"Sri Ram" is not an ordinary word! It means something more than what is described by Sage Valmiki in the great epic Ramayana. It has mythological, as well as ancient historical, background. It is actually a history of the Treta Yuga! It is well known that God descends to Earth to restore dharma whenever people become unruly, selfish and disregard the dharmic way of life! This is told in the Gita by none other than the Lord Sri Krishna. So, Ramachandra appeared as an incarnation of Vishnu, as the son of King Dasharatha in Ayodhya at the end of treta yuga. In fact, King Dasharatha was performing daily puja of Lord Rama since he belonged to Ikshvaku dynasty. So, he gave the name of Ramachandra to his child! Thus, 'Sri Ram' is actually the Sun God Vivasvan, an incarnation of Vishnu. He appeared as an avatara (incarnation) in the form of a blessed child in the family of King of ayodhya.
The meaning and purport of the term 'Ram' is very sacred and a secret, as well. Let us remember the ancient history of King Dasharatha of Ayodhya Kingdom. King Dasharatha had Kaushalya, Soumitra, and Kaikeyi as maharani, the Royal Queens. Ramachandra and his brothers were born after the putrakameshti yajnya conducted on the advise of Sage Vsishtha. It is stated that Agni Deva (Fire God) gave havis (rice with sweetened milk) to the King asking him to give it to his wives. Queen Kaushalya gave birth to Ramachandra, Queen Kaikeyi gave birth to Bharata and Queen Sumitra gave birth to Lakshmana and Shatrughna.
It is common understanding that Kikeyi was interested in her son becoming the king and aked the King to send Rama on exile, It is not to put her son Bharata on the throne, but to enable Rama to see the countryside and learn about the conditions prevailing at that time! Actually, Kaikeyi was very fond of the beautiful child Ramachandra, and seems to be intuitionally aware of divine incarnation! She was in charge of the household as Kaushalya was busy in the management of the Palace and looking after the guests. Sages who visited the palace had a notion that the child Ramachandra is the Seventh Incarnation (avatara) of Lord Vishnu. The Court astrologer told the King Dasharatha that Ramachandra, the first-born, is a divine incarnation and would rule the entire world, not just Ayodhya!
Kaikeyi loved Rama so much that she wanted this young boy to travel icognito and study the life of people before taking up the responsibility as a king. So she planned the exile! It is not the greed to put her son on the throne but to enable Ramachandra to be a perfect ruer! She was fond of Rama as a child and knew the divine incarnation, as it were! Part of the credit to Rama's name and fame goes to her!
King Dasharatha ws sad and died soon after Rama left Ayodhya. Ramachandra was not present at the time of death of King Dasharatha and he was found performng the last rites of Jatayu! Lakshmana had to look after the Kingdom as the King, when Rama was exiled. But he was so sad and forlorn that he refused to accept the offer and left to forest with his brother. Thus, Bharata came to be the reluctant King. He too was sad and he accepted to rule the Kingdom on behalf of his eldest brother, keeping the paduka (of Ramachandra) on the throne.
Birth of Ram is narrated in Valmiki Ramayana. Many others have written Ramayana in their own way! Valmiki Ramayana narrates that Dasharatha conducted many rituals, yajnya, yaga, havan and homa on the advise of sages saints and sadhus. Sage Vasishtha advised putrakameshti yajnya. Thus, the Gods were happy and blessed the King and Ramachandra was born. Ramayana (Bala Kanda) gives the date of birth of Ramachandra. He was born under mithuna rashi (Gemini) and punarvasu nakshatra. (navami shukla paksha of chaitra masa) on January 10, 5114 BCE.
'Rama Rajya' is a beautiful concept. It is one of equity and justice. It is one of dharma. The extent of the rule of Rama was so wide and known so well starting from Ramses in Western Eurasia to 'Rama' in Thailand. It is even today a model, an ideology, a gospel to emulate!
(...to be contd.)
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