Ramayana

Ramayana, the epic written by Rishi Valmiki, is one of the oldest epics of Bharathavarsha.It is a store house of wisdom and a great guide for moral upliftment.It depicts how Dharma is the foremost duty of every citizen.Here, we will see Ramayana depicted through golu dolls.

Putra Kameshti Yagnya

The virtuous king Dasharatha of Kosala, who ruled from the capital city of Ayodhya,  was the scion of the Ikshavaku clan. He conducts the puthrakameshti yagnya with his three wives Kaushalya, Sumitra and Kaikeyi, to propitiate the Gods  and seek their boon for progeny.A divine form appears from the sacrificial fire and gifts a vessel of payasa to the king.

Birth of Rama

Dasharatha is blessed with four sons.The kings senior wife Kaushalya, gives birth to the divine Rama, his second wife Sumitra,is the mother of the twins Lakshmana and Shatrugna and the youngest queen Kaikeyi  is the mother of Bharatha.Happiness abounds the palace, with the cries and laughter of children.

Thataka Vadam

When the princes are 11years of age, growing up in the palace and learning the use of weapons and the Shastras under the tutelage of their guru Vashishta. One fine day, sage Vishwamitra visits the king's palace at Ayodhya.He asks the king to send his sons Rama and Lakshmana with him,to protect his Yagnya, from the rakshasi Thataka and her sons. The king reluctantly agrees to part  with Rama and Lakshmana with a heavy heart.The valiant princes stand guard over Rishi Vishwamitra's yagnya and Rama kills the rakshasi Thataka who tries to defile the sacred fire with flesh and blood.

Mareechan and Subhahu Vadham

After Thataka is killed by Rama, her sons Mareechan and Subahu, continue to harass the Rishi Vishwamitra. A battle ensues between Rama ,Lakshmana and the Rakshasa brothers.Subahu is killed by Rama, while Mareechan  manages to escape.

Ahalya Shapa Vimochanam

After routing the demons and successful completion of the Yagnya by Rishi Vishwamitra,  the Rishi leads Rama and Lakshmana towards Mithila. On their way, Rama steps on a rock , and the rock miraculously turns into a beautiful and virtuous lady. The lady is 'Ahalya' the wife of Rishi Gautama. Ahalya had taken the form of a rock, after being cursed by her husband.The divine feet of Sri Rama, redeems her of her curse and after seeking Sri Rama's blessing, she is reunited with her husband.

Seetha Swayamwaram

 Rishi Vishwamitra and the princes continue their journey towards  Mithila which is ruled by King Janaka. They reach the city in time for the swayamwaram organized by Janaka, for his eldest daughter Seetha also known as Janaki. Many valiant kings  flocked to Mithila to win the hand of the beautiful Janaki. Meanwhile, King Janaka had organized a competition, to choose the most eligible groom for his daughter.

Janaka had once earned the blessings of Lord Shiva and was gifted a bow, called the Shivadhanush. Only a highly accomplished person would be able to lift the bow and string it. The contestant who could perform the feat, was promised the hand of Janaki. All the kings try their hand, only to return shame faced.Rishi Vishwamitra urges Rama to participate. Everyone is shocked to see the young prince effortlessly lift the bow and string it.Thus Seetha's hand is won by Rama.

Guhan Odam

After Seetha Rama Kalyanam, they return to Ayodhya and live happily for a long while. King Dasharatha, decides to crown Rama as his heir apparent.Meanwhile, Kaikeyi's maid manthara poisons the queen's mind, saying that her son Bharatha should be the rightful crown prince.Kaikeyi reminds Dasharatha of two boons, he had promised her earlier, and asks for it to be redeemed now. She wants Bharatha to be anointed as the heir apparent and Rama to be banished to the forest for 14 years of vanavasam. The heartbroken king goes into a delirium. Rama steps in to keep up his father's promise and gets ready to head for the forest. Lakshmana insists on accompanying his brother, and Seetha refuses to be left behind. All three head for the forest dressed in bark, devoid of royal finery,  followed by the wailing citizens of Ayodhya. They walk till they reach the river Ganga, which they have to cross to enter the deep forest. Here, the Nishadha king Guhan comes to meet Rama, and offers to help them cross the Ganga in his boat.Rama bids goodbye to the citizens of Ayodhya, asking them to return to the city and serve the king well.Rama, Lakshmana and Seeta cross the Ganga in Guhan's boat or Odam and Rama bids adieu to Guhan with a hug. They head towards the Chitrakoot forests and live in a small clearing.

