RamarpaNam # 443 => 440.

Jai Sri Ram.

 

Angada's ''nirvedam'' and Anjaneya's ''bedam''. :

 

The chief of monkey army who went to the east, north, and west directions all returned to inform that search for Seetha failed leaving the hope for Sugreeva on Hanuman and his party who have gone in the direction in which Seetha was carried away.

 

Angada and others making search in the Vindhya mountain could not meet with success as well. When their search ended in futility, Angada with his speech needed to encourage the vanara saying :

 

1. There is no use losing heart in the middle of the search and  the need of the hour being

2. Firmness of mind

3. Skillful approach and

4. un-stoppable attitude against odds of defeat or failure.

 

Rather all good acts should have happy ending as other wise Dharma will perish, with no takers. Lack of success thus far is due to lack of whole hearted effort. At the least to avoid Sugreeva's wrath, all the monkeys shall implement his directive, he desired.  

 

Against the odds of thirst and hunger, they are now energised by Angada's speech and started searching the Vindhya ranges, over again. While making their search in southern direction, they entered a dark and un-inhibited cave and lost their way as well as the time set by Sugreeva. 

 

As per the legend Swayamprabha, a saintly lady is guarding the cave-palace born out of love and crafted by Maya for the sake of one Hema, an Apsara woman. Indra got infuriated by this and killed him out of jealousy.  Swayamprabha, her lady maid, is guarding this fantastic creation ever since their departure. She acting as their guest, offered fruits and eatables ending the appetite of all the monkeys.  As the time frame set by Sugreeva lapsed already, Swayamprabha using her ascetic powers transported the monkeys from in side the cave, to the beaches of the southern Indian ocean. This exit otherwise would be impossible for for them to get away alive.

 

The time frame of one month fixed by Sugreeva has lapsed and Seetha's where about yet to be ascertained. In the circumstance, Angada suggests to undertake fast unto death as they can not return to Kishkindha, for fear of death in the hands of Sugreeva. Angada especially making a connection of  the past events to his ill-luck, felt Sugreeva will use this chance to eliminate him, as he only caused his father, Vali''s death and wasted no time to usurp his mother, Tara, belying the dharma or  virtue he professes. He then made the other monkeys buy this argument and all together decide to lay their lives by fasting unto death.Thus, Angada casting aspersions on Sugreeva and his ruthless commands, takes such a desperate decision which the other monkeys agreed to.

Hanuman then intervened collecting his political wisdom and decides to adopt the second strategy of the four, namely 1. saama, 2. bEda, 3, dhAna, 4. dandam, as
saama = reconciliation,
dhAna, dhandam = carrot & stick policy are of lesser significance then.
Hanuman strongly felt that :
1. avoiding to go to Kishkinda and establishing a separate kingdom for Angada at Riksha bhilam will add to the fury of Sugreeva more than their failure to locate Seetha. Sugreeva knows all the places they had been and can reach them in no time to settle his wrath.
2. Lakshmana is no less to him to avenge their betrayal to Rama.
3. So Rama  is the only hope to save them all from either self inflicted death or by Sugreeva's Decree and shall therefore go back to Kishkinda and prostrate at the feet of Rama to be excused for their failure.
Temple or Alayam means God's abode where His creations rests with the Creator. The return of the effect to its causal form.
Aa + layam = complete reversal of the effect to the causal form, where the causal form is the Brahman (whole) and the effects are the Soul (part).  i.e. Liberation of the Soul to its purest form. The impurity here is the enslaved Soul in a body of tri-gunas and its liberation to purest form  means all the ingredients and the attributes of the Brahman (whole) are revealed in the Soul (part) in a smaller degree, such that the part is identical to the whole when taken qualitatively and different when taken quantitatively.

RamarpaNam # 428 => 432.

Jai Sri Ram.

Search for Seetha begins :

Dividing his vanara force into group of four, Sugreeva ordered them to set out in all the four directions to search Seetha, assigning

Vinata to the East;

Angada to South;

SusheNa to West &

Sathabala to North.

Their task is to find whether Seetha is alive or not, and if so where and who held Her etc.

While appointing the leaders to the group, Sugreeva did explain them the geographical provinces comprising the lands and oceans, islands and people in these areas. This perhaps is the first ever recorded data available about the Geography of the jambuu dweepa or the present day 'Indian subcontinent'.

To the East the limit is the ''Eastern horizon'' or simply the ''Udaya Giri'', the land of the Rising Sun.

To the South, it extends perhaps up to the abode of Yama, the Death God.

To the West, is the PrAkjothisha Pura or the land of Narakasura and the Arabian Sea and

To the North, is Mt. Kailash, the edge where the road to heaven begins.

