Important learnings from Lord Rama’s characteristics | Dr. Hansaji Yogendra

Summary

The script explores the worship of Lord Rama and Krishna, contrasting Rama's modesty and adherence to dharma with Krishna's miraculous acts. Rama's qualities—righteousness, satisfaction, loyalty, kindness, gratefulness, leadership, calmness, and radiance—make him a relatable and divine figure. Despite not performing miracles, Rama's exemplary conduct and balance in life's challenges inspire reverence, highlighting the potential of ordinary actions guided by dharma.

Takeaways

• 😇 Rama is revered as an ideal king for his modest and fair life, embodying qualities that inspire people even centuries later.
• 🌟 Krishna's life is marked by miracles and divine acts, such as lifting a mountain and mesmerizing with Ras Leela, which distinguishes him as godly.
• 🚶 Rama's journey to Lanka on foot and reliance on the help of vanars, rather than using divine powers, highlights his common man's approach to challenges.
• 🧘‍♂️ Rama's qualities, such as righteousness, satisfaction, loyalty, kindness, and calmness, are what make him a godly figure and a role model for life's conduct.
• 🤝 Rama's adherence to Dharma, or righteousness, and his focus on responsibilities and duties, are central to his character and teachings.
• 💪 Rama's breaking of Shiva's bow and his respect for the decision of King Dashrat in marriage reflect his commitment to Dharma and respect for elders.
• 🙏 Rama's satisfaction (Santosha) with his circumstances and his self-sufficiency, even during exile, demonstrate his contentment and acceptance of life's gifts.
• 💑 Rama's loyalty to Sita and his vow of having only one wife stand out in a time when kings had multiple wives, showcasing his commitment to monogamy.
• 🌱 Rama's kindness and compassion extend to all beings, including his enemies, as shown by his treatment of the spies sent by Ravana.
• 🙌 Rama's gratefulness is evident in his acknowledgment of the help received from the vanars and Hanuman, emphasizing the importance of recognizing support.
• 📚 Rama's mastery of various subjects, including Astra and Shastras, and his guidance to others in finding their Dharma, illustrate his wisdom and leadership.
• 🧘‍♂️ Rama's calmness and balance in the face of adversity, and his control over emotions, especially anger, are key aspects of his character that set him apart.
• ✨ Rama's radiance and the love he exudes, which deeply affected even Hanuman, highlight his divine presence and the impact of his love and kindness on others.
• 🌱 The script emphasizes that being extraordinary in the ordinary, doing Dharma, and being detached from the results can make one godly, as exemplified by Rama.

Q & A

Why is Ram revered as a role model and an ideal king despite not showing miracles or leelas?

Ram is revered for his qualities that inspire people, such as his righteousness, balance, and focus on dharma. His life serves as a perfect example of how to conduct various activities with integrity, even without performing miracles.

How was Krishna's life different from Ram's in terms of showing miracles and leelas?

Krishna's life was marked by numerous miracles and leelas, such as his miraculous birth and lifting a mountain as a child. These godly acts distinguished him from Ram, who did not display such extraordinary feats.

What are the key qualities of Ram that make him a godly personality?

Ram's godly status comes from his qualities like righteousness, satisfaction, loyalty, kindness, gratefulness, leadership, calmness, and radiance. These attributes resonate with people and inspire them to emulate his conduct.

How did Ram's approach to the war against Ravan differ from other godly personalities?

Unlike other godly personalities who might have won wars single-handedly with powerful weapons, Ram took the help of vanars and did not use aerial vehicles. His approach was more akin to a common man with limited resources.

What is the significance of Ram's focus on dharma in his life?

Dharma, meaning responsibilities and duties, was central to Ram's life. His main focus was always on upholding justice and righteousness for his kingdom and every creature, which is a key aspect of his character.

Why did Ram break Shiva's bow and what did it signify about his character?

Ram broke Shiva's bow to demonstrate his strength and righteousness. It signified that he was not only capable of upholding dharma but also willing to follow the proper order and traditions, as he deferred the decision of marriage to King Dashrat.

How did Ram's attitude of satisfaction or Santosha influence his life and the perception of him?

Ram's attitude of satisfaction, accepting whatever he had as a gift from God, made him content and self-sufficient. This quality of letting go and finding contentment in all circumstances made him a figure of admiration.

