The Hindu : Miscellaneous / Religion : Abode of compassion

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Tuesday, Jul 13, 2004

Miscellaneous

Miscellaneous - Religion

Abode of compassion

CHENNAI, JULY 13 . Every incarnation of the Almighty in the world had a specific reason and His manifestation in human form as Rama, though undertaken to fulfil the prayer of the celestials, continues to be an inspiring ideal for humanity. Rama's divine nature was relegated to the background in Valmiki's portrayal of His inimitable qualities to enable human beings to emulate them. It is no wonder that He was the cynosure of all eyes when He was in Ayodhya but even in the forest His demeanour and grace attracted attention and praise from unexpected quarters and some were privy to His divine nature. The ogre Viradha was a case in point.

In his Harikatha, Kalyanapuram Sri R. Aravamudan said when Rama along with Sita and Lakshmana entered the Dandaka forest the sages sought His protection. They beseeched, "Whether staying in the city or in the forest, You, the Lord of the people, are our king. Having given up punishment, controlled anger and conquered the senses and having the wealth of asceticism, we should always be protected by You."

Soon after Rama ventured deep into the forest assuring the hermits to take care of their safety and thanking them for their hospitality, Viradha who had a terrible form took Sita away and threatened Rama and Lakshmana that he would finish them. Greatly angered by his arrogance, Rama discharged arrows at him but because of a boon that weapons could not fell him, the ogre survived. Then he caught hold of the brothers and lifted them on to his shoulders and they severed both his arms. Even when they injured him and crushed him he did not die.

Rama then instructed Lakshmana to dig a pit to bury him alive and kicked him into it. No sooner did Rama's feet touch Viradha, he was released from Kubera's curse and regained his original form of a Gandharva. The Kamba Ramayanam says that this ogre realised that Rama was none other than the Almighty and extolled His benevolence, "Your sacred feet lauded by the Vedas cover the world. You are the very form of Dharma! You begin as if You are hard to be discerned by devotees; but later you easily appear before them. There are no calves which do not know their mothers; and the mother knows her calves, too. In your case, though as the mother of the whole universe You know all living beings, it is a wonder that they do not know Your compassion. With Your sacred feet You have enabled me to cross the sea of births."

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