wished to be known as the kin of Dasaratha. It means He feels great about His mAnushE Paratvam than His paratvE Paratvam.

Coming to Kamba Ramayanam and his depiction of Ayodhya and the Sarayu river, He is all praise for its richness and glory.

There are 5 fold classification of the geographical vastness of a country. They are:

1. Agriculture fields (marudam)

2. Sea and fishery land (naidal)

3. Mountains and gracing expanse (kuRunchi)

4.  Forest and jungle region (mullai)

5.  Arid deserts (pAlai)

Sarayu enriches the Ayodhya in that there is only 4 way classification obliterating the 5th. The other 4 divisions are overlapping in the sense marudam is enshrouded by mullai and it embanked by kuRunchi, pAlai on the other hand is full of oasis to appear as mullai and no more pAlai.

The Sarayu is elegant and its waters pure and clear. It joins the Ganges like many other tributaries quelling her identity to enjoin the ocean waters of Bay of Bengal. There are several Ghats on the banks of Sarayu, like Ram ghat, Lakshman ghat, HanumAn ghat, gupta ghat etc. where people take on the river for bathing and performing the holy rituals like nitya, nemityaka karmAs. 

Kambanattalwan draws a parallel to this philosophically, in that the religious faiths and paths may be many but the Brahman who is to be obtained by each of them is One and unique and not many or of equals.

So believe in your own and respect others.

--K S S.