RAMAYANA MASAM FROM 17-07-2011 TO 16-08-2011

shaija v bhaskaran via yahoogroups.com to Keralites, bcc: Keralites 

 

Ramayanam has always been an integral part of every Hindu's life. Ramayana is a Sanskrit epic describing the deeds of Lord Rama, the seventh avatar (incarnation) of Lord Vishnu.

Ramayana masam (month) falls from the mid of July till the mid of August. "Ramayana Masam in Kerala is observed in the Malayalam month Karkkidakom (July August). Karkidakam month is dedicated to dead ancestors during when Shraddh ritual or pitru tharpan are offered to them. Karkidaka Vavu Bali (Pitru tharpan rituals) is the major ritual followed in Malayalam month of Karkidakam in Kerala. The sacred scripture Ramayana is recited during the whole month of Karkidam hence it is also known as Ramayana Masam.

In olden days, Ramayana month was considered poverty time as this rainy month gave least yieldand wasmarked with poverty, diseases and unhappiness. To ward off natures fury people used to read the Ramayana. Theepic Ramayanis read in Ramayana month in homes and temples. It is believed that Ramayana parayanam (reading of Ramayana) in the 'Ramayana Masam' ('Karkkidaka masam': July-August) is a divine way to worship Lord Rama and attain salvation. On all days in the month, in most of the Kerala Temples as well as in the Malayalam Hindu families (traditional Hindu houses) the Epic Ramayana is read. Some people recite in the early hours of dawn and some after lighting the evening lamp, sit before Lamp (nilavilakku) and recite the ramayana.


Ramayana:

The Ramayana contains the story of King Rama. The Ramayana captures our mind and spirit with its stunning stories and moral lessons. According to Hindu tradition, Rama is an Avatara, an incarnation of Vishnu or God, Born to King Dasaratha & Queen Kausalya, Rama embodies human virtue. The Ramayana narrates the epic battle to wipe out Evil and restore peace on earth; the main purpose of his incarnation is to demonstrate the ideal human life on earth.The original Ramayana was written in Sanskrit.Great Valmiki wrote the ramayana in 24,000 verses. The epic is divided into seven kandas (Sections).The seven sections are the 1) Bala Kandam, 2) Ayodhya Kandam,3) Aranya Kandam, 4)Kishkinda Kandam, 5) Sundara Kandam, 6) Yudha Kandam, and 7). uttaraKandam.

The Ramayana contains not only the stories of Rama, Sita, and others, but it also contains good moral teachings and values.Ramayana tells about devotion, loyalty, family roles, respect to elders, andteaches us how to live a perfect life.Ramayana teaches us how honest and dedicated we should be in our relationships, how father and son should behave towards each other; how brothers should live together; how pure and faithful the lives of husband and wife should be; what the duties of a king and his subjects. When Dasharathan asks Sree Rama to go to jungle he obeyed that without asking the reason. Lakshmana followed Rama in the jungle too. That shows their love and affection. LikewiseLakshmana and Satrughna served Rama and Bharata respectively with utmost devotion and sincerity. When Lakshmana fainted in the battlefield, Rama lamented, "In this world I might find another mother like Kausalya, a wife like Sita, but definitely not a brother like Lakshmana." A brother should be like this - one who respects elders and brings name and fame to the whole family.Likewise the love and respect of Hanuman to Sree Rama was so intense. Like them we should respect and love our teachers.

TEACHINGS OF RAMAYANA:

Sathyam Bruyath, Priyam Bruyath,

Na Bruyath Sathyamapriyam

(Speak the truth; speak sweetly and softly

and neverUtter truth in an unpalatable way).

"Sathyam Bruyath"Speak the truthis the moral value.

"Priyam Bruyath"speak sweetly and softlyis the social value.

"Na Bruyath Sathyamapriyam"neverUtter truth in an unpalatable way

is the spiritual value. So, the moral, social, and spiritual values are all contained in the above statement. The Ramayana teaches these values in the simplest way.

The Ramayana teaches the importance of human values. The Ramayana teaches us the threefoldDharma(code of conduct) pertaining to the individual, the family and the society. You have to make every effort to understand the duties of the individual, the family and the society. The modern society needs to follow theDharmathat is contained in the epic Ramayana. Today, children are leaving their parents in old age homes, the students are not having regard for their teachers, and corruption is rampant in all fields such as business, education and politics. Under these circumstances, the principles of the Ramayana are very important. In such a situation, everyone needs to follow the ideals of the Ramayana.

TheRamaayana,also teaches two lessons: the value of detachment and the need to become aware of the Divine in every being. Faith in God and detachment from objective pursuits are the keys for human liberation. Give up sense objects, and you gain Rama. Sitha gave up the luxuries of Ayodhya so she could be with Rama during His exile. When she cast longing eyes on the golden deer and craved it, she lost Rama's presence. Renunciation leads to joy; attachment brings about grief. Be in the world, but not of it.

The Ramayana demonstrates that anything can be achieved through sincerity and devotion. Everyone should cultivate love for God, fear of sin and morality in society. Though Rama and Ravana were equally well versed in all forms of knowledge, Ravana did not followed the knowledge he had acquired and on the contrary he used it for wicked purposes. On the other hand, Rama translated all his knowledge into action and gave joy to one and all and engaged in the welfare of all.

 

Human life is a long journey. One should lead a divine life, not a mean life. Always be happy. Difficulties do come in life. That is the law of nature. Never get disheartened by them. Difficulties are like passing clouds. Difficulties come and go, and what ever be your difficulties always keep your values positive.Being God, Lord Vishnu could have planned Ram incarnation in such a way that he just wished something to happen and it happened. If he had done that, then there was no way we humans could follow in the footsteps of Lord Ram. We could say that he could do that because he was God and we do not have the power to do all these.Lord Ram, together with many others in Ramayan, underwent various sufferings. They showed with their conduct how we should behave in various situations.Rama stood as a shining example of upholding the moral values in the society.

 

All of us live on the same earth. The same sky is above all of us. We breathe the same air and drink the same water. Ignoring this underlying principle of unity man visualizes multiplicity, which is a big mistake. The Ramayana centers on the principle of unity in diversity. Today as man has lost the ability to see unity in diversity, he is immersed in restlessness. What we need today is to see unity in diversity and the divinity behind this unity.

For divinity You do not need to undertake any spiritual practices. Experience the innate divinity in everyone by following the path of love. Love is God. Spend your life in selfless service. This is the teaching of Rama. Bliss is not present in a foreign land; it is present within you. In order to experience bliss, develop love in your heart. Your life itself will become a living Ramayana.Today many people read the holy Ramayana, but few understand its essence. They spend their time in acquiring bookish knowledge and superficial knowledge, but fail to have practical knowledge. There are many people who can explain the teachings of Ramayana in a beautiful way, but very few are following and applying these values in their life. What is the use of reading various texts, if we do not put into practice the message contained in them? Can anyone enjoy the taste of various delicious items by merely repeating their names? No. One can enjoy the taste only when one eats them. Like wise we have to follow the values that contained in theRamayana.The good characters in Ramayan teach us the proper way not just by preaching but by their own actions.Rather than just reading and preaching good conduct, they livedwith good conduct.let us follow.

~~~~~Sreenath Vanmelil