Dussehra 2020

“The mighty Rama, who possessed extraordinary strength, consecrating in accordance with the mantras prescribed in the Vedas, taking that great arrow – which was capable of removing the fears of the entire world and the Ikshvaku dynasty, capable of taking away the glory of His enemies, and conducive to His own happiness – fixed it on His bow.” (Valmiki Ramayana, Yuddha Kand, 108.13-14)

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तमुत्तमेषुम् लोकानामिक्ष्वाकुभयनाशनम् |
द्विषतां कीर्तिहरणम् प्रहर्षकरमात्मनः ||
अभिमन्त्र्य ततो रामस्तं महेषुं महाबलः |
वेदप्रोक्तेन विधिना संदधे कार्मुके बली ||

tamuttameṣum lokānāmikṣvākubhayanāśanam |
dviṣatāṃ kīrtiharaṇam praharṣakaramātmanaḥ ||
abhimantrya tato rāmastaṃ maheṣuṃ mahābalaḥ |
vedaproktena vidhinā saṃdadhe kārmuke balī ||

It’s your birthday. A significant occasion on the annual calendar, at least until you reach adulthood and have to worry about dependents. You always look forward to this day since your parents rarely purchase anything meaningful for you; at least in your eyes.

A toy once a year. No getting spoiled. While the neighborhood children clean up on Christmas, with a giant wish-list guaranteed to be fulfilled, you are not afforded the same luxury. Whatever you receive on this particular day has to last the entire year. Make it count.

Imagine, then, that after opening the gift box inside you find a gun. A weapon to be used in combat. The initial reaction is shock. What in the world are you going to do with this? Is it even legal for someone so young to possess one of these? You have no desire whatsoever to go out into the wild and shoot at innocent animals. Maybe it could be used in self-defense at home, but that was never a primary interest to you. You would rather call the police in times of disturbance.

On the occasion of Dussehra, we celebrate the prince of Ayodhya, the sun of the solar dynasty, receiving a most powerful weapon as a gift. This was an arrow, but not ordinary in the least. It somehow had every element of the creation inside of it. Wind certainly helped, as it could course swiftly through the sky.

Fire, for sure. Reach the target and cause ultimate devastation. The comparison in the Ramayana is to a hissing snake. One of the ogres living in Lanka made a similar observation in a previous encounter with the recipient of this new arrow.

नैव देवा महात्मानो नात्र कार्या विचारणा।
शरा रामेण तूत्सृष्टा रुक्मपुङ्खाः पतत्रिणः।।
सर्पाः पञ्चानना भूत्वा भक्षयन्ति स्म राक्षसान्।
येन येन च गच्छन्ति राक्षसा भयकर्शिताः।
तेन तेन स्म पश्यन्ति राममेवाग्रतः स्थितम्।
इत्थं विनाशितं तेन जनस्थानं तवानघ।।

naiva devā mahātmāno nātra kāryā vicāraṇā।
śarā rāmeṇa tūtsṛṣṭā rukmapuṅkhāḥ patatriṇaḥ।।
sarpāḥ pañcānanā bhūtvā bhakṣayanti sma rākṣasān।
yena yena ca gacchanti rākṣasā bhayakarśitāḥ।
tena tena sma paśyanti rāmamevāgrataḥ sthitam।
itthaṃ vināśitaṃ tena janasthānaṃ tavānagha।।

“Neither the demigods nor any exalted personalities were there helping Rama, for He acted alone. You should not entertain any doubt on this matter. Indeed, Rama shot feathered arrows, plated with gold, which turned into five-headed serpents that devoured all the Rakshasas. The Rakshasas were oppressed with fear, and wherever they went and wherever they turned, they saw Rama in front of them. In this way, O spotless one, have your Rakshasas been destroyed in the forest of Janasthana by Rama.” (Akampana speaking to Ravana, Valmiki Ramayana, Aranya Kand, 31.18-19)

The same Rama who had thwarted the fourteen thousand Rakshasas attacking simultaneously was now ready to deliver the final blow of justice to Ravana, the leader of the man-eaters in Lanka. The weapon of choice would be this arrow received as a gift from Brahma, the creator, with Agastya Rishi as the conduit.

