Divyapurush Rama (Part I)

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(Dharmasthapana) thatthe advent or Rama Avatar took place. "No one should go

back on hisplighted word". "There is no greater Dharma than that ofTruth".

"Rama's life is a testimony to these principles. In order touphold the promises

given by his father, Rama chose to go to theforest.The way in which an Avatar

has to be used for one's liberation andupliftment is to watch His every step,

observe His actions, andactivities, and follow the guiding principle of which

His life is anelaboration. Mark His love, His compassion, His wisdom, and try

tobring them into your own life. Man has become artificial, crookedand twisted

out of his normal shape. He has left behind the simplenatural ways and made his

mind cumbersome with worries, anxieties,and tensions. He can live on fewer

worries with much greater joy forhimself and for others. If only he remembers

that he is a treasurechest with Divine spark in it, he will be more

loving and moreuseful.Rama was born to Kausalya during the most auspicious

period ofUtharayana (The Divine half of the year), Chithra month, the ninthday

(Suddha Navami of the bright fortnight), the Punarvasu star,Monday, Simha

Lagna, (The zodiacal sign of the lion) and theAbhijith period (the period of

victory). He was born when the worldwas resting happily, and the weather was

equable (neither hot/warmnor cold).Sri Rama Chandra was born on a day when the

planet Sukra (Venus)enters Meena (Pisces constellation). The month of His

advent marksthe beginning of Vasantha Ritu (Spring season). It is the time

whenthe sun enters Mesha Raasi (Aries). Sri Ram's incarnation as humanbeing was

for the purpose of promoting peace and happiness in theworld. "Ramo Vigrahavaan

Dharmah –Rama is the very embodiment ofRighteousness". It has been as if

righteousness itself hasincarnated on earth. Dharma and Rama are

inseparable.Rama, in the earlier part of His life, figures as the heroic

warriorwho has vanquished powerful persons like, Parasurama, Vali, andRavana.

Rama has excelled not only in physical strength but also inintelligence and

character. It is impossible to describe all thequalities of Rama. Rama had in

equal measure all the qualities of anAvatar- Compassion, prosperity,

righteousness, fame, wealth,wisdom, and renunciation.The name Rama is nt

confined to the son of Dasaratha. The Atma thatconfers bliss is also known as

Rama. The sage Vasishta has given thename "Rama" to the emperor's son. The name

"Rama" symbolizesuniversal attributes of the Divine such as Omniscience,

Omnipotenceand Omni felicity.Three aspects are embodied in the name "Rama".

Rama = Ra+aa+ma. "Ra"represents Agni- the fire God. Agni burns our sins to

ashes. "A"represents Surya- the Sun God. The Sun God destroys the darkness

ofour

ignorance. "Ma" represents Chandra –the Moon. Chandra cools theagitations and

perturbations of the heart. Therefore, theword 'Rama' contains within it the

three deities, Agni, Surya, andChandra. The name "Rama" embodies the Vedic

pronouncement "Thath-thwam-asi (That thou art) "Ra" is Truth, and "Ma" is

"Thwam". Theessence of the Vedas and Shasthras are contained in the Divine

NameRama. The supreme significance of the Rama name is also borne out bythe

science of Numerology. (Saankhya Shasthra). According to thisscience, the

letters Ra+aa+ma make up seven according to theirnumerical equivalents. Seven

is a sacred number, as is evident fromthe sacredness of the Sapth rishies

(seven sages), the seven coloursof the rainbow, the seven swaras (notes of

Indian music) and theseven days of the week.Rama Himself as a potent liberator

once indicated the name of Rama.When Rama was passing through the forest with

Sita and

Lakshmana,the hermits who recognized Him as Divine, gathered around Him with

aprayer that they be initiated by Him be given some Mantra which theycould

repeat for spiritual upliftment and victory. Rama replied thatHe was a prince

in exile, wandering in forests, and so He could notassume any authority to

initiate the hermits into spiritual path. Hemoved along the forest tracks.

Watching Him walking fast with Sitaimmediately behind Him and Lakshmana

following in the rear, an agedhermit exclaimed, "Friends! See! Rama is indeed

initiating us! He isgiving us the mantra! God is leading and Nature is

following. TheJivi, a part of Nature is propitiated or by passed. This is

indeed asilent lesson in Sadhana. Ra is God; Ma is the Individual who hasfallen

behind. Aa is Prakrithi; Rama is the mantra. He isvouchsafing so graciously.

Take it and save yourselves. For me thereis no other course".Rama is the one

who pleases.

He is the One who is filled with Anandaand One who is in every heart. Therefore,

when you are repeatingRama Nama, you are buy touching the very source of Ananda,

the Atma –Rama. When Rama enters the mind, Kama (desires) finds no placethere.

