The Book of RAM Read online

  After Ram becomes king, Lakshman’s love and loyalty towards his brother is severely tested. In response to street gossip, Lakshman is asked by Ram to take Sita out of Ayodhya and leave her in the forest. He protests but finally obeys. Thus he survives a moral crisis, by staying loyal to his brother.

  But in the end, circumstances force Lakshman to realize that there are times when, despite love for his brother, he has to disobey him for a greater good.

  Lakshman disobeys

  One day Kala, god of time, paid a visit to Ram and insisted that they talk in complete privacy. ‘Anyone who tries to disturb this meeting should be killed,’ Ram told Lakshman as he shut the door of his chambers. Lakshman stood guard to ensure no one disturbed Ram. At exactly that moment, the Rishi Durvasa stormed towards Ram’s chambers. ‘I want to see Ram immediately,’ he demanded. Lakshman tried to explain that Ram did not want to be disturbed but Durvasa refused to take no for an answer. ‘If you don’t let me see Ram right now I shall curse him and his kingdom,’ shouted the sage who was infamous for his temper. Not wanting any harm to befall Ram or Ayodhya, and not wanting to hurt Durvasa, Lakshman decided it was in everyone’s best interest that he himself disturb Ram and inform him of Durvasa’s presence. Later when Durvasa and Kala had left, Lakshman informed Ram that it was time for him to die for Ram had said anyone who disturbed his meeting with Kala had to be killed. Ram could not take back his word and Lakshman could not disobey his brother. So the two parted ways and Lakshman walked into the Sarayu river and gave up his mortal body.

  While the Ramayana celebrates Lakshman’s love for Ram, it also reminds us that ultimately, greater than any brother’s love, greater than family, greater than anything in fact, is dharma, the code of civilized conduct, where others matter more than one’s own.

  6

  Hanuman’s Master

  Ram, who is served by Hanuman

  Ram, who promised to help Sugriva

  Ram, who killed the proud Vali

  Ram, who sent monkeys all over the world

  Ram, who was consoled by Lakshman

  —From the Nama Ramayana, which narrates the entire epic through the chanting of the many titles of Ram

  Monkey to God

  In north India there is a saying: pehle Hanuman, phir Bhagwan, first Hanuman, then God. Though a monkey, Hanuman, is one of the most widely worshipped gods in India. With no sophisticated philosophy associated with him, he is simply sankat mochan, the remover of problems, whose image stands alone in roadside shrines at crossroads, at entrances of cities, citadels, temples and homes. Though beast, he embodies all the qualities that make a human worthy of adoration: humility, strength and wisdom. And in a caste-based feudal society like India, Hanuman who stands outside the temple facing the street seems more accessible to the masses than his distant master, the royal Ram.

  The word for monkey in the Ramayana, Vanara, is said to be derived from ‘vana’ meaning forest and ‘nara’ meaning man. Many have therefore argued that the monkeys referred to in the Ramayana are not actually monkeys but forest tribes who either worshipped monkeys or had monkeys as their symbols or behaved like monkeys. Vali, for example, behaves like an alpha male monkey who keeps all the foraging grounds and female monkeys for himself. Sugriva and his troupe represent the troop of exiled bachelor-monkeys driven away by the alpha male who continue to hover around the harem waiting for an opportunity to outsmart the leader. Of all the monkeys, Ram is drawn to one in particular, one who though an animal demonstrates better behaviour than the best of men. That monkey is Hanuman. Ram first encounters Hanuman in the forest when he enters Kishkindha in search of Sugriva and is suspected of being Vali’s spy.

  Hanuman meets Ram

  When Ram and Lakshman entered Kishkindha, they met a Brahman who addressed them in chaste Sanskrit. The brothers were impressed and suspicious for they found it difficult to believe that a man with such diction, such deep knowledge of grammar and language would wander so far away from civilization in the forest said to be the home of monkeys. Lakshman was convinced that the Brahman, like the golden deer, was a shape-shifting Rakshasa. Ram refused to let past experience colour his judgement. He introduced himself to the Brahman as the son of Dashratha, king of Ayodhya, duty-bound to live in the forest as a hermit for fourteen years. He explained how his search for his missing wife had brought him to Kishkindha. The Brahman immediately revealed his true form: he was a mighty monkey called Hanuman, adviser to Sugriva. He had been sent by his master to find out who Ram and Lakshman were. ‘You look like warriors but dress like hermits. So we did not know what to make of you. My master feared that you could have been sent by his brother, Vali, to hunt him down.’

  Hanuman is no ordinary monkey. He is the son of Vayu, the wind god who could fly anywhere he wished. As a child he knew no fear, much to the exasperation of the other gods.

  Eating the sun

  As a child, Hanuman flew towards the rising sun mistaking it for a succulent fruit. On the way, he tossed the planets and the stars as if they were toys, annoying Indra, king of the sky, who struck him with a thunderbolt.

  Later the sages decided that he should forget his great powers and remember that only when they were needed most. Hanuman was given the task of protecting Sugriva by his teacher, Surya, the sun god.

  Hanuman’s teacher

  Hanuman wanted the sun god to be his teacher but Surya refused on grounds that all day he was busy travelling and all night he was busy resting. ‘When can I stop to teach you?’ he asked. ‘You don’t have to stop. Teach as you travel across the sky,’ said Hanuman, who then expanded his size, placed one foot on the eastern mountains and another on the western mountains and kept facing the blazing sun god’s chariot as it made its way each day from the eastern horizon to the western horizon. Impressed by Hanuman’s persistence, Surya taught Hanuman all that he knew and that was a lot, for the sun sees the whole world and so has knowledge of the whole world. ‘What shall I give you as fee?’ asked Hanuman. Surya replied, ‘My son, Sugriva, is suffering greatly at the hands of his half-brother, Vali. Take care of him for me,’ he said. Hanuman promised to take care of Sugriva but he refused to hurt Vali because Vali was the son of Indra.

  Hanuman helps Sugriva form an alliance with Ram. This alliance helps Sugriva become king of the monkeys. An indebted Sugriva orders his monkeys to scour the earth for Sita. Search parties are sent in every direction. The best of monkeys are sent to the south, the direction that Ravana was last seen travelling with Sita. The search party is headed by Sugriva’s nephew, Angad. This despite the fact that Hanuman, who follows Angad, is clearly more powerful. Hanuman has no issues being Angad’s follower. This is Hanuman’s personality—always a team player, ever willing to serve, with absolutely no desire to dominate.

  Before the journey begins, Hanuman displays his foresight which doubles Ram’s admiration for him.

  Hanuman’s foresight

  ‘If I find Sita,’ said Hanuman, ‘how will I convince her that I have indeed been sent by you?’ Impressed by Hanuman’s foresight, Ram gave him his ring. ‘Show this to her and she will know you are my messenger.’

  Though Angad is the leader, it is Hanuman who ensures that the monkeys are not distracted from their mission.

  Swayamprabha

  Angad was given the task of searching the southern direction, where Lanka stood in all probability. For days they travelled through forests and over hills and across deserts but they found no trace of Lanka or Ravana or Sita. Finally they entered a cave. The dark cave led them to a great magical city full of delightful things. All the monkeys were enchanted by the things there. ‘Stay and enjoy this wonderful place forever,’ said Swayamprabha, guardian of the magical city, ‘for you cannot leave this cave alive.’ Hanuman, who was part of this group, stopped the monkeys from enjoying the tempting things before them. ‘We are on a mission,’ he reminded them. He then begged Swayamprabha to let them go. He told her the tale of Sita’s abduction. Impressed by the sincerity and s