U Lakshman Rao
One day, from the divine throne radiating the brilliance of a million suns—the source of all creation, where the world exists in Him as the eternal element—sat the most excellent and unique One, Lord Shiva, the three-eyed God of cosmic dance, immersed in deep meditation. Beside Him, seated gracefully on His left, was the daughter of Himavan, Parvati, who, with gentle reverence, addressed Him:
“O Deva! You are the wellspring of the oceans of spiritual wisdom, the eternal witness of all souls. O Parameswara! I seek to understand the noblest of virtues practiced in the ancient world. You, who are the primordial force of dissolution, whose narration flows with divine grace—I ask, by what practice may mortals cross the pool of grief? Speak, I pray, in simple words and paths that even the humble may follow. O God of fine, compassionate eyes, I long to know the secret essence of Srirama, whose grace alone grants redemption. To be freed from the cycles of birth and death, Rama is the surest path. Remove the hesitation that clouds my heart, for I seek truth with a mind focused on the Supreme Awareness—knowledge incarnate, indivisible wisdom, the master of the three gunas—the ultimate refuge of the devoted.”
Though Srirama is supreme, many fail to perceive His true nature, shrouded as it is in divine illusion. With serene affection, Lord Shiva replied: “Blessed are you, Devi, for your yearning to know the truth of Rama arises from a pure and sacred impulse. None before have inspired me to unveil these secrets of Rama’s eternal philosophy. I bow to Srirama and will reveal His essence to you.
Srirama is the supreme and the highest. He transcends the three gunas—sattva, rajas, and tamas—the foundational elements of the material universe. He is a cloud of bliss, unparalleled in nature, the soul of souls. Through illusion, He created the universe, permeating within and without, sustaining all by His will. Just as metal lies inert until drawn by the magnet’s force, so does the universe stir only by His divine will. And yet, shrouded in ignorance, humanity fails to recognize this truth. Deluded minds equate their limited understanding with elevated souls, wandering in confusion, unable to recognize the priceless jewel—the soul immersed in Rama, hanging unnoticed at their necks.
They assign their ignorance to Rama, as if the radiant sun could have blemishes. In truth, He is beyond nature, untouched by illusion. He is pure knowledge, devoid of darkness. Those who chase pleasure believe all things equal, but it is merely a distortion of perception. Rama’s consciousness is flawless. Illusion cannot touch Him.
In ancient times, Rama destroyed the demonic empire ruled by the cruel king Ravana. After the victory, He returned to Ayodhya with Sita, Lakshmana, the monkey warriors, and Hanuman, where He was anointed upon the throne, shining like the midday sun, surrounded by sage Vasishtha and holy seers. Among them stood Hanuman, pure in thought and unwavering in devotion—free from sin and full of divine knowledge. To him, Srirama said, “O Sita, Hanuman is worthy. Bless him with the knowledge of My eternal nature.” The daughter of Janaka, the enchantress of the cosmos, bowed and replied, “I shall do as you say, my Lord.”
She began: “O Hanuman, know Rama as the One without second—non-dual, supreme awareness, beyond the play of the phenomenal world. He is untouched by desire, aversion, or fear. He is stainless, self-luminous, ever-conscious of His own true nature. He is untainted, fearless, and eternal. Know me as the source of creation, preservation, and dissolution. The whole divine play is authored by Me, though it is attributed to Rama through ignorance. The tale unfolds thus:
Born in Ayodhya to King Dasharatha of the Ikshvaku lineage, He protected Vishvamitra’s sacred rites, redeemed Ahalya from the curse of Gautama, broke Shiva’s bow in Mithila, and married Me. He humbled the pride of Parashurama, lived in Ayodhya for twelve years, and then entered exile in Dandakaranya. There He slew the demon Viradha, encountered the deceitful Maricha disguised as a golden deer, and faced the abduction of My shadow form. He embraced Jatayu in his final moments, purified Kabandha, and guided Sabari to the Supreme. He allied with Sugriva, defeated Vali, launched the search for Me, built a bridge across the ocean, and waged war upon Lanka. He vanquished Ravana and his kin, crowned Vibhishana, and returned in the Pushpaka chariot. All these acts, though manifest through Rama, are expressions of My divine will. The innocent assign them to Rama, yet He is ever still, for He is omnipresent—hence beyond movement. He is the ocean of joy—hence untouched by sorrow. He is perfect—free from desire and dualities. He is complete—thus not subject to change. As the source of all action, He requires no separate deed to act.
Rama abides by the laws of the world through His illusory form, yet the wise, perceiving His true nature, attain supreme insight. Those lost in endless debates of doctrine cannot reach Me, even in a hundred lifetimes. O faithful one, this is the secret philosophy of Rama.”
Then Lord Shiva turned to Parvati and said: “Listen well, Devi. Rama is ancient, the ruler of all worlds. Hear now the tale of His divine incarnation. Once, Mother Earth, burdened by Ravana’s tyranny, approached Brahma and shared her sorrow. Brahma, acknowledging that he had granted boons to the sons of Vishravas, now saw the devastation caused by Ravana, their king. With his arrogance, Ravana tormented kings, sages, and even divine realms. Brahma declared that Ravana’s end would come at the hands of a man. They sought the aid of Vishnu, who replied:
‘In a former age, I was pleased by the penance of Kasyapa and promised to be born as his son. Now, he is King Dasharatha of Ayodhya. I shall be born as his son, divided into four forms, to Kausalya and the other queens. Sita, the yogamaya, shall be born as Janaka’s daughter and vanish into the illusion.’
Brahma announced: ‘Vishnu shall be born in the Raghu dynasty. You all must take birth as monkeys and aid Him.’ Consoled, Earth returned, and the gods incarnated as vanaras, awaiting Rama’s advent.
Thus, the Ramavatara was not merely a divine intervention but a descent of supreme virtue. His life, chronicled in the Ramayana by sage Valmiki, transcended epic poetry to become a living scripture—a beacon of moral conduct and spiritual evolution. In an age when unrighteousness prevailed, Rama appeared not to perform miracles, but to demonstrate righteous living amidst human trials—moral dilemmas, exile, and warfare.
His life was the embodiment of dharma. As an ideal king, son, husband, and brother, each role He played offers a luminous model for humanity. His respect for elders, truthfulness, compassion, and unwavering commitment to righteousness revealed how to live a life of discipline, integrity, and grace. The exile to the forest, the battle with Ravana—these mirror the soul’s inner journey against ego, desire, and delusion. Rama’s tale is a metaphor for spiritual mastery and liberation.
Across millennia, cultures and nations found unity in His story. From India to Southeast Asia, His influence permeated art, music, dance, law, and governance. Ramarajya became the symbol of just rule and social harmony. Spiritually, Ramavatara illuminated the path to liberation not through renunciation alone, but through righteous action in the world. His path—through devotion, knowledge, and service—leads to the divine.
In His trials, Rama showed resilience amid sorrow, balance in joy, and faith in divine order. Hanuman’s surrender exemplifies the soul’s devotion to the divine; Sita’s strength and purity symbolize grace amidst suffering, and her return to Earth the soul’s final union with the eternal. The legacy of Rama does not end with His earthly life—it lives on in every heart that seeks truth, practices virtue, and walks the path of dharma.
The purpose of Ramavatara was not merely the defeat of a demon but the affirmation of cosmic order through the perfection of human conduct. Its eternal relevance lies in the ideals it sanctified, the societies it shaped, and the souls it continues to elevate. Rama walks ahead—not merely as a king or a hero—but as an eternal guide on the journey from ignorance to enlightenment.
