Awakening Times

  • AboutWhat we Do
  • MagazineOur Monthly Magazine
  • ArticlesTransform Yourself
    • Body
    • Mind
    • Soul
    • Consciousness
    • Earth
    • Personal Insights
    • Mohanji’s Musings
    • Film
    • Literature
    • Art
    • Sacred India
    • Uncategorized
  • WriteContribute an Article
    • Seeking Stories and Regular Contributors
    • Writing Guidelines for Awakening Times
  • ContactGet in Touch
  • ShopBuy Digital Editions

A Lesser Known Story From The Ramayana

After a long journey, Sri Ramchandra and the army of monkeys, reached the southern coast of our vast land and beheld the expanse of water separating them from Sri Lanka. The search for Sita was over; Rama now knew where she was; it only remained to redeem her from Ravana, by peaceful persuasion if possible or by war, if necessary. In line with our tradition of seeking Divine help, before commencing any work, Sri Ram desired to consecrate and offer worship to Shiva.

Arrangements were soon completed, except finding a suitable priest to guide the function. Sri Ram thought for a while and then decided on the best person available nearby – Ravana the king of Sri Lanka. Without hesitation he bade Hanuman to fly to Ravana’s palace and request him to conduct the pooja.

There was considerable shock and dismay among the assembly; to invite an enemy to conduct a pooja, specially meant to conquer and destroy him! Will Ravana accept such a preposterous invitation?
But Hanuman as a loyal soldier implicitly obeyed the royal command and flew to Sri Lanka to convey the message to Ravana. Men and women around him were also deeply shocked, surprised and mystified at this strange invitation from the prince of Ayodhya.

Ravana, true to his stature as a great pundit in Vedic literature, true to the tradition that as a Brahman, he should never decline an invitation to organize Divine worship, and true to his intense devotion to Lord Shiva accepted the invitation.
rama and ravana
He came with Hanuman to Sri Ram’s place, much to the consternation of everyone. Soon the king of Sri Lanka made an inspection of all arrangements, and turning to Sri Rama, said

O prince of Ayodhya, though you have made very satisfactory arrangements, you are not qualified to install the idol of Lord Shiva in the absence of your wife. Our edicts declare that no person, however high, can perform such ceremonies without his consort nearby.

The mood of the entire assembly now changed from confusion to curiosity – how would Sri Rama react?
The noble prince smiled and calmly replied,

We have invited you for the flawless performance of the ceremony. You have pointed out a flaw in tune with your duty as a pundit; I thank you for it. I now invite you to provide a solution, which also forms part of your duty.

This exposition of Dharmic postures and privileges between the greatest of kings and the noblest of men , was becoming even a treat for the Gods!
The king of Sri Lanka was not only a great ruler but also a great scholar. The scholar in him rose to the occasion now and Ravana said

O Rama, I can and shall provide a solution, since I do not wish to bear the blame for non-performance of Divine worship, but on one condition. I shall arrange to bring Sita here for the pooja but you should permit her to return to my place after the function.

All around, were astounded and speechless at the clash of wit and fantasy of words between the two great men and waited with bated breath for Sri Rama’s rejoinder. The noblest of men, simply and cheerfully accepted the offer, and the ceremony was completed in all solemnity. As per Indian customs and traditions, after viewing the couple, Ravana said “Let victory be yours!” though he knew well, those words meant his own destruction. Here was human values surpassing all constraints of Self.

Only one more formality remained, that of honoring the priest. Sri Rama invited Ravana himself to suggest the fees for the function. It was at this moment that the greatest and the most crucial episode of Ramayana unfolded before an unbelieving audience.

Ravana, the king would not take any fees, not even from Sri Rama, as he was always at the giving, and not the receiving end of fees or favors. But again the vedic pundit in him came to the fore.

He said

Sri Rama, knowing you very well, the only fees I solicit is that you stand by me when my life departs.

And thus it came to pass, that when Ravana lay in his last moments Sri Rama was near him. It only reveals that ultimate comfort for everyone high or low is to have Divinity nearby at the moment of death.

Contributed by Jyoti Prateek
Source: Ved Vyasa Ramayana

 

 

God is NEUTRAL ~ Just Like our own SOULThe power of I AM in healing, forgiving and moving through difficult situations
Comments: 3
  1. Yugen Naidoo
    October 31, 2015 at 2:29 am

    Love all

    ReplyCancel
  2. Kishore Babu
    January 29, 2016 at 2:35 pm

    Very very happy to read such a wonderful story, which I never heard

    ReplyCancel
  3. Mohan
    April 4, 2020 at 11:52 am

    Jai Ravana, Jai Sri Rama

    ReplyCancel

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Editorial Team
October 29, 2015 Soulrama worship shiva, ramayana, sri rama and ravana
Mast – The Ecstatic
Miraculous days with Mohanji
Archive
Recent Comments
  • Gayatri Jayshankar on 10 Years with Mohanji
  • Wayne Farquhar on White Eagle – Spiritual Story
  • Valmore Castillo on Asokan Nanniyodu – The body is only an imagination
  • Narendra Bhandari on Introduction to Homeopathy – Part 01
  • Lynette on White Eagle – Spiritual Story
Advertise with us
Would you like to share your product or service with our global audience? Contact us at info@awakeningtimes.com
PRIVACY & terms of use

Please read our Privacy Policy

Please read our Terms of Use

My Account

Sign Up

Log In

My Account

Categories
  • Art (5)
  • Body (22)
  • Consciousness (39)
  • Contribute (2)
  • Dharmic Business (1)
  • Earth (30)
  • Film (3)
  • Literature (4)
  • Magazine (68)
  • Mind (33)
  • Mohanji's Musings (3)
  • Personal Insights (3)
  • Sacred India (4)
  • Soul (36)
  • Uncategorized (601)
Tags
mohanjiyogaveganmeditationyoga practicehappinesscoronavirusgodcompassionlife purposespiritualityawarenessguruvegan foodenlightenmenthealingkarmaawakening times magazinein pursuit of happinesshealthy foodsacred geometryliberationsufismconsciousnesspath of the soulhealing processsatya sai babadestinyearth energychi energylovewatershivasaintstantrasai baba of shirdishirdi sai babaparamhansa yoganandabuddhismbuddhisttai chifoodspiritual energynaturesoul
2022 © Awakening Times
Truemag theme by StrictThemes