Shri Rama is an avatara of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who otherwise has nothing to do. The Supreme Lord rests in a peaceful state in the spiritual realm, breathing in and out, which in turn creates and destroys innumerable universes.

The population of souls, which are eternally existing, come and go from the various realms, given their specific temporary residences through the work of Brahma, the creator. There is the system of action and reaction, karma, which operates on the material nature, prakriti, with the changes delivered by time, kala.

Bhagavan, which is another name for the personal God, is an overseer, but He generally does not interfere. Not unless specifically requested, like so with the Rama avatara. This time the Supreme descended as a handsome warrior prince, ready to defend the innocent against attack.

While as a child there is the potential to receive gifts incompatible to your nature, the Supreme Lord can take any gift offered in love and devotion and make proper use. He is more than pleased, though He requires no assistance to carry out tasks.

यत् करोषि यद् अश्नासि
यज् जुहोषि ददासि यत्
यत् तपस्यसि कौन्तेय
तत् कुरुष्व मद्-अर्पणम्

yat karoṣi yad aśnāsi
yaj juhoṣi dadāsi yat
yat tapasyasi kaunteya
tat kuruṣva mad-arpaṇam

“O son of Kunti, all that you do, all that you eat, all that you offer and give away, as well as all austerities that you may perform, should be done as an offering unto Me.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 9.27)

Shri Rama placed the arrow given by Brahma and was ready to fire. The arrow wouldn’t work so easily. It had to be activated, using special mantras. Rama was expert in that field, externally receiving training from spiritual teachers.

Upon release, the arrow destroyed Ravana and his reign of terror. Brahma and Agastya received some of the credit; they shared in the triumph of the Almighty, who is never defeated. He is known as Ajita because the asura class is always measuring themselves against Him, and they always come up short.

In Closing:

Arrow as gift to receive,
From Brahma’s work to conceive.

When towards enemy to send,
Their reign of terror to end.

Shri Rama happily accepting,
Through mantras projecting.

So that world celebrating still,
Work of demigods to fulfill.

Should We Build Temples Or Publish Books

“If such money is utilized by unqualified spiritual masters to live comfortably in costly temples without actually doing any preaching work, this is not acceptable. In other words, a spiritual master needn't be very enthusiastic for constructing temple buildings simply in the name of so-called spiritual advancement. Rather, his first and foremost activity should be to preach. In this connection, Shrila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Gosvami Maharaj recommended that a spiritual master print books. If one has money, instead of constructing costly temples, one should spend his money for the publication of authorized books in different languages for propagating the Krishna consciousness movement.” (The Nectar of Devotion, Ch 7)

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Friend1: There is an interesting anecdote from the life of one of the founding fathers of the United States of America that serves as an ideal candidate for philosophical discussion.

Friend2: Which founding father? On what grounds? They were quite philosophical, from what I’ve read. It seems they tried their best to come up with an ideal form of government, one that was free from the pitfalls and dangers that they had personally experienced.

Friend1: Such as taxation without representation.

Friend2: Where a foreign government tells you how to live. An autocratic ruler who doesn’t value the input of the citizens in any way.

Friend1: Before we continue, do you think they succeeded?

Friend2: In creating the ideal government?

Friend1: Yes.

Friend2: Well, are people happy? Is there no corruption? Are innocent people kept out of jail? Are the most dishonest in society kept out of leadership positions? Last I checked, there is a growing movement to get rid of police. Of what other purpose is there for government if not to protect the innocent from injury?

Friend1: It’s a failure, then.

Friend2: A noble effort, indeed. You want to give power to the people instead of concentrating it in one person. But if the people are corrupt, if they don’t know right from wrong, if they are like thieves, then the result of the voting process can be worse than if you had a single person in control of everything.

Friend1: Yeah, that’s true. You’re ending up with the same situation you tried to avoid. The exercise of the freedom you desperately wanted codified ended up creating tyranny.

Friend2: What was that incident with the founding father?

Friend1: Oh, from the life of Benjamin Franklin. I forget the exact details, but there was some local government that wanted to build a church in his honor. I guess to be named after him or something.

Friend2: I see.

Friend1: Benjamin Franklin asked that a library be built instead. He thought it would better serve the people in the future.

