A Love Story
HG Gauranga Das
Dasaratha
Ramayanam
Maharaja’s
dilemma
Material life is
pleasure
mixed with
pain of
unfulfilled
desires
Dasaratha
Maharaja’s
dilemma
Method of
counteracting
Karma is called
Yajna, Dana &
Tapa
Sumitra drank last so
that she will get sons
who will serve the
Lord & His devotees
Samskaras of mother
affect the sons
Service attitude begets
service attitude
Reasons for
Rama’s
Descent
1. Demigods’ prayers
When we approach Lord for help, we should have
humility to accept solution.
2. Protect Rishis
3. Solitude with Sita
4. To worship Lord Ranganatha
Significance of names
RAMA – who gives
pleasure to one who sees
Him
Darshan of Lord’s form
purifies and inspires
BHARATA – Material
prosperity without Lord’s
association is like a burden
LAXMAN
SATRUGHNA
Viswamitra arrives at Palace
Love is tested by selfless service
Future fortune may appear as present misfortune
One may misunderstand instrument of future
fortune
Spiritual master’s instructions are for our
welfare – however inconceivable
Aspiring disciple may try to avoid instructions if
they test our attachments
Viswamitra’s anger
Vasishtopi: In service to the Lord, once must
cooperate and adjust differences of opinion
Serving Guru’s order is the duty of disciple
OBIDIENCE is life of disciple
Tataka vadha
Guru’s order is
sometimes difficult to
follow – may make us
unpopular, but Guru’s
grace is more critical
than public disgrace.
Tataka – Ignorance of
spiritual identity =
Avidya
Marica, Subahu
Marica was chased &
Subahu was killed
Sins before surrender –
destroyed and burnt to
ashes
Sins incurred by
devotee in the future –
chased away by the
Lord
Rama and Ahalya
Touch of Lord’s lotus
feet melts hard hearts
Service to
vaishnavas fills heart
with love
Logic of Lord’s consort
Viswamitra & Sadananda rishi
One must address needs, interests and concerns to get attention
Story of Mahesa chapa
First class disciple
understands heart of
spiritual master
Lord Rama denies garland
Accepting hands of a lady
can’t be done without
permission of Dasaratha
One cannot take major
decisions in life without
permission and blessings
Woman’s expectations for
man – bravery & expert
speech
Rama finally puts garland
Etiquette is adjusted
according to time, place &
circumstances
Janaka tells Rama
Sita’s hands placed over
Rama’s
Dasaratha maharaja decides to coronate Rama
Leader must always consult
experienced and well wishers
even after many years
When someone excels in
service and becomes more
popular, one may experience
insecurity, fear and feeling of
uselessness about one’s own
insignificance
Inferiority complex is
different from Humility
Manthara inquires about celebration
Kaikeyi was pure hearted
and considered Rama to
be son
Association of envious
blasphemy poisons heart
Hearing blasphemy makes
us lose respect for a
person
Why kaikeyi’s heart got
corrupted?
Dasaratha begs kaikeyi
1.
2.
3.
4.
Vaishnavas’ concern
Transcendental vacation
Set example of obidence
Reveal dualities of
material world
Rama meets Sita
Heaven and hell is based
on perception
Perception of reality
Lord’s association and
service is divine and
separation is misery
Rama meets Laxmana
Service attitude is greatest wealth
Sumitra meets Laxmana
Love means service without selfish considerations
Service means pleasure of master, not selfish joy
Dasaratha
leaves body
Rama and Guha
Devotion not dependent on
birth
Lord’s quality – sausilyam –
one who is held high in
society, who is supreme and
wants to identify with
common man
Fate of taking Lord’s darshan
is one’s material
complacency
Love increases in separation
Sita, Rama, Laxmana
walk through forest
Husband’s duty is to give shelter physically,
emotionally and spiritually
Rama meets Bharadwaja
Character is “what you
are when no one is
watching”
Rama travels through Chitrakoot
Servant must be conscious of needs of master and
learn skills and organize accordingly
Bharata returns to Ayodhya
Even most powerful king can’t
control his destination
Misplaced compassion can be
dangerous
Intention is not sufficient,
knowledge is important
Nature of this world is it can
simply trap us in complexity
We have to pay the price for the
mistakes and blunders of our
close associates
• Choose association carefully
• Tolerate the results of
blunders as a price for the
association
Bharata returns to Ayodhya
It is our duty to proactively
clarify circumstantial
misunderstanding and doubt
created in other’s minds our
intentions and actions
Procrastination in
communication leads to
biased perception
We must judge others by
their intention, judge
ourselves by our actions and
not vice versa.
