The Glory of Lord Rama
Following is an English translation of the benedictory speech (Anugraha Bhashanam) delivered by Jagadguru Shankaracharya Sri Sri Sri Bharati Tirtha Mahaswamiji during his visit to the famed temple of Sri Sita Rama at Bhadrachalam.
We Indians are firm believers in the theory that there is a superhuman divine force, otherwise called God, who is responsible for the creation and sustenance of this universe. He dispenses justice, by the way of happiness for good deeds and suffering for evil. It is for these reasons that we adore and worship God. The ancients have said —
तेन विना तृणमपि न चलति
tena vinā tṛṇamapi na calati
Even a blade of grass does not move without His nod.
He, therefore, assumes various forms and descends on earth from time to time, to save mankind from evil. The form He assumes varies according to the circumstances and the need of the time. But uplifting of Dharma is the purpose of every Avatara.
The Lord reveals in the Srimad Bhagavadgita —
यदा यदा हि धर्मस्य ग्लानिर्भवति भारत।
अभ्युत्तानमधर्मस्य तदात्मानं सृजाम्यहम्॥yadā yadā hi dharmasya glānirbhavati bhārata;
abhyuttānamadharmasya tadātmānaṃ sṛjāmyaham.Srimad Bhagavadgita Chapter 4 Verses 7 & 8परित्राणाय साधूनाम् विनाशायच दुष्कृताम्।
धर्मसंस्थापनार्थाय सम्भवामि युगे युगे॥paritrāṇāya sādhūnām vināśāyaca duṣkṛtām;
dharmasaṃsthāpanārthāya sambhavāmi yuge yuge.
In every Avatara, it is God’s avowed purpose to destroy evil doers and protect virtuous people. The Avatara of Sri Rama is one such form.
Sri Rama was born the son of King Dasharatha and his queen Sri Kausalya in the Treta Yuga, the second in the cycle of four Yugas. In this illustrious Avatara, He killed the most wicked Ravana and other demons and gave full protection to venerable sages like Sri Vishwamitra, thus became the greatest benefactor of mankind.
Maharshi Valmiki in His magnup opus, Srimad Ramayana says —
रामो विग्रहवान् धर्मः
rāmo vigrahavān dharmaḥ
Sri Rama is verily the embodiment of Dharma
Srimad Valmiki Ramayana Aranya Kanda Sarga 37 Verse 13
Any other description of God in that Avatara would be too small. The virtue of Dharma became personified in the Avatara of Sri Rama. The story of Sri Rama is embodied in Srimad Ramayana. The unique character of Sri Rama is explained in the following verse
यान्ति न्यायप्रवृत्तस्य तिर्यञ्चोऽपि सहायताम्।
अपं धानन्तु गच्छन्तं सोदरोऽपि विमुञ्चति॥yānti nyāyapravṛttasya tiryañco’pi sahāyatām;
apaṃ dhānantu gacchantaṃ sodaro’pi vimuñcati.
The lesson pointed out here has to be learnt from Srimad Ramayana only.
There are two types of human beings in this world. Those who are virtuous, truthful and wedded to justice and integrity of the highest order. The second type are those who are the opposite; ill-behaved, unjust, cruel and sinful. To know the distinction between the two types, one is directed to refer to the Srimad Ramayana. Sri Ramachandra belonged to the first category.
As mentioned earlier, Sri Rama is the embodiment of Dharma. He did not utter the word ‘Adhrma‘ even in his dream. Injustice, immorality and lack of truthfulness never went near him. For such a divine personality, an occasion came where he had to fight a war with Ravana.He did not get any army from Ayodhya. Four legged animals like monkeys rushed to His rescue. Why ? Because of His virtuous conduct.
An example of even petty animals coming to the aid of people wedded to Dharma is the story of Lord Sri Rama.
Other the other hand, Ravana who was evil-personified, who captured Mata Sita, and who tortured and harassed the great Rishis and sages was deserted by his own brother, Vibhishana. This is the difference. The virtuous is helped by even four legged animals, the wicked are shunned by their closest relatives.This is the contrast between Dharma and Adharma.We should never forget this lesson. Only then will our reading of Srimad Ramayana become purposeful; there is sense in constructing temples in His honour. Only then will our worshipping of Lord Sri Rama be rewarded.
If we act otherwise; construct temples of Lord Sri Rama, worship Lord Sri Rama, hear the glories of Lord Sri Rama (from the Puranas, Itihasas and other sacred scriptures), but remain away from virtue and truthfulness, God cannot be pleased and such worship will be in vain.
Lord Sri Rama will never favour the wicked, unjust and cruel and will never patronize Adharma.He remains at the beck and call of the virtuous and sincerely devoted people who have placed their unreserved faith in Him. The God in human form has tread this holy land of Bharata. This is a land sanctified by the footsteps of such noble and saintly persons. We are a nation of people who believe that the earth was sanctified by the mere footsteps of a cow. Kalidasa says —
तस्याः खुरन्यासपवित्रपाम्सुम् अपांसुलानां धुरि कीर्तनीय।
मार्गं मनुष्येश्वरधर्मपत्नी श्रुतेरिवार्थम् स्मृतिरन्वगच्छत्tasyāḥ khuranyāsapavitrapāmsum apāṃsulānāṃ dhuri kīrtanīya;
mārgaṃ manuṣyeśvaradharmapatnī śruterivārtham smṛtiranvagacchatThe sad of the kingdom of Maharaja Dilipa was sanctified by the footprints of the Holy Cow Nandini.
Raghuvamsha Sarga 2 Shloka —
If the land could be sanctified by the mere footprints of the Holy Cow (Nandini), what then to speak of the same land on which the living God Sri Rama tread ? This is the reason why the entire world considers that to be born in the land of Bharata is one’s greatest luck.
Other countries of the world are mere seekers of materialistic pleasure as opposed to us who are predominantly spiritualistic in our outlook. To take birth in this great land and to tread on this sacred soil is one’s greatest fortune.This can only be the result of the accumulated virtue of one’s previous births.
Thus you have the great fortune of worshipping Lord Sri Rama, who is verily मर्यादा पुरुषोत्तम maryādā puruṣottama. The divine darshana of the Lord is a feast for the eyes.There is nothing more or better, one can crave for in this world.
There are many holy places devoted to Lord Sri Rama. This Bhadrachalam is one of the foremost among them. The Lord has manifested Himself as Sri Sita-Rama in this temple to bless the devout and give succour to the needy. It gives Me great pleasure to have come to this sacred place and have the darshan of the Lord here.
May God bless you all.
हर नमः पार्वती पतये।
हर हर महादेव
hara namaḥ pārvatī pataye;
hara hara mahādeva