Friend2: That is interesting. Because he was against religion?

Friend1: To me, that is an incorrect assessment. I think he was very religious. He tried vegetarianism in his youth. He believed in the individual having multiple lives. But these ideas were revolutionary at the time, where he lived. He didn’t like the hypocrisy of the religious leaders around him.

Friend2: Seems like those issues never go away.

Friend1: It’s a thought experiment, though. What is better? Temples or books? If we have some money, which path is better for pleasing the Supreme Personality of Godhead?

Friend2: Devotion is devotion. Not every person will exercise it in the same way. It is God’s assessment which matters most. The temple does offer a place for people to congregate. Like a meeting house for a club or association. A home-base for activities to be devised, for schemes to take birth and be enacted.

Friend1: Obviously, those are the benefits of a temple. But then you have the downside. People living there for free. Just light a few lamps a day, wear the right clothing, and then be set for life. No more working. No more pressures of the real world.

Friend2: Sure. The unqualified spiritual leaders.

Friend1: Whereas the published book can reach so many people. If it just sits in a bookshelf somewhere, you never know who might read it.

Friend2: This was the opinion of His Divine Grace Shrila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura. Keep in mind that in his preaching work there were so many temples built. But he preferred book publication. The Sanskrit term was brihad-mridanga. The large drum.

Friend1: Because of the reach?

Friend2: You play a concert somewhere and the sound might reach the neighbors. If you publish a book, it could reach across the entire world. The effect is lasting. It is like taking the association of the saintly person, whose focus is describing and serving the Supreme Lord, and replicating it to every person in need.

Friend1: That is a nice way of putting it.

Friend2: You could say the Vedas themselves are the first form of book publication. It was through sound, the shrutis, passed on in a continuing tradition. The written volumes which came later are too many to count. This is because Krishna’s glories are endless. We can always find something authorized to add to the content, which can be shared with others and help rescue those in need, who are mired in illusion.

In Closing:

Maybe with temple to build,
Daily on Sunday filled.

With people wanting more,
Praying heavenly life for.

Or publishing book to read,
And fulfilling greater need.

Like larger drum with further reach,
Superior way Vedanta to preach.

Aren't We All In God's Waiting Room

“For one who has taken his birth, death is certain; and for one who is dead, birth is certain. Therefore, in the unavoidable discharge of your duty, you should not lament.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 2.27)

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जातस्य हि ध्रुवो मृत्युर्
ध्रुवं जन्म मृतस्य च
तस्माद् अपरिहार्ये ऽर्थे
न त्वं शोचितुम् अर्हसि

jātasya hi dhruvo mṛtyur
dhruvaṁ janma mṛtasya ca
tasmād aparihārye 'rthe
na tvaṁ śocitum arhasi

Friend1: Have you heard of the term, “God’s waiting room”?

Friend2: Haha, yes I have.

Friend1: Do you know what it refers to?

Friend2: I think it means a retirement community or a place where a lot of older folks live.

Friend1: Yes; often referring to the state of Florida in the United States.

Friend2: Nicer weather, so a lot of people shift there to retire. Arizona, too.

Friend1: I heard the phrase recently when describing mortality rates to a particular virus. Anyway, it got me to thinking.

Friend2: About?

Friend1: Time. Kala, as it is known in Sanskrit. This is one of the five major themes of Bhagavad-gita.

Friend2: Kala operates on every person. It is what delivers the changes resulting from karma. It integrates with prakriti, the material nature, which covers the individual soul, jiva.

Friend1: Where Ishvara manages the whole system.

Friend2: And Ishvara is the generic term for the Almighty. The closest equivalent to the English word “God.”

Friend1: I was thinking that the term could refer to every person, not just the elderly. I mean to say, aren’t we all in God’s waiting room, so to speak?

Friend2: That is an astute observation. Of course, we are.

Friend1: Because as soon as you are born, the clock starts ticking.

Friend2: Death is certain for the person who is born, which is confirmed by Shri Krishna in Bhagavad-gita.

Friend1: Such a strange reality. Those who are younger enjoy life in many ways. They don’t think about the end. The elderly are aware of it on a daily basis. The young keep thinking that it is way down the line, that old age won’t happen to them until later.

