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ram and sita
Ram and Sita are two of the main characters of the second Sanskrit epic: The Ramayana (7th to 3rd century BCE). A major part of the plot of this epic is the kidnap of Princess Sita and the story of Ram’s journey to get her back. To do this he enlists the help of both humans and monkeys, and builds a bridge across a small stretch of ocean to the island where Sita is being held captive, and he rescues her.
Image above courtesy of Wikipedia
RAMAYANA IN A NUTSHELL
According to Wikipedia: Sita, the princess of Mithila, is married to Rama, the prince of Ayodhya. Rama is forced to go on a 14-year exile and is accompanied by Sita and his brother Lakshmana. Ravana, the demon-king of Lanka, plots to abduct Sita, aided by Maricha, who transforms into a magical golden deer (Maya mriga, an illusional deer), that entices Sita.
While in exile in Dandaka forest, Rama goes after the deer and slays it. The magical deer gives a call of help in Rama's voice. Sita forces Lakshmana to go and help Rama, leaving her alone. Ravana comes disguised as an ascetic and kidnaps her. He imprisons her in the Ashoka Vatika grove of Lanka, until she is rescued by Rama, who slays Ravana in war.
RAMAYANA RECAP CONTINUED
According to Wikipedia:
When Rama doubts Sita's chastity, she undergoes a trial by fire (Agni Pariksha). Sita enters a burning pyre declaring that if she has been faithful to Rama let the fire not harm her; she comes out unscathed with the fire-god Agni as proof of her purity. Rama accepts Sita back and returns to Ayodhya, where they are crowned as king and queen.
In some adaptations of the Ramayana, Maya Sita which in Sanskrit translates to "illusional Sita" or Chaya Sita which in Sanskrit translates to “shadow Sita" is the illusionary duplicate of the goddess Sita (the heroine in the texts), who is abducted by the demon-king Ravana of Lanka instead of the real Sita.
Maya Sita is not Ram's Sita
Maya sita played a significant role in the ramayana
Some say that Maya Sita is actually Draupadi from the Ramayana reincarnated to endure the rape and abuse in place of Ram's Sita. This would explain why Sita passed her trial of chastity by fire afterwards.
Maya sita is like a shadow and protector of ram's sita
According to Wikipedia:
n some versions of the epic, the fire-god Agni creates Maya Sita which in Sanskrit translates to "illusional Sita" or Chaya Sita which in Sanskrit translates to “shadow Sita”. Maya Sita takes Ram Sita's place and is abducted by Ravana. Maya Sita allows the real Sita to hide from Ravana in the fire.
At Agni Pariksha, Maya Sita and the real Sita exchange places again. While some texts mention that Maya Sita is destroyed in the flames of Agni Pariksha, others narrate how she is blessed and reborn as the epic heroine Draupadi or the goddess Padmavati. Some scriptures also mention her previous birth being Vedavati, a woman Ravana tries to molest.
The Maya Sita motif saves Sita – the chief goddess of Rama-centric sects – from falling prey to Ravana's plot of abduction and safeguards her purity. Similar doubles or surrogates of Sita and other goddesses are found in various tales of Hindu mythology.
NASA discovers evidence of adam's bridge
Adam’s Bridge in the Context of the Ramayana
The ancient Indian Sanskrit epic Ramayana (7th century BCE to 3rd century CE) written by Valmiki mentions a bridge constructed by god Rama through his Vanara (ape-men) army to reach Lanka and rescue his wife Sita from the Rakshasa king, Ravana. The location of the Lanka of the Ramayana has been widely interpreted as being present-day Sri Lanka making this stretch of land Nala's or Rama's bridge. Analysis of several of the older Ramayana versions by scholars for evidence of historicity have led to the identification of Lankapura no further south than the Godavari River. These are based on geographical, botanical, and folkloristic evidences as no archaeological evidence has been found. Scholars differ on the possible geography of the Ramayana but several suggestions since the work of H.D. Sankalia locate the Lanka of the epic somewhere in the eastern part of present day Madhya Pradesh.
Adam's Bridge in the Bible is Identicle to Ram's Bridge!
According to Wkipedia: Sources describe Adam as crossing from Sri Lanka to India via the bridge after his expulsion from the Garden of Eden, leading to the name of Adam's Bridge.[ Alberuni (c. 1030) was probably the first to describe it in such a manner.[10] A British cartographer in 1804 prepared the earliest map that calls this area by the name Adam's bridge
Geographic Location of Adam's Bridge
miraculous discovery
The bridge that both Ram and Adam walked measures 30 miles long. It was passable by foot until 1480.
