Miscellaneous - Religion   

Embodiment of bliss

CHENNAI : The Ramayana of Valmiki occupies a distinctive place in the genre of scriptural literature as it has as its theme the narration of the life of the Supreme Being when He manifested as a human being in the world. Another reason is that the hero of this epic was a class apart for He was an exemplar for humanity to emulate not only during His time but continues to be even in this age. Thus all those who were inspired by the Ramayana like Bhavabhuti, who wrote the Uttara Rama Charita, and Kalidasa, who composed the Raghuvamsa, earned immortal fame by describing Rama's glory and His inimitable qualities. Bhavabhuti proved he could excel Kalidasa, while Kalidasa showed that his proficiency was not restricted to only `Sringara rasa' (love).

In his discourse, Paranoor Sri Krishna Premi Swamigal said Rama enjoyed universal adulation right from the moment He was born. The Ramayana states that He lived 11,000 years in this world but the epic confines its delineation to only 14 years of His life because this period is the raison d'être of His incarnation — sacrifice for the sake of righteousness. By His every act He seemed to say, "If I the Almighty, who is the very personification of truth, do not uphold righteousness, who else will?"

The Ayodhya Kanda highlights right at the outset His matchless attributes that endeared Him to one and all. It is no wonder then that Rama was Dasaratha's dearest son. All the four sons were dear to the king who had been blessed with them after being childless for long and they were all veritable jewels among men. Rama afforded immense delight to Dasaratha because, "He was more richly endowed with excellences... for entreated by the gods seeking the destruction of the haughty Ravana, the eternal Lord Vishnu Himself was born on the mortal plane as Sri Rama." It is understandable if the king doted on his peerless son but everyone including His enemies loved Him, the reason being He was the indwelling Lord (Antaryami) in every being.

It is apt here to recall Sage Yajnavalkya's teaching to his wife Maitreyi, "Not indeed for the love of a husband is the husband dear; but, for the love of the Self is the husband dear." As the Supreme Being is the abode of eternal bliss, all beings experienced bliss in the presence of Rama.

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