Rama, Beloved Avatar

Like all religions, Hinduism has regional variations. There are certain Hindu gods like Muruga (Karthikeya) who resonate deeply in South India but are virtually unknown in parts of the North. Similarly, Goddess Kali is hugely popular in West Bengal but is simply yet another goddess in the South.

Among all the Hindu gods and goddesses, Lord Rama is one god who cuts across these regional barriers and is universally worshipped. And Sri Rama Navami, which celebrates Lord Rama's birthday, is one of the most popular Hindu festivals in India. It falls on the ninth day in the month of Chitra (April 17 this year), hence the word Navami (meaning nine).

What is it about Lord Rama that has made him an enduring symbol of Hinduism across North and South, East and West? On the face of it, he appears too good to be true. As a child growing up, I had trouble relating to him, although my grandmother told us stories from the Ramayana, his epic, every night before bed.

Rama seemed too perfect. He was the obedient son, willing to forgo his kingdom to preserve his father's word. When his stepmother, Kaikeyi, banished him to the forest for 14 years, he had only kind words for her. Although he was a superlative archer and swordsman, he wasn't slave to the passions of a warrior. Indeed, he had words of praise for the demon-king Ravan's musical abilities even though Ravan had abducted Rama's wife, Sita. Rama was a just king, loyal husband, dutiful son, kind brother, generous friend I mean, the man could do no wrong.

Recently, I picked up the Ramayana yet again, as I usually do in the days leading up to Sri Rama Navami. But this time, as I read it, Ii began to understand why Lord Rama struck a chord with so many people. I learned his flaws, I could identify with his humanity. For instance, on more than one occasion, Rama bows to public pressure and feels compelled to question his wife's chastity. After rescuing his wife, Sita, from Lanka, where she is being kept captive, Rama questions her chastity on the battlefield before his monkey-army. Sita had lived in the clutches of a lustful demon-king for so long, says Rama. Was she still pure of thought and deed? Stung by the accusation, Sita jumps into the fire as answer. The fire-god Agni returns Sita to Rama, saying that she was so pure that nobody, not even fire, could touch her. Rama later apologizes to Sita, saying that he had never doubted her chastity but felt compelled to demonstrate it to the world.

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