RAMAYANA The Ramayan is ONE of the world’s most read text. The Ramayana in sanskrith was written by Valmiki, and in Hindi was written by Tulsidas. Ram is dharma personified. The Ramayana describes Ram Rajya or the honorable rule of Ram for he was the ideal son, husband, and ruler. The story of the Ramayan took place over 3000 years ago in the kingdom of Ayodhya. Raja Dasaratha had four wives and four sons, the eldest being Prince Rama. Rama was born to queen Kausalya, the eldest queen. Being the eldest son, he was next in line to become king. However, the youngest queen, KaiKai, had a maid servant Mantra, who poisoned her mind against Rama. She told KaiKai that once Rama became King, her son, Bharat would be neglected, as would she. She convinced and brainwashed KaiKai into asking Dasaratha to exchange the three promises he had given her in return for saving his life many years earlier and she did. She dictated that not only did Bharat have to take to the throne instead of Ram but also Ram had to be exiled away into the forest for 14 years. Dasaratha pleaded with KaiKai and asked her to take all of the wealth instead but not to send Rama into exile, but she did not give in. When Ram heard this, he told Dasaratha that he would go because a word is like an arrow, and can only go forward and cannot be taken back. He said that he had to honor his father’s word. "pran jaye par vachan na jaye" He agreed with KaiKai’s threats; if a King’s word could not be trusted then the ancestors will be shamed. He had no attachment to the wealth of the kingdom. When he said he was going to the forests, his wife Sita said that she would go with him. Sita knew that a wife’s place is by her husband’s side. That is her dharma or duty and she performed it. Lakshman, Ram’s younger brother said that he would also go to serve his brother in the forest. The day Rama, Sita, and Lakshman left for the forest, it was a day filled with misery for all in Ayodhya. Raja Dasaratha died in grief upon Ram’s departure. Bharat was not there when all of this transpired. When he returned and found out what his mother had done on his behalf, he was shocked. He was very disappointed with her and vowed to never sit on the throne. Instead he placed Rama’s sandals on the throne as a symbol of Rama’s authority. Ram, Sita, and Laksman settled in the forest for 14 years. There Ravan and the demon tribe tried to kidnap Sita because Ravan wanted to take revenge for his sister who was insulted by Ram’s brother Lakshman. Laksman had refused her romance with Ram. Eventually, Ravan kidnapped Sita. Ram brought her back by destroying Ravan and the demons. This destruction of Ravana and the demon world had a larger message for humanity. It is the triumph of good over evil. Rama returned to the kingdom of Ayodhya and Ram Rajya was restored. MAHABHARATA The Mahabharata is a great story of sibling rivalry, symbolizes the daily struggles of humanity. It depicts a family situation that was ruined by deceit and cheating. It unveils the toxic and destructive elements in life, essentially the ego. Ultimately, the Mahabharat teaches us the lessons of truth, dharma, love and family values. It also contains complex interwoven sub-stories, of philosophy, divinity, bravery, and betrayal. The Mahabharat is a war epic.It is the Kurukshetra War fought at Kurukshetra in northern India. The story is essentially about the war between the Pandavas, the sons of King Pandu, and the Kauravas, the sons of Pandu's older, blind brother, King Dhritarastra. BHAGVAD GITA The Bhagavad Gita is an excerpt from the mahabharat. This story takes place on the battlefield of Kurukshetra where Arjuna son of pandu, is about to enter into battle with his cousins the Kauravas. They had cheated the Pandus out of the kingdom and ruled unjustly. Arjuna could not bring himself to fight and kill his cousins and did not know what to do. At this moment of indecision Krishna, the incarnation of Vishnu, preached to Arjuna, the gospel of dharma, which is righteous duty. Krishna taught Arjuna the principles of dharma and that everything else is immaterial and temporary. Mahatma Gandhi had total faith in the Gita.
The Greatest Spiritual Epic of All Time It is extremely rare to find a book which is so deep in story telling , learnings and has a profound effect on our thinking. This is a book every human should read.Krishna shares the highest philosophy with his friend Arjuna the great warrior.
