The Book of RAM Read online

  Yes, Ram does raise his bow and kill Ravana. Many choose to interpret this as a licence to use violence against those whom they brand villains. Mythological tales must never be taken literally; they are symbolic, essentially containers of profound ideas. Ravana is killed not because he is evil or because he is Ram’s political opponent. In keeping with the dominant theme of Vaishnava literature, Ram kills Ravana only because, despite being highly educated and extremely capable, Ravana stubbornly refuses to tame the animal within him, the animal that craves power and seeks to dominate. While such behaviour is appropriate for animals, it is not acceptable in humans. For animals it is matsya nyaya, law of the jungle, but for humans it is adharma, unrighteous conduct.

  Ram is maryada purushottam, one who always upholds dharma. Dharma is not about controlling people or striking down the enemy. It is about looking beyond self-preservation and self-propagation. It is about caring for others, about loving and giving, not taking. It is about understanding people, accommodating people, making people feel secure and giving them a supportive environment. Dharma is about sacrificing desire with discipline on the altar of duty, about refusing to submit to the seductive passions roused by adharma, about outgrowing the animal within us. Dharma is what can transform a man into a god.

  According to the Adhyatma Ramayana, Ravana is our ego, that part of us that is constantly seeking external validation. Having submitted to adharma, our ego has abducted Sita, our mind. That is why we constantly seek to dominate the world around us and that is why we do not accept it for what it is.

  We have to rescue Sita. We have to unleash the power of Hanuman, our intellect, cross the sea of life, overpower Ravana, burn his golden Lanka and reunite Sita with Ram, who awaits discovery within us.

  This Ram cannot be fettered to a particular period or a particular place. He is unbound by time and space. He exists everywhere at all times. He is our soul within us, our true identity, animating us, watching us.

  When this Ram is realized, the desire for political victory ebbs. One is filled with love, wisdom and compassion for all. Dharma reigns supreme and Ram Rajya is established both within and around us.

  A Prayer to Ram

  May Ram who is Raghu’s descendant

  protect my head,

  May Ram who is Dashratha’s son

  protect my forehead,

  May Ram who is Kaushalya’s son

  protect my eyes,

  May Ram who is Vishwamitra’s favourite

  protect my ears,

  May Ram who is the yagna’s saviour

  protect my nose,

  May Ram who loves Lakshman

  protect my mouth,

  May Ram who is a sea of knowledge

  protect my tongue,

  May Ram who Bharata salutes

  protect my neck,

  May Ram who holds divine weapons

  protect my shoulders,

  May Ram who broke Shiva’s bow

  protect my arms,

  May Ram who is Sita’s husband

  protect my hands,

  May Ram who conquered Parashuram

  protect my heart,

  May Ram who killed the Rakshasa Khara

  protect my abdomen,

  May Ram who is Jambavan’s refuge

  protect my navel,

  May Ram who is Sugriva’s defender

  protect my waist,

  May Ram who is Hanuman’s master

  protect my hips,

  May Ram who is the destroyer of the Rakshasas

  protect my two thighs,

  May Ram who built the bridge

  protect my knees,

  May Ram who killed the ten-faced demon

  protect my shins,

  May Ram who gave wealth to Vibhishana

  protect my feet,

  Thus may Ram protect my entire body

  —From the Rama Raksha Stotram by Buddhakaushika

  Bibliography

  Bhattacharji, Sukumari. The Indian Theogony. New Delhi: Penguin Books, 2000.

  Coupe, Lawrence. Myth. London: Routledge, 1997.

  Dange, Sadashiv Ambadas. Encyclopaedia of Puranic Beliefs and Practices, Vols. 1–5. New Delhi: Navrang, 1990.

  Danielou, Alain. Hindu Polytheism. Rochester, Vt.: Inner Traditions International, 1991.

  Dodiya, Jaydipsinh K. Critical Perspectives on the Ramayana. New Delhi: Sarup and Sons, 2001.

  Flood, Gavin. An Introduction to Hinduism. New Delhi: Cambridge University Press, 1998.

