Tag: Valmiki

I have written about Lord Rama, His date of birth verified, places visited by Him and about the weapons used by Him, His dropping atom bomb and many ore articles including his lineage.

I have recently written on his footprints found in India.

They are found in Chitrakoot, Rameswaram Rama Pada(Rama’s feet) and Hampi in Karnataka among other places.

His feet imprint measures,

‘Foot prints found are eleven inches by five inches and ten inches by four and half inches. It resembles to the foot wearing sandals made of wood.’

Rama’s Footprints  1.2 Million Years Uttarkhand

A reader asked me whether it is possible to measure one’s height from Footprints.

Yes, one can.

The Ratio is 6.6 is to 1.

This is based on a footprint without wearing footwear.

Calculation may be made allowing for one wearing Footwear based on Formula provided below.

On this basis, Rama,s height is

11* 6.6 = 72.6 “( in Inches)

 Or.

6’15 (foot by cms)

There is a view that based on The size of Shiva Dhanus (Bow) broken by Rama in Sita’s Swayamvara, Rama’s Height could have been  around Four to four and  a half feet.

But Rama’s height is proved by His foot print as 6.6″

‘

A bow has a definite height and it is a measure of length, from the ages even up to the age Kautilya, who gave many accounts for weights and measures, in his ‘Artha Shaastra’ a Penguin re-publication. Four aratni-s cubits are one dhanu, a bow-length, where one aratni is 18 inches, thus a bow-length is 6 feet and above, taking the standard size of archer as a six-footer and a little above. The bow’s height is the height of the archer plus one measure of his head’s height, as the upper end has to tower the archer’s head. That being so, this bow belongs to Shiva and its height must be placed more than the human measure of 6 feet, and then it must be some 8 to 10 feet. And ‘Rama is no crane-legged boy, as his physique is sad to be of ‘medium’ size, and then how a boy of, say of 4, 41/2 feet, could catch the upper end of 8-10 feet bow to bend it…’ is the objection. An archer has to stand the bow on ground, clutch its lower end under big toe, and with one hand, he has to bend it, while with the other he catches the bowstring to string the other end. He is not supposed to handle it like a holdall or a briefcase. For this objection it is said in a way that the poet is using the adjective mahaatmaa to Rama, ‘ an unfathomable one with an equally unfathomable soul… inasmuch as his duty is concerned…’ The minute he touched the bow, it became a spongy stick and it listened to him and bent as he wished. Other way round, Rama is an ambidextrous archer and furthered is his skill by his possession of some divine missiles as given by Vishvamitra. Hence, his dexterity is now multiplied and he can handle any divine or human bow ‘effortlessly…’

“Your feet serve as the base of support for your body, and they’re essential for good balance. The muscles, tendons and ligaments in your feet help balance your entire body. Without them, you’d fall over anytime you lean to the side. And your toes help you keep your balance as you move forward — for example, when you’re walking or running. The taller you are, the more you need a larger base of support. That’s why taller people tend to have longer feet and wear a bigger shoe size.

The normal height-to-foot ratio is about 6.6:1, according to data from the University of Rhode Island Department of Electrical, Computer and Biomedical Engineering. That means you’ll generally have roughly 6.6 inches of height for 1 inch of foot length. However, the ratio is just an estimation, and many people have larger or smaller feet than you’d calculate based on this ratio.

While it’s easy to calculate a basic height-to-foot ratio if you already know your height and foot size, it’s more complicated to use the ratio to figure out an unknown height. But being able to figure out height is important for forensic science — if the police only know someone’s shoe or foot size, it’s helpful to be able to estimate his height. And the equation to more accurately figure out height-to-foot ratio was published in Forensic Science International in 2005.

The researchers calculated the ratio by looking at the foot size and height of more than 550 study subjects, then looking for mathematical patterns to figure out an equation to calculate the ratio.

They found out that you can estimate height from your foot size using this equation:

Height = 47.33 + 1.139 (length of your left foot, in centimeters) + 0.593 (length of your shoe, in centimeters) x 1.924 (shoe size)”

**That Rama was 96″ in Height is not found in the original translation.This translation mentioning 96″ is found in the Link from  Quora. Link provided towards the close of the post.

