Inimitable qualities of the Supreme Being

CHENNAI, AUG. 18. The glory of the Ramayana besides it being the epic composed during the lifetime of its hero, who was the Lord incarnate, is also due to the manner in which Valmiki happened to compose it after Sage Narada narrated His life to him. After its composition the sage taught it to Rama's sons Lava and Kusa, and they sang it before Rama. The tradition of reciting it and listening to it thus started from the time of its creation and continues to this day. Rama is not just the name of the Lord when He manifested on the Earth as the son of Dasaratha but the name of the Almighty Himself which was felt appropriate for Him by Sage Vasishta when he named Him. Its merit can be appreciated from the fact that Lord Siva Himself chants the name and has proclaimed its merit to humanity.

Rama, among the countless Divine names, is hailed as the ``Taraka nama'', that which is capable of delivering man from bondage. Further, it points to the non-difference of Lord Siva and Lord Vishnu, as the name has been formed with the two syllables ``Ra'' and ``Ma'' one each from the Ashtakshara and the Panchakshari mantras describing the glory of Lord Narayana and Lord Siva respectively. Valmiki describes Rama as the personification of Dharma and all virtues that a human being could possess. He remains the eternal ideal for mankind to aspire to evolve to higher degrees of perfection.

In his discourse, Sri B. Sundar Kumar said that the poet-sage utilised every opportunity to portray Rama's auspicious qualities as the objective of the work was to focus the mind on the auspicious qualities of the Lord. The events that led to Dasaratha's decision to crown Rama as the prince-regent is one such. Though he was a monarch who had the power to do what he desired, in the best tradition of democracy Dasaratha convened an assembly and sought the opinion of the citizens and elders in the matter. The approval was unanimous and the king was overwhelmed with joy that Rama had endeared Himself to one and all by His exemplary conduct.

When the king wished to know the reason for such an outburst of joy they replied, ``Rama is the righteous man in the world; He is not only truthful but also solely devoted to truth. Virtue along with prosperity has proceeded from Him. He knows what is right, is true to His vow, is full of amiability and free from censoriousness, is tranquil, comforting, polite of speech and grateful and has mastered His senses.'' The Kamba Ramayanam notes that Dasaratha's joy was more on hearing the citizens lavish praise on Rama then, than when He was born.

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