A Love Story HG Gauranga Das

1. A Love Story HG Gauranga Das

2. Dasaratha Maharaja’s dilemma Ramayanam Material life is pleasure mixed with pain of unfulfilled desires

3. Dasaratha Maharaja’s dilemma Method of counteracting Karma is called Yajna, Dana & Tapa

4. Queens given payasam Sumitra drank last so that she will get sons who will serve the Lord & His devotees Samskaras of mother affect the sons Service attitude begets service attitude

5. Reasons for Rama’s Descent • 1. Demigods’ prayers • When we approach Lord for help, we should have humility to accept solution. • 2. Protect Rishis • 3. Solitude with Sita • 4. To worship Lord Ranganatha

6. Significance of names RAMA – who gives pleasure to one who sees Him Darshan of Lord’s form purifies and inspires BHARATA – Material prosperity without Lord’s association is like a burden LAXMAN SATRUGHNA

7. Viswamitra arrives at Palace Love is tested by selfless service Future fortune may appear as present misfortune One may misunderstand instrument of future fortune Spiritual master’s instructions are for our welfare – however inconceivable Aspiring disciple may try to avoid instructions if they test our attachments

8. Viswamitra’s anger Vasishtopi: In service to the Lord, once must cooperate and adjust differences of opinion Serving Guru’s order is the duty of disciple OBIDIENCE is life of disciple

9. Tatakavadha Guru’s order is sometimes difficult to follow – may make us unpopular, but Guru’s grace is more critical than public disgrace. Tataka – Ignorance of spiritual identity = Avidya

10. Marica, Subahu Marica was chased & Subahu was killed Sins before surrender – destroyed and burnt to ashes Sins incurred by devotee in the future – chased away by the Lord

11. Rama and Ahalya Touch of Lord’s lotus feet melts hard hearts Service to vaishnavasfills heart with love

12. Rama marries Sitadevi

13. Rama marries Sitadevi Logic of Lord’s consort Viswamitra & Sadananda rishi One must address needs, interests and concerns to get attention Story of Mahesachapa First class disciple understands heart of spiritual master

14. Rama marries Sitadevi Lord Rama denies garland Accepting hands of a lady can’t be done without permission of Dasaratha One cannot take major decisions in life without permission and blessings Woman’s expectations for man – bravery & expert speech

15. Rama marries Sitadevi Rama finally puts garland Etiquette is adjusted according to time, place & circumstances Janaka tells Rama Sita’s hands placed over Rama’s

16. Dasaratha maharaja decides to coronate Rama Leader must always consult experienced and well wishers even after many years When someone excels in service and becomes more popular, one may experience insecurity, fear and feeling of uselessness about one’s own insignificance Inferiority complex is different from Humility

17. Manthara inquires about celebration Kaikeyi was pure hearted and considered Rama to be son Association of envious blasphemy poisons heart Hearing blasphemy makes us lose respect for a person Why kaikeyi’s heart got corrupted?

18. Dasaratha begs kaikeyi

19. Why Rama got vanavasa? Vaishnavas’ concern Transcendental vacation Set example of obidence Reveal dualities of material world

20. Rama meets Kaikeyi

21. Dasaratha’s lamentation

22. Rama meets Sita Heaven and hell is based on perception Perception of reality Lord’s association and service is divine and separation is misery

23. Rama meets Laxmana Service attitude is greatest wealth

24. Sumitra meets Laxmana Love means service without selfish considerations Service means pleasure of master, not selfish joy

25. Dasaratha leaves body

26. Rama and Guha Devotion not dependent on birth Lord’s quality – sausilyam – one who is held high in society, who is supreme and wants to identify with common man Fate of taking Lord’s darshan is one’s material complacency Love increases in separation

27. Sita, Rama, Laxmanawalk through forest Husband’s duty is to give shelter physically, emotionally and spiritually

28. Rama meets Bharadwaja Character is “what you are when no one is watching”

29. Rama travels through Chitrakoot Servant must be conscious of needs of master and learn skills and organize accordingly

30. Bharata returns to Ayodhya • Even most powerful king can’t control his destination • Misplaced compassion can be dangerous • Intention is not sufficient, knowledge is important • Nature of this world is it can simply trap us in complexity • We have to pay the price for the mistakes and blunders of our close associates • Choose association carefully • Tolerate the results of blunders as a price for the association

31. Bharata returns to Ayodhya It is our duty to proactively clarify circumstantial misunderstanding and doubt created in other’s minds our intentions and actions Procrastination in communication leads to biased perception We must judge others by their intention, judge ourselves by our actions and not vice versa.

32. Bharata misunderstood By Kausalya, Vasishta, Guha, Bharadwaja and Laxmana Integrity is the test of person’s character If you want to test man’s character, give him power Leaving association of Lord can lead to powerful consequences beyond imagination Devotee really respects identity of others as devotee

33. Laxmana doubts Bharata Lord doesn’t tolerate offense to devotee

34. Rama – Bharata meeting Person of character values obedience over expedience

35. Bharata’s vow

36. 3 places where Lord’s supremacy exhibited in Ramayana Jatayu Vibhishana Vanarasena– setubandhan

37. Lord is Virat

38. Bharata’s emotions

39. Why Bharata’s surrender is rejected?

40. Glory of Lord’s footwear Devotee should never leave Lord’s lotus feet Padukafavored Bharata’spremato Rama’s dharma Paduka is more merciful than Lord Rama Lord’s consorts Bhu & Sri devis are more merciful In the absence of consorts, Lord’s foot wear does the job Svarupagatadasya& Gunakrtadasya

41. Viradhavadha Illicit sex leads to misery Lord’s lotus feet leads to purification Hatred to Lord and neglect of dharma can be conquered by service to Lord’s devotees

42. Lord and Sarabhangaashrama Nothing within material world is worth achieving in temporary human form of life Success in human life is attainment of spiritual world

43. Lord meets Agastya muni

44. Lord enters Dandaka Lord is always eager to protect devotees

45. Lord reaches Panchavati Concern: Servant knows master’s mind and carries out command to give full satisfaction Competence: Acts with confidence based on previous experience and displays competence Character: Alert and aware of his duties and only cares for Lord’s pleasure 3 pillars of trust worthy servant

46. Lord reaches Panchavati Servant’s only joy is smile on Lord’s face Soul’s constitutional position is eternal service Devotee’s happiness is not in his service but in the satisfaction of the Lord Devotee can neither feel proud nor happy about his service If Lord is happy about the service, then since Lord is pleased devotee can feel happy Service is for satisfaction of master, not for happiness of servant.

47. Surpanakha sees Lord A gentleman expresses his mind’s feelings straightforward

48. Surpanakha sends Khara & Dushana

49. Ravana sends Marichi Lust burns like fire

50. Jatayu’s moksha Caste and age is no barrier for devotional service Bhakti is not about being the best but doing your best Rama went through reversals to teach us precarious position of conditioned souls in material existence