SSR Day 1 by HH Sri Datta Vijayananda Teertha Swamiji – January 1, 2014 – Mysore
Sri Ganeshaya Namaha !
Sri Saraswatyai Namaha !
Sri Pada Vallabha Narasimha Saraswati !
Sri Guru Dattatreyaya Namaha !
Sri Ganapathi Sachchidananda Sadgurubhyo Namaha !
Happy New Year to all !!
The knowledge in Ramayana will keep coming as much as we take from it. During the Chaturmasya in 2012, when there is an additional month itself, we couldn’t finish Ramayana complete and in the last we had to literally run. Now in 7 days what can we do except saying Rama Rama ? We shall talk a little about Ramayana today. This year 2014 has a very special beginning with Ramayana. Sri Swamiji has given us Shata Shloki Ramayana. Let’s talk about the greatness of Ramayana. However much we talk about Ramayana, it can never finish. Today we shall begin with Bala Kaanda.
In Shata Shloki Ramayana, till the verse ‘Kaalagni sadrushe’, it is considered as Bala Kaanda. We shall chant these 18 shlokas and let us talk about the Ramayana story.
Pujya Swamiji has given us many gems. He has given, has been giving and will keep giving many gems. Sadguru is a great giver and our job is to receive. He keeps on serving us. His job is to serve. If you say you are not hungry, how? It is insulting Him. The mother prepares many dishes for you. If you say you are not hungry, it is insulting her. You must atleast taste. When Sadguru gives, we may feel it is not neccessary now. But He will not give without necessity. Let it be with you. It may come to use some time later. Like that, Shata Shloki Ramayana is given to us by Swamij. Complete Ramayana is difficult to understand. So Shata Shloki is given. Narada Maharshi, in the form of Sadguru, has given this sankshepa Ramayana in 100 slokas. In this, these 18 slokas are very important. Why? Because, in this, there is question and also answer. We must question. We must rise doubts and then know answers. If you dont have questions, do we think you are gnani – wise? No. It means that you were sleeping during discourse. So you have no questions because you didnt hear anything. When Guru asks if you have any doubts, you say. There is a state of nothing to know. That is the peak and the last state of knowledge. But before that, there are many more stages that we need to cross. It all depends on us how we take it.
As we all know, the entire Ramayana is equal to Gayatri mantra. 24000 Shlokas are equal to 24 letters in Gayatri mantra. Gayatri mantra starts with ‘tat’ and the first sloka of Ramayana also starts with ‘tapasvadyaya niratam’.
Ramayana appears as though it was written by the disciples of Sage Valmiki or someone who was next to him. It doesnt appear as that was said by Valmiki. That is because, Mahatmas do not address themselves as ‘I’, ‘Me’ etc. They address themselves also as a third person. Our Swamiji also talks like that. Once in Machilipatnam, a person wanted to have darshan of Swamiji. Swamiji, who was on the dias, completed His discourse and went inside. That person was still waiting. Organisors came and told him that the program was over. He said he wanted to see Swamiji. They said, Swamiji just went in. He didn’t know that it was Swamiji who spoke on the dias till then because Swamiji never addressed Himself as ‘I’. This is a real incident that happened.
Never take the ownership of your actions. Never say ‘I’ve done it or it is mine’. Then, the merit will stay long. Say it is all Guru Sankalpa. I’m like a tool in His hands. Always, think like that. The bell used during bhajan will never say it is doing bhajan. If it thinks so, it would take leave and will not come for bhajan. You may say that the bell is a thing. We also should be like wise when in the aspect of Karmas. We must do our Karmas as our duty and still be detached with it.
Every day we must chant Shata Shloki Ramayana or atleast these 18 slokas. It just takes 5 mins. It gives the merit of chanting the entire Bala Kaanda.
The verse ‘tapasvi vagvidam varam‘ is important. Valmiki thinks that it is out of his sadhana – penance, Narada preached Ramayana. It is not possible to see the Lord. How does He look like? He is nirakara, nirguna, niroopi – formless. What does He do? Nothing. He is paramatma only when He has all good qualities. Then what is His bad quality? Maybe, He has taken the human form. That is all.
Pippaladi maharshi says ‘yadi vignasyamaha’. This has become Prashnopanishad. Like wise, Ramayana also started with a question.
When someone questions, you need to take a few seconds, think and respond. Even Narada did the same. When Valmiki asked him if there is anyone with all the 16 qualities that he mentioned, Narada also took some time to respond.
Shodasa kalo vai Purushaha – says Upanishad.
Narada said, Valmiki, you asked about a person with so many great qualities, Yes, all these 16 qualities are there in one single person – said Narada. He took a little while and then responded. We need to learn this from Sadguru.
It is said that about 90 slokas were told by Narada.
