Dasaratha's payasnna / kheer distribuion

First Previous

Page

Next Last

Frequent Posters

Arijit

@Arijit007

Sparkler

Posted: 9 years ago

#11

this is interesting, anyway, i belive the number four suggests the 4 ashramas here.

Quote

mnx12

@mnx12

Channel Moderator

+ 14

Posted: 9 years ago

#12

Just my thought. May be Dashrath wanted his sons fulfilling Dharma, arth, kaam, moksh, all 4 purusharths.
Ram- moksha (He took care of most of his suties, responsibalities. Performed all his karma with drashta bhaav)
Lakshman- dharma ( he considered being with & supporting Ram, his dharma)
Bharat- Arth ( He got an opportunity to be king of Ayodhya. He took care of Ayodhya in Ram's absence)
Shatrughna- kaam or kaamana or desire. Only he was in Ayodhya during 14 years of vanvaas. His bothers wanted him to look after the family in their absence.

All 4 brothers shared a great bond because their root was 1- kheer. So they were actually 4 parts of a single entity, Lord Vishnu.

Quote

Looks like you are new here. Register for free, learn and contribute.

-Vishakha-

@-Vishakha-

Explorer

Posted: 9 years ago

#13

One clarification pls.

So topic of discussion is on why dasharath divided it into four parts?? His thought process behind that division.

Symbolism (kinda philosophical or spiritual meaning) behind its division into four?

Quote

-Archi-

@-Archi-

Voyager

+ 8

Posted: 9 years ago

#14

Yeah, I also heard that when Dashrath gets the kheer, he gives half to Kaushalya, because she was the official queen of Ayodhya (Maharani) and the other half to Kaikeyi because she was his favourite wife. When it was Sumitra's turn, he realizes the kheer was finished. So, both Kaushalya and Kaikeyi each give a half of their respective portions to Sumitra.

I personally think it happened like this to establish the brothers' bonds. Kaushalya's half of kheer led to Lakshmana's birth and as we know, Rama and Lakshmana are inseparable. It is said that when Lakshmana was hurt during his battle with Indrajit, Rama was inconsolable. He apparently was in a lot more grief than when Sita was abducted (of course we don't have any proof of this). But regardless, I don't think Rama would have had the strength to fight Ravana and rescue Sita without Lakshmana.

And even though we don't see much of Bharat and Shatrghna's relationship, I am sure it's just as deep as Ram and Lakshman. So I feel Sumitra got portions of Kaushayla's and Kaikeyi's share of kheer because her sons were simply extensions of Ram and Bharat.

Quote

Janaki

@RamKiSeeta

Achiever

+ 6

Posted: 9 years ago

#15

Originally posted by: varaali

This is the kind of myth perpetuated by half baked movies and ill researched TV serials. As far as Valmiki Ramayana goes it was Dasaratha who does the apportioning.

This version of the kheer division is from Adhyatma Ramayana I believe, though I'm not 100% certain.

Quote

Janaki

@RamKiSeeta

Achiever

+ 6

Posted: 9 years ago

#16

In Valmiki, there is an explanation for why Dashrath divides the paayasa as he does.

First, he goes to Kaushalya as she was his chief consort and gives her half of the paayasa. Then he goes to Sumitra and gives her half of the half. When he reaches Kaikeyi, he changes his mind and instead of giving her what's left, he again divides the remaining and returns to Sumitra, giving her what little is left.

The reason he gives the paayasa to Sumitra twice is that he wanted her to give birth to twins, one who would serve Kaushalya's son and one who would serve Kaikeyi's son. He felt this would balance the relationship between the brothers. If there were only three brothers, he feared what would happen if two of them befriended each other and the third became envious. So he wanted Sumitra to give birth to two sons with her qualities, so that in the future, there would be no problems between Kaushalya and Kaikeyi, and their respective progeny.

Dashrath was actually very farsighted when he divided the paayasa. He had Raj neeti in mind and didn't want any politics brewing in his household.

Quote

varaali

@varaali

Dazzler

+ 2

Posted: 9 years ago

#17

Originally posted by: -Vishakha-

One clarification pls.

So topic of discussion is on why dasharath divided it into four parts?? His thought process behind that division.

Or

Symbolism (kinda philosophical or spiritual meaning) behind its division into four?

Yes Vishakha...both of them.

If we are able to fathom what prompted Dasaratha to divide the kheer into 4 parts, we will eventually arrive at the philosophical purport behind it.

This is just a discussion - no right / wrong answers.

For the sake of cohesiveness, I have requested the readers to stick to VR only, because if we start including all the other versions, including folktales, it becomes difficult to string all arguments together.

Quote

varaali

@varaali

Dazzler

+ 2

Posted: 9 years ago

#18

Originally posted by: Maverick_me
Kau eats half of the payasam then Sumi eats a quarter , Kai eats little bit and then its passed on to Sumi who finishes it off.
Now, what are the contents of payasam? Is it a medicine?

If yes then Kau eating the biggest proportion is quite logical, owing to her age .. higher the age it gets difficult to conceive and Kai eating the least is also understandable since she has age on her side so she eats very little and passes it on to Sumi who again eats the payasam twice. Again i dont believe that since Mrs S ate payasam twice so she got 2 children , it might just be a coincidence

Coming to matematics, lets blame it on lack of availability of measuring jars in Ayodhya :-P :-D

Interesting take..

But my moot question is - why 4 times ? can we find something in VR as an explanation for this?

Quote

varaali

@varaali

Dazzler

+ 2

Posted: 9 years ago

#19

Originally posted by: mnx12
Just my thought. May be Dashrath wanted his sons fulfilling Dharma, arth, kaam, moksh, all 4 purusharths.
Ram- moksha (He took care of most of his suties, responsibalities. Performed all his karma with drashta bhaav)
Lakshman- dharma ( he considered being with & supporting Ram, his dharma)
Bharat- Arth ( He got an opportunity to be king of Ayodhya. He took care of Ayodhya in Ram's absence)
Shatrughna- kaam or kaamana or desire. Only he was in Ayodhya during 14 years of vanvaas. His bothers wanted him to look after the family in their absence.

All 4 brothers shared a great bond because their root was 1- kheer. So they were actually 4 parts of a single entity, Lord Vishnu.

Great explanation Minakshi.

In fact in Ram Charita Manas Tulsidas ji writes something similar to this.

When, after the wedding, all four sons prostate to their father , Dasaratha looking at them feels has achieved the four purusharthas.

Anyone who is an expert in RCM can give the relevant verses... I believe it comes just after the wedding scene or maybe just before it.