RAM TRAINED VAANARS TO FIGHT AGAINST OPPRESSION DURING 14 YEARS OF VANVAAS

Vanvaas of Shri Ram was self arranged, with Kaekae's help to ensure Vaanars were trained in civil laws and militarily. To understand this, accept Ramayan as history of humans without supernatural powers

VANVAAS or BANISHMENT of Shri Ram is one of the most important part of TRETA YUG History for this era. Though this period of History is the most important period of Shri Ram’s life, yet not much has been written about it.

The confusion is there because we still are NOT in a position to mentally accept that Ramayan is Human History of Treta Yug. We try to glorify Shri Ram and Mata Sita by accepting that they had SUPERNATURAL or MIRACULOUS powers. However the youths are more interested in Physical realities, i.e. the Historical facts. For this the rule that we will follow is “Ramayan is History of HUMANS, and NO SUPERNATURAL or MIRACULOUS powers were available to any of the characters.”

Secondly use of SUPERNATURAL or MIRACULOUS powers quite often change or alter the Dharm that we would get from an event of Shri Ram’s life otherwise and make it redundant. This will provide to us real hard facts whose interpretations are more historically acceptable.

SUPERNATURAL or MIRACULOUS powers are the hangover of the earlier age when events of Ramayan were not understandable, because of the lack of information with the general public, and maybe by the religious leaders of that time. So to explain certain events INTERPRETATION and INTERPOLATION were used. Some have found mention in the Valmiki's Ramayan too. Remember Treta Yug existed at least 5,00,000 years earlier.

To understand more about this one can read my blog post: INTERPRETATION and INTERPOLATION in Ramayan Those who have read the earlier post KAEKAI AND RAM would understand the reason for vanvaas for 14 years. “Vaanars were living a miserable life. Kingdoms, including people living in Ayodhya had no sympathy for them (read Hindu History..Start of a New Kalp ; Ramayan and History). They were not even considered as humans.”

Shri Ram had already made a commitment to train these Vaanars about civil and society requirements as well as train them militarily. For this he had to stay in forest for about 14 years. Vanvaas was, thus, the best option. During this 14 year period Shri Ram trained Vaanars about civil and society rules and also militarily. And that was the reason why Hanuman, when he met Shri Ram and Laxman at the foot of Kishkindha hills lamented that he could not recognize them in the first instance.

Remember that we are living in an information age and once we believe that there were flying machines too, at that time, we have to understand history of that period with the sophistication it deserves. We cannot believe that the sophisticated Lankan forces were vanquished by the crude stone throwing Vaanars simply because of supernatural powers that Shri Ram possessed. NO SUCH THING HAPPENED. Vaanars had received military training during last 12 to 13 years and they also had a better and more able leader in Shri Ram, which ensured their victory.

This post is important because we all have to understand the important Dharm that we get from every event of Shri Ram’s life.Vaanars were not accepted as humans. Kingdoms, including people living in Ayodhya had no sympathy for them. Rakshas used to hunt them for their meat, adb capture them for trading. It is only in this context and the fact that Vaanars were trained militarily by Shri Ram himself; the decision of Shri Ram to fight Lankan forces with Vaanar Sena makes sense. Otherwise please explain why Ayodhya forces and the forces of friendly kingdoms were not asked to fight Lankan forces when Ravan has abducted the Queen of Ayodhya, Sita.

The wooden sandals of Shri Ram, were placed at the throne of Ayodhya, and as such Sita was the ruling Queen of Ayodhya, though voluntarily living in forest. Ayodhya had an obligation to ensure that best forces were pressed to fight Lankan forces.

When one takes all this into consideration, only then one can understand the purpose of Shri Ram’s stay in forest for 14 years.

RAM SUGRIVE FRIENDSHIP PACT.. AN ANALYSIS

A primitive rule existed in Vaanar settlements where reddressal of grievance of serious nature could be settled by a duel fight to death. Sugrive had this option to get back his wife from Bali.

Ram was in the forest with a mission. 

To settle Vaanars in such a way, that kingdoms may start treating them as Humans and NOT animals as was being done till then.

Shri Ram after being awarded Vanvaas for 14 years went to live in forest along with Sita and Lakshman. The main task that these three performed there, was to find ways to settle Vaanars, teach them how to defend themselves and to live as a civilized society. 

Since Rishis and other highly skilled individuals, who had voluntarily sough Vanvaas at old age, also lived there, there was no problem in educating them and teaching them military skills. Military skills were required as they were susceptible to attacks from Rakshas and also at time from persons of civilized kingdoms who till now had refused to accept them as humans.

