Nectar from rAmAyanA

[Jewell]

Dear Sri Nagaraj,

It is such enjoyment to read all this. Pure nektar indeed.

With love and prayers,

[Nagaraj]

Stray thoughts...

Just because Sri Rama decided to stick to his decision to honour 'what is' or Dharma or 'Ulladu', everybody else were saved from transgression of committing sin of acting against Dharma.

His father Dasharatha, wanted to stop Kaikeyi by force, and wanted to so much dishonour his vow made to Kaikeyi, of sending Rama to Forests and install Bharatas the King. but he could not do so at Rama's steadfastness in honouring his fathers words. His sin was averted!

Mother Kausalya, wanted to desert his husband, due to his actions! This sin was averted!

Lakshmanas anger and intentions to restore the honour of his beloved brother! These sins were averted!

Bharata's rage averted!

Just a moment of flashes, how one person's Tapas transcends all boundaries and saves the near and dear ones. Such is the power of honouring Dharma.

IT is difficult, but the good things are not openly seen or felt when the mind is agitated.

Is it simply said?

Ramo Vigrahavan Dharma
"Rama is the embodiment of Dharma"

There are plenty of small small instances that require careful study of Ramayana, by which we can derive the ambrosial nectar by which we can uplift ourselves and move out of humanly delusions and fears.

पिबरे राम रसम् रसने पिबरे राम रसम् ॥ दूरीकृत पातक  संसर्गम्  पूरित नानाविध फल वर्गम् ॥१॥

Drink the nectar of rAmA, Drink the nectar of rAmA it removes the sins and bestows various type fruits (of life and jnyAnA)

--

[Nagaraj]

Following the Trail of Ramayana in Sri Lanka Part

Uploaded by Srilanka Tourism Development Authority

PART 1 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E8JUjRFnL88

PART 2 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y_9dwgO_gds&feature=fvwp&NR=1

PART 3 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lj5nxjlGcS8

PART 4 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OIHsZQkCsNs

PART 5 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ilYDp7vFOuw

--

[Nagaraj]

“Divine one, the qualities and glory of Rama, surpass those of all other Ikshvakus. He is the noblest. Rooted in truth, versed in every branch of knowledge, he knows neither jealousy nor envy. His charming disposition makes him easily accessible. Receiving all with goodwill and grace, his compassion is so profound that with a single glance he can delve into the hearts of men. Innumerable and rare are the attributes of Rama. Mounted on horse, elephant or chariot, he never fails to enquire of the welfare of all those that come his way. Each utterance is accompanied by a sweet smile. Like a father and like a friend does he endear himself to his subjects, who adore and worship him. Handsome, as Lord Visnu, he is capable of ruling all the worlds and is the God of gods. To your good fortune and for the welfare of the world Rama is born as your son and is worshipped by the devatas. The world prays and invokes all that is divine for the prosperity and protection of him who never deviates from the path of dharma. He has every virtue. A virtue not possessed by him does not exist in this world. Without delay enthrone Rama as king" The wonderful responses of various elite monarchs and Sages who were assembled in King Dasharatha's court. Dasharatha had just announced in haste, the coronation of Sri Rama as the King and was surprised himself and wondered if he had erred or had gone wrong, when the elite assembly accepted his sudden decision without any iota of hesitation. (Excerpts from Ayodhyakanda Sarga 2)

[Hari]

आहुः सत्यं हि परमं धर्मं धर्मविदो जनाः

 Aahuh  satyam hi paramam dharmam dharmavido janaah
 2.14.3
             
Those who have knowledge of dharma say that Truth is the highest dharma.

[Context:  Dasaratha had promised three boons to Kaikeyi when she saved his life during one of those battles he fought on the side of the Devas.  When the coronation of Rama is announced, Kaikeyi asks for two of the boons from Dasaratha.  She wants Bharata to be installed as the King and Rama to be sent to the forest for fourteen years. When Dasaratha was in a dilemma, Kaikeyi says that Truth is the highest dharma, implying that Dasaratha should keep his promise as otherwise he will be guilty of transgressing dharma.]

[Hari]

दुर्लभं हि सदा सुखं                 

 Durlabham hi sadaa sukham
 2.18.13

To be happy always is something which is difficult to achieve.  That is to say,  happiness and sorrow alternate in one’s life and there cannot be uninterrupted happiness alone.

[Context: Rama’s words to Kaikeyi when he saw his father deep in sorrow and in tears at the prospect of Rama going  into the forest for 14 years.]   

[Nagaraj]

Wonderful Hari, Thank you for the joy! wondering if there could be anything more मधुरम् "Madhuram" sweetness, delightful than "Rama"

How wonderful is just this name राम​ rāma for our tongue to twist and produce the sound

॥ राम ॥                                                    ॥ राम ॥                                                  ॥ राम ॥                                                  ॥ राम ॥                                             ॥ राम ॥                                                  ॥ राम ॥                                                  ॥ राम ॥                                                  ॥ राम ॥                                                  ॥ राम ॥                                                  ॥ राम ॥

[Hari]

Dear Nagaraj, whatever can be said about Rama will never be enough!

