Essence of Chapters 3,4; Book 1 and Lava, Kusa - Twin sons of Rama

              In the last post, I presented my personal example of how powerful this epic is, in giving direction to our lives. Such stories emanate from many a countless places and people who have experienced the divinity, beauty, purpose and direction in their lives. The epic works inherently, under the carpet to shape the personality of past, present and future individuals. Leave the country of origin and let us consider how the story of Ramayana is upholding the cultural fabric of an Indo-Pacific country - Fiji. Ramayana, without any doubt, has a huge impact in shaping the lives of Hindus in Fiji. The first of these who came to Fiji in 1879 had also brought a small book of Ramayana along with them. These people were taken as indentured labourers to Fiji and had a practice of reciting Ramayana after a hard day's job which gave them joy. Thus established the practice of Ramayana becoming the most important cultural instrument among the people of Fiji.

             Today more than 2000 Ramayana mandalis operate in Fiji, the values of the epic have shaped the character and personality of a substantial proportion of Fiji’s population. Ramayana and Ramayana Mandalis in Fiji have played a constructive role in the social fabric of Fiji for more than 130 years. Such groupings known as ‘mandalis’ are a source of inspiration for the youth. Every settlement in the country has unique Ramayana Mandalis and their recitations on a weekly basis is to educate and preserve religion, culture and heritage in Fiji. This will have a huge impact in shaping the youth to be the future citizens of that country. In these turbulent, testing and tiring times, hanging on to the story of Rama gives immense joy just like the laborer’s experienced it at the end of every hard day.

            After knowing about the people who practice and get elevated by the story in their daily lives, let us move on to learning the Sanskrit scripture chapter 3 and 4 of Balakanda. We are still yet to enter the story of Ramayana but dealing with the phases which lead to it. The sage Valmiki has a divine assembly with Narada and Brahma who initiates him to write the epic in grammatical verses of poetry.            

              Having heard the entire theme of the poem to be composed from Sage Narada, Vamiki sought to discover directly through intuition a detailed life – account of Purushothama, Sri Rama. After doing ‘aachamanam’ to purify himself, and taking his seat, with joined palms, on Kusa blades pointing to the east, the sage sought to discover the exploits of Sri Rama through Yogic power, conferred on him by Lord Brahma. As a result, he was able to perceive directly and clearly in reality and every detail in that state of absorption all that pertained to Sri Rama, Lakshmana and Seeta as well as to Emperor Dasaratha along with his wives and kingdom. Having seen all that in reality by dint of yogic power, Sage Valmiki rendered the whole story of Sri Rama in twenty-four thousand verses; and made from them six Kandas consisting of five hundred and odd Sargas, and an Uttara Kanda, the epilogue. 

            He wrote of events and their consequences, that wove the life and saga of an embodiment of dharma, that the world would one-day revere as a god. He saw Rama the holy one, bound by truth and righteousness, his trials and tribulations, his entry into Dandakaranya followed by his beloved wife Sita and faithful brother Lakshmana. Ecstatic at the glorious visions of Sri Rama's life, possessed by divinity he launched on the saga of Rama and the world came to see the birth of the Ramayana, in the same form as told by Narada. Valmiki went on to describe the birth of Rama, of his benevolence, compassion, forbearance, and his attachment to truth and righteousness. His physical beauty combined with self-effulgence was stunning.

             While Rama ruled Ayodhya, sage Valmiki began the composition of the story of Rama, in his inimitable style. The past events are all visualized and made part of the itihasa. Thus the great epic Ramayana, consisting of events subsequent to Asvamedha yaga, the legendary story of Sita, the destruction of Paulastya and many other events was composed. Having duly completed, the sage contemplated as to who could recite it with memory before audiences. While the sage was pondering about it, Lava and Kusa - the two sons of Sri Rama brought forth by Seeta during her exile at the hermitage of Valmiki, appeared in the garbs of hermits and caught hold of his feet. Valmiki cast a glance in appreciation at Kusa and Lava, who were twins.

