Day 8, July 31, Ramavatara
Mother Goddess Parvathi asked Lord Shiva to give a shorter version for Vishnu Sahasranama. Many people will not be able to chant all the 1000 names for various reasons. Shiva agreed and inititiated the below mantra.
Sri Rama Rama Raameti Rame Raame Manorame
Sahasra nama tastulyam Raama naama varaanane!
Monorame : she gives bliss to all hearts because she is a mother to all.
Shiva says those who cannot chant the entire Vishnu sahasranama need ot worry and they can chant the abridged version of it. (mentioned above)
How did this mantra get this energy? According to science and Maths Rama nama has lots of energy.
In Telugu consonants of “ ya, ra, la, va”, Ra is the second letter.
In the consonants ”pa , pha, ba, bha, ma”. Ma is the fifth letter.
In Maths, 2 X 5=10 , 10 X 2= 20, 20 X 5 =100 , 100 X 2= 200 , 200 X 5= 1000.
Hence chanting the mantra is equal to Vishnu Sahasranama. Chanting and calling Rama nama three times will give you the merit of chanting the Vishnu Sahasranama once. Rama nama has more energy than Rama Himself. Even today Hanuman who is an instance of Shiva, is chanting the Rama nama. Hanuman is the future Brahma. He is staying in Gandhamadhana mountain and without any ego He is chanting Rama nama. Today we will speak a little about such Rama tattva. One day, one month, one year, or one lifetime is not sufficient to tell completely about Rama tattva. Such is the tattva of Rama.
Tyāgarāju a famous vaggeyakara sang “Tattvam yeruga tarama, paratattvam yeruga tarama, Rama”.
Tyāgarāju is one of the greatest composers of Carnatic music. After composing 1000’s kritis he said, “Rama it is not possible to know or understand your tattva. Tat- Tvam- Asi tells about Your tattva which is difficult to understand. Rama it is not easy to understand Your tattva.”
Rama incarnated as human to show us the right path. He showed how should we live, behave or conduct ourselves? How to take righteous decisions in tough situations? Rama showed us the way. Until now Vishnu has taken many incarnations. He incarnated as Parashurama but was not satisfied with this incarnation as it displayed lot of anger and fury. So Vishnu took the incarnation of Rama. Looking closely at the incarnations of Parashurama, Rama, and Balarama, we have Rama nama in all these incarnations. He purposely took these incarnations in this line or sequence so that by remembering the name of the incarnations, we chant Rama nama three times. In this way we get the merit of chanting Vishnu Sahasranama once. This was the intention of Vishnu behind the sequence of these three incarnations. This is the compassion of Lord VIshnu on us. Chanting any line or word which contains Rama nama in it, will give you the merit of chanting Rama nama.
Once there was a conversation among thieves themselves. They were talking “Vane charamaha Vasucha Haramaha”.
“Vane charamaha “ – lets roam here in the garden.
“Vasucha Haramaha”- rob the pilgrims of their possessions.
They began talking among themselves. Unknowingly in their conversation the word Rama came. “Vanae ch+ Rama+ha, Vasucha Ha+ Rama+ ha”. They were credited with the merit of chanting Rama nama and they got liberation. Chanting Rama nama unknowingly gives us such merit and liberation. Imagine the merit of chanting Rama nama with devotion.
Rama Ghora Pataka Viramudu
If there are no commas and full stops in the paragraphs when reading a book, we get a headache. We are confused where we started and which way we are going. The purpose of a full stop is to stop for a moment. You must stop for a moment and tell in a way that listeners understand. Just telling is of no use as both the teller and listener are confused. We need a full stop for all our sins and prohibitory acts. All the beings have this desire to come out these troubled situations. Who is pulling us out of this trouble? Rama is doing us this favor. Once you surrender to His feet, He puts a full stop to the horrible sins. Rama will interrupt the sins such is His grace.
Sadguna Kalpavallika Ramaudu- He possesses the virtuous kalpavallulu- fabulous creepers granting all virtues. He is the garden to such fabulous creepers.
Shadvikara Jaya Ramudu : the conquerer of Arishadvargas – the six passions of mind (lust, anger, greed, attachment, pride and jealousy). It is true that He has killed Ravana, but His most important victory is conquering the unconquerable. That is the six passions of the mind. Not only He has won them, but He blesses us to win the six internal enemies.
