Sri Rama & Sri Rama Rajya

Sri Rama & Sri Rama Rajya
The Rama is not only for chanting but the role model for modern youth. The team builder, the team leader, the dharma, one who exemplified various relationships, the incarnation of almighty, the hope, the soul of people of Bharat.

Sri Rama can be simply described as a man who displays perfect moral as well as social behaviour. Sri Rama, in the words of Swami Vivekananda, is “the embodiment of truth, of morality, the ideal son, the ideal husband and above all, the ideal king”. He is a symbol of the victory of right over the evil. Lord Rama characterizes how a man should fulfil his moral commitments and should strictly follow his limits so that social order can be maintained. It is precisely due to this fact; he is known as “Marayada Puroshattam” or “The man of limits”.

Dr Hariom Pawar, the famous poet from Bulandshahr, Uttar Pradesh wrote a popular poem. Its excerpts are as under:
“…राम मिलेंगे मर्यादा से जीने में; राम मिलेंगे बजरंगी के सीने में; राम मिले हैं वचनबद्ध वनवासों में; राम मिले हैं केवट के विश्वासों में; राम मिले अनुसुइया की मानवता को;
राम मिले सीता जैसी पावनता को; राम मिले ममता की माँ कौशल्या को; राम मिले हैं पत्थर बनी आहिल्या को; राम नहीं मिलते मंदिर के फेरों में; राम मिले शबरी के झूठे बेरों में…”
 
“Ram would meet by living with dignity; Ram would meet in the heart of Sri Hanuman; Ram would meet in determined inhabitants of forests; Ram met in the beliefs of Kevat; Ram met Anusuiya's humanity; Ram met in Sita-like purity; Ram met to mother of love, Kaushalya; Ram met to stone-made Ahilya; Ram does not meet in visits to temples; Ram met in the partly eaten berries of Shabri”
Ram Rajya have been the symbol of good governance, progress, prosperity, and peace - the ideal form of governance. A study of ancient scriptures tells us that during Rama's rule, there was no room for pain, poverty, disease, grief, or discrimination. He provided immediate justice and the poor were not marginalised. Truth and non-violence were the creed people followed, without coercion, and out of free moral responsibility and self-discipline. Ram's own behaviour carved that consciousness in the hearts of the subjects. According to the concept of Ram Rajya, the king ought to practice austerity, generosity, kindness, be just, welfare-oriented and capable of caring and planning for his subjects.
 
Challenges faced by India today:

1. Selfishness in relationships
2. Discrimination based on caste, money, urban-rural divide etc.
3. Terrorism 
4. Growing Population
5. Erosion of value system in the society

Sri Rama met these challenges in his time which set ideals for coming generations. These ideals are most relevant today. These are discussed with His life examples.
 
Selfishness in Relationship:

1. Selfishness is gradually becoming centre of relationships these days. Can anybody imagine that the person (Sri Rama) who is going to be coronated as king of kingdom Ajodhya and everybody is in favour, decides instantly to sacrifice all luxuries & comforts without hesitation and go in exile to keep the promises of his father to his step mother.  King of Ajodhya, his wife & brother who were used to the luxuries, lived for fourteen years in forests and slept on the floor in huts and fed forest products.
2. When Bharata went to forest to meet with Sri Rama and to bring Him back to Ajodhya. Sri Lakshamna was alarmed to see Bharata coming with huge procession and he suspected Bharata was coming to finish the unfinished work of his jealous mother who was responsible for Sri Rama’s exile. But Sri Rama believed in his love. Bharata argued with Rama to return to Ajodhya as emperor, but the latter steadfastly refused on the grounds that such a deed would be unrighteous. Bharata gave up his efforts to take Rama back to Ajodhya before the fourteen years’ exile elapsed. Though deeply disappointed, Bharata returned to Ajodhya after receiving a promise from Sri Rama that he would return promptly at the end of the fourteen years’ exile and ascend the throne. He vowed to Rama that if Rama did not return immediately when the fourteen years elapsed, he would give his life up by immolation.

 
Discrimination:
Sri Rama set an example to treat all equally.