           Valmiki instantly perceived their tremendous competence who looked like gandharvas, in human form. Blessed with good looks and auspiciousness, they were like twin images of Rama. The venerable sage accepted them as students of Vedic knowledge and initiated them for the purpose of nourishing the Vedas and the rendition of Ramayana. This charming poem of Ramayana, which could be applied to the three measures of time, with notes synchronized to stringed instruments was replete with all the poetic sentiments - the humorous, amorous, compassionate, wrathful, heroic, loathsome, fearful and the violent.

             Lava and Kusa faultlessly chanted the captivating story, the greatest one ever based on dharma, in the presence of great ascetics and seers. The enthralled learned Brahmins and saints lauded and blessed them. On one occasion at the assembly of great sages, who heard the mesmeric rendering in awe and wonderment at the singular presentation, which they could almost visualize. Overcome with joy, they chorused their approval of its excellence, showering praise and blessings upon them. One amongst them presented a water pitcher and another gifted bark robes to the outstanding singers. This alluring poem written with surprisingly specific rules would be an inspiration and a firm foundation to future poets, made more beautiful by the rendition of it by the celestial twins, who had knowledge of all musical notes. It bestowed longevity and prosperity on whosoever listened to it.

            Their singing attracted the attention of King Rama, who invited them to the royal palace. He told Lakshmana, Bharata and Shatrughna, to listen to the poem par excellence and that the boys had the qualities of royalty though they looked like ascetics. At a nod from Rama, seated on his majestic golden throne, Lava and Kusa begin to sing the poem of Rama himself, in the 'Marga' mode. The listeners were immersed in the sheer melody of the song and Rama profoundly moved, drifting into a peaceful and meditative mood. The twins sang for thirty two days continuously. It touched the heart and soul of one and all. The story of Ramayana is put forth by Valmiki from the perspective of what Lava and Kusa sang before Sri Rama. This concludes chapters 3 and 4 of the first book. The detailed story will start from Chapter 5 of the BalaKanda which we will learn in subsequent posts.

Essence of Chapter 2, Book 1 and Foundation for the Poetic Epic

                  Let us continue this divine exercise from where we left in the last post. It is my firm belief and also experience that whoever writes on this subject will become better, refined, elevated and upgraded. I feel I am immensely fortunate to take up this subject, writing on this and at the same time learning the epic. Just to give you an example of how powerful this epic is – during my engineering studies, I sang a song on Lord Rama – a beautiful Telugu song by the great SPB from the film Devullu – in a singing competition in front of a few judges. The song was divine but my attempt was pathetic and not up to the mark. I was low on confidence and don’t know why I attempted. But just this attempt on this divine subject gave me an experience which portrayed me as a better singer next time. Subsequently, I chose another song in a packed auditorium and got a big applause after the song with requests for ‘Once more’. I obliged and went on again. Everyone I knew was stunned by this. I very firmly believe, this good experience would not have happened if not for the earlier effort on the great subject in front of a few people. Just the opportunity to be in service to him will make you a better person.

                 We picked most of the essence from the first chapter of the Bala Kanda – which is the beginning of the Ramayana. To recap, there are a total of around 500 chapters divided into 7 kandas. Each chapter in turn has many verses and there are 24000 verses in the entire book. The complexity of the book lies in the fact that the story is portrayed in the form of poetic verses in Sanskrit language. Verses in Ramayana are written in a 32-syllable meter called anustubh. The epic was an important influence on later Sanskrit poetry, primarily through its establishment of the shloka meter. We live in an ocean of prose these days but the poetic narration of a great story in the form of shlokas is an ancient practice. The structure of these verses in the entire book had its foundation discussed in the second chapter when sage Valmiki gets the direction from Brahma.

