Spiritual(ism)
The noble prince Rama expressed his intent to cross the sacred Ganga. Guha, the tribal king and Rama’s devoted ally, gathered his trusted aides and instructed them: “Prepare a sturdy, well-crafted boat, one fit to endure the turbulent currents and rough tides. Select an experienced seaman, one well-versed in the river’s winding courses and hidden…
Rama had a steadfast and loyal friend in Guha, the chief of the hunters’ clan and ruler of a tribal principality. Upon learning that Rama had set foot on his land, Guha, accompanied by his scholars and relatives, hastened to meet him. From a distance, Rama noticed Guha approaching and, together with Lakshmana, went forward…
A closer gaze at the sacred Ganga unveils a scene of sheer marvel. In some places, frothy clusters gather, while in others, the water bubbles like milk flowing in abundance. At times, its flow intertwines like a maiden’s plait with loose ends, while elsewhere, it swirls with such force that it draws in anything in…
Rama, ever steadfast in his resolve to honour his word, journeyed tirelessly through the night, arriving at the borders of the kingdom by dawn. With the first rays of the sun, they offered their morning salutations to Aditya and resumed their path, navigating the natural demarcations of the land. Rama observed with wonder the finely…
Upon gazing at the tranquil waters of the Tamasa River, Rama spoke to Sita and Lakshmana with calm resolve: “Let us rest here tonight on the serene and sanctified banks of this river. This marks the first day of our sojourn into the forest. Sita, Lakshmana, be at ease; cast aside your worries. The forest…
Kausalya, heavy with sorrow over the exile of Rama, gazed upon her husband, King Dasharatha, whose health had withered under the weight of guilt and grief. Lying semi-conscious on his cot, he heard her anguished words, tinged with bitterness and despair. She lamented: “O King, Kaikeyi’s nature mirrors that of a coiled serpent. She has…
In the timeless halls of Kaikeyi’s palace, where the echoes of joy once rang, sorrow now descended like a shroud. The women, their hearts tethered to Rama’s virtue and care, sank into despair. Rama, their protector and guide, who had been the source of their confidence and serenity, had left for the forest. The anguish…
Sita, Rama, and Lakshmana approached King Dasharatha with reverence, touching his feet and folding their hands in humility. They circumambulated him, seeking his blessings, and then turned to Queen Kausalya to receive her permission, which she granted with tender grace. Lakshmana, with folded hands, then faced his mother, Sumitra, who spoke words of wisdom and…
The King listened to Rama’s words with profound attention, his heart heavy with the sense that this might be the last conversation with his beloved son, now standing before him as a paragon of ascetic virtue and walking sanctity. Though he longed to speak, no words escaped his lips, his mind engulfed in a trance-like…
“O King, having renounced wealth to embrace an ascetic life in the forest, what use do I have for luxuries or attendants? Having gifted a mighty elephant, why would one retrieve its harness, tied around its neck? After the noblest of donations, to ask for the return of an empty bag is a futile endeavor….