What is the significance of Ram's loyalty towards Sita and how was it different from the norms of his time?

Ram's loyalty towards Sita, taking a vow of having only one wife, was significant as it went against the norms of his time when kings had multiple wives. This quality of loyalty is something that people admire and seek to emulate.

How did Ram's kindness and compassion towards all creatures, including his enemies, reflect his character?

Ram's kindness and compassion were evident in his treatment of even his enemies, such as the spies sent by Ravan. He showed mercy and allowed them to go, demonstrating his benevolent nature.

What are some of the leadership qualities that Ram possessed and how did they contribute to his godly status?

Ram's leadership qualities included mastery over various subjects, knowledge of Astra and Shastras, and the ability to guide people in finding their duties and harmonizing with nature and society. These qualities contributed to his status as a wise and respected leader.

How did Ram's calmness and control over his emotions set him apart from others, even in the face of adversity?

Ram's calmness and control over his emotions, especially anger and hate, allowed him to remain composed even in the most difficult situations. This equanimity and self-control are qualities that set him apart and contribute to his divine status.

What is the message conveyed by the script about being extraordinary in the ordinary and its relation to Ram's life?

The script conveys that being extraordinary in the ordinary, by doing one's dharma and being detached from the results, makes a person godly like Ram. It emphasizes that extraordinary feats are not necessary for divine status; rather, it is the adherence to dharma and equanimity that matters.

Outlines

00:00

👑 The Ideal King: Ram's Qualities and Life's Conduct

This paragraph discusses the contrasting lives of two revered figures in Indian mythology, Ram and Krishna. Ram, the King of Ayodhya, is celebrated for his modesty and fairness, despite not performing any miracles or 'leelas'. Unlike Krishna, who displayed divine powers from his birth, Ram is admired for his qualities that inspire people to this day. The summary highlights Ram's adherence to dharma, righteousness, satisfaction with his circumstances, loyalty to his wife Sita, kindness, and compassion. It emphasizes that Ram's godly status comes not from miraculous acts but from his exemplary conduct and the balance he maintained in all situations, which is relatable and inspiring to many.

05:01

🌟 Ram's Divine Attributes: Gratefulness, Leadership, Calmness, and Radiance

The second paragraph delves into additional qualities that make Ram a divine figure in the eyes of his devotees. It outlines Ram's sense of gratitude, as seen when he thanked the vanars and Lord Hanuman for their assistance in defeating Ravan. Ram's leadership qualities are underscored, with his mastery over various subjects and guidance to others in finding their dharma. The paragraph also highlights his calmness and balance, even in the face of adversity, and his radiance, which is said to have deeply moved Hanuman. The summary concludes by reflecting on how Ram's equanimity and commitment to dharma, rather than any miracles, make him a godly figure, encouraging us to strive for extraordinary conduct in our ordinary lives.

Keywords

💡Dharma

Dharma, in the context of the video, refers to the concept of righteous duty and moral law. It is central to the theme as it defines Lord Rama's actions and decisions throughout his life. The video mentions that Rama's main focus was always on dharma, emphasizing his commitment to justice and responsibilities, as seen when he prioritized his kingdom's and every creature's welfare over personal desires.

💡Leelas

Leelas are divine plays or acts performed by deities, often associated with miracles or extraordinary events. The video contrasts Lord Krishna's life, filled with leelas such as lifting a mountain and mesmerizing with his Ras Leela, with Lord Rama's more modest and ordinary life, which did not involve such miracles, yet both are revered for different reasons.

💡Vanavas

Vanavas refers to the period of exile or living in the forest, which Lord Rama accepted willingly. The video uses this term to illustrate Rama's qualities of vairagya (detachment) and contentment, as he was satisfied with his life away from his kingdom, showcasing his ability to maintain equanimity in different circumstances.

💡Nyay Dharma

Nyay Dharma, as mentioned in the video, is the concept of upholding justice and righteousness as a supreme duty. It is tied to the theme of the video by highlighting Lord Rama's commitment to fairness and justice, not only for his kingdom but for all beings, which is a key aspect of his character.

