November 5, 2023
Hari Om Parents,
We started the class with the daily prayers. We did pranayama for some time. We chanted Nama Ramayana from my prayers books.
We finished Bala kanda from Ramayana in the last class. We briefly revised salient points from Bala kanda. Here we can see how Rama was showing the example of an ideal student:
1. Rama's curiosity to know - he asked several questions to sage Vishwamitra whenever he saw new things in the forest.
2. Rama's regular prayer - he would get up early in the morning and do daily prayers.
3. Rama's obedience - he obediently listened to his father and gurus.
4. Rama's service to his teacher - survived sage Vishwamitra faithfully in forest.
5. Rama's humility / simplicity – for example he sleeps on the floor on grass without any complaints, was humble even when he killed mighty rakshasas.
6. Rama's work commitment - did not get distracted till he killed the rakshasas during the yajna.
7. Rama's Satsang in forest - he stayed with the rishis and listened to their stories, instead of doing other things such as hunting etc.
We continued the story, next section is Ayodhya kanda. Here the story revolves around the happenings in the capital city of Kingdom of Koshala - Ayodhya. After marriage Rama and Sita spend many years happily in Ayodhya. While Bharata and Shatrughna along with their wives go to grandparents' house. 12 years later king Dasaratha after witnessing some bad omens in his dream decides to make Rama as Crown Prince. He consults initially with his ministers and the sages. Subsequently he announces the intention of making Rama the Crown Prince in his assembly, but before doing it, he wanted to know from his citizens and ministers why Rama is qualified to be Crown Prince. The citizens of Ayodhya enumerate numerous virtues of Rama and wholeheartedly encourage the king to appoint Rama as Crown Prince. Our ancestors also practiced democratic values! Rama is then called into the assembly and king makes the announcement that next day he will be anointed as the Crown Prince. Rama remained calm and did not show any over jubilation but accepted it as his duty and as his father's wish. He performs all required austerities along with Sitaji that night. Whole of Ayodhya starts celebrating.
Mantara, who was a servant maid, in queen Kaikeyi's palace sees this celebration and gets angry. She goes to queen Kaikeyi and tells her the news, initially queen Kaikeyi is extremely happy that Rama is going to be crowned as Crown Prince. She even gives her a necklace as gift. But Mantara because of her nature throws away the necklace and starts poisoning the mind of queen Kaikeyi. She states that Rama becoming Crown Prince is not a good thing for her and her son Bharata. Initially queen Kaikeyi praises Rama and his virtues. But as she listens to Mantara's viewpoint her mind slowly starts changing. Mantara tries to convert mind of queen Kaikeyi by approaching from various viewpoints. She says king Dasaratha is not dharmatma, he's giving all his power and property to Rama and queen Kausalya. He is doing this ceremony when Bharata was not in Ayodhya. Queen Kausalya will get more respect as raja mata. She will not get any respect from Kausalya. Bharata will be servant of Rama and that she will be servant of queen Kausalya. Bharata may even be sent away from that country or harmed. It did not take a long time to change queen Kaikeyi's mind.
Now Mantara reminds queen Kaikeyi that during deva asura fight when she protected king Dasaratha he gave her two boons. Mantara advises to ask those boons now. One boon is to make Bharata the king, the other one is to send Rama to the forest.
When king Dasaratha comes into queen Kaikeyi's palace, he finds her disheveled on the floor full of sorrow. He tries to find out the reason and consoles his dear wife. She asks him if he can fulfill his two boons. King Dasaratha innocently gives his word that he will fulfill her boons and wishes. Heartlessly queen Kaikeyi asks the king to make Bharata the Crown Prince and send Rama to forest for 14 years. Hearing this king immediately faints. Throughout the night he tries to change the mind of his queen, by pleading with her and begging her to change her mind. But she remains adamant. Next day morning Rama was brought to the palace of king Dasaratha & Kaikeyi by minister Sumantra upon queen Kaikeyi's order. Seeing his father's condition Lord Rama has some fear in his mind for safety of his father. Upon enquiring, queen Kaikeyi tells him that his father has given her two boons, and that it was up to him to fullfill his boons. Rama says for the sake of his father he will do anything, he is ready even to give up his life. Queen Kaikeyi tells Rama about her two boons. Rama without even an iota of hesitation agrees to go to the forest. He prays to his parents and to the various pooja material prepared for his ceremony and leaves the palace.
He visits his mother Kausalya's palace. Tells her that he will be going to forest for 14 years as per father's wish/boon. Hearing which mother Kausalya also faints. Lakshmana who was with Rama all this time was extremely angry. He advises Rama to take the Kingdom forcefully. Rama convinces them both with his decision to leave for forest, by saying that he must follow his father's wishes, follow the dharma of his son to make sure that his father's word does not go wrong. He then visits Sitaji, who upon learning the news also wants to accompany him to forest. Rama spends a lot of time trying to convince Sitaji not to come to forest, explaining about hardships in forest. Sitaji says that wherever you are I will have the most comfort, and I'm very confident that you will be able to protect me from any dangers in the forest. She says that she will be more comfortable and happier in forest with Rama than being in Ayodhya without him. Lakshmana also convinces Rama that he will come along with them to serve them, since he will not be able to live without seeing Rama. Rama agrees. In this way all three decide to go to forest.
In this Ayodhya kanda supreme human values are on display. This was analyzed with the students. Rama shows no elation when he is asked to be Crown Prince and no dejection when he is asked to go to forest. He was completely rooted in his duty and his Dharma of following his father's words. Lakshmana shows his supreme love for his brother and readiness to serve him. Rama does not compel Sitaji to come to forest. After understanding her mind and making sure that she's comfortable in coming with him he agrees to take her to forest. Dasaratha had to let Rama go to forest to live by the word he gave – even though he could have refused Kaikeyi's boons. More to come…
In the end we chanted along with Swamiji's video Bhagavad Gita verses from chapter four.
We also practiced an impromptu 2-3 min skit by few students – who performed it in main hall during aarati to get the message of winter coat drive across. Two students pretended that they were shivering; another student could help one of them with a coat not the other as he had only one coat to donate. Two other students gave the message of importance of our coat drive which will help the needy during the cold wintery days. It was well received, and the children did a good job with the spontaneous task given to them.
We will try to send these emails in a more prompt manner moving forward.
Pranams,
Vyjayanti
Devender
