When you read this, if your sentiments are likely to get hurt, kindly click 'X' on the top and close this page without reading, or you can click any other link at this blog, so that you do not get hurt. Today is Shri Rama Navami. It is regarded as the birth day of Shri Rama. It is celebrated with great gaiety in India. Telugu People celebrate it with greater delight, when compared to people of other States of India. Reasons, I do not know. At Bhadrachalam, Shri Rama's Temple, the wedding of Shri Rama and Sita is celebrated with great gusto. Bhadrachalam is believed by Telugu People, to be the Panchavati Cottage on the banks of River Godavari, from where Sita was abducted by Ravana, during the 14th year of Shri Rama's exile to forests. Of course, Nasik in Maharashtra also competes for the same credits. The Government of Telangana State sends new clothes, pearls to the Bhadradri Temple,as a token of respect. This practice of Golkonda Nawabs sending clothes and pearls seems to be in vogue since 1700 C.E., when TanIsha was the Ruler of Golkonda. When compared to the Towns and villages of Telangana State, the towns and villages of Residual Andhra Pradesh, organise the weddings of the deities Sita and Rama with greater enthusiasm. This enthusiasm used to be far larger about 40 years back. After formation of the State of United Andhra Pradesh in 1956, and the mingling of the people of Residual Andhra Pradesh commenced on a larger scale, because of movement of Andhra People to Hyderabad (State Capital) for livelihood, there is a shift in celebrations from the Weddings of Sita and Rama to the Celebration of Ganesh (Vinayaka) Worship. 40 years back, there used to be big pandals in Residual Andhra Pradesh for celebration of the wedding of Sita and Rama. Today, we do not see such pendals. We see such pendals for Ganesh Worship.
FOR RAMAYANA RELATED EPISODES & NARRATIONS, VALMIKI RAMAYANA SHOULD BE THE AUTHORITY AND BASIS.
Valmiki is regarded as the First Poet (Adi kavi) in Sanskrit language, and India. Valmiki Ramayana is regarded as the first book/Epic in India. If that is acceptable, for all Ramayana related narrations and episodes, analyses, Valmiki Ramayan should be taken as standard, authority, and basis. Other Ramayanas may contain different narrations. For research analytical purposes, other Ramayanas cannot be taken as standard. Similarly, we should not be carried away by the misleading versions in films, and TV Serials. It will be in the interest of Readers to check correctness of events shown in films/TV serials, by referring Valmiki Ramayana.
WHY I AM HIGHLIGHTING THIS?
There is an erroneous impression among many Indians, and of course Telugu people especially, that Demon King Ravana was present at the venue of Sita's Svayamvara (Sita selecting her life's partner). Many films present that, before Rama, Ravana tried to lift Shiva's Bow, and having failed, went back, disappointed. Films also show that the bow fell on Ravana.
This is not true, as per Valmiki Ramayana, Volume 1 Balakanda, Chapter 62 Sarga 62. Here are the verses from Valmiki Ramayana, which were spoken by King Janaka (Sita's father) to Sage Viswamitra, with a very brief English gist. These verses mention that many kings tried to lift Shiva's bow, and having failed in their attempt, they laid a seize on the Mithila City, Provisions get exhausted after one year, anxious king Janaka prays Gods, gets forces to chase out the Kings. These verses do not mention that Ravana was among the Kings who tried. In the last verse, King Janaka offers Sage Visvamitra to show the bow to Rama and Lakshmana. Thus, it can be seen that when Rama broke Shiva's bow, neither Ravana, nor any other kings were present in the Hall. All such scenes are 'cinema-creations'.
Late N.T. Rama Rao, Former Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, directed a film titled 'SItA rAma kalyANam' (wedding of Sita and Rama). In that film he had even introduced a duplicate Sita, a duplicate Ravana, and produced some dramatic effects. All such scenarios and stories are fictitious and cannot be taken as real, if we accept Valmiki Ramayana as standard.
