[Advaita-l] Ramopakhyana of Mahabharata vs. the Uttara Kanda of Ramayana

[murali hr]

Everybody knows CARS create traffic jam /pollution /parking problems
yet everyone wants to have more cars.
Murali

On Wed, May 4, 2016 at 5:53 PM, Venkatesh Murthy (वेङ्कटेशः
सीतारामार्यपुत्रः) <advaita-l at lists.advaita-vedanta.org> wrote:

> Namaste
>  On Wed, May 4, 2016 at 3:08 PM, Kathirasan K <brahmasatyam at gmail.com>
> wrote:
> > Namaste Venkateshji,
> >
> > While this approach to appreciating Ramayana may very well serve the
> needs
> > of those in Nivrtti Dharma where vairagya is a pre-requisite, it may not
> > help a community that wants advance its progress in terms of material
> > progress. I am referring to the majority of people who are in Pravrtti
> > Dharma here. I come from a place where hindus become very complacent with
> > suffering and difficulties in life so much that they feel that our
> > scriptures are strewn with adversities for even the gods. They quote
> Rama,
> > Sita, Yudhishtira etc as examples.
> >
> > I am curious if the illustrious hindu kings of ancient and medieval
> India,
> > had such an outlook (that life is an ocean of unhappiness) towards life.
> And
> > if so, how did that contribute to an opulent society that they ruled
> during
> > those times?
> >
>
> In Mahabharata there is Yaksha Prashna episode. The Yaksha asked
> Yudhisthira what is the biggest wonder in the world? It is not the
> Seven Wonders like Great Wall of China or Taj Mahal. Yudhisthira said
> everyday people are dying. But the living people desire to live for
> ever. People know everybody will die one day. But the way they live is
> like they will live for ever. This is the biggest wonder.
>
> Everybody knows they will not carry any money to next Janma when they
> die. But they will accumulate hundreds of crores of rupees like they
> will take it with them. This is the biggest wonder.
>
> Everybody knows they came here without wearing jewelry and gold rings
> on ten fingers. Everybody knows when they die and cremated by
> relatives the jewelry and rings on fingers will be taken away. But
> when living they will wear huge amount of jewelry and rings on ten
> fingers. This is the biggest wonder.
>
> Everybody knows when they die the houses built will not come with them
> and will not come with the sons and daughters also when they die. But
> they will build many houses and purchase flats. This is the biggest
> wonder.
>
> Everybody knows meat eating, smoking and drinking will cause many
> diseases like cancer and heart problems. But they will eat meat, smoke
> and drink. Cigarette packets have warning 'Smoking kills'. But
> Cigarette manufacturers are making huge profits. This is the biggest
> wonder.
>
> Similarly everybody knows there is no permanent happiness in Samsaara
> but they will search for permanent happiness in Samsaara. This is the
> biggest wonder.
>
>
>
> >
> > Kathirasan K
> >
> >
> > On 4 May 2016 at 01:36, Venkatesh Murthy (वेङ्कटेशः सीतारामार्यपुत्रः)
> > <advaita-l at lists.advaita-vedanta.org> wrote:
> >>
> >> Namaste
> >>
> >> There is one reason for Uttara Kanda. In original Ramayana the ending
> >> is happy. But that may mislead people to think this Samsaara is very
> >> nice and full of happiness like in Raama Raajya. It was ideal kingdom
> >> with people with ideal happiness.
> >>
> >> But as a matter of fact there is no happiness in this world
> >> permanently. If there is happiness it will end someday. Therefore true
> >> happiness cannot be outside but inside only. To show this they have
> >> made even Seeta driven to forest again and Raama is experiencing
> >> sorrow again.
> >>
> >> The moral of story is -  If even great people like Raama and Seeta
> >> could not be permanently happy how can we ordinary people be happy in
> >> this Samsaara. It is an ocean of unhappiness only.
> >>
> >> On Tue, May 3, 2016 at 10:39 PM, S Jayanarayanan via Advaita-l
> >> <advaita-l at lists.advaita-vedanta.org> wrote:
> >> > Thanks to Neelakantan (on advaitin list) for the note on Samkshepa
> >> > Ramayana not containing any reference to the Uttara Kanda.
> >> >
> >> > One more reason that the original Valmiki Ramayana may not have any
> >> > reference to the Uttara Kanda:
> >> > The Phalashruti at the end of the Yuddha Kanda, appears complete (
> >> >
> http://www.valmikiramayan.net/utf8/yuddha/sarga128/yuddha_128_frame.htm )
> --
> >> >
> >> >   "By studying and listening to this epic, all the gods get appeased.
> By
> >> > listening to this Ramayana, the forefathers forever get pleased.
> >> >   To those persons who transcribe with devotion this collection of
> poems
> >> > depicting the story of Rama residence in heaven is assured.
> >> >   By listening to this highly meaningful and auspicious poetical
> >> > composition, a person gets family-prosperity, augmentation in money
> and
> >> > grain, superior women, exquisite happiness and all the acquisition of
> wealth
> >> > on this earth.
> >> >   This narrative is to be listened invariably by good people, seeking
> >> > for wisdom, longevity, health, fame, fraternity, intelligence,
> welfare and
> >> > brilliance."
> >> >
> >> > There are now three points against the Uttara Kanda being a part of
> the
> >> > original Ramayana:
> >> >
> >> > (1) Ramopakhyana ends with the Yuddha Kanda, no mention of any events
> of
> >> > Uttara Kanda whatsoever.
> >> > (2) Samkshepa Ramayana at the beginning of the Valmiki Ramayana has no
> >> > reference to the Uttara Kanda.
> >> > (3) The full Phalashruti appears at the end of the Yuddha Kanda.
> >> >
> >> > There is now only one point in favor of the Uttara Kanda being a part
> of
> >> > the original text:
> >> >
> >> > The Gayatri Mantra that is supposed to be strung in the Ramayana, as
> the
> >> > first letter of every thousand shlokas, may not be perfect. (Needs
> >> > confirmation)
> >> >
> >> > S Jayanarayanan wrote:
> >> >
> >> >> It has debated whether or not the Uttara Kanda constitutes a part of
> >> >> the original Valmiki Ramayana, or is a later addition to the text.
> >> >>
> >> >> Here is the reason why I believe the Uttara Kanda may not have been a
> >> >> part of the original Valmiki Ramayana:
> >> >> The Mahabharata actually contains the "Story of Rama, the Son of
> >> >> Dasaratha", known as "Ramopakhyana". After talking about Rama and
> Lakshmana
> >> >> going to the forest, Sita's captivity, Hanuman setting fire to
> Lanka, war
> >> >> with Kumbhakarna, death of Ravana, freeing Sita etc., it ends with:
> >> >> "And then assisted by the celestial Rishi (Vasishtha), Rama performed
> >> >> on the banks of the Gomati ten horse sacrifices without obstruction
> of any
> >> >> kind and with treble presents unto Brahmanas."
> >> >>
> >> >> Surprising that the "Ramopakhyana" as narrated in the Mahabharata
> ends
> >> >> exactly at the same place as the Yuddha Kanda of the Valmiki
> Ramayana (i.e.
> >> >> the beginning of Rama Rajyam), with no mention of the later events
> of the
> >> >> Uttara Kanda!
> >> >
> >> >
> >> > _______________________________________________
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> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> --
> >> Regards
> >>
> >> -Venkatesh
> >> _______________________________________________
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> >
>
>
>
> --
> Regards
>
> -Venkatesh
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