Miscellaneous - Religion   

Divine incarnation

CHENNAI : It is not easy to understand the essence of scriptures. Even if one is able to get the meaning of the expressions hidden beneath and beyond the explicit form and sound, to understand the essence, one needs to experience the truths in them. That is why it is said that though the Supreme Being is the ultimate truth expressed in the Vedanta and the Upanishads, it is very difficult to unravel the essence of this greatness since it is not explicitly revealed.

But this infinite greatness became tangible to humanity when He incarnated as Lord Rama, said Sri P. Balakrishna Sastrigal in a lecture. When He chose to descend from His abode in Vaikunta to earth to live as one among the beings of this world and undergo the joy and sorrow associated with worldly life, He revealed His Saulabhya (accessibility) and Saushilya (good conduct).

Lord Rama played the role of a human being to the hilt without revealing His divine identity. Even Dasaratha did not see Him as more than his beloved son. That is why when Sage Viswamitra sought the king's permission to take young Rama to the forest, Dasaratha hesitated. In his eyes, the purpose — protecting the sacrifices of the sages from disruption caused by demons — was a tall order for a thirteen year-old lad.

But Sage Viswamitra was able to recognise the Supreme Being incarnate in the boy Rama through his power of yoga and penance.

The identity of the Supreme Being stands revealed only to the sages and seers who could perceive Him through their yogic power, and many in the palace of Dasaratha saw the Everlasting in Lord Rama and did not miss the good fortune to experience the object of their penance in close proximity.

Sage Viswamitra taught the boys Rama and Lakshmana the mystical mantras Bala and Atibala, through which one could overcome hunger, thirst, etc. The sage gave them all the weapons he had and also imparted their usage to them. He told the boys stories to lull them to sleep and woke up Rama with the phrase Kousalya Supraja Rama, in honour of the worthy mother of the Lord.

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