Srimad Ramayanam - Kausalya's mangalasasanam to Rama

This episode is quite moving.

If Rama displayed courage and resilience in the face of distress through His stoicism and equanimity, Kausalya went a step ahead in being the mom of Rama.

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She did what a brave mother would do - wished Rama and her mangalasasanam is quite notable.

Specifically, there are 3 that are also recited as mangala slokas upon completion of parayanam.

यन् मन्गलम् सहस्र अक्षे सर्व देव नमः कृते
वृत्र नाशे समभवत् तत् ते भवतु मन्गलम् 2

யன் மங்களம் சஹஸ்ராக்ஷே சர்வதேவ நமஸ்க்ருதே
வ்ருத்ரநாஷே சமபவத் தத்தே பவது மங்களம்

Felicity occurred when the 1000 eyed Indra killed the demon Vriddasura, let that felicity come to you. 3

यन् मन्गलम् सुपर्णस्य विनता अकल्पयत् पुरा
अमृतम् प्रार्थयानस्य तत् ते भवतु मन्गलम्

யன் மங்களம் ஸுபர்ணஸ்ய வினதா கல்பயத்புரா
அம்ருதம் ப்ரார்த்தயநஸ்ய தத்தே பவது மங்களம்

Which blessing was invoked by Vinata to Garuda who was setting off to bring nectar in the past , may that 4

blessing happen to you

अमृतोत्पादने दैत्यान् घ्नतो वज्रधरस्य यत्
अदितिर्मङ्गळम् प्रादात् तत्ते भवतु मङ्गळम्

அம்ருதோத் பாதனே தைத்யானு க்னதோ வஜ்ரதரஸ்ய யத்
அதிதிர் மங்களம் ப்ராதாத் தத்தே பவது மங்களம்

While blessing was bestowed on Devendra, the wielder of the thunderbolt , 5

Rama passing through Ayodhya streets - Ayodhya Kandam

King Dasaradha confers with his ministers and people to come to a conclusion that Rama can be crowned a prince. He then requests his minister Sumantra to fetch Rama to inform about the decision. 1

Rama is described as someone with broad shoulders, long hands adorned in pitAmBaram (including anGavastram) that is contrasting to hue coloured complexion and a tilak on His forehead.

The following sloka talks about that instance when He passed through Ayodhya street and how 2

people fell in love with Him.

Gandarva rAja pratimam lOke vikyAta pauruSam
dhIrGaBahUm mahAsattvam matta mAdhanGa gAminam
chandra kAntAnanaM rAmam aThIva priyadarSanam
rUpam aUdArya gunaiH pumsAm DriSti cita aparAhinAm

People from different background, from different 3

genders observed Rama. As each individual has unique characteristic, he/she associated them with Rama.

Gandarva rAja pratimam - Chitrarathan was a Gandarva king and considered to be handsome. The ladies on the streets of Ayodhya observed that the Gandarva was no match to 4

Rama’s beauty.

lOke vikyAta pauruSam - young men of Ayodhya knew that Rama did a dhanur banga (Siva Dhanusu/bow) and marvelled at the strong shoulders of Bhagawan.

dhIrGaBahUm mahAsattvam matta mAdhanGa gAminam -

mahAsattvam - majestic in appearance 5

Why is it important to listen Krishna Bala leelA

Mind has an incessant tendency to keep wandering and thoughts are the waves that never stops.

The proclivity of the mind is like a parasite that it latches on to something. The attraction could be caused by 1

different emotions such as taste, fear, anger, arts etc. entertainment such as watching telly or movie or theatre is exactly for that.

So, all practices prescribed in the religious texts is essentially to curb or control it.

SarvE manO niGraha lakSanAntaH 2

bikSu gItam, Srimad Bhagavatham

Therefore, it is essential to identify an object which is worthy enough to ensure the thought waves are able to get attracted to.

There’s no other object in the universe that meets any of the parameters such as
- Beauty
- Worthiness
- Value 3

Pleasing
Heartwarming and so on

than Krishna. There’s no limit to the content experienced by mind towards Krishna. The only form of Bhagawan that evokes such a desire is Bala Krishna and not any other rupA (for example Narasimha).

Narayana Bhattatri explains the form of 4

Guruvayurappan through the sloka.

