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Destiny prevails

CHENNAI: There has not been any breakthrough in the quest to locate a satisfactory rationale for the vagaries of life that continue to beguile and baffle. This unique feature of life only affirms that destiny is difficult to withstand. The Ramayana showcases this inevitable impact that affects the entire cross section of humanity, irrespective of status, caste, creed, scholarship, etc. The Supreme Being and His consort subjected themselves to many upheavals in their lives to inculcate in human beings the need to accept the challenges of life with fortitude, forbearance and equanimity, said Sri N. Veezhinathan in a lecture. Moreover, it holds a mirror to the subtle shades of Dharma that are clearly etched in the characterisation and events.

The words of Lakshmana introducing Lord Rama and himself to Hanuman when they first met, allude to their princely past as much as to the fact that Lord Rama, who is the final resort of all beings, is now seeking refuge in Sugriva, to help Him in His search for Sita. Similarly, Hanuman, on seeing the grief stricken Sita exclaims that if the consort of the great Lord Rama was subject to this plight, it only shows that Kala (destiny) has to be borne and cannot be eschewed. This Sita had abandoned all comforts and had followed Lord Rama to the forest. She who is the abode of all prosperity and endows all beings with her auspicious grace, is now a victim of fate. She is not only deprived of comforts but also of relatives when alone in captivity. Yet she is keeping herself alive purely on the hope and desire to see Lord Rama.

The significance of friendship between Lord Rama and Sugriva rests on the mutually beneficial outcomes that both of them were looking for. Sugriva showed Lord Rama some ornaments that had been dropped by a lady as she was being abducted and these were recognised as Sita’s. Lord Rama then killed Vali with a single arrow.

Though there is much controversy about the propriety of Lord Rama’s act of killing Vali, Lord Rama answers him by saying that Vali’s anger was because he did not comprehend the divine secret of the Lord’s incarnation. Vali then realises the truth of Lord Rama’s role in the divine plan.

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