I stick to valmikiramayana.net for authenticity.

Rama’s Description in Ramayana By Valmiki in Sundarakanda.

“O princess! Rama is a broad shouldered and a long-armed man. He has a shell-like neck. He has a handsome countenance. He has a hidden collar-bone. He has beautiful red eyes. His fame is heard about by people. He has a voice like the sound of a kettle-drum. He has a shining skin. He is full of splendour. He is square-built. His limbs are built symmetrically. He is endowed with a dark-brown complexion.”

“He is ever firm in three limbs (viz. the breast, waist and fist), long in three (viz. the breast, waist and fist), long in three (viz. the eyebrows, arms and soles), uniform in three (viz. his locks, testicle and knees, elevated in three (viz. his breast, rim of his navel and lower abdomen), coppery in three of the navel and the lower abdomen), coppery in three (viz. the rims of his eyes, nails, palms and soles), soft in three (viz. the lines on his soles, hair and the end of the membrane virile) and always deep in three (viz. the voice, gait and the navel).”

“He has three folds in the skin of his neck and belly. He is depressed at three places (viz. the middle of his soles, the lines on his soles and the nipples). He is undersized at four places (viz. the neck, membram virile, the back and the shanks). He is endowed with three spirals in the hair of his head. He has four lines at the root of his thumb (denoting his proficiency in the four Vedas). He has four lines on his forehead (indicating longevity). He is four cubits high (96 inches). He has four pairs of limbs (viz. the cheeks, arms, shanks and knees) equally matched.”

“He has fourteen other pairs of limbs (viz. the eye brows, nostrils, eyes, ears, lips, nipples, elbows, wrists, knees testicles, lions, hands, feet and thighs) equally matched. The four large teeth at both the ends of his upper and lower jaws are very sharp. He walks in four gaits (resembling the walks of a lion, a tiger, an elephant and a bull). He is endowed with excellent lips, chin and nose. He has five glossy limbs (viz. the hair, eyes, teeth, skin and soles). He has eight long limbs (viz. the arms, fingers and toes, eyes and ears, thighs and shanks).

“Rama has ten lotus-like limbs (viz. the countenance, the mouth, the eyes, the tongue, lips, palate, breasts, nails, the hands and the feet). He has ten ample limbs (viz. the chest, the head, the forehead, the neck, the arms, the heart, the mouth the feet, the back and the ears). He is spread through by reason of three (viz. splendour, renown and glory). He is doubly pure (on father’s and mother’s side). He is elevated in six limbs (viz. the flanks, the abdomen, the breast, the nose, the shoulders and the forehead). He is small, thin, fine or sharp in nine (viz. the hair, the moustaches and the beard, nails the hair on the body, the skin, the finger-joints, the membrum virile, acumen and perception). He pursues religious merit, worldly riches and the sensuous delight in three periods (viz. the forenoon, midday and afternoon).

