Why is this quatrain of Tulsidas Ji controversial?Dhol Ganwar…

Hello and welcome back to the Ram series. We have been exploring the stories of Ram for quite some time. Today, I want to discuss a controversial quatrain from the Sundarkand section of the Ramcharitmanas by Tulsidas ji, which has led to much misunderstanding and criticism.

The quatrain in question is: “Dhol Gawar Shudra Pashu Nari Sakal Tadna Ke Adhikari.” Many interpret this to mean that drums, the uneducated, Shudras, animals, and women deserve to be beaten or punished. This superficial reading makes it seem like Tulsidas ji made a grave error, but the fault lies in our interpretation, not in Goswami ji’s writing.

Let’s delve into the true meaning. The context of this quatrain is during the incident in the Sundarkand when Ram and Lakshman are praying to the sea to give them a path to Lanka. The sea is not parting, so Lakshman and Ram consider using force.

Here, “Tadna” does not mean killing or beating. It means to understand or control. For instance, imagine Virat Kohli batting. After hitting two fours, he steps forward and hits a six on the third ball because he has judged or understood the bowler’s moves. “Tadna” in this context means having foresight or understanding.

In the quatrain:

• “Dhol” (drum): Tulsidas ji suggests you shouldn’t play a drum without tuning it properly.
• “Gawar” (uneducated/mad person): Approach cautiously until you understand their behavior.
• “Shudra”: Here, Tulsidas ji doesn’t refer to caste but to someone’s actions or character. Approach people only after understanding whether they do good or bad deeds.
• “Pashu” (animal): Be cautious around animals, as you don’t know how they might react.
• “Nari” (woman): Do not judge a woman’s character based on superficial observations; understand her fully before forming an opinion.

Tulsidas ji never disrespected women. He revered Mother Sita, Trijata, and Mother Kaushalya. Even Kaikeyi, who exiled Ram, was never insulted by Tulsidas ji. The quatrain emphasizes understanding and caution, not punishment or oppression.

This quatrain should be interpreted as an admonition to understand and know the true nature of things and beings before engaging with them. It’s a lesson in caution and foresight.

Please stop misinterpreting and blaming Tulsidas ji. Goswami ji was a great poet, blessed by divine vision, and he could not have made such an error. The mistake is ours in misunderstanding his words.

In this Ram series, I will continue to explore and clarify the meanings of such quatrains. Please keep watching my channel. And if you haven’t subscribed yet, please do so for more insightful content. Thank you, and Jai Shri Ram!

Why did Ram run after the deer?

Hello! Welcome and greetings to Ram Kahani once again. Let us talk. As I mentioned in the first video, everything Ram did in Ram Leela and all his Leelas were not mere actions (Kriya). Why is that so? How can we say this?

Because even today, some people are not ready to accept it or they discuss that Ram was only considered a God based on the Ramayana. What did he do that we should consider him divine? How can we believe that Ram was an incarnation, just by calling him “Maryada Purushottam”?

In this video, we will explain that Ram was indeed an incarnation of God and what his purpose was in coming to this earth. We will discuss this in detail.

First of all, as I mentioned in the last video, Ram was not born like an ordinary human being. He was born after King Dasharath and his queens consumed the kheer from a Yagya. Therefore, it is said that Ram appeared through divine means rather than through a regular birth.

We have already discussed this point, so there is no need to delve further into it. Now, what was Ram’s purpose? Why did Ram perform Leelas and why did he take incarnation? We will talk about that today.

An important aspect is Kaikeyi asking for two boons from King Dasharath. We know she asked for the throne to be given to Bharat and for Ram to be exiled. Think about what would have happened if Ram had violated this and refused the order. He could have said, “Why should I go to the forest? I don’t want to go.” What if he had told Dasharath, “These are your boons, what do they have to do with me or my mother?”

What would have happened if Ram had responded this way? Would a catastrophe have struck? It is said, “Raghukul reet sada chali aayi, pran jaaye par vachan na jaaye” (The tradition of the Raghu clan is that life may go, but the promise remains). What if this tradition had not been upheld? Why did Ram go to the forest?

The belief is that if Ram had not gone to the forest, the Ram Rajya (ideal kingdom) would not have been established. For Ram Rajya to be established, the roles of Kaikeyi, King Dasharath, and the traditions of the Raghukul were essential. That is why Ram was commanded to go to the forest.