  Frawley, David. From the River of Heaven. Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass, 1992.

  Hawley, J.S. and D.M. Wulff, eds. The Divine Consort. Boston: Beacon Press, 1982.

  Hopkins, E. Washburn. Epic Mythology. Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass, 1986.

  Jakimowicz-Shah, Marta. Metamorphosis of Indian Gods. Calcutta: Seagull Books, 1988.

  Kinsley, David. Hindu Goddesses. Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass, 1987.

  Klostermaier, Klaus K. Hinduism: A Short History. Oxford: Oneworld Publications, 2000.

  Knappert, Jan. An Encyclopedia of Myth and Legend: Indian Mythology. New Delhi: HarperCollins, 1992.

  Mani, Vettam. Puranic Encyclopaedia. Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass, 1996.

  Martin-Dubost, Paul. Ganesha: Enchanter of the Three Worlds. Mumbai: Franco-Indian Research, 1997.

  Menon, Ramesh. The Ramayana: A Modern Retelling of the Great Indian Epic. New York: North Point Press, 2004.

  Nagar, Shantilal. Adbhut Ramayana. Delhi: BRPC (India), 2001.

  ——. Giridhar Ramayana, New Delhi: Munshilal Manoharlal Publishers, 2003.

  Nath, Baij. The Adhyatma Ramayana, New Delhi: Cosmo Publications, 2005.

  O’Flaherty, Wendy Doniger, trans. Hindu Myths. Delhi: Penguin Books, 1975.

  ——. Origins of Evil in Hindu Mythology. New Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass, 1988.

  ——. The Rig Veda: An Anthology. New Delhi: Penguin Books, 1994.

  ——. Sexual Metaphors and Animal Symbols in Indian Mythology. New Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass, 1981.

  ——. Siva: The Erotic Ascetic. London: Oxford University Press Paperbacks, 1981.

  Pattanaik, Devdutt. Devi: An Introduction. Mumbai: Vakil, Feffer and Simons, 2000.

  ——. Hanuman: An Introduction. Mumbai: Vakil, Feffer and Simons, 2001.

  ——. Indian Mythology: Tales, Symbols and Rituals from the Heart of the Indian Subcontinent. Rochester, Vt.: Inner Traditions International, 2003.

  ——. Lakshmi, Goddess of Wealth and Fortune: An Introduction. Mumbai: Vakil, Feffer and Simons, 2003.

  ——. Vishnu: An Introduction. Mumbai: Vakil, Feffer and Simons, 1999.

  Richman, Paula (ed.). Many Ramayanas: The Diversity of a Narrative Tradition in South Asia. Berkeley: University of California Press, 1991.

  ——. Questioning Ramayanas: A South Asian Tradition. Berkeley: University of California Press, 2001.

  Saikia, Indira. The Epic Hero in Campu Kavya. Kolkata: Purthi Pustak, 2004.

  Sen, Makhan Lal. The Ramayana of Valmiki. Delhi: Munshiram Manoharlal, 1978.

  Singh, Avadhesh Kumar (ed.). Ramayana Through the Ages: Rama-Gatha in Different Versions. Delhi: D.K. Printworld, 2007.

  Toru, Ohnu. Burmese Ramayana. Delhi: BRPC (India), 1999.

  Walker, Benjamin. Hindu World, Vols 1 and 2. Delhi: Munshiram Manoharlal, 1983.

  Wilkins, W. J. Hindu Mythology. Delhi: Rupa, 1997.

  Zimmer, Heinrich. Myths and Symbols in Indian Art and Civilization. Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass, 1990.

  THE BEGINNING

  Let the conversation begin…

  Follow the Penguin [email protected]

  Keep up-to-date with all our stories YouTube.com/penguinbooks

  Pin ‘Penguin Books’ to your Pinterest

  Like ‘Penguin Books’ on Facebook.com/penguinbooks

  Find out more about the author and

  discover more stories like this at Penguin.co.uk

  PENGUIN BOOKS

  Published by the Penguin Group