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When the king heard, that the sage Vishvamitra was paying him a visit, he along with a host of Brahmins went outside to greet him. The king prostrated on the floor in reverence, before bringing him inside and seating him on his own throne. Then, the king, giving him the utmost respect, by washing his feet, declared what an honour it was for him, and their was no person more blessed than him. Delicious food was served to the sage. All this honour and service was a big delight for him.
The king summoned his four sons, to come and pay obeisance at the sages feet. The sage was struck with awe at the beauty of Shri Ram, just like a chakore (a bird) gets enamoured at the sight of the full moon.
With a pure and happy heart, the king eventually asked the sage how he had graced him, for he had never done that before. If. he had anything in mind, that he could help him with, then he would take care of it, without any delay. The sage replied, how the demons had been tormenting him for a while. Therefore, he had come to ask the king for a favour. If the king would let him take the two princes, Ram and Lakshman, who can kill the demons, then he (the sage ) would feel secure.
Dehu Bhoop Mun Hurchith Tajahun Moha Agyan
Dharm Sujus Prabhu Tumah Kaun Inha Kahain Ati Kalyan
"With a cheerful heart entrust your two sons to me Oh king! Let no love or ignorance stop you. Religious merit and renown will be yours, while your sons will be forever blessed."
What was the king's reply, as well as his reaction, will of course, be a part of another day's discussion. Today, we learn from the king's reception of Vishvamitra, that we should always be very good hosts. One never knows when, and in which form, we might have a chance meeting with God. He might just visit your house one day! Live in Ram Rajya until then! JAI HO!
Along with his brothers and his friends Shri Ram would go to the forest for hunting everyday. He would only kill holy game, then He would come back to the palace, and show off His kill, to the king. Those animals that were hunted down by Shri Ram, undoubtedly, went straight to heaven.
Shri Ram would have his meals with his mates and brothers, He was very obedient to his parents. He always had a trick up His sleeve to entertain the people of the city. Daily, He listened to the Vedas and the Purans, then, He expounded the truths their in, to His brothers. He was up at dawn, after bowing to His parents and Guru and taking their permission, He would attend to the affairs of the city. All this, made the king very pleased.
The all pervading Lord , who cannot be divided, has no desires, is pure bliss with no flaws, no name, and is formless, was performing these noble acts for the satisfaction of His followers.
Yagyavalk Muni tells Bhardwaj to pay attention, and listen attentively to the rendition of the story as it continues.
Thinking it was a safe and sacred haven, a great enlightened sage named Vishvamitra, lived in this forest. Daily, he practiced his jap/chanting, yog/contemplation and performed sacrifices. He was however, deeply sacred of the demons Mareech and Subahu, for as soon as a sacrifice was done, they would come and desecrate it. This would greatly upset the hermit, who thought, that the only person who could destroy the demons, was Shri Hari.
Vishvamitra already knew that Shri Hari had taken birth, to relieve the burden of this earth. It was a good idea the hermit thought, to make the outrage of the demons as an excuse, to go and see the Lord's feet, and also make a plea, to bring the two of the brothers back with him. He can then, also feast his eyes on Him, who is the house of all knowledge , dispassion and virtues.
So, with lots of preparation and great enthusiasm, the sage reached his destination, in very little time. First, he bathed in the Sarju river, then, he made his way to the royal court.
In good times, as the playmates had, with their buddy Ram, or in bad times as that of Vishvamitra, the common thread that prevails, is Shri Ram. Thus, in our pursuit of a Utopia, the common thread must be Shri Ram, then, we will be in Ram Rajya! JAi HO!
Shri Hari delighted his subjects by playing all kinds of pranks with them. When the four brothers grew out of infancy, the churamani ceremony was performed by the guru.The Brahmins received substantial presents for officiating in the ceremony. The family was always amused to see the princes' frolicking, and could not comprehend, that the Lord who has no beginning or end is playing in Dashrath's courtyard. When, His father called Him to eat dinner, He would not listen but at His mother's beckoning, He would waddle away. He, whom the Vedas have not figured out, and Shiva is unable to gauge, that Lord is being forcefully brought back by his mother. Besmirched in dirt, the king gladly picks Him up! With His mind set on play, He would run away hither and thither, while eating, with yogurt and rice all stuck on his face.
The most endearing childish pranks of Ram have been sung by the Vedas, Sarasvati, Shiva and Shesh the lord of the serpents. (I might add that we are doing that too!) Those who do not enjoy in these, are begotten and are missing a lot. As soon as the brothers attained boyhood the Guru and the parents did their thread ceremony/Janayo(induction of a Brahmin)
Gurugrah Gayey Parahan Raghuraee
Alp Kaal Vidhya Sub Pahyee
When it was time to go to school, Guru Vashista came to the palace and took all the four brothers to his ashram, for their education. In a very short time they mastered all the different branches of knowledge.
