Rama got the help of vast army of monkeys commanded by Hanuman, who had compressed within himself immense power with himself and real devotee of Rama. Hanuman’s father, Vayubagavan or the Lord of wind had decreed that Hanuman would serve as a devotee of an incarnation of Lord Vishnu, no person other than Lord Srirama .So Hanuman’s joining Rama was due to providence . It was coming together of two great souls together by divine will. Hanuman was born with the mission of being Rama’s aid in destroying evil and restoring the virtues in earth .

As Adi Shankara pointed out each one us is born with a mission or noble purpose and not merely to lead a materialistic life, although we may not be aware of it and it needs deep thinking on our part to bring those missions to our awareness. Blessed are the people who lead a lives of mission rather than leading a vegetative life and wasting the precious human life we got, as a result of good deeds done in the past several births. Even modern Science agrees that it took billions of years for the human life to evolve from sub-human level.

After rains subsided when there was everything in plenty to meet the needs of the people , Rama felt that was the time to prepare for a war against Ravana . It shows that in those days even war was planned in such a way that it should not bring hardships to common man . Large army consisting of monkeys and men moved in all the directions in search of Sita . While on the way they got the news from Jadayu’s brother Sampathi, who was lying on the top of a hill like a burned mass of bones that Sita had been taken to Lanka. Sampathi narrated to Rama his story. He told that his elder brother Hanuman once took a challenge of flying over sun and move in celestial world. Sun being angry let off his heat. Sampathi tried shielded his brother from the sun’s scorching heat, with the result his body was almost charred .He being incapacitated, was lying there.  l . Srirama redeemed him from his plight. He regained his old body and spirit.

 The army contingent commanded by Hanuman moved towards the direction of Lanka.  Rama decided to send Hanuman to visit Lanka first as his emissary for a truce with Ravana to release Sita from his custody and end his autocratic rule. They found that Hanuman had to cross the ocean to reach the other shore where Lanka was situated. At first Hanuman felt hopeless. Later he realized his power to grow to any size and move in the air with the speed of wind. He   planted one foot on each of the banks. He assumed gigantic form and  leaped across  the ocean , reached outskirts of Lanka and moved to the city assuming inconspicuous form , lest  people would notice him . Ravana’s soldiers  noticed him . They suspected him to be spy from Rama . They were asked to catch Hanuman and imprison him. Vibhishana, Ravana’s brother pleaded with Ravana not to prepare for fight with Rama and release Sita as gentlemanly behavior. Ravana reprimanded him   that if he were not his brother, he would have killed him for his disloyalty towards own brother and support to his enemy  . Although Vibhishana make him understand that he was keeping the best interest of his brother in his heart when he made that suggestion. Although Vibishana was born in the family of Demons, he had reformed himself and   leading righteous life. He parted with the company of his brother, Ravana, crossed the side of Lanka and reached the side where Rama and his army was camping, seeking asylum .. At first Rama’s soldiers suspected him to be Ravana’s spy. Rama identified his true nature and offered him asylum. .This shows that even if a person is born not in noble family or family having credit of good deeds done in the past, he can become a person of virtues and good conduct by his own efforts .There is always scope for improvement in the quality of one’s life. No one need be pessimistic of his past background. He can always move to higher levels by his efforts.

Ravan’s army men caught Hanuman tied him up and brought before Ravana. Hanuman was least neither disturbed nor antagonistic against Ravana. He told Ravana that he had come as Rama’s messenger to find amicable solution, without war to restore Sita Devi .Ravana due to arrogance pooh-poohed his suggestions. He ordered his people to roll his tale in cotton and set flame to it as punishment. It was done as commanded with least resistance by Hanuman. This shows that great people are   courageous and can put up with any hardships, which would scare ordinary mortals.

 Hanuman, being divine powers was unaffected by fire. He flew around Ravan’s palace with his tale with rushing flame and scorched many buildings, causing damage and destruction. All the people there were in panic and started running hither and thither.  They knew Hanuman   was not an ordinary monkey, but some powerful force. Ravana whose destiny was to die in the hands of Rama remained stubborn and asked his army to go for a war .With no peaceful options left, Rama and Lakshmana had to go for war with Ravana. Fight ensued. It was fierceful beyond description. Both sides had causalities as happenens in a war, although those in the side of Ravana were much more than those in the Rama’s side. Rama  killed Ravana ultimately  and brought  Lanka under control , freed Sita and returned  along with Sita , Lakshmana , his ever devotee Hanuman and his army  to his kingdom of  Ayodyha  He  crowned Vibishana as k as Ravana’s successor . This clearly shows that Rama’s aim in seizing Lanka was not to expand his territory as those of kings with expansionist ambitions,   but it was to root out evil and establish just rule. Rama made it clear that he attacked Lanka not because the women whom Ravan abducted happened to be his loving wife , but as his mission to ro. In other words there was not even an iota of selfishness on the part of Lord Srirama in invading Lanka and killing Ravana . Ravana even though he practiced all vices during his life time, he had acquired sense of virtues also through his penance and devotion to Lord Siva particularly. So just before his death, Ravana realized the misdeeds he committed and he told Rama about it. He also revealed to Rama about his happiness in the choice of Vibishana as his successor. This shows that even the most sinned man may realize his sins at some point of time or other, as the so-called conscience dwells in every one. It also shows that both tendencies, good and evil are deep within us, which ones predominate depends upon our conscious efforts and will.  There is no use in regretting over the past mistakes, if we repeat them .we should exercise timely caution and try to lead a morally clean life right from the beginning.

