Possible Political Situations during Ramayana Times - Case Study

Rishi Valmiki got inspired to write an epic of many a hundered thousand verses not just due to personal affinity. Personal affinity could not have created such a large and precious literature in verse form. He was a learned man turned into a poet of very high caliber and one cannot expect dreamy nature of a poet in him. He must have written the epic only when the works done by Sri Rama and highest standards of character were worthy of it. Son of Dashratha, Sri Rama is the Hero. To make his exemplenary character understandable and effective in public mind, he used verse format for recording his life story called The Ramayana.

The question comes next was of what importance was the War between Rama and Ravana was? The importance can be found out and logic behind action of various characters can be understood when we study those times from various angles, especially the political side just as we cannot understand the role of Mahatma Gandhi without the knowledge of the political “British Raj” in those days.

To understand importance or significance of the war between Rama and Ravana, an effort is made here to describe the overall background of public life in those days.

                India of those days was divided primarily as it seems, into three populations called the men, the vaanaras  and the rakshasas. They all were having their kingdoms and kings. Rakshasa kingdoms were on the southern India upto, say, Tirupathi on eastern Coast and Nasik on western side in Maharashtra. Vanaras kingdom were the kingdoms of Vali and were spread in Andhrapradesh, Orissa and Madhyapradesh. Men (Manavas) were in the northern India from North of Vindhya to Himalayas –A land called Aryavarta.

The Rakshasas and Vaanaras (may be the Aryans called others as apes and tyrants to express a sort of comtempt towards other cultures) were allies with friendship at top and hatred /enemity downwards. The raakshasas were ambitious to enjoy the properties of friends and foes alike. They were having enemity towards men/Aryans and their kingdoms. The settlements of men were guided and guarded by Rishis in places called aashrams at various places. These Rishis were doing efforts called Yagnaas in aashrams for the well being of men and also for developments of armaments for defence. They also used to train the kshatriyaas in warfare and weaponry developed by them. Hence the Raakshasas seeing the aashrams as imminent threat to their powers, spied on the aashrams and destroyed them as many and as much as they could. They also were interested to spread their empires by marital relations as we see presence of Ravana in Sita Swayamwar.

                Using special technology, Sri Rama and his three brothers (and most probably Hanuman as well) were brought into existence by Rishi Shringi for the sole purpose of destroying the powers of Raakshasas and their kingdoms. These men were kind of robotic people with little or no inclination for personal comforts or pleasures or even sex. The Character map also shows artificial birth and unnatural deaths of all these characters. (The children of Rama happen to be born at aashram where Sita had been sent to later after coming back which supports the theory of unnatural birth)

                When Sri Rama grew, got expert in archery he got married. When he was about to be throwned at Ayodhya as the successor of king Dashratha, Queen Kaikayee was reminded by her maid servant about the purpose of birth of these children. Emergency of political thought appearing crooked is called ‘advice of manthara’. Kaikayee was known to be an active stakeholder in political and war scenarios.(The boon given by dashratha for helping him in a war). Kaikayee, realizing the exact responsibility of Sri Rama, moved the political scene from Joy to grave mood in the interest of fighting with the Raakshasas. In order to bring victory, peace, happiness and security to men, made Sri Rama to head for the forests. She used her special rights/privileges. Manoevers of Kaikayee provided a political cover to the real purpose of SriRama going to the survey of the power of Raakshasas and the Vaanaras and to make friends without any assurances. 

Its also striking to understand the demand of 14 yrs into forests and not a small duration (as well not a standard duration of 12 yrs for vidya grahan). This duration seems to coincide with the boon given to Meghanad (he could be killed only by the person who is celibate,has not slept or eaten for 14 yrs) In his forest life (not short but 14 yrs) Sri Rama visited all rishis and gathered full information needed for assessment of the raakshasas. From Rishis he also got various weapons as presents which he kept hidden in forests in many places.May be without support of rishis Sri Rama alone could not have done the destruction of the Raakshasa empire 

      Another aspect of Srirama going to the forests with king Dashratha Dead is to hint the raakshasas that the kingdom of Ayodhya is available for grabbing rather easily. With this allure, Raakshasas will be tempted to spread up their expansion activities. Raakshasas also sent their spies and feelers in the form of shurpanakha, maarich etc.