1. Despite born with silver spoon, they stayed for fourteen years in total deprivation without any grudge. Sri Rama along with Sri Lakshamna & Ma Sita visited a number of sages and other holy men during the exile and also befriended with a deprived and poor forest people.
2. When Sri Rama, Sri Lakshmana, and Ma Sita needed to cross the river Ganges during fourteen years to stay in forests, they approached a kewat (Boatman, of lower caste) to ferry them across the river. The kewat promptly replied that he would ferry them only if Sri Rama allowed him to wash his feet with water as his feet had magic dust that converted anything they touched to a woman (in reference to the Ahilya episode). Sri Rama understood his intentions, and smilingly agreed. Kewat washed Rama's feet with extreme devotion and then invited them on the boat. When they reached the opposite bank, Sita tried to pay Kewat with her ring, as they had no money but kewat refused to accept fare and said that people belonging to the same profession do not charge each other. When Sri Rama did not understand the meaning of his words, kewat explained that while he ferried people from one bank of the river to the other, Sri Rama, the avatar of Lord Vishnu, ferried people from this world to the other side called moksha or liberation from the cycle of birth or death.
3. While walking through Dandakarnya (Bastar, jagdalpur etc.) forest during exile, Sri Rama killed many rakshasas (demons) who were harassing the rishis (scientists) such as Viradha, khara, Dushana. Thus, he won the confidence of forest people and the sages who provided Sri Rama secret powerful mantras (formulae of dreaded ammunitions for winning the battles).
4. When Ravana abducted Ma Sita and taken to Lanka, Sri Rama took help of one and sundry. Sri Rama took lead of Ma Sita from Jatayu (eagle), advices from monster kabandha, befriend with Sugriva, the vanras king who was living at Rishyamukha Mountains, and sought the help Sri Hanuman, Sugriva, Jamvan, etc.in rescuing Sita. Sri Rama did not take the help of any Kingdom around. Instead, he relied on Vanras army to secure Ma Sita.
5. Sri Rama listened the plight of Sugriva, “how his brother Vali is chasing to kill him without any fault.” Sugriva was keen on regaining his kingdom and family. Sri Rama slayed Vali and gained the confidence of Sugriva. Besides, Sri Rama explained dying Vali the reasons for killing him which satisfied Vali. Dying Vali asked Sri Rama to take care of his son Angad.
6. When Vibhishana was scolded by Ravana and asked him to leave, he sought sanctuary on lotus feet of Sri Rama. Sugriva and others were apprehensive about the intentions of Vibhishana. But Rama argued “when one comes to me for refuge, I cannot reject him.” This is dharma.  It illustrates the doctrine that Sri Rama accepts all who in absolute surrender seek shelter in his feet, regardless of their merits and demerits. Sri Rama accepted Vibhishana, the brother of Ravana and crowned him as king of Lanka and performed abhisheka with seawater, even before winning over Lanka. Shabari's hermitage was located on the banks of Lake Pampa, Kerala. When Rama and Lakshmana finally arrived at the hermitage, she was ecstatic and washed their feet. She offered them the berries she had collected the other day as she had nothing else to offer, but in her zeal, she tasted each berry herself first to make sure they were sweet. When she realized that she was offering Rama half eaten fruit, she was ashamed, but Rama ate them and told her that it was her love and devotion that mattered and not her situation in the world or what she offered.

 
Terrorism:
These days different form of terrorism is on rise which is impacting social and national security. Terrorism during the time of Sri Rama was also prevalent.  When Sri Rama was less than sixteen years old and not even completed the studies, rishi Vishvamitra demanded his help to kill the immensely strong rakshasas named Tadaka, Maricha and Subahu. They were harassing rishis by destroying their Yajnas. Raja Dasaratha, who was initially hesitant but later permitted Sri Rama and Sri Lakshamna to go along with rishi Vishvamitra to protect both rishis and their Yagnas. Sri Rama obeyed the directions of his father and proceeded to terrible forest along with his brother Sri Lakshamna and rishi Vishvamitra and slayed the rakshasas. Later, during fourteen years’ exile, Sri Rama killed many Rakshasas such as Viradha, khara, Dushana, Meghnath, Ravana etc. to protect the innocent citizens.
 
Growing Population:
In the olden times, people especially kings were generally holding more than one wife. Even the father of Sri Rama, Dasratha was having three wives. In those days, Sri Rama vowed to marry only once.
 
Sri Rama married with Ma Sita and had great love for his wife. He resisted any temptation that could come in the way of his love for his wife. He taught the way of life which eliminated crime against women. When demoness Shurpanakha disguises as a woman to seduce Rama, then stalks and harasses Rama's wife Sita after Rama refuses her. After Ravana was killed Mandodari came to Sri Rama and said, she has found one quality in Sri Rama that even the shadow of a woman other than his wife should not touch Him. Ravana, on the other hand, was willing to sacrifice so many lives in his attempt at making another man's wife his. Therein lies the difference. That one quality of Sri Rama has led to His victory, says Mandodari.
 
Erosion in value system:
India is facing the menace of corruption, dishonesty, violence, and deceit. The incidents of rape are increasing, corruption is entrenched at all the levels and violence is becoming acceptable in our society. It is here where we need Sri Rama again with us to tell us that it is his character that we need to emulate today. Sri Rama established a sound judicial system which ensured that every person is happy under his rule all times. Sri Rama was a selfless king who thought of his people before thinking about himself.          Tulsidas mentioned that in Ram Rajya, no one suffered at physically, spiritually and bodily. Everyone lived in harmony with affection towards each other while performing their own duties as described in the scriptures. All the four limbs of the Dharma – Truth, Purity, Compassion & Charity were fulfilled.