Sree Ramachandra and His Greatest Act

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The supreme sacrifice that Sree Ramachandra made out of a sense of filial

duty, by renouncing the Kingdom and preferring the life of an exile in a

forest, for fulfilling the father's promise, has a special appeal to the

heart of millions of Hindus, It is only when people are placed in very

trying situations, that their real character comes out, i e., their strength

as well as their weakness

There is no more inspiring theme in the whole of the Rama-yana, than Rama's

renunciation of his kingdom. It has been the theme of many a poet's song

since the time of Valmiki and the the inspiration of many a hero in our

sacred land. The illustrious example of Prince Siddhartha who later became

the Lord Buddha is appropriately likened to that of Shree Ramachandra. His

father would have been the first person to be overjoyed if only Rama had

disobeyed him and he would have been enthusiastically backed by his

subjects. The law of succession obtaining in kingly families was entirely in

his favour. This act of Ramachandra was a conscious and self-imposed

discipline. What was his reply to the queen Kaikeyi when he was told of the

boons granted to her,? He straightaway said that he never cared for material

pleasure but that he was bent upon pursuing the path of dharma alone. The

aim of, humanity should be the preservation of the fundamental values of

life. Shree Rimachandara showed by his action that before one could be ruler

of men he must first free himself from all imperfection by discipline. If

the fundamental values of life are neglected, there can be no real progress.

While we condemn? cruelty, and violence in the individual, we are prepared

to condone them when nations perpetrate them. In the name of so-called

civilisation, national animosities and racial extirpation are applauded and

international morality is cast to the winds.

Describing the personality of Sree Ramachandra, Bhagwan Valmiki has said

"'Rakhshita Swasya Vritta&ya Swazanasyacka rakshita, Eakhita jeevalokasya

dhormasyapariruJchhsita. (Rama was the protector of his own conduct, then of

the conduct of his kith and kin, then of the conduct of all living beings,

and then of the universal principle and righteouness, Herein lies the secret

of a true and abiding civilisation. Cannot men and women, and nations which

are aggregates of men and women, live in peace and adjust their differences

by negotiations, without resorting to wars' " with all their sorrow,

desolation, and misery". The fact is that respect for the fundamental values

of life has ceased to exist in the conduct of individuals, national and

international affairs. We boast of being able to usher in a new world order

with freedom for all while hiding from ourselves our real intention,

namely, -freedom for ourselves to exploit our fellowmen which means

perpetuation of wars. How can there be a new world order without a real

change of outlook in this respect? This is the message to the modern world

of the renunciation of Sree Ramachandra of his kingdom.

 

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

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