Mesas Paper

Ziya Jaffer

MESAS 102

Dr. V. N. Rao

October 22, 2015.        

        Rama was the seventh avatar of the Hindu God, Vishnu. Vishnu descended upon Earth in the form of Rama to battle Ravana, the ruler of the rakhasas. He had been blessed so he could not be killed by any supernatural being but he was not immune to humans. Certain ‘kandas’^[1] of Valmiki’s Ramayana deal with the battle between Rama and Ravana. Many believe that the Ramayana is a depiction of Rama’s greatness and perfection since he lived his entire life by the rules of dharma. However, in this paper I hope to contradict certain of these views by offering counter-examples and highlighting Rama’s human nature. Since Rama was a human avatar of Lord Vishnu, he was bound to possess human qualities. All humans make mistakes, feel fear and sometimes lose control over their emotions and actions. With the help of R.K. Narayan’s translation of the Kamban version of the Ramayana and Daniel Smith’s translation of the Valmiki version I will focus on situations in which Rama’s perfect and imperfect nature is highlighted. 

        Dasharatha had three wives: all of whom had trouble conceiving sons until he performed a royal ritual. (Smith, 5). Rama was the king’s first son, but not his last. His second and favorite wife Kaikeyi, gave birth to Bharata. His third wife gave birth to twin boys: Lakshmana and Shatraghna. 

Rama’s righteousness makes people perceive him as the perfect human being. He had a wide range of qualities that include honesty, valor and integrity. His valor and faithfulness towards his father and Ayodhya were seen when he agreed to go into exile for fourteen years on his father’s command. Dasaratha wanted Rama to be his successor. However, when the preparations began, Kaikeyi felt jealous and manipulated Dasaratha. She held him to the promise he made her two years ago and asked him to banish Rama to the forest and make Bharata the king instead. She was only this cunning because her maid, Manthara nagged her. As a result of this, Rama respected his father’s authority and agreed to leave Ayodhya. (Smith, 7)

In R.K. Narayan’s Ramayana, Rama’s selfless nature is portrayed when he showed heartfelt concern about his father’s health. Kaikeyi called for Rama after Dasaratha cancelled his assembly to inform him about the bad news. She told him he had to fulfill his father’s promise. Rama was surprised because he had assumed that his step-mother wanted to bless him but instead she wanted to exile him. He also blamed himself for his father’s bad health and said “Have I done something to upset him? Any lapse in my duties or performance?” (Narayan, 104). This depicts his responsible nature. It also shows how he blamed himself for anything wrong that happened to the King because of his unconditional love for him. After hearing what Kaikeyi had to say, Rama respectfully accepts and agrees to “carry out his wishes without question.” (Narayan, 104). There is not a hint of anger or revenge in Rama when it comes to his father. He further demonstrates this unselfish and simple nature when he says, “Mother, be assured that I will not shirk. I have no interest in kinship, and no attachments to such offices, and no aversion to a forest existence.” (Narayan, 104). Rama’s attitude towards this situation and the manner in which he reacts to all of it portrays why people regard him as an ideal soul. He is depicted as a son any father would be lucky to have because of how he keeps his father’s commitment at the cost of his own happiness. 

Rama’s outlook on life is almost too idea for a human. When he goes to Ayodhya, he is not described as bitter or angry towards his father or Kaikeyi. In fact, he is described as very accepting and understanding of the entire situation. This exemplar behavior of no jealousy and no hatred explains why people chanted Rama’s name back then and today. He cared the most about carrying out his duties as his father’s son and making sure his father could hold his head high. He was not vengeful about not being crowned the king of Ayodhya even though one would assume it was his birth right. He was not hungry for power or authority, making him far superior than other humans. 

Rama was not only emotionally tough but had great physical strength. He was an extremely skilled and precise archer. He was an accomplished warrior who had won several battles in his time and was regarded in high standing by the people around him. It was after his victory against Thataka^[2], that “the presiding deities of various weapons, asthras, appeared before Rama submissively and declared, “Now we are yours; command us night or day.”” (Narayan, 54). The kind and gentle soul that Rama was, he contemplated battling Thataka because she was a woman but Viswamithra convinces him that a woman who is evil must not be considered a woman at all. (Narayan, 54). It was this event that marked the beginning of Rama’s journey as an excellent warrior and “inaugurated Rama’s life mission of destroying evil and demonry in this world.” (Narayan, 54). He had not only pleased the Gods but surpassed all expectations. Killing Thataka was only the beginning. Thereafter, Rama went on to kill numerous demons and asuras like Subahu and Mareecha with the support of his loyal brother, Lakshmana.