WORKS BY RAYARU
Sri Rama Charitra Manhari
Building on our earlier discussion regarding how the Lord descended to Earth to fulfill King Dasharatha’s prayers, we now see His divine mission unfold as He enters the forest. He selflessly hands His sacred sandals to Bharata to ensure the kingdom remains under the rule of Dharma and ventures into the Dandaka forest to shield the holy sages from the terror of demons. After overcoming the demon Viradha and showing mercy even to the crow-demon Kakasura, He visits the hermitage of Sage Atri and later receives celestial weapons from Sage Agastya. These divine gifts, including a powerful bow and never-ending arrows, empower Him to fulfill His promise of total protection to the virtuous. May this Lord Rama, who stands as the ultimate shield for the righteous, bless us and guide our path toward truth and humility.
We will now delve into the further story and explore how simple Rayaru has explained the next few glimpses from Ramayana, making it accessible and interesting to all. In this part of the journey, the calm of the forest is suddenly broken by the arrival of the demoness Shurpanakha, whose desires set in motion a series of events that test the Lord's resolve. Rayaru beautifully captures how the Lord, while remaining the supreme master of the universe, plays the role of a human hero experiencing the deep pain of losing His beloved Sita to the trickery of the golden deer and the arrogance of Ravana.
As we follow Rama’s footsteps through the thickets of the Janasthana, we see Him not just as a warrior, but as a devoted soul searching for truth and virtue amidst chaos. Rayaru simplifies these complex emotions, showing us that even in the darkest moments of separation and struggle, Rama never wavers from His path of Dharma. By distilling the vast Ramayana into these short, punchy verses, Sri Raghavendra Swamy allows us to witness the Lord’s grace without getting lost in the complexity of the ancient texts.
Through this narrative, we are reminded that every challenge Rama faced was a lesson for us on how to maintain our balance when life takes an unexpected turn. Rayaru’s genius lies in making us feel that Rama’s story is not just ancient history, but a living guide for our own daily battles.
Sloka 5
AseenaH panchavaTyAmakuruta vikRutAM rAkshaseeM yO dvisapta- kravyAdAnapyanEkAnatha kharamavadheeddUshaNaM cha trisheerShaM
mAreechaM mArgarUpaM dashavadanahRutAmAkRutiM bhUmijAyAH
anviShyannArtagRudhraM svagatimatha nayanmAmavEt ghnan kabandhaM
Line 1: Setting the Scene and Śūrpanakhā's Disfigurement
AseenaH panchavaTyAmakuruta vikRutAM rAkshaseeM yO dvisapta-
As we continue the story, Rayaru takes us to the peaceful setting of Panchavati, where Rama, Sita, and Lakshmana were residing in a simple hermitage. This calm atmosphere was suddenly broken when the demoness Shurpanakha, the sister of Ravana, encountered the two princes. Her aggressive behavior and advances toward them led to her being disfigured by Lakshmana, an act that immediately changed their quiet refuge into a place of intense conflict. Enraged and humiliated by this punishment, Shurpanakha fled to her brother Khara, who quickly gathered a massive army of fourteen thousand flesh-eating demons to seek revenge. The story reaches a peak as Rama, standing strong and undeterred, prepares to face this enormous force all by himself. This moment perfectly highlights his divine strength and his role as the ultimate protector, setting the stage for the great war against the forces of evil. Rayaru’s simple explanation helps us see how even the most peaceful moments can turn into a test of character, and how the Lord is always ready to stand alone against any number of challenges to protect the righteous.
Line 2: The Great Battle
kravyAdAnapyanEkAnatha kharamavadheeddUshaNaM cha trisheerShaM
The story moves forward to the intense battle that followed. After Rama stood his ground against the massive army alone, he turned his focus toward the three main leaders who were leading the charge: Khara, Dushana, and Trishira. These three were not ordinary warriors; they were powerful generals and the primary protectors of Ravana’s kingdom in that region. By swiftly and decisively defeating them, Rama proved his supreme divine strength. Rayaru shows us that through this act, the Lord demonstrated his role as the ultimate protector of the good and the destroyer of cruelty. By removing these formidable commanders and their entire army, Rama cleared the path for justice, all before the main villain, Ravana, even entered the center of the story. It serves as a powerful reminder that no matter how large the forces of evil may seem, they cannot stand against the power of the righteous.
Line 3: The Golden Deer and Śītā's Abduction
mAreechaM mArgarUpaM dashavadanahRutAmAkRutiM bhUmijAyAH
The story now reaches a major turning point—the clever and heartbreaking plot of the Golden Deer. Seeking revenge for the loss of his generals, Ravana asked the demon Maricha to help him. Maricha took the form of a beautiful, enchanting Golden Deer to lure Rama and Lakshmana away from their home. While Rama was busy chasing and eventually killing the deer, and Lakshmana was tricked into leaving to help his brother, the ten-headed demon king Ravana took his chance. He entered the hermitage and kidnapped Sita. However, Rayaru includes a very important detail here that reflects the teachings of the Madhva tradition: Ravana did not actually touch the real Sita. Instead, he took a replica or a duplicate form of her. The true Sita, the divine daughter of the Earth, had been placed under the protection of the Fire God for safekeeping. Rayaru explains this so beautifully, showing us that even in a moment of great deception and sadness, the purity and power of the Divine Mother remained untouched by evil. This part of the story captures the deep pain of separation, but also the hidden protection that the Lord provides for the righteous.
Line 4: Jaṭāyu, Kabandha, and the Final Prayer
anviShyannArtagRudhraM svagatimatha nayanmAmavEt ghnan kabandhaM
The story of the forest exile reaches its emotional conclusion with the search for Sita. As Rama and Lakshmana wandered through the woods, they found the noble vulture Jatayu, who was lying wounded and dying after his brave attempt to stop Ravana. Instead of passing by in his own grief, Rama showed immense compassion. He performed the final rites for the bird as if he were his own father, granting Jatayu salvation and a place in the highest spiritual abode. Moving further, the brothers encountered the terrifying, headless demon Kabandha. By killing him, Rama not only removed a great obstacle but also liberated the demon from an ancient curse, receiving vital guidance for the next part of their journey in return. Rayaru concludes this part of the story with a deeply personal prayer. By describing these magnificent deeds—from showing mercy to a bird to liberating a cursed demon—he turns the history of the Ramayana into a powerful shield for us. The verse ends with the plea, "May that Lord protect me," reminding us that the same Rama who saved Jatayu and guided the sages is ready to protect each of us today if we simply surrender to Him.
We see how the Lord protects the virtuous and destroys evil, even in the middle of a lonely forest. By teaching us about the "replica Sita" and the salvation of Jatayu, Rayaru reveals that the Divine is always in control and filled with compassion. This summary reminds us that sincere prayer and surrender to Lord Rama can shield us from any life struggle. There is still so much more to explore in this story, and as we move forward, we will discover the incredible simplicity and depth of Rayaru’s scripture.