" RAMO VIGRHAVAN DHARMAHA

“RAMO VIGRAHAVAN DHRMAHA”

Every year Sri Rama Navami is celebrated grandly in various places in India and the wedding of Sita and Rama is replicated to the joy of millions! But the very core message of Rama's avatar is totally forgotten! From Treta to Kaliyuga there is total degeneration of Dharma or righteousness! Not an individual seems to think of following or practicing at least a single virtue of Rama! The incarnation of Rama is out and out intended for the establishment of Dharma and Adi Kavi Valmiki is absolutely right in describing and depicting Rama as “Ramo vigravan Dharmaha--the embodiment of righteousness. Long before the descent of the avatar, the plan was ready when the guards of Vaikunta, Jaya and Vijaya we're cursed by the sages to come down to earth! They  preferred to be the enemies of the Lord in three births and return to Vaikunta! As such the Lord had to come down to earth to establish Dharma and save the devotees. Hiranyaksha and Hiranyakasipu in the Krutha Yuga, Ravana and Kumbhakarna in Treta Yuga and Sisupala and Dantavaktra in Dwapara Yuga became the inveterate enemies of the Lord! The Lord fought them and resuscitated the decaying Dharma. Unlike the earlier avatars, he came down as an ordinary mortal, the son of emperor Dasaratha and the prince of Ayodhya.

The Ramayana depicts the tussle between the good and evil. The very purpose of the avatar is to demolish evil and there cannot be any delay. Sage Viswamitra takes Rama and Lakshmana for the protection of his yagna. On the way Rama is directed to kill the terrible Thataka creating hell to the dwellers. Rama hesitates a little since the demon is a female and according to Dharma she should not be killed! But his guru Viswamitra says that evil has to be Put down irrespective of gender! On the way Ahalya is released from her state of stone because of her  great chastity. She was the wife of sage Gautama and cursed for her inadvertent action. The wiles and machinations of Manthara and Kaikeyi demonstrate Rama’s implicit obedience to his mother's order and father’s wish! He was not bothered about the coronation that was fixed up the next day! Thus Rama came to be called 'pitru vakya paripalaka’-one who fulfills father’s word! We know how we treat our parent’s word!! Like an ordinary mortal the avatar suffered several difficulties and even wept when Sita was kidnapped by the disguised Ravana! He established Dharma by killing Vali the vanara king disapproving the lust for other’s wife! Dasaratha’s passion for Kakeyi led him to his death!  The same saw the end of Vali!! The same infatuation and lust for Sita led to Ravana’s doom!

As the protector of Dharma, Rama had to fight against all odds and demonstrate to the world that the unethical desire for the wife of another man is self destructive! The message of the Ramayana and the life of Rama is to warn humanity of this evil tendency and prevent them from indulging in such acts! Another aspect is that for establishing Dharma in a world full of adharma and evil, one has to rise to the occasion and be prepared​ for any suffering and sacrifice!! He has set an example to the entire universe by his unimpeachable conduct and character! Rama has killed Thataka first and Subahu next. He blasted Maricha and sent him away to an unknown place. He saved the yaga of Viswamitra and reassured peaceful life to the sages in the forest. He killed the invincible Khara and Dushana and his train in Dandaka forest! He taught a lesson to Ravana’s sister Surpanakha for her improper amorous advances when Lakshmana trimmed off her nose and ears!

He was much distressed at the loss of Sita and yet exercised his divinity in granting salvation to Jatayu who gave information on Sita. He ate the tasted fruits of Sabari who was awaiting his arrival anxiously. He was thus an ideal son, affectionate brother, trusted friend, the personification of righteousness,kind and loving husband and a terror to all the wicked and evil minded rakshasas! After killing Ravana he does not accept Sita readily since she was in Lanka for long! He orders Lakshmana to kindle fire so that Sita can come out of it unscathed as a proof of her purity! When Lakshmana was felled by Indrajit’s arrow Rama weeps likes child and says that his life is gone!That was the affection he had for his brother. It is surprising to note that the description, “Ramo Vigrahavan dharmaha” was uttered by Maricha who had tasted the arrow of Rama earlier! He warns Ravana by saying that he can never have his wish of separating Sita from Rama fulfilled Like the Sun who cannot be separated from his brilliant rays, so too Rama and Sita are inseparable! Scholars find fault with Rama for deserting Sita after her return to Ayodhya.The real truth is that Sita, pregnant at that time, expressed a desire to visit some sage’s ashram. Rama heard about a few people objecting his accepting Sita after a long  period at Ravana’s home. Rama never wanted to bring a bad name for his Ikshvaku clan! Thus Rama’s life breath and every action was seeped in Dharma!

By his conduct, character and action Rama is the personification of Dharma! What he did is Dharma and Dharma is what he did! As a man, in all trying situations he stood by Dharma and thus has become the apple of eye for all humanity! He differs from the avatar of Krishna in not exhibiting his divinity till the end. He endured all vicissitudes like an ordinary mortal and showed us the path of Dharma! In these days of moral degradation and immorality where rapes, molestations, abductions and gropings are the order of the day, Rama stands like a monument of righteousness calling everyone to follow dharmic way of life! Is it impossible for us to try our best to emulate the avatar at least to a small extent????