Sadhu janavana vratodhamudu: what is His vow or work? To protect the noble beings is His work and vow. Who is noble soul? He who thinks noble thoughts, does good to society, and who at least do good to their family without selfishness are noble people. To protect these noble souls is His vow or work. There is only one vow of Rama. That vow is “Abhayam sarva bhootheybhyo Dadhamyethath pratham mama”. Rama says His vow is to give assurance to all beings. Keeping this vow in mind and making this sankalpa, He incarnated. That is why we should catch Rama. Rama sacrificed all of His things to keep up His vow. Rama, You are our supreme deity. With such feeling we are praying and taking hold of Your lotus feet. Please bless us and see us with the vision of grace. You are an ocean of grace. Please bestow some grace on us also. We must pray like this. Prayer is the strongest of all the tools.
Around 15 years back an incident happened in Vijayawada. An old lady was sitting very far away in the crowd. She was doubtful about Sri Swamiji noticing and calling her. Sri Swamiji finished talking to all the gathering and then He called the old woman and gave her a Raksha. If you believe in Sri Swamiji and pray with heart, He will call you. Pray Him with full concentration. While praying, have the vision that you are catching His Padas – Feet and praying. This is the way to pray. Let all the feeling of shedding tears, laughter or telling your problems come out. You must forget the surroundings and pray Him. This prayer has energy. He is Paradaivam- the Supreme.
It is more tempting to chant Rama nama than to tell His story. Chanting Rama nama is more Divine nectar than reading the Rama story. Chant Rama nama in one breath. Chanting as many times as you can in one breath. Swallow the saliva that comes while chanting the Rama nama. That saliva will act as great medicine to all your diseases. Repeat this procedure for 9 times. You will get good energy, health and radiance. Our sense organs will get energy, mind will be in control, and you will get mental peace. Do it and check it out for yourself. You can do it on your own. You don’t need any company or any musical instruments. Just chant. You must assume that your chanting has dissolved in the air around you and spread across the world. You must believe that it’s the shield around you and protecting you. Just as our head needs a helmet for protection, you need the Rama nama shield to protect you. Hanuman has this Rama nama shield. Rama’s arrow could not touch Hanuman owing to the energy of Rama nama shield. This is a great science. This is the science of Rama nama. We need the grace and energy of Rama nama. It protects us.
Valmiki pondered a lot over what style and language he should compose the Ramayana. Meanwhile Narada Maharishi came to the ashram of Valmiki Maharishi.
Valmiki asked Narada:
Tapas swadhyaya niratam tapasvi vak vidamvaram
Naradam paripapracha valmikim munipungavam
You can know Rama tattva only on doing penance. Since the 16 virtues signifies God, who is the person, who is endowed with all these 16 virtues? Please tell me about such a person.
Konvasmin Sampratam Loke Gunavaan Kasccha Veeryavan ?
Dharmaj~Nasccha Kruthaj~Nasccha Sathyavakyo Dhruda-Vratha
Charithrena Ko Yuktha: Sarvabhutheshu Ko Hitha:
Vidhvan Ka: Ka: Samartasccha Kascchaika Priyadarsana
Aathmavan Ko Jithakrodho Dhyuthiman Koanasuyaka
Kasya Bibhyathi Devasccha Jatharhoshasya Samyuge
Those sixteen qualities He is looking for are:
1.principled one (Gunavan)
2.potential one (Veeryavan)
3.conscious one (Dharmajnaha)
4.redeemer (Kruthajnaha)
5.truth-teller (Satyavakyaha)
6.self-determined (Dhrudhavrataha)
7.one having good conduct (Charithravan)
8.one who is the well-wisher of all the beings(Sarvabhutha hithaha)
9.scholor of all scriptures(vidwan)
10.ablest-one(Samarthaha)
11.one who is always lovable and good to look(sadaika priyadarsanaha)
12.courageous-one (Atmavan)
13.one who controlled his anger (jithakrodhaha)
14.brilliant-one (dyuthiman)
15.one who is not having jealousy (Anasuyakaha)
16.For whom even devathas also will afraid to stand before Him in war, when He is angry
Then Narada Maharishi meditated a moment and answered Valmiki Maharishi’s question.