‘5. “Listen O’ Mother; Ram’s effulgent like the sun;
forbearing like the Mother Earth; in fame outruns
Indra, the Lord of devatas and in knowledge
Brihaspati, the most revered of the sages.”
176  Finding the Mother
6. “He treats with love this whole of universe;
a Messiah to the good and virtuous.
He knows no bias; an ant or a giant the same
for him; he helps the poor, distressed and lame.”
7. “With devotion performs he time-honoured mundane duties
and makes others perform; unlike the common royalties
who consider scruples as obsessions of hoi polloi
and gad around in an eternal search of virgin joys.”
8. “An expert he’s in regal skills and strategies.
Respects brahmins; follows age-old customs
explains the four Vedas to pundits’ eulogies.
Yet so humble and diffident remains our Ram.”
9. “He’s broad-shouldered; his hands as long as they touch knees.
His eyes with ruddy tinge exude enamouring
ardour for friends and scary fire to enemies.
His neck a conch; his voice the swash of ocean springs.”
10. “Like skies, blue-skinned he is,
with vast benign expanse inside.
Well-built with fine chiselled features;
his walk reminds of lion’s strides.”
11. “Ram’s every limb, aspect and mien display
superior royal traits and noble sway.”
12. “His chest, his wrists and fists are diamond-strong
His hands, eye-brows and testicles are long.
His hair-ends, testicles and knees again
in equal size, emblazon regal signs.”
13. “His convex chest, rich navel region
his slightly bulged belly muscles, curved throat;
his thunderous voice and manly walk, connote
so well that he’s a true patrician.
His rubicund eye-corners, palms and feet;
his rosy nails confirm he’s from elite.”
Finding the Mother  177
14. “His hair, penis and lines on his foot soles
are smooth and indicate he’s rich and bold.
His voice, his walk and navel are sublime;
the marks of glory, fame and life of prime.”
15. “He has three folds on his belly; his breasts,
nipples and lines on his two soles are squat;
his neck; penis, his back and calf muscles
are short. He has three hair-whorls on vortex.”
16. “He has four lines each on his thumb, forehead,
on palms and soles; the signs of a well-read
of one who’s an expert in four Vedas
who has long life and whose renown ageless.”
17. “At ninety-six inches in height, with even shape,
with lovely lips, sharp nose, firm chin and sparkling eyes
he looks a demigod in super human drape;
as men goggle agape and lovely women vie.”
18. “The vital pairs of limbs fourteen of his body
namely, eye-brows, nostrils, the ears, the lips, the breasts
elbows, the wrists, the knees, the testicles, buttocks,
the hands, the feet, the brawn on his buttocks are all
equal in size, denoting signs of royal life.”
19. “He has four long and strong canine teeth; his imperial strides
remind of the treads of four imposing animals of pride;
the lion, tiger, a bull and elephant; unique and odd.
His style and appearance make him look like a Living God.”
20. “And lo, O’ Mother, Lakshmana, the brother dear
of Ram and Ma Sumitra’s son is Ram’s alike,
by looks and character, by walk and talk, from front and rear
by love and raging ire; by likes and gross dislikes.”
178  Finding the Mother
21. “But Ram in nimbus blue, looks like an ebony statue
and Lakshmana is like a large nugget in golden hue.”

Verse and Translation.Sundarakanda  Sarga 35 slokas 8 to

raamaH kamala patra akShaH sarva bhuuta mano haraH |
ruupa daakShiNya sampannaH prasuuto janaka aatmaje || 5-35-8

8. jaanakaatmaje= O Seetha the daughter of Janaka!; raamaH= Rama; kamala patraakSaH= has his eyes resembling the petals of a lotus; sarva sattvamanoharaH= he has a handsomeness, attracting the hearts of all living beings; ruupa dakSiNya sampannaH= He is endowed with grace and dexterity; prasuutaH= from the time he was born.

“O Seetha the daughter of Janaka! Rama has his eyes resembling the petals of a lotus. He has a handsomeness, attracting the hearts of all living beings. He is endowed with grace and dexterity, by birth.”

tejasaa aaditya samkaashaH kShamayaa pR^ithivii samaH |
bR^ihaspati samo buddhyaa yashasaa vaasava upamaH || 5-35-9

9. aaditya sankaashaH= he is equal to the sun; tejasaa= in splendour; pR^ithiviisamaH= equal to the earth; kSamayaa= in endurance; bR^ihaspati samaH= equal to Brihaspati; buddhyaa= in intelligence; vaasavopamaH= and equal to Indra; yashasaa= in fame.

“He is equal to the sun in splendour, earth in endurance, Brihaspati in intelligence and Indra in fame.”

rakShitaa jiiva lokasya sva janasya ca rakShitaa |
rakShitaa svasya vR^ittasya dharmasya ca param tapaH || 5-35-10

10. paramtapaH= Rama, the tormentator of his adversaries; rakSitaa= is a protector; jiivalokasya= of the world of beings; abhirakSitaa= further protecting; svajanasya= his own people; rakSitaa= he is the protector; vR^ittasya= his own behaviour; dharmasyacha= and righteousness.

