Rama - The Perfect Hero

If you comprehend how the crown prince of Ayodhya, Dasaratha’s son Rama bagged a place for himself among the Dasavatar (ten prime incarnations of Lord Vishnu), then it is worthwhile that you celebrate RamaNavami.

Dasaratha had four sons - - Rama through Kausalya, Bharatha through Kaikeyi, Lakshmana and Shatrugna through Sumitra. Lakshmana was verily the shadow of Rama and so was Shatrugna to Bharatha. This is a new experiment of love - - the world is fraught with stories of step brothers fighting over trivial issues, while Ramayana depicts step brothers who exemplified love.

Guha, a boatman, offered honey and fish to Rama as a token of his love for him. When the others chided Guha for bringing fish, Rama replied that he had accepted them because they represented the love of Guha. And He embraced Guha, declaring, ‘We are four brothers, and with you, we have become five. The lands I own are yours. Sita is your sister-in-law. I would be pleased to serve you in any way you decree.’ Isn’t it remarkable that a crown prince took on a boatman, who was materialistically inferior in all respects, as his brother? That attitude propelled Rama to the next dimension of love.

His Love did not restrict itself to human beings; it spread to other living beings too. He told Sugriva (the monkey king), ‘We were five; we are six now.’ At the next level, Rama, assuming the role of a dutiful son, performed the rites for Jatayu (a member of the bird family).

When Vibhishana, (the brother of Ravana), approached Rama, Rama’s counsellors told Rama, ‘Beware. He has come to spy’, to which Rama replied, ‘If I cannot protect he who has sought my shelter, where does chivalry prevail, how is justice rendered?’ Offering his protection, Rama immediately crowned Vibhishana as the King of Lanka, so that none would accuse Rama of hidden motives - - that of securing Lanka for himself.

That’s not all. During the combat with Rama, Ravana lost all his weapons and stood defenseless on the battlefield. As Ravana was the root cause of all of Rama’s anguish, Rama could have taken vengeance then and there. But he said, ‘Come back again tomorrow, relaxed, with a replenished set of weapons.’ Such is the greatness of Rama, that he displayed his concern for his foes too. Rama’s love grew to towering heights, reaching out to all beings, and that is why He is worshipped as a Hero even now.

Rama represents love and righteousness. When you practice these, you too have become Rama.