#Ramayana #LecturesOnTheRamayana

Today, I will share a very touching, quite surprising unconventional thought process from Ramayana.

When Lakshmana erected the hut in Panchavati, Rama said something which is quite strange & unexpected. Thread on this incident below:

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We all know about Lakshmana's unflinching devotion and respect for Rama. We will visit this theme quite often in this series.

In the context where Lakshmana has just built the hut, Rama gave a glowing tribute as below

Section: Aranyaa Kanda, Sarga 15

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Verse 27

सुसंहृष्टः परिष्वज्य बाहुभ्यां लक्ष्मणं तदा।
अतिस्निग्धं च गाढं च वचनं चेदमब्रवीत्।।

Deeply pleased with Lakshmana, he hugged him tightly and said those loving words :

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Verse 28

प्रीतोऽस्मि ते महत्कर्म त्वया कृतमिदं प्रभो।
प्रदेयो यन्निमित्तं ते परिष्वङ्गो मया कृतः।।

O my master, you have done a great task for which I have given you what I could give at the moment a hug.

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Verse 29

भावज्ञेन कृतज्ञेन धर्मज्ञेन च लक्ष्मण।
त्वया पुत्रेण धर्मात्मा न संवृत्तः पिता मम।।

O Lakshmana with a son like you who can understand others' feelings, who has a sense of gratitude and a sense of duty my father is not dead yet.

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What an extraordinary statement.. A sense of duty my father is not dead yet.

In other words, Valmiki in his poetic flair describes Rama considering what Lakshmana did as something similar to what a father does his progeny..

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What a beautiful parallel and quite unusual for an elder brother to say about his younger brother.

This essential captures the overwhelming love Rama had for Lakshmana and how he expressed his gratitude speaks volumes of the great person he was

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Sita gives an equal testimony later to Hanuman in this verse from Sundarakanda

यं दृष्ट्वा राघवो नैव वृत्तमार्यमनुस्मरेत्।।

"He is Lakshmana for whose care and support Rama did not miss the noble king Dasaratha (during exile).

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Sita maa is also confirming that with Lakshmana is Dasaratha's proxy with her husband. This is another amazing aspect as how well she has understood her husband and his brother.

No wonder we worship them even today & continue to do so for time immemorial

🙏🕉️🙏

More from GunduHuduga| ಗುಂಡು ಹುಡುಗ|🕉

#Ramayana #LecturesOnTheRamayana

Today, I will quote a few verses on Lakshmana's famous anger and his unflinching devotion towards Sri Rama. There are couple of instances where his Bhakti towards his brother is intense.

Thread below

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In Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 21, Lakshmana on being told about the course of events goes into his famous rage. He even threatens to kill anyone who supports Bharatha.

However, what he says to Kausalya is what touches one's soul. A couple of shlokas below

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अनुरक्तोऽस्मि भावेन भ्रातरं देवि तत्त्वतः।
सत्येन धनुषा चैव दत्तेनेष्टेन ते शपे।।16।।

O mother, (Lakshmana says to Kausalya) I am truly loyal to my brother from the bottom of my heart. I swear this by my bow, on my merits earned through charity, ...

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by my truthfulness & by the good deeds I have done

दीप्तमग्निमरण्यं वा यदि रामः प्रवेक्ष्यति।
प्रविष्टं तत्र मां देवि त्वं पूर्वमवधारय।।17।।

O mother rest assured should Rama enter a blazing fire or a forest I must have already entered it

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This is fiercely violent sentiment .. One of pure unbridled emotion where he swears by all his karma that he will be the first face dangers before Rama has to endure it.

Is this unlimited Bhakti ? Or protective nature towards his Rama?

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#BookExcerpts #Venkateshwara #Balaji

I will write a 3 part thread series with some interesting points from this book.

Part-1 : History of Tirumala & Venkateshwara Swamy
Part-2: Rituals & Prasada Procedure
Part-3: Historical records

Part-1 thread below

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Venkatachala Hill

Maha Vishnu wished for the mountain Krida / Krida Parvatham / Kridhachalam from Vaikunta to be brought to the earth for his avataram.

This was brought to earth by Garuda and Ananta & placed it on banks of river Swarna Mukhi

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This is where current Tirumala temple is located. The fact that this was transported from Vaikunta is apparently a scientifically proven fact.

The scientific dating of the sedimentary rocks have confirmed the date to be around 120 million years ago..

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This timeline coincides with Swayambhu Manu manvanthara of the Sweta Varaha Kalpa which is the time when Swamy descended on earth in the form of Venkateshwara Swamy.

From a survey of flora and fauna, they have found rare species of plants & animals like golden gecko..

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that are exclusive to this hill range only and not found anywhere else in the world.

Tirumala hills are a range of 7 hills
1. Seshachala
2. Vedachala
3. Garudachala
4. Anjanachala
5. Vrishabhachala
6. Narayanachala
7. Venkatachala --> Where temple is present

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