The troop which went southward includes Hanuman, Jambava, Neela and others, Angada being its leader. SusheNa, Tara's father headed the troops going west-ward covering the mountains that are situated in the northwest India, as also the Arabian sea down south to it.

The north comprising of the snowy regions of the Yavanas, Kurus and the MandEkars stretch up to the Uttara Kuru region, where the divine province of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva begins. All the troop are given one month's time to find the whereabouts of Seetha.

The legends say that MandEkars are demons, who every day obstruct the progress of the Chariot in which the Sun God patrols the Earth. Lord Brahma, by grant of a boon enabled all the Brahmins fight these demons by offering water oblation. This is the ritual called sandhya vandanam, performed thrice a day, will have the effect of Vajrayuda to finish these demons, such that the Sun God could cruise through the Day. Brahmins perform this ritual every day because the MandEkars survive beyond certain time to try and obstruct but fall once again at the repeat of the rituals by them.

Rama is surprised as to how Sugreeva knowns the many details of lands, countries, rivers, and mountains he explained a short while ago. Sugreeva then admittedly replied saying that during his flight from Vali he acquired all such direct and personal knowledge of earth and its contours.

While assigning the task to Hanuman and Co. Sugreeva gives a word of caution asking them not to visit Thiruvengadam, the abode of Lord Srinivasa, as their sins will end there, causing them to journey towards Paramapadam, instead of proceeding on Rama's work. Ravana obviously for the same reason could not have hidden Seetha there and thus no purpose will be served going over there. This interpolation of faith by Kambar is not part of Valmiki Ramayana.

Hanuman prodding over the happenings, as to why the whole of monkey race should suffer so much in finding the woman of Rama, kept aloof. What could be great about Seetha? he is yet to be convinced.

Re-union of Seetha with Rama is it in their interest? No, in essence it is to grace, we the humans, as revealed by the Azhvars. Their separation is our loss as We have our Sins causing the Lord deny salvation to us. But PirAtti, acting as recommending authority - PurushakAra bhootai helps the Lord ignore or over look the same. Just to make Hanuman realise this, Rama made Hanuman carry His ring to Seetha, as His memorially.

Hanuman then joins others in pursuit of Seetha. Sugreeva, to encourage all the vanara in their mission insisted that the search for Seetha should happen :

1. With all sincerity at every place where light and air could access;

2. Minding the excellence and honour involved in accomplishing the assignment;

3. Bearing in mind the gratitude owed to Rama &

4. To help Dharma re-establish once again.

The monkeys shouting slogans of victory over Ravana dispersed in the respective directions assigned to them.

AzhvargaL avathariththu thiryak jAthi veeRu petRathu. Chakravarthi Thirumagan avathariththu vAnara jAthi veeRu petRathu.

RamarpaNam # 433 =>440.

Jai Sri Ram.

Angada's ''nirvedam'' and Anjaneya's ''bedam'' :

The chief of monkey army who went to the east, north, and west directions all returned to inform that search for Seetha failed leaving the hope for Sugreeva on Hanuman and his party who have gone in the direction in which Seetha was carried away.

Angada and others making search in the Vindhya mountain could not meet with success as well. When their search ended in futility, Angada with his speech needed to encourage the vanara said :

1. There is no use losing heart in the middle of the search and the need of the hour being

2. Firmness of mind

3. Skillful approach and

4. un-stoppable attitude against odds of defeat or failure.

Rather all good acts should have happy ending as other wise Dharma will perish, with no takers. Lack of success thus far is due to lack of whole hearted effort. At the least to avoid Sugreeva's wrath, all the monkeys shall implement his directive, he desired.

Against the odds of thirst and hunger, they are now energised by Angada's speech and started searching the Vindhya ranges, over again. While making their search in southern direction, they entered a dark and un-inhibited cave and lost their way as well as the time set by Sugreeva.

As per the legend Swayamprabha, a saintly lady is guarding the cave-palace born out of love and crafted by Maya for the sake of one Hema, an Apsara woman. Indra got infuriated by this and killed him out of jealousy. Swayamprabha, her lady maid, is guarding this fantastic creation ever since their departure. She acting as their guest, offered fruits and eatables ending the appetite of all the monkeys. As the time frame set by Sugreeva lapsed already, Swayamprabha using her ascetic powers transported the monkeys from in side the cave, to the beaches of the southern Indian ocean. This exit otherwise would be impossible for for them to get away alive.