The Bible in the context of the ramayana
Bridge of the Sea
The western world first encountered it in Ibn Khordadbeh's Book of Roads and Kingdoms (c. 850), in which he refers to it as Set Bandhai or Bridge of the Sea. Some early Islamic sources refer to a mountain in Sri Lanka as Adam's Peak (where Adam supposedly fell to earth).
The Bible Ramayana Connection: Bridge to Sri Lanka
Sources describe Adam as crossing from Sri Lanka to India via the bridge after his expulsion from the Garden of Eden, leading to the name of Adam's Bridge.
Countless religions, countless names, countless faces; but only one mountain
According to Wikipedia: Adam's Peak is a 2,243 m (7,359 ft) tall conical mountain located in central Sri Lanka. It is well known for the Sri Pada (Sinhala: ශ්රී පාද), i.e., "sacred footprint", a 1.8 m (5 ft 11 in) rock formation near the summit, which in Buddhist tradition is held to be the footprint of the Buddha, in Hindu tradition that of Hanuman or Shiva (Tamil: சிவனொளிபாதமலை, lit. 'Sivanolip
Adam's bridge documented on maps throughout history
Cartographic Evidence of Adam's Bridge Documented in History Courtesy of Wikipedia
Alberuni (c. 1030) was probably the first to describe it in such a manner. A British cartographer in 1804 prepared the earliest map that calls this area by the name Adam's bridge.
the story of adam and eve from the bible
Adam and Eve in a Nutshell
Adam and Eve were the first man and woman. They are central to the belief that humanity is in essence a single family, with everyone descended from a single pair of original ancestors.
Adam is told that he can eat freely of all the trees in the garden, except for a tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Subsequently, Eve is created from one of Adam's ribs to be his companion. They are innocent and unembarrassed about their nakedness.
However, a serpent convinces Eve to eat fruit from the forbidden tree, and she gives some of the fruit to Adam. These acts not only give them additional knowledge, but it gives them the ability to conjure negative and destructive concepts such as shame and evil. God later curses the serpent and the ground. God prophetically tells the woman and the man what will be the consequences of their sin of disobeying God. Then he banishes them from the Garden of Eden.
Courtesy of Wikipedia
Leading to Adam's Journey to Sri Lanka
Adam was cast out of the garden, which is located geographically identically to where Ram is written to have resided for some time in the Ramayana, because he ate forbidden fruit from the Tree of Knowledge at the behest of Eve who had been seduced by the Serpent (also known as the Snake God that seduced Draupadi as documented in the Bheel Mahabarata). Eve did ok for herself-as an independent woman she exerted her free will and made the decision to go off with the devil,. Adam, not having that option, made the treacherous 38 mile hike across the sea to Sri Lanka in search of a new home. This is the same bridge Ram crossed to rescue Sita.
The indian culture: a culture of respect
Let’s Talk About Respect
Guidelines for Nurturing the Culture of Respect
Guidelines for Nurturing the Culture of Respect
In this world when someone agrees with us, we respect them. But when someone subordinate to us, especially if in public, completely rejects our opinion, then it’s very difficult to respect them. The Ramayan exemplifies the culture of respect that is Hinduism.
Guidelines for Nurturing the Culture of Respect
Guidelines for Nurturing the Culture of Respect
Guidelines for Nurturing the Culture of Respect
1)Considering oneself humble, considering oneself a part of the Universe and not the center - considering oneself not worthy of praise.
- Tolerance to abuse and criticism and continue doing the right thing.
- To expect no respect for oneself.
- Be ready to offer respect to others at all times in all places and circumstances.
2 Ways You Can Disrespect Another:
Guidelines for Nurturing the Culture of Respect
Historical Examples of India's Culture of Respect
- Commission : Thru conscious actions or words
- Omission : Failing to offer proper respect
Historical Examples of India's Culture of Respect
Historical Examples of India's Culture of Respect
Historical Examples of India's Culture of Respect
The Srimath Bhagvatam demonstrates through several stories where disrespect to others causes a downward spiral towards chaos and devastation through entrance into a loop of one problem after another. That is the karmic payback for disrespect.
As Per the Teachings of The Ramayana...
Historical Examples of India's Culture of Respect
As Per the Teachings of The Ramayana...
If we are not pure in our character and consciousness, then when we speak or perform a creative act, we are actually polluting the air with our energy.
When someone has gross material desires in their heart such as to be respected, to be appreciated, to be famous, to be rewarded, etc, and if this person is serving the community as a speaker or singer or performer, then the assembly who listens will naturally have some concerns in relation to the purity that is infused in their heart.
In contrast, a great soul is never falsely intoxicated with pride.
