During the period of His banishment to the woods from Ayodhya, Bhagwan (Lord) Shri Ram stayed for a while in the hamlet of Rishi (Saint) Balmiki.. After a heart to heart discourse on religious and social matters, Shri Ram enquired from the Rishi about the house to which He may proceed further for stay during the remaining period of His exile. The Rishi replied rather wittingly asking Him to name a place where He didn’t reside so that it could be suggested for His stay. The Rishi however could not resist praying to the Bhagwan to house Himself along with Sita ji and Laksman ji in the hearts of those whose ears always remain eager to listen to His virtues and fables just as the oceans remain eager to receive waters from the rivers.
He was prayed to live in the hearts of those whose eyes remain eager to have a glimpse of His image just like that of the pied cuckoo that ignores the water of the lakes and the rivers to remain longing for a drop of rain water to quench its thirst. The Rishi requested the Bhagwan to reside in the hearts of those whose tongue keeps on chanting His bounteous virtues like the tongue of the swan which swallows the pearls from the pure and sublime waters of the Mansarowar Lake
Shri Ram was further prayed to stay in the hearts of those who regularly inhale the fragrance of offerings of food to Him and accept their clothing and ornaments as His blessings. He was pleaded to live in the hearts of those who bow with reverence before the Gurus (teachers), Gods (the Givers) and the brahmins (the learned persons) whose hands worship His feet daily and have faith in Him only.
Elaborating still further, the Rishi requested Shri Ram to reside in the hearts of those families and individuals who perform regular worships, services and make donations. The hearts of those who desire more and more faith and love in Him and those whose feet take them to His pilgrim centers (Tiraths) were recommended a the most suitable abodes for Shri Ram,
Ram was prayed to live in the hearts of those who are beyond greed, anger, ego, pride, attachment, dishonesty, deceit, pretense, sex, sham and other vices. He was also requested to live in the hearts of those who are beloved of all, favorite of all; who are unaffected by joy, sorrow, praise and abuse and those who are truthful, polite and seek refuge in Him only while awake or asleep.
Rishi Balmiki proposed to Shri Ram to live in the hearts of those who respect other women as their mothers and the wealth of others as poison. The Saint asked Him to live in the hearts of those who get comfort on the prosperity of others and become sad when some calamity befalls them.
He was requested to live in the temple like heart of those who consider Him as their master, the friend, the father, the mother, the teacher and even dearer than their life. Rishi Balmiki continued further to pray to Him to live in the hearts of those who adopt the virtues of others but ignore their vices; those who adhere to the principals of morality and those who don’t fear trouble for well being of the cows and the Brahmins. Shri Ram was requested to stay in the heart of those who love His devotees and keep full faith in Him.
While concluding, Rishi Balmiki prayed to Bhagwan Ram to reside in the hearts of those who dedicate themselves fully to His devotion unmindful of the pride in caste, creed, religion, wealth and even the beloved family and luxuries of home.
Those who have natural affection for Him and no demand in return; those who are never bothered by the worries of the heaven, hell or the Moksha (the ultimate salvation); those who are His servants by the mind, heart, deed and words and those who see and experience Him everywhere,
Goswami Tulsidas ji says that thus the Rishi Balmiki showed various homes to the Bhagwan Ram, but considering the situation of the time, the Rishi showed Him the route to Chitrakoot where the nature was at its best.
In the same spirit and as beautifully articulated by Goswami Tulsi Dass in the epic Shri Ram Charita Manas we pray that Ram should dwell in the hearts of the devotees, the followers and the people. However, His physical manifestation has to be nearest to His childhood days and where else it can be, but Ayodhya, His Birth place because, after His return from the exile the Bhagwan told His mother that even much better than the Heaven is the Motherland.
कोई टिप्पणी नहीं:
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