The time frame of one month fixed by Sugreeva has lapsed and Seetha's where about yet to be ascertained. In the circumstance, Angada suggests to undertake fast unto death as they can not return to Kishkindha, for fear of death in the hands of Sugreeva. Angada especially making a connection of the past events to his ill-luck, felt Sugreeva will use this chance to eliminate him, as he only caused his father, Vali''s death and wasted no time to usurp his mother, Tara, belying the dharma or virtue he professes. He then made the other monkeys buy this argument and all together decide to lay their lives by fasting unto death.Thus, Angada casting aspersions on Sugreeva and his ruthless commands, takes such a desperate decision which the other monkeys agreed to.

Hanuman then intervened collecting his political wisdom and decides to adopt the second strategy of the four, namely 1. saama, 2. bEda, 3, dhAna, 4. dhandam, as
saama = reconciliation,
dhAna, dhandam = carrot & stick policy are of lesser significance then.
Hanuman strongly felt that :
1. avoiding to go to Kishkinda and establishing a separate kingdom for Angada at Riksha bhilam will add to the fury of Sugreeva more than their failure to locate Seetha. Sugreeva knows all the places they had been and can reach them in no time to settle his wrath.
2. Lakshmana is no less to him to avenge their betrayal to Rama.
3. So Rama is the only hope to save them all from either self inflicted death or by Sugreeva's Decree and shall therefore go back to Kishkinda and prostrate at the feet of Rama to be excused for their failure.
Temple or Alayam means God's abode where His creations rests with the Creator. The return of the effect to its causal form.
Aa + layam = complete reversal of the effect to the causal form, where the causal form is the Brahman (whole) and the effects are the Soul (part). i.e. Liberation of the Soul to its purest form. The impurity here is the enslaved Soul in a body of tri-gunas and its liberation to purest form means all the ingredients and the attributes of the Brahman (whole) are revealed in the Soul (part) in a smaller degree, such that the part is identical to the whole when taken qualitatively and different when taken quantitatively

RamarpaNam # 421 => 427.

Jai Sri Ram.

Rama reproves but pardons as Sugreeva apologises for the delay :

Lakshmana's anger is justified in one sense that when Rama is aggrieved and wilting under the strain of Seetha's separation, Sugreeva lavished in new found Royal luxuries enjoying his re-union with Ruma, his first wife and Tara, the newly wed one. Tara who is asked to step out to appease Lakshmana, succeeds as well in tranquilising his fury, like a ferocious serpent tamed by a charmer. The digging words with which She countered Lakshmana's anger are interesting to elaborate.

''sel idaththu kAppan sinam kAppAn'' ..so goes a Tamil proverb which means that the Mighty absolving with restraint, the mistake of a Weak is a virtue. What is illegitimate, according to her is Lakshmana's anger and not Sugreeva's sensual indulgence. Weakness for wine and women is as bad as misplaced anger. They are the twin children of ''rajas'' quality. Sharp intelligence combined with good self-counselling will help conquer both.

When sages like Vishvamitra faltered on both counts, why to speak of monkeys, the tree climbers typical of Waverly thought and deeds. Sage Vishvamitra, his Tutor, rescinded ascetic dharma facinated by a woman named KruthAji and begot Shakunthala through Menaka. His fury for the sake of securing Nandhini, the heavenly cow from Vashita are the in-famous legends about him.

Lakshmana's angry postures, evoked fear in the she-monkeys gathered around while Tara wanted that to be directed against the Rakshasas who really deserve his punishment.

Lakshmana always remains in the company of Rama and how come he is away from Rama so long, She asked. This made Lakshmana rise his head in be wilderness, to have a look at Tara, who stood there in widows' garb. According to Kambar she is not remarried to Sugreeva and so Lakshmana's thoughts travelled back to Ayodhya immediately bringing the three widowed mothers to his sight, languishing in sorrow after the Kings's death..

According to Sage Valmiki however, Tara is re-married to Sugreeva after Vali's death, as is permitted in their custom. She props up before Lakshmana straight from her husband's couch, without out even setting to place her dress and other belongings on person. Perhaps she considers Lakshmana her another son and hence was not bothered to present herself as to a stranger.

She tried to offer fruits and millets with honey to Lakshmana with cajoling words of praise. Rama is bound by His promise to His mother but Lakshmana has no such commitment. So he can enliven his life, she suggested. Praising his self-less service to Rama She also said that he is unique in that.

Sugreeva is neither callous nor ungrateful. He is actually waiting for the arrival of the monkeys enemas from all directions, for which words have been sent already. He will rather forsake Tara, Angada or even Ruma but never his words of help under friendship to Rama. Vanara armies on earth are coming for confronting Ravana in the battle and hence the delay, She concluded.

