{"id":4980,"date":"2019-10-03T17:12:23","date_gmt":"2019-10-03T11:42:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.iskconbangalore.org\/blog\/?p=4980"},"modified":"2022-01-24T16:34:41","modified_gmt":"2022-01-24T11:04:41","slug":"ten-qualities-of-lord-rama-part-5","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.iskconbangalore.org\/blog\/ten-qualities-of-lord-rama-part-5\/","title":{"rendered":"Ten Qualities of Lord Rama \u2013 Part 5"},"content":{"rendered":"

Jaya Sri Ram! As we enter into the auspicious ten days of the Dasara, which will culminate in the Vijayadashami, the day of victory of Good, represented by Lord Rama<\/a> over the Evil-Ravana; we bring you a series of narrations from Ramayana, describing ten transcendental qualities of Lord Ramachandra, one for every day of the Dussehra.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Please read and relish, like and share these articles, and you may also leave your comments to us.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\n

Quality 5<\/strong>: Lord R<\/strong>\u0101<\/strong>ma, Ekapatni vratastha<\/strong><\/h1>\n

One of the great qualities for which Lord R\u0101machandra is famous is that he is an eka-patni vratastha or a \u2018monogynist\u2019 one who practices monogyny, the principle of having only one wife.<\/p>\n

In Tret\u0101 yuga, an age where the men of royal order could possess many wives, Lord R\u0101ma, being a Kshatriya and the most adored King, could easily have accepted multiple queens, which he never did. R\u0101ma, the charming and handsome youth would easily steal the heart of any woman, who then strongly desired to have Him as her husband. But Lord R\u0101ma, staunchly held to his vow of having only S\u012bt\u0101devi, as His one and only consort and rejected any lady that approached him with such desires. <\/strong><\/p>\n

\n

Living in the Green, under the Blue<\/strong><\/h2>\n

In the middle of the night, Lord R\u0101ma arose and woke up His wife S\u012bt\u0101 and Lak\u1e63man. The trio left silently, with Sumantara, the charioteer, being scared of the fact that the city of Ayodhy\u0101 could be left deserted if the people noticed their departure. They proceeded into the dense forest, throwing their people out of the trail, then they let Sumantra off, after they entered the forest, and continued their journey deep towards the forest. \"\"<\/p>\n

As they approached the forest, Lak\u1e63man moved ahead and cleared the path with His sword, cutting through the thick creepers and bushes. S\u012bt\u0101 enchanted by the beauty of nature, walked in the middle, with her head covered to protect Herself from the swarms of insects that flew around. R\u0101ma brought up the rear, vigilantly watching on all sides and holding His bow at the ready.<\/p>\n

After meeting many sages, the trio was on their way to see the famous sage Agastya. R\u0101ma narrated various stories about Agastya. He had His brother and wife entertained as They walked throughout the day. On reaching the hermitage, Agastya offered his hospitality and later offered R\u0101ma the celestial weapons he would need in the war against the R\u0101k\u1e63asas.<\/p>\n

R\u0101ma accepted the celestial weapons respectfully and then asked the sage to suggest Him a place where He could live. To which, the sage suggested them a nearby forest called Panchavati where all of their desires, would be fulfilled.<\/p>\n

\n

The curious case of \u015a\u016brpa\u1e47akh\u0101<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Panchavati was beautiful and sanctified. The time passed quickly for the trio, as they say, good time fly rather quick. They happily lived in almost complete solitude, attended only by occasional ascetic.<\/p>\n

One day, a powerful R\u0101k\u1e63as\u012b \u015a\u016brpa\u1e47akh\u0101, reached Panchavati. Wandering around looking for food, she saw R\u0101ma\u2019s footprints and followed them. As soon as she arrived at the hermitage, she saw R\u0101ma sitting outside His hut. She was immediately attracted to the handsome R\u0101ma. His strong structure and majestic attendance filled Her mind with lust. She then assumed the form of a beautiful woman, in her fine silks and ornaments she resembled a celestial maiden and walked slowly before Him. She asked R\u0101ma who were they, to which, Lord R\u0101ma narrated his story.<\/p>\n

On asking about her identity, she replied that her name was \u015a\u016brpa\u1e47akh\u0101, sister of the unconquerable R\u0101va\u1e47a. She lived with her brothers, Khara and Dushana and ranged these woods devouring ascetics and causing fear to all. She un-hesitantly expressed her feelings on seeing R\u0101ma saying that she longed to embrace him as her husband. \u015a\u016brpa\u1e47akh\u0101 hoped that even not attracted to her, out of fear R\u0101ma might accede to her proposal. Hearing that she was a R\u0101k\u1e63as\u012b, R\u0101ma and Lak\u1e63man looked at her in surprise.<\/p>\n

