Om Sai Ram - The Divine Nature of Sri Ramachandra in Swami's Divine Words

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Rama appeared as Maayaa-maanusha-ruupa (illusory human form); He stuck to Dharma in daily practice, even from His infancy. He is the personification of Dharma. There is no trace of Adharma in him. His divine nature is revealed in Shaantha guna (calm temperament) and Karunaa rasa (feeling of love and affection); meditate on Him and you are filled with Prema for all beings; dwell on His story and you find all the agitations of your minds quietening in perfect calm. When Thaataki, the female demon, had to be killed, He argued, hesitated and desisted, until Sage Vishwaamithra convinced Him that she had to be liberated from a curse by His own arrow. That is a sign of His Karuna Rasa.Raama never provoked another in order to create a convenient excuse to destroy him; on the other hand, He gave the adversary every chance to be saved. He

carried the message of Dharma to the Vaanaraas and the Raakshasas, as well as to sages like Jaabaali. He accepted the homage of Vibheeshana without demur and He announced that He was prepared to accept even Raavana, if only he repented his iniquity. "Sathyam vadha" (speak the truth), says the Shruthi; Raama stuck to truth, in spite of all temptations. "Dharmam chara" (practise virtue), says the Shruthi. He never deviated from the path. For example, He had, as you know, to live 14 years in the forest, to fulfil His father's behest. So during that period, He did not enter an inhabited town or village. He avoided Kishkindha and Lanka, even when the Coronations of Sugreeva and Vibheeshana took place. Vibheeshana pleaded with Him very plaintively, saying that only a few days remained out of the 14 years, but Raama sent Lakshmana instead. He did not waver or overstep. That was the strictness with which He kept the vow.Raama is Dharmaswaruupam

(embodiment of virtue); Krishna is Premaswaruupam (embodiment of love). Raama was ever aware of the obligations of Dharma. When Dhasharatha, running after His chariot in mortal anguish, cried out, "Stop, stop" and called on Sumanthra to stop, Raama told him not to. He said, "If he chides you, tell him you did not hear him." Sumanthra was in a fix. How could He say something not true? But, Raama explained, "This order to stop the chariot comes from a grief-stricken father, whereas the order to take Me to the forest came from the king, whose minister you are. You should not hear the ravings of a man who has lost his reason through sorrow; you must listen only to the commands of the king."Even before the advent of the Avathaar, the stage is set to the minutest detail; Kaikeyi is ready with her two indefinite boons. Dhasharatha is ready with the curse of the ascetic on his head, entailing upon him a death due to anguish at the separation of his son,

the Vaanaras are ready to help the divine purpose. Seetha is ready risen from the earth, to provide the cause for the downfall of Evil. Just as a garland is made of flowers gathered from many plants, flowers of many hues and fragrances, so too the Garland of the divine story is made up of a variety of incidents, a boon, a blessing, a curse to provide the wonderful plot of His story.There are some who say that Raama shows man how to suffer! Well, if a king arranges a play in the palace and takes delight in enacting the role of a beggar, and acts it very realistically, do you therefore declare that he is suffering the miseries of beggary? Raama is Aanandha (bliss). Aanandha is Raama. If it is not sweet, how can it be sugar? If Raama is suffering, He cannot be Raama. A ball of iron cannot burn the skin; but, make it red-hot; it does. That is but an assumed role. When the heat subsides it is as cool as ever.Raama Naama (name) will save you,

if you have at least the Pithru Bhakthi and Maathru Bhakthi (devotion to father and to mother) that Raama had. If not, Raama Naama is merely a movement of the lips. Meditate on the Raama swaruupa (form of Raama) and the Raama swabhaava (the true nature of Raama), when you recite or write Raama Naama. That will give exercise to the mind and it will be made healthy and strong, in the spiritual sense. Make this Dharmaswaruupa your Aathmaa Raama, on this Janmadhina (birthday) of Raama. That is My advice and My blessing.- From Swami's Divine Discourse in Rajahmundhry( A.P) on 1st' April 1963.

 

Om Sai Ram