Maryada Purushottama Raama

Continued from ‘Sarveshu ramante iti Raamah’

After burning down Lanka, Hanuman flew across the sea. Raama expressed awe at Hanuman’s achievements. Raama got emotional hearing about Seeta’s well-being, and declared that he will dry up the ocean or they can build a bridge for their huge vanara sena (army of monkeys) to cross. Raama then understood Lanka’s description from Hanuman.

At an auspicious moment, Raama, Lakshmana, and the entire energetic team moved in the southern direction. At the seashore, Raama surveyed the vast and deep ocean filled with crocodiles, serpents, whales, and timingila-s (whale-gulping giant fish). Raama remarked to Sugreeva that it was time to revisit the question of how to cross the ocean. Seeing the impossibility of the task at hand, Raama confided with Lakshmana that the grief due to separation from Seeta was the fuel that was burning him. As Lakshmana consoled him, the sun began to set and a melancholy Raama worshipped Goddess Sandhya.

Back in Lanka, Vibhishana warned his brother Ravana against keeping Seeta in captivity, but Ravana was overpowered by lust. Due to Indrajit and Ravana’s insults, Vibhishana and 4 of his Rakshasa confidants left Lanka. He met Raama and explained that he had left his family, friends, and riches behind to take refuge under Raama. There was scepticism about whether to accept Vibhishana or not. Raama stated that he would give refuge to any genuine person seeking his shelter, which was then agreed upon by everyone. Vibhishana then shared the secret details of Ravana’s army. To Hanuman and Sugreeva’s query for crossing the ocean, Vibhishana suggested that Raama worship Varuna (the water demigod).

Raama prayed for 3 days and nights, but Varuna did not appear. Raama thundered that his patience was being misinterpreted. When he shot fiery celestial weapons into the sea, the earth shook, the waves became violent, and dense smoke enveloped the sea. Raama chanted mantra-s to dry up the ocean with Brahmastra, the ultimate weapon of destruction. The mountains trembled, darkness covered the sky, and winds began to howl. Varuna appeared and offered to hold the boulders in place, for them to build a bridge. As the Brahmastra once invoked must be fired, Varuna requested Raama to shoot it northwards where adharmic Abhira people drank his waters. Raama did so.

At an auspicious time, Raama bowed to God Ganesha and Varuna, and then installed and worshipped a Shivalinga with great devotion. God Shiva appeared and blessed Raama with victory at this location then called Raama teertha. Raama then inaugurated the bridge’s construction by installing the first 9 boulders in the water. Under Nala’s supervision, Hanuman and the other monkeys fetched and dropped mountains, stones, and giant trees, in the ocean to construct the Raama Setu in a mere 5 days. When a devotee has even a simple darshana (vision) of Raama Setu, it destroys many of his sins.

To avoid a destructive war, Raama sent Angada as a messenger to ask Ravana to return Seeta. When an adamant Ravana tried to capture Angada, he easily leapt towards the top of the palace and shattered the roof. Now there was no other option left but to fight a war.

Raama worshipped his pitru-s on the 1^st day of pitru-paksha period, and the fierce war began. Raama defeated Ravana but did not fire an arrow into his foe’s heart which still harboured evil thoughts about Seeta. The humbled Rakshasa returned inside the city walls and ordered the mighty Kumbhakarna to be awakened, a selfish act as he was not scheduled to be disturbed from his sleep. With Goddess Durga’s blessings, on the 9^th day of the dark fortnight, Raama killed Kumbhakarna who had never been defeated before.

Indrajit promised revenge. On the battlefield, he deceived with invisibility, and used Brahmastra to make Raama, Lakshmana, and all the vanara Generals immobile. As advised by Jambavanta, Hanuman grew, took a giant leap, reached the Himalayas in a short time, and returned with an entire mountainside that had the sanjeevani herbs. Sanjeevani’s mere gandha (smell) revived Raama, Lakshmana, the vanara sena and its Generals. Hanuman flew the mountain back to the Himalayas.

Hearing the news that Indrajit had slewed Seeta, Raama fainted. Vibhishana explained that the lustful Ravana will never have Seeta killed. His reasoning that the wily Indrajit had created an illusion to distract them was correct. Lakshmana battled Indrajit for 3 days and nights, and killed him on the day before amavasya (no-moon).

As per Ravana’s orders, countless Rakshasa-s encircled and attacked Raama. Raama swift fiery downpour of arrows, decimated a mind-boggling 10,000 charioted foes, 18,000 elephant-mounted soldiers, 14,000 horse-riders, and innumerable others by the end of the day.

