When we talk about the most dignified person, the first picture that comes to our mind is the image of Lord Rama. When we give examples of father’s love for son, first of all we take the name of Maharaja Dasharatha. When we describe brother’s love or sacrifice for brother, first of all we take the names of Lord Lakshmana and Lord Bharat.
If you want to understand Ramayana well, then first of all you have to understand the character of Ramayana, every character of Ramayana is inspirational. If we talk about the negative character of Ramayana, then it is also very inspirational. The sages of Hindu religion often say, Ramayana teaches you “How to live”.
Difference Between Ramayana and Ramcharitmanas
What is the difference between Ramayana and Ramcharitmanas, this question comes in everyone’s mind when he hears these two words. In fact, Ramayana and Ramcharitmanas are epics written by two great poets of India and both epics are related to Lord Rama.
Ramayana is a composition written by Maharishi Valmiki. Maharishi Valmiki was the poet of Treta Yuga and according to Hindi literature he was the poet of Adikala. Ramayana is a composition written by Maharishi Valmiki. Maharishi Valmiki was the poet of Treta Yuga and according to Hindi literature he was the poet of Adikala. Maharishi Valmiki was the real creator of Ramayana. Whereas Ramcharitmanas is written by the great saint Tulsidas of India. But the source of his creation is also Ramayana. He has redefine the Ramayana. He has described Lord Rama as a perfect person in the Ramayana.
It is believed that there are more than 300 versions of Ramayana, but among them the Ramcharitmanas composed by Tulsidas is the most popular. If you just want to know the incident, then you can read Ramayana composed by Maharishi Valmiki, but if you want to know the meaning of Ramayana, then Ramcharitmanas written by Tulsidas is the best book.
Saint Vijay Kaushal ji Maharaj describes it very well – he says that if you want to experience the vision of the Lord Rama, then you have to climb only two steps, at first understand the truth meaning or “ram” and “charitra (charitra is a hindi word which means character of someone)” and you will find the lord ram in the form of “manas”.
Character of Lord Ram in Ramayana
Lord Rama is the central character of Ramayana. The entire Ramayana revolves around him. According to Ramayana written by Maharishi Valmiki, Lord Rama was born in Punarvasu Nakshatra and Cancer ascendant on the ninth day of Shukla Paksha of Chaitra month. Lord Rama was the eldest son of King Dasharatha of the Ikshvaku dynasty. His mother’s name was Kaushalya.
In the Ramayana, he is specifically described in the following context.
1. character of ram
2. man of dignity
3 Purushottam
Character of Mata Sita or Janki
Mata Sita is one of the greatest characters of Ramayana. She is the wife of Lord Rama. By the way, there is another introduction of Mother Sita by whom she is known, she is the daughter of Maharaj Janak.
In Ramcharitmanas, Tulsidas, inspired by his nature, has given him the name of devotion. You can understand her immense love for Lord Rama from the fact that she never let her love for Lord Rama diminish in any situation, whether she was in the captivity of Ravana or when she left the palace of Ayodhya.
Maharaja Dashrath
Maharaja Dasharatha was also a great figure in the Ramayana. He was the Maharaja of Ayodhya. He is introduced by many names, but the best introduction is that he is the father of Lord Rama. Maharaj Dasaratha was the father of four such sons, but his greatest love was with Lord Rama. He died in the separation of Lord Rama.
Maharaja Dasaratha was an ideal father, and even today the greatest quote of a father’s love for his son is to be given by Maharaja Dasaratha.
Lord Lakshman in Ramayana
Lord Lakshmana is one of the great characters of Ramayana. His best introduction is that he is an exclusive devotee of Lord Rama and Mother Janaki. Apart from this, he is the younger brother of Lord Rama. His mother’s name was Sumitra. When Lord Rama leaves for exile after the orders of King Dasharatha, Lakshmana also accompanies him. Lakshman ji also spends 14 years of exile with him and during that time he also kills Mahasur Meghnad.
Tulsidas writes about Lakshman ji in his Ramayana that Lakshman ji considered Lord Rama and mother Janaki as his parents. His service was the only goal of his life.
Lord Hanuman in Ramayana
Lord Hanuman, who has many identities, some lovingly call him Anjaniputra, and some call him Pawanputra etc. But his biggest and greatest introduction is as a servant of Lord Rama. Lord Hanuman is an incarnation of Lord Mahadev and an exclusive devotee of Lord Rama. Apart from Ramayana, his description will be found in many other Mahapuranas.
Sunderkand in Ramayana is completely dedicated to Lord Hanuman. A special description of Lord Hanuman has been given in Sunderkand. His strength, his intelligence and his style of work make him truly great. If you ask the listener of Ramayana, which part of Ramayana did you find funniest then most people will describe Sunderkand.
Lankapati Ravan
There is a verse in Sanskrit which describes Ravana.
एको अहम् द्वितीयो नास्ति | न भूतो न भविष्यति || (In English – I am the only one and there is no other
Neither past nor future)
This verse defines the legacy of Ravana. Ravana was the king of Lanka. Lanka was one of the most prosperous countries in his time, Tulsidas describes in the Ramayana that the whole of Lanka was made of gold. Ravana was the son of the great sage of Pulastya dynasty, whose name was Vishrava, who was a Brahmin by caste and his mother was Kaikashi, who belonged to the Rakchas clan.
Ravana was a devotee of Lord Mahadev and got great power from his worship. Using which he had conquered all three people. This victory of his had made him arrogant and he went on the path of unrighteousness. When he kidnaps Goddess Sita by deceit, Lord Rama goes to Lanka to punish him and free Mother Sita from Ravana’s captivity, and kills her.
Apart from these, there are many other great characters in Ramayana from whom you can take inspiration. Like Bharat, who is the younger brother of Lord Rama, the extent of his sacrifice, till date no one has been able to match him. Tulsidas has also described him as a symbol of renunciation. Kumbhakaran who was the younger brother of Ravana, knowing that it is not impossible to win Lord Rama, yet he sacrifices his life for the glory of his brother. Meghnad who does all kinds of dharma or unrighteous deeds for the fame of his father. He does not abandon his father in any condition. You can learn from them that sacrificing brother and father in any case is like unrighteousness. When Sugriva befriends Lord Rama, then Lord Rama is a simple ascetic, which teaches us that friendship does not require any kind of similarity.
There are many such characters who have illuminated the society with their views. We or you cannot describe them.