Ramayanaparam -12 Kantha sammitham Ramayanam

Knowledge is spread mainly through three types of books- Vedaas, Puraanaas and Ithihaasaas or epics and in this Raamaayana month, we will come to the importance of the Aadikaavya Raamaayana, which is an Ithihaasa.

Let us take Vedaas. It is said that "Vedaa: prabhusammitha:" meaning vedaas are like kings. What does this mean? Vedaas provide the knowledge of art of living, philosophy, science, you name it and vedaas contain all knowledge. Vedaas order Dharma and you obey the order. Vedaas guide you like a king who guides citizens of a country. But unfortunately knowledge in the vedaas were not available to all sections of society. It was too abstract and complicated for common people. Lot of people just followed dharmam because they were prescribed by Vedaas. This is similar to following the rules of the country whether you understand it or not.

While examining the Puraanaas, we can understand that Vyaasa Muni transferred the knowledge in the Vedaas in to Puraanaas using much simpler language. He also weaved the puraanaas with threads of Bhakthi and Vedic knowledge to make it appeal to more people in a positive way. Thus  the saying "Puraanam mithrasammitham" became true. This means that Puraanaas becomes a friend of the readers and guides them to embrace saatwic qualities just like a good friend persuades us to the right path of life with out pressurizing. Puraanaas do not order, but guides you like a friend. The language is simpler and subject is not abstract.

Now let us come to the Aadikaavyam Raamaayanam which is an Epic. Vedic substance became simpler in Epics than in Puraanaas.  So Raamaayana kaavyam is "kaantha sammitham". This means epic is like one's beloved. Like a loving wife who guides, inspires, entertains, and is a well wisher of the husband in every way, an epic entertains and leads the readers towards the path of enlightenment. Emotions are familiar, language is simple, situations are comparable and readers can directly identify with the characters. They can learn and apply the knowledge in their day to day life to move forward in the spiritual path.

Life is not a bed of roses and it is filled with challenges and ups and downs. Lord Rama acts as role model teaching us "Sathyam vada, Dahrmam chara" and face the challenges with an unperturbed mind.
"veda vedye pare pumsi jaate dasharathaatmaje |
veda: prachetasaadaasiid saakshaad raamaayanaatmanaa ||


"When the omni potent omniscient and the Omnipresent Almighty who can be known only through Veda, took birth as a son of Dasharatha, the most precious Veda has been rendered as Ramayana by the sage Prachetasa.(Valmiki)."