ikṣvāku vaṃśa prabhavo rāmo nāma janaiḥ śrutaḥ |
niyata ātmā mahāvīryo dyutimān dhṛtimān vaśī ||
A man belonging to the Ikshvaku dynasty is famously called Rama. He is fully endowed with all the 16 virtues you asked. Narada maharishi summarized the story of Rama. Narada maharishi thus told the Ramayana summary which is known Sampkshepa Ramayana or Shatasloki Ramayana. Valmiki Maharishi composed Ramayana just as told by Narada Maharishi hence the Balakanda is also composed by Valmiki. Valmiki composed the Ramayana as third person.
The description of Ayodhya is done. How should the kingdom be? How should a king conduct himself? A king should lay the corner stone of dharma because the subjects will look up to the king for practicing dharma. How should the ministers, soldiers, commander of the army of soldiers be? How to protect the treasury and storeroom for grains? How should protective shelters for cows, horses, elephants and other animals be maintained and protected? How should He forts like water fort, earth fort, and forest fort be ? These above things are told in detail and then later Dasharatha is introduced.
Dasharatha was 60,000 years old and yet did not have progeny. Dasharatha thought deeply and decided to do yagna. Dasharatha decided to do Ashwmedha Yagna and wash away his sins and please the Gods also at the same time. Dasharatha made this sankalpa-determination to have progeny. When we are in difficult situations or circumstances, instead of feeling sad we must pray God. He will bless us. This is a nice lesson taught to us via Dasharatha.
At this point of time Dasharatha was 60,000 years and Rama lived for 11,000 years. We get tired at the age of 60 years where will we understand the concept of such long life. It is very difficult for us to understand. It was a different eon. Mahatmas do not tell lies. We know it. It is only that we are not able visualize this truth.
Ramayana starts with the concept of clubbing of your efforts and prayers to achieve your righteous purpose or motives. Dasharatha appointed Rushyashrunga Maharishi as priest. Rushyashrunga Maharishi conducted the Ashwameda yagna and Purtrakameshti yaga. The Prajapathi Purusha came out of the homa and gave the prasadam to Dasharatha. Dasharatha gave the prasadam to his three wives and they conceived. Rama was born to Kausalya, twins Lakshmana and Shatrughna were born to Sumitra, and Bharata was born to Kaikeyi. This is the incarnation of Rama. All the Gods pray Vishnu, Who is present in subtle form to remove the sufferings they are facing because of Ravana. They made such prayers in subtle form. Vishnu then decides to incarnate as a human being.
Here we are told about the incarnation of Hanuman. This is the information in the 17th chapter. The incarnation of Rama is told in the 18th chapter. Normally after the incarnation, the description of how a child played, roamed and studied are told. Valmiki Maharishi doesn’t describe these in greater detail. The childhood is described in one sloka and the education is told in four slokas. Guru Vasistha thought how should the boys be named? Since this boy is giving bliss merely with His darshan and vision, I shall name Him as Rama. He names the other three children as Lakshmana, Bharata, and Shatrughna. Vasistha Maharishi is a great saint from the school of non-dualism, Brahma jnanai the Kula Guru of the Ikshvaku dynasty.
Usually we christen names based on stars when the children are born. Some people keep names which are consistent with the names of their father and grandfather. In this way they can remember them often. It is one such custom. We must not forget the names give by our fathers. We must proudly say the names given to us. We must not insult the name. If we don’t tell our name, then how will the world call us?
Now Vishwamitra Maharishi enters the scene and takes them away for further education. This tells us how important education is for children. Delaying the admission to school for a child out of love, will spoil the child. He will deny going to school afterwards. We must never neglect a child’s education. If need be, we must sacrifice everything and get the child educated. This message is conveyed by Valmiki Maharishi in Ramayana. Vishwamitra Maharishi asked Dasharatha to send Rama and Lakshmana along with him. Though Dasharatha was hesitant to send his sons, but following the orders of his Guru Vasistha muni He agreed. Rama and Lakshmana went along with Vishwamitra Maharishi to protect his yagna, to kill demoness Tataka, to go to Mithila and break the bow of Shiva, and for the divine marriage of Sita and Rama. Rama won Sita on His valour. This is a very amazing and important episode in the Ramayana. Rama and Sita are inseparable. After marriage, while Sita and Rama were going to Ayodhya, Parashurama enters the scene. With this Bala Kanda ends and paves the way to Ayodhya Kanda.