Rama Padhukai

At  Ayodhya, the heartbroken and delirious King Dasharatha, keeps asking for his beloved son Rama. He breathes his last, in the agony of separation. 

While all these events unfold, Bharatha and Shatrugna are away at their maternal home.On their return to Ayodhya, they are shocked to hear of all the happenings in their absence.Bharata performs the last rites of his father on behalf of his elder brother. He refuses to forgive his mother Kaikeyi for her role in Rama's banishment and his father's death. The ideal prince Bharatha, refuses to accept the throne, which rightfully belongs to Rama.

Bharatha and Shatrugna, along with their mothers, go to Chitrakoota, to bring back Rama, Lakshmana and Seetha. Bharatha asks Rama to return and take charge of the kingdom.Rama refuses to come back without fulfilling his father's promise. 

On Bharatha's request Rama gives his 'padhukai' or footwear, which Bharatha takes to Ayodhya, as a representation of Rama, until his return.

Padhukai Pattabhishekam

A disappointed Bharatha returns to Ayodhya, with Rama's padhukai. He places his brother's padhukai on the throne of Ayodhya, as the representation of the King and pays obeisance. He retires to the outskirts of the city, living a life of piety, and rules Ayodhya from there, waiting for the return of the real King.

Enter Shoorpanaka

After Bharatha takes leave, Rama, Lakshmana and Seetha move from Chitrakoota, to the forests of Panchavati.

Here they live the peaceful life of forest dwellers. One day, Shoorpanakha the sister of the Rakshasa King Ravana, happens to see Rama. She is enamoured at the sight of the handsome Rama.She takes the form of a beautiful damsel and approaches Rama, and asks him to marry her. Rama points out that he is already married to Seetha, and hence cannot marry another. She then approaches Lakshmana, who also refuses her.Overtaken with anger and jealousy, she pounces on Seetha.Seeing this, Lakshmana cuts her nose as punishment. She leaves crying in pain and humiliation,  threatening them of dire consequences. 

The Golden Deer

The humiliated Shoorpanakha, goes to Lanka, and asks her brother Ravana, the lord of Lanka to take revenge on her behalf.She extols the beauty of Seetha.

Craving for revenge and tempted by thoughts of Seetha, Ravana goes to Panchavati, in the garb of a Sanyasi. He asks his uncle Mareechan to go in the form of a golden deer and hold  Seetha's attention. Spotting a golden deer, Seetha immediately wants it as a pet.She asks Rama to get her the deer.Rama asks Lakshmana to protect Seetha, and goes in pursuit of the strange deer. Rama is drawn deeper and deeper into the forest and realizes the deer to be a rakshasa.He shoots it down and the dying Mareechan, slyly calls out Lakshmana's name aloud.

Mistaking Mareechan's call to be Rama's,  Seetha beseeches Lakshmana to go in search of his brother, but not before he draws the Lakshmana Rekha , in front of the hermitage, for her protection. He warns her not to cross it, and leaves. Now appears Ravana, in the garb of a Sanyasi.He asks for alms and Seetha, comes out to give him food. He refuses to take the food, unless she crosses the Lakshmana Rekha. Seetha, fearful of invoking the Sanyasi's ire, crosses the line, only to be abducted by the wily Ravana in his Pushpaka Vimana.