Friend2: But it will happen, nonetheless. There is no way to reverse it. Better to accept the reality seriously, today.

Friend1: Yes, but wouldn’t that make a person sad?

Friend2: Makes no difference. Also, in terms of karma you could say we are in Yamaraja’s waiting room. We don’t actually have to wait for God.

Friend1: Why not?

Friend2: Because He is always with us. He is a forever companion, living in the heart in the expansion of Supersoul, Paramatma. I don’t have to wait to see Him. I can find out the reality right now, today. In the process I could fix the many spoiled births of the past:

बिगरी जनम अनेक की सुधरै अबहीं आजु |
होहि राम को नाम जपु तुलसी तजि कुसमाजु ||

bigarī janama aneka kī sudharai abahīṃ āju |
hohi rāma ko nāma japu tulasī taji kusamāju ||

“The many past births you spoiled can be rectified right now, today, if you start chanting Shri Rama’s holy name and renounce bad association, says Tulsi.” (Dohavali, 22)

Friend1: A lot to digest there. Can you explain the Yamaraja reference?

Friend2: The god of justice. The equivalent of “judgment day”, as it is known to others. This life is preparation for the next. Every activity, good or bad, carries with it a consequence. Yamaraja is someone who reviews those activities and determines the appropriate consequences.

Friend1: How is that different from God?

Friend2: The Supreme Lord has nothing to do with karma. Even while witnessing as the Supersoul, He does not interfere with action. He is a neutral observer in that role, though He is always rooting for us to make the right decision.

Friend1: And what is that?

Friend2: Turning His direction. Become free from karma. No longer worry about Yamaraja and judgment day. Instead of thinking you are in a waiting room, realize that you can create the eternal heavenly realm around you right now. Feel as if you have died and gone to heaven. Live in the Vaikuntha atmosphere, be happy in God’s personal association, and blissfully chant the holy names: Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.

In Closing:

Why in waiting room sitting,
When destined this body quitting?

Why of judgment day to fear,
When Supreme already near?

Why the reality to deny,
When for transcendence can try?

The eternal heaven today making,
When opportunity of bhakti taking.

Why Does The Diet For A Devotee Have To Be So Restrictive

“Foods in the mode of goodness increase the duration of life, purify one's existence and give strength, health, happiness and satisfaction. Such nourishing foods are sweet, juicy, fattening and palatable. Foods that are too bitter, too sour, salty, pungent, dry and hot, are liked by people in the modes of passion. Such foods cause pain, distress, and disease. Food cooked more than three hours before being eaten, which is tasteless, stale, putrid, decomposed and unclean, is food liked by people in the mode of ignorance.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 17.8-10)

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आयुः-सत्त्व-बलारोग्य-
सुख-प्रीति-विवर्धनाः
रस्याः स्निग्धाः स्थिरा हृद्या
आहाराः सात्त्विक-प्रियाः
कट्व्-अम्ल-लवणात्य्-उष्ण-
तीक्ष्ण-रूक्ष-विदाहिनः
आहारा राजसस्येष्टा
दुःख-शोकामय-प्रदाः
यात-यामं गत-रसं
पूति पर्युषितं च यत्
उच्छिष्टम् अपि चामेध्यं
भोजनं तामस-प्रियम्

āyuḥ-sattva-balārogya-
sukha-prīti-vivardhanāḥ
rasyāḥ snigdhāḥ sthirā hṛdyā
āhārāḥ sāttvika-priyāḥ
kaṭv-amla-lavaṇāty-uṣṇa-
tīkṣṇa-rūkṣa-vidāhinaḥ
āhārā rājasasyeṣṭā
duḥkha-śokāmaya-pradāḥ
yāta-yāmaṁ gata-rasaṁ
pūti paryuṣitaṁ ca yat
ucchiṣṭam api cāmedhyaṁ
bhojanaṁ tāmasa-priyam

Friend1: I think we come across this issue a lot: no garlic and no onions.

Friend2: They will consider you to be of a particular faith and not necessarily following a way of life intended for meeting a higher purpose.

Friend1: Yeah, it would be like someone asking, “Your religion doesn’t allow you to eat onions and garlic?”

