WITH THE GREAT
Picture taken from: https://krish1973.wordpress.com
20. RAMA IN EXILE
Evidence for Ramayana
Every type of investigation done so far has revealed innumerable clues to the events and dates of Ramayana. People have walked the route taken by Rama as mentioned in the Ramayana, and found connections existing. They have fed the astronomical data from the Ramayana into computers and found the exact dates of important events, as mentioned in the Ramayana of Valmiki. There is lot of evidence from Sri Lankan history too.
Archaeological excavations in and around Ayodhya have revealed many things. NASA satellite photos have confirmed the existence of an ancient bridge between India and Lanka. Yet the so called secular outfits and the leading newspapers like the Times of India and The Hindu do not report these things fully or fairly, if at all. And they call themselves champions of freedom and rational and scientific! Oh,shit!
This bridge was being used as land route between India and Sri Lanka for thousands of years. King Asoka’s son Mahendra and daughter Sanghamitra had used this bridge to go to Sri Lanka more than 2,300 years back. Muslims believe that Adam had gone to Adam hill in Sri Lanka for penance by making use of this bridge. A gazette notification issued by British Govt on Madras Presidency in 1803 has stated that Rama Setu was being used as land link between Tamil Nadu and Sri Lanka until 15th century AD when it got damaged and submerged due to cyclone and storm. Dutch and French maps drawn in 16 th and 17th centuries show this Rama Setu as operational land route between Rameswaram (India) and Talai Mannar (Sri Lanka) – available in Saraswati Mahal Library, Tanjore.From: https://kalyan97. wordpress.com.
Marco Polo (13th century )also mentioned about this bridge.
The western world first encountered it in "historical works in the 9th century" by Ibn Khordadbeh in his Book of Roads and Kingdoms (c. AD 850), referring to it is Set Bandhai or "Bridge of the Sea".[18] Later, Alberuni described it. The earliest map that calls this area by the name Adam's bridge was prepared by a British cartographer in 1804.[2][7][19] Some early Islamic sources refer to a mountain in Sri Lanka as Adam's Peak, where Adam supposedly fell to earth, and describes Adam as crossing from Sri Lanka to India on what became known as Adam's Bridge.[20]
Extracts from an entry in Wikipedia.
This is an illustration from the Persian translation of Ramayana by Akbar. It shows vanaras building the bridge.
17th century.
Arunagirinatha's fascination with Rama
Why is Arunagirinatha, an ardent devotee of Muruga, so fascinated with Rama and Krishna?
Rama and Krishna are part of our history and national consciousness. Today, they may be considered sectarian deities, but in their day and time, they were representatives of the Sanatana Dharma which was common. All the sects rose after them. They are thus part of the common heritage of Bharat. Every poet worth his name has sung about them, or referred to them in their works.It is only under the influence of the Aryan Invasion theory that some groups are disputing historical facts. Because they are in power, they get away with it! But the Aryan Invasion theory, a 19th century concoction of British colonial interests, has itself been shown to be unscientific rubbish, by subsequent scientific evidence. Yet our Dravidian champions would not revise their old opinions.
Arunagirinatha singing about them has an added significance. He was inspired by Muruga himself to write his hymns. It is therefore authoritative.சத்திய வாக்கு. Tayumanavar sang:
ஐயா அருணகிரி அப்பா உனைப்போல
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மெய்யாக வோர்சொல் விளம்பினர்யார் -
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Master, Arunagiri, my Father! Whoever spoke a matchless word of truth like you!
Rama sent into the forest
Arunagiri has sung about every main incident of the Ramayana. The Avataric story unfolds only with Rama going to the forest. Kaikeyi is the instrument for this.
Rama has lived happily with Sita for twelve years after marriage in Ayodhya. For some inexplicable reason, Dasaratha is suddenly seized of anxiety about his old age (he has been old for long!) and wants to make Rama the Yuvaraja- while he is still alive. And in a hurry he gets the consent of all concerned and decides to have the ceremony on the very next day! But Kaikayi intervenes and binds the King with his own words and manages to make him consent to crowning Bharatha and sending Rama to the forest for 14 years. She sends for Rama, and tells him bluntly that he has to go to the Dandakaranya (this is mentioned specifically in Ayodhya kanda,Sarga 19, sloka 37) and that the same material collected for his coronation should be used for Bharatha! And it is her turn now to be in a hurry- she wants Rama to leave for the forest immediately. Neither the announcement of his coronation,nor its sudden reversal and order to go to the forest makes the least change in him.
