Validity of doctrine of surrender

CHENNAI, DEC. 5. A perfect democratic set-up to discuss and solve even controversial issues was in vogue in ancient times. Those were the days when an emperor or a king or ruler was the sole authority to decide any dispute; still he used to convene an assembly of people's representatives and made them express their views.

Once a crucial question arose whether a person from an enemy's camp, who had deserted the place of his stay and came to a source of help and protection, could be relied and admitted. One such refugee took a bold step in discarding everything with the only hope that the person whose refuge he sought was generous and known for his mercy. This king could have decided by himself but he took the opinions of all those with him though everyone rejected the very idea stating that the newcomer was a spy. Only one leader supported him and ultimately the person was received with open arms.

This happened in the Ramayana when Rama, having His camp on the seashore embraced Vibhishana who gave up his brother Ravana and sought asylum from the former. This episode presents the validity of the doctrine of surrender and God's benevolent gesture.

The function of the epics is to interpret for the benefit of ordinary people the great truths which are lying hidden. The Lord will not fail to give asylum to anyone who sought it and is always compassionate and just.

Rama's faithful adherence to this principle was that by His own ``saranagati'' to Sugriva and sea-god, He made it clear that the custodian of moral law was also bound by it. The God-incarnate's categorical assurance that He would never spurn a friendly approach even by one not free from blemish is the hope for every human being. Rama welcomed Vibhishana and those who accompanied him.

In a discourse, Sri S. Ramakrishnan and Smt. Perundevi Seshadri said that Lord in Vaikunta came down to earth as a human and chose to be born to Emperor Dasaratha because of the latter's accumulated merits, disproving the view among some that he was childless because of sins. The epic highlights the extraordinary devotion of Anjaneya, who chanting Rama's names and totally depending on the strength derived therefrom, overcame several obstacles, located Sita kept captive in a powerful enemy's island and prevented a tragedy that could have happened. A deep study of the messages studded in this garland, the epic with 24,000 verses, bringing out the need to uphold virtue at all costs, will present one with the mysterious power to refine and elevate one's outlook in life.

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