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Enduring relationship religion

CHENNAI: The relationship between God and the soul is eternal and hence the saying in spiritual tradition that He is the father, mother and every relation possible. It is the Lord who is utmost concerned in redeeming the bonded soul from the cycle of transmigration, which is the cause of sorrows. Nammazhwar and Tirumangai Azhwar have eloquently expressed how the Lord is more loving than one’s biological parents. This is to drive home that a person’s relationship with his kith and kin is of this birth alone, and attachment to them can only enmesh him more and more in bondage. Spiritual evolution, on the other hand, entails clear understanding of the evanescence of worldly relationships, and instead reinforcing one’s eternal relationship with God.

In his discourse, Kalyanapuram Sri R.Aravamudachariar said the Ramayana underscores man’s enduring relationship with God through the character of Lakshmana. According to commentators he is the incarnation of the Lord’s attendant in His divine abode, Adisesha, and hence he is the very epitome of service. When Rama went on exile he ensured that he was not left behind, and served and guarded Rama and Sita in the forest with utmost alacrity. He was quick to temper and never hesitated to speak his mind, and thus was the most vociferous in denouncing the unfortunate turn of events on the eve of Rama’s coronation. Not only his anger at the injustice of it all but also his clarity that his birth as Rama’s younger brother was meant for service to Him came through loud and clear in his message to Dasaratha when Sumantra returned to Ayodhya.

Dasaratha was anxious to know how they were faring in the forest tormented as he was by the very thought of the hardships that they would be facing. The moment Sumantra returned he eagerly asked him what they had conveyed to him. After giving Rama’s message and saying that Sita was reduced to tears, Sumantra told him about Lakshmana’s outburst, “… I at any rate perceive no parenthood in the emperor; Sri Rama (a scion of Raghu) is my elder brother, master, kinsman and father too.” What could Dasaratha say to such a candid retort from his younger son?

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