SKR:OF LOOPS AND SYMBOLISMS #4: 1/08: updated on pg. 132 - Page 108

Ravan conducts Dasharath's Sraddh Puja for Ram, but of course, for his selfish reasons. During the Puja, Ram has to offer an offering to his father, which is two Pinds on a banana leaf, followed by flowers, turmeric powder, and a mala. What can this mean? The leaf can represent our soul, and the ocean can symbolize the ocean of life. We put so much weight on ourselves- family (flowers), worry (turmeric powder), expectations of happiness and sorrow (two Pinds), and devotion to God (mala). This is why we sink in the ocean of life and have to incarnate again and again to escape. But, if we only have devotion to God, and don't think about anything else, then everything will be taken care of and we will rise above life and reach God's holy feet. The purpose of the puja is to pray that the deceased should not sink in the ocean of life. Instead, they should get the opportunity to reach their real home, Vaikuntha.

Sita is also remembering her father-in-law by making his favorite dish, Kheer. She then takes two bowls and serves them to the crows. Crows are generally known to symbolize tricksters and mischievous ways, and we can take the two bowls of Kheer to be material and spiritual happiness. Both material and spiritual happiness is given to us by the Goddess, like Maa Sita made both bowls of Kheer. Many crows were eating from one bowl, and only two were eating from the other. So, this means that material happiness can be easily taken away by Maya or destiny, but spiritual happiness can only be lost if you let it to. It is the real treasure of Life, keep it safely.

The theme of this episode is non-acceptance. Ravan did not accept Ram's dakshina, but breaks the pot and lets Sita take the water to pay her respects to it. He also doesn't accept his father's advice and gives his mother away as dakshina. This episode taught me that the people who need something the most do not accept it, they only accept what they want. Advice and buddhi is what Ravan needs, but instead, he is attached to his ego and ignorance. But, life is all about getting what you don't want and using those to attain what you want. So accept everything you need, and you will get everything you want.

Today, we got to know about Tarini. An innocent boy isolated from society because he was a Vishnu Bhakt. But, Tarini continued to worship Narayan, and he will meet him at the end. That young boy reminded me of Rishishringa, the husband of Shanta. Rishishringa's father hated women because of a certain incident that happened while he was meditating. So, he kept his son isolated from the world, so that he would never know what women were. But, Shanta came to the ashram, Rishishringa met the mysterious woman, and was taken back to society. Just like that, Ravan wanted to keep his son away from Narayan, for he feared and hated him. But because of that very Lord, his son was brought back to the world. Parents of today often do the same mistake, they trap their kids in the web of their own worries and fears. But, the very thing that we try to run away from, comes right behind us. Its God's injection, so no matter how much you fear it, you need it and you'll get it.

Rama and his commanders are sitting, and Sugreev says that now that Kumbhakaran is no more, Ravan has become weak, so the battle is basically over. But, Sugreev is forgetting that they had only won against Ravan's physical strength. All of the warriors so far had used force, weapons, and their own strength to fight against Ram. But now, the Mayavis will enter, notably Meghnad. The inner strength of Ravan will be harder to win against, but as we all know, Ramji will win in the end. In any situation, even today, the spiritual or inner strength is the gamechanger. If you have no inner strength, then you have no physical strength. But, what makes inner strength strong. Faith. If you don't have faith, you can not do anything. We now we can lift a pin, so we can lift it. But, we don't think we can lift a mountain, so we can't. Stop thinking small. You are God's child, you have a fraction of his immense powers. Use it.

The theme of the episode is proofs. Ravan wants to send Tarini in the battlefield, so the result of the war can serve as proof if Ram is Shri Vishnu's avatar or not. Rishi Vishravas says that the Ravan's actions are proof of his ego, which will destroy the Asur Kul. Ram says that Dharma is in Lanka, and the proof of that is Vibhishan. The society is such that no questions are asked when something bad is happening, but when a good deed occurs, thousands of questions are raised. When the Ashwamedh Yagna was being held in Ayodhya, no one questioned if the horse's life was as important as a human's. But when Ram tried to stop this Adharma from happening, everyone questioned him. We believe anything, and when the truth comes in front of us, we ask for proof then. So please, think before believing, and when you need to believe the truth, stand by it.

Just asking, is there any record of Shanta having any kids?

And, Happy Friendship Day everyone!

Happy Friendship Day 🤗

There are folktales of her having a son and daughter 😳

YEH HAIN ZINDAGI PART 70 UPDATED :)

Feat. Who is Indranil? And Dashrath ..

:)

Tarini's wish is finally fulfilled, he gets the Darshan of his Lord, Narayan. And this feat was achieved by him at a small age, while many rishis and munis meditate for years together. Why? What the experienced rishis and munis lacked was true and pure faith. When we are young, we are untouched by the world, and have complete faith on our close ones. We know that no matter what, their parents and Godly parents will never leave their side. But, as we grow older, we see the world, and slowly our faith dies. We believe God can only be attained by severe and enduring prayer. But the truth is that we only need to call out to Him with a pure heart, and He will come running to us. Kids understand this, that is why children such as Prahalada and Dhruva are remembered as true devotees. But, kids are like plants. If the elders do not give them the support and direction to grow, then they will be bent and crooked. This is what happened to Tarini, no guidance resulted into his devotion becoming blind faith. And there is no going back, once a tree is crooked it stays that way. So, Ram had no other option instead of cutting it down so it does not become even worse. If there is no destruction, how can evolution occur? So, accept whatever God gifts you, and see how your life changes for the good.

Ravan is angry at the Gods because they sent Shri Vishnu to kill him, but then he thinks that because Narayan is in a human form, his powers are limited. Is that true? The truth is that we are only limited when we limit ourselves. Ravan also limited himself to material strength, he got the Amrit placed in his navel and became as strong as the demi-gods. But, he forgot that material strength is only complete when we are mentally strong, which Ravan definitely is not, all because of his ego. But Ram, he has both strength and calmness, courage and faith. And the route leads back to Maryada and Bandhan. Maryada is something that protects and Bandhan traps. The person who is trapped is the one who is screaming to be freed and is scared of the future, but the one who is free is calm, peaceful, and happy in life. And the one who is free can only free others, right? So going by this, who is the one who looks limited and who is the one who is free? Ravan is of course trapped in a web of so many things, ego, fear, and ignorance, while the Lord who frees everyone of troubles is calm and peaceful, as always.

The theme of this episode is the future. Ram, Sita, and Ravan are all worried about the future. But, Ram is worried about the future of devotion, so he shows the world that blind faith destroys by killing Tarini. Sita is worried about the future of the whole humankind, for Ravan has set a bad example for all fathers to come. And Ravan is worried about his own future, whether Shri Vishnu will really kill him or not. I learned that the future doesn't depend on our actions, it depends on who learns what from the past.In the Kali Yuga, we worship and adore the Gods, but we follow the demons. There are only a few people who are willing to follow the right path and stick to it. But, don't you worry. The future isn't bleak, you're just wearing black shades. Take them off and behold the true world, just like it is and has been.