Ramam, Shree Ramam
Jai, Jai, Jai, Sita Ramam
Ramam, Shree Ramam
Jai, Jai, Jai, Sita Ramam
Panditji was softly chanting mantras as we entered the auditorium and settled in our places. Hanumanji was at his jovial best, gently swaying to Pandiitji’s chants. “Before we start the twenty-seventh sargam, we will start our day with a meditation practice known as Antar Mouna.”
“Inner silence,” Hanumanji whispered the meaning of the two words Panditji mentioned.
“This is a deep meditative practice where you silently observe your thoughts, positive or negative,” Panditji explained softly.
Immediately, my mind raced back to yesterday morning’s session. I turned left, looked at Hanumanji, and asked, “I won’t be able to speak with you again, isn’t it?”
Hanumanji, in turn, remained silent while smiling. “You know you can remain silent, but that smile says a thousand words,” I said gently, unable to control my smile.
Hanumanji calmly continued smiling, as Panditji requested, “Please sit in a comfortable meditative pose of your choice, and gently close your eyes.”
“Follow my instructions, and by chance my voice changes in between, don’t get alarmed,” Panditji added as I slowly closed my eyes, thinking, ‘how will Panditji change his voice?’
“Take a deep breath, and observe the soft sound of the air passing through your nostrils!”
“Now observe your surroundings and listen to the sounds while keeping still.”
“Whooosh!”
“Chirp!”
A cool breeze brushed my face, and I heard birds chirping in the distance. “Silently observe your thoughts, as you visualize them in front of you,” mentioned Panditji.
A lush green garden appeared before me, as I saw a bird fly across the scenic view. A golden-hued, towering figure, shining brightly, stood before me. I instantly raised my arm to shield my eyes when I felt the gentle warmth of a wide palm caressing my head.
I slowly opened my eyes and saw Maruti standing before me and smiling. ”Hanumanji!” I whispered, and he gestured for me to stay quiet and observe.
“Roar!!”
“Today these rakshasis will eat you!!”
An intimidating voice pierced my ears as I felt my face turning pale. I slowly turned around, seeing the group of rakshasis closing in on Mata Sita and attempting to frighten her.
Amid the commotion, my gaze shifted to one corner, where I noticed a rakshasi awakening from her slumber and walking towards the other rakshasis.
“O evil ones, if you want to eat someone, eat yourselves,” she announced.
“You will not harm, Sita, the daughter-in-law of King Dasaratha and the daughter of King Janak!” she warned.
Hearing those words, I suddenly felt a wave of hope rise within me, wondering who it could be. I noticed the rakshasi had three matted locks of hair, and, based on the earlier names, I heard the word “Trijata” echoing in my mind.
“Why?” the other rakshasis asked.
“Because I saw a terrifying, hair-raising dream, about the destruction of the rakshasas, and the prosperity of her husband,” exclaimed Trijata as I observed the situation in amazement.
“You saw a dream?”
“What did you see?”
“What kind of a dream?”
“Tell us what you saw!”
The rakshasis, who a few seconds ago were full of confidence, now stood there, trembling in fear. “Listen to my voice, as I take you through a prophetic journey!” Trijata stated, her words echoing in my ears with warmth.
*****
I couldn’t believe my eyes as I could visualize Trijata’s words. I saw Shree Ram, adorned in pristine white, ascending from a wheel-less vehicle drawn by a thousand swans.
“A Palanquin!” announced a calm, female voice, as I noticed Lakshman standing beside Shree Ram.
My gaze shifted towards the white mountain, surrounded by the ocean, where I saw Mata Sita seated atop, adorned in white.
In a fraction of a second, I noticed Mata Sita reunited with Shree Ram, beaming together like the sun’s radiance.
“Pawooooo!!”
I heard the trumpeting of an elephant and noticed Shree Ram seated on the giant with four tusks, as large as a mountain. Shree Ram roamed with Lakshman, as both brothers shone in their own brilliance. The white garlands, combined with their white clothing, made them look majestic as they approached Mata Sita.