Ikshavuku vamsho prabhavo…
He described about Rama who was born in Ikshavuku vamsha. He describes about the qualities of Rama. It takes about 16 days to describe about these quallities and so I’m not touching about these. It is called Nama Ramayana or Narada Ramayana and it came as a song because Narada is the one who gave Nada to the world. So it came in the form of bhajan. Speaking so, Narada left.
After that Valmiki went for bath to Tamasa river. He sees two Krouncha birds. As he kept watching, an arrow hits one of the bird and it died. There are certain rules for everyone in the world. Even a hunter, who can hunt and kill animals too need to follow certain rules. He is not supposed to kill the birds when they are as a couple or with children – says Shastras.
Sage Valmiki sees a couple of birds, of which a hunter kills one. Valmiki unintentionally utters a poem, which is rich in grammar and new in metre. He is very much confused as to why such a poem has come from his mouth. Without his knowledge, his shoka – sorrow came out as shloka – poem.
maa nishhaada pratishthaamtva
It is the compassion on birds and anger on the hunter together that came out as a shloka. Valmiki was surprised for this sloka. Till then no one spoke in the form of music. That was the first shloka. Then his disciple Bharadwaja heard this. After bath he comes back to ashram and rewinds the happenings. Brahma, the presiding deity of letters appears and ordains Valmiki to author Ramayana, excellent epic of Rama, for which purpose alone He gave such divine meter and grammar to him and said that as long as Ramayana is there on the earth, the mountains and rivers will remain.
Sage Valmiki, then started Ramayana in anushtup. When Swamiji sang Shata Shloki, one sankalpa came to my mind that Ramayana should be recorded. You all heard Bala Kaanda. Ayodhya kaanda was completed yesterday, on the last day of 2013 with the divine blessings of Sri Swamiji. It will be released very soon.
Valmiki thus completed Ramayana and then started thinking about whom to preach this.
There were no books earlier, no ipads, no computer. There is nothing wrong in having so much technology. Bhagavata mentions that as the generations passes, the brain power of human beings will gradually reduce. Earlier there were particular ragas to learn particular verses. They were supposed to learn in that specific raga only. This makes people also interested in listening to them. It is not an easy job to memorize and sing 24000 slokas. Who can sing 24000 slokas continously? Who can do that? We can just chant, but Valmiki doesn’t want in that way. He wanted in a rhythmic way. It must be sung as per the rules of the music. More over, the verses are in Sanskrit. During that time itself many other languages too took birth. Hindi was born. Brij language was born. Sanskrit speaking people were decreasing. Mithila kingdom has different language. Kosala kingdom has different language. Kashmir has another. In south, this language itself is not there. It was a major task for Sage Valmiki on whom to assign this job of singing Ramayana. Also, the one who sings must know music, should have devotion towards it, should know Sanskrit. It should be narrated well too. It is not like a film story. Even film story people would rather prefer to watch than to sit and listen to the story. Maybe only the suspence part or the climax part we can sit and hear. Valmiki thought that those who can sing Ramayana must have bhakti. A person who speaks should have bhakti – devotion, if not the listener. Without devotion there is no use narrating it. Who has these qualities? Previously, musicians used to sing only for jagannatha and not for jana – for God and not for people. Anything done to please God will always be successful. Valmiki searched in his ashram for people with all these qualities. There are many people who have these qualities but in every one, he found some flaw or the other. So he remained in dhyana pondering over who can hold this Ramayana and propagate it. Bhakthi- devotion should always be propogated. Only then it is a real devotion. When Valmiki was in dhyana, two twins came and held his feet. They are very beautiful and well mannered. A mere look at them is giving joy and happiness. Their faces are radiant. Their speech is very sweet. They were holding two small Veenas. They know how to talk, what to talk and when to talk. They are well behaved. Their smile is attractive. They have the features of king. one can make out that they are children of king but they appear like children of a sage. No where in Ramayana it is told that they are Kshatriyas.
Looking at them, Valmiki thought why not tell Ramayana to these kids. Guru always searches for the best. Even if there are 40 children in a class, Guru can identify who is the best. He teaches all without any descrimination yet he would select only few for special things. Ramayana is coming out into the world for the first time. Till then it was not told to anyone. Everyone in his hermitage are eagerly waiting for it and wished that it should be told to them first though everyone were sure that it would be told to those kids. Even here, when Swamiji writes a new bhajan, we keep waiting as to whom He would narrate that first.
Valmiki narrated Ramayana to those kids inside. No one knows what is happening inside. After completion, Valmiki wanted to test the kids. He assembled all the rishis and asked them to listen and find errors if any. He made an annoucement that the kids will sing Ramayana.