(I have a story to tell about this Chaupai/couplet. You might remember, Sarkar Swami who I have introduced in the beginning. He initiated my family into the study of the Ram ChiritraManas. Well, he was of the opinion, that this epic had the recipe for everything. According to him, if one studied, and then, passed an exam what was the big deal? I would not encourage you to go that far, studying is first and foremost in my books . However I will say that, if you want to do well in education related matters, you must put the above couplet to memory. It will definitely help you in your endeavour, you will most certainly achieve success. All of us in our family knows it by heart, and use it when need be. Good luck!)
It is strange that Shri Hari, whose breath, is a symbol of all the four Vedas had to go to study. Highly proficient in the art of learning, with perfect manners,virtuous and polite, the brothers played different games, even acted as if they were kings.The brothers, with bows and arrows in their hands, gladdened the hearts of the whole creation, both animate and inanimate. When the brothers passed any street while playing , the folks stood spellbound in awe. Truly, those living in Ayodhya, young and old, were dearly in love with the gracious Ram.
Education is a part of our daily lives. No matter how old one is, no one is ever too old to learn! So, learning is a very vital part of Ram Rajya. To make things a bit easier, we have a tool that will help us in our learning. I implore you to memorise the above Chaupai and then you will be in Ram Rajya! JAI HO!
The Lord was in a mood to show His mother, His eternal Supreme form. Each pore in His body had millions of universes, dwelling in them. Countless suns, moons, Shivas, Brahmas, numerous mountains, plains, oceans, rivers, woods, spirits of time, spirits of action, the modes of the body (rajas, tamas and satwa) different types of knowledge and nature. The mother was witness to things, that she had never even seen before.
Kaushlya saw the mighty Maya folding her hands and standing in front of the Lord, with fear in her eyes. Then, their were the embodied souls who danced at the tune of Maya, but their was Bhakti too, who was ready to free those souls from the claws of Maya.
After seeing that remarkable phenomenon, the mother's body started shaking and tears started streaming down her eyes. Seeing His mother's state, the enemy of the demon Khur, Shri Ram, assumed His childlike form. At this stage the mother bowed at His feet and prayed. She was not sure, how, she had dared to consider the father of the universe, as her son. Shri Hari, however, pacified her in several ways, then, convinced His mother not to breath a word of what she saw to a soul. The mother in turn, begged Him, to never bring her, into the spell of His Maya again.
In Ram Rajya we are privy to untold mysteries. On top of that, we are forever waiting to unravel the mystery of the next day!! Enjoy this feeling of suspense in Ram Rajya! JAI HO!
This is how, Ram, the father and mother of the whole universe, charmed the people of Ayodhya. Shiva illustrates to Bhavani/Parvati that those who have devotion for the feet of Shri Ram, are always duly rewarded by Him. On the contrary, no matter how hard they might try, those who are averse to the Lord, can never be liberated from their mercenary existence.
Maya/illusion who has under her sway, all the living beings, both animate and inanimate, shivers in front of the Lord when He plays her with His eyebrows. Those people who give up everything for the love of the Lord, in mind, word, and action, will never be forsaken by Him. So, how can we not worship Him?
Each day, was a delight. The mother enjoyed her bliss, while the Lord performed his many pranks. Sometimes, she would rock Him in her arms or in the cradle.Days and nights trickled by, without her notice. She was rapt up in singing to Him and loving Him!!
One time, mother Kaushilya gave Shri Ramcandrji a bath and then put him down in the cradle for a nap. Then, she went to take her bath, so that she can pray to the family's isht dev (god assigned to the family) After her puja/prayer the mother offered the nayvedyas (nine offerings of cloves,beetle nuts, cardamoms, food etc) and then went to the kitchen. When she came back to the prayer room, she saw her little son eating the food that she had offered to her god. Befuddled, the mother thought to herself, she had just put her son down for a nap, how is he here, ran to his room to find him sleeping in His crib!! Scuttling back to the prayer room she saw Him still eating. By this time the mother had shivers running down her spine, disbelieving her eyes.She thought to herself, she had seen two boys here and there, is she dreaming or is something wrong with her? Seeing His mother so scared , Shri Ramchandra smiled.
