दनुजवनकृशानुं ज्ञानिनामग्रगण्यम् .
सकलगुणनिधानं वानराणामधीशं
रघुपतिप्रियभक्तं वातजातं नमामि...
(O! Adobe of great strength, whose body resembles golden Sumeru mountain, one who can transform into a huge fire to perish the demonly forest, foremost learned and treasure of all good qualities, King of all monkeys, dearest devotee of lord Shree Ram, I bow before you the son of Vayu- The god of winds)
Getting nostalgic during a recent family gathering, we relived our childhood days. I remembered my grandfather who was very devoted disciple of lord Hanuman and used to recite Sunder khand- a part of great epic written by Goswami Tulsidas, on every Tuesday evening. His recitation of Sunder Khand became utmost important during the time when things were not conducive for our family. He told us stories of lord Hanuman, his friendliness with his disciples and how he showers his blessings to those who remember and recite his great deeds with reverence. We all approbated our grandfather’s devotion and later on experienced the change it had brought in our lives.
Perhaps, in every Hindu family of north India especially those living in Ganga –Saryu region, Ramcharitra Manas is so much interwoven with the day to day life that many times it becomes inconspicuous. The main reason of its preponderance among the masses over other existing form of Ramayana is its easy language which is Awadhi, a local dialect of Hindi and its magnanimous poetry, glorifying the life and times of King Rama. I’d read this epic in parts and there are many portions recited by us as prayers without realizing that these are extracted from Manas.
In Ramcharitra Manas, Lord Shiva narrated the story of incarnation of lord Vishnu as Ram in the kingdom of Ayhodhaya to Uma or Parbati. He told, “When bad and evil forces were dominating the earth, then all human beings, gods, sages and even mother earth, tired of the suppression and atrocities, went to lord Vishnu, praying him to save them from the prevailing anarchy and widespread cruelty.” They all prayed:
जय जय सुरनायक जन सुखदायक प्रनतपाल भगवंता।
गो द्विज हितकारी जय असुरारी सिधुंसुता प्रिय कंता॥
पालन सुर धरनी अद्भुत करनी मरम न जानइ कोई।
जो सहज कृपाला दीनदयाला करउ अनुग्रह सोई॥
(O! king of Gods, Source of happiness for the masses, Savior of his disciples, Victory is Yours’. You being defender of the learned and righteous and the destroyer of the evil. O! Favorite of Mother Lakshmi, victory is Yours’. You’re Guardian of all Gods and the Earth; your deeds are Miraculous, whose secrets are beyond anyone’s understanding. O! Lord you are by nature Kind hearted and Compassionate thus I request you to bless us.)
Today the citizens of this country are fed up with the prevailing system. Corruption has become a menace in the society and we are placed among the world’s most corrupt countries. The common urban population which constitutes well educated professionals, businessman, entrepreneurs and others find it very hard to believe the manner in which the heavy taxes levied on them are being spent.
Most of the urban people are turning out in large nos in various mass-movements charioted by likes of Anna Hajare and Baba Ramdev, carrying tri-colours in their hands, chanting anti -government slogans, holding ply cards because of this resentment. Do we inherit a non functional society and a primitive culture which only look for saviors and incarnations to rescue them from the clutches of the demons ???. Anna Hajare and Baba Ramdev very well fit into this image. These are the righteous person who can guide the masses to overcome the rule of corrupt. But does this urban population really vote in the General elections ???? A large percentage does not......
As in the past, the governments are formed from the rural votes, those people who are not exposed to this mass movement, directly or indirectly through TV channels (a large percentage in rural India still watches Doordarshan) shall certainly go for voting. A large percentage of the population whose minds can be swinged overnight by a 100 rupee note or a TV set or by a mobile phone shall certainly cast its vote during the election.
Lets wait for best to happen in 2014.....
Few days back I participated in Ram Charitra Manas recitation program. It gives immense pleasure to hear this great epic written by Goswami Tulsidas. Every verse is written in such a beautiful manner that our mind flies into the life and times of Ramchandraji.
Raja Ram, a just and magnanimous ruler of Avadh has always been considered transcendentally ideal in our society and his kingdom was epitome of lawfulness, justice, human values and happiness. In Ramcharitra Manas, “Ram Rajya” or a welfare state is depicted where everybody follows a code of righteous living and is more or less happy, meeting all their essential needs. All citizens lived with mutual brotherhood and harmony and follow the path of religion as shown in the Vedas:
राम राज बैंठें त्रेलोका। हरषित भए गए सब सोका।।
बयरु न कर काहू सन कोई। राम प्रताप बिषमता खोई।।
दैहिक दैविक भौतिक तापा। राम राज नहिं काहुहि ब्यापा।।
सब नर करहिं परस्पर प्रीती। चलहिं स्वधर्म निरत श्रुति नीती।।
Indian civilization has a documented record of a model welfare state which existed during the reign of Raja Ram. The name and fame of this kingdom travelled in all directions and influenced other civilizations also. Several countries especially those located towards South East Asia had tried to understand and replicate this concept more seriously than us.
Alas... we are not even thinking or replenishing it......
We all should feel very privileged to be born and brought up in the land of lord Rama. We just don’t want to recite his glory in an overnight Ramayana Recitation program but to see and believe that his principles are being implemented in reality. Throughout the program I was thinking, can we even dream of re-establishing such a welfare state in our country?? In present scenario it is ridiculous to even think of something like that.
There are millions of citizens of this country who had read, understood and cherished this great epic. They all know and understand the meaning of Ram Rajya or welfare state. Then why today’s politicians could make fool of them? Why accountability cannot be fixed for elected representatives of the people of India?
This civilization had witnessed a magnanimous ruler in the form of Rama who had brought glory to this great country. In the words of Tulsidas, “Bade bhag manus tan pava, sur durlabh sab granthin gava” - After great luck one gets the human body ...... so let us devote it mesmerizing the glory of Lord Rama.
Happy Independence Day!!