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Essence of the Ramayana by Dr. Subhash C. Sharma
Essence of the Ramayana
Rama has a unique place in Hinduism. He is considered as one of the most important benefactors of civilization during antiquity, long before even Buddha and Mahavir. He is the central figure in the epic Ramayana, first composed in Sanskrit by sage Valmiki. Rama is depicted as a model son to his parents (king Dashrath and queen Kaushalya), perfect husband to his wife Sita, and an ideal king to the people of Ayodhya. For these reasons, Hindus call Rama as Maryada Puroshottum (Supremely Righteous Man). This article investigates some of the important social and historical issues in the Ramayana.
Humans first started living together in small communities. Over time, these communities grew into kingdoms and dominions. As indicated in some of the Vedic hymns, Puranic stories and the Ramayana, the life for the earliest civilized humans was not easy. They used to be under constant threat of attacks from wildly roaming beasts and rakshashas (cannibals and uncivilized humans). These intruders would raid their communities, homes, open-air yajnas (worships) for food and flesh. When they attacked, they would disturb yajnas stealing holy offerings, kill worshippers and even carry off their dead bodies. It used to be an extremely dangerous situation for rishis (sages) living in ashramas (hermitages) located in jungles or far from a community. There are several hymns in the Rig Veda praying for safety of Brahmin priests from being eaten by savages. Brahmins and rishis used to be a special target of these attacks because they were establishers of the society. They were engaged in conducting worships and rituals and educating and training people for bringing a social change. This put them in direct confrontation with the savages and uncivilized adversaries. There are several tales in the Puranas, which describe how rakshashas and beasts from surrounding jungles would regularly attack villages to grab humans and livestock for food. These stories narrate that, during all the fear and confusion in a village, some divine force or an unexpected hero would emerge and save the community by killing the intruders. Such tales, in addition to being true, indicate people hoping against all odds and finding consolation and encouragement during extremely difficult times. This period in history belongs to an era when civilization had just evolved into first communities that lacked a good law and order situation and were also repeatedly under attack by savages from outside.
Ramayana by Valmiki is a great account of happenings at the beginning of civilization. Valmiki himself started his life as an outcast given to robbing and harming people. But after coming in contact with a noble Brahmin named Narada, he gave up his evil lifestyle. He also did penance, and after learning Sanskrit language and priestly duties became a Brahmin. He defied all odds related to his tragic and humble beginnings and changed his life through hard work and wise counsel of Narada. It shows that one could change his vocation (caste or varna) -- and even become a Brahmin from an outcast -- if he seriously tried. Valmiki also established meter system in Sanskrit, which he used for composing Ramayana based on his hero Rama's life. His account of early civilization appears to agree very well with the events and situations described in the Vedas and Puranas. Ramayana is thus also a tribute to Valmiki as a great cultural and historical author. Above all, it shows that even the criminals, such as Valmiki himself originally, should be treated humanely and given a second chance if they show true remorse and do penance for their past evil deeds.
As discussed above, the early society was under a constant threat of rakshashas and wild beasts that would regularly raid human settlements, looting, killing and eating people. These savages would also rape and kidnap women there. In addition to the dangers from the outside, the life was also risky within these new habitats. Early humans were not really civilized in modern sense of the word. They had several deficiencies in their behavior and customs. Fights among people over land and property were quite common. Sons of tribal-chiefs vying to become rulers would fight with one another leading to banishment or death of their siblings and parents.
Women in ancient communities were also in a precarious situation. Being not at par with a male sibling or the familial heir, girls would usually receive less than adequate care during their infancy and childhood. This used to result in higher mortality rates in girls as compared to boys. Moreover, while as adults, women could easily die during pregnancy and child birth because the proper care and medicines were not available. This would lead to a less number of women than that of men to start with. Moreover, majority of the tribal-chiefs and privileged men in the community would have more than one wife or female partner. This would further aggravate the situation of shortage of females and wives for other ordinary men. Thus men, including those living in the communities, would kidnap, steal and forcibly hold women as their mates, and even sometimes practice polyandry. Thus sometimes the married women and wives of others even were not spared this ordeal. Problem of wife stealing and kidnapping by men thus was due to the shortage of women resulting from high mortality rates in them and the practice of polygamy by privileged men. As can be seen, women used to have very few rights and freedoms and could not choose their marriage partners. And men would be frequently involved in feuds over women, land and property. Note in this regard in the Ramayana, stories of Bali and Sugreeva, and Ravana and Rama, describing fights over women.
Rama's life in the Ramayana sets several ideals for humanity. Being a prince and not yet sixteen years old, he was sent by his father to protect rishi Visvamitra's hermitage from attacks by rakshashas. He was successful in killing the savages and preserving the hermitage. This is one of the earliest examples of Rama establishing himself as a protector of civilization during ancient times.
