Ramayana Wonders—Part 3
Sanskrit is a unique language in the world. Sanskrit teaching is more unique. It is the only language that teaches grammar in the first class of the primary school. And it is about RAMA! In the very first class students are asked to repeat after the Guru/teacher the case suffix table: Rama:--Ramau—Ramaa:, Ramam – Ramau-- Ramaan………. It doesn’t stop there. In the very first class young children will be asked to repeat the first sloka of Raguvamsa—an epic about Rama’s Dynasty. It is equal to teaching Shakespeare for the English students in the primary school class. So Sanskrit teaching is unique and it is all about RAMA.
Rama in Thailand
Rama occupies an important position in Thailand. Kings of Thailand (Siam) are called Ramas and their capital was called Ayodhya. Ramayana has influenced the life of Thais so much. Postage stamps have been issued for Ramayana characters.
Around the World in 80 Days
Lot of you are already familiar with French writer Jules Verne’s fiction ‘Around the World in 80 Days’. Phileas Fogg struggled hard to finish the journey in 80 days and he was saved by gaining one day when he crossed the International Date Line. We all know the first man in space Yuri Gagarin circled the earth several times in his historical space flight. But no one knew this concept was evolved by Valmiki in his Ramayana. Jambavan circled the earth 21 times, says Valmiki. Even if you don’t believe it, at least you must agree he beat Jules Verne in writing a fiction of this type.
Jambavan says when Vishnu covered the world with three strides, I circled the earth with its mountains, forests and woods one and twenty times. Then commissioned by the Gods we gathered all the herbs which produced the nectar of immortality (Kishkinda Kanda 66-32).
Rama’s Ritual Suicide
When great people decide to leave the body they enter one of the five elements voluntarily at the appointed time on the appointed day. Mostly it is water or fire, they enter. For them leaving the body is like discarding old and worn out clothes. Physical body has no value for them when they accomplished what they wanted to accomplish. So we don’t call it a suicide. It is Jala Samadhi (Watery grave). When great people leave the earth they have the power of taking any one who is ready to accompany them. I have explained it in my post “Strange Facts about VIP deaths”.
It is like buying a direct flight ticket to heaven. So Rama was accompanied by several thousand people. They jumped in to River Sarayu along with Rama. Valmiki in Uttara Kanda (some believe it was not Valmiki’s work) gives graphic description about this scene:
“Then Rama, clothed in fine silk, invoking Brahma and reciting Vedic Mantras, taking Kusha grass in both his hands, set out for the Sarayu River, halting from time to time, silently making his way along the rough path. Radiant as the sun, he setout from his palace bare footed and on his right walked goddess Lakshmi with her lotus, on his left, was the great goddess Vyavasaya (Goddess of the Earth), and assuming human form , his innumerable arrows, marvellous bow and all the other weapons accompanied him. The Vedas, in the persons of Brahmins, the Holy Gayatri, Protector of the World, the sacred syllable AUM and the invocation “Vashat” followed in Rama’s train as also great souled Rishis, and all the deities of the earth accompanied that hero to the open gates of heaven.”
“In his steps trod the women of inner apartments with the aged, the children, servants, eunuchs and personal assistants. The faithful Bharata with his wives accompanied by Shatrughna followed in Rama’s train. All the magnanimous sages with their wives and children joined the procession of virtuous Kakustha. Ministers, groups of servants with their offspring, their kinsmen and their flocks joyfully followed in the footsteps of their master. Not a single being, not even the least of them, was to be seen Ayodhya; even those born of animals followed in Rama’s wake”
“ When he had proceeded about six miles, the Pride of the Raghus, beheld the waters of Sarayu flowing westwards, eddying and rippling in their course, and he went on further to Goprataraka Ghata (Cows Ford), his subjects thronging him on all sides. He ascended to the heaven in aerial chariot to the accompaniment of musical instruments played by the Gandharvas”
At the request of Rama, all those who accompanied him were allowed to go to the region called Santanakas. Even the beasts that died meditating on his holy feet lived in the vicinity of Brahmaloka.
This beautiful description reminds some of the scenes of Piper of Hamlyn Story and the Egyptian funeral rituals.
Handshaking Custom
Lot of us think that shaking hands is a western custom. It is not. Sugreeva and Rama shook hands as soon as the Friendship Treaty was solemnised (signed). Sugreeva said to Rama, “This is a great fortune and greatest of gains for me, O Lord, that you desire to ally you in friendship with me, who is one of the Monkey Tribes. Should that friendship favour with you, then here is my hand, take it in to yours and let us bind ourselves fast with a vow”. Hearing Sugreeva’s sweet words, Rama with a joyful heart clasped his hand and happy in thought of the alliance they were about to conclude, embraced him warmly. (When we read this, we are reminded of international agreement signing ceremonies: Hand shaking, embracing etc.! Only difference is both of them went round the fire and solemnised it instead of signing on papers with golden pens!
Contd………………… in Part 4
Source Materials: India in the Ramayana Age by Shantikumar Nanooram Vyas; The Ramyana of Valmiki- translated by Hari Prasad Shastri . Pictures are from Face Book and other websites. Thanks. Contact [email protected]
Please read other posts by Santanam Swaminathan about Rama: 1. Ram –the Best PR Man 2. தியாகராஜ சுவாமிகளுடன் 60 வினாடி பேட்டி 3.நாமும் அனுமார் ஆகலாம் 4.கம்பனுடன் 60 வினாடி பேட்டி 5.ராமாயண வினா-விடை (க்விஸ்) 5.Where is Rama Setu (Rama’s Bridge) ? 6.Did Sita Devi Die in Earth Quake? 7. Ramayana Wonders Parts 1,2,3.
