Shri Rama Navami: 2nd April
The saints who explain the spiritual import of Ramayana say that: Dasharatha – the jiva who revels in ten senses- says that now Rama should be installed on the throne of the heart to end the rule of the jiva. Guru says: “Yes do it!” When Guru agrees to Ramarajya, Dasharatha becomes happy, but he is taken in by Kaikeyi’s ploy before Ramarajya is established.
There are three queens of Dasharatha: Kaushalya, Sumitra and Kaikeyi which stand for sattva guna, rajo guna and tamo guna respectively. When Dasharatha, the jiva turns away from sattva guna and rajo guna and gets entangled in tamo guna it means when the jiva is captivated by Kaikeyi who stands for fame and desire then the installation of Rama (Ramarajya) turns into the exile of Rama (Rama-Vanvaas) and Dasharatha writhes in pain. When Rama is exiled, Dasharatha too cannot live peacefully. And we don’t find anybody at peace in society. All persons having more or less wealth, more or less education, fat or thin, leaders and public are restless. Why? Because Rama is in exile.
To meet Rama as Atman
Sita accompanied Lord Rama. ‘Rama’ stands for ‘Brahman’ and ‘Sita’ stands for Vritti (modification of mind). Sita is near Rama and upon looking at a golden-deer she says to Rama: “Bring that golden-deer!” When your Sita (Vritti) is attracted by the golden deer it gets separated from Rama. It means when one’s mind is captivated by golden deer (wealth) one becomes averse to Atman-Rama. Then one does attain the city of Lanka (gold) but does not get peace. Hanumanji is needed as an intermediary to make that Vritti meet Lord Rama.
When the ocean was to be crossed in search of Sita, Jambavana was called and others were called. Someone said that he could jump a distance of one yojana (A measure of distance equal to 8 miles), another said that he could jump 2 Yojanas… Hanuman jumped 100 Yojanas. If measured, Lanka (modern Sri-Lanka) is not 100 Yojanas from the shores of the Indian Ocean in south India. But sayings of Shastras (scriptures) are esoteric. Human lifespan is 100 years. One should have dispassion and spiritual practice needed to know the secret of life. Hanuman is considered an icon of spiritual practice and dispassion. Hanuman will unite Sita and Rama which means spiritual practice and dispassion will unite the vritti (thoughts) with Brahman.
To strengthen the Vritti…
Lord Rama was born in the North whereas Ravana was born in the south. The north is symbolic of height and the south of lowliness. Its spiritual import is that the base vrittis of man are located in the lower centres of the body. When one is attacked by lust or overwhelmed by anger then Sita means vritti goes downwards. When Sita is near Ravana, she feels very restless. She cannot stay there for long. One’s vritti cannot stay in lust for a long time. The mind, overcome by lust becomes restless, and contemplating on God, it becomes blissful. Sita is under surveillance in the Ashoka Vatika (a pleasure garden) of Ravana, but Ravana could not take liberties with her because she is firmly devoted to Rama. Similarly if one is determined in his mind and has total respect towards Atman-Rama, lust cannot make one dance to its tune. To strengthen the resolve of Sita, japa (enchanting), tapa (penance), swadhyaya (self-study) and sumiran (constant remembrance) are required. Similarly to strengthen chitta-vritti, spiritual and devotional practices are required.
How Ravana will die?
All weapons of Rama became nullified in killing Ravana. Vibhishana was asked how Ravana would die? He said: “Unless your arrow hits Ravana’s navel, he won’t die.” This means the navel is the centre of desire. When a Yogi practices Kundalini-Yoga, vibrations occur in the Muladhaar Chakra, then stretching of the Swadhisthan-Chakra takes place. Whatever impressions of desire and lust have been accumulated in several births are thrashed by the Chitta-Vritti mother Sita, for catharsis. When this thrashing starts, many Yogic Kriyas happen spontaneously in the body of the Sadhaka. Sometimes the effect of Ravana manifests and sometimes that of mother Sita. In a Sadhaka’s life, sometimes the influence of desire appears and sometimes that of sublime thoughts. To bring Sita close to Rama, monkeys and bears all offered assistance. Squirrels also started dropping sand particles in the ocean to assist in the construction of the bridge. If you prompt your Vritti towards the path divine, nature and environment will also favour and help you. If you turn towards sense pleasures, the environment may squeeze you.
No day is bigger than that!
Ayodhya was desolate until Rama returned. When the people heard that ‘Rama is coming back’ they cleaned and decorated the city. When Rama is about to come, cleaning happens first. Similarly all sins, Mala (impurity of mind caused by lust, anger, greed, etc.), Vikshepa (distraction) are removed from the city of your body before God-realization takes place. You become clean and pure. The day on which Lord Rama returned to Ayodhya after defeating Ravana, is celebrated as Deepavali. The worldly Deepavali is celebrated by traders, but for Sadhakas, it is Deepavali only when the Rama hidden in the heart, who has been influenced by Kama, gets the Vritti of Sita released and is enthroned, means gets awakened in his own Self. The biggest day is the day when one attains the realization of Supreme Self, no day is bigger than that.
