There is information floating around the web that Sita was elder to Lord Rama by six months and many are quoting this to justify marrying an elder woman.
Lord Rama and Sita, Image credit, www,indiatemplesinfo.com
‘Though we have many examples of wife being elder than her husband in puranas, like Sita was 6 months elder than Rama, Radha was elder than Krishna and even in the case of Shiva and Shakthi according to Shakthi purana, it was Shakthi who created Shiva, Bramha, Vishnu and proposes them to marry her. But do you know who is known for, the huge difference in age among spouses?”
Valmiki clearly declares thus, about the ages of Rama and Sita, through Sita during her conversation with Ravana when he was about to abduct her.
This is the Sloka.
‘
mama bhartaa mahaatejaa vayasaa pa.nca vi.mshakaH || 3-47-10
aSTaa dasha hi var.hSaaNi mama janmani gaNyate | Aranya Kanda
10b, 11. mahaatejaa mama bhartaa= great resplendent my, husband; vayasaa panca vimshakaH= by age, five, twenty – twenty-five years; mama janmani= my, from birth; aSTaa dasha varSaaNi hi= eight, ten – eighteen, years, only; gaNyate= reckoned up.
“My great-resplendent husband was of twenty-five years of age at that time, and to me eighteen years are reckoned up from my birth. [3-47-10b, 11a]’
(The Shastras declare that a Man should marry a woman who is younger to him , though the ge difference is varied in different Shastras.
The important reason for this is that women age faster and become weak when compared to Men because of women giving birth to children and it is the duty of the Husband to take care of his wife during her advanced age.
And if the woman is elder to him, the problem of assisting the wife during her advanced years by the husband becomes more difficult.)
I have been receiving quite a few mails on problems being faced by people.
They have not been able to find any reason for this and the pariharas do not seem to work.
This post is not meant for people who are rational, who are self born and who decide their Life on their own terms and decide even their own death.
Rama Pattabhishekam
This post is for people, though rational, have found, by experience that there are things in the world that one can not explain and certain things, though we may not understand, work beyond our reasonings.
There have been times when I was in the peak of my career , about 25 years back, I have, for some time, found I could not even earn 2000 per month.
Yet when I knew I was past my best people used to engage me @ 1000/ hour!
I came back in my life due to the grace of God, despite my son’s assertion that it was due to my abilities.
As to qualifications, I do not have much .
Degrees in philosophy, Psychology plus I studied the vedas at the feet of Sringeri Acharya,H.H. Abhivanava Vidyatheertha.
Not only this.
I had undergone emotional turmoil which seemed insoluble .
I am writing all this to assure people who are in distress that if one were to have faith and follow certain things prescribed, beneficial results shall follow.
I am very much disturbed by who are so despondent.
Nothing to worry.
What is needed is Faith.
Your Rationalism would not extricate you.
It can only give a transiroty feeling of Illusory superiority, that’s all.
Now.
The Name Rama, apart from Uma , is a name that containd the Kashras, letters of Pranava, A< U and M
These three letters are the sources of all sound, whatever be the language.
A starts from the Mouth,
U from the throat and
M from the navel
This is the primordial sound and has spiritual significance.
Please read my post the Humming of Universe ON with audio link.
The term Rama is so powerful, it is more powerful than then Rama as a Person or even as God.
That is the reason Siva explains to Parvati that these two Letters Ra, and Ma have been taken by him (Siva) from the Ramayana.
By meditating on “Rama Rama Rama” (the Name of Rama), my Mind gets absorbed in the Divine Consciousness of Rama, which is Transcendental,
The Name of Rama is as Great as the Thousand Names of God (Vishnu Sahasranama).
Please read as a Parihara Pooja for 45 days in front of Rama Vigraha or Photo.
You may draw the Rama Yantra with Rice flour ona Wooden Plank. or download the image, print and use.
The Rama Yantra.
Rama Yantra.
Naivedyam
Sakkarai Pongal on the concluding Day and Dry fruits daily.
This has to be read along with Rama Tapaniya Upanishad.
