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.