               After the Narada’s departure, Valmiki goes on to the banks of River Tamasa which flowed near River Ganga. As Valmiki is strolling through the natures manifold splendors, he notices a frolicking pair of Krauncha birds, oblivious of the world and blissfully reveling in each other. A hunter stalks them and kills the male bird with an arrow. Beholding her mate lying lifeless on the forest floor, the female bird crooned in great distress. Valmiki, who watched all of this, involuntarily burst into a poetic verse of versified curse on the hunter – “O Fowler! Thou hast so cruelly killed the male of a pair of Krauncha birds while they reveled. On that account you will be discredited forever. Just as you ended the bird's life before its time, so too shall wilt your life before its time”. The words have escaped him without conscious effort which are so arranged perfectly as to follow a meter and are viable for rendition in the form of a song, to the accompaniment of string instruments, hence let it be known as a 'sloka'.

                Reflecting on the events and contemplating on the poetic words, Valmiki reached his hermitage. As he sat with his disciples engaged in the study of the holy texts, there appeared before him the most effulgent form of Brahma. The creator of the worlds and knower of the Vedas was endowed with four heads, whose four faces facilitated the chanting of the four Vedas. Controlling his joyous soaring mind bedazzled and awe struck at the glorious presence of the great Brahma, Valmiki bowed in reverential homage and performed all the traditional rituals, worshipped him. The omnipotent Brahma seating himself asked Valmiki also to be seated. Even as the sage sat, his mind was still lost to the thoughts of the death of the Krauncha bird. Unbidden, flowed thoughts of his own reaction to that tragedy and he softly hummed the sloka which escaped his lips.

                Lord Brahma smilingly addressed Valmiki saying, "What you have composed is undoubtedly a sloka, and those words emanated from you, at my will. Compose the history of Rama, who is famed for righteousness, virtue wisdom and for his unshakable resolution, in the manner made known to you, from Narada. In the epic that you are about to compose there will be neither error nor falsehood. So, do embark on the story of Rama, Lakshmana, Sita, Bharata and the rakshasas; their deeds and thoughts will all be made known to you, by my grace. The story shall be composed in slokas of the same meter, which so haunt your mind. As long as the mountains and rivers remain on this earth, so long will the story of Rama, the Ramayana, endure. So long as the history of Rama lives on, that long will you abide in the higher regions, and as long as the Ramayana authored by you is remembered in this world”. The Lord Creator then vanished, leaving Valmiki and his disciples in a daze.

               This couplet of four parts, each part consisting of an equal number of syllables, attained a greater glory, because of its repeated rendition. Valmiki, profoundly intelligent and capable of putting thoughts into action, resolved on the composition of the epic poem, Ramayana, entirely in the meter that had divinely occurred to him. He then composed hundreds of charming verses; each containing an equal number of syllables most excellently worded. Meaningful and according to meter, with melodious 'Sandhis' and sentences, composed of lucid meaningful phrases, tells the story of Rama and the slaying of the ten headed Ravana, the sound of which would delight the ear and the meaning of which would mesmerize the heart.

                Thus concludes the second chapter where we learnt the background of the shloka or verse tone for the entire Ramayana. There will be an instrument through which great works are authored and the sage Valmiki is merely an instrument to write Ramayana since Brahma clearly stated that ordered words of versified curse came out through Valmiki at the will of Brahma. He gave the direction to author Ramayana to Valmiki where there will be no error nor falsehood. This laid the foundation and direction for this poetic epic. When the Paramapurusha, who is known through the Vedas, was born as Rama, the Vedas themselves took upon the form of Ramayana and were written by Valmiki Maharshi. Thus composed the 50000 poetic lines of Ramayana with lessons, morals in beautiful Sanskrit language, poetry, grammar. We will come to the learnings in the next chapters of Bala Kanda in subsequent posts.

