RAM NAUMI - LESSON 1: AVOID “MANTHRAS” OF MODERN TIMES - GOSSIPERS AND BACKBITERS.

Thakur Ranjit Singh

Ramayan for modern generation is full of teachings that are very relevant to us. But the lament is that in many cases, people sitting on vyas gaddi, or pracharaks, those delivering lectures, do not take this opportunity to make a link between Ramayan’s teachings and it relevance to us today for the modern man.

Many people tell the same old stories of Ramayan we have been hearing for decades. We all know it, BUT HOW ARE THEY RELEVANT TO US TODAY? FIJI PUNDIT will tell.

The relevance of Ramayan for modern men (new generation) is to be careful of an evil "Manthra" who plants seed of discord, disunity and infighting between peaceful and loving families and friends. So be warned against such Manthras, discover them before they can cause you misery. And do not fall for them. 

I will fill that vacuum over this period of Ram Naumi. The first lesson that I wish to speak on is the “Manthra”, the backbiter, the ‘chugalkhor”, the gossiper, the spoiler – the one very near to the family, but who does great damage to family unity. Yes, something that I have personally been through, being victims of people who belong to religious organisations, act as devoted people of Gods, but never learn anything from the real teachings of scriptures. There are many around us. Be careful of those who talk about others. They will start talking about you as soon as you leave. This brings discord in the family, between brothers, sons, sisters-in-law and many other relatives. Many of you may have been through this situation.

In Ramayan, Kekei was very loving “mother” to Ram, and Ram mutually loved her very much. So did Ram’s father, Dashrath, for whom this love for Kekei became a “fatal attraction” (as he loses his life in fulfilling the vows he gave her). She was one of the three Queens of King Dashrath. He lost his life for a “vachan”, promise or vow he had given her in time of vulnerability in a war. Kekei was almost unaware of it, till her servant from her father’s place, Manthra, reminded her of this on the last night before Ram's coronation. 

Manthra” filled the ears” of a hitherto loving mother, Kekei, with false situations that she would be rendered as a slave queen and Kaushalya (Ram’s biological mother) would become the Queen Mother. In the greed to become Queen Mother, at insistence and “filling the ear” by Manthra with evil thoughts in a loving family, Kekei halts Ram’s coronation and had him banished and exiled to forest for 14 years, while announcing coronation for her son Bharat. However Bharat (also called Dharam Raj or the righteous one) rejects this, insisting that the eldest brother, Ram should rightfully be the king. He oversees the kingdom of Ayodhya in trust for Ram, till his return 14 years after the exile. (One of the reasons for which we celebrate Diwali)

Be careful of modern-day Manthra spreading the seeds of disunity in families.

But the problem we have in Kaliyug, our modern times, is that we stopped producing righteous and selfless brothers like Bharat. We are full of selfish people, brothers, who have been singing Ramayan for decades, but still failing to learn much from the half-brotherly love depicted in Ramayan – the sacrifices that a half-brother Bharat does for his elder brother Ram. Ramayan is full of very noble and good teachings for modern men, but unfortunately, much of these are not practiced, or imparted by those preaching Ramayan. Most often, they tell the story only, and abstract teachings with little relation and relevance to current times.

Hence, the lesson we should learn from Ramayan is to be careful of people like “Manthra” –the modern day Manthra, masquerading as your friend and relative, but in reality, holding much malice against you and your family, and spreading false rumours or feeding others with gossip that causes rift in the family. 

Some audience may feel bad and assume that such teachings and lessons refer to them. Too bad, if the hat fits you, and you happen to be acting like “Manthra”, the gossiper and backbiter, then put the hat on.

Improve yourselves from lessons and morale delivered by Ramayan. No use going to the Katha, eating prashaad and food, (and some consuming grog) and going home. It is a waste of time-you have been doing this for many years, in fact decades. Abse sudhar jaao - improve from now.

Manthra feeding the evil thoughts in the mind of Queen Kekei - the type of people we need to be wary of in modern times who feed us with lies, distortions and divisive information which ultimately results in destroying peace and family unity.

We have a Fiji-Indian saying that if somebody tells you that a crow has flown away with your ears, DO NOT RUN AFTER THE CROW- FIRST FEEL YOUR EARS AND SEE THAT THEY ARE INTACT. What that means is that do not fall for such rumours and unfounded second-hand gossips.

ESTABLISH THE FACTS BEFORE MAKING ANY RASH DECISIONS. 

Kekei -the face of good turned evil by a backbiter Manthra, in 'the latest Ramayan serial, "Siya Ke Ram"

Please I hope you will learn from the teachings of Ramayan to be careful to avoid falling victims to “Manthra” of modern times. They are lurking around you, both as males and females, as friends. Many may be your  relatives. I know some of them, but they do not know that I know - but I remain careful-and do not give a damn to what they say.

A tell tale sign is, they will say -"koi se batana nahin"..do not tell others. So, be warned and be blessed by Shri Ram. 

This has been the first lesson from FIJI PUNDIT.

[About the Author: Thakur Ranjit Singh is a blogger, a media scholar and a person who has been singing Ramayan since he started reading Hindi over six decades ago. He is former Secretary of Nasinu Branch of Sanatan Pratinidhi Sabha of Fiji. He advocates Ramayan pracharaks and those conducting discourse to IMPORTANTLY preach about the relevance of Ramayan to modern man, instead of repeating stories we already know about.]