An old painting- Rama and Sita in the forest, with Lakshmana in the background.
From: www.stephen-knapp.com
From: www.stephen-knapp.com
Arunagirnatha captures all this beautifully.
தாடகையு ரங்க டிந்தொளிர்
மாமுனிம கஞ்சி றந்தொரு
தாழ்வறந டந்து திண்சிலை ...... முறியாவொண்
ஜாநகித னங்க லந்தபின்
ஊரில்மகு டங்க டந்தொரு
தாயர்வ சனஞ்சி றந்தவன்
How fast is Arunagirinatha taking us!
Rama destroys the might of Thataka.
He guards the yajna of the great Rishi and ensures its completion.
And he walks, giving life to the stone (Ahalya)
He breaks the bow and marries Janaki.
Then he sacrifices his crown in his own place, and keeps the words of one of his matchless mothers!
Such is the excellence of Rama!
Our master has covered twelve years in these few lines!
எனதுமொழி வழுவாமல் நீயேகு கான்மீதி
லெனவிரகு குலையாத மாதாவு நேரோத
இசையுமொழி தவறாம லேயேகி மாமாது ...... மிளையோனும்
இனிமையொடு வருமாய மாரீச மானாவி
குலையவரு கரதூஷ ணாவீரர் போர்மாள
இறுகிநெடு மரமேழு தூளாக வேவாலி ...... யுயிர்சீறி
அநுமனொடு கவிகூட வாராக நீராழி
யடைசெய்தணை தனிலேறி மாபாவி யூர்மேவி
அவுணர்கிளை கெடநூறி யாலால மாகோப ...... நிருதேசன்
அருணமணி திகழ்பார வீராக ராமோலி
யொருபதுமொர் கணைவீழ வேமோது போராளி
அடல்
Again, he is in a fast forward mode!
The mother, who is not short of treachery (guile), tells him directly: "Proceed to the forest, without refusing my words.."
Rama does obey these words without fail.
He proceeds to the forest, willingly accompanied by his wife, like Lakshmi and his younger brother.
There comes the maya deer Maricha and loses his life.
Kara and Dushana are killed.
The seven strong Palmyra trees are pierced and destroyed and Vaali is killed.
Then with Hanuman accompanied by his Vanara forces, he builds the bridge across the sea, and walking over it reaches Lanka, the city of the big sinner Ravana and destroys the clans of the Rakshasas.
Ravana comes with terrible anger, like the Halakala poison, with heads well decorated with heavy crowns fixed with jewels. Rama fells them all with just one arrow- such is the great fighter Vishnu
திருவைக் கொண்டொரு தண்டக வனமிசை
வரவச் சங்கொடு வந்திடு முழையுடல்
சிதறக் கண்டக வெங்கர னொடுதிரி ...... சிரனோடு
திரமிற் றங்கிய கும்பக னொருபது
தலைபெற் றும்பரை வென்றிடு மவனொடு
சிலையிற் கொன்றமு குந்தன
He continues:
Rama reaches Dandaka forest with Sita, the Avatara of Lakshmi.
There a deer (deer is male, female is doe) comes, with eyes revealing fear. He is killed and his body torn to pieces. Then, Karan, Trisiras, Kumbakarna, ten-headed Ravana and Indrajit who conquered the Devas are all killed with the might of his bow by Rama (Mukundan).
Here comes Ravana
Ravana was accomplished in several ways. He was mighty beyond comparison and controlled even the elements.Kambar says about him:
வாரணம் பொருத மார்பும்,வரையினை எடுத்த தோளும்
தாரணி மவுலி பத்தும் சங்கரன் கொடுத்த வாளும்
Ravana fought with the dik-gajas. He shook the Kailas mountain. He had crowns on his ten heads. He had the sword given by Lord Shiva.
Arunagirinatha describes these things:
அனல்விடுஞ் செக்கட் டிக்கய மெட்டும்
பொரவரிந் திட்டெட் டிற்பகு திக்கொம்
பணிதருஞ் சித்ரத் தொற்றையு ரத்தன் ...... திடமாக
அடியொடும் பற்றிப் பொற்கயி லைக்குன்
றதுபிடுங் கப்புக் கப்பொழு தக்குன்
றணிபுயம் பத்துப் பத்துநெ ரிப்புண் ...... டவனீடுந்
தனதொரங் குட்டத் தெட்பல டுக்குஞ்
சரியலன் கொற்றத் துக்ரவ ரக்கன்
தசமுகன் கைக்குக் கட்கம ளிக்கும் ...... பெரியோனுந்
Ravana was mighty beyond comparison, even among Rakshasas.
