Lesson 5: The Ramayana
Destiny
In a previous lesson we discussed Karma and how it affects future lives. On many occasions the effect of ones deeds is felt in the same life. This is especially true when a misdeed has been committed followed by a curse from the aggrieved party. Dasharatha, the father of Rama, met this fate. Dasharatha could hit an unseen target hearing the sound. Once on a hunt he heard a sound on a riverbank and thinking that a beast was drinking water he shot his arrow. Actually a lad named Shravan was filling water pots. Shravan’s parents were blind and aged and he was their sole provider. After Shravan died Dasharatha approached his parents and offered them a life of luxury. They turned down his offer, asked to be cremated on Shravan’s funeral pyre and cursed Dasharatha that he too would die yearning for his son.
Ravana and Sita, two of the main characters in Ramayana are playing out their destined roles. Jay and Vijay were the guards of Vishnu. Once Vishnu was enjoying moments of intimacy with his consort Laxmi and he instructed Jay and Vijay to stop anyone from entering. Unfortunately during this period four sages wanted an audience with Vishnu. When Jay and Vijay refused to let them in they promptly let loose a curse on the gatekeepers. Jay and Vijay would have to take birth twelve times on earth as mortals. Vishnu came out and tried to make things easier for his gatekeepers. They would have to take birth only three times instead of twelve but in these births they would be evil demons. Vishnu himself would appear on earth and kill them. Jay and Vijay accepted their master's proposal. In the second set of births Jay and Vijay were born as Ravana and Kumbhakaran, his younger brother. During this period Vishnu took birth as Rama and killed both Ravana and Kumbhakaran.
There was a king named Rathadhwaja. He gave up the worship of Goddess Laxmi and as a result Laxmi withdrew her support. The king soon lost his kingdom to his enemies. His son, Kushadhwaja, repented and Kushadhwaja regained his kingdom. Since the Goddess had cared for him he wished to return the favour and pleaded that Laxmi take birth as his daughter. In due time Laxmi was born as his daughter. She was named Vedavati. Now Vedavati could only marry Vishnu in a mortal form. So she prayed to Vishnu to come down to earth. Vishnu told her that this would only be possible in her next life, but asked her to continue with her meditation. Ravana saw this beautiful maiden performing austerities alone and he outraged her modesty. Vedavati immediately immolated herself but before her mortal form was reduced to ashes she cursed Ravana that she would soon take birth again and be the cause of the destruction of his clan. Vedavati was born again as Sita and married Rama, who was an incarnation of Vishnu.
The entire event flow of the Ramayana – the birth of Rama and Sita, Rama’s exile, Sita’s abduction and the slaying of Ravana – were all controlled by destiny.
Optional Exercises
4a. Read about Shravan from ‘The Indian Epics Retold’ on page 67.
4b. King Pandu of the Mahabharata also lost his life because of a curse, Read about this from the following site.
http://www.suite101.com/article.cfm/myth...
4c. Read a detailed account of Jay Vijay from the following site.
http://www.suite101.com/article.cfm/myth...
4d. Discuss the difference between knowing ones destiny and knowing that destiny exists but ones destiny cannot be known. What are the implications of each?