She went closer to R\u0101ma and smiled, throwing a disdainful glance at S\u012bt\u0101 and asked of what use was the skinny and deformed woman. She advised R\u0101ma to accept her as his wife. She continued that, after devouring his wife and his brother she will carry R\u0101ma to the highest mountain where they can sport together in joy.<\/p>\n

Lord R\u0101ma laughed heartily. He decided to joke with the infatuated R\u0101k\u1e63as\u012b. He replied saying that he was a monogynist and already married. But his younger brother very handsome and highly qualified was yet unmarried. So she should instead try Him as her worthy husband.<\/p>\n

\u015a\u016brpa\u1e47akh\u0101 turned quickly towards Lak\u1e63man, who stood smiling with His hand resting on His bow. She asked him to look, at her alluring form, she was certainly worthy of becoming his wife.<\/p>\n

Lak\u1e63man could understand R\u0101ma\u2019s funny mood. He proposed her with a chuckle saying, only if she wished to become a servant. Since Lak\u1e63man was dependent on his older brother, as his wife, she would be S\u012bt\u0101\u2019s servant.<\/p>\n

\u015a\u016brpa\u1e47akh\u0101 dumb enough to catch the joke turned again towards R\u0101ma, who sat next to S\u012bt\u0101. She asked R\u0101ma impatiently if S\u012bt\u0101 was the one standing between them, then she would devour her and they, could be together at ease.<\/p>\n

\u015a\u016brpa\u1e47akh\u0101 rushed furiously towards S\u012bt\u0101. She assumed her natural form of R\u0101k\u1e63as\u012b, appearing like a black cloud. R\u0101ma immediately roared and halted her by the sound alone. Realizing the threat, R\u0101ma asked Lak\u1e63man, to get rid of her, but to not slay since she was a woman. \"\"<\/p>\n

Lak\u1e63man drew His sword and sliced off the R\u0101k\u1e63as\u012b\u2019s long nose and pointed ears. \u015a\u016brpa\u1e47akh\u0101 screamed in pain. She realized the brothers were formidable and quickly ran off into the woods. Her dissonant and horrible cries could be heard disappearing into the distance as she retreated. The R\u0101k\u1e63as\u012b then sought her brother Khara, who was the leader of the R\u0101k\u1e63asas in the forest. Going before him drenched in blood and crying loudly, she dropped upon the ground like a bolt from the blue. Khara sat surrounded by numerous powerful R\u0101k\u1e63asas, holding a massive club. When he saw his sister\u2019s state, he frowned.<\/p>\n

To seek revenge, Khara first sent fourteen powerful R\u0101k\u1e63asas, who were easily killed by R\u0101ma. Angry Khara in utter disbelief marched towards R\u0101ma with his army of evil. The sound of beating drums and roaring of R\u0101k\u1e63asas filled the air. R\u0101ma realizing the omen, instantly ordered Lak\u1e63man to take S\u012bt\u0101 to some safe cave on the mountain. Khara, along with his army of fourteen thousand R\u0101k\u1e63asas were all killed by the invincible R\u0101ma, in less than two hours.<\/p>\n

The gods applauded Lord R\u0101ma\u2019s achievements. S\u012bt\u0101 ran to Her wounded husband and embraced Him tightly. She ran Her hands over R\u0101ma\u2019s many wounds, and tears rolled down her cheeks. R\u0101ma and S\u012bt\u0101 then retired into Their hut, and Lak\u1e63man sat nearby, keeping a lonely vigil.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Jaya Sri Ram! As we enter into the auspicious ten days of the Dasara, which will culminate in the Vijayadashami, the day of victory of Good, represented by Lord Rama over the Evil-Ravana; we bring you a series of narrations from Ramayana, describing ten transcendental qualities of Lord Ramachandra, one for every day of the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":4984,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[23,13],"class_list":{"0":"post-4980","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-krishna-katha","8":"tag-lord-rama","9":"tag-qualities-of-lord-rama"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.iskconbangalore.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4980","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.iskconbangalore.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.iskconbangalore.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.iskconbangalore.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.iskconbangalore.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4980"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.iskconbangalore.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4980\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6283,"href":"https:\/\/www.iskconbangalore.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4980\/revisions\/6283"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.iskconbangalore.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4984"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.iskconbangalore.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4980"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.iskconbangalore.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4980"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.iskconbangalore.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4980"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}