Sanskrit is a unique language in the world. Sanskrit teaching is more unique. It is the only language that teaches grammar in the first class of the primary school. And it is about RAMA! In the very first class students are asked to repeat after the Guru/teacher the case suffix table: Rama:--Ramau—Ramaa:, Ramam – Ramau-- Ramaan………. It doesn’t stop there. In the very first class young children will be asked to repeat the first sloka of Raguvamsa—an epic about Rama’s Dynasty. It is equal to teaching Shakespeare for the English students in the primary school class. So Sanskrit teaching is unique and it is all about RAMA.
Rama in Thailand
Rama occupies an important position in Thailand. Kings of Thailand (Siam) are called Ramas and their capital was called Ayodhya. Ramayana has influenced the life of Thais so much. Postage stamps have been issued for Ramayana characters.
Around the World in 80 Days
Lot of you are already familiar with French writer Jules Verne’s fiction ‘Around the World in 80 Days’. Phileas Fogg struggled hard to finish the journey in 80 days and he was saved by gaining one day when he crossed the International Date Line. We all know the first man in space Yuri Gagarin circled the earth several times in his historical space flight. But no one knew this concept was evolved by Valmiki in his Ramayana. Jambavan circled the earth 21 times, says Valmiki. Even if you don’t believe it, at least you must agree he beat Jules Verne in writing a fiction of this type.
Jambavan says when Vishnu covered the world with three strides, I circled the earth with its mountains, forests and woods one and twenty times. Then commissioned by the Gods we gathered all the herbs which produced the nectar of immortality (Kishkinda Kanda 66-32).
Rama’s Ritual Suicide
When great people decide to leave the body they enter one of the five elements voluntarily at the appointed time on the appointed day. Mostly it is water or fire, they enter. For them leaving the body is like discarding old and worn out clothes. Physical body has no value for them when they accomplished what they wanted to accomplish. So we don’t call it a suicide. It is Jala Samadhi (Watery grave). When great people leave the earth they have the power of taking any one who is ready to accompany them. I have explained it in my post “Strange Facts about VIP deaths”.
It is like buying a direct flight ticket to heaven. So Rama was accompanied by several thousand people. They jumped in to River Sarayu along with Rama. Valmiki in Uttara Kanda (some believe it was not Valmiki’s work) gives graphic description about this scene:
“Then Rama, clothed in fine silk, invoking Brahma and reciting Vedic Mantras, taking Kusha grass in both his hands, set out for the Sarayu River, halting from time to time, silently making his way along the rough path. Radiant as the sun, he setout from his palace bare footed and on his right walked goddess Lakshmi with her lotus, on his left, was the great goddess Vyavasaya (Goddess of the Earth), and assuming human form , his innumerable arrows, marvellous bow and all the other weapons accompanied him. The Vedas, in the persons of Brahmins, the Holy Gayatri, Protector of the World, the sacred syllable AUM and the invocation “Vashat” followed in Rama’s train as also great souled Rishis, and all the deities of the earth accompanied that hero to the open gates of heaven.”
“In his steps trod the women of inner apartments with the aged, the children, servants, eunuchs and personal assistants. The faithful Bharata with his wives accompanied by Shatrughna followed in Rama’s train. All the magnanimous sages with their wives and children joined the procession of virtuous Kakustha. Ministers, groups of servants with their offspring, their kinsmen and their flocks joyfully followed in the footsteps of their master. Not a single being, not even the least of them, was to be seen Ayodhya; even those born of animals followed in Rama’s wake”
“ When he had proceeded about six miles, the Pride of the Raghus, beheld the waters of Sarayu flowing westwards, eddying and rippling in their course, and he went on further to Goprataraka Ghata (Cows Ford), his subjects thronging him on all sides. He ascended to the heaven in aerial chariot to the accompaniment of musical instruments played by the Gandharvas”
At the request of Rama, all those who accompanied him were allowed to go to the region called Santanakas. Even the beasts that died meditating on his holy feet lived in the vicinity of Brahmaloka.
This beautiful description reminds some of the scenes of Piper of Hamlyn Story and the Egyptian funeral rituals.
Handshaking Custom
Lot of us think that shaking hands is a western custom. It is not. Sugreeva and Rama shook hands as soon as the Friendship Treaty was solemnised (signed). Sugreeva said to Rama, “This is a great fortune and greatest of gains for me, O Lord, that you desire to ally you in friendship with me, who is one of the Monkey Tribes. Should that friendship favour with you, then here is my hand, take it in to yours and let us bind ourselves fast with a vow”. Hearing Sugreeva’s sweet words, Rama with a joyful heart clasped his hand and happy in thought of the alliance they were about to conclude, embraced him warmly. (When we read this, we are reminded of international agreement signing ceremonies: Hand shaking, embracing etc.! Only difference is both of them went round the fire and solemnised it instead of signing on papers with golden pens!
Contd………………… in Part 4
Source Materials: India in the Ramayana Age by Shantikumar Nanooram Vyas; The Ramyana of Valmiki- translated by Hari Prasad Shastri . Pictures are from Face Book and other websites. Thanks. Contact [email protected]
Please read other posts by Santanam Swaminathan about Rama: 1. Ram –the Best PR Man 2. தியாகராஜ சுவாமிகளுடன் 60 வினாடி பேட்டி 3.நாமும் அனுமார் ஆகலாம் 4.கம்பனுடன் 60 வினாடி பேட்டி 5.ராமாயண வினா-விடை (க்விஸ்) 5.Where is Rama Setu (Rama’s Bridge) ? 6.Did Sita Devi Die in Earth Quake? 7. Ramayana Wonders Parts 1,2,3.