In Ayodhya Kanda, the conversation between Sita and Rama is described as heart to heart conversation. They did not need words to communicate with each other. Such was the love and affection they mutually shared. This is true congenial marriage. If Sita would think anything in her heart, Rama will know and vice versa. Such was the congenial atmosphere between them. How many things are narrated in the Ramayana. Ramayana will not only pass on merit but also human will succeed in achieving Dharama, Artha, and Kama. It will bestow victory on us. Valmiki Maharishi tells us great things. Bala kanda ends here. Ayodhya Kanda begins from here. It is very voluminous.
Each human being has unique qualities. What is the specialty of Rama? For Rama, dharma is of vital importance. He can sacrifice anything and do anything for dharma. Maricha, a demon praised Rama and said that Rama is the form of dharma. When a demon can know this, can’t we humans understand this? Rama is dharma and dharma is Rama.
We should also be ready to sacrifice anything for humanity. This is an important quality. God will test whether we have earned this quality or not. He will keep testing until we achieve this quality. Once we attain this quality then He will bless us. Until then, God will keep polishing us. God’s intent is to wear us as a priceless jewel around His neck. So until then He will polish you to fulfill His intent. When we say mother, it means and includes both mother and father and likewise for a father. We must always listen to our parents and never trespass their orders. Forefathers mean not only parents but includes all the elders.
We must not trespass the orders of our parents, but how many practice this? Rama is the one who follows the manas of His father. He doesn’t need His father to express His thoughts into words. Rama was to be coronated next day as a prince, but His aunt Kaikeyi told that His father wants Him to go to the forest. Even though Kaikeyi spoke these words, Rama took His father’s mindful wish as an order and proceeded to the forest. The circumstances were difficult to understand and explain to the outsiders, but this did not deter Rama from following His father’s wish.
Should we follow the pathway shown by Rama? Should we not fight for our rights? Here the decision is left to the individual’s conscience. Each person should think for himself and then practice. Rama followed this path. Rama is highlighting the qualities of contentment, sacrifice and dharma to us by way of practicing it. This is the yoga of obedience shown and practiced by Rama. Rama didn’t want His father to indebted for not fulfilling the promise made to the others. Rama sacrificed His kingdom to keep His fathers promise. It is only Rama who equated the kingdom to a blade of grass. Can we see any such kings?
Parashurama was born in the priest’s family and killed all the egoistic kings. Rama annihilated the ego of Parashurama and opened his eyes. The inner meaning is that it is the virtue that matters and not the caste in which you are born. It is the tapas and the virtue that are important. Even though Rama conquered Parashurama, He showed equality among the castes. He showed us how to live practicing equality among the castes. The values of co-operation and brotherhood should be firmly installed in our mind and heart. Rama showed this by practicing in this episode. Here Rama first respected Parashurama and showed the equality among caste. Then Rama listened to His father and went to the forest. While in the forest, Vishwamitra ordered Rama to kill demoness Tataki who is under the influence of a curse, eating lots of noble people and troubling many noble souls. Yet Rama hesitated thinking that this demon is a woman. How can I kill a woman? Seeing Rama delay in executing his order, Vishwamitra got angry. He said Rama, it is the prime duty of the king to rule and protect his subjects. This is the Sanatana dharma. While practicing dharma even if the king gets sins, he should not hesitate. He must protect his subjects. This is very important. You are being forgetful of her atrocities. This is not nice.
In a war we must not treat our enemies with neglect or disdain or forgetful nature. If you speak of humanity, kindness, sympathy, then what about your countrymen? They will get destroyed. It is the king’s prime responsibility and dharma to rule and protect his countrymen.