                

Nature, Brief Story and Kingdom of Sri Rama

 Let us continue to get more from the first of the six kandas – Balakanda of The Ramayana. As mentioned in the last post, the inquisition of Valmiki for the search of an ideal man with great qualities is answered by Narada, who points to Rama. In this way, Ramayana begins in the first chapter. The Balakanda has 77 chapters and first chapter has 100 verses. The fascinating story is briefly presented in this first chapter. It sets the tone for the remainder of the book. The qualities of Rama which are mentioned in the initial verses of first chapter are:

Sri Rama has steady nature, possess incomprehensible prowess, self effulgent, self commanding and subjects senses under his control.

Sri Rama is a great intellectual, adherent to rules, eloquent, handsome, destroyer of foes (sins), broad shouldered, strongarmed, having conch shaped neck and prominent cheeks.

He possess a broad chest, armed with a great bow, with fleshy collar bones, knee-long arms, a noble head, a graceful forehead and great prowess, he is the destroyer of foes (sins).

Mighty and powerful, he has a wellproportioned body, neither tall nor short, shining complexion, welldeveloped chest, large eyes, lustrous body and good qualities.

Pious, firm in his vows, he is ever intent on doing good to his subjects. He is, illustrious, wise, and pure at heart. He is obedient to elders (or accessible to those who are dependent on him) and ever meditating (on the means of protecting those who take refuge in him).

Auspicious like Brahma, Sri Rama is the sustainer of this world, destroyer of enemies and protector of all living beings and of the moral code.

He has performed the duties of a king and protected his subjects. knowledgeable in the true nature of the Vedas he is accomplished in military science (he is a great archer).

Sri Rama knows the true meaning of all scriptures and has a retentive memory. He is talented (possessing brightness of conception). He is beloved and well-disposed towards all people (and courteous even towards those who have done him harm). He has an unperturbed mind (even in times of extreme grief) and is circumspect (in doing right things at the right time).

Sri Rama, like sea to rivers, is accessible to men of virtue and has equal disposition towards all. He always has a pleasing appearance.

Sri Rama, bestowed with all virtues, enhanced the joys of Kausalya, He is like the sea in deportment and like Himavant in fortitude.

Sri Rama is like Visnu in prowess, the Moon in pleasing appearance, the all-consuming fire in anger, the earth in patience, Kubera in charity and the Sun in steadfastness.

Let me also present the brief story of Ramayana as touched in the very first chapter in simple words.

Dasharatha was the King of Ayodhya and had three wives and four sons. Rama was the eldest and his mother was Kaushalya. Bharata was the son of Dasharatha’s second and favorite wife, Queen Kaikeyi. The other two were twins, Lakshmana and Shatrughna whose mother was Sumithra. In the neighboring city the ruler’s daughter was named Sita. When it was time for Sita to choose her bridegroom (at a ceremony called a swayamvara) princes from all over the land were asked to string a giant bow which no one could lift. However, as Rama picked it up, he not only strung the bow, he broke it. Seeing this, Sita indicated that she had chosen Rama as her husband by putting a garland around his neck. Their love became a model for the entire kingdom as they looked over the kingdom under the watchful eye of his father the king.

 A few years later, King Dasharatha decided it was time to give his throne to his eldest son Rama and retire to the forest. Everyone seemed pleased, save Queen Kaikeyi since she wanted her son Bharata to rule. Because of an oath Dasharatha had made to her years before, she got the king to agree to banish Rama for fourteen years and to crown Bharata, even though the king pleaded with her not to demand such a request. The devastated King could not face Rama and it was Queen Kaikeyi who told Rama the King’s decree. Rama, always obedient, was content to go into exile in the forest. Sita and Lakshmana accompanied him on his exile. 

One day Rama and Lakshmana wounded a rakshasas (demon) princess who tried to seduce Rama. She returned to her brother Ravana, the ten-headed ruler of Lanka. In retaliation, Ravana devised a plan to abduct Sita after hearing about her incomparable beauty. He sent one of his demons disguised as a magical golden deer to entice Sita. To please her, Rama and Lakshmana went to hunt the deer down. Before they did though, they drew a protective circle around Sita and told her that she would be safe for as long as she did not step outside the circle. After Rama and Lakshmana left, Ravana appeared as a holy man begging alms. The moment Sita stepped outside the circle to give him food, Ravana grabbed her and carried her to his kingdom in Lanka.

