22nd January, Ram Lalla, and What You Learn from the Ramayana
After 500 years of waiting, justice was served
A Brief History
Derived from the Sanskrit word ‘yudh’ (war), Ayodhya shone pompously on the bank of Sarayu, with millions of diyas lit and flowers showered, as the fight to regain the rightful place of Shree Ram back culminated.
The birthplace of Shree Ram had been awaiting this moment for long.
On 22 January, people across the world watched with devotion as the idol of Ram Lalla was revealed in the new Ram Temple of Ayodhya, with his soft, righteous eyes boring into us.
Watching the live telecast made me tear up and wonder about its history.
In Buddha's time (600 BCE), the city was known as Saketa, being one of the six largest cities in North India. During the Gupta Empire (400-600 CE), the Golden Age of India, the kings decreed it as the capital.
During the reign of Narasimhagupta, the Huns destroyed the empire.
Ayodhya fell into desolation when the focus shifted to Kannauj. The Gahadavalas — Vishnu Bhakts — who came to power in 1100 CE, revived the city. It grew as a prominent pilgrimage centre.
The temple at Ayodhya was attacked and destroyed by a Mughal emperor, Babur, in 1528 CE. A mosque — the Babri Masjid — was built upon its ruins.
Thus, the holy place developed a proclivity for communal violence.
In modern times, through the movements led by groups like the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), the Ayodhya dispute gained attention and action.
On December 6, 1992, the demolition of the Babri Masjid triggered communal riots across India.
In 2019, the 5-judge Constitution bench started final hearing on the case. On 9 November, the Supreme Court delivered the final judgment - the land would be handed to a trust to build the Ram temple.
The Bhumi Pujan of the temple took place on 5 August 2020.
Finally, after a wait of 500 years, all the hopes, efforts, and love of the devotees converged on 22 January 2024, when the priests, along with other politically involved people, inaugurated the Ram Temple.
Reading the Ramayana — the tale of Ram’s journey — has always awe-inspired me.
From Ram’s perfection to Sita’s resilience to Lakshman and Hanuman’s devotion to Raavan’s pride, all the characters can teach you great lessons in life. Here are the most relevant ones.
Lessons from the Ramayana
»Choose your company wisely
The importance and significance of the right kind of friendship have been highlighted several times in the tale.
Initially, every aspect of Prince Ram’s life was going smoothly. The kingdom of Ayodhya prospered, his subjects adored him, and he had been married to the glorious Lady Sita. He met every challenge with his skilled mind.
What could possibly go wrong?
Manthara, the favourite maid of Queen Kaikeyi, persuaded her to exile Ram (her stepson) and install Bharata (her son) as the king. The gullible Kaikeyi caved into her awful influence instead of doing the right action.
Just because of the evil whisperings of Manthara, Ram spent 14 years in exile.
On a similar note, our company impacts us more deeply than you think — they affect your perspective, goals, and habits. As said, you're the average of the five people you spend the most time with.
Show me your friends, and I'll show you your future. — Mark Ambrose
You should be aware of the influence of the people around you before you admit them too deeply in your life. On the other end, you should hope to add a positive flavour to your friends’ lives yourself!
»Trying times show everyone’s true colours
From enjoying a lavish life, Prince Ram’s world was turned upside down when his father, compelled by Kaikeyi, exiled him. Not uttering a single syllable of complaint, Ram was ready to obey, leave, and serve the sentence.
Even though the terms didn’t state as such, he did not leave alone.
Although Kaikeyi had only demanded Ram's banishment, his wife Sita and brother Lakshman did not let him be on his own. Because of their immense love towards Ram, they accompanied him to live the harsh life of a jungle.
Low times will hit all of us.
It is easy to be one’s friend when one is having wonderful and prosperous days. However, during unfortunate periods, the ones who stay with us and support us are the ones to take the bullet for too.
»Pride goeth before a fall
King Raavan of Lanka, who abducted Sita in the story, was known for his strength, intelligence, and mastery of various arts. Despite his demonic nature, as a staunch devotee of Lord Shiva, he was near invincible.
Ego brought his end forth.
One of the reasons for kidnapping Sita was his bloating pride. Later, even when Ram’s army managed to bridge the ocean and prepare for a war at his doorstep, overconfidence in his army caused his fall.
His superiority complex made him disregard Ram’s prowess.
Considering yourself to be above all makes you deluded about your true strengths and weaknesses. Without a proper awareness of yourself, you cannot get ahead in the world; you may suffer various defeats.
As said, pride comes before a fall.
You should avoid being underconfident or egoistic; be modestly aware of your abilities. Challenges and thorns await you — and so do goddesses wanting to cross the road, disguised as wizened old women.
What I Am Writing Elsewhere
1. A bit of sound advice from my teacher
My board exams are coming near. To motivate us to study, my teacher was urging us to put in our full efforts for the last time in life. If we got a commendable aggregate, we would get into a great college and our lives would be sorted. Read more…
2. How You Can Return To Writing (After a Long Pause)
The challenge I face in writing (as a student) is similar to your struggle: Finding time to write. Yet my reasons are different. After every month or so, I face examinations; my college and career depend on acing them. It’s a period of internal conflict for me. Read more…