Surrender: Is it the Way of Cowards?

This day is Sri Rama Navami, Birthday of Sri Ram;

Rama the ideal man demonstrated what righteousness is;

Of all His traits, protection to the surrendered person was exemplary.

Surrender is a simple word but is a nuclear Bomb in dimension;

Is surrender acceptance of the current situation? is it just giving up a fight?

There is a beautiful book by Eckhart Tolle, The Power of Now.

two of his wonderful quotes:

"Unease, anxiety, tension, stress, worry — all forms of fear — are caused  by too much future, and not enough presence. Guilt, regret, resentment, grievances, sadness, bitterness, and all forms of nonforgiveness are caused by too much past, and not enough presence"

"Wherever you are, be there totally. If you find your here and now intolerable and it makes you unhappy, you have three options: remove yourself from the situation, change it, or accept it totally"

This is what Rama did:

see the sequence of Surrenders

Bharata's surrender to Rama, when he pleaded Him to return to Ayodhya.

Surrender of the sages to Lord in the forest to protect them from the demons.

Sugriva's submission/sharanagathi to Rama to protect him from his brother Vali who had inflicted untold suffering on him

Rama's sharanagathi to samudra rajan

Hanuman also brings out his total surrender to Rama and his exemplary devotion to Him

Sita Devi advises Ravana to surrender to Rama.

Every canto of the Ramayana, except the last one, highlights the concept of surrender.

Before closing I want to share one thing—Rama killed Vali by hiding himself behind the trees; Many think that Rama faltered; on his chosen swadharma, that is way of Life,  that is protection to the surrendered person, Rama could never make a mistake.

Assume if Rama came out and fought with Vali; on seeing Rama Vali would have surrendered; Vali was Ravana’s friend; this would have upset so many divine dramas; God never alters the pre-set Drama

रामो राजमणिः सदा विजयते रामं रमेशं भजे
रामेणाभिहता निशाचरचमूः रामाय तस्मै नमः ।रामान्नास्ति परायणंपरतरं रामस्य दासोस्म्यहं
रामे चित्तलयस्सदा भवतु मे भो राम मामुद्धर ॥

Raamo Raja-Mannih Sadaa Vijayate Raamam Ramesham Bhaje
Raamenna-Abhihataa Nishaacara-Camuuh Raamaaya Tasmai Namah|
Raamaan-Naasti Paraayannam-Parataram Raamasya Daasosmy-Aham
Raame Citta-Layas-Sadaa Bhavatu Me Bho Raama Maam-Uddhara ||

 I contemplate on Sri Rama, Who is the Jewel among the Kings, Who always Emerges Victorious, and Who is the Lord of Sita Devi.

 I Salute Sri Rama who Destroys the mighty Armies of Demons.
 There is no greater Refuge than Sri Rama. I am a humble Servant of Sri Rama.
 Let my mind ever Meditate on Rama. O Sri Rama. Kindly grant me Salvation.

Ramoa—Oh Rama( : combining with soft consonant Ra becomes Ramoa

raja—king

mani—gem/jewel

sada—always

vijaya—victory; vijayatae means—turns victorious

ramam—on rama

ramaa—Goddess Lakshmi

isha—Lord( Ramesam meams lord of Lakshmi and ramesam means on Rama)

bhajae—(I )medidate upon

ramaena—by Rama

abihata—killed

nisachara—demons

chamoohu—army

ramaya—to Rama

thasmai—to Him ( means avarukku, andha Ramanukku)

namaha—salutations

Rama—Rama

na—no

ashthi—is

parayanam—final end/ultimate aim

para—other/another

tharam—is the comparative degree

Ramasya—of Rama

Dasaha—servant

asmi—am

aham—I

Rame—on Rama

chitta—mind

laya—absorbed in

sada—always

bhavatu—be it so

mei—my

bho—oh/hello

Rama—hey Rama

Maa—me

udhdhara—redeem/elevate

 I am at your feet Rama

धन्यवाद:

See you in the next episode

With lots of love

rajagopal

31.03.2012