Friend2: When the reality is that religion has nothing to do with it. Being allowed to or not, we have freedom in this world. It is a choice. A conscious one. No fear of eternal damnation. Not worried about an angry God who is supposedly looking down at me disapprovingly, with his long, white beard.

Friend1: It is a voluntary decision, but the question can be lumped in with the general theme of restriction. People want to know why the person following Krishna consciousness has so many restrictions on their diet.

Friend2: We follow what the Supreme Personality of Godhead says. We try to eat foods in the mode of goodness. We try to offer everything to Him first. This removes the sinful aspect of something which can easily lead the mind astray.

Friend1: Because it is sense gratification. Even though we do need to eat.

Friend2: And we need to sleep, mate and defend. You can’t get rid of the necessities; these are required for life to continue. But you can change the nature. That is how karma transforms into bhakti.

Friend1: We start with action and reaction. Contact with nature, followed by consequence.

Friend2: Pertaining to the future development of the material body.

Friend1: Bhakti is karma-free. Same activities, but without the future consequence.

Friend2: Not that eating will suddenly stop biology. The laws of science continue, but the determinations made particularly with the end of life are different.

Friend1: The conception of life while quitting determines the nature of the next birth:

यं यं वापि स्मरन् भावं
त्यजत्य् अन्ते कलेवरम्
तं तम् एवैति कौन्तेय
सदा तद्-भाव-भावितः

yaṁ yaṁ vāpi smaran bhāvaṁ
tyajaty ante kalevaram
taṁ tam evaiti kaunteya
sadā tad-bhāva-bhāvitaḥ

“Whatever state of being one remembers when he quits his body, that state he will attain without fail.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 8.6)

Friend2: You could say that is the purpose of the entirety of restrictions. No onions and garlic is one small component.

Friend1: Okay, but isn’t that too strict? Giving up coffee. No soda pop. Why is that necessary? Caffeine seems entirely different from alcohol. You can still operate a motor vehicle. You can still read and write and think.

Friend2: The Sanskrit word is anartha. Things that are unwanted. Unnecessary. We have evidence from the childhood years. We didn’t need intoxicants of any form and we lived just fine. In one sense, Krishna consciousness is like becoming a kid again. Limitless fun.

Friend1: How is it fun to restrict the diet so severely?

Friend2: You have stumbled upon the hidden truth. The restriction is to increase your enjoyment in the bhakti process. Remove anarthas and your consciousness will be clear to focus on the all-attractive one, who is lotus-like in several features of His transcendental body. He always remains close by, and He happily accepts the offerings of His devotees, returning them as prasadam.

Friend1: That is nice, but what would you say to someone who has trouble with the restrictions?

Friend2: Who won’t have trouble? Try giving up some of these intoxicants for a single day and you will feel nature’s wrath. The revenge in the form of lethargy and strong headaches. Giving up meat and other food outside of the mode of goodness will feel like torture.

Friend1: Precisely.

Friend2: Have faith in the process. Try your best. Know that there is a positive impact. I know some people who used to love onions and garlic before and now they can’t stand the smell of them. If it accidentally shows up in their food, they notice immediately.

Friend1: And they don’t like it?

Friend2: Not at all. They developed a higher taste:

विषया विनिवर्तन्ते
निराहारस्य देहिनः
रस-वर्जं रसो ऽप्य् अस्य
परं दृष्ट्वा निवर्तते

viṣayā vinivartante
nirāhārasya dehinaḥ
rasa-varjaṁ raso 'py asya
paraṁ dṛṣṭvā nivartate

“The embodied soul may be restricted from sense enjoyment, though the taste for sense objects remains. But, ceasing such engagements by experiencing a higher taste, he is fixed in consciousness.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 2.59)

Whatever you are able to do or not do, never abandon the bhakti path. Always approach Krishna for help with issues in life, and know that only He can rescue you from the cycle of birth and death.

In Closing:

On diet restrictions to see,
But just too many for me.

How that intoxicant to renounce?
Addiction with headache to announce.

With food the list is long,
My will not carrying strong.

Idea that anarthas not needed,
Purification where gradually proceeded.