Ravana fought with the elephants guarding the eight directions, with eyes emitting fire. The tusks of the elephants broke, and Ravana's chest shone with the broken pieces stuck there.
With all his might, he tried to pluck Kailas from its roots. The twenty arms resembling mountains got crushed.
He could not stand the least part of the little toe of Lord Shiva.
Lord Shiva, the Mahadeva, presented this Rakshasa with such might, with a sword for his hands.
This is said in another hymn too.
வலித்துத் தோள்மலை ராவண னானவன்
எடுத்தப் போதுடல் கீழ்விழ வேசெய்து
மகிழ்ப்பொற் பாதசி வாயந மோஅர ...... சம்பு
When Ravana tried to lift the Kailas mountain, Lord Shiva just pressed his little toe a bit, and Ravana fell down. Thus the Lord enjoyed! Such are the golden Feet of the Lord, the master of the Panchakshara. He is 'Hara'- one who removes our sins. He is also Sambhu- the source of well being. (Sukham)
Elsewhere, Ravana was described as one having a mighty body and brave.
அரிய மேனி யிலங்கையி ராவணன்
வீரத்தில் வல ராவணனார்!
Yes, Arunagiri is calling him "Ravananaar"!
Yet, with all this, he was destroyed, with his clan.What led to his destruction?
Shurpanaka, Vibhishana's sister!
He used all his accomplishments for selfish ends, adopting evil ways.In the final analysis, the evil one does catches up with him, and he has to render proper account. But as the story unfolds he is killed by Rama. That was because he abducted Sita. But what made him do that? It was Shurpanaka, his sister, who incited him to go after Sita. But why did she do that? Shurpanaka's husband had been killed by Ravana and this was her way of taking revenge. In the process, she causes the destruction of the whole clan. All this is revealed by Arunagirinatha, following Kambar.
மூக்கறை மட்டைம காபல காரணி
சூர்ப்பந கைப்படு மூளியு தாசனி
மூர்க்க குலத்திவி பீஷணர் சோதரி ...... முழுமோடி
மூத்தவ ரக்கனி ராவண னோடியல்
பேற்றிவி ட
Here, he reveals what she did.
Shurpanaka was with the cut nose. She was idiotic. She was very powerful. She was with bodily imperfections. She did not command respect or notice. She was from the wild Rakshasa clan. She was the sister of Vibhishana. She was full of magic tricks. She went and told her elder brother Ravana about the beauty of Sita and incited his passion. She thus became "kaarani'- காரணி the cause!.
Two things deserve attention here.
She is called the sister of Vibhishana- not Kumbhakarna! Vibhishana was a Rakshasa, but with a noble disposition. With all the adjectives that have been used to describe her, she is called the sister of Vibhishana- who was noble! This refers to the story of their previous birth. In that birth, Vibhishana was a student of her father, but she desired to marry him. But Vibhishana had declined, treating her as his sister as she was the daughter of his Guru. Enraged by the non-fulfilment of her desire, she accused him of false conduct and had him punished by the king. He prayed to his Upasana murti- Adishesha. Adisesha told him that this would be righted in the next birth. So, she was now born as Vibhishana's sister, and Lakshmana, the Avatara of Adisesha cut her nose!
She is called the sister of Vibhishana- not Kumbhakarna! Vibhishana was a Rakshasa, but with a noble disposition. With all the adjectives that have been used to describe her, she is called the sister of Vibhishana- who was noble! This refers to the story of their previous birth. In that birth, Vibhishana was a student of her father, but she desired to marry him. But Vibhishana had declined, treating her as his sister as she was the daughter of his Guru. Enraged by the non-fulfilment of her desire, she accused him of false conduct and had him punished by the king. He prayed to his Upasana murti- Adishesha. Adisesha told him that this would be righted in the next birth. So, she was now born as Vibhishana's sister, and Lakshmana, the Avatara of Adisesha cut her nose!
