(By A. SWAMINATHA AYYAR.)
Obeisance to the Lord of the daughter-of Janaka who being entrusted by the
Gods to relieve the earth of her burden, was born on the earth disguised as
man. Obeisance to the Lord, who after the in carnation as the Buddha, free
from even a trace of violence would take the avatar of Kalki, to
re-establish the reign of Dharma
In Sree Ramachandra, we get a many-sided picture of a perfect and ideal
life. Sri Ramachandra is brought face to face with a series of difficult,
baffling, and tragic situations and he comes out triumphant without swerving
in the least-from the highest principles of Dharma as conceived by our
ancients. Of the many great deeds of the Lord in his avatar as Sree
Ramachandra none stands out more prominently than the renunciation of his
Kingdom and throne at a phychological moment. There is perhaps no parallel
to this in the history of the human race. And. with this, I propose to deal
in this article.
The story goes that once upon a time, Indra, the Lord of the Devas sought
the help of King Dasaratha, the father of Sree Ramachandra, in his battle
with an Asura. The King who was a mighty warrior gladly responded to the
call, betook himself to where the Asura was, challenged him to mortal
combat, and gave him a very, bad hour of it. As misfortune would have it,
the axle of the King's car gave way in the thick of the fight, and the enemy
taking advantage of the "King's plight rushed to make short work of him.
Just then Queen Kaikeyi, the King's favourite wife who accompanied her
husband, seeing the perilous condition in which her husband was, boldly took
charge of the situation and removed the helpless King to a safe place. This
happened twice in the course of the battle. The King who was of a strong
emotional temperament, cried out *' Ask of me whatever you will and it is
yours." The young queen who had evidently more foresight and prudence than
the King, thanked him heartily for his generosity, made light of the service
she had rendered him and replied. "' The favourite wife of King Dasaratha
should and does lack nothing. Yet I keep it in mind and shall ask you to
abide by your promise, should an opportunity offer itself later, near or
distant." Years after, sons were born to King Dasaratha, Sree Ramachandra
being the eldest, and the most beloved of them all. He was growing in wisdom
and valour and was regarded by the people as the very embodiment of high
principles and noble qualities, and of every social and domestic virtue. The
King's subjects besought him with one voice to rest after his long and
strenuous reign and install in his stead Sri Ramachandra on the throne. The
King acceded to the prayer of his subjects and had made all arrangements for
the installation of Ramachandra, as Yuva/raja. Kaikeyi the King's favourite
queen who came to know of the King's decision thought the installation of
Rama was hostile to the interests of her own son Bharata, who would be kept
out from the throne for ever. So she worked herself up into a rage, and the
doting King Bought to appease her, promising to grant anything she wanted "
I swear by Rama. Do thon tell me thy heart's desire," the King said least
suspecting what was passing in the Queen's mind. Then reminding the King of
the incidents in the war between the Devas and the Asuras and his promise of
the grant of two boons to her, the Queen said " Do thou, with the
preparations made-for installing Rama, install Bharata on the throne, Let
the gentle Rama, clad in deer skin, lead the life of a mendicant in the
Dandaka forest for the space of nine and five years." Not all the pleadings
of the King could soften the heart of Kaikey who was adamant, and as may be
expected the King's heart bled itself to death at his helplessness and when
Ramachandra, having completed the preliminary religious ceremonies prior to
the installation sought the King to obtain his blessings, (he was mortified
to notice that the King, simply uttering "Rama " Rama was in suspense and
Kaikeyi quickly informed him of the -two boons granted to her. The story
goes that Rama was not in the least upset by what was told him but, that
with cheerful resignation he carried put that very moment the unspoken
command of his father though conveyed through the Queen Kaikeyi.
(To be contd...)
ARTICLES IN THE SHRI SAI SANSMARANA (50TH ANNIVERSARY OF SHRI SAI BABA
SAMADHI) this can be read in www.saileelas.org
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