How Can God Be An Iconoclastic Rebel

“As the director of different kinds of clouds, Indra called for the samvartaka. This cloud is invited when there is a need to devastate the whole cosmic manifestation. The samvartaka was ordered by Indra to go over Vrindavana and inundate the whole area with an extensive flood. Demonically, Indra thought himself to be the all-powerful supreme personality.” (Krishna, The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Vol 1, Ch 25)

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Friend1: What would you say is the relationship between God and religion?

Friend2: Hmm. That is a strange question.

Friend1: Intentionally so.

Friend2: What exactly is your definition of religion?

Friend1: No need to get too technical here. Just answer the question, as is.

Friend2: It sounds like a trap. God is the object of religion. He is the reason for following a certain type of faith, if that is how you define it.

Friend1: I wanted the confirmation. Religion exists specifically for knowing Him. He is synonymous with religion.

Friend2: Sure, but you could run into issues here. Someone takes to a certain way of life in order to further their position.

Friend1: But this is about beyond the present life.

Friend2: Yes, and so I have the chance to influence where I will go. I want to win heaven. Eternal life, supposedly. Though I don’t really know what that means, I have heard that religion will get me there.

Friend1: Instead of the opposite.

Friend2: Eternal condemnation. Falling to hell and staying there forever.

Friend1: Purgatory.

Friend2: With no chance of redemption.

Friend1: I could see why people would be scared into submitting to a certain faith.

Friend2: And attending service at a house of worship on a regular basis.

Friend1: The reason I ask these supposedly obvious questions today is because I think I’ve heard the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Shri Krishna, described as a rebel on occasion.

Friend2: Rebelling against what?

Friend1: Well, in some cases religion itself. He is like the greatest iconoclast, but it doesn’t make sense to me.

Friend2: What are some examples?

Friend1: You should be able to tell me, but what first comes to mind is Govardhana Puja.

Friend2: Oh, for sure. That is a great illustration of the contradiction. The religion, if you call it, at the time was to worship the king of heaven on an annual basis. This was more or less a business transaction. Worship Indra and then be rewarded with sufficient rainfall.

Friend1: Since he would be pleased by the yajna, which is sacrifice.

Friend2: Remember that no matter how much society thinks it is advancing, the basics stay the same. You need the elements of nature to survive. Without sufficient rain for the crops, you can’t enjoy your high-speed internet or drive your fast cars.

अन्नाद् भवन्ति भूतानि
पर्जन्याद् अन्न-सम्भवः
यज्ञाद् भवति पर्जन्यो
यज्ञः कर्म-समुद्भवः

annād bhavanti bhūtāni
parjanyād anna-sambhavaḥ
yajñād bhavati parjanyo
yajñaḥ karma-samudbhavaḥ

“All living bodies subsist on food grains, which are produced from rain. Rains are produced by performance of yajna [sacrifice], and yajna is born of prescribed duties.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 3.14)

Friend1: Krishna put a halt to that specific demigod’s worship, for that particular year.

Friend2: He persuaded the people, who loved Him so much, to worship Govardhana Hill instead. This would seem like the very definition of atheism. Breaking from tradition. Inventing your own kind of worship. An inanimate object instead of a living demigod.

Friend1: We see that there is immediate punishment for this behavior, as well.

Friend2: The devastating rain. Indra paid them back handsomely. More rain than they could ever imagine, threatening to wash everyone away. The iconoclastic rebel supported His decision by holding the very hill above His head for seven days, making it the world’s most amazing umbrella.

Friend1: Proving that Govardhana Puja is the way to go moving forward.

Friend2: Showing that Krishna is indeed the embodiment of religion. While He may seem to violate the rules every now and then, there is a higher purpose to serve. Devotion to Him is the real meaning of dharma. Everything else is but a component, a way to progress towards the proper end.

In Closing:

Despite annual offerings to send,
Indra forgiveness not to extend.

So that his awesome power demonstrating,
Sending wind and rain devastating.

But that rebel with a cause,
With new umbrella a pause.

After lifting hill from ground,
With Him real religion found.

