Watching Ramayana With A Difference
It’s not that I am watching Ramayana for the first time...have watched it almost two decades ago.
Memories still comes like a fresh breeze from those childhood days. It drags me to nostalgic street of the childhood when watching this epic with parents and my sibling was quite an accomplishment done with great sincerity and pride. Keenly awaiting for its telecast every Sunday morning at 9 was truly an experience which still reigns our memory lane quiet significantly. The deserted streets at that very hour every Sunday morning was evidently ample enough about the huge popularity of the show. Memories still lingers fresh of those bygone days. I am so grateful that I got a chance to watch the entire Ramayana one more time with my entire family. It was the same episodes, same actors and the very much same Ramayana. Only difference this time was the changed audience gallery. Why should not be it? It was almost after a gap of 25 yrs I was watching Ramayana once again. Blessed to be granted the responsibilities of my extended roles. This time I was watching it with not only as daughter, sister but also as an wife and a mother. Though I missed watching with my parents like last time, I got it compensated somehow to watch it with my husband and two lovely kiddos.
But one unique thing I am noticing while watching now is that the same epic still is so relevant in the modern pretext .It still has the same magnetic charisma to keep you glued to the screen for the entire time. After almost each episode you are touched by the philosophical depth in some way or another. So simply it compels and cajoles you to the inner core and tells you to introspect asking an array of questions...It definitely intrigues most of us if not all for sure. It tells you a lot regarding our code of conduct ...yes our moral code of conduct not necessarily with others but with ourselves first in particular. Have not we made our lives complicated when we can live happily and holistically leading a simple life??
Earlier I watched it simply like a kid with a notion implanted to us by our parents, grandparents, and elderly just believing that one should watch it may be for the sake of religious paraphernalia. On the contrary watching this epic now is truly a different experience. It is definitely more relatable to life as a whole. Now I can feel that watching and listening scriptures is one thing...but having them ingrained in your persona is an entirely different aspect. You imbibe the values and the deep meaning delivered by these scriptures to an extent that it naturally reflects on your day to day code of conduct and more commonly on your character & behavior .Undoubtedly and obviously, credit for this more detailed understanding should be attributed to our experiences incurred throughout this journey called "LIFE".Yes It is this journey of life that provides us millions of opportunities throughout altering between the turbulence and the calmness of its flow .Truly "LIFE" is nothing but a river maintaining its flow throughout.The same river ride can become topsy & turvy that shakes us vigorously and jolting us in terrible turbulence in times of turmoil. Surprisingly the same flow becomes so quite ,and comforting letting us enjoy all the joyous and material pleasures of our life from time to time as well.Yes! life itself is a long but limited journey which teaches you almost everything phase by phase...layer by layer. Isn’t it??
We encounter Manthara, Ravana,and various other demons at each and every step in the same very life but of course in the disguise having some other names like greed, opportunism, selfishness and more. We also come across characters like Jatayu and Hanuman, who may not be in their physical form but being sent to us as messengers of God in times of our dire needful days.Can we deny it??? Definitely not...at least I believe this personally.
How ideal were our values,our upbringing,our ancient system of education. Ramayan teaches us so beautifully that...
Simplicity has its own beauty & serenity!
Humility has its own magnanimity!
Sacrifice is the another name of Love!
Enmity has its own explanations!
Above all Family has its own fabrication!
And so much more ...
But where did we go wrong? In the name of modernism , have not we all become diluted and delusional to such an extent , that we have forgotten our own roots? Why are we so confused today??? Is following the age old traditions label you as an uncivilized and orthodox? Are not we in mode of ignorance?? It won’t be an exaggeration for sure, If I say that.
So much to learn and imbibe from this great epic more or less for each & every member of the family .
Some relate Ramayana as take of Ram & Ravana, Ram & Hanuman, Ram & Laxmana or Siya &Ram...but can it be confided only to the counted numbers of characters? We all can partake the meaningful nectar this great epic and it’s scriptures has tried to impart us upon and bestowed us with what we all can immensely benefit from .