Bharata misunderstood
By Kausalya, Vasishta, Guha, Bharadwaja and Laxmana
Integrity is the test of person’s character
If you want to test man’s character, give him power
Leaving association of Lord can lead to powerful
consequences beyond imagination
Devotee really respects identity of others as devotee
Laxmana doubts Bharata
Lord doesn’t tolerate offense to devotee
Rama – Bharata meeting
Person of character
values obedience over
expedience
Bharata’s vow
3 places where Lord’s supremacy exhibited in
Ramayana
Jatayu
Vibhishana
Vanara sena – setu bandhan
Bharata’s emotions
Why Bharata’s surrender
is rejected?
Glory of Lord’s footwear
Devotee should never leave
Lord’s lotus feet
Paduka favored Bharata’s
prema to Rama’s dharma
Paduka is more merciful
than Lord Rama
Lord’s consorts Bhu & Sri
devis are more merciful
In the absence of consorts,
Lord’s foot wear does the
job
Svarupa gata dasya & Guna
krta dasya
Viradha vadha
Illicit sex leads to
misery
Lord’s lotus feet
leads to purification
Hatred to Lord and
neglect of dharma
can be conquered by
service to Lord’s
devotees
Lord and Sarabhanga ashrama
Nothing within material
world is worth
achieving in temporary
human form of life
Success in human life
is attainment of
spiritual world
Lord meets Agastya muni
Lord enters
Dandaka
Lord is always eager
to protect devotees
Lord reaches Panchavati
Concern: Servant knows
master’s mind and carries out
command to give full satisfaction
Competence: Acts with
confidence based on previous
experience and displays
competence
Character: Alert and aware of
his duties and only cares for
Lord’s pleasure
3 pillars of trust worthy servant
Lord reaches Panchavati
Servant’s only joy is smile on
Lord’s face
Soul’s constitutional position is
eternal service
Devotee’s happiness is not in his
service but in the satisfaction of
the Lord
Devotee can neither feel proud
nor happy about his service
If Lord is happy about the
service, then since Lord is
pleased devotee can feel happy
Service is for satisfaction of
master, not for happiness of
servant.
Surpanakha sees
Lord
A gentleman
expresses his
mind’s feelings
straightforward
Surpanakha sends Khara & Dushana
Ravana sends Marichi
Lust burns like fire
Jatayu’s moksha
Caste and age is no
barrier for devotional
service
Bhakti is not about being
the best but doing your
best
Rama went through
reversals to teach us
precarious position of
conditioned souls in
material existence
Jatayu’s moksha
Lord’s attempt to hide
Himself as a human
exposed when He
awarded moksha to
Jatayu
Even sincere servants
may have to go
through harsh realities
of material miseries
Patience is a great
virtue in devotional
service
Sabari’s seva is
under order of
spiritual master, so
Lord accepted
Rama goes to
Pampa sarovar
Sugriva sends
hanuman
Hanuman’s eloquent speech
Vali’s killing
Lord does not tolerate Vaishnavaparadha
Any service done to Lord never goes in vain
Rama’s anger on Sugriva
Even sincere servant may sometimes get deviated
It is duty of vaishnavas & Lord to bring him
back to track
Lust creates obstacles in service to Lord by
distracting one towards sense gratification
Forgiveness is the foundation casting relationships
Sugriva orders to find Sita
One may discipline someone’s deviation without
discouraging them
Rama gives Hanumanji His ring
Current limited experience may make it difficult for us to
understand others’ viewpoint
Success follows empowerment
Reasons for Sita to throw straw before
Ravana
Reasons…
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Etiquette – idam asanam
Creates formality – we don’t welcome intimate friends
Barricade – married woman & other man
To hell with your wealth – it is like this straw
Straw – not listen to me, you also
You are equal to straw
Reasons…
7. My life is insignificant straw, don’t threaten me
8. Jnena hina pasubhih samana – “You animal, eat straw”
9. Rama burns, destroys Lanka, use straw to make hut
10. Rama can appear from straw as Narasimhadev
appeared from pillar
11. Used by Vamanadeva to blind Sukracharya
Analogy – Sita & Jiva
Sampati
Never underestimate anyone based on
externals – anyone can be instrument in
something glorious
Jambavan
Leadership means empowerment and encouragement
Leader takes pleasure in his student’s success and
does not feel threatened by it
Hanuman’s 4
qualities
Hanuman’s Obstacles in Lanka
Patience & Tolerance are important qualities in spiritual
journey
Hope in Lord’s mercy will uplift one from hopelessness
during personal failures
Hanuman’s Obstacles in Lanka
Prayer is a very important
ingredient along with personal
effort in Lord’s mission
Success with material
consciousness leads to Pride
Success in spiritual
consciousness leads to Humility
If one begins serving Lord’s
mission even with little faith,
the process of pleasing the Lord
and His devotees through
devotional service completes
the “Gap” in the faith.