“Rama the tormentator of his adversaries, is a protector of the world of beings, further protecting his own people. He is the protector of his own behaviour and righteousness.

raamo bhaamini lokasya caaturvarNyasya rakShitaa |
maryaadaanaam ca lokasya kartaa kaarayitaa ca saH || 5-35-11

11. bhaamini= O Seetha!; raamaH= Rama; rakSitaa= is the protector*; chaaturvarNasya= of the four castes; lokasya= of the world; saH= He; kartaa= is the doer; kaarayitaachaiva= and also the agent; maryaadaanaam= for the proprieties of conduct; lokaanaam= of people.

“O Seetha! Rama is the protector of the four castes of the world. He is the doer and also the agent for the people’s propriety of conduct.”

* Four principal castes described in Manu’s code – Brahmanas (priestly class), Kshatriyas (members of military or reigning order); Vaisyas (Traders and agriculturists) and Sudras (class of servitude)

arciShmaan arcito atyartham brahma carya vrate sthitaH |
saadhuunaam upakaaraj~naH pracaaraj~naH ca karmaNaam || 5-35-12

12. archiSmaan= (Rama) Rama is a resplendent man; architaH= He is respected; atyartham= exceedingly; sthitaH= He is established; brahmacharya vrate= in a vow of chastity; upakaarajNaH= He knows how to do good; saadhuunaam= to virtuous people; prachaaraJNashcha= He knows the application and advantage; karmaNaam= of actions.

“Rama is a resplendent man. He is respected exceedingly. He is established in a vow of chastity. He knows how to do good to virtuous people. He knows the application and advantage of his actions.”

raaja vidyaa viniitaH ca braahmaNaanaam upaasitaa |
shrutavaan shiila sampanno viniitaH ca param tapaH || 5-35-13

13. raaja vidyaa viniitashcha= He is well trained in statesmanship; upaasitaa= He honours; braahmaNaanaam= Brahmins, the priestly class; shrutavaan= He possesses sacred knowledge; shiilasamapannaH= He is endowed with a good conduct; viniitaH= He is a modest-man; paramtapaH= He torments his adversaries.

“He is well trained in statesmanship. He honours brahmins, the priestly class. He possesses sacred knowledge. He is endowed with good conduct. He is a modest man. He torments his adversaries.

yajuH veda viniitaH ca vedavidbhiH supuujitaH |
dhanuH vede ca vede ca veda angeShu ca niShThitaH || 5-35-14

14. yadurveda viniitashcha= He got trained in Yajurveda, the sacrificial Veda; supuujitaH= he is highly honoured; veda vidbhiH= by those well-versed in Vedas; niSThitaH= He is skilled in; dhanurvedecha= Dhanurveda, the science of archery; vedeSu= other Vedas; vedaaNgecha= and the six limbs of Vedangas.

“He got trained in Yajurveda, the sacrificial Veda. He is highly honoured by those well-versed in Vedas. He is skilled in Dhanurveda, the science of archery, other Vedas and the six limbs* of Vedangas.”

Six limbs of Vedangas : 1) Siksha, the science of proper articulaton and pronunciation 2) Chandas, the metre 3) Vyakarana, the grammar 4) Nirukta, the explanation of difficult Vedic words 5) Jyotisha, the astronomy or rather the Vedic Calendar. 6) Kalpa, the ceremonial represented by a large number of Sura works.

vipula amso mahaabaahuH kambu griivaH shubha aananaH |
guuDha jatruH sutaamra akSho raamo devi janaiH shrutaH || 5-35-15

15. devi= O Princess!; raamaH= Rama; vipulaamsaH= is broad-shouldered; mahaabaahuH= long-armed; kambugriivaH= has a shell-like neck; shubhaananaH= has an auspicious countenance, guuDha jatruH= He has hidden collar-bone; suutaamraakSaH= He has beautiful red eyes; shrutaH= he is heard about; janaiH= by people.

