At the societal level, the four brothers represented the four basic aims of human life – dharma, artha, kaama and moksha, which are righteousness, duty and morality, wealth and prosperity, worldly desires and liberation.
- Rama represented dharma,
- Lakshmana represented artha,
- Shatrughna represented kaama and
- Bharata moksha.
That Lakshmana always accompanied Rama indicated that artha or economic pursuit were to be guided by dharma or higher wisdom. Wealth needed to be earned and used in accordance with Vedic wisdom. While Shatrughna’s always accompanying Bharata indicated that kaama or desires ought to be directed toward moksha or perfection.
The four Vedas came in the form of the four brothers to the abode of Dasaratha and sported there.
- Rama was Rig Veda and
- Lakshmana,who closely followed Rama, was Yajur Veda.
- Bharatha who always delighted in chanting Rama's name, was Sama Veda and
- Satrughna, who obeyed the commands of the three brothers and surrendered himself completely to them, was Atharva Veda.
Hence the four brothers were the embodiments of the four Vedas.
The Rig Veda and the Yajur Veda consist of Mantras, which are related to Yajnas and Yagas. That is the reason why Sage Viswamitra took Rama and Lakshmana along with him to safeguard his Yajna. While Rama was in exile, Bharata left Ayodhya and stayed in a village called Nandigrama, all the time singing the Divine Name of Rama for 14 long years. It is for this reason that Bharata is described as the personification of Sama Veda. It was Satrughna who safeguarded the places of sacred rituals like Yajnas and Yagas from the invasion of evil spirits and demons. Do not think that Ramayana is different from the Vedas. In fact, it is the very essence of the Vedas.
Marriage
To Four Sisters
No comments:
Post a Comment