The Upanishad:
Om ! O Devas, may we hear with our ears what is auspicious; May we see with our eyes what is auspicious, O ye worthy of worship ! May we enjoy the term of life allotted by the Devas, Praising them with our body and limbs steady ! May the glorious Indra bless us ! May the all-knowing Sun bless us ! May Garuda, the thunderbolt for evil, bless us ! May Brihaspati grant us well-being ! Om ! Let there be Peace in me ! Let there be Peace in my environment ! Let there be Peace in the forces that act on me !
Om Shanti ! Shanti ! Shanti !
I. Rama Poorva Tapaniya Upanishad
The Tatva (principle/philosophy) of Rama exists in this world, with his life showing the way to live, with his name showing the way of ethereal knowledge, and also blessing all those who meditate or worship it with wealth and renunciation.
The word ‘Rama’ on which yogis devote themselves is immeasurable and forever joyful and indicates Para Brahman itself.
1.The body has been ascribed to Para Brahman which is holy, without any second, which does not have any blemishes and which is bodiless, so that the worshippers are shown the path.
2.Similar to the whole banyan tree existing in the seed of the banyan tree, the entire world exists in the seed “Rama”.
3.Rama when incarnated shone along with Sita, who is nature herself, like the moon shining with its moonlight. He who was born to Mother Kousalya, was black in colour, wore yellow silk, had his hair made up, wore ear studs and chains of precious stones, had in his hand the bow, had two hands, had a very pleasant smiling face and was heroic and blessed with victory and ruled with the help of eight ministers lead by Drishti. He was keeping the Parameshwari who was the mother of the world, who was nature, who had two hands, who was well made up and was holding lotus flower in her hand, on his lap and lightly embracing her.
4.He with Sita formed a triangle with Lakshmana who was holding a bow in his hand and was golden in colour. The devas approached him who was sitting below “the wish giving tree” in the form of a triangle and prayed, “Our salutations to you, who is personification of passion and illusion and also a god primeval to Vedas. Our salutations to the Raghu Veera, who killed Ravana, who is drowned in joy by keeping Goddess Lakshmi on his chest, who is the personification of all souls, who is an ornament to the body of Janaki (daughter of Janaka), who killed Rakshasas, who is very handsome and who is personification of all that is good.”
5.The devas further told “Hey, the killer of Ravana, please give us your protection and your grace.” Then they were with him and became very happy.
6.On his left with Satrughna, on his right with Bharata and on his front Hanuman who was listening to his advices, there was another triangle. Below Bharata was Sugreeva and below him was Vibheeshana. Behind him Lakshmana was holding an umbrella and below him Vibheeshana and Sugreeva were holding fans made of palm leaves. This was another inverted triangle. So the long armed Lord Rama who was shining was meditating in between this figure with six vertices. This is the first row surrounding him. The second is surrounded by Vasudeva and others (Santhi, Sankarshana, Sree Pradyumna, Saraswathi, Anirudha and Rathi) as well as fire and others in different directions.
Third is surrounded by Hanuman, Sugreeva, Bharata, Vibheeshana, Lakshmana, Angada, Jambhavan, Satrugna as well as Drushti, Jayantha, Vijaya, Surashtra, Rashtra Vardhana, Ashoka, Darmapala and Sumandra.
Fourth is surrounded by the 10 dig-balakas (protectors of directions) viz., Indra, Agni (fire God), Yama (god of death), Nirruthi, Varuna, Chandra, Isana, Brahma and Anantha.
Fifth is beyond the Dig-balakas and consists of their principal arms viz., Vajra, Shakthi, Danda, Vara, Pasa, Angusa, Gada, Soola, Madma and chakra; these should be worshipped.
Sixth: After the arms, Neela and other monkeys. Vasishta, Vamadeva and other sages worship him. He should be meditated and worshipped.
Thus worship Sri Rama who has the form which is the foundation of this world and who is forever joyful. All people who worship him as the one carrying mace, sword, conch and lotus and who is known as the one who removes births and deaths will attain salvation.
Thus ends the Sri Rama Poorva Tapaniya Upanishad.
II. Rama Uttara Tapaniya Upanishad
In Varanasi Lord Shiva did Japa (chanted) of the Rama Mantra. Pleased because of this, Sri Rama told Lord Sankara as follows:
1.In this temple (city) whoever worships me with devotion, I would help him get rid of sins like Brahma Hathi (killing of a Brahmin). Those of them who get the six letter mantra (Ram Ramaya Namah) either from you or Brahma or his disciple line, would live with mastery over the mantra or attain salvation. At the time of death, if you tell this mantra in their ears, they would get salvation.