There are still some people who feel; in influence of some unscrupulous Gurus that Shri Ram was forced to stay in forest just because of banishment. True, but we forget that this banishment was arranged by Kaekai, her step mother, who loved and adored Ram. Ram was there on a mission. He had to settle Vaanars, the evolved humans and also destroy the setup of hatred created by combine of Rakshas and kingdoms, so that, in future a smooth transition of Vaanars into the mainstream of civilized world, could happen. Here we are going to concentrate on Ram Sugrive pact, and discuss this strategically.

After the abduction of Sita and having being informed by vanvaasis that it was none other than Ravan who had abducted her, Ram was now left with no choice except to decide the composition of the army to take on the might of Ravan. And he had some options. He could call for the army from Ayodhya, and was sure that this would also be joined by the army of Janakpuri as well as of other friendly kingdoms. They were technically equally (if not better) equipped to match Rakshas Sena of Ravan. Or to arrange for a Sena of Vaanars who had already been trained by them and could also fight the battle.

Ram was in the forest with a mission. To settle Vaanars in such a way, that kingdoms may start treating them as Humans and NOT animals as was being done till then. The battle with Ravan would be tough, and to win that war he needed the best resources.

But Ram wanted Vaanar Sena. He was sure he would win the battle even with Vaanar Sena. Ram knew that Vaanar Sena was required, but he was informed that there was a problem. The largest settlement of Vaanars, at Kishkindha, was headed by Bali, and Bali had good relation with Raven. He was told that although Bali respected and had highest regards for Ram, he would not, under any circumstances, agree to let his army be a part of Vaanar Sena to fight Ravan. He was also told that Bali had recently banished his younger brother Sugrive and had forcefully kept his wife and children. 

We can also say, without hesitation, that Bali while throwing Sugrive out of the Kishkindha kingdom, did tell Sugrive of the forest dwellers rule, that if Sugrive wanted his wife and children back, let Sugrive challenge him in a man to man combat and defeat Bali. Such rules do exist in the nascent, growing societies, and existed in North America till as recently as 300 years back.

Perhaps Ram could forge friendship wish Sugrive and ensure that Kishkindha army supported him. Here Ram had limited option. He knew that Bali would not allow his army to participate in war. So the next best option was explored. 

Ram proceeded with Lakshman to find out what Sugrive could do to help. On reaching the foot of the mountain, they were welcomed by Hanuman, the Minister of Sugrive, who took them to meet Sugrive. Obviously Sugrive was eager to help.

Here, once Shri Ram was satisfied that Sugrive was willing to give full support, they entered into a formal friendship pact. Now the dilemma that Ram faced was how best to proceed and ensure that Bali was killed and Sugrive became the king. In case he send a warning to Bali, as customary, that Bali should restore rights of Sugrive, there would be mediation, and some amicable solution would be found. This would not eliminate Bali. No purpose would be served.

The other option was that Sugrive, as per the traditions of forest dwellers or Vaanars, challenge Bali for a man to man combat. Everyone was sure Bali would gladly accept this. Sure, it was known that Bali was much superior fighter, but Sugrive was brave and tactful. Ram, Lakshman also taught him a trick or two. There was nothing more they could do.

During the ensuing combat Sugrive seem to forget whatsoever was taught to him. Soon he was running back to where Ram Lakshman were, fearing for his life. He was told to be calm, remember what was taught to him, and assured that he would win. Motivated, he went back and fought, and fought well. But once again Bali started gaining upper hand. When Ram realized that Sugrive’s body language suggested that he was about to give up, Ram, from his hiding, drove an arrow straight into the chest of Bali, mortally wounding him.

Rest, of course, is history. Now the big question? Why a Prince, a King, a Kshatriya, broke the existing Maryada by INTERFERING DECISIVELY in a man to man combat? Such things are unpardonable even today.

Please remember Ram had a better option of calling Ayodhya forces, yet because he wanted that Vaanars should get equal place in the society, he wanted Vaanar Sena. Ram knew if he won the battle against Ravan with the help of Vaanar Sena, it would be far easier for him to bring Vaanars into the mainstream. 

Secondly it was his duty to make Vaanar Samaj realize that such primitive rules, like a dual to decide who would keep the woman, only favored the powerful. 

Ram was certainly NOT gaining anything personally by killing Bali in such a fashion. And that is the reason why Ram is called Maryadapurushottam.

A person who follows Maryadas of his time is called Maryada Purush. But a person who goes beyond that, and breaks the existing Maryada SOLELY for the sake of Humanity and nation building, is called MARYADA-PURUSHOTTAM.