Jatayu Moksham

 After realizing they have been tricked by Mareechan, Rama and Lakshmana return to the hermitage.They see that Seetha is missing , and set out in search for her. On their way they meet the giant vulture Jatayu, the son of Aruna and a friend of their father Dasharatha. Jatayu, is badly wounded with broken wings.Rama takes Jatayu in his lap, and then hears from him, how Ravana had forcefully abducted Seetha, in his Pushpaka Vimana and had badly wounded Jatayu who had put up a fight against him.Jatayu breathes his last and Rama performs his last rites, before proceeding in search of Seetha.

Shabari Moksham

Shabari was a tribal woman, who was full of kindness and compassion and had a deep urge to attain wisdom.She was the disciple of Rishi Matanga, and helped him with the daily chores of the ashram. When the time came for the Rishi, to leave his mortal body, he tells Shabari, that Sri Rama would pass through the ashrama one day.She awaits the arrival of Rama every day, picking fruits for him and getting ready to welcome him.She waits day after day in anticipation, till she grows into a very old woman.Then one day, Rama and Lakshmana who were in search of Seetha, wander into the ashrama. The old soul welcoms them.Such is her innocence that she bites into  every fruit, before offering it to Rama, as she wants to offer him only the best. After the mission of meeting Sri Rama is accomplished, Shabari receives moksham.

Vali Vadham

In search of Seetha, Rama and Lakshmana go towards Kishkindha.They are met by Hanuman, the son of Anjani and Kesari.The sole purpose of Hanuman's life is to meet his Lord Rama and dedicate it to his service. After introducing himself, Hanuman relates the story of his King Sugreeva, who had been unjustly treated by his brother Vali, and banished from his kingdom  over a misunderstanding. Vali refused to see reason and Sugreeva lived a life of fear and humiliation . Rama and Lakshmana promise to help Sugreeva get his kingdom back, in return for help to trace Seetha. Vanquishing Vali was not an easy task, as he was blessed with a boon to absorb half the strength of his opponent. As Vali was unjust, he had to be dealt with stealth.So, when Sugreeva engages Vali in battle, Rama shoots him with his bow, while hiding behind a tree.Vali falls down defeated and feels remorse for his actions. He requests Sugreeva, to treat his son Angada with kindness, and attains salvation.

Sugriva Pattabhishekam 

After killing Vali, Rama installs Sugreeva on the throne. Sugreeva promises to help Rama find Seetha, once the monsoon season abates. Rama agrees and with Lakshmana, waits patiently in the forest for the rains to recede. The monsoon is over at last, but there is no sign of Sugreeva.Even Rama himself starts loosing patience and anger seeps in.He sends Lakshmana to meet Sugreeva.Lakshmana storms into the palace in anger, and Sugreeva immediately apologizes for his mistake, and gets ready to meet Rama.

Ashoka Vanam

Sugreeva under Rama's guidance, sends his Vanaras in different directions in search of Seetha.The group headed by Hanuman reaches the farthest south and is confronted by the Ocean,where they find themselves totally lost and thirsty.There they meet the vulture Sampathi, the brother of Jatayu, who reveals that Seetha was taken to Lanka, beyond the sea.

As they contemplate, the wise Jambhavan reminds Hanuman of his exceptional powers. With one huge leap, Hanuman covers the ocean and enters Lanka.

He transforms himself into a small monkey and searches for Seetha.He finds her sad and teary,  imprisoned in Ravana's Ashoka Vanam and waiting for Rama to come and save her.Hanuman consoles Seetha by giving her Rama's ring and takes the choodamani, a hair ornament , given by her. 

Ravana Darbar

Hanuman is captured by Indrajeet, who is Ravana's son. He is produced in front of Ravana. Ravana refuses to offer Hanuman a seat, and Hanuman immediately makes a coiled throne of his tail, and sits at a higher level than Ravana.Angry at Hanuman's behavior, Ravana wants him to be put to death, but Vibishana's advice that a messenger should not be killed, makes Ravana change his mind. He asks his men, to set Hanuman's tail on fire.Hanuman, sets the whole of Lanka on fire, sparing only the Ashoka Vana, and returns to the other side of the ocean.

