Doubts and Discussions from the Ramayan

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Vibhishna

@Vibhishna

Dazzler

+ 3

Posted: 16 years ago

#111

Originally posted by: chen2chic
Shri Ram's Brahmahatti Dosh.........
Acc. to a Srilankan version, It is said that after his victorious battle Shri Ram left for Ayodhya with Sita in the Pushpak Vimana. He felt he was being followed by Bramhatti dosh as he had killed King Ravana who was a Brahmin. When the Vimana was passing over Munneswaram in North Srilanka, he felt the vimana vibrating, and realised the "Brahmatti Dosh" was not following him at this particular point. He stops the vimana at this juncture and asks for a remedy. It is said God Shiva blessed Shri Ram and advised installing four Shiva lingams one each at Manavari (about 80km north of Colombo), Thirukoneshwaram (Triconomalee in Srilanka), Thiruketheshwaram (in Ealam in Srilanka) and Rameshwaram in India, as the remedy to get rid of the dosh. Each of these lingams had to be got from Kailash parvat. The lord at Manavari is called "Ramalinga Shivan". Thirukoneshwaram also has another story of Ravan installing 3 lingams at the three corners of the hill (hence the name Tri-kon-eshwar)

As per the tamil Kamba Ramayan, when Hanuman went to get the Shivlingam for Rameshwaram, Maharishi Agastya advises Shri Ram to make a Shivling of sand and worship it. And when Hanuman returns with the Shivling, this Lingam was placed at the eastern side of the sand Lingam, and Shri Ram said that this lingam brought by Hanuman should be worshipped first. It is said that to this day devotees worship the lingam on the eastern entrance of the temple and then worship the main Rameshwara lingam.

Acc. to another belief in the south, after the war, the Vanar Sena crossed the ocean by the same bridge that they had built, and when Shri Ram stopped at Rameshwaram to install the lingam, the vanar sena had also reached the place, and Shri Ram asked the vanars to stay at Rameshwaram (or I think Sethukarai near Rameshwaram to be exact). He promised to give them darshan of his Raajyaabhishek to them right there.

The story of the four Shiva Lingas and the vanars staying back after being promised with the divine sight of Sri Ram's coronation is new to me.

According to the local history of Triconomalee (Tirukonamalai - I'm not sure if it is called Tirukoneshwaram too), Ravan was blessed by Lord Shiva in this place. Here is that story:

Ravan's mother Kekasi used to mould a Shiva Linga of rice flour, worship it and then she would consign it to the river (or the sea) everyday. Ravan noticed this one day and asked his mother why she was going through all this trouble. If she wishes, he can bring a Shiva Linga from Lord Shiva himself. Kekasi blesses him and he sets out for the Kailash mountains, the abode of Lord Shiva. Ravan, on reaching Kailash, did severe austerities. Lord Shiva was pleased with him and gave him a Shiva Linga and said, " Ravan, this Shiva Linga is extremely powerful. If this Linga is placed on the ground - anywhere on the ground - it cannot be moved again. (No one can remover it or replace it). So, be careful while handling it." Ravan was overjoyed. He thanked the Lord and set out to return to Lanka.

Meanwhile, the devas were worried that Ravan now possessed a very powerful Shiva Linga. They sought Lord Ganesha's help. Lord Ganesh said that he would take care of the situation. Ganesh met Ravan mid way in the disguise of a Brahman. Ravan felt the need to stop and attend to nature's call. Relieved that someone was there to give the Shiva Linga to, Ravan approached the Brahman and requested him to keep the Shiva Linga and told him not to put it down. The Brahman told Ravan if he delays he will call him thrice and if Ravan does not come, he will put the Shiva Linga down on the ground and go away. Ravan could not return soon. The Brahman called thrice and when Ravan did not return, he put the Shiva Linga on the ground and went away telling Ravan not to blame him.