[Subramanian.R]

Dear Nagaraj, Hari,

Rama is Himself from the lineage of Ravi (Sun God).  Before embarking upon killing Ravana, Sage Agasthya gives Him
the upadesa of Aditya Hrdayam.  This is a wonderful poem where it describes the Sun God (Aditya). 

Aditya Hrdayam punyam sarva chatru vinAsanam....  Aditya Hrdayam chanting kills all the enemies of the one who chants.

This is a wonderful  poem which appears in Yuddha Kanda in Ramayana.

Arunachala Siva.

[Jewell]

What a wonderful posts on our beautiful Lord Rama! He is indeed very special and dear. His Divine name is pure nectar.

Thank You so much,dear friends!

With love and prayers,

[Hari]

"An old saying emphatically declares that Rama Nama has power to wash away that much sin which no one can ever commit. The life story of Ramayana’s author itself validates the truth of the declaration in no uncertain terms. The transformation of highway robber, Ratnakar, into Sage Valmiki through chanting of Rama Nama is as inspiring a tale as Ramayana. If that happened far in time, here is another momentous event that took place in latter part of 17th century in which the power of Rama Nama comes into focus once again. It was witnessed by no less a person than Bodendra Saraswati, the 59th Pontiff of Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam.

One day Bodendra Saraswati’s guru assigned him the task of spreading the gospel of Rama Nama and, accordingly, asked him to obtain a book called Bhagavan Nama Kaumudi from its author by name Lakshmidhar Kavi and write commentaries on the text. Towards this end, Bodendra was instructed to proceed to Puri in Orissa where the writer lived. Bodendra reached the place around midnight. Not wanting to disturb the household he decided to rest in the pyol outside the house. That night a strange incident took place. A Brahmin accompanied by a woman in dressed Islamic outfit knocked the door of Sri Lakshmidhar Kavi. A young man opened the door and enquired about the purpose of the visitors. The Brahmin poured out his tale of woes. The Brahmin said that he and his wife, who stood next to him, had gone on a pilgrimage to North India.  During the trip, his wife was waylaid in Bamini Kingdom by the extremists and was disfigured and dishonored. She, however, escaped and joined him. They then decided to jump into river and give up their lives. It was then an elderly person directed them to this place to obtain appropriate counsel. The young man, who introduced himself as the son of Lakshmidhar Kavi, immediately told the Brahmin to take her to the pond adjoining the Jagannath Temple next morning and dip her in the pond chanting Rama Nama thrice. He assured him that when the lady emerges out of water she will be purified and they can resume their family life. While this was going on the young counselor’s mother hastily intervened and clarified that uttering Rama Nama once was enough. Sri Bodendra who witnessed the event was taken aback. He immediately introduced himself and requested for the book and studied it thoroughly.

Next morning, the Brahmin brought his wife and dipped her in the pond at the Temple chanting Rama Nama.  The whole city which had gathered around watched in amazement as the lady emerged out water, having regained her original form, features and the outfit.

Sri Bodendra spent rest of his life spreading the fragrance of Rama Nama as per the direction of his guru and took jiva Samadhi at Govindapuram in Tamil Nadu. The devotees who chant Rama Taraka mantra at his Samadhi can even today hear Rama Nama emanating from his Samadhi when they spend the night there.

During his earthly existence Ram showered his grace on everyone who came into his fold, including the birds and animals. He blessed Sabari, purged Ahalya of the curse which transformed her into stone and enabled her to regain her original form, restored the kingdom to Sugreeva, crowned Vibheesana as the king of Lanka and liberated the bird Jatayu. In the post-Ramayana period, the deficiency of Ram’s physical presence has been more than compensated by Rama Nama, vested as it is, with the same potency to ward off the sins, purify, bestow grace and prosperity and liberate. What’s more many saints have had the fortune of Ram’s darshan by chanting Rama Nama.

Notable among them is Saint Thyagaraja who is believed to have chanted Rama Nama 96 crore times and had darshan of Ram many times. For him nothing was more precious than Rama Nama. Spurning the wealth of gold offered by king to sing in the Royal palace, Saint Thyagaraja sang ‘Nidhi Sala Sugama’ (Rama tell me, can the happiness offered by the material wealth compare with the wealth of happiness one derives in service to your lotus feet?). Meerabai echoes the same sentiment in ‘Payoji meine Ram Ratan dhan payo’ (The wealth I obtained was the gem of Rama Nama). Tulsidas spent so much of his time in bhajans and Nama sankirtans that some one once asked him whether he is not worried where the next meal will come from. Tulsidas nonchalantly replied ‘when I had no teeth, he gave me milk. Now when I have some, will He not feed me?’   

 A look at the etymology of the word Rama will reveal the source from which Rama Nama derives its strength. Rama is formed by union of beeja aksharas (ra and ma) taken out of two Maha Mantras namely Namo Narayana and Nama Shivaya.  These two syllables, in fact, give sanctity and meaning to the Maha Mantras. When Ra is removed from Narayana it becomes Na Ayana ( meaning no goal, path or abode) and when Ma is removed from Nama Shivaya it reads as Na Shivaya ( meaning no auspiciousness or eternal value). Significantly it is the only Taraka Mantra which does not need to be prefixed with the syllable Aum.