Lakshmana however is unmoved of the words of praise nor was he lured by the offer of fruits to him. His resolve in that is ''to eat or taste things not offered to Rama are but dog bitten waste''.

Lord Krishna in His Divine Song, Gita emphasises the same thought and declares that He who eats things not offered to one's Deity, eats sin unto himself.

Seeing Lakshmana return to normal self, Sugreeva's fear as well his urge for woman died. Offering his resolve to set in motion the search campain, he explained that the whole monkey race spread over the hills of Mandira, Himachal, Kailash, Vindhya and Pandu peeks as well as the one, as strong as elephants, from Anjana Giri are all ordered to assemble in Kishkinda. ''This is my order'', Sugreeva proclaimed.

Sugreeva is known for his harsh punishments in that he for one when convinced will enquire the guilt ordering capital punishment in the first place.

Meanwhile Lakshmana along with Sugreeva and his select ministers seated on a palanquin and all the royal paraphernalia accompanying, paraded to Mt. Prasnavana, where Rama is staying, awaitedly.

Sugreeva, gracing Rama's blessings informed the preparedness to search Seetha and sought His orders as to how and where to proceed. Rama confining Himself to seeker of help, wished that Sugreeva command his army, to a meaningful end. On assertaining that Sugreeva is at his job, Rama is pleased and praised him for his efforts, saying that the Sun and Moon are obliged to do their duty for the sake of grateful friends like him.

As they were talking in this manner, information from various sources started pouring in as to which group under whose leadership monkeys are arriving with their number and strength detailed one after another. The entire place is then filled with various types of monkeys from all over the earth, each one vying to dedicate in the service of Rama.

RamarpaNam 416 => 420.

Jai Sri Ram :

Lakshmana's fury fizzles out at Tara's sight :

As the seasonal clouds campaign ended, the sky cleared with its planets and stars revealing. Slumberous Sugreeva however failed to catch up with the drift of time inviting Lakshman at his door steps.

Sugreeva is disturbed at the thunderous noise which Lakshmana made with his bowstring and gestured to his ministers to explain what evoked the unfounded anger of Lakshmana.

Hanuma informs Sugreeva that causing delay is the fault of Sugreeva and that Raghava's bitter words are endurable as He is the one whose wife is abducted and furthermore he is magnanimous in giving the kingdom to him.

When at fault, to cover up with anger, argument or escapism does not merit, especially to a person like Rama. To seek His pardon with hands folded is the right approach.....thus advised Hanuman.

To bow in humility is the up-right way at the Altar of God. His iron hand of punishment will turn a provident one, when we join our hands in obeisance.

'''Am'' jalayathi ithi Anajali:'

Sugreeva is advised to pray for the mercy of Lakshmana personally with adjoined palms. But before that Tara is asked to go before him to mellow his anger. Once his heart and senses are pacified, Sugreeva says he will be able to meet Lakshmana, the destroyer of real enemies.

On seeing Tara approach him, Lakshmana stood motionless with his head cast down. The reason is that the real valorous heroes will not exhibit their warring acumen before palace bound ladies.

Kambar goes one step further in saying that Lakshmana stood bashful like a bride in the midst of many-a-in-laws. That apart, her appearance in widow's garb quickly reminded of his widowed mother at Ayodhya.

Tara quipped with due concliation, the cause for Lakshmana's anger. Lakshmana pointing out that Sugreeva has not fulfilled the aspirations of a righteous friend, has committed a blunder returning dishonesty for probity to Rama. Tara in reply said curtly that it will be apt of Lakshmana to tolerate Sugreeva's fault because he is desirous of endeavouring their task. Guided by her affectionately he then entered Sugreeva's chambers.

Infuriate Lakshmana spoke to Sugreeva who is seated with his wife Ruma at his side amid other vanara females, like the star studded moon in the sky. Digging at his fake and illusive utterances to help Rama, Lakshmana made a veiled threat asking him to abide by his commitment reminding that the path by which slain Vali had gone is not curtained yet.

These are the repeat words of Rama said to Lakshmana, when he started setting off to Kishkinda highly infuriated. Then Rama cooled him saying :

Strength should not be tested at the weak and poor.

Despite ability, seeking peace is strength.

Raging destruction is not manliness and to put down anger by mercy is the wanton acumen.

Anger should be meaningful and rather should serve the purpose than spoiling it.

Anger in retard flares up wrath while a broad smile can win many a heart.

Rama's intent here is for Lakshmana to educate Sugreeva than to eliminate him. Educating in the sense to make him realise that ''a help in time, however small, will measure manifold than a big one, however special but mistimed''.