Wisdom Workshop: Recent Episodes
SKY
We invite you to seek your own liberation by finding what matters to you, by living your life to the fullest. Rewrite your rules, redefine yourself. Don't let life slip you by. You are a master of infinite possibilities.
Dharma is immutable. Dharma persists as dharma then, now, and forever. Of course, the practices and rules of applied dharma might change ac- cording to changing causes; but even then, the practices have to be tested on the basis of the scriptures (sastras), not on the basis of advantage.
Education is necessary for both men and women. But education for women has to be in accordance with their special needs. Educated women are really the promoters of dharma for the whole world.
People refer to various duties, rights, and obligations, but these are not the basic dharmic truth; they are only means and methods of regulating the complications of living. They are not fundamental.
Dharma is the moral path; the moral path is the light; the light is bliss. Dharma is characterized by holiness, peace, truth, and fortitude.
Dharma cannot be restricted to any particular society or nation, for it is closely bound with the fortunes of the entire living world. It is a flame of light that can never be extinguished. It is untrammelled in its beneficent action.
People must dedicate themselves to dharma and always be engaged in dharma, so that they may live in peace and the world may enjoy peace. Dharma is the foundation for the welfare of humanity; it is the truth that is stable for all time.
Bharatha called together the royal preceptor and the ministers of the court and assigned them various admin-istrative duties. He entrusted them with the authority to perform their duties.
Bharat meets Rama and Chitrakoots and begs him to return to Ayodhya. Rama refuses, and Bharat returns dejected - but not without Rama's sandals!
Bharatha and Shatrughna fell at Vasishta’s feet and wept aloud. “Already, there has been much delay; it is not advisable to delay any further,” he said, and directed Bharatha to prepare himself for performing the funeral rites of his father.
The house was ready for occupation even before sunset. Rama looked often and long at the neat little cottage, and he praised the devotion and skill of his brother to Sita, in high terms. Sita also appreciated the house and said that she had yearned for a long time to live in just such a habitation.
Sita slept on the soft bed of grass. Lakshmana sat at Rama’s feet in order to massage them tenderly, to relieve the tension of exertion.
Citizens of Ayodhya who had gathered at the palace gates saw them walking as hermits and broke into bitter sobs. Many were so shocked that they fell unconscious. Many beat their heads in sheer despair.
"Sita! You will have to sleep on hard rocky ground, wear live on tubers and roots. Even this food might be difficult to get every day" Rama tried to picture before Sita fearful scenes of forest life, but Sita was not affected in the least.
When Rama, my very breath, proceeds to the forest, whom am I to serve here, with this inert material physical object called the body? Lakshmana has no desire to serve anyone except Rama.
Kausalya couldn’t understand a word he said. She could only say, “Son! Within a few minutes you are to be crowned king, and you talk of the Dandaka Forest! I can’t make sense of what you say.” She thought her son was teasing her with a joke.“Son! In this auspicious hour, even in fun you shouldn’t talk of things of bad omen. Give it up, my lovely gem!”
Kaikeyi asked Dashratha to coronate her son Bharatha and send Rama to forest for fourteen years. Dashratha was shocked, but had to fulfill it.
At Ayodhya, Dashratha announced that Rama would be throned as a King after him and started preparation for his coronation.Before this could happen, the King's favorite queen, Kaikeyi's maid Manthara warned Kaikeyi and told her to use the wishes which Dashratha had promised her.
“Who has broken Lord Shiva’s bow.The bow that was designed by Vishwakarma was given to me by Lord Shiva himself. Speak up who is responsible for this heinous crime? “, screamed Parshurama.
King Janak was worried about his daughter’s wedding and so he called for a swayamvar in which lord Rama and laxman were also invited.
He wanted a perfect match for his daughter and so decided whoever could lift lord Shiva’s bow will be the match for Sita.
As Rama and Lakshmana are walking bravely and gallantly by the sides of the sage Vishwamitra, all the women of Mithila drop their work and run to see these two youngsters.
Instructions went forth for everyone to get ready before daybreak for the journey to Mithila. Viswamitra rose early and led the boys to the river for ablutions. He was thrilled at the chance of telling them of the hardships he encountered from the demons whenever he attempted to celebrate sacrificial rites (yajnas) in the past.
After finishing Viswamitra's yagna successfully, Vishwamitra asked Rama and Laxmana to accompany him to Midila Nagar (The kingdom of Janaka Maharaj, father of Seeta) there he was invited by Janaka for a function.
In those days in the region east of Ayodhya, the royal city, the sage Viswamitra was engaged in rigorous asceticism. He resolved upon a holy rite (yajna). But however often he inaugurated it, the demons desecrated it and fouled its sanctity. They showered pieces of flesh on the sacred area and made it unfit for Vedic ceremonies.
Gurukool is the institution, where studying pupils were first obliged and dedicated to Guru and his wife. and so Dasaratha sent his sons to this gurukool to learn the nuances of veda and other kalas deemed fit for Kings.
King Dasaratha ruled a land called Koshada in northern India and his capital was Ayodha. He was unhappy however because he had no heirs. The Gods decided to grant him four sons, so that Vishnu could be reborn as a human being.
King Dasaratha, the noble and courageous descendant of the Surya dynasty, ruled over the kingdom of Kosala from the capital city of Ayodhya. He had three queens: Kausalya, Sumitra, and Kaikeyi, Dasaratha was blessed with fame, glory, peace, and prosperity. But he had one great sorrow; he did not have any children.
Raghu was the great-grandfather of Lord Rama. Raghu was a heroic personality and was known for his gallantry. The Raghuvamsha relates his wonderful achievements and varied conquests, and concludes with the following legend.
The Ramayana is an ancient Sanskrit epic which Written by the sage Valmiki, the Ramayana is the story of Lord Rama and how his divine plan unfolds. Rama who was born in a royal family was supposed to be the king, but because of his step- mother, he was forced to exile from his kingdom for fourteen years. During this period his wife Sita was kidnapped by a demon called Ravana. Rama with the help of his brother, Lakshman, and an army of monkeys under the leadership of Hanuman, rescued Sita. The Ramayana is also about devotion, loyalty, family roles and respect for elders.