Among His ten major manifestations, Bhagavan Vishnu incarnated as Shri Raam in Treta Yug with the drive towards idealism. Symbolizing spiritual perfection, this Vyuha avataar appeared on earth to present man with the blueprint necessary to steer him towards this state, the attainment of which is his true purpose on earth. A conglomerate of ideals, repository of human values and epitome of social, cultural and political finesse, this incarnation, in walking through the pages of the Raamaayana epic, presents a treatise on life. Such a treatise cuts across all boundaries of time, place and circumstances and connects every individual to his own Divinity.
Through His various roles in the unfolding sequence of Raamaayana kathaa, whether as a child, son, student, brother, friend, husband, king or leader, the character of Shri Raam is most relevant to a world that networks through relationships. The qualities He embodied, the relationships He forged, the dharma (righteousness) He upheld and philosophy employed are all contextual even today.
Assuming form within the Raghu dynasty, renowned for its stable and ideal governance, practised by King Dasrath and his ancestors, Shri Raam found a firm foundation on which to pattern his Raam-raajya, the utopian model of ideal reign. From his early teenage years, the Lord demonstrated such competence most effectively in restoring peace, justice and calm to His land and people. He destroyed the negative elements of Taaraka, Subahu and the host of demons in the Dandaka forest, halting the spread of lawlessness, discrimination, inequality and other violations. Later, he caused to be installed on the throne in Lanka, Vibheeshan, the personification of ‘sattva’ or goodness, purity and truth, replacing the limited human personality, Raavan. Many countries worldwide cry out for such leadership today.
The exile of Shri Raam is a most defining one for present circumstances globally. The challenges He overcame during His fourteen years of forest life, the unwavering stance of morals that He projected, the principles He steadfastly protected and human values He dedicatedly maintained demonstrate the route needed for spiritual, social and cultural uplift today. The daily oppression, dissension and unending pain that are daily ripping the world apart show a world in dire need of Shri Raam.
Most applicable to our situation today is Shri Raam’s handling of kidnapping, His utmost regard and gratitude to those who offered Him service and His firm abiding by righteousness and duty. Who can refute the necessity of following His example?
The Raam-Hanumaan relationship is one that speaks volumes of devotion and true service that gives unceasingly and asks for nothing in return. It authenticates the dictum that service to man is service to God and also that service to king or leader is service to oneself. No room is there for service with material and personal gains or for social mobility and recognition.
Whoever is on the route to social, political, moral and spiritual uplift can take lessons from every aspect of Shri Raam’s life. By imbibing His ideals, as individuals, as nations, as people of a global community, each of us can move closer towards the enhancement of peace and prosperity and attain to the state of utopian bliss, of Raam-raajya.