   The brothers were seen having abnormally high love towards each other. With all the 4 brothers in Ayodhya, on the question of Sri Rama going to the forest, all 4 could have insisted on going with him but Ayodhya needed someone to pursue day to day administration. So the episode of Rama going to forest was conducted when Bharata was with his maternal uncle along with Shatrughna. Lakshman was at Ayodhya and no one could persuade him to stay back. Sita also insisted on going with Sri Rama and She went. Being in forest in a way indicates that he could contact any one he chooses but no one can contact him nor find him. This advantage also was with Sri Rama. In jungles, Vanaras and Raakshasas were interested in knowing the whereabouts of Sri rama. Ravana Even tried to make alliances by proposing his sister Shoorpanakha with Sri Rama. Sri Rama by that time had assessed the strengths and weaknesses (political fissures) of raakshasas and then rejected the proposal. He not only refused the proposal but even defaced shoorpanakha to confirm his enemity with Ravana. Ravana was then brought to a level of high rage and anger. To initiate the action of final war to cause final showdown Ravana uses Maarich to delude Rama and Lakshmana to kidnap Sita. It is hard to believe that Sri Rama could not guess the tactics of Ravana and maarich but he allowed getting into the trap ( as Sri rama could recognize Shoorpnakha all through her artificial beauty) It is equally unbelievable that Sita who renounced all regality while coming  to forest from Ayodhya shows fondness to golden colour of the deer. Further it is intriguing piece of information that Sita, devoid of all her jewellery left by her while leaving Ayodhya had many ornaments to drop on the way (all the way) from place of kidnapping upto kanykumari seashore where Jatayu was waiting. Also the physical difference in power between Sita and Ravana can be understood by the detail that the Shiva-Dhanushya kept as a condition in Swayamwar was a childhood toy for sita and Ravana could not even lift the same. With no possibiity could Ravana or any other enforce a physical kidnap.Reality may be that with full knowledge, Rama, Lakshmana, and Sita played into the hands of Ravana and Maarich to set stage for full enemity and confirmation of war. Maneuvers with other parties now could be done with clarity of positions.

Sri Rama later made full use of sitas kidnapping/abduction to get to the side of sugreeva and other kings as well as the public. For Bibheeshan, the abduction of Sita by his brother served as the last straw on the camel back and he made his side clear- left Ravana and joined Sri Rama.

Sri Rama observed in Vaanaras that they prefer a dual rather than a war so he induces Vali and Sugreeva  for a dual. Here more than temporal justice, Rama showed wisdom of destruction of evil. He was to kill Vali and he did so. Also, With the dual, Killing of other vaanaras who were to help him in War against Ravana, were saved. It was not the case with Raakshasas. He wanted to kill as many as possible. Raakshasas were troubling vaanaras. Now with Sri Rama to their side the rift widened to show up openly after death of Vali (who was having truce with Ravana)

During the Vali and Sugreeva dual, it is said that both were identical. Sugreeva then made a small difference of one small garland. In the dual when sri rama was to put an arrow, physically the chance was 50-50%. May be His arrow only served as a toss which went in favor of Sugreeva. It caused great joy to vaanaras, who then helped Sri rama. By giving back the kingdom to sugreeva, Sri Rama won the hearts of all vaanaras. Similarly after killing Ravana he enthroned Bhibhishana thereby winning hearts of Rakshasas as well.

SriRama in case of Sita did not show any attitude of for or against sita being with him.public opinion in such matters is always the same. So at Ayodhya in presence of all, sita was led to forest by lakshman who alighted her at a point where she could easily/surely reach valmiki ashram.

Sri Ram came to know the powers of Shiva, which aided the raakshasas. He had, through janaka, must have done discussions with shivites and finally worshipped Shiva to dissociate Shaivas from Ravana in particular and rakshasas in general.

Sri rama  and 3 of his brothers along with hanuman show the highest order of intelligence, power and morals, succeeding in political and marital maneuvers to bring in success to good people and destruction of bad people for world to emulate.

Sri Ram is fully adorable. Sita Was set alone by Sri rama. She was given Shelter by Valmiki and same Valmiki is all in praise of Sri Rama. He writes an epic, teaches it to Sri Ramas sons in presence of Sita. Boys Sing Sri Rama Charita and Describe Rama as fully right.