Friend and devotee
The citizens of Ayodhya, who tried to stop their beloved leader, Rama, from heading to the forest, could not succeed and were left grief-stricken, torn, and wrapped in utter gloom. When Rama reached the river Ganga, the chief of the region, Guha, a hunter by profession, came running to greet Rama and extend a hearty welcome. It is but natural for people to see the face value of others and then befriend them. Rama, supreme in all aspects, did not see anything wrong in making friends with Guha. Considering Guha as a coeval, Rama gave him the status of a king (Ramasya Aatma Samassakha). Like a cow secreting milk from its udder to its calf, Rama poured his blessings on Guha. Rama introduced his beloved spouse Sita to Guha as his best friend. Acharya Periavachan Pillai states in his commentary that Rama introduced Sita to Guha so that he would receive the blessings of the Goddess. Rama introduced Lakshmana to Guha as his brother. Rama embraced Guha with a heart filled with joy.
Apostle Thirumangaiazhwar prayed to Lord Ranganatha, asking if he was like Guha and whether Lord Ranganatha would embrace him and extend his blessings.
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Friend and devotee
Sri. Ranganji said in a discourse that the Vedas are the oldest literature. The greatness of the Vedas lies in the fact that they are fostered well and remain intact, unchanged or unaltered, as they have been from time immemorial. The Vedas are the definitive testimony to understand dharma (Veda: pramanam dharmasya). The Vedas reside in the hearts of those who recite them by heart, like a God who dwells in the garbhagriha (sanctum sanctorum) of the temple. The Ramayana incorporates many doctrines from the Vedas and provides further insight into the concept of dharma. Ramayana is a prejudice-free literature. The citizens of Ayodhya, who tried to stop their beloved leader, Rama, from heading to the forest, could not succeed and were left grief-stricken, torn, and wrapped in utter gloom. When Rama reached the river Ganga, the chief of the region, Guha, a hunter by profession, came running to greet Rama and extend a hearty welcome. It is but natural for people to see the face value of others and then befriend them. Rama, supreme in all aspects, did not see anything wrong in making friends with Guha. Considering Guha as a coeval, Rama gave him the status of a king (Ramasya Aatma Samassakha). Like a cow secreting milk from its udder to its calf, Rama poured his blessings on Guha. Rama introduced his beloved spouse Sita to Guha as his best friend. Acharya Periavachan Pillai states in his commentary that Rama introduced Sita to Guha so that he would receive the blessings of the Goddess. Rama introduced Lakshmana to Guha as his brother. Rama embraced Guha with a heart filled with joy. Apostle Thirumangaiazhwar prayed to Lord Ranganatha, asking if he was like Guha and whether Lord Ranganatha would embrace him and extend his blessings.
