Raam-1
1. Introduction and Reasons of Birth
2. Childhood and Marriage
3. Var to Kaikeyee and Exile to Raam
4. Viraadh Vadh and Meeting With Muni
5. Agastya Muni, Jataayu, Panchvatee, Khar-Dooshan Vadh, Seetaa's Abduction
6. Friendship With Sugreev, Baali Vadh, Raam-Raavan War
7. Life in Ayodhyaa
8. Other Stories
Introduction:
Although it is an irony to write about Raam, because if we see logically,
the whole Raamaayan is about Him only. Still I consider it essential to
include it here because one Raamaayan doesn't give full description about
Him.
Raam was the eldest son of Raajaa
Dasharath from Kaushalyaa. The other three sons of Dasharath were
Lakshman,
Bharat and Shatrughn. He was Vishnu's Avataar appeared on Prithvi especially
to uplift Raavan and
Kumbhkarn and kill many other Raakshas. His life story has been given in
several Raamaayan. The first one is Raamaayan by Aadi Kavi Vaalmeeki Jee.
After that there are many Raamaayan written in many languages. In Northern
India, Tulasee's Raam Charit Maanas is famous among Hindi speaking people.
It is written in Avadhee language in Dohaa and Chaupaaee form. Here we will
refer to Raamaayan to Vaalmeeki Raamaayan and Maanas to Tulasee's Raam Charit
Maanas.
Because of being born in Raghu Vansh Raam is known by Raaghav, Raghu Raaj,
Raghunandan. He is known by Kaushalyaa Nandan, Dasharath Nandan etc names.
It is said that once once Raghu did a Vishwajeet Yagya and gave away all
his wealth to Braahman. Then came sage Kauts for help, and when he came to
know that there was nothing left, he was about to go back empty-handed.
Raghu stopped him and went to fight with Kuber who rained gold coins on
Ayodhyaa and Kauts could be satisfied with that money.
In fact there are three Raam, Raam of Seetaa's husband, Balaraam - Krishn's
elder brother and Parashuraam - a Kshatriya Braahman. Since the first Raam
was the husband of Shree that is why he is commonly known as "Shree
Raam"; the second Raam, Balaraam, was very mighty, that is why he is
most popularly known as "Balaraam"; and the third Raam always had
Pharasaa or Parashu with him as his weapon he is most popularly known as
"Parashuraam".
A bow represents Gyaan (Knowledge)
and the arrow represents Vivek (Discrimination) that is why Raam is always seen
with bow and arrow.
Read some exotic information about Raam's exile
from Padm Puraan.
The whole Paataal Khand of Padm Puraan is devoted to
Raam's
Ashwamedh Yagya.
For many other things to know read
Notes of V-Raamaayan.
Reasons of Raam Avataar
Raamaayan gives only one reason for Raam Avataar and that is because of the
nature of Raavan's Var. Kumbhkarn was already deprived with a proper Var so
killing him was not a problem. And as Raavan was to be killed surely, there
was no other way to kill him except by a human being, because he had already
asked in his Var that he should not be killed by Devtaa, Raakshas, Daitya or
Gandharv. He did not include human beings and monkeys because they were their
food, so he had no fear from them. That is why Vishnu had to appear in the
form of a human being.
Reasons of Raam Avataar
But Tulasee's Maanas gives several reasons of Raam
Avataar. When Shiv Jee is telling Kathaa of Raam to Paarvatee Jee, He
says - "Raam's birth are many and His Karm (actions) are many. In every
Kalp He takes Avataar and people tell
those stories in various ways." The first reason he gives is the
incident of Sanakaadi Muni. The second reason he gives
is because of Var to Kashyap Jee. The third reason he
tells is of Jalandhar Raakshas and his wife
Vrindaa. The fourth reason he gives is of
Naarad's Shaap. The fifth reason he gives is Var given
to Manu and Shatroopaa. The sixth reason he gives of
Braahman's Shaap to Raajaa Prataapbhaanu. The sixth
reason is partly the reason of Raavan's birth also.
All reasons are given on Next Page.
There is some additional information from Padm Puraan
given here. It gives a detailed information of some incidents.
Background of Raam's Life
From
V-Raamaayan, 7/20
Durvaasaa's Bhavishya Vaanee -
After the Launderer abused his wife in the name of Seetaa, Raam exiled Seetaa
and Lakshman went to leave Her in Vaalmeeki's Aashram. Lakshman was very sad
and told his grief to Sumantra who was Raam's Minister since Dasharath's times
and a good Saarathee too. After they left Seetaa, Lakshman lamented, "Oh,
alas! I will surely give up my life!" At this Sumantra tried to pacify him
and said to him the truth of the matter - "Once I was with Dasharath
Mahaaraaj, and at that time the two sages, Maharshi Vashishth and Durvaasaa Muni,
came to visit him. Mahaaraaj Dasharath served them very nicely and then asked
them to kindly tell him about the future of his four children. Vashishth remained
silent but Durvaasaa Muni responded by saying, "Oh, You have four sons. Very
good." Dasharath said, "Yes, first tell me about my Raam's future."
Durvaasaa Jee said, "Raam's future will undoubtedly be full of miseries. He
will have to leave Ayodhyaa, and everyone there will feel unbearable pain of
separation from Him. You will not be able to bear His absence, and you will
die in His separation. Raam will later have to be separated from his wife, and
after suffering immensely they will be reunited. Then again they will have to
be separated; and Raam will rule the kingdom alone without his wife. Do not tell
this to anyone." Dasharath was in complete shock, but he promised that he
would not speak even a word, what he had heard, to anyone else. He said to Durvaasaa,
"From today, I am your disciple."
Bhrigu's Shaap to Vaaman
Having heard this from Sumantra, Lakshman realized that his brother Raam is in
fact the Supreme Lord Vishnu. Sumantra continued telling Lakshman the story that
Durvaasaa Muni had told Dasharath once: "Once, a very big battle ensued between
the demigods and the demons. The demons were defeated and went to the wife of Bhrighu
Jee to take shelter; and, being very merciful, she gave them shelter. The demigods
went to Bhagavaan Vaaman and told him that Bhrigu's wife had given shelter to demons.
Vaaman Bhagavaan then took His Chakra and beheaded Bhrigu's wife. Bhrighu got very
upset at this and cursed Vaaman Bhavaan saying, "You are responsible for my
wife's death. I loved her very much. Now I will have to suffer so much in separation
from her. For this I curse you that you will have to suffer in the same way in the
future. You will have a very beautiful wife who will serve you in every way. You
will be fully satisfied and completely enamored with her feminine grace and charm,
and her saintly qualities. You will then be separated from her, and you will always
suffer immensely from that pain of separation." Hearing this, Bhagavaan Vaaman
happily accepted the curse. He knew that in the future the whole world would be
benefited by this.
Names of Raam
Raam is known by several names --
Ayodhyaa-pati
Dasharath-putra
Dasharath-sut
Jaanakee-vallabh
Raam,
Kaushalyaa-nandan,
Raaghav
Raghu-nandan
Raghu-pati
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