Thus Ramayana begins with a flashback story. This technique is used by this generation to make movies. A narrator of any story should make it interesting to the listeners. Mahatmas when they speak, we get attracted and do not feel like moving out. They tie our Mooladhara with their Yogic Power and hence we cannot get distracted by anything. This is the secret behind their attracting people with their stories.
Thus, the kids Lava and Kusha finished singing the entire Ramayana in front of the Rishis. These rishis too are not ordinary people. They are the ones who had their Atma Darshana. Such great people they are. Such people, by listening to the kids narrating Ramayana so blissfully, melted out of Joy. They started gifting to the kids with what ever they have. The kids too have accepted them out of great respect. One Rishi among them did not have anything to give except his ragged clothes. But he wanted to gift the kids and gave the same to them. The twins are so humble that they accepted them with the same respect as they have taken other gifts. This humbleness is what we need to learn from Ramayana.
Rishis then declared that this Ramayana can give just not joy and happiness but Moksha too, to the listeners of it. Now the kids were permitted to sing Rama all around the world.
Rama proposes ashwamedha yaga. At that time, He was not in Ayodhya. He was in Naimisharanya. Lava and Kusha started propogating Ramayana all over and reached the place where Rama stayed. Rama came across these kids and asked them to sing in His court. He offered them to come along with Him in His chariot but the kids refused and walked and reached Rama’s court. Rama assembled all those who came to Yaga in His court to listen to Ramayana. He called His three brothers and mothers. The only one who was missing was Sita Matha. Hence Rama is so disturbed.
Everyone assembled the King’s court. ‘Mamaathi tadbhuti karam prayachche’ – Listen to the story which gives peace to me also – says Rama. The kids were not at all scared. They looked very confident. They started singing Ramayana marvellously.
They started with description of Ayodhya, about Kosala desha, about Dasaratha, his 8 wives, his army, his administration, his kingdom and so on. Everyone in Dasaratha’s kingdom were extremely happy except the king as he does not have his progeny. The king was 60,000 years old. At one point of time, he was doubtful of his own wives for not having kids and married 365 ladies thinking that atleast one of them would give him progeny but all his efforts were in vain.
Ramayana teaches us how to handle situations when we have troubles. To fulfill his desire of having kids and to get rid of this disturbance he wants to do Asvamedha yaga. When he thinks about Ashavamedha yaga he didn’t do it right away. He seeked Guru’s permission to do this yaga. We need elders’ blessings when we propose to do something big. Dasaratha approched Vasishta. Vasishta appreciated him for his thought and permitted him to do Yaga. His minister Sumantra advices Dasaratha that he should invite Rushyasrunga maharshi and request him to perform the yaga, so it would be successful. We always need to have such good advisors next to us.
Dasaratha had a girl child Shanta whom he had given in adoption to Romapada. Shanta’s husband is Rushyasrunga. He lived in Srungagiri. Sumantra advised Dasaratha to invite him. Rushyasrunga comes and starts Ashwameda and adviced Dasaratha that he should perform Putreshti yaga. The yaga continues and out of the homa kunda comes Prajapati with a bowl of paayasa – sweet pudding.
Around this time, all the devatas who were troubled by Ravana approached Brahma to show them a relief from Ravana. Brahma said that He cannot do anything because He is the one who gave him all the boons and only Vishnu can kill him. They all approach Vishnu. Vishnu says Ravana can be killed only by a human and assured devathas that He will take human birth very soon. Now, during the Yaga time, all devathas request Vishnu to take birth as Son of Kousalya. It is said that Rama, Laxmana, Bharatha & Satrughna are forms of Vishnu but it is not true. They too are Vishnu Himself. How can you split paramatma?
Ravana had many curses on him during many occassion. One among them is that he will be humiliated by a monkey. Hence, all devathas were asked by Brahma to take form as Monkeys and assist Rama. So, they all were born as monkeys to help Rama in His mission. Here monkeys are not just the monkeys that we see in our country. All the spices of monkeys across the world fall into this category. Brahma calls Vayu and tells him that he should serve Rama. Ether plays an important role in our life. Vayu gives birth to Hanuman. Thus Hanuman is older to Rama. But there is no inferior or superior in Gnana and Bhakthi – knowledge and devotion. Hanuman became a great devotee of Rama.
marutasyatmajaha vajra samhananopeyaha
Hanuman is called Maruti. He is son of Vayu and is equal to a diamond. One who is lethargic, feels that they do not have energy must remember Hanuman to gain instant energy. Such is the power of Hanuman. For Hanuman, His form is important more than name. That is why Appaji has put 70 feet Hanuman here in Mysore ashrama. One may have knowledge but no strength. Another may have strength but not knowledge. Such people should pray to Hanuman because Hanuman has both.
