Our beloved Pujya Swami Sahajananda had focused our weekly Tuesday Ganga Arati on the Ramayan and had stated that Lord Rama is our Ishta Devata. Even our Sivananda Mass Drill displays are performed to the melodious Ram Bhajans selected by Pujya Swamiji.
From his own experience the Master's wrote, "Think of Lord Rama, and your entire being is pervaded by a thrill of joy and peace—the joy and peace that belongs to Rama Rajya. Forget not that Lord Rama who took the human form out of mere play and in order to place before man an ideal of human perfection, was in reality the Supreme Brahman Himself". In an interpretative study, the Master stated, "Establish the Rama Rajya in yourself; when each individual thus converts himself into a walking, talking and moving Ram Rajya, then the entire world will be converted into one huge Rama Rajya."
In order to strengthen further the pillar of Hindu Society, the Master exhorted, "Every woman should get before herself the ideal of Sita to perfection. Pativrata Dharma is the only Dharma for a woman. She need not perform austerities or observe other Vratas. She need not practise Yoga or engage herself in worship of the Lord. If a woman sticks to this one Pativrata Dharma she gets Mukti easily. Her might then becomes unchallengeable. Even gods will bow to her, and the elements will obey her commands. Ofashionable woman, O immodest lady, turn away from the path which leads to ruin; follow Sita's example. You will be ever remembered, even as Sita is."
The chanting of the sacred verses from the Ramayana (Bala Kanda) set to well composed musical pieces, was melodiously recited, in which the birth of the four divine sons of King Dasarath was poetically narrated. We produce a transliteration of one of these verses: "Joining both her palms, Mother Kausalya addressed Lord Rama as follows, 'O infinite Lord, how can I praise You. The Vedas as well as the Puranas declare You as transcending Maya, beyond attributes, above Knowledge and beyond all measure. The Vedas proclaim that every pore of Your body contains multitudes of universes brought forth by Maya.'"
The screening of the video on the Ramayana, appropriately chosen, complimented the reading and the chanting of that evening. It portrayed the naming ceremony of the four divine sons of King Dasaratha who invited the preceptor of the royal dynasty, Vasishta, to the palace and, according to the horoscopes of the new born sons, announced their names. Against the background of the classical Bhajan, Tumake Chalata, the childhood delights of the Lord were also depicted thereafter.
We conclude with the words of our Master, taken from the message of that evening, "Rama Rajya was based on truth. Dharma was its foundation. Shastras were the guiding principles. Rishis, Yogis, Munis and Brahma Jnanis were the guiding lights. The Vedas were always respected and followed. Therefore, Rama Rajya endured and prospered. And, it is even now spoken of as the most perfect form of government. Here is a lesson for all the rulers of the world. If you base your government on true religion, on Dharma and on eternal verities, the government will be an ideal one, and all your subjects will enjoy peace and prosperity; if you build it on shifting sands of materialism, then the structure will collapse, destroying the inhabitants. Learn a good lesson from the Ramayana. Abandon the path that your perverted intellect impels you to tread. May the blessings of Lord Rama be upon you all!"
