Pradyumnāya namah

“He had tender, fragile feet that would shrivel when his wife Seeta even tenderly pressed them. With such delicate, tender feet this Lord walked through innumerable forests. When he was fatigued after endlessly walking in the forests, either his brother Lakshmana or Sugriva, the king of the Vanaras, provided him respite.

For having cut off the nose and ears of demoness Śūrpanakha, demon-king Ravana separated Rama from his dearest wife Seeta. With this Rama was incensed, so much so that the ocean trembled seeing his fury. Thereafter Rama built a bridge across the ocean. Just as a forest fire devours a forest, Rama entered the kingdom of Ravana and destroyed them all. May such Lord Rama protect us all!

When Maharishi Viśwamitra was conducting the Yagna, the demons created havoc by disrupting it. Even as Lakshmana was watching, Srirama playfully killed Marica, Subāhu and other demons who wandered only during the darkness of the nights.

When Seeta’s swayamvara (ceremony wherein the bride selects her groom) was proclaimed, all the valourous princes of the world assembled at the hall. At that time 300 powerful men brought an enormous Shiva’s bow to the hall. Just as playfully as a baby elephant crushes a sugarcane stem, Srirama playfully lifted the heavy bow. Tying it with a rope he broke it in the middle.

Mother Goddess Lakshmi, who is situated in the chest of Lord Srihari, had incarnated on Earth as Seeta. With her attributes such as youthfulness, good character, beauty, nature and behaviour she matched Srirama in every possible way. Srirama wedded her and took her to Ayodhya. Enroute he shattered the arrogance of Paraśurama, the descendant of Bhrigu, who challenged him for battle.

Paraśurama, who was also an incarnation of Srihari, had travelled around the globe twenty one times killing all the Kshatriyas (warrior)”.

Swamiji explains: In fact when they both stood facing each other, each of them thought he was seeing his reflection in the mirror. After all, they were incarnations of the same Lord, isn’t it? Nevertheless, based on the time, place, situation and purpose of the incarnation, their body and features were different. Their fight was a drama enacted by them both.

“Having travelled around the globe twenty-one times Paraśurama had wiped Kshatriyas totally from Earth. Having fallen into the sway of his wife Kaikeyi, King Dasharatha was bound by the noose called promise given to her. It was his infatuation for a woman that led to this twist in the story. He had to banish Rama from the kingdom.

Along with wife Seeta, Rama left the kingdom and went into the forests in accordance with the directions of his father. He left behind his exquisite kingdom, untold riches, luxuries, his dearest mother, his relatives and his friends and departed to the forests. Demon-king Ravana had a sister named Śurpanakha”.

At each juncture of the story it appears as if Ramayana begins from there. As we read the story scene by scene the incident appears before our eyes. This is the beauty of this composition.

“She accosted Rama with an impure desire of marrying him. Srirama chopped off her nose and ears leaving her ugly. Her brothers Khara, Dūṣana, Triśirasa along with 14,000 demon soldiers attacked Srirama in the forests. Srirama single-handedly killed them all!

It is impossible for any living entity to face Srirama when he holds the bow ready for combat. Such is his might! Withstanding all the hardships of forest life, Rama continued to wander there.

“Ravana who heard about Seeta from his sister Śurpanakha was overcome with feelings of lust. In order to entice Ravana, Śurpanakha described in great detail the beauty of Seeta. She insisted that Rama rejected Śurpanakha just because she couldn’t match Seeta’s beauty. Instead of grieving at his sister’s deformity, demon Ravana was infatuated with Seeta’s beauty and wanted to marry her”.

Ramaya namah