Thread by @SaamaanyaJ

A Thread on #JaiShriRam

Every child in India is born with Lord Rama in the heart. When one first learnt of him is never a question.

He is Everywhere in the air. In Kannada we say "Ramachandra", "RamanE gati" hundreds of utterances for every every situation/expression.

1/n

#JaiShriRam - My personal journey

Before I knew, my mother had narrated Ramayana a 100 times or more.

Every single day I sought to hear, Every single day she narrated, Eagerly.

Soon I was a display kid in family functions, narrating Ramayana earning appreciation.

2/n

#JaiShriRam

Both on Father's side and on Mother's side, the Shri Rama Mandira are the cultural centres. There is a Sabha that manages a 14Day Celebration of Shri Rama Navami, from his birth to Pattabhisheka.

The Community takes his name, for everything. Its all his grace.

3/n

#JaiShriRam

We alternated each year between Father's place and Mother's place. 12 days at one place, 2 days at the other.

Yagna, Veda Mantra Chanting, Bhajan, Hari Katha, Scholarly Lecutures, Music Performances.

All in the air. You could hear things sitting at home.

4/n

#JaiShriRam

Everything about him took roots within.

His story, his personality, the devotion he brought in people, his righteousness, his valour, his friendship, love, respect, conduct, sacrifice - for everything in life there is a parallel in Rama.

रामो विग्रहवान धर्म

5/n

#JaiShriRam

An uncle of ours was a big Shri Rama Bhakt. His entire life was inspired by Rama, revolved around the lotus feet of Shri Rama.

When he passed away one sister said "Where will we get such a brother again, a Shri Rama like brother"

मर्यादा पुरुषोत्तम राम

#JaiShriRam

In the Community, he is omnipresent. A living being in one's own heart. Quietly guiding their daily life, quietly inspiring. A quiet but definite presence.

"E, did not Shri Rama also do like this" is a utterance I constantly heard from elders as a child

7/n

#JaiShriRam

My favourite moments in Mother's story narration was

- Hanumantha going ahead of Rama and stopping a distraught Bharata from giving up his life at Nandigrama announcing his return
- Jatayu's death

Always brought tears

8/n

#JaiShriRam

The story I read of Ramayana was Lava-Kusha in Amar Chitra Katha. You cannot fall in love with characters any better. From Vameeki to Seeta's friends to Kusha chiding Lava to the kids arresting a wonder-struck Hanumantha.

The reading journey began.

9/n

#JaiShreeRam

By early school, I had completed all @ACKComics books on Ramayana Stories including his ancestors of Raghu, Dileepa, Bhageeratha and so on.

Chandamama, Balamitra, Magazines - any Ramayana story was first read.

Things grow within you bit by bit, drop by drop

10/n

#JaiShreeRam

And then the TV Ramayana happened. Father brought television at home. The nation woke.

- Sant Tulsidas came home
- Hindi came home
- Avadh music culture came home
- Arun Govil too came home
- Mahendra Kapoor

सीता राम चरिता अति पावन
मधुर सुरस और अति मन भावन

11/n

12. #JaiShriRam

And the Kannada Films. 4 brothers living together. The Elder brother sacrificing to keep the family together against crisis.

A running theme cinema rediscovered movie after movie after movie. From 50s to late 90s.

The Influence and the Inspiration.

12/n

13. #JaiShriRam

Kannada and Telugu movies full of Ramayana Stories. Bhookailasa, Dashavatara, Sampoorna Ramayana and so on.

Kannada and Telugu cinema truly saved their society from being deracinated. Immense contribution from the legendary NTR, ANR, Rajkumar.

13/n

14. #JaiShriRam

The Kannada song from Movie Dashavatara

गोदावरी देवी तुम क्यों मौन हो
वैदेही कहां है

Rama's going helter skelter in the Forest. That was our cry too. Kannada actor Raja Shankar in this immortal portrayal of Rama's loss.



14/n

15. #JaiShriRam

Wondered why Bollywood did not have many Ramayana based movies like Telugu and Kannada.

But whenever a villager in a Hindi movie said "Jai Ram Ji Ki", "Ram Ji Kripa" I knew this was something special.

It came from the heart
It reached other hearts

15/n

16. #JaiSiyaRam

What moved me from Ramayana.