2.Brahma then thought in his mind about that Maha Vishnu, who is the foundation of this world, who is that Narayana, who does not have any deficiencies and who is that Parameshwara, who is of the form of Para Brahman and who is full of complete joy and then worshipped him as follows:
Om! He who is Ramachandra is verily the God. He is the ‘non-dual soul of great happiness’. I salute him again and again in earth, bhuvar loka and Suvar loka. 3.1
This is followed by the repetition of the mantra 47 times with modification of the words with in quotes viz. “non-dual soul of great happiness’.
3.1 Only this portion is being translated below. This should be appropriately replaced in the mantra.
3.2 Far-flung and wide soul of the senses;
3.3 Nectar of happiness of Brahma;
3.4 One who makes us cross the birth and death;
3.5 One who is the soul of Gods like Vishnu and Indra;
3.6 One who is all Vedas, all Shakhas (branches), all Sankhyas and all Puranas (epics);
3.7 One who is the soul of all beings;
3.8 One who is the inner soul of all beings;
3.9 One who is the perception of Devas, Asuras and Human beings;
3.10 One who has taken the ten incarnations like fish, tortoise etc;
3.11 One who is the soul;
3.12 One who is soul of the inner consciousness;
3.13 One who is God of death;
3.14 One who is the destroyer;
3.15 One who is the death;
3.16 One who is the nectar;
3.17 One who is the five great elements;
3.18 One who is the soul of moving and unmoving;
3.19 One who is the five fires;
3.20 One who is the seven Vyahruthis;
3.21 One who is learning;
3.22 One who is Goddess Saraswati;
3.23 One who is Goddess Lakshmi;
3.24 One who is Goddess Parvati;
3.25 One who is the daughter of Janaka;
3.26 One who is the three worlds;
3.27 One who is the Sun;
3.28 One who is the moon;
3.29 One who is the stars;
3.30 One who is the nine planets;
3.31 One who is the eight protectors of directions;
3.32 One who is the eight Vasus;
3.33 One who is the eleven Rudras;
3.34 One who is the twelve suns;
3.35 One who is the past and future;
3.36 One who is the Supreme Being beyond the Brahmanda (universe);
3.37 One who is Hiranyagarbha;
3.38 One who is nature;
3.39 One who is the letter Om;
3.40 One who is half portion of Pranava;
3.41 One who is the greatest Purusha (man);
3.42 One who is the great God;
3.43 One who is a great deva;
3.44 One who is Lord Vishnu;
3.45 One who is the Paramatma;
3.46 One who is the scientific soul;
3.47 One who is the soul which is forever in eternal bliss.
The great God would be pleased with the one who worships the Lord of Lords daily by these 47 mantras .The one who worships the Lord of Lords with this mantra will see him in person. He would attain a deathless state. He will attain the deathless state.
Thus ends the Sri Rama Uttara Tapaniya Upanishad.
Om ! O Devas, may we hear with our ears what is auspicious; May we see with our eyes what is auspicious, O ye worthy of worship ! May we enjoy the term of life allotted by the Devas, Praising them with our body and limbs steady ! May the glorious Indra bless us ! May the all-knowing Sun bless us ! May Garuda, the thunderbolt for evil, bless us ! May Brihaspati grant us well-being ! Om ! Let there be Peace in me ! Let there be Peace in my environment ! Let there be Peace in the forces that act on me !
Here ends the Rama Tapaniya Upanishad, as contained in the Atharva Veda.
As The Ramayana has been verified as a fact and not a figment of Valmiki’s imagination,I have been trying to find out the places visited by Lord Rama.
“God will not have his work made manifest by cowards.” ~Ralph Waldo Emerson
I have been intrigued by the Sthala Puranas, especially in the South relating South Indian Temples to Rama, Hanuman and Lakshmana.
Though it appears that the Sthala Puranas appear to be fables to popularize the local temples, I found it is not so, at least with reference to Ramayana.
Places Visited by Lord Rama. Image credit.www.hindudharmaforums.com
For example there is a temple in Andhra Pradesh where Hanuman rested while bringing the Sanjivi Parvatha.,Vellala Hanuman Temple, or
Temple in Tamil Nadu where Rama and Hanuman confer in private.
