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The Lord’s vow religion

CHENNAI: The Ramayana is revered as the byword on the doctrine of Self-surrender (Saranagati, Prapatti) because the Lord in His manifestation as Rama assured protection to those who sought refuge in Him. According to the tenets of Visishtadvaita, Saranagati is the only means open to the majority of spiritual seekers who do not have the necessary qualifications to follow the path of devotion (Bhakti yoga), and it is His vow to protect humanity which offers perennial hope to the suffering humanity.

In his Harikatha, Kalyanapuram Sri R.Aravumudachariar said one of the paradigmatic instances of His promise was Rama’s declaration to Sita during their sojourn in the Dandaka forest where they met a lot of ascetics. After they took leave of Sage Sutikshana Sita expressed Her concern (as His partner in Dharma) about the repercussions of His solemn promise to protect the sages. Sita pointed out: “In a very subtle way, a great man is led to Adharma. If one keeps away from addictions born of desire, it can be avoided in this world… Dharma and truth—everything is well-established in You… You have undertaken a vow to kill the ogres on the battlefield for the protection of the sages living in the Dandaka forest, and for this purpose You have set out with arrows and a bow… My mind is perturbed with anxiety thinking of Your behaviour and of Your highest well being and worldly interests.”

Sita then related the example of a sage who was given a weapon by Indra for self-defence which ultimately affected his mind so much that he gave up his austerities and turned cruel. She pointed out the contradiction between His vow to lead an ascetic life during the period of exile and His sporting a bow and arrows on His person. It was then that Rama declared that He could not retract His pledge to protect the sages and that “having made a promise, I dare not as long as I am alive falsify the word given to the sages for truth is always dear to Me. I can even give up My life or You together with Lakshmana, but not My plighted word given to the sages.” Commentators aver that perhaps the Divine Mother reminded the Lord about the purpose of His incarnation.

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