A furious Ravana entered the battlefield on amavasya. Raama had found time to worship his ancestors since the start of the war for all the 16 days of the pitru paksha period. A frustrated Ravana rained arrows on Raama whose response was as deadly. Ravana then caused grievous injury with the illusory Maya-astra to Lakshmana who was trying to saving Vibhishana from Ravana. Raama reappeared on the scene and fired a shower of arrows making Ravana flee away in fear. As per the physician Sushena’s advice, Hanuman flew again to get the sanjeeva-karani herb, different from sanjeevani. Thus, Lakshmana was revived, bringing great relief to Raama and the rest of the army.

As per God Brahma’s suggestion, Raama started worshipping Goddess Durga from the first day of Ashwina’s month bright fortnight. He fasted during the night and chanted her mantras. Sincere worship of Durga assures the devotee of all the desires of the world.

Ravana entered the battlefield for the 3^rd time. The fierce battle resumed and Raama and Ravana fired many swift-coursing missiles against each other. On Ashtami (the 8^th lunar day), Raama ritually offered his bow to get her blessings. Finally, on Navami (the 9^th lunar day), Raama used the lethal and fatal Brahmastra to pierce Ravana’s chest, ending the tyrant’s life. Raama’s 9 days worship of the 9 Avatara-s of Goddess Durga (Parvati) are celebrated as the Navaratri festival. As per Goddess Durga’s instructions, her idol was immersed in the water on the 10^th day of Ashwina month’s bright fortnight.

When Vibhishana refused to perform the evil Ravana’s last rites, Raama explained that enmity should not extend beyond death. After the cremation, Raama crowned Vibhishana as Lanka’s king. Then with tears in his eyes, he asked Vibhishana to send a palanquin to escort Seeta to their assembly. After her Agni pariksha, there is a joyous reunion.

After 10 days, a polite Raama declined to stay longer in Lanka saying Bharata had sworn to immolate himself if Raama did not return to Ayodhya at the end of the 14-year exile. Raama, Seeta, Lakshmana, Vibhishana, Hanuman and the important vanara Generals boarded the Pushpaka vimana to return. Raama installed the holy Shivalinga at Rameshwaram. Then outside Ayodhya, Bharata and Raama had an emotional reunion. Raama returned the Pushpaka vimana to Kubera, its rightful owner.

Back in Ayodhya, all the citizens who had given up pleasure for 14 years were now filled with joy. People of all 4 varna-s beautified their homes with flags, fragrant flowers, rangoli art, incense, and lights. Hindus celebrate even today this day as Diwali, a victory of good over evil. Rishi Vasishtha looked up an auspicious date for Raama’s coronation ceremony. The well-decorated city resounded with great pomp, pleasant music, and graceful dances. Raama sat with Seeta on a grand throne studded with precious stones.

Then, Raama and Seeta travelled extensively all over India on many pilgrimages. Raama also accomplished 10 Ashwamedha yagnya-s to become the Emperor of the World.

Seeta experienced a royal life with Raama in their beautiful palace which was studded with pearls, gems, diamonds, and other valuable stones. Each morning, Seeta and Raama performed rituals like the Sandhya vandana prayers and Agnihotra yagnya. Raama’s romantic words and sports gave great pleasure to Seeta. Many women tried to entice Raama, but he remained devoted to Seeta. It was unusual for such a powerful ruler of that time to have only 1 wife. Raama also had spiritual discourses with his beloved wife enabling her to become a jeevana mukta (enlightened). They visited local mandir-s and listened to devotional songs, before retiring for the day.

Raama never lost sight of his royal duties. Raama had divine qualities, was strong, followed Dharma, was learned, worked for the welfare of all people with great sincerity, had personal grace, controlled his anger, bore no hatred or jealousy. As a king, Raama practised the 4 prime virtues of daana (charity), tapasya (austerities), dayaa (compassion), and satya (truth).

Raama’s moral values created Raama Rajya, a perfect kingdom where:

• There was abundant rainfall making citizens prosperous
• People were content, truthful, happy, and fearless. They did not indulge in gambling, intoxication, illicit relationships, or theft
• There was no envy or usage of foul language
• There were no diseases or premature death during Raama Rajya
• Citizens lived healthy for thousands of years
• It was Treta yuga (age desiring prestige), but seemed like Satyuga (righteous age)

It is no wonder that Raama has so many epithets, including Maryada Purushottama, the honourable Supreme Soul. Reciting his name destroys many paapa (demerits), especially in Kaliyuga.