Disrespect Admonished in the Ramayana
Historical Examples of India's Culture of Respect
As Per the Teachings of The Ramayana...
Krishna’s son Samba, was a young boy and his friends dressed him up as a girl-and not just a girl but as a pregnant woman. Then when Dhurvastamuni and Naradamuni were approaching, the friends of Samba asked them, “ What do you think? Is it going to be a boy or a girl?” The Mahabharata describes how this situation was worse than just being disrespectful, it was making a mockery of two great spiritual leaders. The sages responded that neither will it be a boy or a girl, but a lump of iron, and Krishna’s entire family will be destroyed because of that piece of iron. Krishna’s entire family lineage was destroyed -Moshalila - due to disrespect of great souls.
examples of respect appear repeatedly throughout Ramayana
Ram Chandra: King of Kings-Avatar of Lord Vishnu-Setting an Example for Others-Demonstrates Respect
The culture of respect is also depicted in the Ramayan in the context of the story where Vibhishan, who was disrespected by his own brother Ravana for speaking the truth, flies thru the sky in his airplane to Ram in the enemy camp while the hunt for Sita was going on.
Ram leads the way by respecting everyone’s opinion. Ram doesn’t have to ask for anyone else’s opinion because he’s Ram. Ram is King of Kings. Ram Chandra does not need anyone’s counsel. But Ram shows respect by asking everyone what they think should be done to Vibhishan who has left the enemy camp after being kicked out. Ram asks people, “What do you think? What do you think of him? Should he be accepted or rejected?”
Another King present said, “Kill him” To this Ram said, “But what if he is a good man?”
The King responded, “My Lord, look at his family - His brothers are Ravana and Kumrakaran, his sister is SuparnaKA. He may look like a mango but on the inside he is stuffed with the bitter poison of neem leaves that is lack of consciousness. How can a mango fruit grow on a tree full of neem leaves?”
Others said imprison him. Others said to use him as a spy and send him back to the enemy camp to obtain more information.
Then Ram asked Hanuman what he thinks. Hanuman said, “ My Lord-just accept him. He has left his own brother and crossed an ocean to the other side, to the enemy camp, to surrender to you - and his only wish is to be of service to you. The actions he has taken alone demonstrate a tremendous willingness to surrender to you. Hanuman, who was also an expert at reading faces, also said, “When I look at his face and facial expressions, I see only good qualities and pure thoughts reflected from his mind”. Transcendental attributes in his character.
Ram Is Beloved for a Reason
Ram leads the way by respecting everyone’s opinion. Ram doesn’t have to ask for anyone else’s opinion because he’s Ram. Ram is King of Kings. Ram Chandra does not need anyone’s counsel. But Ram shows respect by asking everyone what they think should be done.
Acknowledgements:
H.G. Amarendra Das for his knowledge, wisdom, and devotion to all that he does in life, and for his passion for Krishna Consciousness. Most of all, for his undying love and support for Radha.
who was hanuman?
According to Wikipedia:
Hanuman symbolizes the human excellences of inner self-control, faith, and service to a cause, hidden behind the first impressions of a being who looks like an Ape-Man Vanara
Learn More About Hanuman
Some scholars have identified Hanuman as one potential inspiration for Sun Wukong, the Monkey King character in the Chinese epic adventure Journey to the West.
suparnaka the demon makes her appearance
The "KA' is representative of the demon Kali who has been running rampant throughout the Kali yuga.
In this scene, it is written that SuparnaKa, who is of the demon race and sister to Ravana the demon, falls in love with Ram even though he is clearly very much in love with Sita. SuparnaKa, being a demon and not wanting the best for others and thinking only of herself, insists that Ram leave Sita and marry her. Ram refuses.
Identifying characteristics of the demon suparnaka
Injuries to the nose, ill temper, violent nature, DISRESPECTFUL
SuparnaKA becomes enraged by Ram's refusal of her marriage proposal and turns into her true demon self. In this scene, Lakshman, Ram's brother, intervenes when SuparnaKA is no longer able to maintain the illusion of her human form and the demon surfaces. He was said to have inflicted injury to the nose of the demon. In this scene he is shown to be cutting off the nose of SuparnaKA.
NOBODY LIKES TO PLAY THE VILLAIN ROLE, BUT IT IS LIKE THE SAYING THAT WITHOUT BLACK THERE WOULD BE NO WHITE. SOMETIMES IN LIFE, THROUGH DIFFERENT REINCARNATIONS, WE ARE CALLED UPON BY THE COLLECTIVE WHOLE TO PLAY OUR PART IN SOCIETY. AT TIMES, THIS REQUIRES SERVING AS AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT NOt to do
Swami Saha