💡Satisfaction (Santosha)

Satisfaction, or Santosha, is the quality of being content with what one has. The video emphasizes this as one of Lord Rama's key qualities, pointing out that he was always satisfied with his circumstances, whether ruling a kingdom or living in exile, and accepted his life's turns gracefully as God's will.

💡Loyalty

Loyalty is the unwavering commitment to someone or something. In the video, it is highlighted that Lord Rama's loyalty to his wife, Sita, was exceptional for his time, as he took a vow of 'ek patni vrat' (one wife vow) and remained faithful to her throughout his life, setting an example of marital fidelity.

💡Kindness (Karuna)

Kindness, or Karuna, is the compassionate wish for the well-being of others. The video describes Lord Rama as a kind soul who showed mercy and goodwill to all, including his enemies, by treating spies with respect and releasing them, which exemplifies his compassionate nature.

💡Gratefulness

Gratefulness is the quality of being thankful and appreciative. The video portrays Lord Rama as a figure who expressed gratitude wholeheartedly, especially towards the vanars and Lord Hanuman for their assistance, demonstrating his humility and acknowledgment of support.

💡Leadership Quality

Leadership quality refers to the ability to guide and influence others effectively. The video describes Lord Rama as having mastery over various subjects and being knowledgeable in the Vedas, which allowed him to guide people towards their duties and harmonize with nature and society, reflecting his exemplary leadership.

💡Calmness

Calmness is the state of being composed and peaceful, even in difficult situations. The video illustrates Lord Rama's calmness by mentioning his ability to remain patient and composed during the war with Ravana, only fighting when his devotee or kingdom was harmed, which underscores his self-control and balance.

💡Radiance (Tejas)

Radiance, or Tejas, is the spiritual glow or energy that emanates from a divine being. The video describes the profound effect of Lord Rama's radiance on Hanuman, causing him to feel overwhelmed with love and joy, which signifies Rama's divine presence and the transformative power of his love and kindness.

Highlights

Ram is revered as an ideal king despite not showing miracles or leelas.

Krishna's life was marked by miracles, including his divine birth and feats in his childhood.

Ram's journey to Lanka was made on foot, unlike other divine figures who used aerial transportation.

Ram relied on the help of vanars, not winning the war single-handedly like other gods.

Ram's qualities, rather than miracles, inspire people and make him a godly figure.

Ram's life exemplifies balance and adherence to dharma, or righteous duties.

Righteousness was a key quality of Ram, who never lied or behaved wrongly.

Satisfaction or contentment with what one has is a quality Ram embodied, even during his exile.

Ram's loyalty was unwavering, taking a vow for monogamy from the start of his marriage.

Kindness and compassion were central to Ram's character, wishing well for all creatures.

Gratitude was a notable aspect of Ram's personality, as seen in his thanks to the vanars and Hanuman.

Ram's leadership was marked by mastery over various subjects and guidance in finding one's dharma.

Calmness and balance were evident in Ram's responses to provocations, including from Ravan.

Ram's radiance and love were so profound that they deeply affected even Hanuman.

Ram's equanimity and choice of dharma over all else is a lesson for dealing with life's tragedies.

Being extraordinary in ordinary life by doing one's dharma is the path to godliness, as exemplified by Ram.

Transcripts

Namaskar Ram, a King of Ayodhya a King who lived fairly

modest life. It didn't show any miracles or leela. It didn't take credit of any anything

in life. Yet he is worshiped as a role model, the ideal King and he's looked up to after

so many centuries. Krishna, on the other hand, showed miracles and leelas at various stages

of his life. His birth itself was a miracle. Many instances in Krishna's life made him

godly. He lifted a mountain on a little finger as a child killed all the Knights sent to

him by his own uncle and mesmerized virndavan with his Ras Leela. But Ram, he never showed

us any Lila. Then why is he worshiped as a God? He didn't use any aerial wahan or viman

to go to Sri Lanka. Like other godly personalities in Indian stories do he went by foot? Imagine

from Ayodhya to Lanka by foot. Ram didn't win the war single handedly. He took the help

of wanars. Other gods would have won it single handedly with their powerful weapons. He was

like a common man with the resource of a common man. What makes him a godly personality then?

