The Good Student in Lord Rama.

Our fellow blogger and friend, Mr.K.Parthasarathy asked me a question in email. I tried to answer it and he was very satisfied with my answer. I like to share it with all of you.

Mr.K.Parthasarathy:

Write about Sri Rama, a few lines in your next post

Some question; why did Sri Rama not kill Tataka in the first instance as ordered by Viswamitra but showed her compassion by removing her arms and ear lobes.He killed her finally only when it was necessary.Did Sri Rama disobey the sage initially and went by his own judgment of things and kill her only when he felt it was necessary.Think about it
regards
KP

Me:

That's a very nice question you have asked. I know you too are Lord Rama's devotee and this question is just for discussion.

First I like to say something about Lord Rama.

There are black holes in the sun. Lord Rama is like a sun without black holes.
There are scars on the moon. Lord Rama is like the moon without scars.
He is incarnation of Goodness. He is all that is Good. And all that is good is him.
Insects cannot look at the same way, humans look at the world.
Like that because of inner defects people may find fault in Lord Rama.
But the fact is that, the fault is in the people who find fault with Him.

I did not chose to worship Lord Rama because he is an incarnation of Maha Vishnu.
I worship Maha Vishnu because he incarnated as Lord Rama and proved his character at least once.

Now with this conviction let me try to answer your question.

Lord Rama first refused to shoot arrows at Tataka because she was a female.

Vishwamitra had already told him how dangerous she was, to soft natured mystics, knowing that this is what Lord Rama would say on seeing a female . Anyhow he once more explained to Lord Rama why it is not wrong to kill this woman and gave a few example instances from the past.
Lord Rama was convinced and decided to shoot arrows at her.

Word and arrows aren't much different.
What I mean is even with arrows there is a kind of communication. Like the honking of the horn and blinking of the headlights, between the vehicle drivers of today.
Lord Rama being an adept archer, tried to warn Tataka to subdue before he could take her life. So he first hurt her badly. Then he started to chop off, limb after limb. And at last finished her off, since she persisted in her violent ways.

The moment he started to shoot arrows he has obeyed his Guru's command. And then it was just his style of fighting.
Something like, when a father asks his son to get something, the son chooses the shop or the way to the shop. If the son refuses to get that thing for the father only then it is disobedience.

And another piece of thought here is that Lord Rama subtly instructs every student not to do anything unless and other wise they are convinced of it.

Only in Lord Rama, a son can look upon and learn how a good son must be.
Only in Lord Rama, a husband can look upon and learn how a good husband must be.
Only in Lord Rama, can a ruler look upon and learn how a good ruler must be.
Only in Lord Rama, can a brother look upon and learn how a good brother must be.And so on...

So here, he makes it clear that obedience is different from slavery.
A slave has to do all that is told to him. But a student need not.
In fact, it is the quality of a good student to question, understand and then accept.

Now that I have got such a big article. This is going to be my next post.

Mr.K.Parthasarathy:

Wow.It is a beautiful and very satisfying reply.I am a great devotee of Sri Rama as much as of my sri Guruvayurappan.Both are the incarnations of the same God.But Rama of an earlier yuga stands out for certain virtues that are relevenat eternally.I was reading a book on Lectures on Ramayana by Rt Honble Srinivasa Sastri given in Sanskrit college six decades ago.He has followed Valmiiki's text as the basis.He has dealt with the character of Rama as human born in Raghu kula and not as divinie incarnation.
In one of the lectures ,Sastri had raised this question and answered it on the lines you hv so admirably done.
Yes, it is a very good idea to write on Sri Ramachandra in your blog.It should kindle interest among the readers the interest to think,read and know more about Him.There are different aspects to be dealt with on each character of the great epic.You should follow a proper sequence if your writing is intended to be continuous.The book is available in Giri trading at Mylapore (Rs250).A few copies are there.
I raised the question in my mail just to know your interest.

We can exchange ideas.I value your friendship
thanks

Me:

Thanks for inspiring me with your question sir. I too value your friendship and am looking forward for many such discussions. Is there a greater joy than speaking, hearing, thinking about Lord Rama?

Is there a sweeter thing than talking about him?

Is there a melodious thing than hearing about Him?

Is there a soulful thing than thinking about Him?

Is there a better work than worshipping Him?

For He is the Life of all the lifes.

For He is the Joy in all the hearts.

For He is the Taste in all the Food.

And He is the melody in all music.

Lucky are the ones who know his worth.

The ultimate achievement on this earth.

Jai Shri RAM... Jai Jai Shri Ram...!