Please read my posts on these.
All these are accounted in the Map provided here.
The information is scarce, despite a lot of information in the web on Rama’s travels through out the country.
Most of the information I found were duplication or the places were restricted to places relating to important events in the Life Rama.
Ayodhya,Sarayu, Mithila, Dandakaranya,Nasik,Tunghabhadra,Kishkinta, Godavari, Kaveri belt, and Rameswaram.
Some places in Lanka are mentioned.
Ona detailed analysis and checking up Valmiki Ramayana, there are 196 places visited by Lord Rama.
They may be classified under the following heads.
1.Ayodhya and Gangetic Belt, before Rama’s Exile.
2.On Exile, Dandakaranya.
3.Godavari.
4.Tungabhadra and Kaveri
5. Deep Down South at Rameswaram.
6.Places in Lanka.
7.Rama’s return to India by Pushpaka Vimana.
Rama seems to have returned to Ayodhya by Pushpaka Vimana.
It looks as though the Vimana or the Plane was taken from Rameswaram after rama’s Pooja of Lord Ramanatha at Rameswaram.
I have found a detailed Map marking the 196 places visited by Rama.
The places are written in Hindi and one can easily read them.
Indian Puranas, History and The Epics are not fairy tales.
They are facts.
I have been verifying statements events mentioned in these texts with the help of Astronomy, etymology of word used,archeological evidence,Anthropology,Geology and tools like Carbon Dating, Atomic verification,Infra red evaluation.
I have published posts on many events narrated in the Indian Texts.
Now I am posting information on the appearance of the sky during,
The Rig Vedic Period,
Rama’s Birth,
Krishna’s Birth.
These maps have been arrived at running the references found in these instances through a Software designed to arrive at star positions and period..
Rig Vedic Period Sky Map.
There are 53 references in Rigveda as prayers offered to Aswinis at dawn. The description clearly points to the observation of the pair of stars in the Aries constellation (referred to as Aashvin or Asvini) just before sunrise as a ritual to mark the year beginning. Using Planetarium software, we find that the Winter Solstice occurred on 19 December, 7000 BC at 0735 hrs as shown in Figure 1. This is the earliest reference to Vedic calendar with year beginning at Winter Solstice, found in Rigveda (5-77-1/2; 1-46-14; 7-69-3/2). Heliacal rising of Ashwini Nakshatra (Aries) can be seen to occur on 5th January, 7000 BC, marking the year beginning (Fig. 1).
Skymap during Ri Vedic Period.Fig. 1
Pre Dawn Sky during Rig Vedic Times.
A thousand years later, Winter Solstice no longer occurred near Aries (Asvini) due to precession. As a result, Ashwinis were no longer rising heliacally as before. They were still below the horizon at sunrise around Winter Solstice time. The Winter Solstice had moved to Revati by 6000 BC. Thus the precession of Equinoxes and Solistices was being observed by Rigvedic Scholars.
The Sky of 19th December, 6000 BC at sunrise on the Winter Solstice day shows that Ashvini gave way to bright star Chitra (α Vir) on opposite side (Western horizon). A full Moon in Chitra Nakshatra provided a new time marker in the sky and heralded the lunar month naming system-Chaitra, Vaisakha etc. (Rigveda: 5-74-1,2 and Tait Samh. 7-4-8). See Fig. 2 –
Fig.2 .The Sky of 19th December, 6000 BC at sunrise on the Winter Solstice day shows that Ashvini gave way to bright star Chitra (α Vir) on opposite side (Western horizon). A full Moon in Chitra Nakshatra provided a new time marker in the sky and heralded the lunar month naming system-Chaitra, Vaisakha etc. (Rigveda: 5-74-1,2 and Tait Samh. 7-4-8).
Please check my post on Agstya star, Canopus Validates Sanatana Dharma.
Rama’s Birth, Sky Map.
Rama was born on the Navami tithi of Shukla Paksha of Chaitra masa(9th day of the increasing phase of the moon in the lunar month of Chaitra).At that time, the nakshatra was Punarvasu, and Sun, Mars, Saturn, Jupiter and Venus were in Aries, Capricorn, Libra, Cancer and Pisces respectively. Lagna was Cancer and Jupiter & Moon were shining together. — Ramayana 1.18.8,9.