“O princess! Rama is a broad shouldered and a long-armed man. He has a shell-like neck. He has a handsome countenance. He has a hidden collar-bone. He has beautiful red eyes. His fame is heard about by people.”

dundubhi svana nirghoShaH snigdha varNaH prataapavaan |
samaH sama vibhakta ango varNam shyaamam samaashritaH || 5-35-16

16. dundubhisvananirghoSaH= He has a voice like the sound of a kettle-drum; snigdhavarNah= He has a shining skin; prataapavaan= He is full of splendour; samaH= He is square-built; samavibhaktaaN^gaH= His limbs are symmetrically built; samaashritaH= He is endowed with; shyaamam varNam= a dark-brown complexion.

“He has a voice like the sound of a kettle-drum. He has a shining skin. He is full of splendour. He is square-built. His limbs are built symmetrically. He is endowed with a dark-brown complexion.”

tristhiraH tripralambaH ca trisamaH triShu ca unnataH |
trivaliivaan tryavanataH catuH vyangaH trishiirShavaan || 5-35-17

17. tristhiraH= He is ever firm in three limbs (viz. the breast, wrist and fist); tripralambashcha= long in three (viz. his locks, testicles and knees); unnataH= elevated; triSu= in three (viz. the breast, rim of the navel and the lower abdomen); tritaamraH= coppery in three (viz. the rims of his eyes, nails, palms and soles); smigdhaH triSucha= soft in three (viz. the lines on his soles, hair and the end of membrum virile); nityashaH= and always; triSu gambhiiraH= deep in three (viz. the voice, gait and the navel).

“He is ever firm in three limbs (viz. the breast, waist and fist), long in three (viz. the breast, waist and fist), long in three (viz. the eyebrows, arms and soles), uniform in three (viz. his locks, testical and knees, elevated in three (viz. his breast, rim of his navel and lower abdomen), coppery in three of the navel and the lower abdomen), coppery in three (viz. the rims of his eyes, nails, palms and soles), soft in three (viz. the lines on his soles, hair and the end of the membrane virile) and always deep in three (viz. the voice, gait and the navel).”

trivaliivaamstryavanatashchaturvyaN^gastrishiirSavaan |
chatuSkalashchaturlekhashchatuSkiSkushchatuHsamaH || 5-35-18

18. trivaliivaan= He has three folds (in the skin of his neck and belly); tryavanataH= He is depressed at three places (viz. the middle of his soles, the lines on his soles and the nipples); chaturvyaN^gaH= undersized at four place (viz. the neck, membrum virile, the back and the shanks); trishiirSavaan= He is endowed with three spirals in the hair of his head, four lines at the root of his thumbs and the four lines on his forehead; chatuSkalaH= He has four marks on his thumb (denoting his proficiency in the four Vedas); chaturlekhaH= He has four lines on his forehead (indicating longevity); c

“He has three folds in the skin of his neck and belly. He is depressed at three places (viz. the middle of his soles, the lines on his soles and the nipples). He is undersized at four places (viz. the neck, membran virile, the back and the shanks). He is endowed with three spirals in the hair of his head. He has four lines at the root of his thumb (denoting his proficiency in the four Vedas). He has four lines on his forehead (indicating longevity). He is four cubits high (96 inches). He has four pairs of limbs (viz. the cheeks, arms, shanks and knees) equally matched.”

catuSh kalaH catuH lekhaH catuSh kiShkuH catuH samaH |
caturdasha sama dvandvaH catuH daShTaH catuH gatiH || 5-35-19

19. chaturdashamadvandvaH= He has fourteen other pairs of limbs (viz. the eye brows, nostrils, eyes, ears, the lips, nipples, elbows, wrists, knees, testicles, loins, hands, feet and thighs) equally matched; chaturdamSTraH= the four large teeth at both the ends of his upper and lower jaws are very sharp; chaturgatiH= He walks in four gaits (resembling the, walks of a lion, a tiger, an elephant and a bull); mahoSTha hanunaasashcha= He is endowed with excellent lips, chin and nose; paN^chasnigdhaH= He has five glossy limbs (viz. the hair, eyes, teeth, skin and soles); aSTa vamshavaan= He has eight long limbs (viz. the arms, fingers and toes, eyes and ears, thighs and shanks).

