Very often elders try to teach the Itihasas and stories of Puranas to kids and end-up facing a lot of difficulty in answering their questions. The reason for this is not that kids are intelligent (ofcourse they are), but because elders have not learnt their own lessons from these itihasas and stories themselves. Without having learnt anything themselves, they try to be transmitter of moral values.
Actually this attitude of elders have resulted in kids and younger generations loosing interest in learning from our dharmic values. This has gone on successively for several centuries now.
I keep writing for kids often. My brother compiles some of them and publishes a small home-printed booklet on the occasion of my his daughter's birthday and distributes it to her class. The idea is elders will get to read them as well and can help their children as well as themselves learn and appreciate the value systems our dharma teaches us.
Here is an excerpt from it, on the topic "Why we worship Ram and Hanuman..?"
Worship - To Invoke and Inspire
Worship in the Vedic dharma is to get the divine inspiration from the characteristics of that Devatha in us. Vedas talk about several divine forces such as Atma, Purusha, Amba, Indra, Adityas, Rudras, Vishnu etc that guide and evolve the Universe and its intelligence.
During the vedic times several of these divine forces were extolled to invoke their power in us so that we evolve further in our intelligence, way of living and become capable of solving the challenges we face
Why do we worship Ram..? - To abide by our laws ever
Ram visits Dasarath on Dasaraths’ request on the eve of his coronation ceremony. Ram was naturally all smiles and happy and goes along with Lakshman to meet Dasarath. When Dasarath orders Ram to be banished to forest for fourteen years, Valmiki writes that Ram with the same smile and happiness asks Dasarath “When do I start..?”.
A person who has been expecting to become a King next day is asked to go to forest for fourteen years. His smile does not change. The question he asks is “When do I start”. This just means that Ram treated his Father’s word as his duty and responsibility. As being a King was a task assigned to him by his Father, going to forest is also a task. He is ready to carry out the King’s order with same happiness.
He just follows the Law, which in those days was the King’s order. How many of us, the so-called Ram Bhakt’s follow our own laws?
Think.
That’s why we need to worship Ram and invoke him in us. To emulate Ram as a law abiding citizen at all times.
Why do we worship Ram..? - To get the power to fight our own battles
Hanuman introduces Ram to Sugriv. Ram at that time was in dire-straits having lost his wife. He is searching for her desparately. Sugriv tells Ram that if Ram helps him win over Bali his brother, then he will use the forces at his disposal to search for Sita.
Ram neither knew Sugriv or Bali at that time. He had no other option but to accept the friendship and the deal. Ram had to help sugriv kill Bali. Ram cannot fight Bali on behalf of Sugriv, for it is Sugriv’s fight and not Ram’s. Assuming Ram fights Bali and Ram wins, it is Ram who owns the Kishkinda along with wives of Bali.
Remember even in the fight with Ravana later, it is Ram who fights with Ravan and not Sugriv or Hanuman. In fact Hanuman does not carry back Sita, as it is Ram’s fight with Ravan. So Ram was forced to fight Bali without facing him, which was against the dharma.
In essence, in life, we have to fight our own battles. We have to make difficult choices.
Why do we worship Ram..? - To make the right choices
Dharma is clear that discreetly aiming an arrow on one person when two people are fighting amongst themselves is wrong. Ram is torn between devil and the deep-sea. If he does not help Sugriv, he cannot proceed. If he helps Sugriv, he goes against the dharma.
Ram chooses a third, via-media option. Sastras are clear that if an arrow shot by an archer crosses seven trees and land on a person and still kills him, then that archer is not responsible for death of that person.
This is so because an arrow shot by an archer may kill an unintended person. Even in that case that archer is responsible for death. Hence the stipulation not just one or two, only if seven trees are crossed then the archer is NOT responsible for death. This will make sure that archers use their arrows carefully as the sastra makes an accidental death by arrow difficult.
Thus Sastras are to elaborate the Dharma and give clear-cut guidelines for people to follow the dharma. If Dharma is our judicial system, Sastras are the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
Why do we worship Ram..? - To remember how the dharma operates
Ram uses this sastra (IPC of his times) as a loophole and shoots an arrow that crosses seven trees before it hits Bali. Doing so would have had lot of risks. The arrow may not hit Bali or injure him significantly at all, but would alert him to Ram , in which case Ram is in danger. This option is much riskier than simply shooting down Bali, which is against the dharma and sastra.
Ram chooses this option with all the risks in it, as he did not want to violate dharma and sastra together. It does not mean Ram was not at mistake. After Bali’s death, Ram feels ashamed of his act. He begs pardon to Bali.
Still Ram could not escape Dharma. Dharma hit back at Ram. As Bali was hit by an uarrow that came from nowhere, Ram was hit from words that came from nowhere in his society and never could live with Sita. The Sita for whom Ram went against the dharma could not live with him and Ram lived a bachelor most part of his life, even after the victory over Ravana.
