June 12, 2025
A person who commits mistakes will not readily admit his folly. He can get out of any quagmire if he listens to saner advice. A person should lend an ear to his spouse's advice. In the Yaksha Prashna of the Mahabharata, when the Yaksha asked Yudhisthira who the best companion for a man was, Yudhisthira replied that a person's wife would always be a great source of support. If the wife possesses a noble soul, what more does a man want? If she lacks this, what is there in life for him? (Illathen illaval — Kural 53.)
Trichy Sri Kalyanaraman said in a discourse that Tara, Vaali's wife, cautioned him when Vaali's brother Sugreeva rechallenged Vaali to a fight. She told him that she had come to know Sugreeva acquainted with a friend called Rama. Tara said Rama's brothers are like the air of life to him. He gave the kingdom to Bharatha, who ruled in the name of his brother Rama. But 'you set out to wage a war with your brother', she said. When Rama hit Vaali with an arrow from behind, Vaali questioned Rama's act and argued with him. Vaali said others should study and follow dharma, but it flows in your blood. Rama replied that you abducted your brother Sugreeva's wife and also fought with your brother, who surrendered at your feet. You transgressed all the paths of dharma and deserved to be punished.
After a series of arguments and counterarguments, Vaali accepted his mistakes. Vaali said Rama's arrow not only pierced his chest but also purified him. Vaali further said that at his last moment, Rama not only cleansed him from his sins but also purified his soul. He said to his brother Sugreeva, 'Rama gave you only the kingdom, but he gave me the everlasting happiness of moksha.'
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The Hindu
2 days ago
- The Hindu
June 12, 2025
A person who commits mistakes will not readily admit his folly. He can get out of any quagmire if he listens to saner advice. A person should lend an ear to his spouse's advice. In the Yaksha Prashna of the Mahabharata, when the Yaksha asked Yudhisthira who the best companion for a man was, Yudhisthira replied that a person's wife would always be a great source of support. If the wife possesses a noble soul, what more does a man want? If she lacks this, what is there in life for him? (Illathen illaval — Kural 53.) Trichy Sri Kalyanaraman said in a discourse that Tara, Vaali's wife, cautioned him when Vaali's brother Sugreeva rechallenged Vaali to a fight. She told him that she had come to know Sugreeva acquainted with a friend called Rama. Tara said Rama's brothers are like the air of life to him. He gave the kingdom to Bharatha, who ruled in the name of his brother Rama. But 'you set out to wage a war with your brother', she said. When Rama hit Vaali with an arrow from behind, Vaali questioned Rama's act and argued with him. Vaali said others should study and follow dharma, but it flows in your blood. Rama replied that you abducted your brother Sugreeva's wife and also fought with your brother, who surrendered at your feet. You transgressed all the paths of dharma and deserved to be punished. After a series of arguments and counterarguments, Vaali accepted his mistakes. Vaali said Rama's arrow not only pierced his chest but also purified him. Vaali further said that at his last moment, Rama not only cleansed him from his sins but also purified his soul. He said to his brother Sugreeva, 'Rama gave you only the kingdom, but he gave me the everlasting happiness of moksha.'
The Hindu
02-06-2025
- The Hindu
The Goddess leads us to Him
There are several instances in the Ramayana, where the mere presence of Sita beside Lord Rama, ensured that the latter did not punish those who deserved to be punished. One instance is that of Parashurama, said M.A. Venkatakrishnan in a discourse. Rama and Sita were returning to Ayodhya after their wedding. Parashurama appeared before them suddenly and confronted Rama. He said he was an ascetic, engaged in penance. He was the inheritor of the Vishnu bow from his father sage Jamadagni. He had heard that Rama had broken the Siva dhanus. Equally significant was the Vishnu bow, said Parashurama. He then challenged Rama and said the latter should shoot an arrow from the Vishnu bow. Rama picked up the bow and asked Parashurama what the target should be. Parashurama chose to have the merits of his tapas eliminated, and Rama released the arrow, and Parashurama was deprived of the benefits of his penance. Rama could easily have killed Parashurama, whose life was spared because of the presence of Sita with the Lord. Tataka was killed by Rama before He wed Sita. Tataka had not personally harmed Rama. He killed her only because sage Viswamitra asked Him to. But Soorpanakha had threatened Sita. Yet He spared her life. Again, this was because Sita was beside Him. Sastras tell us to seek God, and that is what Soorpanakha had tried to do. So why was she punished? One must reach Lord Narayana through His consort. But Soorpanakha was interested only in Rama. She saw Sita as an adversary. Ravana wanted Sita to be his and saw Rama as an enemy, and so he was eliminated. We must not worship the Goddess without worshipping the Lord. Nor should we worship Him without worshipping Her. She is the one who helps us reach Him. Without Her help, reaching His feet is impossible.
Hindustan Times
01-06-2025
- Hindustan Times
U.P. CM to be chief guest at Ram Darbar Pran Pratishtha in Ayodhya on June 5
For chief minister Yogi Adityanath, his 53rd birthday will be special. This year on his birthday on June 5, he will preside over the Pran Pratishtha (consecration) ceremony of Ram Darbar on the first floor of Ram Mandir in Ayodhya. Three-day celebrations will begin on June 3 and final ceremony will be held on June 5 in which chief minister Yogi Adityanath will be the chief guest. The date, June 5, is also known for being the day when the Dwapar Yuga began, according to Hindu mythology. It is also the day of Ganga Dussehra which celebrates the descent of the Ganga on the Earth. In the Treta Yuga, Lord Rama is believed to have established the Shiva Linga at Rameswaram on June 5. Along with Ram Darbar, idols of several deities will also be installed amid Vedic rituals in other temples that have been constructed on the Ram Janmabhoomi campus. In the Ram Darbar, an idol of Lord Ram along with that of Mata Sita will be placed on a two-feet high white marble throne. Idols of Lord Hanuman and Lakshman will be placed in a sitting position in front of the Ram Darbar while standing idols of Bharat and Shatrughan will be installed behind the throne. 'All idols and the throne have been sculpted from white marble in Jaipur, Rajasthan,' said Anil Mishra, member of Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Tirath Kshetra Trust. 'These idols, carved out of white marble and crafted using the Hemmark photographic technique, will be installed on the first floor,' Mishra added. Eleven priests have reached Ayodhya for the ceremony. The remaining priests will be from Ayodhya. The administration has made elaborate arrangements for the ceremony, ensuring the safety and security of all attendees. The temple complex will also feature four grand entrance gates, with the southern gate being the most prominent. The gate will be 17-metre high, 30-metre long and 11-metre wide. It will be adorned with intricate carvings of elephants, horses, lions and flowers. To maintain the site's sanctity, only a limited number of devotees will be allowed access to the temple's first floor. The second floor of the temple will feature a display of the Ramayana in multiple languages, including its oldest known version. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had inaugurated the Ram Mandir on January 22, 2024. The ground floor of the Ram temple has an idol of Ram Lalla (infant Ram), the presiding deity of the shrine.
