By Bal Ram Singh, PhD
जन्म जन्म मुनि जतनु कराहीं। अंत राम कहि आवत नाहीं।। (Kishkindha Kaand, 9.12)
janma janma muni jatanu karahin, a≈ta rama kahi avata nahin.
Meaning, the even sages take birth after birth, doing all sorts of efforts, but at the end of their lives, they are not able to focus (utter) the name of Ram.
Through this chaupai, Goswami Tulsidas depicts a situation where Bali was mortally injured and argues with Ram against the injustice to him.
mai bairi sugriva piara, avaguna kavana natha mohi mara (8.3).
How come I am your enemy whereas my brother Sugriva is your friend, and what are my faults that you hurt me?
Ram replies:
anuja badhu bhagini suta nari, sunu satha kanya sama e cari.
inhahi kudrishti bilokai joi, tahi badhe kachu papa na hoi.(8.4).
Younger brother’s wife, sister, and son’s wife are supposed to be treated like daughters. There is no sin killing those who violate this ethics. Listening to this Bali realized his mistake, calmed down, and appreciated Ram’s point of view for the welfare of the society to follow the path of dharma. This is when Ram offered water to Bali, and said now that he has realized, he is willing to revive him to continue ruling his kingdom. And, that is when Bali submitted that janma Janam muni jatatn karahin……
So much is in the power of Ram’s steadfast following of Dharma that even Bali’s wife Tara accepted Ram’s explanation of the continuation of the Atma even when the body is dead. Thus, remembering even the name of Ram, with proper understanding of his principled life gets people through the most difficult times.
It is argued that King Dasharatha attained moksha because he was only uttering Ram… Ram…even though it was due to his moha or attachment towards his son, Ram.
राम राम कहि राम कहि राम राम कहि राम।
तनु परिहरि रघुबर बिरहँ राउ गयउ सुरधाम॥155॥
rama rama kahi rama kahi rama rama kahi rama,
tanu parihari raghubara biraha ° rau gayau suradhama. (Ayodhya Kaand 155)
Meaning, Crying Rama, Rama and again iRama and yet again Rama, Rama, Ramai, the
king cast off his body in his agony of separation from Rama and ascended to the heavens.
In modern times, Mohan Das Karam Chand Gandhi, many call him Mahatma Gandhi, was another person, who is said to utter, He Ram, even during or perhaps in his agony, uttered He Ram, the two words imprinted on his Samadhi or tomb at Rajghat. ‘He Ram’ is a common expression in rural regions of Ayodhya where I originally come from, and it reflects an expression of a very sad expression of belief, and something not legitimate.
In the contemporary time, I see a very big campaign against Mahatma Gandhi, questioning his Mahatma reference, his statement about India’s partition over his dead body, and his practice of brahmacharya, his support to Jawaharlal Nehru as the Prime Minister, and many others. I had a teacher in my village school who had refused to offer flowers as a tribute on 2nd October, the Gandhi Jayanti. When I was told about it, I asked his reason which he mentioned as Gandhi not saving Bhagat Singh from gallows. I asked him why he didn’t save Bhagat Singh, he was obviously puzzled and told me that he was not even born then, I asked how about his grandfather? He obviously understood his mistake, as a good teacher.
Some say that Nehru was perhaps the first to use Gandhi politically, but most of these people are perhaps the latest!
According to Prof. Stanley Wolpert, the author of Gandhi’s Passion, Gandhi in mid-November, 1947 had said that Jawaharlal should resign and India being a agriculture based country should have a farmer as the PM!
Gandhi was shot, but not dead,
He was oozing with red blood;
Never was not taken to a hospital,
Even though he was really critical.
Rather he was left at,
the Birla Mandir for dying:
It is so easy to leave a man,
critical of you, for dying.
It is still a fashion of only Hindus,
To blame someone who is already dead;
Even English were stunned with no clues,
When Gandhi confronted with a logical thread.
With a shoot boot person,
It is obvious what is game;
Talking Gandhi derogation,
Feeling nothing for his shame.
Let him come down in dhoti,
Leaving jacket suit alone;
Try a daily dose of neem chatni,
Keeping values like stone.
Gandhi maybe not a mahatma,
Such Hindus are sure a jadatma;
They get mercy of Parmatma,
May they get peace as self atma.
Balram Singh is a Professor and the President of the Institute of Advanced Sciences, Dartmouth, Massachusetts, researching Ayurveda, Yoga, Vedic education, and Vedic social and political traditions. He is also an adjunct faculty at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), New Delhi.
The views expressed are not necessarily those of The South Asian Times
