Shriram Navami (17th April 2024)

The little that most people know about God is usually through stories read or heard during their childhood. Due to such information, their belief in God is also very little.

Availability of more information about Deities helps in augmenting one’s belief; this in turn assists in smooth spiritual practice. Therefore, some useful information about Shriram is given in this article.

Just as a droplet of water containing a trace of oil cannot blend with water completely, unless the devotee of Shriram imbibes all the attributes of Shriram, he cannot merge with Him, that is, he cannot attain Sayujya Mukti. In this context, the attributes of Shriram described here will be a source of guidance to seekers.

1. Ram and Shriram

This Name ‘Ram’ was prevalent even before the birth of Ram. Ram-ramayate means remaining engrossed in Anand (Bliss). It is from this that the word ‘Ram’ has been derived. Ram remains immersed in Anand and also keeps others immersed in it.

‘Shri’ is one of the six virtues of God. The six virtues are – Success, Shri (Energy, beauty, virtues, etc), generosity, detachment, knowledge and opulence.

When Ram returned victorious to Ayodhya with Seeta after slaying Ravan and conquering Lanka, revealing that He was indeed God incarnate, He was called Shriram by the residents of Ayodhya. In the Valmiki Ramayan, Ram is referred to as ‘Narapungav’ (The Supreme Man) and not God. (Similarly, Deity Hanuman is called ‘Kapipungav’ [The Supreme Monkey].) There is a dot after ‘Shri.’ that is used before our names, which is the abbreviation for ‘Shriyut’ the Bharatiya term for Mister. However, there is no full stop when Shri is prefixed to the Name of Ram or Krushna. When we say ‘Shriyut’ it means enriched with ‘Shri’, that is, the particle of God. As against this, Shriram and Shrikrushna are actually Gods.

2. Special characteristics and mission of Shriram

A. Ideal in all respects

A1. Ideal son : Though Ram obeyed His parents, at times He also preached to the elders. For example, when leaving for the forest He told His parents not to grieve for Him. When Ram returned after completing 14 years in exile in the forest, He offered obeisance to Mother Kaikeyi, the very cause for His exile, and spoke to her lovingly as before.

A2. Ideal brother : Even today, people quote Ram-Lakshman’s love as an ideal illustration of brotherly love.

A3. Ideal husband : Ram had only one wife, Seeta, and was devoted to Her. Even after leaving her, Ram lived in detachment. Later, when He performed a Yajna (Sacrificial fire) He placed Her Idol beside Him. He did not prefer another wife despite it being a practice in those days for kings to have many queens. With this background, this depicts His faithfulness to His wife.

A4. Ideal friend : Ram helped Sugreev, Bibhishan, etc. during the difficult times in their lives.

A5. Ideal king

A. One who ruled the kingdom as Guruseva (Service unto the Guru) : When Shriramachandra returned from His exile, He offered His entire kingdom unto the Holy feet of His Shri Guru – Vasishtha – because He believed that only Brahmans (Priests) are entitled to rule the Earth surrounded by the seas. Later, Shriram ruled for 11,000 years to obey His Guru as part of Guruseva. This is precisely why His rule (Ram Rajya) was very prosperous and resembled the Satyayug. – H.H. Kane Maharaj, Narayangaon, District Pune, Maharashtra.

B. Prompt in following Rajadharma (Code of Righteousness of the ruler) : When His subjects expressed doubts about the chastity of Seeta, ignoring His relationship He left Her in accordance with Rajadharma. In this context, Kalidas, a famous poet has written a touching Shloka (Raghuvansha, Sarga 14, Shloka 84), which means – ‘Fearing social stigma Ram drove Seeta out of His home, but not out of His heart’.

A6. Ideal enemy : After Ravan’s death when his brother Bibhishan refused to perform his last rites, Ram said to him, “Enmity ends with death. If you do not perform his last rites, I will. He is my brother too”.

B. Follower of Dharma

He followed all the norms of Dharma, because of which He is called ‘Maryadapurushottam’. Shriram taught Dharma to His subjects too. Following His teachings, they remained sattvik and this created samashti punya (Collective merit). Consequently, the social environment for life became favourable for happiness.