Ravan tried to move the Shiva Linga but it remained stuck to the ground. He was at a lost what to do. He didn't know how to return to Lanka with bare hands and face his mother. Then, Sri Mahavishnu (that is what the story said) appeared in front of the despairing Ravan and said, "The Lord who resides in the Kailash mountains in the North also resides in the Thirukonnamalai in the South. You may try to get another Shiva Linga from him by doing austerities there." Ravan went to Thirukonnamalai and did penance there. But he was not successful. Angered by this, he decided to uproot the whole mountain with the Shiva Linga (seems like there was a Shiva Linga already in this mountain according to this story) and take it to his mother. But the weight of the mountain crashed down upon him and pinned him to the ground. A news reached the palace that Ravan was crushed under the mountain and had died. Kekasi was shocked and was totally devasted. Meanwhile Ravan was struggling under the weight of the whole mountain. The pain was unbearable. Maharishi Narad advised him, "Lord Shiva is fond of hearing the Sama Veda being chanted. If you praise him by singing Sama hymns, Lord Shiva will be pleased." Ravan was an adept in singing and playing the veena. He cut of one of his heads and a couple of arms and made a yazh (a harp). He sang a praise on Lord Shiva - the Shiva Tandava Stotram - about Lord Shiva's Tandava dance (its a beautiful song - the entry song of Ravan shown in this series). Lord Shiva was so pleased he released Ravan from his burden and gave him the Chandrahasa sword of immense power. Ravan was glad and went back to Lanka. By the time he reached his palace, his mother had died grieving over him.

Ravan went to Kanniyay near Triconomalee to do obsequies to his mother. He struck the ground seven times with his sword (Chandrahasa). Seven hot water springs arose and Ravan performed the last rites there. Even today, many people go to Kanniyay to perform obsequies to their dear departed.

There are many other versions of this story. But I think this story originates from Sri Lanka (not sure, though).

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Deepa

@chen2chic

Navigator

Posted: 16 years ago

#112

Originally posted by: ananyacool

Well it was me who said so,

The Vanars never may have said anything about Ma Sita instead each Vanar vied to get one glimpse of ma Sita when she arrived in a palaquin, anyway I think it should be taken symbolically.

Hey sorry Ananya (if that's ur real name), I was lazy to go back some posts to find out who it was? I did not see that I could edit my post, so instead made another post saying it was another member who said this.

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Deepa

@chen2chic

Navigator

Posted: 16 years ago

#113

Originally posted by: ananyacool

Thank you so much for this story chen2chic (I don't know ur real name)

Had heard only about the legend of Rameshwaram not about the other three Shivlingas. also If I'm not wrong there's a golden lizard kept at Rameshwaram whose touch gets rid of sins ....Do you know this story??

U r welcome! My real name is Deepa.

I think you are probably talking about Kanchipuram temple where there is a giant gold lizard, and a silver lizard. It is believed that touching the lizard in this sanctified chamber absolves us of the sin of previously hurting lizards and it also protects us from future harm by lizards.

But will ask someone back home if there is a golden lizard in Rameshwaram? Never know whats hidden where??😊

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Vrish

@Vr15h

Stunner

+ 6

Posted: 16 years ago

#114

Originally posted by: bharat999
Have a question.

In the serial they showed that when Shri Ramji sends Vibhishan, Hanumanji and Angad to bring Sita mata, Shri Rama hears few Vanars talking about Sita maya that she was kidnapped by Ravan and lived there for such a long time etc etc? Is it true?..mean..did those or any of the vanars thought in that way (like few aydohya vasi did) like Sitaji living at Ravan's place for such a long time and did she manage to protect herself etc?

This is the first time I've seen it either - the vanaras never cared one way or the other about Sita's chastity. What did happen was that when Rama did speak his unkind words to Sita and Sita went through the fire, both the vanaras and the rakshashas wept. It's unlikely that they'd have done that had they previously been casting aspersions on Sita's character.

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Vibhishna

@Vibhishna

Dazzler

+ 3

Posted: 16 years ago

#115

Originally posted by: chen2chic
Shri Ram's Brahmahatti Dosh.........

As per the tamil Kamba Ramayan, when Hanuman went to get the Shivlingam for Rameshwaram, Maharishi Agastya advises Shri Ram to make a Shivling of sand and worship it. And when Hanuman returns with the Shivling, this Lingam was placed at the eastern side of the sand Lingam, and Shri Ram said that this lingam brought by Hanuman should be worshipped first. It is said that to this day devotees worship the lingam on the eastern entrance of the temple and then worship the main Rameshwara lingam.

In the Kambaramayan, nothing is mentioned about Hanuman going for the Shiva Linga. But a South Indian story does say that Ram on seeing Hanuman disappointed installed the Shiva Ling ahe brought and said that those who come here must offer worship to that Linga before the one they (Ram and Sita) had installed. Nothing is mentioned about Hanuman's ego in this story.

Regarding the Brahmahatya sin, there is a story that is supposed to have happened in Ayodhya.

Maharishi Vasishta felt that Sri Ram should gift someone sesame seeds for getting rid of the sin of killing Ravan and thousands of warriors in the Lanka war. But the person who receives the sesame seeds will receive the sins as well. Hence, it was announced that the person who receives the gift will also be given lots of riches. No one came forward. Nobody wanted to obtain the sins in spite of the large amount of wealth that came with it.