Why do we worship Ram..? - To never repeat our mistakes again
Again, when Ram and Ravana faced off in the final battle, there was a moment in which Ravana was left without arms and armor. This was the moment that Ram was hoping for. It was the moment he could regain his love, lost prestige, glory and kingdom. All the bloodshed and sufferings will come to an end with one arrow. May be if Ravana survived that battle, he would come back with double vigor and Ram may even loose his life.
But that’s the time Ram’s sense of dharma prevailed. He could keep his mind calm even at that moment. He let down his bow not to aim at a person without arms or armor. He has already commited a sin. He was not ready to commit more. He let his bow down to ask Ravana to come back next day.
We need to live like Ram. Follow the dharma at all times. At times when we are forced to veer off dharma, atleast follow the Sastras. And never repeat that mistake again in our life. And be rest assured for whatever mistakes we committed, we will get them back, for there is no pardon, no escape in real life.
We worship Ram to invoke those attributes of Ram in us. Take pains to follow the dharma and if we veer off, do according to Sastras and never repeat that mistake again, even if it means risking the life.
Why do we worship Hanuman - To Realize the Inner power
Hanuman was a meek monkey according to Valmiki. Hanuman sincerely wanted to help Sugriv. He does whatever he could towards that.
Hanuman’s transformation happens when they were searching for Sita. Having to cross a huge ocean that they have never seen before in their life, the group of monkeys (or primates) were resigned to fate of futility.
That’s where Jambavan stepped in and propped up Hanuman. That was the transforming moment for Hanuman. Not just that Hanuman realized the physical prowess in him, but Hanuman became more astute, courageous and confident. From that moment there was no stopping of Hanuman. He could do anything.
We can see this Hanuman moment in many of us, in our life. A moment that transforms us, brings out our inner persona forever.
So many sports players, politicians, businessmen have their Hanuman moment in which they get transformed into someone else. Their inner persona comes out in full force and nothing can stop their march from then on.
Why do we worship Hanuman..? - To invoke the prowess of wind
When Hanuman is called Vayu-Putra or Pavan –Putra it does not mean Hanuman was born to Vayu. It means Hanuman had the prowess of the Wind. What is the prowess of Wind..? It is so gentle at one time and at another moment it uproots trees and topples mountains. Wind is humble and powerful at the same time.
No wonder Hanuman is said to inherit the characteristic of Vayu.
Why do we worship Hanuman..? - To realize the Hanuman moment
We worship Lord Hanuman to invoke Lord Hanuman in us. We want to realize the inner power like Hanuman was able to. We want to remain humble in-spite of that power. Hanuman is our inspiration on how a meek looking monkey (like ourself) can become a Superman (Like Hanuman)
In short, we need to look for our Hanuman moment to transform ourself every moment.
-TBT
Actually this attitude of elders have resulted in kids and younger generations loosing interest in learning from our dharmic values. This has gone on successively for several centuries now.
I keep writing for kids often. My brother compiles some of them and publishes a small home-printed booklet on the occasion of my his daughter's birthday and distributes it to her class. The idea is elders will get to read them as well and can help their children as well as themselves learn and appreciate the value systems our dharma teaches us.
Here is an excerpt from it, on the topic "Why we worship Ram and Hanuman..?"
Worship - To Invoke and Inspire
Worship in the Vedic dharma is to get the divine inspiration from the characteristics of that Devatha in us. Vedas talk about several divine forces such as Atma, Purusha, Amba, Indra, Adityas, Rudras, Vishnu etc that guide and evolve the Universe and its intelligence.
During the vedic times several of these divine forces were extolled to invoke their power in us so that we evolve further in our intelligence, way of living and become capable of solving the challenges we face
Why do we worship Ram..? - To abide by our laws ever
Ram visits Dasarath on Dasaraths’ request on the eve of his coronation ceremony. Ram was naturally all smiles and happy and goes along with Lakshman to meet Dasarath. When Dasarath orders Ram to be banished to forest for fourteen years, Valmiki writes that Ram with the same smile and happiness asks Dasarath “When do I start..?”.
A person who has been expecting to become a King next day is asked to go to forest for fourteen years. His smile does not change. The question he asks is “When do I start”. This just means that Ram treated his Father’s word as his duty and responsibility. As being a King was a task assigned to him by his Father, going to forest is also a task. He is ready to carry out the King’s order with same happiness.
He just follows the Law, which in those days was the King’s order. How many of us, the so-called Ram Bhakt’s follow our own laws?
Think.
That’s why we need to worship Ram and invoke him in us. To emulate Ram as a law abiding citizen at all times.
Why do we worship Ram..? - To get the power to fight our own battles
Hanuman introduces Ram to Sugriv. Ram at that time was in dire-straits having lost his wife. He is searching for her desparately. Sugriv tells Ram that if Ram helps him win over Bali his brother, then he will use the forces at his disposal to search for Sita.
Ram neither knew Sugriv or Bali at that time. He had no other option but to accept the friendship and the deal. Ram had to help sugriv kill Bali. Ram cannot fight Bali on behalf of Sugriv, for it is Sugriv’s fight and not Ram’s. Assuming Ram fights Bali and Ram wins, it is Ram who owns the Kishkinda along with wives of Bali.