Sethu bandhanam

Hanuman and his team return to Kishkindha, and informs Rama, that he had met Seetha in Lanka, giving the Choodamani as proof. There is no time to loose, and Rama, Lakshmana and Hanuman with Sugreeva's vanara sena start towards Lanka. They reach the ocean shore. Wondering what to do, Rama prays to the Samudraraja for a solution. The ocean God appears and promises not to sink the stones used to make a bridge. The Vanaras start building a bridge with the floating stones, with Rama's name on each one, all the way to Lanka.

Vibhishana Pattabhishekam

Vibhishana, the just prince of Lanka, tries to enlighten his brother Ravana, beseeching him to return Seetha, back to Rama. Ravana rages in anger and Vibhishana leaves the Lanka, and goes over to Rama's side.He promises to help Rama, in the fight for Dharma.Rama acknowledges Vibhishana to be the true king of Lanka, and conducts his pattabhishekam, then and there in the presence of the Vanara Sena.

Kumbhakarnan

The battle starts between Rama's Vanara forces and Ravana's rakshasas. Ravana decides to send his brother, the formidable Kumbhakarna. 

Kumbhakarna is destined to sleep throughout, for 6months in a year and stay awake for 6 months, because of a boon gone wrong.He is not to be woken while asleep, or it could cause his death. 

When the battle starts, Kumbhakarna is fast asleep.Ravana desperately tries every trick to wake him up .  Atlast Kumbhakarna untimely opens his eyes, and after consuming  copious quantities of food and drink,  goes into the  battlefield. There he creates havoc, with his massive form. Rama ultimately defeats Kumbhakarna in battle and slays him.

Sanjeevini Parvatham

As the battle  progresses, Ravana's son Indrajeet comes to avenge the death of his uncle Kumbhakarna.A grand battle ensues between Lakshmana and Indrajeet.Indrajeet uses the Nagapasha astra and knocks Lakshmana unconscious. Rama is pained to see his dear brother lying unconscious. The wise Jambhavaan steps in and suggests that Lakshmana can be saved by the Sanjeevani herb that grows in the Himalayas. The great Hanuman immediately leaves for the Himalayas, crossing rivers and mountains. He is unable to recognize the particular herb, so lifts the entire hillock and brings it to Lanka, before sunrise.Jambhavan treats Lakshmana with the Sanjeevani herb, and Lakshmana recovers.He later kills Indrajeet in battle.

Ravana Yudham

After losing his siblings and sons, the ten headed Ravana also called Dashamukha enters the battlefield. He had been blessed with a number of boons and weapons,  earned through tapasya.

Adharma on his part, makes everything futile, as he stands in the presence of the divine Lord Rama. Rama defeats Ravana, and while lying wounded , Ravana seeks forgiveness from the kind hearted Lord, who unflinchingly grants salvation. 

Agni Pariksha

Once the battle is won, Rama asks Lakshmana to set Seetha free. 

A king in those days, had a duty towards his citizens and had to live by example. So, Rama was duty bound, not to accept Seetha back, as she had lived in the house of Ravana.

Hearing this, the virtuous Seetha, asks Lakshmana to stoke a fire, and jumps into it. Agni, the fire God protects Seetha, and leads her out  unscathed, saying there never lived  a chaste lady as Seetha.

Rama with tears in his eyes, accepts Seetha back.

Sri Rama Pattabhishekam 

After placing Lanka under the care of Vibhishana,  Rama, Lakshmana and Seetha head towards Ayodhya,  in the Pushpaka Vimana.The 14 years of vanavasam had come to an end.The people of Kosala are exhilarated to have their King back.Bharatha and Shatrugna,  await to welcome Rama, Lakshmana and Seetha. There is celebration all around.

On reaching Ayodhya, Rama's pattabhishekam is finalized.On the auspicious day, Lord Rama ascends the throne with Matha Seetha, in the presence of his Bharatha, Lakshmana and Shatrugna and with Hanuman at his feet.The event is witnessed by all the Gods and goddesses and kings of all the realms.