There was a sage by name Singara who was suffering from extreme poverty. His wife said that he can accpet the gift of sesame seeds. Sage Singara did not want to get the sins for the sake of money. But his wife said, "Lord, have you forgotten that Sri Ram is Narayan himself? Just looking at his face once will release you from all sins." Sage Singara thought about it and then decided that he will do that atleast to get Sri Ram's darshan. He did not bother about the wealth that came with it. The people of Ayodhya gossipped that he was accepting it for the wealth and because his wife had told him to do so. But Sage Singara just wanted to see Lord Ram's face. But Maharishi Vashishta came to know of what Sage Singara was thinking. He also thought that if the sage sees Lord Ram's face, Ram will not be able to get rid of the sin. So, he arranged to place a curtain shielding Sri Ram from the sage. The sage was totally disappointed. He went back home completely dejected. He was not able to see the Lord's face, he had got the sin of killing thousands of warriors and this sin had taken away all the merits of his austerites. When he told his wife that all was lost, she said that Sri Ram will come around the city after his coronation and he can have Ram's darshan then.

Since that day, Sage Singara had given up food, sleep and was waiting for the coronation day of Sri Ram (according to this story, it seems that Sri Ram's coronation was not performed immediately after him coming back to Ayodhya). When Lord Ram's chariot neared Sage Singara's hut (on the coronation day), the sage ran out to meet Sri Ram. He fell at Lord Ram's feet and got up and saw his face. The moment Lord Ram's gaze fell on the sage, he regained his radiance. Someone informed Lord Ram that the sage was mentally dejected after accepting the gift. Sage Singara said that all he wanted was the darshan of Sri Ram and he did not care about the wealth that came with it. Lord Ram said, "O sage, your days of grief are over. You have now regained your spiritual power." Sage Singara was thrilled to hear the words of the Lord.

This story is found in Saint Thyagaraaya, I think.

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Vrish

@Vr15h

Stunner

+ 6

Posted: 16 years ago

#116

Rama didn't do anything about the Brahmahatya until the Ashwamedha yagna he held, which alone was capable of atoning for the sin in question.

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Vibhishna

@Vibhishna

Dazzler

+ 3

Posted: 16 years ago

#117

Is the Ashwamehda Yaaga the only way to cure the Brahmahatya sin?

Anyway, the sin in the story I posted was for killing thousands of warriors and not Ravan alone. It was one of the stories I have read and I was merely sharing it with all. But I did have a doubt whether a Kshathiriya could incur that sin.

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Vrish

@Vr15h

Stunner

+ 6

Posted: 16 years ago

#118

Ravan & his family were Brahmins, but the other rakshasha warriors who fought & were killed were not. I doubt that Rama needed to do anything to atone for their killing.

I don't know whether Ashwamedha was the only penance for this sin, but the linga installation may have been the penance for killing a Shiv bhakt, which Ravan was. Also note that Indra performed this yagna for killing Vritra, and in the Mahabharat, Yudhisthir performed it for killing not only Drona, but also his superiors, namely Bheeshma, Karna & Shalya. So it's not just for killing Brahmins, but also for killing ones own elders.

Thanks for sharing this story. I was not suggesting that it's false, just that it's unlikely, for the reason that if it was done for that reason, then Rama wouldn't have needed to perform the Ashwamedha for killing Ravan. Note that some rishi or the other was said to have declined Rama's offerings because he hadn't atoned for Ravan's killing: that wouldn't have been the case if this linga installation had been considered adequate atonement.

Edited by Chandraketu - 16 years ago

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Mallika113

@Mallika113

Sparkler

+ 3

Posted: 16 years ago

#119

Thanks Vibs for posting this story. I found it very interesting!😊 I don't know all these details. It's nice to learn little at a time!

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Deepa

@chen2chic

Navigator

Posted: 16 years ago

#120

Originally posted by: Vibhishna

In the Kambaramayan, nothing is mentioned about Hanuman going for the Shiva Linga. But a South Indian story does say that Ram on seeing Hanuman disappointed installed the Shiva Ling ahe brought and said that those who come here must offer worship to that Linga before the one they (Ram and Sita) had installed. Nothing is mentioned about Hanuman's ego in this story.

I'm sorry I have not read the Kambaramayan extensively, except for the main story line of the work. But on the internet, there is mention of Puranic Encyclopaedia by Vettam Mani and in it was mentioned that this incident was as per Kamba Ramayanam.

Thanks for clarifying that and also for the other story wrt Brahmahatya sin.

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Doubts and Discussions from the Ramayan - Page 12

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