Remember even in the fight with Ravana later, it is Ram who fights with Ravan and not Sugriv or Hanuman. In fact Hanuman does not carry back Sita, as it is Ram’s fight with Ravan. So Ram was forced to fight Bali without facing him, which was against the dharma.
In essence, in life, we have to fight our own battles. We have to make difficult choices.
Why do we worship Ram..? - To make the right choices
Dharma is clear that discreetly aiming an arrow on one person when two people are fighting amongst themselves is wrong. Ram is torn between devil and the deep-sea. If he does not help Sugriv, he cannot proceed. If he helps Sugriv, he goes against the dharma.
Ram chooses a third, via-media option. Sastras are clear that if an arrow shot by an archer crosses seven trees and land on a person and still kills him, then that archer is not responsible for death of that person.
This is so because an arrow shot by an archer may kill an unintended person. Even in that case that archer is responsible for death. Hence the stipulation not just one or two, only if seven trees are crossed then the archer is NOT responsible for death. This will make sure that archers use their arrows carefully as the sastra makes an accidental death by arrow difficult.
Thus Sastras are to elaborate the Dharma and give clear-cut guidelines for people to follow the dharma. If Dharma is our judicial system, Sastras are the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
Why do we worship Ram..? - To remember how the dharma operates
Ram uses this sastra (IPC of his times) as a loophole and shoots an arrow that crosses seven trees before it hits Bali. Doing so would have had lot of risks. The arrow may not hit Bali or injure him significantly at all, but would alert him to Ram , in which case Ram is in danger. This option is much riskier than simply shooting down Bali, which is against the dharma and sastra.
Ram chooses this option with all the risks in it, as he did not want to violate dharma and sastra together. It does not mean Ram was not at mistake. After Bali’s death, Ram feels ashamed of his act. He begs pardon to Bali.
Still Ram could not escape Dharma. Dharma hit back at Ram. As Bali was hit by an uarrow that came from nowhere, Ram was hit from words that came from nowhere in his society and never could live with Sita. The Sita for whom Ram went against the dharma could not live with him and Ram lived a bachelor most part of his life, even after the victory over Ravana.
Why do we worship Ram..? - To never repeat our mistakes again
Again, when Ram and Ravana faced off in the final battle, there was a moment in which Ravana was left without arms and armor. This was the moment that Ram was hoping for. It was the moment he could regain his love, lost prestige, glory and kingdom. All the bloodshed and sufferings will come to an end with one arrow. May be if Ravana survived that battle, he would come back with double vigor and Ram may even loose his life.
But that’s the time Ram’s sense of dharma prevailed. He could keep his mind calm even at that moment. He let down his bow not to aim at a person without arms or armor. He has already commited a sin. He was not ready to commit more. He let his bow down to ask Ravana to come back next day.
We need to live like Ram. Follow the dharma at all times. At times when we are forced to veer off dharma, atleast follow the Sastras. And never repeat that mistake again in our life. And be rest assured for whatever mistakes we committed, we will get them back, for there is no pardon, no escape in real life.
We worship Ram to invoke those attributes of Ram in us. Take pains to follow the dharma and if we veer off, do according to Sastras and never repeat that mistake again, even if it means risking the life.
Why do we worship Hanuman - To Realize the Inner power
Hanuman was a meek monkey according to Valmiki. Hanuman sincerely wanted to help Sugriv. He does whatever he could towards that.
Hanuman’s transformation happens when they were searching for Sita. Having to cross a huge ocean that they have never seen before in their life, the group of monkeys (or primates) were resigned to fate of futility.
That’s where Jambavan stepped in and propped up Hanuman. That was the transforming moment for Hanuman. Not just that Hanuman realized the physical prowess in him, but Hanuman became more astute, courageous and confident. From that moment there was no stopping of Hanuman. He could do anything.
We can see this Hanuman moment in many of us, in our life. A moment that transforms us, brings out our inner persona forever.
So many sports players, politicians, businessmen have their Hanuman moment in which they get transformed into someone else. Their inner persona comes out in full force and nothing can stop their march from then on.
Why do we worship Hanuman..? - To invoke the prowess of wind
When Hanuman is called Vayu-Putra or Pavan –Putra it does not mean Hanuman was born to Vayu. It means Hanuman had the prowess of the Wind. What is the prowess of Wind..? It is so gentle at one time and at another moment it uproots trees and topples mountains. Wind is humble and powerful at the same time.
No wonder Hanuman is said to inherit the characteristic of Vayu.
Why do we worship Hanuman..? - To realize the Hanuman moment
We worship Lord Hanuman to invoke Lord Hanuman in us. We want to realize the inner power like Hanuman was able to. We want to remain humble in-spite of that power. Hanuman is our inspiration on how a meek looking monkey (like ourself) can become a Superman (Like Hanuman)
In short, we need to look for our Hanuman moment to transform ourself every moment.
-TBT
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