Next, she is called 'kaarani'- the cause. Cause of what? The cause of the destruction of Ravana and his clan! All this stemmed from her inciting Ravana about Sita! She thus had her revenge on Ravana! Kambar states this:
நீல மாமணி நிருதர் வேந்தனை
மூல நாசம் பெற முடிக்கும் மொய்ம்பினாள்.
She had the power to get Ravana totally destroyed.
After Kaikeyi, Shurpanaka provides the next important turn in the development. After this, she is not mentioned again! She had planted the self-igniting time-bomb, and she went away from the scene.
Ravana's southern journey!
கம லாலய சீதையை
மோட்டன் வளைத்தொரு தேர்மிசை யேகொடு ...... முகிலேபோய்
மாக்கன சித்திர கோபுர நீள்படை
வீட்டிலி ருத்திய
And this is what Ravana did next.
He went and treacherously lifted Sita, who was the Lakshmi seated on the lotus. Keeping her in the chariot and taking to the sky, he took her to his city with beautiful,tall buildings and with huge armies, and kept her in jail there.
Tropenmuseum, (Amsterdam) part of the National Museum of World Culture,
CC BY-SA3.0 creativecommons via Wikimedia commons.
Though Ravana was mighty, he brought Sita by stealth and treachery.
சமத்தினாற் புகழ் சானகியை நலிவு செய்
திருட்டு ராக்கதன்.
Ravana thus caused Sita untold sorrow.
வமிச மிகுத்து ப்ரபஞ்சம் யாவையும்
மறுகிட வுக்ரக் கொடும்பை யான புன்
மதி கொடழித்திட் டிடும்பை ராவணன் மதியாமே
மறுவறு கற்பிற் சிறந்த சீதையை விதனம் விளைக்க
Thus, this one act of his attracted the fury of Rama and caused his destruction.
சான கிகற்புத் தனைச்சு டத்தன
சோக வனத்திற் சிறைப்ப டுத்திய
தானை யரக்கற் குலத்த ரத்தனை ...... வருமாளச்
சாலை மரத்துப் புறத்தொ ளித்தடல்
வாலி யுரத்திற் சரத்தை விட்டொரு
தாரை தனைச்சுக் ரிவற்க ளித்தவன்
Ravana keeps Sita confined in the Ashokavana. Arunagiri says here that it was her chastity that burnt Ravana. Later, Rama came and destroyed all the Rakshasas.
Here, one more incident is revealed. It is stated clearly here that Rama stood behind the tree and sent the arrow at Vaali. Thus, Tara was restored to Sugriva.
சுட்டபொருட் கட்டியின்மெய்ச் செக்கமலப் பொற்கொடியைத்
துக்கமுறச் சொர்க்கமுறக் ...... கொடியாழார்
சுத்தரதத் திற்கொடுபுக் குக்கடுகித் தெற்கடைசிச்
சுற்றுவனத் திற்சிறைவைத் ...... திடுதீரன்
கொட்டமறப் புற்றரவச் செற்றமறச் சத்தமறக்
குற்றமறச் சுற்றமறப் ...... பலதோளின்
கொற்றமறப் பத்துமுடிக் கொத்துமறுத் திட்டதிறற்
கொற்றர்
Goddess Sita. This is from Tamil Nadu, c,1100. Now in some foreign museum!
Sita was like refined gold, Lakshmi seated on the lotus. Causing her sorrow, Ravana took her in the chariot flying the tall flag with the Veena,and went South and at last kept her imprisoned in the Ashokavana- such was the valorous Ravana! But Rama completely destroyed his pride. And how!
He completely destroyed the anger of Ravana, resembling the hiss of a snake just out of it hole.He made Ravana lose his voice completely.
He removed all the faults of Ravana (with his death)
He killed all the relatives of Ravana.
He destroyed the valour of his many arms.
He felled all the ten heads of Ravana, with their crowns.
Such was the victorious Rama.
With Sita, Ravana took the chariot South. South is the direction of Yama, the Lord of death. Ravana had
obtained the boon that he could not be killed by anyone other than man. And the moment he lifted Sita, his journey towards Yama's domain started! How much Arunagirinatha conveys in that word 'south'!
NOTE:
Tiruppugazh lyrics taken from kaumaram.com. Gratefully acknowledged.
Pictures provided here are taken from sources on the Web where as far as it could be ascertained they are free of copyright restrictions. They are used here purely for non-profit educational purpose. Copyright violation if any may be brought to our notice, so that we may remove the picture.
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