Being Rama

Wherever there is Ravana (the evil force), there must be a Rama (the divine force) to destroy the Ravana to overcome the influence of such evil forces and prevent to spread further. Rama, the seventh avatar of Lord Vishnu and a king of Ayodhya, is referred as the perfect or ideal man popularly known as "Maryada Purushottama". He was the eldest of the four sons of Dasaratha, king of Ayodhya, born to demolish the terror of Ravana who overpowered the devas and ruling the earth, the heaven and the netherworld, seeming almost invincible.

Rama life's journey was to comply with the path of dharma despite harsh tests and obstacles and pains of life. While staying with sage Vishwamitra in his ashram to learn astras, sastras (divine weapons) and way of life, Rama has initiated the work he was incarnated for i.e., to kill Rakshasha who had been harassing and terrorizing sages. Sage Vishwamitra takes Rama to the Sita's swayamvara (a wedding ceremony) in which the challenge was to string the bow of Shiva and shoot an arrow from it. The task was impossible for any ordinary human being or the kings present there including Ravana as it was the personal weapon of Shiva. The strength was not the only factor but a pure soul is required for the task. Everyone failed to even move the bow. Rama while attempting to string the bow, breaks it in two and after that, he married to Sita, the avatar of goddess Laxmi.

When King Dasaratha announces to Ayodhya that Rama will be crowned the Yuvaraja (prince), everyone in his kingdom rejoices. Kaikeyi, one of Dasaratha's queen, was initially happy with this decision but her mind was polluted by his wicked maid Manthara that her son Bharata will be suppressed by Rama when he becomes the king. So, Kaikeyi demanded Dasaratha to banish Rama to a forest exile for fourteen years, and Bharata to be crowned in Rama's place. She had been granted two wish by the king when she had saved his life a long time ago in battle which she used them to secure Bharata's future. For the sake of his father's honour, Rama abandons his claim to Ayodhya's throne to serve an exile of fourteen years in the forest. His wife Sita and brother Lakshmana decided to join him, despite discouragement by Rama. The people of Ayodhya was deeply saddened and angered at Kaikeyi by this decision. Dashratha, who loved and cherished Rama, couldn't bear the agony of separation and he collapses and dies. In fact, Dashratha, who inadvertently killed Shravan Kumar who was on his way to fulfil his blind parents wish to complete their chaar dhaam yatra, was cursed by the blind couple that he will die of the pain of separation from his son in the same manner he made them die.

While in exile, Ravana kidnapped Sita and from that moment begins his countdown to death. After a long and arduous search, Rama managed to track the location of Sita. He sent a messenger of peace to Ravana and asked him to return Sita but arrogant Ravana laughed and mocked such timid move of Rama. With the rejection of peace and talks, the war began. It was a war of powerful and magical beings, greatly destructive weaponry (similar to or even more powerful than a nuclear weapon) and battles. Ultimately, Rama slays Ravana and liberates his wife. But after that Rama tells her to give Agni Pariksha ( the test of purity) which was shocking to everyone. This was an ideal man's cruel treatment of his ideal wife. Whatever the society thinks, if he had faith, he should never have demanded such thing from her. Some call it the time when the "ideal man" deviates from idealism. But, as expected, Sita passed the Agni Pariksha and Rama accepted her.

Having completed his exile which coincides with the end of the war, Rama returns and crowned king of Ayodhya and later on became emperor of the world. It was a time when god was ruling the earth as a man. His term is popularly known as Rama Rajya. It was an ideal form of rule (better than democracy), I think, which lasted 11 thousand years. There were perfect justice and freedom, peace and prosperity. There was no natural disasters, diseases or ill-fortune of any nature on any living beings. There were no sins committed in the world by many people of his kingdom. The people had no locks on their doors as they feared no burglaries or theft of any kind.

Rama should be remembered more as an ideology than any beings, and his qualities, his virtues need to be worshipped... more than his idols. But, the question is: Is it possible to have Rama in this materialistic world? Who is ruling the modern world Rama or Ravana?

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