Editorial
The Rama Ideal
अनृतम् न उक्त पूर्वम् मे न च वक्ष्ये कदाचन |
एतत् ते प्रतिजानामि सत्येन एव शपामि अहम् || Valmiki Ramayana, 4. 7. 22
“Neither in the past nor in the present have I ever uttered a falsehood. And shall never will.” This was one of the numerous qualities of Sri Rama. He left everything, his own rightful throne, and went to the forest just so that his father’s promise to Kaikeyi would be fulfilled. If he had not gone to the forest, his father, Dasharatha, would be proven a liar. So Sri Ramachandra’s maturity and truthfulness are beyond compare.
As a ruler, as a husband, as a brother and as a friend, Sri Rama showed the world what the ideal is. Over and above all, he showed the way God loves his devotees and protects them. Rama would do anything to save Mother Sita from her terrible situation. He would do anything to save his brother’s life. As a life-long friend he helped Sugriva and Vibhishana to overcome evil and restore peace in their respective States. He showed to the world what respecting one’s parents means, what keeping word means, and what dependence on the Divine means. With faith in God, the impossible becomes possible. Crossing the ocean and winning war over the highly technological race called rakshasas, using just trees and stones, was possible due to such faith.
Ramo vigrahavan dharmah. Rama was the personification of dharma. Dharma means “to do”. To do selflessly, only for the good of others or to please God. Rama showed to the world what dharmic living means. He never breathed for himself. All his life was sacrifice.
Therefore Rama is the ideal of all races of human beings, and a guide to everyone seeking knowledge. And Rama is the ideal for all time to come.
What about Mother Sita, the all-suffering and glorious Mother? Swami Vivekananda called Her the goddess of Bharata. She shall forever remain the ideal of womanhood.
आदित्य इव तेजस्वी लोककान्तश्शशी यथा।।5.34.28।।
राजा सर्वस्य लोकस्य देवो वैश्रवणो यथा।
विक्रमेणोपपन्नश्च यथा विष्णुर्महायशाः।।5.34.29।।
रक्षिता जीवलोकस्य स्वजनस्याभिरक्षिता।
रक्षिता स्वस्य वृत्तस्य धर्मस्य च परन्तपः।।5.35.10।।
These are some of the words of Hanuman when he meets Mother Sita. Hanuman explains the qualities of Sri Rama as the protector of the whole world, as truthful and just, as without anger or pride, as divinity incarnate.
Swami Sunirmalananda