Every character is an epitome of the ideal code of conduct in their own parameter.
Rama, an epitome of values & virtues,truth & integrity ,ethics & duties...the list goes on, instantly sacrificed
everything at the pinnacle of his youth without even a frown.
Laxman setting the yardstick for a younger brother like no one ever has... always ready to do anything for the sake of his Ram Bhaiya leaving all the comforts and luxury of royal life behind.
Bharat...nobody like him ,who spent his life in exile even he was not obligated to, only because his Ram Bhaiya was doing so.
Shatrughan... not so talked about brother took care of all the members in the absence of his brothers without even uttering a word.
Sita being the delicate crown princess of Mithila has to bear the brunt of all the extreme adversities thrown at her .She faced them all with the same gratifying smile throughout, never letting her spirit to be dampened.Her love ,respect and most importantly her trust in Lord Rama and the institution of marriage remained as strong and did not fade even a bit.
Hanuman, signifying the indomitable combination of valor and devotion entwined with wit & intelligence, undoubtedly is one of the most original Superhero in true sense. Just a mere thought of him brings a reminiscent smile on our faces almost spontaneously! The immense respect of the revered gurus witnessed in those days has become such an rare and unparalleled treat for our society nowadays. The social system ;where there was hardly any discrimination , all were considered equal and had equal and righteous access to avail the resources. An effortless social system exhibiting equality and justice to one and all should prevail no mater what .That should be the norm at any given point of time. Rama was equally dearable & reachable to rich and poor, be it Kewat Or Shabri proving that we all are considered one and equal in Lord’s vision. Devotion is neither measured by the caste scale nor restricted by the socioeconomic disparity. One can achieve devotion just by the truthfulness, perseverance and confiding in Lords name while being in the most original state of yours. And of course Ravana ...without whom the entire epic would have been unimaginable and virtually nonexistent. He was the warrior of an unfathomable magnitude,having the infinite intellect and knowledge, but he loved to show off his pride and never let go off even a bleak chance to bask in the sea of arrogance and false pride leading to his own debacle and destruction. Ravana proved that knowledge can give you power for sure but the same knowledge is futile and meaningless if you are arrogant about it.To h
ve a character like Lord Rama one need to have the knowledge combined with wisdom and even more importantly the utmost humility .
Although Ravana had sensed the fire of destruction coming to him much earlier...but he still chose to accept death in the transcendental hands of Sri Rama and become immortal rather than surrendering like a cowardice.
The camaraderie that revolves around different characters throughout Ramayan ;is something to long for?? Not just one religion, not just one family and not just limited to one territory but rather it should be emulated and imbibed by most of us in such a way that it becomes part and parcel of us.
Truly Ramayana is an epic whose values will be eternal. Great were the authors like Sri Balmiki and Sri Tulsidas and definitely Sri Ramanand Sagar Ji to make the entire series in such a magical and enchanting way. He delivered the dialogues in a way that made the entire epic of Ramayana so easy to comprehend and adsorb even for a religiously naive and lay person too.
If we truly embrace ...then only we will have a true Ram Rajya in the real sense .That will be the true following of faith, I guess. And why Ramayana only? Does not Bible, Quran and Gurugranth Sahib says it too?? They all teach us to live in unison with one & all within the family or out in the world. All these epic books guide us in establishing an ideal socioeconomic arrangement where love, peace, prosperity prevails for one and all. They all teach us about practicing ethics and duties while keeping our faith in our respective deities while performing our worldly duties. Then only we will be able to have an ideal Ram Rajya. Let’s pledge to act responsibly for us individually first rather than rectifying others. Let’s have a better control of the Ravana sitting & surviving within us and let’s start recognize our own virtues like Lord Rama himself. I am sure we all are blessed with virtues,the only need being is to hone them, practice them as appropriately depicted as “Aham Brahamshmi .”We all first need to pave a way for the existences of Ram Darbar within our family first ,then only we can deliver together to create and carve a niche for the ideal Ram Rajya out there in the community ,country or the world for that mater.
The World will be so much a better place to be indeed!!