Film Director Late Bapu, (also a cartoonist and painter of great calibre), directed a film by name Sampurna Ramayanam (Complete Ramayanam), with Hero Shobhan Babau as Shri Rama and Chandra Kala as Sita. I have seen a part of this film, on E TV Cinema. This film also contains a scene of Ravana (S.V. Ranga Rao) attempting to lift Shiva's bow, and failing in it. As per Valmiki Ramayana, this cannot be accepted.
teShAm varayatAm kanyAm
sarveSAm prIthivIkSitAm || 1-66-16
vIrya shulkA iti bhagavan
na dadAmi sutAm aham |
To those kings who have come forward to marry my daughter, I have not given her to them, saying that I shall give her only to a valiant person.
tataH sarve nrIpatayaH
sametya munipumgava || 1-66-17
mithilAm abhyupAgamya
vIryam jignAsavaH tadA |
Kings who have come to Mithila wanted to try their hand on the bow.
teShAm jignAsamAnAnAm
shaivam dhanuH upAhrItam || 1-66-18
na shekuH grahaNe
tasya dhanuSaH tolane api vA |
When the Shiva's bow was brought near the Kings, they were neither able to lift it or handle it.
teSAm vIryavatAm vIryam alpam
gnAAtvA mahAmune || 1-66-19
pratyAkhyAtA nrIpatayaH
tan nibodha tapodhana |
Finding their lack of strength and valor, I have since then barred the kings from seeing it.
tataH parama kOpEna
rAjAno munipumgava || 1-66-20
arundhan mithilAm sarvE
vIrya samdeham AgatAH |
All those kings, enraged, have surrounded the Mithila, to capture it.
AtmAnam avadhUtam
tE vignAya munipumgava || 1-66-21
roShENa mahatA AviSTAH
pIDayan mithilAm purIm |
Having felt insulted, they continued seizing Mithila City.
tataH samvatsare pUrNe
kShayam yAtAni sarvashaH || 1-66-22
sAdhanAni munishrEShTha
tato aham bhrIsha duHkhitaH |
One year elapsed in the seize, and as the provisions etc. in the City got exhausted, I got anxious.
tatO dEva gaNAn sarvAn
tapasA aham prasAdayam || 1-66-23
daduH ca parama prItAH
caturamga balam surAH |
I prayed demy-Gods with my ascesis, and they have given me the four forces (infantry, cavalry, elephants, and chariots).
tato bhagnA nrIpatayo
hanyamAnA disho yayuH || 1-66-24
avIryA vIrya samdigdhA
sa amAtyAH pApa kAriNaH |
Chased by the (Divine) Armies, having lost self-confidence, the kings retreated with their ministers.
tat Etat muniSArdUlA
dhanuH parama bhAsvaram || 1-66-25
rAma lakSmaNayOH ca api
darShshayiSyAmi suvrata |
O tiger among Sages! I shall show the glorious bow even to Rama and Lakshmana.
ybdonkey's personal views, not intended to be imposed on others
Today, TV Channels, particularly Telugu TV channels have done lot of preaching, about virtues of Shri Rama, the maryAda purushOttama, as a person who treats every creature in this Universe equally, with compassion. But none of the TV Channels mentioned about the story of 'Shanbuka vadha' which can be found in Valmiki Ramayan's last volume, Uttara KAnDa also called 'uttara rAmAyanam'. uttara RAmAyanam describes Rama rAjyam (Shri Rama's glorious Administration).
A very brief STORY OF RAMA SLAYING SHAMBUKA
Shambuka was a person of 4th caste (ShUdra or a servant caste of thos days). He was performing penance. One day a Priest came to Rama's court, with a grievance. According to the Priest, his son died, because a violation of 'virtuosity (dharma)' took place. Violation: A Sudra was performing penance, which he was not supposed to do. Hearing of the volation, Shri Rama with his sword, went on his Pushpaka Aircraft to danDaka forest, searched the penancing ShUdra Shambuka, and beheaded him.
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