Soon after saving Visvamitra's hermitage, Rama accompanied the rishi to Mithila, the dominion of king Janaka. Janaka had a grown up daughter, named Sita, who was raised and educated well just like any male prince at that time. In Mithila, Rama participated in princess Sita's swamyvara (a ceremony where a bride selects the groom from competing men). In the contest, Rama broke the great Rudra bow belonging to king Janaka and won Sita's hand in marriage. Sita -- being free to select her own husband -- thus became a good role model for women to have the right to choose their husbands. Note also that when Rama would later kill king Ravana and several rakshashas to free his kidnapped wife, he set a good example of protecting women from kidnapping, forcible confinement and exploitation. Thus Ramayana shows that girls should be brought up and educated properly just like boys. And women should be able to choose their husbands freely without being coerced or kidnapped.
Rama and Sita remained loyal to each other throughout their lives. Sometimes they were physically apart for unusually long periods of time. But Sita would efficiently fulfil the role as a loyal and dutiful wife to Rama and a smart and prudent mother to their children. Through this love, loyalty and dedication between Rama and Sita, Ramayana set an example of successful monogamous relationship for early society. Over all, this set a good example for allowing women to have and enjoy same rights as men.
As king Dashrath wanted, due to some prior commitments on his part, Rama obediently gave up the kingdom and went into exile. This showed his lack of greed and attachment to the family inheritance and for becoming a king. Similarly, while he was in exile, his brothers did not take over the kingdom, especially even after the death of their father. Moreover, after Rama returned from a lengthy exile of fourteen years, his brothers immediately crowned him as the new king of Ayodhya. This was another example in the Ramayana from Rama's life where brothers would not fight among themselves, not even when a kingdom was the prize.
Rama was not only a great warrior but also very well versed in other areas. He is known to have dealt with his fiercest foes in an extremely dignified manner. Whenever he would defeat another king or adversary in a battle, he used to hold a face to face counsel with the vanquished enemy on important issues, such as, affairs of state, and philosophy etc. He would also appoint someone quite familiar with the conquered territory to administer it. This shows his versatility in several areas including a keen political acumen that would help him eventually to become a great king.
In addition to the above, there are other morals to the Ramayana. The lives of Sita and Rama were not simple and easy. Through their trials and tribulations during ancient times, they established some of the most basic and important guidelines for an orderly society that still remain valid today. They showed the great love between a husband and wife that would outlast any difficulty. They were true partners in life inspiring and complementing each other. It is no wonder that countless generations of Indians have been motivated by their life's story and Hindus revere them greatly.
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APPENDIX
Agni priksha (Testing by Fire): (Added: June 20, 2005)
Was Sita chaste according to the ‘fire test’ or Agni priksha?
Yes. She was chaste and also very loyal to Rama throughout.
As is generally known, Sita was forcibly removed from her cottage by Ravana during Rama’s absence. It became clear to Rama later when he returned and noticed the turmoil in the cottage area and found that Sita's pet bird (Jataayu) had also been killed by Ravana during her kidnapping. Similarly, when Hanumaan first went to Lanka, he noticed (and later narrated the story to Rama) that Ravana held Sita against her will in his prison (harem). Rama probably also realized that Ravana could easily assault her sexually during the forcible confinement. Noting thus Sita’s complete innocence and helplessness in the kidnapping and confinement at the hands of Ravana, Rama decided to mount an attack on Lanka to free her and punish Ravana for his crimes.
Note that the Agni-priksha (test by or in the presence of fire) does not just mean jumping in the fire and coming out alive if someone is innocent, but taking an oath or setting the record straight about one's innocence in the presence of fire (or yajna). And that's what Rama probably did (asking Sita to give evidence in the presence of fire that she was the innocent victim of Ravana) when people started questioning her and talking about about her stay in Lanka. Sita willingly obliged and everyone was satisfied. It was not the real jumping in the fire or trying to prove whether or not she had sex with Ravana. It was just an oath in the presence of fire indicating complete innocence on her part.
It was a common Vedic practice (including in the Ramayana period) to prove your innocence or even seek forgiveness in the presence of fire (something akin to holding a religious book in your hand these days while giving evidence). Note, for example, the following hymn from the Yajurveda (Ref: http://www.geocities.com/lamberdar/_caste.html):
"O Agni...each fault done in a village or in forest, in society or mind, each sinful act that we have committed to Shudra or Vaishya or by preventing a religious act, even of that sin, you are the expiation..." (Kanda 1, Prapathaka 8, Hymn i.8.3.d)
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By: Dr. Subhash C. Sharma
Email: lamberdar@yahoo.com
Date: Oct. 12, 2003
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