No tablet is as efficacious as Rama Nama. Rama is describedas being tenderer

than the petal of a rose; but, at the same time,he can be harder than a

diamond. He pined for Sita with extremetenderness; on the hand, he sent her to

the forest as an exile withan extreme hardness of the heart that shocked even

Lakshmana. Thenature of every Avatar is such.Once the four brothers as young

lads were playing a game with aball. After the game, Rama ran to Kausalya and

rested on her lap. Hewas full of joy. When Kausalya asked Him why he was

feeling sohappy, Rama said that Bharatha had won in the game that day, andthat

made Him so happy. Kausalya remarked that an elderly brotherrejoicing

in the success of his younger brother is a great exampleof brotherly love.

Shortly thereafter, Bharatha came to Kausalyawith a sad look. Kausalya asked

him why he was feeling sad, when hehad won the game. Bharatha said, "When He

saw that I was about tolose the game, Rama deliberately lost and made me the

winner. I amfeeling unhappy because of the defeat of my elder brother. Is it

notsad that on my account my elder brother should lose the game? Whatan example

of fraternal love! The elder brother should rejoice inthe success of the

younger, even by losing the game himself. This isthe lesson taught by the

Ramayana.When you utter the word `Ram', you first open the mouth with thesound

` Ra' . All your sins go out when the mouth is open. When youutter `M', by

closing the mouth, the entry is barred against thesins that have gone out.

Every one should recognize the sweetness,the sacredness and the Divinity

enshrined in

the name "Rama". Wemust learn to chant the sweet name of Rama with pure,

unsulliedheart, in a spirit of selfless devotion. In the mind of man dwellthe

deities representing the moon and the sun. Intelligence isendowed by the

sun.The name of Rama has a unique spiritual significance. "Ra"represents the

Paramathma, "Ma" represents the individual souland "Aa" brings the two

together. The Divine name thus demonstratesthe unifying principle. There is a

significant connection betweenthe Rama principle and the season of spring

(Vasanta-Ritu) In thespring, the tree blossom forth-new leaves and flowers and

they fillthe world with gladness. When the sun's rays fall on the on thefresh

leaves and flowers, they acquire a golden hue. The whole worldputs on a

glorious and fresh look during the spring.In the spring season, the air is

redolent with the fragrance ofmango blossoms and the song of the cuckoo

(Kokila). There

is joy inthe air you breathe. The cuckoo's calls are never so sweet as in

thespring. If a crow sits on your rooftop, you wish to drive it away;but you

welcome the kokila's song. Why is this difference shown? Thedifference lies in

the voices of the two birds. The kokila's song ispleasing to the ears. When the

speech is sweet, the speaker becomesendearing. Hence, men should learn to speak

sweetly and pleasingly.Sweet speech confers peace. It is the means of

self-realization. Itis in the heart of this person (with sweet speech) that Sri

Ramaloves to dwell.Rama Nama will save you, if you have at least the Pithru

Bhakthi(Devotion towards Father), and Mathru Bhakthi (Devotion towardsmother)

that Ram had. If not, Rama Nama is merely a movement of thelips. Meditate on

the Rama Swaroopa, the Rama Swabhava, when yourecite or write Rama Nama. That

will exercise the mind, making ithealthy and strong in the spiritual

sense.Whatever you aspire for, whatever you earn for, that you become.When

Valmiki wished to write Ramayana, he first meditated on all thequalities of

Rama and then alone he could commence his epic. Becauseof the constant

repetition of the name of Rama and continuousmeditation on the Rama principle,

he shone with the effulgence ofRama. It is one of the miracles of Rama that the

highwaymanRatnakara could become the author of a great epic.Valmiki who was

hunter in his early life, became a sage and theauthor of the immortal Ramayana

by meditating on the name of Rama.Association with the saintly persons and

chanting of Rama's namemade him the `Adikavi' (The first poet).Looking at the

body of Ravana after his death, Vibhishana expressedunwillingness to perform

the last rites that are usually performed.Vibhishana thought that Ravana was a

very great sinner, since he hadthought badly of Rama, the incarnation

of the Lord, and it was notright to perform the obsequies of such a person.

Rama, who was anembodiment of Dharma, called Vibhishana and said, "If there is

anydislike for a person, that should not go beyond his death. Let itend with

his death. All hatred should disappear with the death of aperson". Rama asked

Vibhishana, `Will you, as a brother, perform theobsequies or shall I perform

the obsequies?". As soon as he heardthese words from Rama, Vibhishana realized

his mistake and wasprepared to perform the last rites.*****With Love &

Regards,Bombay Srinivasan,C-1, Silver Valley -2,Shivaji Nagar,Vakola, Santacruz

East,Mumbai-400055Tel: 022-26684021Cel: 093229 47473

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Dear Shri Srinivasan

I regularly read your recent thought provoking, interesting , informative

lovly articles and these knowledgeable pearls will be picked by many of

Swami's ardent devotees. Pray that you will continue to contribute more and

more such articles for the benefit of all of us

Sai Ram

prabhakaran