Secondly, Gautam Rishi cursed Ahalya to turn into stone and decreed that when God incarnates, she would be restored to human form by the dust of his feet. Gautam Rishi was a great sage, not an ordinary person. Why would he curse his wife this way and then tell her to wait? He foretold that when Lord Ram incarnates and his feet touch the stone, she would return to human form. This means Ram’s incarnation as a human was already predestined. Thus, Ram’s actions were not mere actions but divine Leela.

The third significant point is the golden deer incident. You and I know there is no such thing as a golden deer. When in the forest, Sita asked for the golden deer. Despite knowing it didn’t exist, Ram went after it. Why did Ram not simply explain to Sita that it wasn’t real? Why did he run after it?

I repeatedly emphasize that this is Ram Leela. If Sita had not been abducted, how would Ravana have been defeated? All this had to happen. For this sequence to unfold, Ram chased the golden deer, Lakshman ran after Ram, the Lakshman Rekha (protective line) was crossed, and Sita was abducted. In this way, Ram began the establishment of Ram Rajya through his Leela.

The fourth and final point: if a king wants to expand his kingdom through alliances, he would typically form friendships with other powerful kings. But if you read the Ramayana and Ramcharitmanas carefully, you will see that Ram did not form alliances with any kings. He befriended Nishad Raj Guha, a Bhil king, Sugriv, Vibhishan, Jatayu, and others from humble backgrounds. By making these alliances, Ram reached Lanka. If Ram had wanted, he could have allied with all the kings along the way. But his purpose in going to the forest was to establish Ram Rajya, where all beings, whether monkeys, birds, or the smallest communities like the Bhils and Nishads, were included. Taking all these sections along is what defined Ram Rajya.

This is why Lord Ram’s actions were part of his divine Leela, showing his adherence to righteousness and establishing an ideal kingdom. Understanding or explaining Ram fully is beyond us, as his Leelas are infinite. “Hari Ananta, Hari Katha Ananta”—the stories of the divine are endless.

I want to emphasize through this video that Ram being Maryada Purushottam, and his commitment to his word, were all parts of establishing Ram Rajya. My Ram Kahani series will continue in this manner.

In the next video, I will discuss the very touching episode of Kevat Prasanga. Many of you might know about it, but I will share some lesser-known aspects. So, stay tuned for my next video. Until then, Jai Shri Ram!

What is “Sundar” in Sundar Kand???

Hello! Welcome once again to this video. Today, we will explore the “Sundar” (beauty) of Sundarkand.

We have been running the Ram series, Ram Kahani, for the last 10 days, discussing various aspects of the Ramayana and Ramcharitmanas. Today, we’ll talk about what makes Sundarkand so beautiful.

In both Valmiki Ramayana and Ramcharitmanas, each chapter is based on a specific situation or place. For example, the first chapter is called Balakanda because it describes Lord Ram’s childhood. Similarly, Ayodhyakanda is named after Ayodhya, where the initial events take place. Aranyakanda is named for the forest (Aranya) where Ram travels. But why is it called Sundarkand? Let’s explore this question.

The beauty of Sundarkand begins with its composition in Ramcharitmanas. The first verse of Sundarkand starts with:

“Shantam Shashwat Prameya Manam Nirvanam, Shanti pradam brahma sambhu fra sevayam. Manish Vedantam Vibhu Shantam Shashwat Pram, Mangam means the beginning is made with peace.”

When Tulsidas wrote Sundarkand, he started with a sense of peace, in contrast to the preceding chapters filled with sorrow. In Ayodhyakanda, King Dasharath passes away, and Ram has to go into exile, which brings sadness.

For the first time in Sundarkand, Tulsidas felt that peace and joy were about to begin. Thus, Sundarkand starts with “Shantam Shashwat Prameya Manam” and ends with “Sakal Sumangal Dayak,” signifying it begins with peace and ends with auspiciousness. This is one reason it is called Sundarkand.

Another reason is related to the geography of Lanka, which had three famous mountains: Subel, Neel, and Sundar. Ashok Vatika, where Ravana imprisoned Sita, was on Sundar Parvat. Therefore, this chapter is named Sundarkand because Hanuman met Sita on Sundar Parvat.