யத் த்ரைலோக்ய மஹீயஸோபி மஹிதம்
ஸம்மோஹனம் மோஹனாத்
காந்தம் காந்தி நிதானதோபி மதுரம்
மாதுர்ய துர்யாதபி சௌந்தர்யதோபி சுந்தரதரம்
த்வத் ருபம் ஆஷ்சர்யதோபி ஆஷ்சர்யம் புவனே ந கஸ்யகுதுகம் புஷ்னாதி
விஷ்ணோபி ந பிபோ - நாரயணீயம் 5

Rama gunAs from Ayodhya Kandam, Srimad Ramayanam

One of the important differences between Rama and other gods is that there’s an underlying respect for them whilst for Rama, it is the appreciation of His kalyAna gunAs upon which an entire epic is written.1

Rama’s avatar can be mentioned through

artitO mAnuSE lOkE jajnE viSnu sanAtanaH

Indicating that Bhagawan Vishnu incarnated as a human.

It is important to note that love for that form is not guaranteed even if He is an avatar. An example would 2

be Parasurama, people were intimidated by Him.

So, what made people love Rama? His kalyana gunas which appeal to common people that makes them want Him. Valmiki calls out cross section of people, young and old, men and women, different classes that could connect with Rama. 3

Let us look at some of them.

adOSa Darsi - one who does not find fault with others. Even more beautiful is that He would quietly acknowledge if someone were to point a defect at Him.

svadOSa paradOSa vitu - Does this mean, is he oblivious to the faults of others? 4

Of course not, it’s just His great gunA that would keep it in heart and not display it for others would find out.

Katancit upakArEna kritEna EkEna tuSyati
Na smarati apahArAnNam Satamapi Atma vartayA

He’s always grateful to those that does help Him, 5

Srimad Ramayanam - thAyar greeting rAvanA, different meanings of a single slokA

Vedas are considered apauruSEyam, not made by humans, and therefore cannot be interpreted in any manner. The vEdanta sUtra bASyam has been done by Sri Adi Sankara, Swami Ramanuja and Sri Madhwa 1

On the other hand, itihAsAs and purunAs are made by riSis, but the greatness is that they wrote without diluting the meaning of vEdAs (or Upanishads).

There is lot in them that are dependent on bhakti, which is subjected to bhAvam (or experience). AcAryAs have relished these 2

experiences in Srimad Ramayanam, and one such instance is in Sundara Kandam where thAyAr greets rAvanA when she visits her and places a grass between her and him. She also smiles at his arrogance

The slokA is

तृणमन्तरतः कृत्वा प्रत्युवाच शुचिस्मिता
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There are bursts of bhAvam for one such slokA.

1) Thayar is used to wearing a veil (gOSA niyamanam) and, hence placed a grass between them.

2) When a person comes to see another person in their place, it’s customary to offer them a seat. As she does not have one, she places
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grass

3) She’s insinuating that the strength and the valour he displayed is equivalent to that of a grass, meaning nothing.

4) The wealth or the grandeur he displayed pales into insignificance as She was Mahalakshmi, who is the abode of all the wealth in the universe.
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Rama’s concern on wellbeing of His bhaktas (bhakta aBimAnI)

Once a jIvAtmA does saranagati, Bhagawan takes immense efforts keeps uplifting them until it reaches Him.

Ramayanam consists of guNAs of Rama and Sita that will make the reader get overwhelmed with emotions towards1

Him thereby building Bhakti.

Yesterday, I wrote about how He gave aBaya to Vibishana without questioning.

This is an instance where He cares for their wellbeing.

Rama and his team of vAnarAs have reached Lanka and are in discussions. Similarly, Ravana and his ministers 2

are inspecting their opponents and evaluating their strengths and weaknesses.

Upon seeing Ravana, Sugriva who has become a devout bhakta of Rama, cannot bear the sight of someone who has kidnapped Sita causing immense anguish to his swami (Rama). 3

He leaps in the sky, reaches Ravana and wrestles with him fiercely, causing immense embarrassment in front of his ministers, grabs his crown and places it at Rama’s feet.

Meanwhile, Rama became so concerned as He couldn’t find Sugriva and becomes happy once he’s back.4

இதானீம் மா க்ருதா வீர ஏவம் வித மச்சிந்தித்தம்
த்வயி கிஞ்சித் சமா பன்னே கிம் கார்யம் சீதையா மம

பரதேன மஹா பாக லக்ஷ்மனென யவீயசா
க்ஷத்ருக்னேன ச க்ஷத்ருக்ன ஸ்வஷரீரேன வ புன:

Rama is known for speaking what He really thinks, and doing what He speaks. He never ever makes an 5

Srimad Ramayanam - nuances of certain episodes

In my earlier articles, I have mentioned how Srimad Ramayanam is a guide to brahma vidya. This means that there must be nuances in certain episodes.

