Miscellaneous - Religion   

Teaching by practice

CHENNAI: Life on earth is full of surprises and what seems to be certain easily turns uncertain. Nowhere is this more evident than in the Ramayana when the coronation planned for Lord Rama with all pomp and expectations by Dasaratha was cancelled in no time. That human beings are subject to the vagaries of fate is thus illustrated in this incident when the Supreme Being Himself undergoes the effects to teach by His own example how to face the challenges of life, pointed out Kalyanapuram Sri Aravamudachariar in a lecture. The power of Manthara’s persuasive talks brought about an unbelievable change in Kaikeyi’s convictions. She had been initially jubilant at the preparations for the coronation and had even presented Manthara a necklace of hers for the happy tidings.

But it did not take much time for Manthara to convince Kaikeyi to disrupt the coronation and also send Lord Rama into exile. She hatched the plot that emboldened Kaikeyi to dissuade the king from his intent of conducting the coronation of Lord Rama. She suggested to her the idea to claim the two boons that Dasaratha had promised her earlier and even formulated these with clarity — Bharata to be made the king and Lord Rama to be sent to the forest for 14 years. Kaikeyi is unable to see the false counsel of Manthara that is well wrapped in a show of concern for her and Bharata. Though basically a balanced person, she is easily brain-washed on this unworthy matter which now appears as most worthy to her. Kaikeyi now believes that Manthara is a true friend who gives the best counsel. When Kaikeyi demands the boons of Dasaratha, the king is plunged into untold misery at his unfortunate plight and undergoes pangs of anger, disappointment. He bemoans his helplessness when he sees her unrelenting and refusing to soften her claims. In this state he swoons. It is left to Kaikeyi to pronounce the sentence and Lord Rama displays tremendous equanimity when he hears it, showing no trace of disappointment or sorrow.

He tells Kaikeyi that he would listen to her words as he would to His father’s words and decides to leave Ayodhya immediately.

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