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

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shruthiravi

@shruthiravi

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+ 2

Posted: 9 years ago

#1101

Updated Seven Vows Chapter 57. Read and comment

https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/post/136194759

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1087354

Hibernated

Posted: 9 years ago

#1102

@Janvhi di That's okay! Waiting for you, and good luck with that task!

@Sruthi di Your half-knowledge came up again, di! 😆

But, I loved the Mahabharat comparison! Karna and Lakshman both forgot the most important thing they needed at that time- Karna, the Bramhastra evocation, and Lakshman, alertness. And yes, Sanskriti always fights with Prakriti. But, to maintain peace and balance, we need to co-exist with it. Ram follows that, but we, of course, follow Ravan. 😕 Great analysis, di!

Edited by shabari14 - 9 years ago

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1087354

Hibernated

Posted: 9 years ago

#1103

8 August 2016

Ravan is in his Sabha, praising himself and degrading Ram, as usual. As Ravan's bickering continues, you can see that the position of the Lanka family is again symbolic. Ravan is standing in the center of everyone, while Rishi Vishravas and Meghnad are standing behind him and Kaikesi and Mandodari are standing on either side. It is a sign of Ravan's current situation. At this moment, Ravan is at such a position where he can not go back and correct his mistakes, and is deciding if moving forward is a good idea, he is in the middle, at the crossroad. He can either go back and support Dharma wholeheartedly or for his selfish reasons, Vishravas and Meghnad respectively, or he can keep on going, out of the Sabha and into the battlefield. He can not pick multiple ways though, like Kaikesi and Mandodari, who are trying to support both Dharma and Adharma. Like Ravan's relationship with his wife and mother can never be the same again, he can not take that option. Ravan is deciding, when the option of taking Dharma for his selfish reasons comes forward (Meghnad), and he decides to use Dharma to do Adharma. The option is converted slowly into an action, and Ravan confidently steps forward and continues to fight, for his ego and selfish desires.

Lakshman and Meghnad war starts, with Lakshman first respectfully putting down his quiver and takes a sword, while Meghnad rips off his armor and draws his sword from his sheath. I compared this to our relationship to our identity. Meghnad, the Mayavi, relinquished his falseness and chose to reveal his identity and intentions- Meghnad, the loyal son of Ravan, and the one who wants to kill Lakshman by treachery. On the other hand, Lakshman parts with his truth(his arrows), and shows Meghnad his false identity- a hermit who is eager to fulfill his oath and kill Meghnad. He doesn't reveal that he is Shesh Naag, Meghnad's father-in-law, in a human form or a Suryavanshi warrior, he reveals the identity that he sees himself as. Today also, many people have an identity that they are attached to more than the others, and our whole life goes into living up to that, like Lakshman being Ram's brother and Meghnad being Ravan's son. But, we forget, that we have a much larger identity. We are the brother or sister of all life on Earth and the son or daughter of Bhagawan. The reason why Lakshman was defeated was that he was focusing on his identity that only revolved around his desires, and Meghnad was thinking about his father, not himself. But, when Lakshman and Meghnad meet again, Lakshman will be thinking like a warrior whose arrows are fired for the welfare of his whole family, the world. And that will defeat Meghnad, once and for all.

The theme of this episode is letting go. Ravan let his son go to the battlefield to fulfill both of their desires, seeing Ram and Lakshman dead. Lakshman goes to fight with Meghnad after receiving the information from Vibhishan, without permission from Ram. These events taught me that freewill is important while letting go. Ravan sent his son because he wanted to, but Ram didn't want Lakshman to leave, but he eventually does. And Meghnad comes back with news of defeating Lakshman, whereas Lakshman comes back in a critical condition. When we let something go on our own accord, we get back so much more. But, when we let go of something without the desire to, we don't get anything back, or we have even worse things happen. That is why we only get the merits of charity when we give it out of love, not expectation. The feelings are the essence of every action, for they only guide us to the right one.