Similarly, as the connection between Nivruttimargis (Individuals who have ceased to participate in worldly affairs) and Pravruttimargis (Individuals active in worldly life) was not lost, it resulted in happiness for every individual. This is why, life in Ram Rajya is considered to be ideal. – H.H. Kane Maharaj

C. True to His word

C1. Generally, when we have to emphasize a point we say ‘I will speak the truth trivar (Thrice)’. Similarly, the word ‘Shanti (Peace)’ is uttered thrice. The word ‘trivar’ is used with the following meanings.

A. I speak after taking the oath of the Trinity of Deities – Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh.

B. The word trivar is derived from tri (त्रि) and var (वार) – meaning, three days. If you get the same dream on three consecutive nights, it is said to be a spiritual dream and you should either act accordingly or ask a spiritually evolved individual about it. Similarly, only if you hear something thrice, consider it to be true. However, Shriram was true to His word always; once He spoke, it was the Absolute Truth and there was no need to utter it thrice.

No one ever asked Shriram, “Is this true ?”

C2. In Sanskrut grammar, there are three types of nouns – ekvachan (Singular), dwivachan (Dual) and bahuvachan (Plural). Shriram is ‘singular’. This implies that merging with Shriram means going from three (many) to two (Guru-disciple) and then to one, that is, Shriram. In Spirituality, spiritual progress means going from many to one and from one to shunya (Zero-state). Here, shunya refers to the Purnavatar (Absolute Incarnation), Shrikrushna.

C3. According to Geometry, three depicts the three dimensions; but Shriram is uni-dimensional. The three dimensions have arisen from the single dimension, which is beyond place and time.

D. One who used a single arrow : Since Shriram could strike any target with a single arrow in the very first shot, there was never a need for a second one.

E. Extremely generous : Sugreev asked Shriram – “When Bibhishan surrendered, you gave the kingdom of Lanka to him. (Shriram had gifted the kingdom to him even before the battle began.) What will you do if Ravan too surrenders ?” Shriram replied, “I will give him Ayodhya and along with my brothers, I will go to live in the forest”.

F. Always stithapradnya (Equanimous)

Being stithapradnya is an indicator of a high spiritual level. Shriram’s stithapradnya state will be clear from the following verse in Ramcharitmanas (Kanda 2, Adhyaya 1, Mangalacharan), which means – May the radiance of Shriram’s countenance, the one who was neither elated after hearing about His coronation nor distressed about His exile into the forest, always bestow us with happiness. In the terminology of the Bhagawadgeeta, it is said ‘the one who is neither happy nor sad has a steady intellect’.

G. Human nature

Shriram displays emotions of happiness and unhappiness just like human beings. Hence, we feel more attracted to Him than to other Deities. For example, after Seeta’s abduction, Ram became melancholic. However, even in such circumstances how the God Principle in Shriram still remained intact will be clear from the following conversation between Deities Shiva and Parvati.

Parvati : Just see how the one whose Name You chant is grieving for His wife like an ordinary mortal.

Shiva : This grief is superficial. He has to do this since He has assumed a human form.

Parvati : Ram is wandering about embracing the trees. This proves He is really pining for Seeta.

Shiva : Why do you not experience for yourself if this is true or false ? Appear before Him in the form of Seeta. Then observe His behaviour.

Parvati did as Shiva had suggested. Seeing Her, Ram offered obeisance to Her and said, “I have recognised You. You are Adimaya (Primal energy)”. Thus, Parvati was convinced that Ram’s bereavement was superficial.

H. Ramdas (Ram’s servitor) and Ram Rajya

H1. Ramdas : This word has two meanings.

A. The servitor of Ram

B. The one who Ram serves !

H2. Ram Rajya

A. During His times (in the Tretayug), Ram alone was not sattvik; His subjects too were sattvik. Hence, during His rule, not a single complaint was brought to His court.

B. The real Ram Rajya (Implied meaning) : Absolute control over the five sense organs, five motor organs, mind, subconscious mind, intellect and ego by Ram (Atmaram – The soul Principle) dwelling in the heart is the real Ram Rajya.

(Reference : Sanatan’s Text – ‘Shrivishnu, Shriram and Shrikrushna’)

Since Shriram displays happiness and unhappiness just like humans, we feel more attracted to Him than to other Deities !