What happens next, we shall have to wait and see! When we read/hear this segment of the Ram Charitra Manas, we are taken back memory lane, remembering our own childhood. Mothers have played such an important part in our lives, somehow Sri Ram is pointing us to that. Why don't we try and bring those moments back? Instead of just treasuring them, let us try to revive those glorious moments, and make them part of our daily lives. Then, we will have Ram Rajya! JAI HO!
Ram's dark complexion looked like a blue lotus or a nimbus cloud, surpassing the beauty of millions of Kamdevs/cupids.Nails, shone on his red lotus like feet, as if pearls were glistening on the petals of a red lotus. The soles of the feet had marks of a flag, while the tinkling of the anklets sent the sages into rapturous glee.
His belly, had three perfect folds, encircled by a beautiful girdle with tiny bells. The depth of the navel could only be fathomed by those, who saw it. Long arms had beautiful ornaments on them, on his breast hung a rare tiger's claw . The exquisite necklace studded with precious gems and a diamond locket with a Brahmin's footprint, rattled one's mind.
(The story about the footprint goes like this. Once, their was a discussion amongst the sages, as to who was the greatest of the trinity; Brhma, Vishnu or Mahesh. So Brahma's son Brihgu was assigned to visit the three divinities and figure out . As he, very arrogantly went, first to his father, Brahma, he enraged him for not bowing to him and giving him respect. Some how he got out of their unscathed. Then Brighu made his way to Kailash to see Shiva who greeted him with open arms. Brighu riled him up instead, by saying how he had defied social convention, and disrespected the Vedas. Shiva almost came to blows with Brighu, somehow he contained himself by the intervention of Parvati. Finally, Brighu went to Baikunth, where Vishnu was resting in his chambers. Without any announcement Brighu rushed in, and somehow stomped his foot on Vishnu's chest. Vishnu got up , rushing to Brighu, to find out if he was alright. Since then, Vishnu has Brighu's footprint on his chest. It stands as a mark of honour and as a monument of His forbearance. )
The neck of the baby is curvaceous with three prominent lines, while the chins beauty is out of this world. The face looks so resplendent as if millions of cupids have combined their beauty there. With red lips and two baby teeth dangling in his mouth, He is truly beauty personified!!
The ears are sharp and cheeks are full, as he lisps and takes every one's breath away. The curly ringlets in his hair, are still not cut, so that the mother has styled them. In a yellow frock, He crawls on His hands and feet and looks so cute.Even the Vedas and Puranas have not been able to fully describe His beauty; only those maybe, can talk, who have dreamt about it.
One who is an ocean of happiness, and above and beyond any measure, knowledge, speech and sensuous perception, that same Lord because of His boundless love is playing in the courtyard of Dushruth and Kaushilya.
It is said, that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, only this time, we get to behold beauty as it were! I consider myself fortunate, to be able to talk about the beauty of Him who is beauty personified! So, behold beauty, be beauty and spread beauty all around you, and then we will be in Ram Rajya!JAI HO!
"Your sons have many a name" said Guru Vashishta to the king," and each one is distinct. But, I will name them appropriately, according to my thinking. The eldest, who is a sea of bliss and embodiment of ecstasy,whose one atom alone can send the three lokas into delight, will be named Rama, the home of joy and in whom the whole world reposes.
Vishva Bharan Poshan Kar Joee
Takar Nam Bharat Us Hoee
The second son who is the sustainer and supporter of this universe, will be called Bharat, while his name, whose thought alone annihilates one's enemy, the Vedas announced that, will be Satrughna" Finally, the source of virtuous traits, Ram's favourite and the support system of the entire universe, was given the name of Lakshman by Guru Vashishsta.
The Guru had named the four sons of king Dushruth after giving it much thought. He told him that all the sages considered Ram their treasure, He was everything to His devotees and for Shiva He was his life. However, right then the guru said that Ram took pleasure in playing.
Lakshman from the beginning became very attached to Ram. He considered Him his benefactor and master.His true devotion lay at Ram's feet. Profound love existed between the two half brothers, Bharat and Satrughna also, as if in a master and son relationship.
The mothers always gazed at the loveliness of the two pairs, one dark and the other fair. To avert any evil eye, they would break a blade of grass now and then. Even though, all the four brothers were the picture of perfection, politeness and goodness, yet Ram was the epitome of bliss. The moon shone in his heart of elegance, while his smile resembled it's rays. Fondling, Him sometimes in her lap and then in the cradle, He, was his mother's sweetheart.
Talking about the love of the mothers, then amongst the brothers, gives us an insight to Ram Rajya. Not only must we forget our day to day quarrels amongst ourselves, we must rise above all that and send love to humanity at large. Surely then we will have Ram Rajya! JAI HO!