Edited by shabari14 - 9 years ago

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1087354

Hibernated

Posted: 9 years ago

#1104

Ananda Ramayana is credited to Sage Valmiki but it has not received much attention from scholars. Unconfirmed sources state that Lord Valmiki was not satisfied with his first draft and decided to narrate some more instances from Ramayan. Thus was born the Ananda Ramayanam - something that gives you lasting joy.Chanting of the Ananda Ramayana shloka is pure bliss as every hymn ends with a Rama Rama. This epic is often considered as background reference for the Valmiki Ramayana. It is Ananda Ramayanam that includes Ravana's abduction of Seeta and Rama's worshipping of Lord Shiva by installing a linga at Rameswaram.

A foreign scholar has mentioned :

As long as mountain ranges stand
And rivers flow upon the Earth
So long will this Ramayana
Survive upon the lips of men

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1087354

Hibernated

Posted: 9 years ago

#1105

The Kamba Ramayan was written by the Tamil poet Kamban. Here are some differences between Valmiki and Kamba Ramayan.

1. According to Valmiki, Rama was a mortal human prince. Yes, he may been an incarnation of a god, but still had all human qualities. Valmiki's version, is thus fundamentally, a story of a human being!

Kamban extolled his hero to the greatest of heights, and made him a super-god. Kamban's story, is thus fundamentally, a story of a God who walked this earth! Rama was a God who was incapable of committing a mistake. That could be one of the reasons why Kambar's version ends with the defeat of Ravana; he does not delve into the aftermath at all!

2. In the Valmiki Ramayana, Shurpanaka was portrayed as approaching Rama with her proposal in her Asura (demon) form. However, in the Kamba Ramayana, Shurpanaka is described to have changed her form into a beautiful maiden before approaching Rama.

3. in Valmiki Ramayan, Rama and Sita's marriage was an arranged marriage while in Kamba Ramayanam, it was a love marriage leading to some beautiful verses.

4. Valmiki describes Ravan as a demon,who abducts Seetha by pulling her by her hair. Kambar abides by the culture and tells us that Ravan uplifts the whole of the hut where Seetha resided.

5. In Kamba Ramayana, Vibheeshana calls for Kumbhakarna to surrender to Ram. Inspite of knowing what is right, Kumbhakarna refuses as was much faithful to his brother who took care of him all those days. No such scene appears in Valmiki's.

6. Also due to difference in time period, some parts of the epic have been modified to suit the then social sensibilities. In Valmiki's Ramayan, Tara, the wife of Vali, marries Sugriva after her husband's death, while in Kamba Ramayan, she remains a widow forever.

7. Kamba Ramayanam, has a very defined grammatical structure, where each Kaanda is divided into 123 sections called as Padalams, and together they contain around 12,000 verses. The Valmiki Ramayana on the other hand, has double the number of Slokas compared to the Kamba Ramayana.

8. When Valmiki's Rama kills Vaali, from hiding, he don't have to explain himself to anybody, he did what a Kshatriya would do when he is in need of alliance. There is no moral conflict for him. As a mere human prince, he is justified! Vaali is simply dismissed as a non-human (Vaanara). However, Kambar's Raman feels obliged to explain his action and goes on to do that in many songs.

9. Also in Kamba Ramayanam, Ravana was not such a bad person and he too loved Sita. When Rama finally kills him, Kambar writes like this:

Rama's arrow entered his (Ravana's) heart thinking whether his love for the honey-flower haired Janaki is still in the cell of mind.

Edited by shabari14 - 9 years ago

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Srutha

@SriMaatangi

Sparkler

+ 4

Posted: 9 years ago

#1106

Originally posted by: shabari14
According to Valmiki, Rama was a mortal human prince. Yes, he may been an incarnation of a god, but still had all human qualities. Valmiki's version, is thus fundamentally, a story of a human being!
Kamban extolled his hero to the greatest of heights, and made him a super-god. Kamban's story, is thus fundamentally, a story of a God who walked this earth! Rama was a God who was incapable of committing a mistake. That could be one of the reasons why Kambar's version ends with the defeat of Ravana; he does not delve into the aftermath at all!