Why Sita advising on friendship & not feet
touch
Our statements and how
we do things must follow
the mood of our Guru &
acharyas
Hanuman pacifies Sita
Servant must introspect
possible repercussions
of his activities
Sita questions hanumanji
Sita overwhelmed by the Ring
Tadiya non different
from the Lord
Uddipaka creates
remembrance of the
Lord
Sita recounts pastimes
Hanuman requests Sita to jump on Back
Sita convinced Hanuman
Husband’s duty
Promise to demigods
Para dukha dukhi
Dependence on the Lord
Sita convinced Hanuman
Husband’s duty
Promise to demigods
Para dukha dukhi
Dependence on the Lord
Hanuman meets Ravana
Vibhishana gets Ajnata sukruti
Sita devi interrogates
Only by Sita’s
grace, association
of Rama is
possible
Hanumanji’s return
When Rama-duta – Fire
When Janaki-duta - Embrace
Vibhishana
Saranagati
Surrender is the essence
Definition
Prerequisites for Saranagata –
Akincanatvam
Ananyagatitvam
Prerequisites for Saranya
Saralata
Shakti
6 surrenders in Ramayana
Ravana’s misfortune –
Vibhishana’s advice
Give up anger
Or perish
All will benefit
Ravana’s misfortune began by sin & completed by
offence
Sin of kidnapping Sita devi
Offending Vibhishana
Ravana chastises Vibhishana
Vibhishana becomes fortunate by rejecting
Ravana
Srimaan – penniless
materially, but opulent by
surrender to the lotus feet
of the Lord
Better to join party where
brother’s words are
respected
Vibhishana’s last chastisement
Vibhishana comes to surrender
Surrender must not be delayed
Sugriva’s suspicion
If Rama destroyed body without soul
Vibhishana has only one weapon – gada – but he is
holding it in the mood of humility and surrender – all
conquering – fearful that Rama may be cheated by
show of humility
Vibhishana’s action is
clear but intention is
suspect
Vibhishana further confirms his intent
Dishonor is worse than death
Why go quickly to inform Rama?
Rama’s mind never changes but my fickle minded demoniac
nature may make me change my plans to surrender
One cannot take
inspiration to surrender
for granted, it is a spark
which ignites after
innumerable births by
causeless grace of
Lord’s devotees
Sugriva’s suspicion grows
When we dislike, hate or
suspicious of someone, we
find fault with whatever he
does & also exaggerate
Suspicion  Fauly finding &
Exaggerated critisism
Tendency to judge is due to
speculation
Rama seeks opinion of other
monkeys
Supreme Personality of Godhead
can assert His views but showing
b y example ‘Art of decision
making’ by hearing opinions
Leader must impartially hear all
sides
Differences of opinion are result
of individuality
Honesty is better than artificial
humility
Mainda speaks
Sugriva Again
Jambavan speaks
Hanumanji speaks
Rama can’t be cheated
He is truthful
Wants shelter, not kingdom
Sign of good fortune
Infamy
Rama speaks
Supreme Personality of Godhead
is so humble and gentle, seeks
opinion and permission of
monkeys
Sometimes, difference of
opinion may be between two
well intentioned parties
Rama coronates Vibhishana
Rama coronates Vibhishana by placing lotus
feet – even before battle is over – absolute
nature of Supreme Personality of Godhead’s
desire – satya sankalpa
Thank you