Ramayana is not just an epic story. It depicts
the constant struggle of man to reach God. Sita is the Jivatma (the individual
soul) struggling to get back to Atma Rama (Paramatma, the super soul).
The
Ramayana teaches us two lessons:
1) the value of detachment and
2) the need to
re-connect with the God. Faith in God and detachment from worldly pursuits are
the keys to human liberation.
Below is the depiction of Ramayana:
King Dasaratha (meaning ten chariots) merely represents the physical body, with
five sense organs and five senses of perception going astray. He is
married to three queens who are inseparable from him.
Kausalya representing
Sattwa (balanced attitude), Sumitra, Rajas (passionate and active) and Kaikeyi,
Tamas (dull and indiscriminating) which are the characteristics of every human
being.
The four sons of Dasaratha represent the four goals of life - Dharma
(Righteousness), Artha (Wealth), Kama (Desire) and Moksha (Liberation).
Sugriva
is Viveka (Discrimination), Vali is Despair, Lakshmana is the Intellect and
Hanuman is the embodiment of Courage.
The Bridge is built over the Ocean of
Delusion (Moha).
The three Rakshasa chiefs represent Rajas (Ravana), Tamas (Kumbhakarna)
and Sathwa (Vibhishana) which one has to fight against.
Ravana was well versed
in all the Vedas and Scriptures. That is the reason why he is shown with ten
heads. He cast his eyes on Sita and lost everything. This is to show that even
a person of high learning can easily fall prey to `woman and lust' and fall
from the righteous path.
Sita gave up the luxuries of Ayodhya, so that she could be with Rama in the
period of exile. When she cast longing eyes on the golden deer and craved for
it (worldly desires), she lost Rama. Sita has to undergo a lot of grief in the
Ashoka forest from Ravana and the Rakshasis.
Due to Sita's constant prayers,
God (Rama) sent a messenger (Hanuman) and showed her a sign (the ring) that He
heard her prayers.
When Sita's prayers became intense, God himself went to Sri
Lanka and took Sita with Him. The Jivatama finally re-connected with Paramatma
and immersed itself in bliss forever!
– Sathya Sai Speaks, V(7), p458.
(edited and summarized) and shared by Prasad Garu in Sai Amruthawani!
Jai Sai Ram