Hammer Of Justice Crushes You

“Then I, resembling a cloud and having molten-golden earrings, made my way into Vishvamitra’s ashrama, for I was very proud of my strength due to the boon given to me by Lord Brahma. As soon as I entered, Rama quickly noticed me and raised His weapon. Though He saw me, Rama strung His bow without any fear.” (Maricha speaking to Ravana, Valmiki Ramayana, Aranya Kand, 38.16-17)

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ततोऽहं मेघसङ्काशस्तप्तकाञ्चनकुण्डलः।
बली दत्तवरोदर्पादाजगाम तदाश्रमम्।।
तेन दृष्टः प्रविष्टोऽहं सहसैवोद्यतायुधः।
मां तु दृष्ट्वा धनुस्सज्यमसम्भ्रान्तश्चकार सः।।

tato’haṃ meghasaṅkāśastaptakāñcanakuṇḍalaḥ।
balī dattavarodarpādājagāma tadāśramam।।
tena dṛṣṭaḥ praviṣṭo’haṃ sahasaivodyatāyudhaḥ।
māṃ tu dṛṣṭvā dhanussajyamasambhrāntaścakāra saḥ।।

Shri Krishna institutes the varnashrama system for everyone’s benefit. There is placement based on karma, but the system of action and reaction, mixed with desire, also fulfills a vital need in society. One of those varnas, which can be translated as “occupation,” is kshatriya. The root meaning is “one who protects against injury,” and without such a robust class operating on patrol, the rogues and thieves run rampant.

Case in point the Rakshasas of Lanka, per the period of time described in the Ramayana of Valmiki. These people had their own kingdom. It was on an island, and not easily accessible from foreign countries. The place was filled with gold, so much so that it was incorporated into the construction of the buildings.

More wine and animal flesh to consume than any person could imagine. The leader, Ravana, had the most beautiful wives as queens. Yet Rakshasas are going to remain true to their nature. They are generally wicked in character, so low that they will eat other human beings.

They don’t attack in the open, either. Though they will talk for hours about their fighting prowess to anyone who has the misfortune to listen, when it comes to satisfying desires, they will resort to deception in the extreme.

Another name for those Rakshasas is nischachara. This translates to “night-ranger.” With the people from Lanka, they were more like night-prowlers. Instead of looking to steal property, they wanted to disrupt activities in dharma, which is righteousness, piety, or religion, depending on the context.

The nischacharas attacked in the Dandaka forest. This was a tapo-vana, a place conducive to sacrifice, austerity and penance. The sages, the highest class in the varnashrama system, intentionally took up residence there to make the efforts in dharma more fruitful.

It would be something like a writer retreating to a log-cabin for the weekend to work on their latest book. An athlete visiting a training facility for several months, one that provides the ideal climate for the practice of their craft.

The Rakshasas knew this practice and they took advantage of the vulnerability. They would attack at night, right at the time of completion of yajna. This is like a specific religious observance, with rules and regulations. The end is everything; something like putting the final nail into a board during construction of a house.

These Rakshasas came with the intent of destroying the house. They succeeded many times. So many occurrences, in fact, that they thought no one would stop them. Maricha, one of the night-rangers from Lanka, described this to Ravana one time.

He relayed a story of how when he was going to attack at night in this way, there was a youth protecting Vishvamitra. The youth was Shri Rama of Ayodhya, a member in training of the kshatriya class. Vishvamitra was the guru. The brahmanas are able to offer guidance to every member of society, no matter their role.

Maricha tried to attack in the usual way, but something different happened. Rama reached for His bow and fitted an arrow to it without fear or hesitation. The resulting shot threw Maricha away a great distance. The demon landed in an ocean some eight hundred miles away.

This was the hammer of justice crushing the asura class, who always thinks that there is no God. They maintain this mindset until the very end, when they reach the painful discovery of all-devouring time, kala, to whom they must submit. Maricha was fortunate to receive that lesson early, but he was unable to avoid a second strike from the same Rama, one that would prove to be fatal.

In Closing:

Like from baby taking candy,
Boons of Brahma coming in handy.

Brahmana victims considered weak,
Rakshasas attacking at yajna’s peak.

But not when Shri Rama standing,
Dexterity of bow and arrow commanding.

So that Maricha some distance away landing,
Hammer of justice on him branding.

