RamarpaNam => 411

Jai Sri Ram.

 

Rama Gita.

Rama succinctly tells Sugreeva, Tara together with Angada to arrange for the funeral ceremony in time, as it is impossible to undertake any other ritual work if time is lapsed just by weeping.

Call it Nature, Time or God, the world functions in its own nature, and that Time is preeminent for that world. This ''niyati'' the atheist called it 'svabhaava' and the theist called it 'karma' or 'fate'. Time also called as God is the undisputed controller of both.

Unlike Bhagavad Gita, in which Sri Krishna says everything in first person, while Rama here says in the name of Time or Fate that He is the Supreme without declaring about himself. In His words :

1. Time and Fate do no over step.

2. Time has no cause and all re equal before it.

3. The pleasure or pain we enjoy are the fruits of our actions.

Vali died in the course of fighting and has attained a higher heaven than the usual one domiciling Ramba, Urvasi, Tilotama headed by Indra. It happens to a few like Vali, having died in the hands of Rama Himself. Therefore there is no cause for remorse or prolonged sorrow at his death, which point Rama wants to drive home to all the three.

It may be asked if God or Time takes care of every thing, what have humans to do? And if everything happens on its own, the question of merit or sin does not arise! Atheists see this way removing the attribute of God to Time.

To a Theist, all the three attributes namely (1) Nature (2) Fate or Karma and (3) Time summit in God. Guided by the merits or sins earned or accrued in last births God rewards the fruits of the present and future births in as much as the individual Souls have the liberty, taking the help of scriptural dictates, to intelligently choose the right action. Once such choice is made God helps him carry it out, remaining a passive spectator and the individuals decision being the primary cause and his ''vasana'' the remote cause.

Cremation of Vali and performance of funeral rites follow with Angada bringing wreaths, clothes, ghee, oil, as well as perfumes and other items that are consigned in the fire. Tara following the funeral procession wailed painfully in a pathetic tone.

After cremation, water oblations were offered by Angada and Sugreeva for the departed Soul.

There after, Hanuman initiating the talks proposed that the coronation of Sugreeva be performed by the hands of Rama. But Rama declined it saying that he cannot enter villages or cities during exile, and asked the chiefs of monkeys to perform the same. Rama also suggested that Angada be made Crown Prince. Accordingly, Sugreeva is consecrated as king and Angada as Crown Prince of Kishkindha.