Thus started Rama Rajyam.

Jai Sri Ram

Shiva

Cosmic dancer, with no beginning nor end,

No birth, nor death;

Balancing this universe you dance with mirth.

Bestowing your grace on those ,that chance and chant upon your myriad names;

Arent you the one who bears all the agony, inflicted upon by your mindless progeny???

Accepting all the bouquets and brickbats flung at you with equal elan;

You've been stoned and trampled upon;

attacked with bows and axe, been called deranged, and caned.

Only to accept all that with a smile and knowing glance.

As only a true sire can, to his wayward clan.

Amma

A smile lights up my face, when i see the world celebrating you, 

You're all encompassing, can't put a fence of a day around you.

You're every moment, that breathes life into an unborn;

Every moment that stands tirelessly by our side, taking the world on.

You're every moment, that rocks the cradle, giving up your sleep,

every moment that nurtures the sapling, into one strong tree.

You're every moment, that waits with worry lining your brows;

As your kids saunter caressly, with not a care in this world.

You're every moment, that i'm judged for my actions;

Every moment that tramples upon age old norms and decadence.

You're the brook that gurgles and chirps along;

And the tornado that blows  ignorance down.

You're the tree, providing shelter and shade; 

also the fire that razes everything to the last blade.

You're the ocean that cannot be contained in an urn;

But willingly , you take position;

to stand as one, and bring out the beacon of hope,

To a creation, riddled with woes,

And free them from the darkness they chose.

sindhura puvve (The Crimson Flower)

O flower, that blossomed, in the poets mind;

And found its way into thousands of love lorn hearts,

A mere figment of imagination, thou art.

Thou has inspired many to follow this unchartered course;

Of undying love and passion.

Hurtling your believers into the throes of dark hopelessness  one moment,

and the very next, elevating them 

to the heights of exhilaration.

For a moment, i mistook you, for the elixir of life itself.

Thou has played truant with so many hopeful hearts, that believe you to be the very symbol of unrequited love;

Leaving me wondering, if alas!  love also blossomed in a poets mind??

And not in the hearts of the yearn'er.

Maxims of Hinduism

Maxims of Hinduism

The word Hinduism or Hindu, is not of ancient origin. When the Turks and Mongols invaded Bharath or India, the term 'Hindu' was denoted for describing, the generic people living around and beyond the Sindhu or Indus River, by the foreign invaders. Slowly, the word Hinduism struck, to describe the religious practices of these people, beyond the Indus river and came to be known as a religion. The practices of the people of this civilization, which is called the Sindhu-Saraswathi civilization, is called Sanatana Dharma or the eternal path of righteousness, and true to its meaning, it is not bound by the shackles of organized religion.

Though not limited by trivialities of  organized religions, there are some tenets of Sanatana Dharma which form a common thread or belief system. It is the melting pot of diverse philosophies, which congregate at the gates of truth. The basis of Sanatana  Dharma is rooted in Henotheism, in which complete surrender in the worship of a deity is accepted, without discarding the possibility of the existence of other deities and ways of worship to reach them.

The worldly life or Samsara, follows a continuous cycle of birth, life, death and rebirth, and the aim of a mortal human is to ultimately escape this endless cycle and attain Moksha. The word Moksha can be described as salvation from this endless cycle. But, what happens after that?? Hindus believe the 'Brahman' as the Supreme being, and every shred of creation as a manifestation of the Supreme being.  It is very well described in the  Vedic saying 'Tat tvam asi'  that is quoted in the Chandogya Upanishad,  which means 'thou art that' or “you are HIM' (the omnipotent and omnipresent consciousness), as HE is extant in all of us and hence we need not look further, but within ourselves to reach HIM.