Whilst there are many are strewn all over the epic, I would like to cover two 1

such instances from Ayodhya Kandam.

Scene 1: Rama is about to be sent to the forest, and King Dasaradha’s minister, Sumantra comes to fetch Rama.

Valmiki says in the following verse

Anuliptam parErDyEna candanEna parantapam

அநுலிப்தம் பரார்த்தேன சந்தனென பரண்தபம் 2

Upon entering Rama’s palace, Sumantra is overwhelmed with grand view of Rama on a swing with Sita standing beside him. Rama’s hair was being dried with Sita had applied ground sandalwood paste applied liberally on his chest and she was also using a fan at the same time. 3

As the fan dried the paste on Rama’s chest, it was being replenished by Sita thayar.

The nuance is that Sita, being Mahalakshmi, knows the upcoming events and Rama would get angry at the loss of Sita. The nuance is that in order to maintain His composure and cool His 4

heart, she had applied sandalwood paste.

Scene 2:

King Dasaradha had informed Rama about people of Ayodhya had unanimously agreed to former being crowned a prince.

Sage Vasista informed Rama to follow austerity practices before the function. Therefore, Rama had spent 5

Srimad Ramayanam - Importance of guru as enunciated by Rama

Aranya Kandam in Srimad Ramayanam is considered to be mOkSa kAndam as lot of personalities such as SaraBangar, Jatayu, Sahara get mOkSA.

The episode of Sabhari is quite important, 1

not just because she got mOkSam but highlights the importance of an ideal guru.

An ideal guru can uplift the soul from from a bottomless and chalk out a clear path to be never born again, I.e., mOkSam (paramapadam). 2

Sabhari was a vagabond, who by chance stumbled onto Rishi Mathanga. He offered her redemption by giving tAraka brahma (Rama Nama) and assured that she would be visited by the one behind the meaning of the name (Rama).

Sabhari was quite diligent in being the right disciple 3

for the Rishi in carrying out her responsibilities by expecting the person Rama. True to the word of Rishi, Rama visited and enquired about her.

Valmiki explains this with the following slokas -

कच्चित् ते निर्जिता विघ्नाः कच्चित् ते वर्धते तपः 4

कच्चित् ते नियतः कोप आहारः च तपोधने

कच्चित् ते नियमाः प्राप्ताः कच्चित् ते मनसः सुखम्
कच्चित् ते गुरु शुश्रूषा सफला चारु भाषिणि

1) कच्चित् ते निर्जिता विघ्नाः - Is your tapas happening without any hindrance?

2) कच्चित् ते वर्धते तपः - In order for the tapas to happen 5

Srimad Ramayanam - Qualities of an ideal guru

Our sAstrAs (Vedas and Upanishads) essentially talk about two things - dharmam and brahmam.

Dharmam is how to conduct oneself in everyday life (foundational elements) which helps in cleansing the mind and would help uplifting 1

gradually to reach brahmam.

As Vedas and Upanishads were complex with lot of nuances, Puranas and ItihAsAs came about to engage with people to talk about the above two.

In this category, Srimad Ramayanam is important as it is considered to be a guide to 2

brahma vidya, i.e., to impart knowledge of brahman. In order to understand an esoteric topic like brahmam, one has to have an ideal guru.

Veda defines the characteristics of an ideal guru with the verse ‘SOtriyam brahma niStam’

SOtriyam - knowledge of sAstrAs which means 3

one must be a vaiDIkA

Brahma niStam - knowledge and personal experience of brahmam

Srimad Ramayanam’s first sloka is as below:

तपःस्वाध्यायनिरतं तपस्वी वाग्विदां वरम्
नारदं परिपप्रच्छ वाल्मीकिर्मुनिपुङ्गवम्

The literal meaning of this sloka is that ascetic Valmiki inquired 4

Narada who is engaged deeply in austerity and study of Vedas, best among the eloquent and eminent among sages.

But, the greatness of this sloka is that it provides 6 qualities for an ideal guru. Let us look at them.

