Class Summary Jan 14, 2023

Vijayji starts by declaring that Rama Charita Manas in not just a story, it is full of concepts that are drawn from the Upanishads, which are directly from Vedas. 

Shri Rama is pure, nirgun and nirakar Brahman, at the same time given to us as a character here – a maryada Purushottam. Rama Charita Manas has to be understood and mulled upon deeply. 

He briefly talks about how Rishi Narada reads Uma’s hand and foretells. He reviews the gunas of Lord Shiva. 

Vijayji then talks about how we should handle things in 4 ways – Saam, daam, dand, and bheda. Fear can be used for our own good. The durgunas are used in ways that can be very helpful, when used sensibly. 

Tulsidasji is trying to bring out the subtlest expressions of ego so we can understand ourselves better. We have to bring the virtues of God in us (D.69). 

Lord Shiva is pleased only by tapah. There is no shortcut to this process. He is Tapah Priya. There has to be sincere thoughts of the lord in the three levels – thoughts, words and action. Ekagrata – single pointedness is given importance. 

69.3 Naradji says Uma will change her prarabdha with her tapah. Such is the value of tapah. It can change all the rules, even those of lord Brahma. Vijayji mentions about Guru’s kripa here. If the seeker/student has earned the kripa of Guru, even God can’t stop the student from having the Brahma vidya. The clarity of Nachiketa is incomparable. 

69.4 One who is only devoted to God (not also), Lord Shiva will give to them freely. Japa is not a formula! It has to be backed by right intention (devotion) and understanding. 

Do.70: Rishi Narada blesses the family and heads back. The understanding of the three are so different from each other. 

70.1:  Naradji now having returned to (to the abode of his father) Brahmalok. Story is being told in three different scenarios – Lord Shiva is telling these to mata Parvathy, Kakabusundi ji is sharing with Shri Garuda,  Rishi yagyavalkya is sharing with Bharadhwaj Rishi (in Prayagraj). Maina is worried and tell Himalaya that she is unable to understand. 

70.2: There are 3 parties involved when it comes to a girl’s wedding. Mother who looks at the household (vittam), father who looks at the kulam and then the daughter who looks at the groom (rupa).  

Importance of kulam is clearly given. Varnas need to be carefully gauged before any marriage (given in manusmrithi). Maina is concerned that all the three – vittam, kulam and rupam should be a match for their daughter. They should not regret anything later. 

Jai Shri Ram!