rāmāyaṇa insights
hariḥ oṁ
~~~~~~
namasté
One of the great itihāsa-s इतिहास is the rāmāyaṇa or rāma + ayaṇa :
- rāma राम - pleasing , pleasant , charming , lovely , beautiful. One root is ram - to delight , make happy
- rā is acquiring , possessing , yet as a noun it is splendor, luster. That is why 'rā' and ravi रवि is associated with the Sun. And what then is Sunday? ravidina , Sunday .
- ayaṇa अयन = the path, or road; course or place of refuge, progress or manner.
Hence the rāmāyaṇa is that path, or course that brings one to rāma.
So it would seem to me a better understanding of the story of the rāmāyaṇa would serve one wisely. Questions then become :
- who really is rāma ?
- who is sīta and rāvaṇa ? That is, what principles do they represent?
- and rāma's brothers ? and rāvaṇa's brothers ?
- and hanuman-ji ?
- What is the symbol of the forest-time He spent ?
- etc.
Perhaps those that have interest in participating in this conversation can bring some their definitions and ideas to this string. I encourage all to bring their knowing but avoid dumping too much information at one time. We wish not to drink water out of a fire hose, but prefer to sip it by the glass.
If I may let me offer this regarding rāmāḥ...
The adyātma rāmāyaṇa ( bālakanda section) informs us, rāmāḥ is the Supreme Self, distinct from prakṛti. He is the one all-comprehending Being who is the Spirit Supreme. He is not separate from you, He is not another, to be looked for on the 'outside' of you. He is you at your core, the Supreme Self; He is your own true Self.
Now we can look at the rāmāyaṇa from a different point of view:
the rāmāyaṇa is about the path (ayaṇa) to your own Self ( rāmaḥ).
I hope to see other's post and their contributions to this string.
praṇām
words
- rāma = noun for varuṇa
- rāma = a kind of deer; a horse ; a lover; pleasure , joy , delight
- rāmā = a beautiful woman , any young and charming woman , mistress , wife , any woman ; red earth ; a kind of pigment; a river;
- rāmā = a kind of metre i.e. (in music) a kind of measure.
- rāmī =darkness , night
Last edited by yajvan; 05 November 2011 at 10:45 PM.
यतस्त्वं शिवसमोऽसि
yatastvaṁ śivasamo'si
because you are identical with śiva
_
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