The story of Shravana Kumar. Was it chance or bad luck? or the indulgence of Dasharatha? Why so tragic? Wasnt the curse an excess?

Why Shravana Kumara in Ramayana?

Dasharatha's prowess - why did it come back to bite him?

16/n

17. #JaiShreeRam

Bharata refusing the kingdom and being pained by testing questions of Vasishtha.

The moment that brings relief to Kausalya's pain.

17/n

18. #JaiShriRam

Seeta's Conversations with Rama in the forest. Brave, Thoughtful, Loving, Questioning, Devoted.

Rama's finds her questions the most challenging to answer.

18/n

19. #JaiShriRam

That amazing first meeting of Rama and Hanumantha. That amazing mutual appreciation.

Hanumantha realizing that he is man for his devotion. Rama wondering if only he could have such a messenger.

It's Hanumantha who shows us that Ramnaam is bigger than Ram

19/n

20. That moment when Rama says

जननी जन्मभूमिश्चा स्वर्गादपि गरीयसी

Rama's love for the mother land. For Ayodhya, For Kosala, Sarayoo, For Ganga, For Videha, For Tamasa, For Himalaya, For Bharatamandala.

Mother narrated that moment with a special sparkle in the eye.

20/n

#JaiSiyaRam

21. Rama Mandira of Karnataka

There is not a town in Karnataka without a Rama Mandir. A place for congregation for all. The boundaries of Shaivite/Vaishnavite are weak in Karnataka.

A place for public performances. In the summer, Classical Music Festival.

21/n

22. Srirama Mandira of Rajajinagar, Bangalore

The Kannada Mahabharata of Kumaravyasa ran unabashed for years together - vyAkhyAna by Mattoor Krishnamurthy and Gamaka by Hosahalli Keshavamoorthy

The Krishnakatha in Rama Mandira.

22/n

23. In the 20th Century, Kannada World saw 3 complete works of Poetry of Ramayana

- Kuvempu, Sri Ramayana Darshanam
- Masti Venkatesha Iyengar
- Sali Ramachandra Rao

And then a single poem of Gopalakrishna Adiga 'Shri Rama Navamiya Divasa' revolutionalized Kannada poetry.

23/n

24. Shri Rama is an easy reach - both for the devotees and the detractors.

- Innumerable feminist versions
- Ones showing Rama as wrong, Ravana as right
- Even when Rama sacrifices they have a problem

- And our eternal discomfort with Agni Pareeksha & Seeta Parityaaga

24/n

25. Karnataka is blessed with Scholars
- Shatavadhani R Ganesh
- Dr. KS Narayanacharya
- Vidvan Ranganatha Sharma
- CR Srinivasa Iyengar
- Vidwan Ranganatha Sharma

Society eventually knows who to learn from. Detractors have sunk without a trace.

25/n

26. In Rama we have confidence

He is प्रसन्ना वादन always मन्दस्मित अग्रभाषी

Always the first to speak. A role model accessible to people. In our lives For our lives.

He lives as along as Nadi & Parvatas are there on Earth. Back to Ayodhya. Forever. Rama Rajya begins.

26/n

27. We bow to River Sarayoo

The River chosen by Rama

She as flown forever
When Rama left for the Forest
When he fought Ravana
When he came back
She has seen it all
Rama as a child, a boy
A young man & a husband
A Chaktravarti & the Lord

She flows forever
Rama is forever

27/n

28. We bow to Maharshi Valmeeki

तपः स्वाध्याय निरतम..
माँ निषादा प्रतिष्ठां..

Very same Verses
Inspiring Poet after Poet
Century after Century

"In the ancient times, there was a sage by name Valmeeki on the banks of River Tamasa". Inspires me.

He is still on Tamasa.

28/n

29. We bow to Devi Seeta

The brave, courageous, sacrificing, loving Seeta.

Seetaram, JanakiVallabha, Siyaram - We always remember Rama along Seeta.

Eyes become wet in the Seeta Parityaga. When she enters the earth. We go with her too.Ramayana builds a sensitivity in us.

29/n

30. We bow to the abode of Ayodhya

That is where
-Rama was born
-Sarayoo flows
-Great Kings ruled
-The Samskriti flowered
-language flows sweet
-people sing great praise of Lord Rama
in the most melluflous music

That is where that is where
We build our Ram Temple

n/n [EOT]