 Rama then sought the help of a band of monkeys to help him find Sita. Hanuman, the general of the monkey band can fly since his father is the wind. He flew to Lanka and, finding Sita in the grove, comforted her and told her Rama would come to save her soon. Ravana’s men captured Hanuman, and Ravana ordered them to wrap Hanuman's tail in cloth and to set it on fire. With his tail burning, Hanuman escaped and hopped from house-top to house-top, setting Lanka on fire. He then flew back to Rama to tell him where Sita was.

 Rama, Lakshmana and the monkey army built a bridge from the tip of India to Lanka and crossed over to Lanka where a cosmic battle ensued. Rama killed several of Ravana’s brothers and eventually confronted the ten-headed Ravana. He killed Ravana, freed Sita and after Sita proved here purity, they returned to Ayodhya where Bharata returned the crown to him.

After the brief story, the nature of his kingdom was also touched upon, which is as follows.

The entire world rejoiced to see Rama on the throne. The contented people followed the path of righteousness and grew from strength to strength. Soon, as adharma abated and dharma flourished, the people of Ayodhya could not recall want, sickness or any of the mental or physical afflictions that had previously plagued them. Droughts and floods, famine and deaths, thieving and plundering were unknown during the rule of Rama. Women were chaste, faithful and never widowed. The fields produced an abundance of crop and nowhere, neither in cities nor in villages, was there dearth of any kind felt. Such was the glory of Rama's kingdom.

 Narada concluded his narration by saying that Rama performed a hundred ashvamedhas, gifted hundreds of thousands of cows to the Brahmins as prescribed in the scriptures, re-established the royal dynasty a hundred times more and set the four castes to do their respective work. Rama would return to Brahmaloka after ruling for eleven thousand years and establishing the rule of dharma on earth.

 The story of Rama is as propitious as the vedas and whosoever reads or listens to it will be cleansed of his sins, lead a long and happy life on earth and be assured of a place in heaven. A Brahmin will gain eloquence, a Kshatriya will be able to rule the earth, a Vaisya will reap great profits in his trade and even a lowly Sudra will attain greatness.

 This concludes the first chapter of the 77 chapters in Balakanda – the first of six kandas or books. We will delve deeper into the story and the aspects surrounding it along with the many takeaways from this wonderful scripture in the subsequent posts. Let us contemplate on the great virtues or qualities of Sri Rama, how he instated dharma in his rule and how the people are under his rule. Let us wish for a world where a ruler of his nature reigns supreme and establish a great kingdom with everyone leading a meaningful life.

Some Context and 16 Qualities of An Ideal Man

              As promised, I am starting the new blog on the lessons everyone can learn from the Ramayana – the story of Lord Rama. This is to mark the occasion of my most memorable trip to the U.S. where I landed on the auspicious occasion of Ram Navami. The blog will have posts, which are drawn from the verses of Ramayana. This will be a journey of learning to me as well as I will share what I learn from the sacred texts. I am no sage nor an authority to tell anything about Ramayana. I will just reproduce the content which is already available on this subject and dissipate in this medium. As mentioned, this will be a learning and enriching exercise to me and everyone.

            There are few reasons why we must turn to the ancient scriptures at this point of time. The world is going through very difficult times and we need a hope to cling to. There is covid which is rampant throughout and now a bloody war in the northern hemisphere. No one knows the reasons behind this suffering and gloom. There is no better use of time at this point than to learn about the story of Rama who is synonymous with the ocean of pleasure and beauty. The darshan of Rama brings pleasure to the eyes and listening to the story of Him restore dharma, peace and righteousness in the world. There is a need to learn about the beautiful story of Rama and many ideals to live by. It brings real pleasure and happiness to the people and can offset the ills which are rampant in the present world. I cannot process the turbulence in my inner and outer world, over the past few years, which I had shared in this medium and need a soothing avenue to turn towards.

