सदाशिव समारम्भम् शन्कराचार्य मध्यमम्
अस्मद् आचार्य पर्यन्तम् वन्दे गुरु परम्परम्
To minimize inconvenience to others and to spend time in the company of ascetics, Lord Rama enters the Dandaka forest. Forest symbolizes wilderness both within and without of an individual. It is place of fierce fights between Rakshasas and other dwellers. There are great ascetics who are constantly threatened and killed by Rakshasa. There is a constant struggle within each individual between the good and the bad.
On the other hand, Mother Seeta represents the divine grace principle. When a jeeva is in presence of this grace, there are various forces within that jeeva that want to separate the two. So the forest and wilderness analogy is very pertinent.
Let us briefly look at encounter of Lord Rama and mother Seeta with the Rakshasa Viradha; he is son of जव and शतह्रदा. The word Viradha means opposition. So he represents an opposing force to jeeva's desire for evolution and union with divine grace. Lord Brahma bestows the Rakshasa a boon that he can't be killed by any weapon. Viradha abducts mother Seeta. Lord attacks him. Fierce battle ensues. Viradha drops mother and attacks Lord Ram. Viradha grabs Lord Rama and his brother Lakshmana and carries them. Mother Seeta runs after them wailing.
The Rakshasa can't be killed. Lord Rama cuts a hand of the attacker and Lakshmana cuts the other hand. Lord Lakshmana digs a pit and leaves the Rakshasa there. The Rakshasa emits huge sounds. In the end Rakshasa realizes his wrong ways and praises Lord Ram.
The Rakshasa represents opposing force of selfish desire. The desire can't be satiated by any weapon nor can it be killed. However the desire can be weakened significantly that it loses its grip.
Viradha's parents are जव and ह्रदा.
जव swift
ह्रदा incense tree ( शतह्रदा 100 such trees)
Desire is like swiftly moving and strong incense tree. It blows with strong smell and Jeeva has to experience this when faced with. This can't be extinguished. Viradha has a boon from Lord Brahma that he can't be killed by any weapon. So countering this desire is difficult.
Lord Rama comes up with a brilliant strategy of digging a big pit and the weakened Rakhasa is placed there. Ramayana teaches us that strong desires may be treated in a similar way by a seeker:
- Weaken the desire significantly by opposing thought (Sage Patanjali calls this प्रतिपक्ष भावन)
- Seek the higher (Mother Seeta is united with Lord Ram)
यदा सर्वे प्रमुच्यते कामा योऽस्य हृदि श्रिताः
अथ मर्त्यो अमृतो भवति अत्र ब्रह्म समश्नुते
अथ मर्त्यो अमृतो भवति that one would conquer death
अत्र ब्रह्म समश्नुते He would always be with divine grace
One who gives up all desires in one's heart, he would conquer death and he would always be in divine presence.
ॐ नमः शिवाय
