RAMCHARITMANAS ~ Ramayana



RAMCHARITMANAS
(Ramayana)

Ramayan describes the Divine Lilas of Shri Ram who descended on the earth planet in Ayodhya from His Divine abode, Saket, along His brothers Lakshmana, Bharata and Shatrugahn. The eternal consort of Ram, Goddess Sita, had descended in Mithila, the kingdom of King Janak, who was also called Videhi. Sage Valmiki wrote the Ramayan (called Valmiki Ramayan) in Sanskrit language, while living in his hut as he saw all the Lilas of Shri Ram from his Divine eyes. Ved Vyas, about 5,000 years ago, reproduced the Valmiki Ramayan.

The word Ramayana is composed of two words Rama (Lord Rama) and ayana ("going, advancing"), translating to "Rama's Journey". Ramayana explores human values and the concept of dharma.

The Ramayana takes place during a period of time known as Treta Yuga. Ramayana is not just a story: it presents the teachings of ancient Sanatana Dharma in narrative parable, combining both philosophical and devotional elements. The Ramayana has been a continuing source of spiritual, cultural and artistic inspiration. The famous versions of Ramayana include Shri RamCharitManas by Goswami Tulasidas and Kambar’s Kambaraamayanam.

Ramcharitmanas, means "The Lake of Life and Deeds of Lord Shri Rama". Sri Ramcharitmanas is a great scripture and poetic classic written by Tulsidas Goswami. This scripture elaborates the divine life and deeds of Lord Rama. Sri Ramcharitmanas bestows upon its readers the gifts of Devotion (Bhakti), Divine Knowledge (Gyan) and Salvation (Mukti). Originally it was written in "Awadhi" (An Indo-Aryan Language) around 16th century at Varanasi, where Tulsidas spent his later part of life.
 
Statistically Srimad Valmiki Ramayana is composed of 24,000 verses called Slokas. These verses are grouped into around 500 chapters called Sargas wherein a specific event is told. These Sargas are groupd into seven books called Kaandas where a particular phase of story or an event in the course of story narration is enlightened. The verses in the Ramayana are written in a 32-syllable meter called Anustubh.


Seven Kaandas of Ramayana:

Thus the structure of Srimad Valmiki Ramayana is arranged into Seven Kaandas or Books. Tulsidas Goswami compared the Seven Kandas of Epic Ramayana to seven steps leading into the holy waters of Himalayan Lake (Lake Mansarovar) which "purifies the body and soul at once".

  Kaanda Name
Contains Info
Bala Kanda
Book of Youth                
Describes the birth of Rama, his childhood and marriage to Sita
Ayodhya Kanda
Book of Ayodhya           
Describes the preparations for Rama's coronation and his exile into the forest
Aranya Kanda
Book of Forest                  
Describes the forest life of Rama and the kidnapping of Sita by the demon king Ravana
Kishkindha Kanda
Empire of Holy Monkeys
Describes meeting of Hanuman with Rama, the destruction of the King Vali and the coronation of Sugriva to the throne of the kingdom of Kishkindha
Sundara Kanda
Book of Beauty                
Describes the heroism of Hanuman, his flight to Lanka and meeting with Sita
Yuddha Kanda
Book of War                   
Describes the battle between Rama's and Ravana's armies
Uttara Kanda
Book of Youth                
Describes the birth of Lava and Kusha to Sita, their coronation to the throne of Ayodhya, and Rama's final departure from the world

Puran Purusha Qualities ~ Shri Rama:

The first sarga of Ramayana starts with the arrival of Narada to Valmiki's asramam. Valmiki Maharishi enquired Narada about the Purna Purusha (a complete man); a man having all good qualities. Valmiki looking for 16 qualities in one man, they are: 

Gunavan (principled one)
Veeryavan (potential one)
Dharmajnaha
(conscious one)
Kruthajnaha
(liberator)
Satyavakyaha (truth-teller)
Dhrudhavrataha (self-determined)
Samarthaha
(ablest–one)
Atmavan
(courageous-one)
Charithravan
(one having good conduct)
Sarvabhutha Hithaha
(one who is the well-wisher of all beings)
Vidwan
(scholar of all scriptures)
Sadaika Priyadarsanaha
(one who is always lovable and good to look)
Dyuthiman
(brilliant-one)
Jithakrodhaha
(one who controlled his anger)
Anasuyakaha
(one who is not having jealousy)
Kasya bibhyati devascha jatha roshasya samyuge
(For whom even devathas also will afraid to stand before him in war, when he grew angry)

Narada without any hesitation and immediately replied "Shri Rama", the son of Dasaratha is having all these sixteen qualities on this earth. Then he told the whole story of Shri Rama in brief starting from his birth to returning to Ayodhya after killing Ravana. Narada said the whole Ramayana in brief (sankshepata) the first sarga is called as Sankshepa Ramayana. Reading Sankshepa Ramayana is equivalent to reading the whole Ramayana and by chanting this with firm faith; one will get rid of all sorts of sins. The second sarga starts, mentioning about how Valmiki got inspiration to write the story of Lord Rama near river Thamasa.