Sundarkand is filled with beautiful moments. Neither Hanuman nor Ram knew if they would ever find Sita. When Hanuman reaches Ashok Vatika on Sundar Parvat and drops Ram’s ring to Sita, she feels a mix of fear and joy. In Sundarkand, it is said, “The astonished mind recognized the token, and the heart filled with joy.” This joy came from receiving a message from Ram after such a long time.

Sita’s joy was profound because Ram’s ring signified that Ram was still alive and had not been defeated by Ravana. This emotional reunion makes the incident beautiful. Hanuman was the first to bring Ram’s message to Sita, who had never met a messenger from Ram before.

Sita’s initial skepticism was overcome when Hanuman assured her by swearing on “Karuna Nidhi,” a term for Ram known only to Sita. She used to call Ram “Karuna Nidhi” in private. Hanuman’s use of this secret term convinced Sita of his authenticity, further highlighting the beauty of this chapter.

Sita then gave Hanuman her Chudamani to take back to Ram, and Hanuman’s reunion with Ram carrying this token was also part of Sundarkand. These events, filled with hope, reassurance, and divine connection, make Sundarkand truly beautiful.

If you enjoyed this video, please like it and subscribe. Our next video will feature Hanuman and Ram again. My Ram Kahani series will continue, and if you have any comments or suggestions, please let me know. Thank you. Jai Shri Ram!

Did Ram have a sister??? Ep 4

Hello! Welcome once again to Ram Kahani. Did you know that Lord Shri Ram had a sister? Yes, you heard it right. Lord Shri Ram had an elder sister named Shanta. This is not just a rumor; the Valmiki Ramayana clearly states that King Dasharath and Queen Kaushalya had a daughter named Shanta.

You might wonder why Shanta is rarely discussed in the Ramayana. We often hear about the four brothers – Ram, Lakshman, Bharat, and Shatrughna – but Shanta is seldom mentioned. However, in the ninth canto of Balakanda 19.2 and in the second canto of the Valmiki Ramayana, it is clearly stated that King Dasharath and Queen Kaushalya had a daughter who was the eldest among the siblings, named Shanta.

To understand why Shanta is not widely discussed, let’s delve into a part of this story. The shloka states: “Ja mata putra,” which means King Dasharath tells Sumant, his minister, about Shanta and her marriage. King Dasharath narrates how Shanta’s husband, King Romapada, visited Ayodhya with a heavy heart.

King Dasharath asked Romapada, “Why do you look so sad and dejected?” Romapada replied, “We have no children, and this has caused us great sorrow. I feel disheartened and unable to perform my duties as a king.”

King Dasharath and Queen Kaushalya decided to give their daughter Shanta for adoption to Romapada and his wife to alleviate their sorrow. King Dasharath thought, “I have three queens, and eventually, we will have children. If I give Shanta to them, it might bring them joy and end their sadness.” Thus, Shanta was adopted by King Romapada and his wife.

Destiny plays its divine game in mysterious ways. If King Dasharath had not given Shanta for adoption, Lord Ram might not have been born. How? Let’s continue the story.

After giving Shanta for adoption, none of King Dasharath’s three queens had children for many years. King Dasharath sought solutions from sages and saints but found no remedy. Interestingly, Shanta’s husband, Rishi Rishyasringa, was a great sage. King Dasharath approached Rishi Rishyasringa and asked, “Will Ayodhya never have an heir? Will we never have a child?”

Rishi Rishyasringa suggested, “You should perform the Putra Kameshti Yagya.”

As you know, King Dasharath performed the Putra Kameshti Yagya, during which a divine figure appeared from the fire with a bowl of kheer. This kheer was given to Kaushalya, Kaikeyi, and Sumitra. Subsequently, Lord Ram, Lakshman, Bharat, and Shatrughna were born.

This divine play shows that, to manifest himself, Lord Ram arranged for his sister to be adopted, which led to the suggestion of performing the Putra Kameshti Yagya by her husband. This divine play is beyond our understanding, but it illustrates that even a daughter can play a crucial role in a family’s destiny.

In conclusion, Ram, Lakshman, Bharat, and Shatrughna had an elder sister named Shanta, as mentioned in the Valmiki Ramayana. However, her adoption by King Romapada led to her being less discussed.

If you enjoyed this video, please share it, like it, and subscribe to my channel. Don’t forget to watch the next video where I will discuss my favorite character, dear Lord Hanuman, focusing on the Sunderkand and Hanuman Chalisa. Stay tuned to this channel. Thank you, Jai Shri Ram!