1. Sun in Aries
2. Saturn in Libra
3. Jupiter in Cancer
4. Venus in Pisces
5. Mars in Capricorn
6. Lunar month of Chaitra
7. 9th day after New Moon
(Navami Tithi, Shukla Paksh)
8. Moon near Punarvasu Nakshatra
(Pollux star in Gemini constellation)
9. Cancer as Lagna
(Cancer constellation rising in the east)
10. Jupiter above the horizon
The observations on the left, when entered into Planetarium software gives us the above Sky Chart, which in turns gives forth the below mentioned date.
Sri Rama Navami – 10th January 5114 BCE – Birth Day of Rama
Observation at 12.30 p.m.
Skymap During Krishna’s Birth.
Lord Krishna was born around midnight. That night was the eight phase of the moon known as Ashtami Tithi. The moon was near Vrshabha, the bull, i.e the Taurus constellation that houses the star Rohini. The star Rohini is known as Aldeberan in modern astronomy. The month was Shravana, one of the 12 months in the Indian calendar.
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Shravana vada ashtami, Rohini Nakshtra, uditam Lagnam
( Srimad Bhagavatham, Skanda 10, Chapter 3.)
Sky During Krishna’s Birth.
Date of Krishna’s Birth By Gregorain Calendar.
27th July, 3112 BCE .
Couple of Points.
1.Astronomical events repeat themselves at regular intervals.hence fixing one date is difficult.
We are taking the last event for calculation.
As time is Eternal and Cyclic, the events repeat themselves.
Please read my posts on Time Non Linear for more information.
You may check my posts under Astrophysics on Astrodating and dating of Events.
Karnataka , as we know of it today, was a part of Deccan Plateau and it was Karnataka Plateau.
After the formation of linguistic states history of India got murky.
Earlier India was called Bharavarsha and remained one, albeit ruled by many kings.
Lord Rama
Karnataka ,till the advent of the Satavahanas in 230BCE was ruled either by the emperors of the North or by the Tamil Kings as this area was not a separate entity then.
Chandragupta Maurya ruled the Karnataka Plateau and died in Sravanabelagola as a Jain ascetic around 239 BCE
However Karnataka has prehistorical past.
I shall provide the information based on Geology and Archeology towards the close of the post.
The recorded history of Karnataka goes back more than two millennia.
Meanwhile let us see the references in the Ramayana.
1.
Anegundi, believed to be the monkey kingdom of Kishkindha (Kishkinta means in local language a forest where the monkeys lived) in the epic of Ramayana, is at a distance of 5 km from the historical site of Hampi. Anjanadri hill, the birthplace of monkey-god Hanuman, and the mountain Rishimuka are the other places near Anegundi associated with Ramayana. It is said to have one of the oldest plateaus on the planet, estimated to be 3,000 million years old. So, only local story-tellers refer to Anegundi as the maternal home of Bhoodevi (Mother Earth).
The picturesque village, located on the northern side bank of River Tungabhadra, was said to be the legendary Kishkindha, a kingdom of the monkey Prince Sugriva and the cradle place of the historic Krishnadevaraya dynasty of the glorious Vijayanagar empire and falls in the core zone of Hampi.
Sage Rishyasrunga.
2.Pampa Sarovar is mentioned as the place where Shabari (also Shabri), a disciple of the Rishi Matunga, directedRama as he journeyed southwards on his quest to redeem Sita, his wife, from the demon king Ravana. According to the story,Shabari, a pious devotee of Rama, prayed faithfully everyday to see Rama. She lived in the ashram of her guru, Matunga in the place know known as Matunga Parvat, in Hampi. Before her guru Matunga Rishi died he told her she would certainly see Rama. After his death, Shabari continued to live in the ashram awaiting Rama. Many years passed by and Shabari became an old woman, before Rama stopped at the ashram on his journey to Lanka. She proceeded to feed Rama and his brother Lakshmana. Touched by her piety Rama and Lakshmana bowed down at her feet. Then, they narrated to her the incident of Sita’s kidnapping and Shabarisuggested that they seek help from Hanuman and Sugriva of the monkey kingdom who lived further south near the Pampa lake. Pampa sarovar is also famous for the pushti marg vaishnavas, where in Srimad Vallabhacahrya had performed Srimad Bhawwad in the 16th century, in is many bharat darshan visits, also reafirms the importance of the holy place..