Visions flashed before my eyes, and in the next moment, I saw Mata Sita seated on the elephant, along with Shree Ram, while approaching the mountain. My heart was filled with happiness at this sight, as I noticed tears of joy flowing through Hanumanji’s eyes.
The large-eyed Mata Sita stood up and gently touched the moon and the sun with her hand, as the mighty elephant stood atop Lanka.
The scene instantly changed as I saw Shree Ram, along with Mata Sita, coming to Lanka in a chariot drawn by eight white bulls.
Shree Ram, Lakshman, and Mata Sita ascended the Pushpak Viman, which shone like the radiant sun, and they flew northward.
“Calmly observe my dream,” stated Trijata’s soothing voice, as visions of Shree Ram, glowing like Lord Vishnu, along with his brother Lakshman and Sita, unfolded before me.
“Just as sinners cannot attain heaven, Shree Ram cannot be defeated by Gods, demons, rakshasas, or by anyone.” Trijata’s words echoed in my ears.
As Trijata’s dream continued to unfold in my mind, my gaze shifted to the ground, where I noticed a broad-shouldered Rakshas lying there, his body smeared with oil.
“Ravan!!” replied Trijata.
Ravan was adorned with a garland of oleander flowers, each with a distinct funnel shape and five petals. He was wearing red garments while lying there intoxicated.
“Whoosh!!”
“Thud!!”
A sound startled my concentration as I turned around to see Ravan sharply falling from the Pushpak Viman. I couldn’t believe what I saw: the majestic Ravan’s head was shaven, he was wearing black clothes, and he was being pulled in various directions by women.
“Hahahaha!”
“Hahahaha!”
An eerie laughter nearly broke my concentration. My eyes slowly moved towards the sound as I saw Ravan wearing red garlands, smeared in red paste, laughing and dancing on a chariot pulled by donkeys.
“Hee-haw!”
Ravan was seen seated on the donkey, moving towards the south, absolutely still, staring into the abyss. It was as though he was in a state of shock.
I couldn’t decipher the significance of the South direction, and I gazed towards Maruti. Hanumanji didn’t say anything, but his eyes moved towards Ravan, and I followed suit. For a fraction of a second, I saw Ravan walking towards a deity with a storm-cloud complexion and fiery eyes, seated on a black buffalo.
“Yam Dev!!” whispered a voice, as I saw Ravan fall from the ground, face down.
“Crackle!”
A sound diverted my attention as I turned around and saw Ravan slowly standing up, clutching the air, as he fumbled with intoxication.
“I am Ravan!!”
“I am Ravan!!”
“I am Ravan!!”
I saw him wandering around, blabbering and bad-mouthing like a madman, looking ordinary, when a strong, intolerable, pungent smell emanated from him and hit my nostrils. Ravan was slowly sinking into the dirt surrounding him, and after a few seconds, he completely disappeared.
“Slosh!”
“Slosh!”
My gaze shifted, and I noticed a woman dressed in red, covered in mud, dragging the ten-headed Ravan, bound by his neck, in the southern direction.
“Zzzzz…”
A thundering snore caught my attention as I visualized a mountain-like giant smeared with oil. He wasn’t alone, but surrounded by other rakshasas who seemed young.
“Kumbakaran and Ravan’s sons were doomed,” prophesied the unexpectedly calming female voice.
“Snort!!”
“Snap!!”
“Grr!!”
Animal sounds startled me, as a large, stout-bodied, heavily built, muscular boar was carrying Ravan on its back. On the other hand, Indrajit was riding a crocodile-like aquatic creature with a powerful tail. Finally, I saw Kumbakaran riding a camel as they all proceeded towards the south.
“Rat-a-tat!”
“Boom, thud!”
A rakshasa who seemed to be unusually peaceful was welcomed with drums, conch shells, and songs.
“Vibhishan!” echoed the voice in my ears.
