Why Shri Ram is more important today

Was Ram (Bhagwan Rama) a god? Of course he was. Shri Ram was the seventh (number seven is associated with perfection) incarnation of Bhagwan Vishnu – the savior of mankind.

So, what or who did Ram save? What turned him into a god? And how relevant is he today?

Let us first take a brief look at some important events in Ramayana – the story of Ram as told by his sons Lav and Kush.

The years predating Ram’s birth were of severe atrocity and pain for the common man. Lawlessness prevailed and vices like kidnapping, genocide and loot was common. Absolute power had corrupted the ruling class absolutely. And the ruling class were the Kshatriyas. Their coffers were full and their words were law. They could pick any women they liked and kill anyone at will, including rishis and kids.

During this time, Shri Parsuram was born. A rigid law-abiding brahmin sage who had beheaded his mother instantly on an order from his father. He was the sixth avatar of Shri Vishnu – and he took the task on himself of saving people from Kshatriyas. His name meant the righteous one with a parsu or the axe – a weapon that everyone feared.

Soon, most Kshatriyas were annihilated (many died in battle while some likely changed their clan) and people from other classes became the rulers – Raavan was a brahmin, Bali a vaanara, etc. Many small kingdoms did not have any ruler at all and people lived in fear of the rakshasas there.

King Dasarath of Ayodhya was a Kshatriya king and a noble one. Dasarath belonged to the Raghukul, the same lineage that had Raja Harischandra and other stalwarts. Dasarath’s only known injustice was in the killing of Shravan Kumar. It was an inadvertent mistake that cost him a lot. Dasarath was kind and brave and even helped Shri Indra fight against evil forces in a major war. Gods too liked and respected Dasarath.

However, Dasarath was a marked man just because he was a Kshatriya. He had four wives, desperate to not let Raghukul end with him, but was childless for a long time. Charity and pujas were a regular affair in his kingdom and great rishis of his time supported him. Dasarath saw hope in the curse of Shravan Kumar’s father – first he must have a child before they are separated. But he feared nothing would help him against the rage of Parsuram.

One day, Shri Parsuram reached Ayodhya and barged into the palace looking for Dasarath. It is said that he found Dasarath hiding among his wives who were likely pregnant by then. Parsuram let him live saying real Kshatriyas do not hide behind their wives.

Thus, Dasarath managed to survive and the Kshatriya clan continued (most Kshatriya clans of present India consider themselves to be related to Shri Ram). His desire to have a child and prove Parsuram wrong was greater than his ego. And soon, he was blessed with four sons – the eldest being Ram (likely named in honour of Parsuram).

Therefore, Ram’s destiny was written before he was born. Though he was never asked by Dasarath or his gurus, Ram’s shoulders carried several responsibilities from birth – he had to prove that laws were equal for everyone, that a promise/trust was never to be broken, that there lies great happiness in being a one-woman man, that with great power came great responsibility, and that he had to live up to the ideals of Parsuram, the same person who wanted to kill his father and wipe out his lineage.

Then came some events that defined him and turned him into a god.

Despite Dasarath’s requests, on his guru’s orders, Ram left Ayodhya at a tender age to kill various rakshasas and consolidate his father’s empire.
He married Sita, a motherless child from nearby kingdom despite threats from powerful kings like Raavan. He never thought or fantasized about other women and the vows he took during the wedding were more important than his life.
He left for vanvaas of fourteen years though he could have easily persuaded or disobeyed his mother Kaikeyi.
He fought the mighty king Raavan in a prolonged battle, though he could have chosen to get his army or ask Hanuman to get back Sita.
He made Vibhisana the king of Lanka with full powers.
He asked Sita to undergo Agnipariskha as per rules then.
He abandoned Sita as a king in accordance to laws though he could have changed them. In the process, he lived with the same fear as is father’s – that of likely end of Raghukul.

Thus, with all these hardships through his entire life, Ram became Bhagwan Ram, Maryada Purshottam Ram.

This earth has not seen a person like him since — he was the nara/human avatar of Vishnu.

In today’s world, where righteousness is laughed upon and immorality seen as modern and a symbol of intelligence, Ram’s life shines a light for those who know the right path. One can never be God but could at least try to emulate the human form of God, ie, Shri Ram. That is why Shri Ram is more important today than ever.