T Ram Sewak

CHHAL HEEN JIGYASU

Shri Ramcharitmanas has some lustrous and illuminating conversations. One is between Shri Ram and Lakshman in Aranyakand (3.14-17) when they lived in Panchvati during their exile. It starts as:

Ek baar prabhu.. aasina lachhman bachan..chhal heena

Sur nar ...sai main poochhaun.. nai

Once, as the Lord was sitting at ease, Lakshman addressed HIM in guileless words: Oh Lord of celestials, humans, sages and all animate and inanimate creation! I ask of You as of my own master.

This dialogue is popularly called Shri Ram Gita. While Shrimad Bhagavad Gita was imparted to a delusional Arjun on the battlefield, Shri Ram Gita is an elucidation delivered to a 'Jigyasu' Lakshman in the serene and calm environs of Panchvati.

Using the adjective guileless (chhal heen) for Lakshman's queries is essential here because sincere, earnest, guileless behaviour is a form of bhakti. This mirrors Gita (4.34) that a question on spirituality should be honest and heartfelt; it shouldn't be asked to demonstrate one's knowledge and mastery or embarrass anyone. The guru and master must be looked up to as divinity incarnate, and the seeker should ask a query with the same faith and reverencea big lesson to be humble.

Further, there is a meaning to Lakshman's name, viz; Laksh + man. 'Lakshya' means goal, and 'man' means mind. The goal of every sadhak is mind control, and the one who has reached the goal of mind control is 'Lakshman'.

There could be a doubt. Why does Lakshman, an avatar of Sheshnag, the eternal thousand-headed serpent, which is the resting place of Lord Vishnu and who identified himself as the param bhakt and sewak of Shri Ram, have any queries on 'Gyan', 'Bhakti' and 'Maya'? The answer is that Lakshman is just the medium here. The message is for us. The critical point here is that irrespective of the setting, HIS message is eternal, whether in the serenity of a forest or

on a battlefield. / DAILY WORLD /

Namami Ramam Musings-33

The author is a former electrical Engineer and resides in the Himalayas. He can be occasionally reached at ramam.namami@gmail.com