No discussion on Rama Nama is ever complete without a reference to Hanuman, the most ardent devotee of Ram. Hanuman, renowned for his matchless humility, attributes all his siddhi and achievements to the power of Rama Nama. This is highlighted in the concluding portion of Ramayana when Ram, Sita and Lakshmana, along the vanara sena, return to Rameshwaram after the war. Ram looks at the bridge that vanara sena had built across the ocean in astonishment and asks Hanuman as to how they managed the well-nigh impossible feat. Hanuman replies that they simply chanted Ram’s name and threw the bricks in water. The bricks floated, cemented themselves and formed the bridge. As if to demonstrate it he took a brick from near by, uttered Ram’s name and flung it. Lo!, it floated. Impressed Ram also took a brick and threw it but it sank. Ram did not chant Rama Nama and that made the difference. The incident goes to prove Rama Nama is more powerful than Ram himself.  Even Ram had to pack and go when his earthly tenure got over but Rama Nama is eternally present here, to bestow grace and blessings on those born in the post-avatar period."

[Murali A Raghavan]

May be also it is not coincidence that many Great Sages also contains RAMA in their names: Sri RAMAna Maharshi, Sri RAMAkrishna, Sri SiddhaRAMeshvar Maharaj, Sri RAMAnuja, etc. The Name of Rama was always on the lips of Mahatma Gandi - the father of modern India. Lord Shiva says: "This Rama-nama is equal to the Lord’s thousand names, or repetition of a mantra a thousand times". He also says "The seat of all good things, the destroyer of all impurities of this age of darkness, purer than purity itself, the food for the journey of aspirants on the path to salvation, their only resting place, the very life-breath of virtuous men, is the divine name of Shri Rama. So say the sages".

[Ravi.N]

Hari,
Wonderful Story of Sri Bhagavan Nama Bodhendra and Rama nama.In recent times apart from Mahatma Gandhi,Papa Ramdas was a votary of Rama Nama and gave the mantra -Om Sri Rama Jaya rama jaya Jaya Rama Om.
Papa chanting the Rama nama can be downloaded from this link:
http://wahiduddin.net/ramdas/audio/ramnam.mp3

Papa Ramdas!What a Great soul!His autobiography is truly inspirational and exemplifies what saranagathi is.
There are two parts to this autobiography:
1.In Quest of God
2.In the Vision of God.

In quest of God is available for downloading:
http://www.anandashram.org/html/text.html

Hopefully Anandashram (Papa Ramdas's abode and ashram)will in course of time make 'In the Vision of God' available as well.

Namaskar.

[Ravi.N]

"If you meditate on an ideal you will acquire its nature. If you think of God day and night, you will acquire the nature of God. A salt doll went into the ocean to measure its depth. It became one with the ocean.
 What is the goal of books or scriptures? The attainment of God.
 A man opened a book belonging to a sadhu. He saw the word 'Rama' written on every page.There was nothing else.
"If a man loves God, even the slightest thing kindles spiritual feeling in him. Then, repeating the name of Rama but once, he gets the fruit of ten million sandhyas. At the sight of a cloud the peacock's emotion is awakened: he dances, spreading his. tail. Radha had the same experience. Just the sight of a cloud recalled Krishna to her mind.
"Chaitanyadeva was passing a village. He heard that drums were made from the earth of that place. At once he was overwhelmed with ecstasy because drums are used in kirtan.
"But who can have this spiritual awakening? Only he who has renounced his attachment to worldly things. If the sap of attachment is totally dried up in a man, the slightest suggestion kindles his spiritual emotion. Though you strike a wet match a thousand times, it will not produce a spark. But if it is dried, the slightest rubbing will set it aflame".
The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna

[Hari]

रामो द्विर्नाभिभाषते
Ramo dwir naabhibhaashate

2.18.30

Once Rama gives His word,  that is final and it is kept at any cost.  There is no question of repetition of the same a second time.

[Context: Rama's words to Kaikeyi : tat broohi vachanam devi raajno yadabhikaangkshitam Karishye pratijaane cha ramo dwir naabhibhaashate "O Devi!  Please tell me what the King wants of me.  I promise that I will carry out whatever is his wish.  What Rama says once he carries out; there is no looking back."]

[Hari]

गुरोरप्यवलिप्तस्य कार्याकार्यमजानतः ।
उत्पथं प्रतिपन्नस्य कार्यं भवति शासनम्॥।

Gurorapy avaliptasya kaaryaakaaryam ajaanatah
Utpathham pratipannasya kaaryam bhavati shaasanam
2.11.13

One who is haughty, who does not know whether what he does is right or wrong and who has taken to the wrong path is to be disciplined even if he is Guru, parent or an elder in age or learning.

[Context: These are words addressed to Rama by Lakshamana who  is angry at the turn of events with Rama preparing himself to live 14 years in the forests because of the boon granted by Dasaratha to Kaikeyi.  By the word ‘guru’ Lakshmana, by implication, is referring to Dasaratha in this context.]