How Do I Reach God

“Neither the demigods nor any exalted personalities were there helping Rama, for He acted alone. You should not entertain any doubt on this matter. Indeed, Rama shot feathered arrows, plated with gold, which turned into five-headed serpents that devoured all the Rakshasas. The Rakshasas were oppressed with fear, and wherever they went and wherever they turned, they saw Rama in front of them. In this way, O spotless one, have your Rakshasas been destroyed in the forest of Janasthana by Rama.” (Akampana speaking to Ravana, Valmiki Ramayana, Aranya Kand, 31.18-19)

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नैव देवा महात्मानो नात्र कार्या विचारणा।
शरा रामेण तूत्सृष्टा रुक्मपुङ्खाः पतत्रिणः।।
सर्पाः पञ्चानना भूत्वा भक्षयन्ति स्म राक्षसान्।
येन येन च गच्छन्ति राक्षसा भयकर्शिताः।
तेन तेन स्म पश्यन्ति राममेवाग्रतः स्थितम्।
इत्थं विनाशितं तेन जनस्थानं तवानघ।।

naiva devā mahātmāno nātra kāryā vicāraṇā।
śarā rāmeṇa tūtsṛṣṭā rukmapuṅkhāḥ patatriṇaḥ।।
sarpāḥ pañcānanā bhūtvā bhakṣayanti sma rākṣasān।
yena yena ca gacchanti rākṣasā bhayakarśitāḥ।
tena tena sma paśyanti rāmamevāgrataḥ sthitam।
itthaṃ vināśitaṃ tena janasthānaṃ tavānagha।।

“Is God reachable? I tend to believe that He exists. I am not foolish enough to attribute the amazing intricacies and intelligence embedded within every aspect of the creation to a random collision of chemicals.

“Don’t get me wrong. The identification of elements by science certainly opens the door to amazing things. There is that classic experiment for school-age children, where they make a mock volcano explode. Science leads to technology, and just see the wonderful things we are able to do today.

“Deep down, I know there is someone behind the scenes. I want to connect with that entity. How do I reach them? Is there something the equivalent of a telephone number? I know that sounds silly, but this meeting is rather important to me. Patch me through for an emergency call, if you can.”

The documentation of history found within shastra is one trusted source of information on this topic. Long before the printing press, man’s brainpower was so strong that a person could remember thousands of verses of Sanskrit poetry after hearing only a single time.

This enabled the transfer of vital information from generation to generation. It also detailed the numerous arrivals of the Supreme Personality of Godhead to this world. The Sanskrit word is avatara. This refers to a person who descends. They live permanently in another realm, a superior one. That place never gets created and it never dissolves. It requires no external source of energy. The proprietor is self-effulgent.

यदा यदा हि धर्मस्य
ग्लानिर् भवति भारत
अभ्युत्थानम् अधर्मस्य
तदात्मानं सृजाम्य् अहम्

yadā yadā hi dharmasya
glānir bhavati bhārata
abhyutthānam adharmasya
tadātmānaṁ sṛjāmy aham

“Whenever and wherever there is a decline in religious practice, O descendant of Bharata, and a predominant rise of irreligion – at that time I descend Myself.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 4.7)

The avatara appears in this world and gives a glimpse of the potency of the Divine. The arrival also creates situations of close proximity, thereby enabling connection. A person could call out directly to God and be heard.

With the avatara of Shri Rama, the sages residing in the Dandaka forest directly asked for help. They wanted Rama to protect them against wicked night-rangers, who attacked in secret and with deadly force. The objective was to stop genuine religious activity, dharma. If there is less faith in God in the people at large, it is much easier for the demons to control them.

Rama protected the sages with His amazing marksmanship. He appeared to be a simple man of beautiful countenance, humbly following the orders of superiors like the parents and spiritual guides. But when it came time to defend, there was no deference to anyone. His missiles followed the targets to wherever they fled. These arrows showed the vision of five-headed serpents in the end.

The avatara is merciful to the people of the time, and in the present age of quarrel and hypocrisy, there is the avatara of the holy name. Chant the maha-mantra and reach the same Shri Rama: Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.

In Closing:

Sages of Vedas to teach,
Wanting Supreme to reach.

Since by night-rangers beaten,
Then by same ogres eaten.

Turning towards Rama’s way,
Who with arrows to slay.

Avatara as holy name today,
Let me never forget to say.