The doctrine of Karma, is the most basic pillar of Hindu belief. What we do, behave and how we live our lives, is the basis on which our after life is dependent. The Karma theory is very complex in itself, but it can be described by the adage, 'As we sow, so we reap'. Our Karma is based on good Karma(deeds) and bad Karma. The good deeds help in offsetting the bad deeds, and the accumulated Karma gets passed on to our next life, thus entangling us in this Samsara(worldly life). The only way out of this vicious cycle is to accumulate good Karma, so over a period of births and deaths, the bad Karma is mitigated and one becomes eligible for Moksha and attains oneness with God.

Dharma, Artha, Kama and Moksha are the torch bearers of the followers of Sanatana Dharma. They are called the Purusharthas, which can be loosely translated as that which gives meaning to human life, or that which a human should endeavour to pursue. Dharma, is the pursuit of righteousness,  integrity and justice which is considered to be the foundation for all that is to come. Artha is the pursuit of material and economic goals. Kama is the seeking of pleasure, love and psychological needs and Moksha is the pursuit of spirituality and renunciation, in search of the Supreme one. Though there are four Purushartas, Dharma is primordial, because Artha and Kama without Dharma, become skewed. Hence Dharma(righteousness)  has to be strong to support, Artha(material needs) and Kama(pleasure), only then the pursuit for Moksha stands a chance. 

Another basic idea that Hinduism,  espouses is that an individuals soul (atman) is immortal. The physical body is just like a garment, and is discarded time and again in the form of birth and death, while the soul lives on taking multiple births. The theory of rebirth, is what helps an individual to persevere towards moral uprightness. 

Sanatana Dharma, believes there are four stages in a human life cycle. Brahmacharya is the first stage where an individual spends his time in study and learning of the Vedas. Then comes Grihastha ashrama, when he is married and heads a family and has to shoulder worldly responsibilities and practices. The third stage is Vanaprastha, where he is expected to practice detachment from the material world( in ancient days, an individual was expected to retreat to the forest and lead a minimalistic life in the lap of nature) and the last stage is Sanyasa, where he renounces all attachments, in pursuit of spirituality. 

Belief in Varnashrama Dharma, is also an intrinsic part of Hinduism. Though it is a controversial and much maligned aspect of Hinduism, it has for the most part  been twisted out of context for political gains. In this, people are divided into four Varnas, the Brahmanas are those who dedicate their life in the pursuit of knowledge and spirituality, leading an austere life. The Kshatriyas are the rulers and warriors who dedicate their life in the protection of their country and its subjects. The Vaishyas are the merchant communities, involved in trade and commerce, who fuel the economy and the Shudras, are the various artisans involved in production of goods, that is the basis of development. 

Unflinching belief in the Vedas, as the storehouse of God's word, is important for a Hindu, as that is the bulwark of his faith. Common rituals and practices, are followed by all Hindus across the country, though they might vary with regard to geographical location. The most common among them are Pooja to God(where God is invoked in the form of prayers), birth and death rituals, wedding rituals like 'kanyadanam', where the daughter is given away in marriage. Coming of age rituals like 'Annaprasna'(the first introduction of solid food to an infant), 'Choulam' (tonsuring of hair for the first time), Upanayanam (investing of the sacred thread) and Shraddha karmas(annual ritual performed in honour of the dead).

The practice of worshipping 'Kuladevi or devatas' is also very common. All families have a certain deity as their family deity and a particular shrine where they offer regular worship and propitiate the deity. An individual is duty bound to invoke the blessings of his Kuladevi/devatas before every important occasion in the family.

Visiting temples and major pilgrim centre's are age old practices in Hinduism. In days of yore, when there was no means of transportation, the pilgrims walked the length and breath of the country in large and small groups to have a glimpse and offer worship at their favoured pilgrim sites. These journeys were called Yatras. Nowadays, the means of transportation is well developed,  but the spirit of the Yatras and Yatris (those who undertake the pilgrimage) remain the same.

Through all this, a single thread binds all Hindus or followers of Sanatana Dharma and that is Bhakthi or devotion. It is the complete surrender of oneself, to the divine power of creation. It knows not anger, nor ego, but the search for  'Sat Chit Anandam' (Truth, Consciousness, Bliss).