It is his qualities that inspire people. People of India relate themselves with him in all

aspects of their life. Ram was an ordinary man, but what he did only God can do. He resembles

the possibilities similar to a common man. He is a perfect example as to how to conduct

life's, various activities. He was economist in all situations. samatvam balance. He kept

Nyay Dharma as superlative. His main focus was always dharma, dharma means responsibilities

and duties. Nyay for his Kingdom and every creature, some of his gunas or qualities we

should remember always in our life and they are first righteousness. Ram never lied or

behaved in a wrong way. Dharma or responsibility was the fourth front of Lord's life. Understand

this incident when Ram broke Shiva's bow, he didn't accept Sita immediately for the

marriage. He said it should be King Dashrat who would be deciding who should be his wife.

He only followed the order of his guru Rishi Vishwah Mitra second point satisfaction, one

guna which each one of us lack nowadays. Satisfaction or Santosha. Ram was always satisfied with

whatever he had and accepted it gracefully as a gift of God. He was self sufficient.

Even during vanvas he was satisfied, accepted his life away from his Kingdom. His Ayodhya

his Kingdom was his right to rule. Yet he accepted vanvas happily. This Ram's attitude

of letting go or vairagya and satisfaction contours contentment made Ram through mariyada

purshottam. Third loyalty, another quality that we see in Ram that he never thought of

any other woman than Sita throughout his life. During that era when Ram was there, Kings

used to have many wives. His father also had three wives, but Ram that time of marriage

itself took a vrat which was a ek patni vrat total loyalty towards one wife. He followed

that throughout the life now that's the quality which we adore. Fourth, kindness, compassion,

Karuna. He was a kind soul who wished well for every creature on Earth, not just his

Kingdom. There is one incident in Ramayana where it is mentioned that Ravan sent two

spies named Sugar and Charan to see how much his strength of the army and what Rama is

good at. These spies were caught by the Ram’s Army. When Vibhishan came there, Vibhishan

recognized them and then he felt that they might face death now. But to his surprise,

Ram was kind to them. Ram humbly spoke to them and then requested them to go. Fifth

Gratefulness Ram was always modest and alluring, and it was seen in the way that he was always

grateful. After defeating Ravan, Ram wholeheartedly thanked vanars for their help. Lord Ram also

expressed that he was indebted to Lord Hanuman for his selfless service. Nearing his death.

Sixth leadership Quality Lord Ram had mastery over all subjects. He had a knowledge of Astra

weapons, being a, kshatriya and the Shastras. The Vedas he does is rightly. Described as

a vidwan, he guided numerous people in their life to find their duties, their Dharma, and

harmonize with nature and society. 7th Point Calmness Through many instances, Ram showed

true calmness, balance, peace in his personality. Ravan was a learned Brahman himself. He was

an ardent devotee of Lord Shiva. Ravan had pleaded Lord Shiva by his devotion to an extent

where Lord Shiva had bestowed ravan with his Athma Linga. Even then Lord Ram is worshiped.

The only difference is that Ram ability to remain calm, balanced, composed even in the

most fierce, most difficult situation. Lord Ram is said to have complete control over

his emotions and that too anger, hate selflessness. During the war when Ravan attacked, Ram was

patient, far away from being angry. However, the moment Ravan attacked a Hanuman, Lord

Ram started to fight with Ravan and eventually defeated. Lord Ram never got angry. When he

was abused. Ram only fought when his devotee or his Kingdom was hurt. 9th Point Radiance

It is said that when Hanuman's eyes fell on Ram's face, Hanuman was totally shaken. His

bones were melting. He felt goose bumps all over his body and tears of joy and love started

flowing automatically through his eyes. This is the tejas or the Radiance. Ram was full

of love and Radiance. He bestowed love and kindness to everyone irrespective of whether

they had wronged him or not. We all have tragedies in our life and limitless problems. So Ram

also had all this in his life, but he chose equanimity samatvam. Ram chose dharma above

everything else. We ourselves under the difficult circumstances get so quickly agitated on a

lifestyle we are always complaining somebody didn't respond to our calls or somebody didn't

pay attention to us. Somebody didn't appreciate our hard work and all such forms of incidences.

Either way we are all walking waters of soda, wasting fizz or rather energy over all the

minor aspects of our life to be worshiped or to be God. We do not need any form of magic.

Being extraordinary in the ordinary by doing Dharma and being detached on the results makes

us nothing else but Godly like Ram Namaskar.