 Stipulated time of 14 years as told to Bharatha was almost over. Bharatha was anxiously and at the same time happily waiting for his brother Rama to seat him on the thrown. When he found time running out without any sign of Rama’s return, he was so upset that he planned to immolate himself in the fire. Rama knew his temperament   and the importance Bharatha would have given to his words.  , He sent Hanuman to Ayodya anticipating that Bharatha might commit something untoward, as pilot to inform him about his home coming. . Hanuman reached at the nick of the moment and put out the flame. When Bharatha asked him angrily how he could stop him from his act, he conveyed to him the good news of Rama’s return to Ayodhya. People in Ayodhya was immersed in joy to see their beloved king to be seated in the thrown .Every place was lit with lamps . It is believed that annual celebration of Deepavali all over  our country  is in commemoration of  this occasion . It is to give a royal welcome to Lord Rama who eliminated evils from the world and restored righteousness in its place. It is also taken symbolically that it is a typical case of winning or triumph of good or virtues in human conduct  over evil or wickedness  and also moving from the darkness of superstition , poverty, ignorance, egoism and others to light and splendor which represent wisdom, prosperity, love ,kindness, harmony, spirit of service and so on .

Coronation of Lord Rama took place with all Royal paraphernalia. Lord Rama and his escort Sitadevi were seated on the golden thrown with two brothers Bharatha and Lakshmana standing on either side of the thrown  and with His devotee Hanuman sitting on the ground prostrating Rama a scene filled with joy  in the minds of thousands of his subjects  and even celestial beings who were reported to have attended  the function .It is said his rule was so exceptional from the point of view  of  prosperity and happiness of his subjects , it has literally come to be called as ‘Ramarajya’ , which every one dreams about  today .Thus the epic story of Ramayana  which has eternal significance  is a veritable source of human values or principles of exemplary conduct.   It is a very practical guide to all of us in our day to day life, especially during turbulent modern times, we are passing through now.

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(santhasree2000@yahoo.com)

Winner of All India D.M.A- Escort’s awards for two  research based Management books , Winner of N.I.P.M  Award   and I.T.C award of excellence N.I.P.M Award for best papers  on Management, Recipient of 5 Fellowships, from  University of Kerala , Ministry of Education , Govt of India , U.G.C , Ford Foundation, U.S.A  and International Institute of Labour studies , Geneva , Author of 5 Management books of which 2 received All India  D.M.A – Escort’s Awards  and several articles , Ex-Adviser , Higher Education , Overseas Service. Holder of M.A, PhD degrees, in Psychology and Management  and did Post-Doctoral Research  in Australia .  He  has written about almost all Indian festivals and Epics like Ramayana and Bhagavad Gita drawing out moral/ethical/spiritual/human values enshrined in them and interpreting them with originality and has shown how those can be applied in our everyday life for enduring happiness , peace and personal effectiveness and social  harmony .

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Prologue

This is the new interpretation of the monumental epic Ramayana. It is an enquiry into what lessons we have to learn from the story of Ramayana, which would help us to meet the challenges of the present day world and to lead a life of enduring happiness.  I have tried to make presentation straight forward, thought provoking and make interesting reading. I have not narrated the story in all its details. as it is not my intention. I have given only aerial view .I spent most of my efforts in unfolding  those which are not visible to the readers .As many things are untold  than told directly , we find epic Ramayana ,  other ancient  treasures  of knowledge and Indian culture and tradition  are not seen as making impact on our day today life . It is seen more as symbol for worship than guide to practical living. I don’t claim that I have mined the human values inherent in the epic completely. I have perhaps only scratched the surface .How ever I have  given pointer towards  further excavations to be undertaken by other scholars and thinkers routed in Indian culture and Philosophy to unravel  the unfathomable treasure we have  as our  ancient   thoughts. This work should benefit our present and future generation equally well, so that they become master of rather than victims to circumstances created by consumerism, mass consumption and monstrous material civilization.

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