Tulsidas also thought the same. He does delve into SIta ke second vanvaas though 😳

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1087354

Hibernated

Posted: 9 years ago

#1107

Ram and Bharat were the calm brothers, while Lakshman and Shatrughan were the short-tempered brothers. But, during the exile, Ram and Bharat's furious side came out, while Lakshman and Shatrughan showed their calm side. So true, na , that difficulties bring everything out of us!

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shruthiravi

@shruthiravi

Stunner

+ 2

Posted: 9 years ago

#1108

@Gowri half knowledge was there in Monday episode, today what differentiated the 2 sides is the search of complete knowledge.

Also thanks for the info on Kamba Ramayan. I have not read it.

I like Valmiki Ramayan more because of treating Ram as human. Because Vishnu came as human to teach us.

Tulsidas made him God, but it is then keeping Ram on pedestal started rather than delving on his beautiful journey.

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shruthiravi

@shruthiravi

Stunner

+ 2

Posted: 9 years ago

#1109

9/8/2016

If yesterday was Shakthi, today was knowledge. We could see seeking knowledge at various levels. As I put yesterday itself, how did Lakshman became the victim of Shakthi. Due to lack of knowledge. He was not aware of the level of powers Meghnadh possessed. Had no clue on how to nullify if faced with one.

Today Ram's camp is facing the same dilemma. Vibishan knows Meghnadh has attacked Lakshman with Tantric Shakthi but doesn't know how to nullify it. The Vaidya's knowledge can keep Lakshman alive for some time, but then for him to be hale, healthy and back more knowledge is needed.

We could see Ram's camp in sadness due to half knowledge. Same time in Lanka we see rejoicing due to half knowledge. Meghnadh says Lakshman is dead, Ravan rejoice in the death of Lakshman. Both of them doesn't know Lakshman still has breath. Yes he is fatally injured, but life exists in him. And as long as life exists you cannot tell it is all over.

Sita has firm faith her devar lakshman cannot go leaving Ram. He cannot go leaving her in Ravan's captivity. So even when Trijadha tells Laxman is dead Sita is sad, but firm that Lakshman is alive.

Ram seeks the knowledge that can nullify the asura Shakthi in his brother's body. Once again shows the difference between Ram and Ravan.

Ravan rejoices prematurely. Ravan cannot take the truth even when it is said Kumbhakaran is dead. He has to test it with Tarini. He tests knows who Ram is. Still he cannot accept his fault. Today he goes and tells Sita is the cause of Lakshman's death. If she had married him all problems would have been solved ( Actually if it was a normal soap we could have seen the leading lady trying to sacrifice herself as villian's bride to save her so called parivaar ). Well since it was Sita she gave him another retort and send him back.

But Ram, Ram at every point clings to hope, at every point tries to find a solution. Even in desperate conditions he believes there is a solution. Yes he breaks, but he recovers. Today also we saw him questioning. Is there no way. His need to fight the adharma till the last breath was so evident. And yes through Trijadha the message will come. And Hanuman the harbinger of hope will go for his new mission with Ram and Sita's blessings.

Last but not least Mandodari who cries because whatever she had done she had done to protect her father and husband. But just looking at half boiled solutions. Just looking at Putrid haram, patni dharam she failed in all roles. She could not be a good daughter as her marriage was against her father's wish. As a wife he couldn't make her husband walk in the path of dharma as she just obeyed his orders.As a mother she couldn't wean her sons away from their adharmi father. In every role she lost it out. If only she had known what woman is. What her power is and instead of being submissive taken actions at the right time. She could have atleast saved something. Knowledge is very important for a lady. You are power. Shakthi. But in life if you want to use the power the constructive way follow Sita's path. Never surrender yourself to the wrong man. Be the part of only that man who knows to respect you. If he misbehaves with other woman, leave him. Raise your kids responsible giving them the right knowledge. Give them ability to differentiate between right and wrong. Understand Sita uses freewill. She was never submissive. If you are submissive you become Mandodari.

Never forget the idiom Knowledge is Power. Bow in front of Maa Saraswati for the real power.