The month of Karkkitakom is generally a period of setbacks when miseries and diseases drive us to despair .It is believed that the recital of Ramayana provides us a new energy to overcome these hardships by lustrating our thoughts.It also inspires us to invoke weal and and zeal before idolising them in our thoughts as well as in our homes.Ramayana glorifies the diligence of action , truth and righteousness.
The text creates an awareness on ethics and high principles. A confluence of Epic, Ethical jurisprudence,Social dogmas and zealous faith is the quintessence of Ramayana.
The characters portrayed in the epic are noble and upright. Even the land of Ayodhya has its own significance as it symbolises hope and sacrifice. It stands out among the seven Holy Cities of our land as the sanctum sanctorum of contentment and refinement.
Sreerama is a complete man who sacrifices his birthright for the sake of duty. Bharata is not enamored by the glamour of the royal throne offered to him in a golden platter.
So also Lakshmana who as a manifestation of loyalty and affection , discards all royal comforts to serve his brother. In the contemporary society , where people kill each other for money, woman and power, we can’t even think of men like Rama , Bharata or Lakshmana outvying one another to sacrifice for the sake of devotion , dedication and duty.
Rama was a leader in every sense.He gave priority to the opinions of his subjects.This is evident from his attitude on his return to Ayodhya after 14 years of life in exile.He is not at all in a hurry to sit on the Royal throne . At the same time, he yields before the compulsion and the request of the preceptors , his brothers and the subjects of the land before ascending the throne of Ayodhya.
Can someone point out a leader who is not enamoured by power in today’s world of corruption ?.Through Rama Valmiki exemplifies that the Land belongs to the people. King is only a sentinel .He is bound to protect his subjects without any selfish motive.Let us hope that one day, we too will see a Rama who will protect us from all evil.
(Sreekumari Ramachandran is a novelist, short-story writer, former member of Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Academy)
