EMBODYING MARAYADA PURUSHOTTAM SHRI RAM: LESSONS FOR MODERN ERA

The inauguration of the divine Ram Mandir in Ayodhya on January 22 brought tears to the eyes of many. After a wait of nearly 500 years, Shri Ram had finally returned to the holy land of Ayodhya. His life and his journey are a wellspring of inspiration to millions of people worldwide. The present-day quandaries of existence are making it progressively challenging for one to stay concentrated and enthused. However, by drawing lessons from his principles and enacting those, we can cast off all our worries and transform our lives.

The first and foremost is his righteousness (dharma). Shri Ram always treads on the path of morality. He sticks to the principles of dharma by fulfilling his duties as a son, brother, husband, and king to the limits of his capability. He is ready to put his life at stake to keep his word. His willingness to spend fourteen years of exile in the wilderness to honour his father’s word is a testament to this statement. He keeps dharma over everything else and would go to great lengths to preserve it. He was willing to make tough choices even if they could affect him adversely. A manifestation of this can be seen when he parts with his wife, Maa Sita, to fulfil his duties as a righteous king. A similar occurrence takes place when he gives the death penalty to his beloved brother, Lakshman, to stay true to his word. His experiences teach us that the path of dharma may be full of obstacles and hardships, but one must continue to follow it since it holds immense importance in one’s life.

Shri Ram exudes patience and wisdom. These qualities guide him in taking rational actions in complex situations. For instance, when he is confronted by Bhagwan Parashurama, who is not happy with the breaking of Bhagwan Shiva’s Pinaka during Maa Sita’s ‘Swayam Vara’, he maintains his composure and pacifies him. It was then that Shri Parashurama realised that he was the seventh avatar of Bhagwan Vishnu. In an era where everyone demands quick results, the virtue of patience becomes all the more necessary. In the modern fast-paced society, not only does it provide a bit of breathing room, but also goes miles in taking thoughtful and sound decisions.

Shri Ram is also known for his forgiveness, even to those who have done wrong to him in the past. This is made evident when he is ready to forgive Ravan for all his sins, including the abduction of Maa Sita, in the middle of their intense battle. This exemplifies the limits of his purity. In the modern-day scenario, a large portion of the population often holds grudges against people who have wronged them in the past. This has led to the worsening of several relations and nurtured feelings of hatred and repugnance among them. Moreover, it is common now to see one having a strained relationship with their family members as a result of these factors. Shri Ram sets an example for such individuals and implicitly demonstrates that self-realisation is the greatest form of punishment. It may be true that someone has done wrong to one earlier, but if they truly feel guilty about it, it is wiser to show them leniency.

Shri Ram exhibits great courage and fearlessness. He is not afraid to stand up against any wrongdoing. Although he chooses ahimsa over waging battles, he does not hesitate in lifting his bow against someone who is inflicting damage to truth and the principles of dharma.

Following his footsteps, one needs to step up and raise a voice against the maleficence of several others, who do not even feel ashamed of committing such immoral actions. Not doing so will, and has, only resulted in such instances increasing at an alarming rate. It has presented a pressing need for individuals who, like Shri Ram, are not afraid to confront those who commit offences.

Despite his indomitable power and courage, Shri Ram has a compassionate attitude towards those in need. For example, during the creation of the bridge to Lanka, several other animals from nearby were helping the Vaanar Sena. Among them was a little squirrel, who was carrying sand and small pebbles in its little hands, trying to contribute to the noble process. Seeing this, a lot of the other animals exploded with laughter, causing the little devoted being to become sad and dejected. However, Shri Ram takes it in his hands and conveys that it, like the other creatures, too is a creation of God, and holds no less significance in the creation process. This serves as a learning that one must keep in mind at all times. The class and status of someone do not decide their worth. Everyone is equal, and their deeds judge their value.

Therefore, we must maintain an even-handed approach with everyone.

Even with a background of a royal family, Shri Ram maintains humility throughout his journey. He remains down-to-earth and does not feel shy to reach out to people who may be looked down upon by others and shower his blessings upon them. As an illustration, one of the most beautiful impressions of Shri Ram comes from the story of Shabari ke Jhoothe Ber. Shabari was considered an untouchable. She was a great devotee of Shri Ram and endured a lengthy wait for him to arrive at her doorstep. Every day, she would decorate her home, and pick out ber from the trees for Shri Ram in anticipation of his arrival. In the process of selecting the ber, she would bite a part of them, to ensure that none of the sour ones were chosen. She is elated when Shri Ram finally arrives. Even though the ber had been bitten by a supposed ‘untouchable’, Shri Ram accepts them, setting an example for generations to follow. Sadly, the concept of untouchability has not fully vanished even in the contemporary world. One should take a cue from him, and work together with other like-minded individuals to eliminate such practices and beliefs.

Shri Ram is the epitome of devotion for one. His commitment to attending to his family is demonstrated prominently in various episodes in his life. He holds his family members above himself and is ready to push himself to the brink without complaining to fulfil their needs and desires. His devotion to the divine keeps pace as well. This is demonstrated in various

instances. At the time of Maa Sita’s Swayam Vara, he performs a pradakshina of the divine Pinaka and prays to Mahadev, before lifting it with ease. In another occurrence, he sat down to pray to the ocean God, when he sought to locate a method to reach Lanka along with the Vaanar sena. He is also said to have installed a shivling in the South when he worshipped Bhagwan Shiva to expiate the sin of Brahmahatya while killing Ravan (who was a Brahmin). He acts as a guiding light for a devotee. An honourable person has the same respect for their near and dear ones as Shri Ram and serves them without expecting anything in return. One who holds their faith close to them and stays true to the path of duty is not affected by the ebbs and flows of life, and ultimately succeeds in breaching their targets.

Shri Ram's qualities cannot be adequately depicted in just a handful of words. It takes unwavering resolve and dedication to walk the path of dharma without getting affected by the challenges that life poses in front of one. Shri Ram’s journey teaches us that one should follow dharma without anticipating their actions to bear fruit. Moreover, for one who does so, the practice of adhering to dharma becomes a fruit in itself. People can derive a myriad of solutions to their problems by adopting the lifestyle modelled by Shri Ram. The principles, beliefs and views that Shri Ram holds for life continue to inspire many others who idolise him. His divine deeds and demeanour make him a Marayada Purushottam. It may be difficult for us to adopt his mode of living completely, but even if we manage to do it to some extent, this world will become a much better place to live in.