Sree Ramachandra and His Greatest Act

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SREE RAMACHANDRA AND HIS GREATEST ACT.

(By A. SWAMINATHA AYYAR.)

Obeisance to the Lord of the daughter-of Janaka who being entrusted by the

Gods to relieve the earth of her burden, was born on the earth disguised as

man. Obeisance to the Lord, who after the in carnation as the Buddha, free

from even a trace of violence would take the avatar of Kalki, to

re-establish the reign of Dharma

 

In Sree Ramachandra, we get a many-sided picture of a perfect and ideal

life. Sri Ramachandra is brought face to face with a series of difficult,

baffling, and tragic situations and he comes out triumphant without swerving

in the least—from the highest principles of Dharma as conceived by our

ancients. Of the many great deeds of the Lord in his avatar as Sree

Ramachandra none stands out more prominently than the renunciation of his

Kingdom and throne at a phychological moment. There is perhaps no parallel

to this in the history of the human race. And. with this, I propose to deal

in this article.

 

The story goes that once upon a time, Indra, the Lord of the Devas sought

the help of King Dasaratha, the father of Sree Ramachandra, in his battle

with an Asura. The King who was a mighty warrior gladly responded to the

call, betook himself to where the Asura was, challenged him to mortal

combat, and gave him a very, bad hour of it. As misfortune would have it,

the axle of the King's car gave way in the thick of the fight, and the enemy

taking advantage of the "King's plight rushed to make short work of him.

Just then Queen Kaikeyi, the King's favourite wife who accompanied her

husband, seeing the perilous condition in which her husband was, boldly took

charge of the situation and removed the helpless King to a safe place. This

happened twice in the course of the battle. The King who was of a strong

emotional temperament, cried out *' Ask of me whatever you will and it is

yours." The young queen who had evidently more foresight and prudence than

the King, thanked him heartily for his generosity, made light of the service

she had rendered him and replied. "' The favourite wife of King Dasaratha

should and does lack nothing. Yet I keep it in mind and shall ask you to

abide by your promise, should an opportunity offer itself later, near or

distant." Years after, sons were born to King Dasaratha, Sree Ramachandra

being the eldest, and the most beloved of them all. He was growing in wisdom

and valour and was regarded by the people as the very embodiment of high

principles and noble qualities, and of every social and domestic virtue. The

King's subjects besought him with one voice to rest after his long and

strenuous reign and install in his stead Sri Ramachandra on the throne. The

King acceded to the prayer of his subjects and had made all arrangements for

the installation of Ramachandra, as Yuva/raja. Kaikeyi the King's favourite

queen who came to know of the King's decision thought the installation of

Rama was hostile to the interests of her own son Bharata, who would be kept

out from the throne for ever. So she worked herself up into a rage, and the

doting King Bought to appease her, promising to grant anything she wanted "

I swear by Rama. Do thon tell me thy heart's desire," the King said least

suspecting what was passing in the Queen's mind. Then reminding the King of

the incidents in the war between the Devas and the Asuras and his promise of

the grant of two boons to her, the Queen said " Do thou, with the

preparations made-for installing Rama, install Bharata on the throne, Let

the gentle Rama, clad in deer skin, lead the life of a mendicant in the

Dandaka forest for the space of nine and five years." Not all the pleadings

of the King could soften the heart of Kaikey who was adamant, and as may be

expected the King's heart bled itself to death at his helplessness and when

Ramachandra, having completed the preliminary religious ceremonies prior to

the installation sought the King to obtain his blessings, (he was mortified

to notice that the King, simply uttering "Rama " Rama was in suspense and

Kaikeyi quickly informed him of the -two boons granted to her. The story

goes that Rama was not in the least upset by what was told him but, that

with cheerful resignation he carried put that very moment the unspoken

command of his father though conveyed through the Queen Kaikeyi.

 

(To be contd...)

 

ARTICLES IN THE SHRI SAI SANSMARANA (50TH ANNIVERSARY OF SHRI SAI BABA

SAMADHI) this can be read in www.saileelas.org