He was the only one being welcomed like a king, with a white umbrella, adorned in white garments, garlands, and sandalwood paste.
“Pawooooo!!”
Vibhishan ascended an elephant with four tusks, which equaled a mountain, trumpeting like a thundering cloud as it approached the sky, accompanied by four ministers.
My eyes now fell on a group of rakshasas, drinking and dancing to music. At first, I thought they were accompanying Vibhishan, but their red garments were an ominous sign.
“Neigh!!”
I saw myself standing near Lanka, which looked magnificent with its horses and elephants. But I noticed the gates of Lanka had been shattered, as the beautiful city plunged into the ocean.
“Crackle, crackle!”
“The city of Lanka will be burnt by the messenger of Ram!” foreshadowed Trijata as I saw a vivid outline of a vanar.
I instantly looked towards Maruti, who quietly smiled, as though aware of what lay ahead.
“Hahahaha!”
“Hahahaha!”
The evil laughter of a group of rakshasis grabbed my attention as I saw them dancing, making loud noises, covered in ash, while drinking oil.
Lanka was moving towards defeat and humiliation, as I noticed Kumbakaran, adorned in red garments, entering a state of ruin.
My mind silently processed the thoughts as all the omens flashed before my eyes.
“Red garments!”
“The city plunging into the ocean!”
“Ash covered rakshasas!”
“Ravan pulled to the south!”
“Drinking oil!”
*****
The visions slowly faded as I saw myself hiding in Ashok Vatika, with Hanumanji by my side.
“GO AWAY!!” shouted Trijata, warning the other rakshasis.
“Ram will destroy you, and soon take Sita with him,” prophesied Trijata.
“He will not like anyone threatening his beloved wife, who left her everything to live with him in the forest,” warned Trijata, as I felt a sense of calmness in the air.
“Enough of cruel words, we need to be gentle,” suggested the rakshasi in a peaceful voice.
“We need to seek forgiveness from Vaidehi, as that is the right thing to do,” stated Trijata as I saw a ray of hope emerging from the darkness of Lanka.
“Sita is in sorrow, and when one sees such a dream, it only indicates her suffering will soon end!”
“Seek her forgiveness, else, terrible danger awaits,” warned Trijata as her voice echoed in Ashok Vatika.
“The daughter of Janak, when approached with respect, is highly gracious and is the only one capable of protecting us from the upcoming danger,” she advised. “I don’t see even the slightest form of misfortune in the wide-eyed Vaidehi,” she declared confidently.
“The only irregularity I see is in the paleness of her complexion, which is primarily due to the suffering which she does not deserve,” remarked Trijata.
“Sita’s rescue, Ravan’s destruction, and Ram’s victory are near!” warned Trijata, as I noticed Mata Sita’s lotus-like petal eyes twitching, while one of her hands and thigh started to tremble.
“Is Maa feeling troubled?” I thought, as Maruti shook his head, indicating no.
“Sita’s twitching eyes are a positive omen,” explained Triajata. “All these bodily movements indicate Ram’s arrival to rescue Sita is near,” she stated confidently.
“Her left thigh is like a female elephant’s foot, and that twitching is a sign that Ram is standing before her,” she further explained.
“Flap, flap, flap!”
“Chirp, chirp, chirp!”
Suddenly, a bird entered the scene, and Trijata stated, “It’s as though the bird is consoling Sita, that her wait for Ram is nearing its end!”
My eyes felt numb as a few tears trickled down my cheeks, and my thoughts grew strangely silent as I noticed a glowing point of light in the darkness.
After a few minutes, I heard a familiar voice. “Be aware of your surroundings, slowly move your hands, and legs.”
“Rub your palms and gently place them on your eyes. Blink your eyes in the darkness, move your palms, and open your eyes,” guided Panditji.
“My dear friends, that completes our morning meditation of Antar Mauna and the twenty-seventh sargam of the Sunderkand!”
“Jai Shree Ram!!”
***
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This chapter is interesting
Thank you.