“Seeing those ornaments while keeping them in His lap, that Lord, appearing like God Himself, lamented in many ways.” (Hanuman, Valmiki Ramayana, Sundara Kand, 35.40)

Download this episode (right click and save)

तान्यङ्के दर्शनीयानि कृत्वा बहुविधं तव
तेन देवप्रकाशेन देवेन परिदेवितम्

tānyaṅke darśanīyāni kṛtvā bahuvidhaṃ tava
tena devaprakāśena devena paridevitam

When someone becomes famous, important, or of great influence in this world, there is this kind of subtle push by the supporters to hold onto artifacts. It is as if they know the value to the associated items prior to the requisite amount of time passing. They create something like an archive long before the collection is large enough to require a dedicated physical space for preservation.

The items to collect might be as simple as a shirt, a robe, or a pair of sandals. It is something physical which the person of prominence associated with. The places visited also become important. In the Vedic culture, there is the concept of tirtha. This is a sacred place, and because of the designation saintly people tend to gravitate towards such areas.

Chaitanya Mahaprabhu says that as the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Shri Krishna, is worshipable, so is His land. This explains why people still circumambulate a massive body of land like Govardhana Hill. They create makeshift versions, miniature replicas, during the annual period of Govardhana Puja. This is for the purpose of worship. Through associating with the remaining object, the hill which was held up high by Shri Krishna Himself, it is like they are meeting God.

They can meet in that way because of remembrance. Shrimad Bhagavatam recommends that the ultimate aim of different paths associated with spirituality is to remember Narayana at the end. Whether someone is into sankhya, yoga, or sva-dharma, the highest objective should always be to remember God the person at the end of life.

एतावान् साङ्ख्य-योगाभ्यां
स्व-धर्म-परिनिष्ठया
जन्म-लाभः परः पुंसाम्
अन्ते नारायण-स्मृतिः

etāvān sāṅkhya-yogābhyāṁ
sva-dharma-pariniṣṭhayā
janma-lābhaḥ paraḥ puṁsām
ante nārāyaṇa-smṛtiḥ

“The highest perfection of human life, achieved either by complete knowledge of matter and spirit, by practice of mystic powers, or by perfect discharge of occupational duty, is to remember the Personality of Godhead at the end of life.” (Shrimad Bhagavatam, 2.1.6)

The human population is fortunate that there are many tirthas to visit. There are still many artifacts that relate to the Supreme Lord and those dedicated to Him. We simply see one of these items and immediately recall the glorious attributes, gunas, belonging to the one who is always wishing us well.

The Ramayana history provides an interesting glimpse into the other side. We acknowledge that devotees are always remembering Narayana. They mark their body in different places with the footprint of Vishnu. They associate with the tulasi plant in order to stay near to someone who is dear to Vishnu. They commit vital words of wisdom to memory, which were first spoken directly by God in His avatara of Krishna.

If we were ever in doubt as to the benefit of such a connection, if we ever wondered if the Supreme Lord would remember His devotees, Shri Hanuman provides direct confirmation. In His avatara of Shri Rama, Vishnu lived alongside the eternal consort, the goddess of fortune, in her expansion of Sita Devi, who is the daughter of King Janaka. Though they spent much time together, there was also a significant period of separation.

It was during that period that Rama once came upon ornaments that were worn by Sita. These ornaments accidentally fell away from her, as she was being dragged against her will towards a hostile territory known as Lanka. Others later found these ornaments and showed them to Rama.

There was repeated lamentation. This was from Rama’s side. Though He knows everything, though He is always atmarama, though He is always in control and can make His desires come true, satya-sankalpa, He still never forgets His devotees.

1. He remembered how wonderful she is

Can there be anyone more wonderful than the princess of Videha? No one could say a bad word about her. As a baby she was found in the ground one day, by accident, while her father was preparing for a yajna. She was an accidental discovery, but one worth more than gold.

2. He remembered how devoted she is to Him

The ornaments remind a person that Sita has the highest dedication to her husband. She will volunteer to give up royal comforts, at the drop of a hat, without prior notice. She will trade jewels and luxury for the greatest austerity of life in the forest.

3. He remembered how she must be suffering since she was separated from Him

The ornaments are a reminder that someone that devoted to Rama must be suffering due to separation from Him. Hanuman was sent as a messenger to help alleviate that suffering. In the same way, we are in constant grief due to our separation from God. If we have some devotion, if we wish to be with Him, then He will also send a capable messenger to rescue us. As He is never lost to us, we are never lost to Him.

यो मां पश्यति सर्वत्र
सर्वं च मयि पश्यति
तस्याहं न प्रणश्यामि
स च मे न प्रणश्यति

yo māṁ paśyati sarvatra
sarvaṁ ca mayi paśyati
tasyāhaṁ na praṇaśyāmi
sa ca me na praṇaśyati

“For one who sees Me everywhere and sees everything in Me, I am never lost, nor is he ever lost to Me.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 6.30)

In Closing:

Feeling lost and alone,
Never happiness known.

Because separated to be,
The Almighty not to see.

But when ornaments to give,
With some hope to live.

That soon to be connected,
Fixed in His way directed.

Categories: the three

Tags: dailyprompt, poem, poems, poetry, ramayana