Ram Charit Manas.
According to sage Valmiki, the Ramayana period was the golden age of India. Ramayana is the best book in all the literature of the world. Its impact has been deeply imprinted on the life of people. Shri Ram Chandra is considered to be the ideal embodiment of respect for parents, teachers, brotherhood, emotion, sacrifice, social organization and best governance.
Indian culture had existed before the Vedic period. The kingdoms of Surya dynasty and Som dynasty were established in Bharat Varsh.
Those kingdoms were Ayodhya, Vaishali, Kashi, Panchal, Kanyakubj, Mahishmati, Turvasu, Hastinapur, Kadhar, Titakshu and Kalinga. These kingdoms were interconnected & united culturally.
There were ashrams of sages, at various places. Vedas, Upanishads, Ayurveda, astrology etc. and usage of weapons were taught in these ashrams/gurukuls.
Four types of ashrams, were established, by these kingdoms, initially to meet requirements, of society, based on one’s stage of life, & address individuals’ requirements.
For example brahmacharya Ashram was meant for education of children,
Grihastha Ashram was meant for counseling of adults, Vanaprastha for welfare of middle aged people
and Sanyas ashram was for spiritual & welfare needs of elderly people.
For effective management of the ashrams, a social system was created/constituted based on skill sets of people. Understand that varnas got evolved, subsequently from this social system, only.
These Ashramas also provided a framework for the various stages and responsibilities in a person’s life and served as a guide for leading a balanced and meaningful life, ultimately leading to spiritual growth and liberation (moksha).
The concept of Ashramas, subsequently represented the four stages of life that an individual typically goes through.
These stages are:
1. Brahmacharya Ashrama: This is the stage of student life. During this period, individuals focus on education, self-discipline, and celibacy. It is a time of learning and preparing for adulthood.
2. Grihastha Ashrama: This is the stage of householder life. In this stage, individuals marry, raise a family, pursue a career, and actively participate in society. They are responsible for their family’s well-being and contribute to their community.
3. Vanaprastha Ashrama: This is the stage of retirement or forest-dweller life. After fulfilling their duties as householders, individuals in this stage gradually detach from material possessions and worldly responsibilities. They may choose to life in seclusion, devote more time to spiritual pursuits, and pass on their knowledge and wisdom to the younger generation.
4. Sannyasa Ashrama: This is the stage of renunciation. At this point, individuals completely renounce worldly attachments and live a life of spiritual contemplation and detachment from material possessions. They may wander as ascetics, focusing solely on spiritual realization.
Vedas were composed by Rishis and sages, & knowledge was transferred orally. Storytellers used to narrate stories of kings, kingdoms & the ashrams, to the general public orally, They used to change or improve the stories according to general interest of public and the then social needs.
As we are aware that India has been bound in the chains of slavery for almost 1200 years, but the morale and moral courage of the Hindu race remained intact, due to oral transfer of a very rich history of India, to successive generations. Even during colonial era, the story of Ram was narrated in the village chaupalas. Every child wanted to follow the ideals of Ramayana.
In this period too, literature based on Ram Katha had been continuously being composed.
These stories contributed in increasing the morale of the Hindus.
Such legends emerged in the field of religion, culture and literature, which subsequently led powerful movements for the protection of religion and culture. Our ancestors made sacrifices, but did not allow their culture to be affected, by invaders.
It is pertinent to mention here that
today in independent India, if someone raises his voice for the protection of Hindu religion, he is not only silenced by being called a fundamentalist, but he is also tortured, so much that he cannot raise his voice at all.
Is there any other country in the world whose majority people have to be humiliated at every step.
We had sages like Swami Vivekananda, who worked to gain the lost prestige of Sanatana Dharma from time to time.
But I pity on some of those unrighteous Hindus, whose corrupt mind is now hell-bent & have been insulting our common ancestors.
They may name their children as Ram, Krishna, Hanuman etc, but still say that all these are myths.
Such people forgot the teachings of Ramayana. The “Ram Charit Manas” is an epic poem written by the Indian saint and poet Tulsidas. It is a retelling of the ancient Indian epic, the Ramayana, which narrates the life and adventures of Lord Rama, an incarnation of the Hindu god Vishnu. The teachings and themes of the Ram Charit Manas include:
1. Devotion to Lord Rama: The primary message of the text is devotion and surrender to Lord Rama as the supreme divine being. It emphasizes the importance of a loving and unwavering connection with God.
2. Dharma (Righteousness): The Ram Charit Manas underscores the importance of upholding dharma (righteousness) in one’s life. Lord Rama is portrayed as the embodiment of dharma, and the text encourages individuals to follow his example in their own lives.
3. Morality and Virtue: The epic promotes moral and virtuous living. It teaches the values of truth, honesty, humility, compassion, and selflessness through the actions and character of Lord Rama and other key figures.
4. Role of Satsang: The text highlights the significance of satsang, which refers to the company of the virtuous and the spiritually inclined. Associating with those who are on a spiritual path is believed to help individuals on their own spiritual journey.
5. Detachment and Surrender: Ram Charit Manas teaches the concept of detachment from material desires and the surrender of one’s ego to God. This surrender is seen as a path to liberation (moksha).
6. Importance of Hanuman: The text also emphasizes the importance of Hanuman, Lord Rama’s loyal devotee. Hanuman serves as a symbol of unwavering devotion, strength, and humility.
7. Narration of Lord Rama’s Life: Ram Charit Manas provides a detailed narrative of Lord Rama’s life, including his birth, exile, battles against evil forces, and his return to Ayodhya. These stories serve as both a source of entertainment and spiritual instruction.
8. Bhakti (Devotion): Bhakti, or devotional love for God, is a central theme. It encourages individuals to cultivate a loving and personal relationship with God through prayer, worship, and selfless service.
9. Importance of Ram Rajya: The Ram Charit Manas envisions the ideal society, known as Ram Rajya, where justice, equality, and righteousness prevail. It serves as a model for good governance.
These teachings and themes in the Ram Charit Manas have had a profound influence on Hindu spirituality and culture, and it continues to be widely read and revered by millions of people in India and beyond.
After independence, secular governments not only removed the story of Ram from the curriculum of school text books, but also started throwing mud on the ideal characters of Ramayana. It is unbearable.
There had been a conspiracy to destroy religion and culture. No self-respecting person would like to defame his revered great men. Therefore, anti-Hindu religious statements should be immediately removed from school syllabus.
If we want to establish an ideal society, we will have to follow the ideals of Ramayana. Ramayana should be recited daily in every home. Ram Van Gaman Marg should be developed from Ayodhya to Sri Lanka. Yatras should be organized on festivals like Ram Navami, Sita Navami, Dussehra, Diwali etc.
We have to teach a lesson to those who call our great men, incarnations and our religious texts as myths.
Myth means an idea of the general public about a natural or historical event, which is infact a pure imaginary plot.
We should create more and more Ram Katha literature.
Wake up Hindus, listening to insults of your ancestors is a heinous crime. If you remain silent, God will not forgive you and future generations will curse you.