Character & Personality:

Hinduism

Rama

A Hindu Symbol of Excellence in Every Pursuit

Rama's significance as an avatara lies in the fact that he developed the quality of sattva in humanity. Sattva is the noblest of the three fundamental qualities, characterized as harmoniousness, uprightness, peaceableness, and composure.

The True Essence of Rama

By Girish Bhandari

Rama is a symbol of sacrifice, a model of brotherhood, an ideal administrator, and a warrior unparalleled. The term Rama Rajya stands for the most exalted concept of a welfare state. Rama was not only divine; he was invested with the highest values of an enriched tradition started by Raghu. The essence of Rama is therefore the essence of excellence in every pursuit.

As an avatara Rama had to enact his 'leela' in human form. As a child he let Kaushalya enjoy the divine pleasure of treating him as a child, but he wanted her to share a cosmic vision of his real self. Goswami Tulsidas describes that once Kaushalya bathed and fed Rama and placed him in his cradle. Then she prepared prasad and offered it to the Kuldevata in the puja room. She went and checked if the child was sleeping. He was. She went to complete the puja and found Rama there, eating the prasad.

Kaushalya ran back to the cradle to find the child was asleep. But when she returned to the puja room, he was there, eating the prasad. She was dumbfounded. Then Rama revealed to her his swarupa, the universe itself, where birth and death, time and space, causality and effect were a seamless One. A bewildered Kaushalya prayed that she be allowed to see Rama as a child and nothing more. Infinitely compassionate, the Lord consented.

The principle of humanity is yet another essence of being Rama. When the ways of crossing the ocean were being discussed, and it was suggested that Rama should make the ocean dry up, he resisted. With great humility Rama initiated a puja to placate the sea god to allow for an opening. Three days passed but the sea god was unrelenting. Then Rama decided to use his divine astras, and dry up the ocean. This made the god appear before him. With folded hands he entreated Rama not to dry the ocean, as it would mean death to all sea creatures. The compassion of Rama made the sea god suggest the expertise of Nala and Neela to bridge the ocean.

Rama, before crossing the ocean, installed the Shivalingam at Rameswaram, and said: "The Mahakaal is dear to me". Once he defeated Ravana, Rama anointed Vibheeshana as the king. Traditionally the victor had the right to the riches and the kingdom, but Rama was uninterested.

It has been said of Rama's reign in Ayodhya, "... it was such that no suffering of a mental, bodily or or physical nature afflicts in citizens. There is no animus and every one is conscious of his duty. There is no poverty, no untimely death, no want. The forests are lush and the ecosystem healthy."

Rama's philosophy was that the ultimate Dharma was doing good to the people. There was no greater adharma than causing others to suffer. When people do not perform heir duties according to their dharma, they do not get the right results. Out of ignorance, they blame the cosmic scheme for their misfortunes. Rama in the Uttarkand speaks of action that seeks no reward, conduct which seeks no fruit, and faith which seeks no expectation.

Despite his divine nature, Rama the prince requested Sage Vasistha to explain to him the nature of the universe and the real truth of 'Being'. This great treatise, known as the Yoga Vasistha or the Maharamayana, is one of the clearest expositions of the core of Vedanta, holding that only Consciousness, the real truth, is the essence of Brahman.