            The story and ideals of Rama are the blind faith to the crores of Indians. The Indians are built on this faith and this exposition is the contribution of India to the world. I had taken a lot from the U.S. over the past many years and this is my little chance to give them back - the pearls of wisdom enshrined in Ramayana. I am making this little effort to bring awareness and with a hope that these will also be put into practice. The first step to change is awareness, second is internalizing it with consciousness, third is building our personality based on this consciousness, fourth is putting the learning into practice. These are the steps in building an idealistic personality, better individuals, better society and a better world.  There is no better ideal than Rama and let us learn his story, build his consciousness and put them into practice. Let us start on this note, the effort to build the awareness of Rama and his story. As mentioned, there is a need and relevance of these in the modern world to overcome the many problems of present times. This is the context to begin this exercise.

             The Ramayana is a Sanskrit epic from ancient India. It is one of the two itihasas – the other being Mahabharata. Ramayana consists of 24,000 verses divided into 7 kandas or books. The name ‘Ramayana’ - Rama and ayana means the ‘journey of Rama’. The historical epic is written by the sage Valmiki which is also known as ‘Adi kavya’ or original epic based on the story which has truly happened. The Epic is traditionally divided into several major kandas or books, that deal chronologically with the major events in the life of Rama—Bala Kaanda, Ayodhya Kaanda, Aranya Kaanda, Kishkindhaa Kaanda, Sundara Kaanda, Yuddha Kaanda, and Uttara Kaanda.

             The Ramayana starts with the search for an ideal person with 16 qualities. The sage Valmiki is struck with a question to sage Narada, “Is there any man in this world who is virtuous, pious, ever truthful and tenacious? Is there anyone who wishes well of all living creatures and who is also a hero and a scholar? Such a man should be free from jealousy and be a man of invincible valor. He should be the most handsome among mankind. If there is such a man, please let me know.” It was during this time that Valmiki queried Narada if he knew someone who is currently alive and has all the 16 virtuous qualities that a man can possess. The 16 qualities being:

Gunavan = endowed with all good principles and qualities

Viryavan = very powerful

Dharmajnaḥ = aware of the righteousness and dharmas

Krtajnaḥ = who is filled with gratitude

Satya vakyo = truthful in his statements

Dhrudha vrataḥ = self-determined in his vow

Charitrena ca ko yuktaḥ = good-conduct

Sarva bhutesu ko hitah = benefactor of all living beings

Vidvan = learned and expert man

Samarthah = competent

priya darsanah = uniquely good-looking and charming

Atmavan = self-restrained

Jita krodho = one who has controlled his anger

Dyutiman = is endowed with splendour

Anasuyakaḥ = who is free from envy

Kasya bibhyati devah ca jata rosasya samyuge = whom even the gods fear, when provoked to war

             In response to the question, if there is a person with these 16 qualities, Narada muni describes the ideal person – Lord Ramachandra who has these 16 qualities and more than 60 additional qualities in a series of verses. This is the Sankshepa Ramayana or a short version of Ramayana as revealed by Rishi Narada. The first ‘sarga’ or canto of Ramayana written by Valmiki contains one hundred shlokas. These contain a concise account of the Ramayana narrated by Narada. Valmiki converts 32 shlokas narrated by Narada into 24000 shlokas detailed epic. This is the beginning of Ramayana – to know about the ideal person - Ramachandra who is possessor of good qualities and what follows is how he lives by them and exhibits those qualities in several turns of his life journey. As a learning from this post, let us contemplate on these 16 qualities, bring into consciousness, put into practice and build our personality. Let us learn many additional qualities as well in the next post, the life story of Ramachandra subsequently and know what it offers for all of us.