3.Sringer is the place where Sage Rishyasrunga, son of Vibhantaka brought rains to the drought affected kingdom of Romapada.(Balakanda of Ramayana).
4.There is Rishyasrunga Hill near Sringeri.
5.Rama’s sister Shanta was married to Romapada.Romapada was the King of Anga Desa, now in Pakistan, near Mohenjo Daro. His son-in-law was Rishyasrunga, which makes Rishyasrunga Rama’s Sister’s husband!
‘
A king named Dasharatha will be born into Ikshwaku dynasty who will be very virtuous, resplendent and truthful one to his vow.” Said Sanat Kumara, the Sage.”King Dasharatha will befriend the king of Anga and the king of Anga will beget a fortunate girl named Shanta.
Shanta is said to be the daughter of Dasharatha and given to Romapada in adoption, and Rishyasringa marries her alone. This is what Sumantra says to Dasharatha at 1-9-19.
The son of the king of Anga, the earlier king of Anga kingdom, will be known as Romapada, or also know as Chitraratha, and the highly renowned king Dasharatha approaches Romapada. Then king Dasharatha says to king of Anga “oh, righteous one, I am childless and hence I intend to perform a Vedic ritual. Let the husband of your daughter Shanta, Sage Rishyasringa, preside over that Vedic ritual at you behest, for the sake of progeny in my dynasty.
“On hearing those words of king Dasharatha that benevolent soul Romapada, the king of Anga, considers heartily and agrees to send the one who endows progeny by rituals, namely Sage Rishyasringa his son-in-law.
The words pradaasyate putravantam are read in some translations as ‘Rishyasringa who already has a son…’ while others read it as ‘a sage who endows progeny by putra kameSti ritual…’ But in Maha Bharata father Vibhandaka says to Rishyasringa to comeback after begetting a son, which Rishyasringa did not concede. So taking this some say Rishyasringa has a son. But it is generally accepted that putravantam as aahitaagni, Vedic ritualist of eminence, according to: j˜ta putra× k®þõa keþo agnŸn adhŸta…according to shruti scripture.
“On receiving that Brahman, Sage Rishyasringa, at the behest of his father-in-law, that king Dasharatha gets rid of his febrile condition and will accomplish that Vedic ritual, feeling very felicitous in the depths of his heart.
“That king, the desirer of glory, the knower of virtue and the lord of people, namely Dasharatha will be requesting that best Brahman Rishyasringa with his palms adjoined in supplication for the conduct of ritual, for progeny and even for his heavenly abodes, and that king of all the quarters of earth will accomplish those desires from that eminent Brahman Rishyasringa.’
Gokarna is the place where Ravana kept the Atmalinga down.
7.Sage Agastya killed Vatapi .
There is a lake called Agastya Lake bear Vatapi, now called as Badami.
Archeological evidence.
The pre-historic culture of Karnataka (and South India in general) is called the hand-axe culture, as opposed to the Sohan culture of North India. Paleolithic hand axes and cleavers in the shape of pebbles made with quartz and quartzite which have been found in places such as Lingadahalli in Chikkamagaluru district and Hunasagi in Yadgir district, and a wooden spike atKibbanahalli in Tumkur district are examples of old stone age implements.There are reports that a polished stone axe was discovered at Lingasugur in the Raichur district[7][8] Neolithic sites (new stone age) of importance are Maski in Raichur district,Brahmagiri in Chitradurga district etc., with abundance of evidence that man begun to domesticate animals such as cows, dogs and sheep, use copper and bronze weapons, wear bangles, rings, necklaces of beads and ear-rings and have burial chambers. To the end of the Neolithic era, during the Megalithic age, people in Karnataka began to use long swords, sickles, axes, hammers, spikes, chisels and arrows, all made of iron.
Scholarly hypothesis postulates contacts between the Indus Valley (3300 BCE – 1300 BCE) cities of Harappa and Lothal, citing the discovery of gold found in the Harappan sites that was imported from mines in Karnataka.
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