Nine Form of Devotion:

Lord Shri Rama described nine form of Devotion (Bhakti) to His one of the great devotee Sabri in Aranya Kand. These are:
1.      To live and communicate with saints who are pious in heart and deed.
2.      To listen and tell the story and saying of the Lord.
3.      To do humble and pride-less service of the lotus feet of one's preceptor (Guru).
4.      To sing the Lord's praises with honest heart.
5.      To keep chanting the Lord's name with unwavering faith.
6.      To practice self-control and virtue, desist from manifold activities and always pursue the course of conduct laid down for the saints.
7.      To see the world full of the Lord without distinction and reckon the saints as even greater than the Lord Himself.
8.      To remain content with whatever one gets and never think of finding faults with others.
9.      To be simple, honest and straight in one's dealing with everybody & cherish implicit faith in Lord without either exultation or depression.
Towards the end of describing above nine forms, Shri Rama further said to Sabri, that anyone who possesses even any one out of the 9 forms of Bhakti (devotion) is very dear to Him.

Qualities For Success in Life:

There is a famous passage from the Ramacharitamanas. Lord Ram here advices Vibhishana regarding the qualities needed for success in life. Here it is explained in the form of a chariot which is needed for victory. Vibhishana asks Lord Ram to fight Ravana by riding on a chariot.

In reply Shri Ram said:

Bring a chariot if it is obligatory for victory.
That chariot should have wheels of valor and patience;
Strong flag and buntings of truth and good conduct;
Horses of strength, wisdom, self-control and goodness
Link rope of pardon, kindness and equality;
A wise charioteer of God’s recitation;
A field of renunciation, sword of satisfaction,
An axe of charity, deadly power of intelligence,
A hardened bow of the best knowledge;
A quiver like a pure and decisive mind;
Several arrows of self-control and morality
Impenetrable armor of Brahman worship
There is no other way of victory like this.

Concept of Purusharthas in Ramayana:

Purusharthas refers to a goal, end or aim of human existence, in Sanskrit it means "that which is required by man; human purpose, aim, or end".  The concept of Pususharthas is ancient in Sanatana Dharma. There are four Pususharthas:  

Dharma
religious, social and/or moral righteousness, both spiritual and ritual
Artha
material and/or financial prosperity as well as pursuit of meaning
Kaama
material pleasure
Moksha
spiritual liberation; or renunciation as well as detachment

There are two prominent instances of Pususharthas being defined in Ramayana.

The first was when Bharat came to forest (Chitrakoot) to meet Rama. Rama asked him whether he followed the rules of Dharma, Artha and Kaama properly. As per Rama it is defined as: Artha should not interfere with Dharma and vice versa. Similarly Kaama should not interfere with either Dharma or with Artha. Since Bharat was already knowledgeable he understands in very concise words. But Dharma here means the duties and welfare one does for the society. Making wells, for example, is part of the dharma of a king. Arth means earnings. It is further asked by Rama: The king has to see that there is enough income from taxes; the salaries of the employees are given at proper time etc.; Kaama means pleasure here. One is allowed to have pleasure but without affecting the duties and earnings.

The other instance comes in Yudha Kanda. Here Kumbhakarna, advises Ravana that one should use Dharma in the morning, Artha in the daytime and Kaama at night. He further said, as the Lanka King is busy with Kaama all the time, the destruction of Lanka and its King Ravana will bound to happen. Interestingly one of Ravana's ministers Mahodara scolds Kubhakarna and to please Ravana, says that a King can enjoy Kaama at any time.


Swami Vivekananda Remarks:

"Rama, the ancient idol of the heroic ages, the embodiment of truth, of morality, the ideal son, the ideal husband, and above all, the ideal king, this Rama has been presented before us by the great sage Valmiki. No language can be purer, none chaster, none more beautiful, and at the same time simpler, than the language in which the great poet has depicted the life of Rama."                                                                                                (Swami Vivekananda)

 Note: Compiled Article on RamaCharitmanas after googling.