LORD RAM, THE HUMAN AVATAR OF LORD VISHNU? IS HE? IS HE NOT?

Here’s a clichéd question, nonetheless it must be asked! You have read the holy Ramayana, haven’t you? Yes, it’s a tale of God, Lord Vishnu to be exact, descending upon Earth in human form, Lord Rama, and imparting lessons of virtue, righteousness, dharma and spirituality. It’s a tale teeming with action and wisdom, brimming with romance and adventure…a saga that has stirred the world for millennia…a saga depicting a battle between good and evil and the former always emerging triumphant. We all know this, don’t we? But, the question that prowls is this…was it really just a story of a great King?

In spite of the Ramayana’s historic antiquity, don’t we hear the resonance of the word ‘Aam’, connoting ordinary, in the word Ram? Yes, Ram was also a human, just like you and me. For that matter, he was not just the 10th, but the most human avatar of Lord Vishnu. Ram was also bound by relationships, emotions, duties and responsibilities. When he was young, he was the perfect son, then he was the idyllic husband, the ideal brother and the ideal leader.

So, if he was just like you and me, why do we look to him for inspiration? I’ll tell you why!

Lord Ram’s story is a stoic reminder to all of us that our relations make us who we are. When we learn to value them, fight for them and their rights, we emerge as true heroes. Here are some wisdoms that we learn from Lord Ram and if we embrace them, they will make our lives virtuous.

Lord Ram was a dedicated student – As sage Valmiki writes it, Lord Ram acquired education from the prodigious Vasishta and later Vishwamitra. Now, Ram did not get his skills by virtue of who he was (an affluent son) he had to toil like any other student to prove his salt. Even when he was asked to slay a rakshasa (demon), despite initial hesitation, he followed his ‘guru’s’ orders diligently.

He was a dutiful son – When King Dasaratha asked Ram to follow his orders of going to exile for a term of 14 years and coronate his brother instead as King of Ayodhya, he immediately obliged. His reverence was so intense that not only did he oblige, he also showed no bitterness towards anyone. When the residents of Ayodhya tried to stop Ram from leaving, he stopped them asking them to respect everyone and stay in peace. He exhibited his nobility and generosity.

He was a loving husband – Like any other husband, Ram adored his wife. He admired her and tried to ensure that all her desires are met, despite the adversities of living in the wild. At a period when polygamy was permissible, Ram remained faithful to Sita alone. When Sita was abducted, Ram resigned food sulked all the while uttering Sita’s name. Ram journeyed all alone in the unknown in search of his wife. Isn’t this something that any of us who has lost his wife will do?

He was a supportive brother – Lakshmana, Bharatha and Shatrughna were Ram’s three brothers and for him no one was superior than the other. Ram and Lakshmana are an ideal example of how brothers should live. They show us the path to love and affection.

He was a fierce leader – Ram permits his adversaries to take refuge with him and forgives them. He then spearheads the enormous ape army into the land of the Demon King Raavan and conquer him. The familiar age old adage of the ‘Good over Evil’!

The tale of Ramayan is not just about one hero, there were numerous. Who can forget the devotion of Lakshman when he became Ram and Sita’s shadow in their dark gloomy days? Who can forget the sacrifices of Bharath when he gave up his desire to rule the powerful Kingdom of Ayodhya only because of his love for Ram? Who can forget Hanuman, the monkey God, who showed us the true meaning of being someone’s disciple? And most importantly, who can forget the devotion of Raavan, the nemesis in Ramayan and his devotion toward Lord Shiva and Ram?

How can we overlook the fearlessness with which Sita stood by Ram through his struggles in exile when she could have just stayed back and enjoyed the spoils of the palace? When she was abducted by Raavan and while Ram was still planning her rescue, it was she who courageously fought for her own vanity. When Ram tried to malign her, she not only fought for her own right, but also resorted to an ashram and unaided looked after herself and her twin boys. Her valor is unarguable and is an idol for every woman across the globe.

In our lives, don’t we play these roles every now and then? Ram is not a superior force, he was like any of us, a husband, a brother, a son, a leader. Despite the fact that he was the reincarnation of Lord Vishnu, he was as human and as ‘aam’ as any of us. While we look for inspiration in our vedic tales of Ramayana and Mahabharata, have we ever looked within us? We have the true capacity to inspire ourselves and become a beacon of light for someone else, just the Lord Ram! Ram was also not immaculate. He was as blemished as any of us. But he swiftly recognized his inadequacy and labored hard to overcome them. Shouldn’t that be the purpose of all our lives – to work toward our betterment and finally for the state? It all starts with us drawing inspiration from Ram and allowing him to emerge from within us. Its only when you overcome your shortcomings, you become a Ram from the Aam! If we prioritize our goals in our lives, we become extraordinary from the ordinary. You see, there’s a fine line that draws between the two.