PASSIVENESS, HINDU ORGANIZATIONS, LOYALTY AND NATION

The time has now come to do some soul searching. As said earlier in all my posts no one else is going to find answers for you. You have to do it on your own..There has always been difference between commitment toward nation and commitment towards an organization. This difference was very apparent during 1000 years of invaders rule, when people holding loyalty to a particular clan refused to think beyond that resulting in disunity, invaders rule, and atrocities, which spared none.

Over 100 Crore Hindus live in India, and we have a democracy, yet we as Hindus are not getting desired result as a Society. We are frustrated and this frustration reflects in all our actions. We try to blame the NON Hindus for this, knowing that we are doing this because we simply do not have the guts to accept that we are passive and afraid to take bold decisions. Otherwise explain why do we consider ourselves as second class citizen of India? 

Answer: 

a) Because we were slaves earlier and as such are passive and gutless. We know that the problem lies within ourselves, but our passive attitude tries to take the easier and simpler route of criticizing Non Hindus, when the problem is ours. 

b) Because after independence, we felt that everything will be all right, without ours am getting involved; yet this had not happened. No we are confused and know nothing as to how to proceed. We thought that our religious Gurus will help us, and we have regularly performed seva at Gurus Ashram. Yet even now no improvement is visible. The only visible improvement is that the life styles of Gurus have become more Luxurious. 

c) The prime religious organizations are constantly propagating the view that because of the policy of appeasement followed by the government of the day towards minorities, all these problems subsist. BUT THAT IS NOT LOGICALLY POSSIBLE. HINDUS ARE MORE THAN 80 % OF TOTAL POPULTION. How can you stop more than 80% of the population from asserting itself in a democracy? THIS IS RIDICULOUS AND DIVERSIVE TACTICS.

So the obvious conclusion is our Passive attitude….A VERY VERY PASSIVE ATTITUDE; which need to be changed

Religion has 3 essential parts.

1) Pooja; 2) Rituals; 3) Physical performing part or Dharm.

Hindus call the physical performing part of religion DHARM. It is this Dharm (Please also read: DHARM and RELIGION ) which was diluted by Saints to somehow save Hindus, during 1000 years of invaders rule. After independence, corruption, passiveness, exploitation of females and weaker section, can be attributed to non reintroduction of Dharm by Gurus.

And yet there are Gurus and Gurus. Needless to say all of them are flourishing. And the Hindu society is bleeding. Who is responsible for that? I REPEAT: this is VERIFIABLE statistics; even after 63 years of independence the BPL (Below Poverty Line) families have increased, which is extremely shameful for ALL educated Hindus.

As said earlier, there has always been difference between commitment toward nation and commitment towards an organization. We need organizations who can tell their followers what happened during 1000 years of invaders rule without manipulating facts. And also what was the mistake the Hindu organizations made after independence which has made the attitude of Hindus so PASSIVE.

Unfortunately this is not happening. They must tell the Hindu society that during those 1000 years of invaders rule, every kingdom had a Rajguru and a King. A RAJGURU, who lived lavishly and had absolute powers; the history of invaders and invasions is known to everybody. At no time during these 1000 years they could present a united front to fight the invaders. The atrocities faced by Hindu society are known to everybody.

We cannot make the same mistakes again. Hindus had to be told who is responsible for problems faced by them after independence. Remember there is no other player in Hindu society except the Hindu Gurus. Hindus are extremely religious. Yet no one tells them that why, even today, 85% of the huge government funds intended for welfare does not reach the intended masses. True, this is because of the corrupt government delivery system, but is it not also because of the passive attitude of Hindus?

How can Hindus be so passive when Hindus are highly religious, and our Dharm does not allow Passiveness? Shri Ram stayed in forest to rehabilitate evolved humans called Vaanars, stopped the religious atrocities on females by abolishing Agni Pariksha, and killed mighty Ravan by the help of Vaanar Sena( evolved Humans). Yet these things are not told to Hindus in Dharmic manner designed to end passiveness.

This is the testing time for religious organizations. We need these organizations, but they must correct their mistakes. Regarding Gurus, Hindu society has to ignore them. They are deliberately increasing the emotional content of the religion to ensure power and wealthy for themselves. Nowadays the commitment of Gurus is towards Luxury, Power and Wealth. As such you have to move forward without a Guru.

The question that requires pondering is the attitude of ours, i.e. average Hindu. It is true that our culture was systematically attacked by invaders, but what happened after independence? Why are we suffering now? Read my blog post, A review of RAMCHARITMANAS, and Are we doing enough as Hindus. You will find the reasons there. You can comment on the blog post itself or here. I will reply.