Vishwamitra Maharishi says, Rama don’t hesitate. You will not incur any sin for killing Tataka. Here Rama is of the opinion that women should not be harmed in any way. Rama shot the arrow at Tataka at a slow pace, considering her to be a woman. Rama expresses His unwillingness to kill Taktaka. Lakshmana says the energy of the demons will increases post sunset, so it is important that You kill Tataka before the sunset. Rama did not pull the thread of the bow till His ear because then the arrow will go and pierce the earth and to to Rasātala- the home of demons beneath the earth and come back. The arrows are not normal arrows. They are drenched with energy of mantras.
Rama felt bad after killing Tataka. The greatness of Rama lies in the fact that He killed Tataka because she is troubling the worlds and pardoned His enemy demoness Shurpanaka. Shurpanaka threatened to swallow Sita but Rama punished Shurpanaka in a very small way and pardoned her because she is a woman. After this incident Shurpanaka was nowhere to be seen. It seems that she only came to create a fallacy in Ravana’s mind.
Rama was fully aware of the company of Shurpanaka. He knew that pardoning and leaving her is endangering His life, yet He let her go only because she was a woman. When Sugreeva knew the entire earth, it is obvious that Rama Who is born and brought up in Ayodhya, had full knowledge of all the demons around the world. Even in life threatening situations, Rama followed dharma.
The entire creation is the proof that God is blessing all impartially. We are not able to realize it. We are born with the vision of seeing dissimilarity. We are not able to see oneness. God is showing us oneness in His entire creation. He thought we are not able to realize it. God has given all the beings the same air, water and food. These are common to all beings. Our intellect is unequal and we blame this inequality on God. Whose mistake is this? Is it our mistake or His? This is our mistake. Without these seven chakras (energy centers) there is no human existence. Human being can exist if the base of the seven chakras doesn’t exist, but without the seven chakras, human existence is impossible. God has created this body like that. The chakras begin from the Muladhara and end at Sahasrara chakra.
Some chakras run in first gear, some in second gear, some get rusty and make a weird sound while running, and some run in fifth gear. Irrespective of the condition, chakras surely exist. Whether you repair them or not, is your prerogative. Datta Kriya Yoga helps you to maintain the chakras and thus the vehicle- body will move forward. Be it any vehicle, wheels are important. If anyone argues that a vehicle with wheels is created, then what? Here you must not forget that the very movement of the vehicle itself is the chakra-wheel. Not the physically visible wheel, but the movement also is the chakra- wheel. The walking and moving forwards itself is called chakra. The wheel is something which makes us move forward. God is symbolizing all these seven chakras. He is the ruling deity of all these seven chakras.
During the Vijaya year we are speaking about Vijaya Rama. He is victorious. He makes us win and never lets us down. Such is Lord Rama. He is the seventh incarnation of Vishnu. He is our protector. He is the origin of all those who do namasankeertana and are in the path of devotion. In the absence of Rama’s incarnation, we cannot imagine India like this today. Rama incarnation and India are inseparable. We must have such vision of oneness in mind. Be it Vaishnavas or Smarthas, none can visualize Rama and India separately. No matter what path you follow, Rama will show His instance there,because He taught us humanity. Rama taught us kindness, sympathy, truth and dharma. Rama did not perform any leelas which are beyond human’s understanding. Rama took incarnation as a normal human, residing amongst us, He removed our difficulties, and thus indirectly showed us the way to lead life.
Rama did upadesha only to His very close associates and not to the general public. Rama answered some Vedantic questions asked by Hanuman. Rama did not do any upadesha to others, why? Because, His very incarnation itself is upadesha. Even for the greatest pundits it is very difficult to tell about Rama. Valmiki Maharishi had composed the Ramayana and had thus implicitly told all the dharma axioms, axioms for victory and management skills. The Ramayana can be called as Ramayana Shastra, just as Bhagavat Gita is called as Gita Shastra. Sri Swamiji has sung the Shatasloki Ramayana with an intention that all should read and listen to the Ramayana. Seeing this, I made a sankalpa to record all the 24,000 verses of the Ramayana. Then I took the permission of Sri Swamiji and for the moment Bala Kanda recording is completed. I am very happy. It is impossible to get into Ayodhya and win. Ayodhya Kanda is very voluminous. Again making the sankalpa of recording the entire 24,000 verses of Ramayana in the divine presence of Nam Dattanatha Kshetram. Rama tattva can be known only with penance.