Saturday, July 26, 2008

Rama in Padma purana.


Padma puranam is in focus now in the Sethu issue.


Padma puranam is the source for the slokas for archana.

in any Ram temple in India (perhaps abroad also),

The Ashtothra- shata (108) namavali archana to Rama,

that is in vogue today

has been the one taken out from Padma purana only.


This namavali contains 108 names of Rama of which

“Sethu-kruthan” is one.

The 83th namavali of Rama among 108 is

Sethu-krthayE namah”

Kritham means ‘done’ / performed / made.


This name means ‘Rama who did / made / performed Sethu’.

This namavali archana is also being told at the beginning of

parayana (reading) of Ramayana.

This is universal in practice.


Reading of Ramayana begins with a sankalpa

followed by the namavali archana of Rama.

Padma purana namavali (containing this name of Sethu-krithan)

is in common use.




Another issue from the article below from Dr S. Kalyanaraman.

He has beautifully brought out how Gita views Rama.

But the ‘parathwam’ of Rama

or who Rama is –

has been quoted by all acharyas and commentators and scholars

from Mandodhari’s lamentation on Ravana’s death.




In the sarga 114 in Yuddha khandam

(I quote from AV Narasimhachariar’s translation, 1923 edition),

Mandodhari cries over the body of Ravana.

At that time she recalls 3 incidents,

the death of Karan & vali,

Hanuman’s entry into Lanka and burning down of Lanka

and the impossible feat of bridging the ocean by Vanaras

as evidences that Rama was not after all a man.

She counseled Ravana citing these 3 instances to desist him from going on war.

She recalls this at Ravana’s death and proceeds to tell

how Rama was not a man.

This part of narration has been handled by acharyas to establish that

Rama was a God - had parathwam – or the Paramathman in human form.


- jayasree

From Dr S. kalyanaraman

Raamah shastrabhritaam aham (I am Rama among warriors)

Dear Dr. Subramanian Swamy and bandhu,



What a privilege it has been to have you guiding the mighty movement to save our heritage. Our nation becomes the punyabhumi because of patriotic aatman like you. Tears of joy roll down my eyes as I recall the valiant fights won so far thanks to the sheer power of the samajam which expressed itself unambiguously that Hindusthanam is Shri Rama's country.



You and all the counsels who have been working with such diligence, commitment and patriotic fervor to defend the rule of law on behalf of the petitioners, have to succeed, we have to succeed and we will. I am sure the justice system will also not let us down despite their wrongly perceived jurisdictional limitations. If the justice system cannot protect a national cause, who else will in a regime of utter lawlessness? All citizens of Hindusthanam are beholden to all of you for the sage counsel and guidance you have brought to bear upon this historic case.


I want to know the specific reference cited by Fali Narimaan from Padma Purana. I have shown that his quote from Kamba Ramayana is simply not correct. I will be able to offer my comments on Padma Purana reference relied upon by Fali Narmaan. As of now, it appears that there is no mention whatsoever in this Purana text. I don't know what verse he is specifically referring. Though the Court said that they are not taking evidence on Setu, it is important to point out the minefield of ancient texts and dangers of misinterpretations of words out of context of space and time. Many words had different meanings at different points in time. The tradition is the guide. You have shown that the tradition is so intense that the Setu is a monument, a heritage monument, a place of worship beyond any reasonable doubt.



The Court cannot wish away the enormously weighty arguments on over 160 topics presented including your brilliant advocacy on the fraudulent economics, illegalities and national security implications. Environmental concerns are so enormous that a flippant decision should not be taken without detaled evaluation by experts from National Inst. of Oceanography of Goa and Geological Survey of India, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (Atomic Minerals Divsion) and Navy Coast Guard, national defence experts. The entire gamut of project alternatives should be subjected to study afresh.



It is shocking that Fali Narimaan advised GOI not to undertake ASI study assuming that issues of faith will in any case be part of any such study. It is shocking that there is an attempt to shy away from facts and ground realities, denigrating the very essence of safeguarding the professional integrity of experts working in many fields including archaeology. ASI cannot do this task by itself, it will be necessary that a multidisciplinary advocate commission is put in place to arrive at the issues related to monument declaration under 1958 Act and World Heritage monument under international covenants (e.g., Underwater Cultural Heritage Convention of UNESCO of which India is a party) apart from UN Law of the Sea 1958 on historic waters.



For the sake of this punyabhumi, for re-establishing the memory of vigrahavaan dharmah, Shri Rama, we shall prevail. Again, again, my namaskarams to you. S'ubha kaamanaayen. This is a moment of truth and satyam is so effulgent that the darkness enveloping the nation temporarily will get removed. We owe it to ourselves to fight, to fight to win. With the warrior Shri Rama's blessings, everything is possible. Gitacharya refers to Shri Rama in the Bhagavad Gita as a warrior. That word is enough. Rama is our ideal, you are warriors, like Shri Rama.


raamah shastrabhritaam aham
{Amongst Warriors, I Am Lord Ram!}
Srimad Bhagvad Gita 10.31

Full selected texts related to the manifestations of paramaatman including the manifestation as Rama:

yo mam ajam anadim ca
vetti loka-maheshvaram
asammudhah sa martyesu
sarva-papaih pramucyate 10.3



"He who knows Me as the unborn, as the beginningless, as the Supreme Lord of all the worlds—he only, undeluded among men, is freed from all sins."

buddhir jnanam asammohah
ksama satyam damah samah
sukham duhkham bhavo 'bhavo
bhayam cabhayam eva ca

ahimsa samata tustis
tapo danam yaso 'yasah
bhavanti bhava bhutanam
matta eva prithag-vidhah (10.4 and 5)



"Intelligence, knowledge, freedom from doubt and delusion, forgiveness, truthfulness, control of the senses, control of the mind, happiness and distress, birth, death, fear, fearlessness, nonviolence, equanimity, satisfaction, austerity, charity, fame and infamy—all these various qualities of living beings are created by Me alone."

pavanah pavatam asmi
ramah shastra-bhrtam aham
jhasanam makaras casmi
srotasam asmi jahnavi 10.31

Translation

Of purifiers I am the wind, of the wielders of weapons I am Rama, of fishes I am the shark, and of flowing rivers I am the Ganga.


dhanyosmi. namaskaram.

Kalyanaraman

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