Ramayana: Raghunath ki Kahani - Epic for All Time

By R V SINGH RAGHUVANSHI

Raghunath ki Kahani: Epic for All Time

The Ramayana is one of the most popular epics of India. Ramayana-lovers are to be found all over the world. All are not necessarily followers of Hinduism. With its engaging storyline, it holds readers of all denominations and backgrounds spellbound. Narrated in an engaging fashion, the story of Rama entertains as well as informs, while presenting to us the model of an ideal human being.

Ramayana traces the story of Rama, prince of Ayodhya - his birth, childhood, the circumstances leading to his 14-year vanvas or stay in the forest, the abduction of his wife Sita by Ravana, the demon-king, and the fall of Ravana's empire after he suffered defeat at the hands of Rama, and Rama's return to his kingdom of Ayodhya. Rama, the king, established an exemplary and ideal system of democratic governance based on popular support, making no distinction of class or creed. The system of Ramrajya was founded on the principles of righteousness and mutual love, affection and respect among the populace.

Ramayana is a word - composite of Rama and Ayana . Ayana means abode, path, mobility, speed, a state of life and dynamism, time and age, the Sun's relative position with respect to the earth and so on. With all these different connotations and meanings, the reach of the word Ramayana expands to include a huge and charming panorama of an eclectic spiritual landscape of thoughts done with a kaleidoscope of colours and themes.

Tulsidas the saint-poet mentions that there are a billion infinite Ramayanas. The idea behind this statement is an attempt to identify innumerable living beings and organisms and non-living objects of Creation with Rama, each having a naturally potent- instinct of enacting as many Ramayanas. Each one has the basic potential of living a Ramayana of its own. Each one of us has the right and the freedom to work towards attaining a greater spiritual status and to get closer to this objective, provided the inherited tendencies support the seeker.

The Ramayana establishes a wholesome philosophy and style of life that sets forth a number of benchmarks for behavioural dignity and social decorum and sets limits to our mutual interrelations and interactions. To illustrate, the legendary Rama, while in the exile, asked Maharshi Valmiki to suggest to him a temporary abode where he (Rama) could spend a few days. The Maharshi was perplexed because he did not know of any such place that was not already known to Rama and that was not occupied by him. He therefore tells Rama to live in the hearts of those who possess and practise virtues, do good to the deserving, show kindness towards all and believe in righteousness.

Rama and Ravana are two aspects of the same entity; the point of demarcation between them shall keep on shifting according to the state of changing social values. Ravana ado-red Shiva. Ravana adored Rama too, as far as the value based perception of the Brahman was concerned. But what he did not believe was that Rama, the son of Dasharath, was Rama, the Brahman.

In Lanka, not all deserved condemnation. Most of the courtiers and warriors, women of the royal family, Vibhishana, Mareech, Kumbhakarna, queen Mandodari, Meghanad's wife Sulochana and many others knew very well the true meaning of Rama and what it symbolised. They upheld high standards for themselves but as far as Ravana was concerned, they had no control over his ego which was very powerful indeed.

Rama finally chose to accept and purify the egoistic Ravana just as he killed the ego not only in his own devotees but also in the devotees of His elemental part in Lord Shiva whom he himself always worshipped.