तपःस्वाध्यायनिरतं -

1) तपः tapas - jnAnam someone who 5

Srimad Ramayanam - jnAnam through guru katAkSam

Sabhari mOkSam is an episode in Aranya Kandam which is considered to be mOkSa kAndam.

In my earlier article, I had written about the importance of guru that gets highlighted through the interaction between Bhagawan and Sabhari. 1

Let us look at what that guru katAkSam will do.

Sabhari was a vagabond, who by chance stumbled onto Rishi Mathanga. He found that she’s a clean soul and worthy of being given tAraka brahmam and offered that to her.

Sabhari enquired as to what the name meant. 2

An ideal guru is someone who gives Narayana, and so with Rishi Mathanga being one, he said that the meaning of that name (tAraka brahmam) will find its way to her abode.

When Rama and Lakshmana visited Sabhari’s abode, the former enquired about the progress of her penance 3

and if it materialised.

Sabhari’s jnAnam was complete with Rishi Mathanga’s katAkSam and this reflected in her response to Rama.

She answered intelligently -

aDyaprAptA tapa siDDiH tava sanDarSanAn maya
aDyamE sapalam janma taptam GuruvaSca supUjitA: 4

அத்ய ப்ராப்தா தப சித்திஹி தவ சந்தர்ஷனான் மயா
அத்ய மே சபலம் ஜன்ம தப்தம் குருவஷச்ச ஸுபூஜித:

My tapas materialised upon seeing you. This happened due to guru katAkSam and my sEvA to him who predicted this event in advance.

She further added boldly 5

EkAnta bhakti - Sri Hanuman

What this means is about having fixated bhakti in one mUrtI or form of bhagawan whilst respecting His other forms or dEvatAs.

When such a devotee sees the leelA in other forms, he will be able to relate it on,y to the form that is fixed in mind.
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Typical example for such a bhakti is Sri Hanuman.

Hanuman was born a jnAni in Tirumala in Anjanadri hill and was cursed to forget his knowledge, however will get it back once he gets the darshan of bhagawan.

In Kishkinta Kandam, when he saw Rama he instantly fell for Him

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and realised it was Bhagwan. From that moment onwards, he saw Rama everywhere, was in awe of this form and immersed in His qualities never to come out of them.

His ekanta bhakti gets displayed when he climbs atop mahendra mountain to fly over the sea and utters prayers
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To sun (his guru), father (vAyu) and to every living being, however specifically to Rama (mahendrAya indicating para brahmam).

Similarly, when he faced Ravana, he was able to fearlessly explain to him that Rama was none other than Bhagwan and has the capability to
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Perform cosmic creation, maintenance and annihilation effortlessly.

Upon his successful return from Lanka, Rama was overwhelmed and wondered how He could every repay for what Hanuman had done to which he said that the qualities of Rama made him do that.

Such was his Rama
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Srimad Ramayanam - description of Rama and Lakshmana by King Janaka

One of the key highlights of Bala Kandam in Srimad Ramayanam is the celestial marriage of Rama and Sita.

The background to this is that Rishi Vishwamitra takes Rama and Lakshmana for duSta niGrahaM and SiSta 1

paripAlanam in line with Bhagawan’s statement ‘paritrAnAyA sAdUnAm vinASAya catuSkritAm’.

Rishi does penance to get Rama and Sita married as he knows the incarnation of Bhagawan and Thayar. Once yajna got completed, he took them to Vidarba kingdom 2

for which King Janaka was the king.

King Janaka was said to be Rishi Yajnavalkyar’s disciple and a brahma jnAni. He is one who was contented in the nirguna brahmam, however when Rishi Vishwamitra brings Rama and Lakshmana to the yajnA salA of King Janaka, he was instantly 3

attracted to the rUpa saunDaryA of Rama and Lakshmana.

Valmiki describes this episode using the following slokas

इमौ कुमारौ भद्रं ते देवतुल्यपराक्रमौ
गजसिंहगती वीरौ शार्दूलवृषभोपमौ
पद्मपत्रविशालाक्षौ खड्गतूणीधनुर्धरौ
अश्विनाविव रूपेण समुपस्थितयौवनौ 4

यदृच्छयैव गां प्राप्तौ देवलोकादिवामरौ
कथं पद्भ्यामिह प्राप्तौ किमर्थं कस्य वा मुने

Rama and Lakshmana have the ability to adapt themselves to the surroundings. As they come from the royal lineage, the ability to display their strong character is noticed by King Janaka. 5