Living in Harmony Makes Devotion Easier

We all have a bad habit of fighting with our brothers and sisters over toys. But can you imagine giving up something as vast as a kingdom, for your sibling?

Thousands of years ago, the Supreme Lord descended on this Earth as Ram, the eldest son of King Dashrath. His mother was Queen Kaushalya, the first wife of King Dashrath. King Dashrath’s second wife, Kaikeyi gave birth to Bharat. Lakshman and Shatrughan were born to King Dashrath's third wife, Sumitra. As was the custom in those days, the four brothers went to Sage Valmiki’s ashrama (school) for their education. After completing their education, they returned to their father's palace.

Prince Rama being the eldest of four sons and competent to rule the kingdom was the heir to the throne. When King Dashratha turned 40 and saw the first sign of a strand of grey hair on His head, he realized the impermanence of human body and decided to renounce his worldly duties and take refuge in God. King Dashrath sought the advice of Sage Vashishtha and asked for the right mahoort (opportune time) to perform the coronation ceremony for his oldest son Rama. The earliest opportune time happened to be the very next day. Rama was only 16 years old at that time. However, since his desire for renunciation was so strong, King Dashrath announced the crowning ceremony of Rama to be on the very next day. 

While Bharat and Shatrughan were in their maternal grandparent’s house in Mithila, Kaikeyi, the mother of Bharat was beguiled by her maid Manthra. Wanting to see her son Bharata, be crowned the king, she hatched a devlish plan. She remembered that king Dashrath had once promised to grant her any two boons for saving his life in a deadly battle. She played her cards and demanded that Bharata be crowned king of Ayodhya and Rama be banished to the forest for 14 years. The king underwent immense agony on hearing this, but kept his word to his wife and ordered Rama to be banished to the jungle for 14 years. Rama accepted the decree unquestioningly. "I will gladly obey my father's command," he said to His stepmother. "I would go even if you had ordered Me to do so." 

When Mother Sita, Lord Rama's wife, heard that Shri Rama was to be banished, she begged to accompany him to his forest retreat. "As shadow to substance, so wife to husband," she reminded Rama. "Is not the wife's dharma to be at her husband's side? Let me walk ahead of you so that I may smooth the path for your feet," she pleaded. Rama agreed. His younger brother Lakshmana, though was not banished decided to follow Rama to accompany them to the forest.

King Dashrath could not survive the pain of separation from his dearest son Rama and left his body. When Bharata returned from his grand parent’s house, he learnt about what his mother had done and was very sore towards his mother. He sought Rama in the forest. "The eldest must rule," he reminded Rama. "Please come back and claim your rightful place as the king of Ayodhya." Rama refused to go against his father's command, so Bharat took his brother's sandals and said, "I shall place these sandals on the throne as symbols of your authority. I shall rule only as your proxy while you are away and each day I shall put my offerings at your lotus feet, my Lord. When the fourteen years of banishment are over, I shall joyously return the kingdom to you." Rama was very pleased with Bharat's selflessness. As Bharat left, Rama said to him, "I should have known that you would renounce gladly what most men work lifetimes to learn to give up." 

Thus the RamaCharit Manas is an ideal scripture to teach, how to lead a modest and ideal life as a son, wife, brother and father etc. Rama gladly accepted His father’s ordains without any question or objection. Mother Sita, though was a delicate princess, followed her husband even in toughest situation demonstrating her supreme dharm as a life partner. Bharat Ji, revealed the highest ideology of a brother rejecting the allurement of the crown and humbly followed his older brother Rama’s instruction with the support of his unfathomable devotion and love. Likewise King Dashrath ordered his dearest son Rama and payed for doing so, with his own life, only to uphold the honor of the promise that he had given to Kaikeyi. 

We should learn to obey our parents, respect our elder siblings and to love those younger to us. Sacrificing your own personal interests, helps maintain peace in the family and creates an atmosphere conducive to doing devotion. Also, sacrificing and supporting each other gives joy and satisfaction.