“He has fourteen other pairs of limbs (viz. the eye brows, nostrils, eyes, ears, lips, nipples, elbows, wrists, knees testicles, lions, hands, feet and thighs) equally matched. The four large teeth at both the ends of his upper and lower jaws are very sharp. He walks in four gaits (resembling the walks of a lion, a tiger, an elephant and a bull). He is endowed with excellent lips, chin and nose. He has five glossy limbs (viz. the hair, eyes, teeth, skin and soles). He has eight long limbs (viz. the arms, fingers and toes, eyes and ears, thighs and shanks).

dasha padmo dasha bR^ihat tribhiH vyaapto dvi shuklavaan |
ShaD unnato nava tanuH tribhiH vyaapnoti raaghavaH || 5-35-20

20. raaghavaH= Rama; dashapadmaH= has ten lotus-like limbs (viz. the countenance, the mouth, the eyes, the tongue, lips, palate, breasts, nails, the hands and the feet); dashabR^ihat= He has ten ample limbs (viz. the chest, the head, the forehead, the neck, the arms the heart, the mouth, the feet, the back and the ears); vyaaptaH= He is spread through; tribhiH= by reason of three (viz. splendour, renown and glory); vyaaptaH= He is spread through; tribhiH= by reason of three (viz. splendour, renown and glor); dvishuklavaan= He is doubly pure (on father’s and mother’s side); SaDunnataH= He is elevated in six limbs (viz the flanks, the abdomen, the breast, the nose, the shoulders and the forehead); navatanuH= He is small, thin, fine or sharp in nine (viz. the hair, the moustaches and the beard, nails, the hair on the body, the skin, the finger joints, the membran virile, acumen adn perception) vyaaproti= He pursus religious merit, world riches and sensuous delight in three periods ( viz the forenoon, midday and afternoon).

“Rama has ten lotus-like limbs (viz. the countenance, the mouth, the eyes, the tongue, lips, palate, breasts, nails, the hands and the feet). He has ten ample limbs (viz. the chest, the head, the forehead, the neck, the arms, the heart, the mouth the feet, the back and the ears). He is spread through by reason of three (viz. splendour, renown and glory). He is doubly pure (on father’s and mother’s side). He is elevated in six limbs (viz. the flanks, the abdomen, the breast, the nose, the shoulders and the forehead). He is small, thin, fine or sharp in nine (viz. the hair, the moustaches and the beard, nails the hair on the body, the skin, the finger-joints, the membrum virile, acumen and perception). He pursues religious merit, worldly riches and the sensuous delight in three periods (viz. the forenoon, midday and afternoon)

satya dharma paraH shriimaan samgraha anugrahe rataH |
desha kaala vibhaagaj~naH sarva loka priyam vadaH || 5-35-21

21. satyadharmaparaH= Rama is engrossed in truth and righteousness; shriimaan= He is a prosperous man; rataH= He is interested in; samgrahaanugrahe= reception and facilitation; desha kaala vibhaagaJNaH= He knows apportioning of place and time; sarvalokapriyamvadaH= He speaks affectionately with all.

“Rama is engrossed in truth and righteousness. He is a prosperous man. He is interested in reception and facilitation. He knows how to apportion place and time. He speaks affectionately with all.”

• I am unable to get the size of Rama’s Footprint in Rameswaram or Chitrakoot.
• Readers may send details to enable me to cross check.

Citation and References.

https://www.quora.com/What-is-the-physical-description-of-Sri-Rama-and-Sita-devi-given-in-Ramayana

http://www.valmikiramayan.net/bala/sarga67/bala_67_prose.htm

http://www.valmikiramayan.net/sundara/sarga35/sundara_35_prose.htm

http://www.livestrong.com/article/491821-height-to-foot-size-ratio/