Prajapathi tells Dasharatha to distribute the sweet pudding to his main wives and says that Vishnu will be born to him. This distribution of Payasa has a great meaning. During the lunar month of Chaitra, on the ninth day when all the planets are in favourable places to kill Ravana, Lord Vishnu has chosen to incarnate as Rama with a mission to kill Ravana. He was born to Kousalya in Punarvasu star. Surya is the presiding deity for this. Swamiji’s star is Hasta and for this also, Surya is primary. Bharata was born to Kaikeyi, Lakshmana and Satrugna as twins to Sumitra.
Vashista comes for naming cermony and names Rama because it means ‘He will give happiness to all’. When you chant Rama’s name, whatever sins you have shall be purified. It sounds so beautiful to chant the name Rama.. Rama… Anybody can say Rama. Even birds say. The world may keep you pulling away from spirituality but the name of Rama will keep you rooted.
Shatrugna is named so because he will defeat his enemies. Lakshmana chose to be with Rama and Bharata with Shatrugna.
Ramayan teaches us how a family should be united. In ramayana not much about the childhood of Rama is spoken about. It mainly talks about His schooling. In 18th sarga itself in which part Rama is born, same part vishwamitra also comes. This is to show how important a Sadguru is imediately after the birth of a person. Vishamitra’s story is very great. When a student learns the problems and difficulties in Gurukula, only then he will learn about the real world. Rama was then 16 years. At the age of 12 years itself Rama started questioning about Vairagya and Vasishita teaches him Yoga Vaasishita. Rama knows everything but Vishwamitra thought He should also be experienced. Hence, he comes to the kingdom of Dasaratha to take Rama to Gurukula.
He enters the kingdom and send message through guards to the king that he has come. The guards too are scared of him and went and told Dasaratha about this. Dasaratha too was scared of him that if delayed he may curse him. He immediately approached Vishwamitra and offered his respects. Vishwamitra did not come during the Yaga. He came now. Sadguru comes when we are in need of Him and not when we invite Him. Swamiji told this to many people when they invited Him to their houses.
Vishwamitra enquired about the well being of the king. Dasaratha replies back and expressed his happiness for his visit and unintentionally gives a word that he would give anything he want. Vishwamitra was just waiting for this situation. He said, I am doing a yaga and I want to take Rama along with me to kills demons. it’s like a nuclear bomb on Dasaratha. He says he can’t send Rama because he isn’t old enough to deal with demons.
Once Swamiji asked someone for a pen. That person said i’ll give some other pen and not this. Do you think Swamiji, who owns this entire universe needs your pen? It is just to bless you. That person over a period of time reached a status of not owning a single pen. Another person came forward and offered a pen to Swamiji and gradually he became so rich.
When vishwamitra says I want your son to come, Dasaratha faints.
ramam ne daathu marhasi – Send your son with me says Vishwamitra.
naramam nethu marhasi – I will not send my son – says Dasaratha.
This entire episode runs on just these two lines. I read two books called Maha kshatriya and Maha brahmana in Kannada language. They are very good.
Vishwamitra becomes angry and curses Dasaratha to live happily with family in spite of not holding to his words. Sadguru acts rough sometimes so that people are filtered. It is for our good. Then Vasishta interferes and advises Dasaratha to send Rama with Vishwamitra else his entire kingdom and vamsha itself would be ruined. It is then Vasishta says ‘na dharmam daathu marhasi‘ – do not cross dharma.
Dasaratha says how can Rama fight with the demons? When kids are little, parents are scared to send them to school and postpone. When the kid becomes little older, he would cry to go to school. That’s why these days even before nursery, the kindergarten schools have come.
Vasishta says, he knows about Vishwamitra very well and he is capable of killing the demons himself. But his intention behind seeking Rama is to make His name and fame spread across the world. Dasarahta agress to send Rama along with Lakshmana. When Rama and Lakshmana walked along with Vishwamitra on the streets of Ayodhya, they three looked like a three headed serpent in all glory. Perhaps, Rama too wanted to go and see the world with Vishwamitra.
Vishwamitra teaches Rama and Lakshmana with Bala & Atibala vidyas. Vishwamitra was the first to sing the Suprabhata Sloka ‘Kousalya Supraja Rama‘ as he felt that Rama would be missing His mother and reminds Rama about Kousalya. Rama was not used to wake up early perhaps. They reached Siddha ashrama and all types of demons were killed. Vishwamitra told Dasaratha that he would send Rama back in 10 days but now he doesn’t care for it as he wanted Rama to bless Ahalya who at that point of time is doing penance in Gouthama maharshi’s hermitage. Rama enters that place and gets Ahalya of her previous form. Though He was the one who did it, He runs to hold her feet and wasn’t proud at all.
The next is Rama enters the kingdom of Janaka and the marriage of Sita and Rama takes place which we will talk about it tomorrow.
Om Namo Hanumate Namaha !!
Compiled by Bala Aati