Think Tank

<object style=”height: 390px; width: 640px” width=”640″ height=”390″>

A friend asked: “Why do we worship Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Ganesha together on a Diwali night?” Or for that matter, on any other day. I understood that in her opinion there was absolutely no reason why Goddess of wealth, Lakshmi couldn’t be worshipped alone as a single deity. She also wanted to know if [...]

There are lots of prevalent confusions about Hindu gods and goddesses. A majority of those are confusions because absurd interpretations have been repeated for centuries now; while the corrections are few and muted. The righteous becomes introvert; while the empty-vessels keep making sounds – is one eternal law of nature. And when we have had [...]

What can be more beautiful in this world than Sita and Ram?

In his article titled “I am not a Statistic”, (ET, 11 Feb 2011), Devdutt Pattanaik writes a wonderful episode with a very nice lesson for all of us to learn. I think this lesson is only a drop from the ocean of Ramayana.  
The bridge was being built across the sea. This would enable Ram’s army [...]

I have a friend who has a Christian name though he comes from near my hometown where almost no Christians live. Still this guy has installed Ram Sita pictures, burnt incense sticks and worshipped every morning (which even I didn’t do daily), did Yoga often in the evening and celebrated Diwali in full spirits. I [...]

Perhaps the only Indian (self-proclaimed) Atheist I have read properly is Khushwant Singh. But when I read what he wrote about the great Indian epic of Ramayana and its place in our society, I loved all his words. Here is it:  
Lessons from Ramayana 
It could be said that Indian children start imbibing the Ramayana with their [...]

Throughout our childhood, we learn so many lessons taught to us by means of stories. Often such stories contain our gods and hence they leave maximum impact on our minds. Here is a small portion of a legend, retold by Devdutt Pattanaik, explaining the concept of our insatiable want: 
Kubera, the king of Yakshas, is the [...]

It is interesting to note how Devdutt Pattanaik evaluates Bhisma’s role vis-a-vis the ideal role during the Ramayana times:  
1) Family more important than Kingdom for Bhisma: In the Ramayana, the kingdom of Ayodhya is more important than Raghu-kula, the family that govern it. In the Mahabharata, the Kuru-kula family is more important than the kingdom [...]

Reproducing a part from the book which I believe all of us should read and understand: 
Now, a word to those of our times who read Raamayana and Bhaarata and other Puraanas. In these works, there are frequent references to Devas and Raakshasas. The latter were wicked, had no regard for dharma, and revelled in evil [...]

Leaving the body when purpose is over 
At two places in Ramayana, I found instances of rishis entering into fire in order to get them free from their bodies. But in both the cases, they were very sure about their purpose having finished, after years of penances and collecting strength through Yoga. The same is not [...]

When Hanuman ji went to Lanka, he saw the city and its people. He also checked Raavana’s army. Ramayana describes at one place like this:  
All the warriors were clad in armour. Some where handsome, some ugly, complexions varied from fair through brown to black. Some figures were very tall, others very short. Thus Hanumaan saw [...]

Ramayana can be taken in many ways, but I think it’s also a love story. It’s a love story of a prince who had to be separated from his wife when already banished from his kingdom and then he fights with evil forces and hardships to find and regain his love. When Seeta was abducted [...]

Fate is weird. We would never be able to understand fully, why things happened the way they happened. The author describes it in a wonderful paragraph when Kaikeyi’s mind was changed by evil minded Manthara: 
And, yet, as Dasaratha told Raama, even the purest of minds is mutable. When fate conspires with bad counsel, any one [...]

Fate and Karma 
Life is weird. At one point, the author describes the unfortunate end of the mighty and righteous king Dashratha:  
As described by Valmeeki in the early page of the epic, Dasaratha was one who had mastered all the Vedas and Shaastras, was a farsighted person, the hero of many battles, the performer of many [...]

When Hindus die, their children offer shraadha to them and do some rituals for the peace of the departed souls. I found reference to a similar gesture when Raama came to know about Dahsaratha’s death: 
The princes, with Seeta and Sumantra went to the river and offered libations for the peace of the departed soul of [...]

Ram killed the vaanara king Vaali while hiding behind a tree. He had to do so, because Vaali had got a boon from Indra which gave him power to absorb the strength of his opponent when seen in sight. Therefore Raama had no choice but to kill him while not being seen himself. Vaali as [...]

Wrong Path is Easier 
It is often understood that the wrong path is easier, to attain a short-term goal. Students cheating in exams can pass easily, while those who rely on their own have to give in months of hard labour. One can get his work done by bribing the authorities, but the one who doesn’t [...]

If Only 
There is a very interesting episode when Hanuman ji goes to Lanka. He is captured and brought in front of Ravana. What he sees, is described below:  
Clad in silk of golden hue, with the royal crown on his head, the jewels inlaid in it shining brilliantly, Raavana sat there, a figure of dazzling splendour. [...]

Ordinary VS Higher Morality 
Kumbhakarna, a brother of Ravana, didn’t approve of Ravana’s act of abducting Seeta. He believed that if Ravana wanted revenge of Lakshamana’s insult to Rakshasi princess Surpanakha, he should have challenged Rama and Lakshamana personally and fought a one-on-one battle to avenge. But when Ravana sees danger ahead and asks Kumbhakarna for [...]